InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Secret Garden ❯ Awakening ( Chapter 1 )

Awakening

 

Disclaimer: InuYasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi and I make no money from this story - sucks for me!

 

 

The garden was old, and had survived the centuries in Denenchofu almost untouched. It was filled with ancient trees and flower beds that had run riot over the years. A tall wall surrounded it keeping it secluded and out of the public eye. For one particular young woman, this garden on her grandfather's property had always been a refuge, although few in her family ever frequented it anymore besides her.

 

Footsteps rang fast and hard down the stone paths of the garden. Kagome Higurashi could hardly see, because she was blinded by tears of hurt and frustration. But she knew where in the garden she was going. It was a special place - somewhere she had always sought comfort over the years.

 

Kagome burst through the thick foliage of the overgrown garden. There he was - the one she turned to since she was a small child. She had always been drawn to this ancient statue of a young man, only he was no ordinary young man. He wore suikan and hakama from the feudal era, and he was obviously not human. He had claws and ears like a dog. His long hair swept down his back as he stood there as if frozen, his eyes closed. Her grandfather had called him the Hanyou, and he had no idea where he came from. As far as anyone could tell, he had always been there.

 

Plopping herself down at the feet of the Hanyou statue, Kagome began to open her heart to him, as she had always done, beginning when her father had died.

 

“Oh, and who are you?” Eight year old Kagome had said when she burst upon him, sniffling.

 

The standing statue had an odd pull on her, and suddenly Kagome did not feel so alone. Something about it mesmerized her.

 

“I could really use a friend to talk to right now,” eight year old Kagome said, “You see, my Papa has died. Will you be my friend?”

 

The statue never answered, and yet Kagome felt comforted in its very presence. She smiled though her tears.

 

She still found talking to him comforting, eight years later, and this time was no different.

 

“I broke up with Hojo,” Kagome said miserably. “I just could not stand him anymore. Really, I gave it a try. But my friends berated me, saying I was a fool to leave a guy like him. I hate it when they try to make me feel guilty!”

 

Sighing, Kagome embraced the legs of the statue.

 

“You don't think I was stupid to break up with him, do you?” Kagome whispered. “I mean, if I don't return his feelings, don't you think it is only fair I let him go?”

 

As usual, her Hanyou did not answer.

 

“Oh, if only you could talk to me,” Kagome said. “You are my best friend - you have always been here for me.”

 

Turning her face into the hard, stone folds of the Hanyous hakama, Kagome began to cry. Her tears ran down the legs of the statue, leaving wet rivulets on the cold, gray stone. She almost did not notice it. The stone was getting warmer. Lifting her face up and staring at the statue, she wondered if she was imagining things. A pulse of heat suddenly flared out of the statue, and she let go in surprise, and gaped up at it.

 

As Kagome watched, transfixed, color bled into the cold, grey stone of the statue. The hair turned silver white, the dog ears white and furry. The skin had a human pallor. Suikan and hakama turned a bright red. Heart pounding loudly in her ears, Kagome held her breath as eyes of dark gold opened and looked at her.

 

“Ka…gome,” the now living hanyou breathed, staring at her intensely.

 

She paled, transfixed to the spot by the expression on his eyes. Was this really happening? It was all her fantasies come true. After all these years, her best friend was no longer a statue…but was alive?

 

“Don't be afraid,” said the hanyou, his voice gaining timbre. “You said I was your best friend, remember?”

 

“Uh…yeah,” Kagome stammered out, too stunned to say anything else.

 

“Did you mean it?” The hanyou said, bending down to look her in the eyes.

 

“Yes, of course,” Kagome said, unnerved at first but drawing up her courage as she looked back into his eyes. “But what happened…are you really alive?”

 

The hanyou lifted a clawed hand to his face, and touched it, sighing deeply. A breeze came up and blew his hair, more proof that he was no longer made of stone. The fabric of his hakama made a soft rustling sound as he sat down besides her.

 

“It's seems you somehow broke the spell that was placed on me,” the hanyou said. “But even under the spell, I always heard your voice when you spoke to me.”

 

“You heard…everything?” Kagome squeaked in surprise, not sure if she liked the fact that he actually knew all her thoughts and secrets from the last eight years.

 

“Yes, I have always been here for you,” he said. “And now you broke the spell that kept me captive. I will still be here for you, don't worry.”

 

“Do you have a name?” Kagome asked. She felt foolish just calling him the Hanyou.

 

“It's InuYasha,” he said, and stayed still as she hesitantly reached out to touch his hand as final confirmation that she was not dreaming.

 

InuYashas skin was warm, and gave under the gentle pressure of Kagomes fingers. He seemed startled at first, but then smirked at her as she blushed.

 

“Then all my dreams and wishes have really come true,” Kagome said, her emotion filled eyes suddenly filling with tears as she looked at him.

 

The emotion Kagome was showing made InuYasha blush and turn away this time.

 

`Mine too, Kagome,' he thought. `Mine too.'

 

The two best friends were silent a moment, comfortable around each other this way after countless times together in the secret garden. Now a whole new world was opening up to them, and each was thankful for the other. What ever lay ahead, they felt stronger now that they were truly together. Whatever the future held for them, they had no fear, because they had each other - only now, their dreams had become reality.