InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Time After Time ❯ Bittersweet Goodbyes ( Chapter 6 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 6:  Bittersweet Goodbyes

“Tadaima!”

“Okaeri, Kagome, what are you doing home so soon?”  her mother asked as she came down the stairs with an armful of cleaning products.

Kagome smiled tiredly up at her mother, and shook her head, dropping her backpack on the couch in the living room, she followed her into the kitchen, and sat down at the table as she began putting the cleaning goods away, and got out the ingredients for tea.

“Oh, it's a looong story, mama, so much has happened since I went back last week.”

“Is it bad, dear?”

Kagome shook her head.  “No,”  she said slowly,  “actually, it's good – at least, I think so.”

Hitomi smiled at her daughter as she sat down at the table as well while she waited for the teapot to reach a boil, and said,  “Well, then, why don't you tell me all about it, dear.  I like to know what's going on in my daughter's life.”

Kagome smiled back at her mother gratefully.  It always helped to talk to her, and even when there were no easy answers to her questions, just sharing the problems helped.  “Well, when I went back the last time, Sesshoumaru was waiting at the village to talk to all of us-”  she broke off as her mother's hand came up.

“Whoa, hold a minute.  Isn't he Inuyasha's brother – the one that's tried to kill you before?”

“Yeah, but that was a long time ago.  If anything, lately we've kinda been distant allies, I guess you could say.  He's changed a lot.”  She stopped, then continued when her mother nodded.  “Anyway, he told us that he had been looking for information about how to defeat Naraku, and he found out – well to make a long story short, he found something really unexpected – he found he and Inuyasha's father.  He really wasn't dead all this time – it was kinda like suspended animation, or something – some kind of spell.”

Eyes wide, Hitomi stared at her daughter.  “Wow.  So... that means what for your quest?”

“Well, see, the Inu no Taisho was one of the most powerful youkai to ever live, and now he's back, ready to fight on our side.  So now, we've all combined – us, Sesshoumaru, and their father, all of us against Naraku.  Now that we've got Sugimi-sama, that's his name, by the way, we'll win – Naraku can't stand against him, let alone him and his son's.  It's just a matter of finding him and the shards, now.”

Turning towards the stove, Hitomi thought about what she had just been told, and couldn't deny that she was pleased.  Anything that made things safer for her daughter was all to the good.  But...

“That sounds extremely good to me, Kagome, dear... but I sense a little reserve in your words.  Why is that?”  she asked.

Kagome blushed – trust her mother to pick up on that.  “I'm... it's just that,”  she looked down, then to the side, not knowing what to say,  “I, well... uh-”  she broke off again as her mother suddenly laughed as she placed a hot cup of tea down before her, then took a seat.  

“Oh, Kagome, honey, it's as clear as day.  You, young lady, are very attracted to this male, aren't you?”  she asked, amusement leaking from every pore as her daughter flushed even more violently and squirmed uncomfortably in her seat.  “It's about time, if you ask me,”  she said casually, causing Kagome's eyes to widen comically as her gaze flashed up to meet her mother's.  

“W-what?”  she asked, flabbergasted.

“Well, you've wasted so much time mooning over Inuyasha – I was beginning to really worry about you.  That boy is no kind of match for you, dear, he could never place you first in his heart.”  She met her daughter's gaze with a curious one of her own.  “So, this male, this Sugimi-sama... how does he react to you?”

“Oh, well, he, uhmm... he seems attracted, too,”  she mumbled, taking a sip of her tea and dropping her gaze.

“That's good, then – I think you should just see what comes naturally – let things develop between you two without complications, dear.  See where it all goes.  You never know – you might really like where it ends up,”  she said mischievously, winking at her daughter when she glanced back up at her.  “Why don't you tell me what he looks like?”

At that question, Kagome sighed, almost dreamily, and her mother chuckled.  “He's tall, very, very  tall, with the same silver hair and golden eyes as his sons, except his hair is so long he keeps it in a top-knot, because if he didn't, it would drag on the ground. You've never seen it, because Inuyasha's crests don't show up unless he's in his full demon form, but Sugimi-sama has blue crests along his cheeks.  It's a sign of his status – he's like youkai royalty.”  

She blushed again, then continued speaking.  “It's kinda hard to tell with his armor, but he's really well-built, muscular, but not bulky.  All in all... there's never been any human male that even came close – Inuyasha is a handsome guy, but his dad is something else entirely.”

Hitomi fanned a hand in front of her face with a grin at her daughter's expression.  “I think I'm actually jealous, dear - I would definitely love to see this male if he's managed to get your attention.  I've never seen you react like this to anyone.”

Kagome looked down again.  “Yeah, well, you've never seen a guy like him before, either,”  she mumbled.  “The only one I've even seen that comes close is Sesshoumaru – though I have to say, Sugimi-sama is like a perfect balance between Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru – elegant like Sesshoumaru, yet attractively rugged like Inuyasha.  He's perfect.”  

Standing up as she finished her tea, Hitomi pushed her chair back in as she extended a hand for Kagome's empty teacup.  “Sounds absolutely yummy, dear.  I think this male could be very good for you, Kagome – you need a bit of romance in your life, that's for certain.  Now,”  she patted her still-blushing daughter on the back,  “why don't you go take a nice bath before you worry about anything else.  How long are you here for?”

“I have to be back day after tomorrow – in the morning.  Why?”

“Well, your friends were wanting to stop by tomorrow, so this way you'll get a chance to spend some time with them,”  she said, smiling at her daughter before shooing her from the room.  “Now go enjoy some hot water, and you can worry about everything else later.”

Kagome nodded.  With a deep sigh, she headed out of the kitchen with a,  “Hai, mama,” drifting behind her.

Hitomi smiled after her daughter, then turned to rinse out their cups, pleased at what she'd found out from her.  Things were looking up, as far as she was concerned.

---sSs---

Kagome smiled at her three friends as they topped the stairs leading to the shrine and passed under the torii gate.  It had been a while since she'd seen them, and she was surprised to find that Yuka had let her hair grow out, since the last time she'd done that, she'd been about thirteen.

“Wow, Yuka,”  she called out as she trotted over to meet the girls,  “you look good with your hair like that!”

Yuka blushed a little then chuckled.  “Thanks, Kagome.  So, let's head out, shall we?”  she asked.

“Sure... I haven't been to the mall in forever,”  she sighed as her three boisterous friends tugged her along behind then, chattering a mile a minute.

She let them ramble on, answering vaguely once in a while as they walked; she had to smile, when she thought about her three best friends on this side of the well – they were so clueless about reality... everyone here was.  And that was why she just didn't fit in anymore.

Through the whole day, as they talked and wandered the mall, worrying about clothes and guys and college, Kagome just watched, in her own heart saying goodbye.  Because no matter what happened in the past, whether she lived or died in the fight against Naraku, she knew beyond any shadow of doubt that she would not be living her life here in this time that had birthed her.

But as she thought about it, she also knew that she would not be staying in the past because of Inuyasha – no matter what Kikyou's fate was, Kagome would never be more than friends  with the hanyou, and her heart had finally accepted that fact.

It hurt, oh, yes, it hurt – the heart does not give up its dreams easily or without pain, after all - but it didn't hurt as much as she'd always thought it would, and perhaps that said everything that needed saying.  

She was also aware, though, that Inuyasha wouldn't accept her decision easily.  She had finally come to the realization shortly before Sugimi-sama was woken that Inuyasha basically thought of her as his fall-back plan – if Kikyou passed on, then he would take her as his.  She couldn't allow that – she was nobodies second best; she absolutely refused to be that for anyone.

And in that regard, she decided that her mother was right.  She had no clue what would happen with Sugimi, but she would just go with the flow, and see what fate had in store for her.

She was pulled from her musings halfway through the obligatory visit to Wacdnalds, when Eri squealed most annoyingly and elbowed her.  “Hey, Kagome... look who's heading this way... it's Hojo – I bet he's gonna ask you out again,”  she winked.

Rolling her eyes in frustration, Kagome admitted to herself, finally, that Hojo's persistence was at least partially her fault.  Though she'd hoped that three years of blow-offs would get the message across, she should have just sucked it up and let him know in no uncertain terms that she wasn't interested.  Looked as though now was the time, however, because with that look on his face, Eri was right – he was going to ask her out yet again.

“Oi, Higurashi!  It's nice to see you out with your friends, and looking healthy,”  the boy chirped cheerfully.

“Oh, hai, Hojo, I am feeling pretty well lately,”  she said politely.

“Listen, would you like to catch a show with me this weekend?  I-”  he was cut off when Kagome slid from her spot at the table and motioned politely for him to follow her.

“Guys, I'll be back in a minute, okay?”  she said to her three fascinated friends, then turned to Hojo.  “I need to talk to you for a minute, Hojo; please, walk with me?”

The startled young male nodded, following her lead and stepping outside to speak near a deserted outdoor table.  “So, is anything wrong, Higurashi?”  he asked, a concerned frown on his face.

She sighed, then squared her shoulders.  “Hojo, please don't take this the wrong way, but you should find someone else to ask out on that date,”  she said quietly.

He looked taken aback.  “But I don't want anyone else, Higurashi, you should know that.  I only have feelings for you.”

Kagome looked away, hating what she was about to say, but knowing she had to do it.  “Hojo, while I'm flattered, I... I don't feel the same way.  I never have,”  she said sadly.  “Most of the time, if you remember, the girls were always accepting dates for me, no one really ever asked what I wanted.”  She met his pained gaze firmly.  “I have always thought of you as a friend, but...”  she trailed off, knowing from his expression that he understood what she was saying.

“I'm sorry that I have bothered you, then, Higurashi-san – I didn't realize that my attentions were unwelcome.”  The young man tucked his hands in his pockets defensively.  “I will not trouble you any further.”  With that, he bowed his head to her for a moment, then turned and walked away, and Kagome felt for him, she really did – she knew what it was like not to have your feelings returned.  But she had finally realized that in a way, she was stringing him along the same way Inuyasha had always done her by not telling him in the beginning that she wasn't interested.  

After all, if she had, then by now he might have already found someone else.  She watched him walk away for a moment, then turned and went back inside, sliding quietly into the booth with her friends again.

They all noticed her solemn expression, and knew what it meant.  “So you finally told poor, clueless Hojo about the bad-boy boyfriend, huh?”  Ayume asked sympathetically.

Kagome's eyes widened and she spluttered,  “What?!  Inuyasha?  No, of course not! He and I are just friends, honestly – and I don't even want anything more than that, anymore.  I just told him that I didn't return his feelings, and that he should move on.”  She looked away from her shocked friends.  “After three years, I still don't have feelings for Hojo, and I never will.  He needs to find someone who will return his feelings, it's only fair to him, after all, ne?”

The three girls had to admit she was right.  

“So, if not Hojo, then who, Kagome?  Do you have someone in mind for yourself?”  Eri asked slyly, and the three laughed when Kagome's cheeks brightened.

“I'm not saying.  Only time will tell,”  she chuckled, thinking that saying rather ironic.  Time... huh.  How funny...

Yuka grinned.  “So then what does this guy that only time will tell about look like, Kagome, hmm?”

Kagome grinned back mischievously.  If I were to tell them, they'd never believe it!  “Like a god,”  she said lightly, but refused to give out anything else no matter how hard her friends pressed, and after a last few stops with friends she somehow knew she wouldn't see again, she bid them goodbye, a few tears in her eyes as the three walked away, leaving her at the top of the shrine steps to look out over Tokyo with a bittersweet feeling in her heart.

Time... yes, it's kinda funny, really – because I know that my time here is running out.  I belong somewhen else now...

And maybe I always did.

---sSs---

Inuyasha groaned as he came to, for a moment not remembering what had happened to him, and confused as to why he hurt and felt so damn weak.  Opening his eyes slowly, he stared at the roof of a hut; he realized that it was Kaede's when he turned his head and saw her – as well as Sango, Miroku, and Shippo.

That was when his memories came flooding back to him, and he scowled.  He'd gotten into it but good with his erstwhile father, and had his ass thoroughly kicked.  He'd lost much worse this time than he did when fighting his brother, and what made it most humiliating was that the older male hadn't even been breathing hard.

“How long was I out,”  he growled.

Kaede cleared her throat.  “A little more than a day.  By tomorrow, ye should be healed quite nicely,”  she said calmly.  “Until then, ye should remain laying still and resting.”

Ignoring her last words, he attempted to sit up, before falling back, too weak and dizzy to get up.  He growled louder, angered, startling when he heard his father's voice.

“I believe the priestess told you to lay still and rest, boy – you will do as she has asked.”  Sugimi pushed the matting back and stepped into the hut, staring down at his thick-headed, stubborn son.  

“Oi, I can get up if I want, old man,”  he huffed.

“Do I need to take you back to that meadow and repeat the lesson in dominance, Inuyasha?  Have you forgotten that you submitted, then?”

Inuyasha flushed angrily, turning his face away and glaring at the wall of the hut.  “Fine.  I won't move, though I don't know why you give a damn if I get up now or not.”

The daiyoukai moved further into the hut and crouched near Inuyasha.  “You are my son, and you need to heal.  You cannot do that efficiently or in a timely manner if you are being stubborn and pushing yourself to move before your body is ready.”

“Yeah, well, if you hadn't screwed a human, then I'd be full-demon and not be holding you all up so much,”  he said sarcastically.  “Sorry if I'm weaker than you.”

Sugimi's eyes flashed red for a moment, and he gritted out,  “You will speak respectfully of your mother or not at all, whelp!  Perhaps it should be that you not be allowed to speak unless you have something of particular value to impart – at least until you have learned some manners.”

Miroku, Sango, Kaede, and Shippo had all watched the confrontation quietly, wondering about the dynamics between the two.  It was obvious that Inuyasha had a lot of anger against the older male – most of which was truly unfair.  After all, no one chooses to die, and the Inu no Taisho was no different in that aspect.  His time had come, and though he'd managed to cheat  Takemaru of his death, the position Inuyasha and his mother had been left in couldn't have been helped.

Inuyasha really needed to grow up.

Miroku spoke up, then, curious, and trying to calm the angry atmosphere in the hut down.  “My Lord, if you do not mind the question – do we indeed plan to leave tomorrow once Kagome arrives?”

Looking up from his perusal of his contrary pup, he met the monk's eyes.  “Hai, we will leave once the miko returns.”

“I have been wondering what your plans are, Sugimi-sama.  Do we go hunt directly after Naraku, or do we continue to search out the shards, and let the spider come to us?”  he asked, noting as Inuyasha turned back, obviously interested in his father's words.

Sugimi narrowed his eyes thoughtfully for a moment, then said,  “I have decided that we will continue to search for the shards, while masking my presence.  What the spider does not know will hurt him, after all, and keeping my presence secret will definitely pay off in the long run.”

Sango looked confused.  “But how are we supposed to keep you secret?”

“I can mask my presence – keeping my aura and scent hidden is no difficulty, and I can even keep people from seeing me entirely should I choose to do so.  But before we head off in search of more shards, I will need to visit Bokuseno, and get a sheath for my new friend here,”  he said, patting the hilt of his sword.

“Well, that's it, then,”  Kaede said.  “As I said, Inuyasha will be fine by tomorrow, so ye will all be able to leave on schedule – providing Kagome returns on time, of course,”  she chuckled.

Brow quirked, Sugimi glanced over at her.  “Does she often return late, then?”  he asked.

“No, but it has happened a few times.  She is usually only delayed by a few hours, though,”  Miroku said.

“Feh,”  Inuyasha muttered.  “She usually does it to piss me off, and that's the truth.”

“Really?”  the daiyoukai asked skeptically.

With a shake of her head and a slight giggle, Sango spoke up.  “Actually, he's telling the truth.  A few times, Kagome has actually done it simply to annoy him.  But don't worry, Sugimi-sama, Kagome won't do that to you.  She'll be back when she said, unless something bad happens on her side of the well.”

Sugimi nodded, relieved, ignoring his son's irate scoff.  “That is good to know, Taijiya,”  he said with a quick smile.  After a moment, he turned and made his way back out of the hut, saying over his shoulder,  “If Inuyasha tries to give you any more trouble, just step outside and call me.  I will return and deal with the stubborn mule.”

Inuyasha scowled at the laughter that came at that, glaring at his father's disappearing back.  “Feh!”


Converting /tmp/php4VTAN3 to /dev/stdout