InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ To Nowhere ❯ The End ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer: Inu-Yasha is property of Rumiko Takahashi and her respective publishing companies... although I wouldn't mind borrowing him some time...

A/N: There may be a lot of OOCness in this fic. Sorry if that bothers you, flame me if it makes you feel better... but I won't change it b/c as I stated above I am not Rumiko Takahashi and I will not force myself to write as though I am her. This is MY interpretation of her characters and it's my fanfiction so I'll do with them whatever I please

Also,I am not nor do I claim to be any expert on Japanese language or culture. Seeing as this story takes place in Japan, I've included a few Japanese words. I apologize if I've made some mistakes, if you tell me my mistakes I'll be very grateful and happy to fix them.

That being said, I hope you enjoy my story (I really enjoyed writing it!)

{Please give me reviews so I will be inspired to continue!!!!}

***

It was completely unreal. Kagome stood rigidly, still positioned after the last arrow had been shot, not daring to take a breath as though it might break the celestial spell that had somehow cast everyone into this supremely good fortune. Through the stream of sweat and blood dripping into her eyes, she gawked in shock at the disintegrating body of Naraku. The only sound she could hear was the frantic beating of her own heart as it threatened to burst right through her ribcage. Standing beside her, Sango, Miroku, and Inu Yasha remained just as stoic as she. Sango held Hiraikotsu behind her, ready to attack in case her eyes were deceiving her, while Miroku clutched his staff, and Inu Yasha held the still fully transformed Tessaiga above his head, ready for Kaze no Kizu. On the opposite side of the ravine, Sesshomaru maintained his own silent disbelief as he stared at the dying Naraku. No one could say or do anything. Everyone waited for the real Naraku to show up and expose the ridiculousness of their futile hopes. This was just another puppet - it had to be.

A cool breeze draped the abused ravine and slowly began to revive the battered combatants back to reality. Kagome stared at Kagura's battered and bloody robe lying on the mud near the spot Naraku had fallen. The wind sorceress had died fighting against Naraku in a last attempt to gain her own freedom, giving the others the upper hand they needed to deliver a final blow. Feeling a firm pressure on her back, Kagome flashed back to the real world as all the pain of her injuries hit her as though she were falling flat on her face. The gentle warmth of a strong hand had not reached its goal in slowly coaxing her out of a daze while offering needed comfort.

"Go get it."

Kagome struggled to understand the request. That voice, while her world was so busy spinning violently off its access, was to too ambiguous to all her to completely grasp the rythym of the words that now swivelled around her, only causing more pain in her head. She knew it was Inu Yasha, but his voice sounded strangely delicate and somehow distant. His words were simple, yet laced with sorrow and awe that indicated some deep-rooted meaning that at this fleeting moment completely aluded her. Using what little coordination she had left, she slowly turned her head back to face him in silent plea for an explanation, but his eyes were locked on something behind her. With gradual realization, she carefully traced his gaze to the tainted Shikon No Tama lying on the ground a few yards in front of her. It sat, unceromoniously, in a tiny pocket of sand dotted with fresh blood. Finally grasping Inu Yasha's meaning, she began stumbling forward, completey devoid of the Adrenalin rush that had been pushing her up to this point. She gasped from a combination of searing pain, surprise, and warmth when Inu Yasha grabbed her and helped her stagger to the jewel.

Dropping to her knees, Kagome cradled the Shikon No Tama in her hands as though the slightest movement might shatter it all over again. The dark evil faded away, as the jewel was purified in her hands, and she took in a deep breath of relief, causing an unexpected pain from to shoot from her ribcage. Grasping the jewel firmly between her palms, she held it to her chest. Carefully, she traced the surface of the jewel with her thumb and paid particular attention to the rough area that stretched only a small bit on one side of the jewel. It was almost complete - only one shard left unaccounted for. She turned her head up and offered a smile to Miroku and Sango, still too much in shock for words. The scene before her, however, tore her heart to pieces.

A badly beaten Sango held a shuddering and whimpering Kohaku in her arms, the tears freely flowing from her eyes. The young Taijiya's outfit was ripped in several places and her armor was badly damaged, and although she didn`t seem to be suffering any life-threatening wounds, Kagome thought the vision looked like the careful presentation of a war zone in a newspaper. Blood dripped slowly from wounds hidden beneath the black fabric of her clothes and shared its resting place with the warm tears that had run astray down into the soft ground. Each drop seemed to resonate in Kagome's ears as she came to realization that Sango was about to be forced to let go of the brother she had sought so long to rescue. Bhind them the sun was setting, leaving them silhouetted against the warm oranges and reds that reflected the blood seeping from the wounds deep inside their hearts.

Miroku had crouched down behind her, lending an arm around her shoulder for comfort but with little prevail. The young boy had his memories and he was shaking violently in response to the horrors of it all. Sango gently rubbed his back in futile compensation. She understood more than anyone that he would die when the jewel shard was removed from his back, but she couldn't bear to see him part the world in a state such as this. Still, she didn't want to see him suffer. Perhaps it was kinder to let him pass on. No. He could never find peace like this. He still needed her help.

"Please, Kohaku… you've done nothing wrong… I'll…" Sango pleaded through her sobs, but she couldn't find the right words. No matter how deep inside herself she searched, there was nothing she could say to ease his pain.

"Please understand…" Sango continued, but she still could not get the words out. How was she supposed to say goodbye when she had just fought so hard to get him back? She rested her head on his head and allowed him to listen to her heart beat, in hopes that it would make him understand that she was here for him. Pulling him in tighter against her chest, she began to very quietly sing a song their mother had often sang to them as children. As she sang, she slowly drifted into a place pushed far back in her mind. She remembered training lessons, eating with her entire family, all the friends she had in her village, the first boy she liked, the day she was given Kirara, and all the other simple times she had taken for granted. She could smell her mother's cooking and she could feel the smooth leather handle of the heavy weapons in her hands as she first started her training. She longed to feel the happiness she had felt then, the warmth and compassion, but all that was far out of her reach. She felt as though she were running after something, only to see it disappear the moment it was within her grasp.

She was vaguely aware of Miroku holding her while making small comforting noises, but she was too far gone to respond nor question his sudden behaivior. She only felt an incredible, searing guilt begin to build up in the pit of her stomach. It latched onto her entire being from her head to her toes. She wasn't the one in need of comfort, Kohaku was in immense pain before her eyes and she could do nothing. He was in her arms, but completely out of her reach. Who was she to accept any kind of empathy for her suffering. Kohaku's tortures ran so much deeper.

To their side, Kagome managed to struggle out of her hanyou's death grip and tried to make her way toward her tormented friend. Inu Yasha quickly brought Kagome back into his arms again, protectively fitting his arms around her shoulders and pulling her back against his stomach. Kagome whined, but did little to struggle since she was unwilling to let the Shikon No Tama out from her clasped fingers and had learned that more movement welcomed more pain. Inu Yasha, meanwhile, tried his best to appraise her wounds while she was distracted. She was covered in blood, and he knew it wasn`t all hers, but a particularly deep cut on her head was worrying him to no end. They could help Sango later, but for the time being, Inu Yasha's only responsibility was taking care of Kagome.

"Hey stupid… you're gonna hurt yourself worse…" Inu Yasha chastised, trying not to show the utter fear that still came dripping from his voice. Lifting his gaze to the heartbreaking huddle before him, he spoke louder, "Miroku", which Miroku to violently turn his head to face him.

"I'm taking Kagome back to Kaede's village. Meet us there when you can." With that, Inu Yasha slipped off his fire rat haori and draped it around Kagome, pulling her up into his arms with one swift movement. It may have been a little late to offer her that protection, but she looked cold in her small fabric pieces. In response to his sudden movement, Kagome started yelling that she was fine, but Inu Yasha paid her no heed.

Miroku simply nodded and watched as Inu Yasha took off with Kagome, who was still struggling violently against his hold. When the two were far from eyesight, he turned back to Sango and noticed with a degree of contentment that Kohaku seemed to be calming down quickly. He allowed the two of them to rest for a while longer as Sango finished her serenade, but he was eager to get back since Sango looked as though she needed medical attention as well.

"I think it would be wise to get him someplace to rest." Miroku suggested when he noticed Kohaku was falling asleep.

Sango didn't reply, just nodded her head faintly. Miroku stood and called Kirara, then helped lift Sango on the fire cat's back, while she still kept Kohaku cradled in her arms. Miroku climbed on behind Sango, and the group made their way back to Kaede's village.

In the tiny hut, Inu Yasha fidgeted while he sat by Kagome's sleeping form. He knew she wasn't too badly wounded, but she had still lost a lot of blood. She had scrapes and bruises all over her arms and legs, and a sizable gash on her forehead, right below her hairline. Kaede had already bandaged her up, and sworn to the nervous hanyou that she would be fine, but that didn't stop him from worrying. Not that he'd tell her any of this when she finally woke up. Absently he pushed her bangs, still caked with blood, out of her face and tucked his haori more securely around her. He was not real sure what good it would do now, but for some reason he felt she would appreciate it. Looking at her carefully, he couldn't even remember what could have caused that gash on her forehead. Then again, the last minutes of the battle had passed so quickly he could not remember much of anything. A circle had formed around Naraku and his own lackeys turned against him. The defeat had been nothing short of pure luck. Had any single person reacted a moment later, they would probably all be dead. Finally convinced that Kagome wasn't going anywhere, he closed his eyes and tried to sleep.

Moments later, his ears twitched at the sound of someone creeping slowly into the hut. Opening his eyes sleepily, he watched Sango step in with Kohaku cradled protectively in her arms. Miroku followed in immediately behind her and helped her lay Kohaku down on a futon already placed neatly beside Kagome's. Both Miroku and Sango sat together across from Inu Yasha and said nothing for a long while.

Miroku finally broke the silence, "Kagome-sama is doing well, I presume?"

"Keh. Bitch fell asleep."

Miroku raised an eyebrow as Inu Yasha continued to murmur something about weak humans and stupid girls. He carefully placed an arm around Sango and tried to steal a look at her face to see how well she was taking it. The expression on her tear-stained face burned him to the core.

"I am going to go get us all something to eat. We really do need nourishment after that battle. Is there anything else I can get for you, Sango?"

Sango merely shook her head and kept her eyes on her little brother. Miroku sighed and stood up, giving Sango a sad look before he made his way past her. As he was walking toward the doorway, he heard Sango mutter something.

"Sango?"

"Thank you… Miroku."

Miroku stopped in his tracked and looked to Sango with a degree of wander in his eyes. She never called him 'Miroku'… always 'Houshi-sama'. The implications of that one phrase delighted him greatly and in return, he gave her a small smile and continued outside. Naraku's death was still a little unbelievable for him, but there was one way to be sure. Making sure he was a good distance from the others, he pulled off the prayer beads and inspected his hand. Sure enough, his kazaana had dissipated. It was an odd feeling, he was thankful - more than anything he was thankful - but, still, it was an odd feeling. It had happened once before when Naraku had slipped into a coma, mimicking death, only to return later through Sango's little brother. It hadn't lasted then, so Miroku was not completely confident it would last now. It seemed too good to be true, but yet Miroku himself had witnessed it. He had watched as Naraku died, and it had been a difficult battle. Everyone was very lucky to have survived. He laughed to himself, considering how ironic it would be if he dropped dead tomorrow of some simple sickness or misfortune. His smile then broadened when he remembered his promise to Sango. They would live together… and she would have his children. She had said so herself. Now that was almost too good to be true.

Inside the hut, Sango woke Kohaku from an obvious nightmare. She pushed his hair out of his face and tried to speak, but words failed her. She still had not the slightest idea what to say to him. She had told him she forgave him for what happened that horrific night, and that she knew father and the others did as well. But it didn't seem enough. He was going to die as soon as the shard was removed, and she knew well that it had to be removed. Should she tell him he was dying? Did he know already? Her thoughts were interrupted.

"Aneue… I`m glad you`re alive."

Sango tried to smile through her tears. For the first time in so long, she saw warmth and unconditional love in her little brother's eyes. Her heart ached at the distant broken look deep beneath the love, but she knew that he was ready to go. Fate had been cruel to him in this life, but maybe he would find something better on the other side. Sango carefully turned him on his side and did her best to remove the shard without causing too much pain. He rolled back over on to his back and smiled at her.

"You should try to get some sleep. I'll be right here watching you, so you don't need to worry." Sango said quietly, while smoothing his hair.

Kohaku nodded, looking somehow content beneath his obvious discomfort. Sango smiled back and bit her lip to hold back her tears. After he had fallen asleep, Sango willingly let the tears fall freely from her muddy and bruised face. Each tear burned as it slid down her cheeks, leaving moist tracks along her face that each told a story about her life before Naraku. There was a tear for every lessen she had ever taught Kohaku, every compliment their father had given them, and every day she had been without him. He was free now, and Naraku would not find him again. Sango felt a reassuring hand on her shoulder and turned to lean into Miroku's comforting embrace. She had not even heard him return and she was more grateful then ever that she had met him. And, for once in his life, the good monk knew better than to grope a beautiful girl.

Unbeknownst to the others, Inu Yasha walked out of the hut as quietly as he could. He needed to get some fresh air, and he needed it fast. He walked around aimlessly, not completely conscious of what he was looking for. Finally, convinced that it was not there to be found, he situated himself on a tree branch and began to unravel the days events. Naraku was finally gone, Kohaku was at rest, Miroku was cured, the jewel was almost complete, and Kagome was still alive. He had accomplished almost everything he had set out to do, but there was one thing left and he didn`t know what to do about it.

How would he find Kikyou? He knew she'd hear about Naraku's death soon enough, and she'd come for him, but when would that be? He'd gotten revenge for her death, so now he had to follow her. He owed her. Inu Yasha sighed deeply. He was waiting for his own death, and it wasn't some long-awaited reunion like Kikyou sometimes appeared hope it would be. He missed Kikyou, dearly, but he wasn't ready to die, in fact he was far from it. A year ago he had been ready and would have followed her without looking back. But now…

He still had something to live for and although he wasn't completely sure what it was, he somehow knew he would be making a huge mistake if he missed out on it. An unnamed voice in the back of his mind screamed at him, wanting him to stay in this world. He wanted to scream back in frustration because he knew he couldn't just turn his back on Kikyou. He longed to be with her - to be reunited with his lost love and finally rid himself of the guilt that had been overwhelming him since he learned the truth about her death. The other part of him, however, longed for her to let go so that he could do the same. He tried to push that part of him away and ignored it as best as he could. His life was in her hands. He had no other choice than the let her make the call. He had failed her too many times, and he couldn't bear to do it again. He would do as she wished and it was a simple as that. If she refused to let him go…

He'd never see Kagome again.