InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Tomaru's Story ❯ Chapter 3

Chapter 3

 

Kagome's heart was thumping hard against her chest as Kirara raced back to the battlefield. How badly was Inuyasha hurt? Would she be able to help him? Her breath caught as her thoughts turned to the worst: what if he… died? Tears started to slide down her cheeks. No. She couldn't lose him. She wouldn't give up and she wouldn't let him give up either.

 

Kirara finally started her descent to where Inuyasha lay, with a silent Miroku locked in prayer at his side. Kagome wiped the tears off her face and jumped off Kirara before the demon cat even landed on the ground. She ran to Inuyasha, her face pale.

 

Inuyasha lay wrapped in Miroku's kesa, but the entire cloth had already changed from blue to black with the vast amount of blood loss from his wounds. His golden eyes were open but vacant.

 

“Inu…yasha?” Kagome whispered, her eyes growing wet with tears. He didn't respond and Kagome fell to her knees at his side, right in front of where his eyes were directed. “Inuyasha? It's Kagome… can you hear me?”

 

Miroku stood and walked over to Sango, who was watching the sad scene from a short distance away with Kirara, who had shrunk back to kitten size. Sango had tears in her eyes as she watched Kagome try to get Inuyasha to respond. As Miroku stopped next to her to watch them with her, Sango turned and hugged Miroku as tightly as she could. She may fight with him and act horrified at his lecherous ways, but in her heart she loved him with all her soul. She couldn't imagine losing Miroku the way Kagome might be losing Inuyasha.

 

Miroku looked down at Sango, shocked for a moment, then put his arms around her and embraced her, giving her all the love and comfort he could. Now that the threat of Naraku was gone, and with him the fatal Wind Tunnel, Miroku could now focus on living a normal life- be it as a monk, or as his heart desired: with Sango as his bride. He looked up at Kagome, who had turned her head away from Inuyasha for a moment, focusing on something else nearby.

 

“What is it, Kagome?” Miroku asked, concerned.

 

Kagome looked over at Miroku, a little stunned. “I… I sense…the Shikon no Tama that Naraku had. You know… the almost complete one?” She pointed to a place near where Naraku had started to disintegrate. “It's over there.” She looked down at Inuyasha as she began stroking his head, his ears. “And Kouga is on his way… I can sense his shards as well.”

 

Miroku looked down at Sango, who had turned to look at Kagome with an expression of shock and wonder. She turned her gaze up to the young monk and the two of them ran to where Kagome had pointed. Sure enough, sitting in the grass was the almost completed Shikon no Tama that Naraku had used to increase his power. Miroku picked it up and held it up, disbelieving that he was finally holding what they had been hunting for so long. He turned his gaze back to Kagome, who continued to stroke Inuyasha's head, her face blank and her eyes vacant.

 

“KAGOME!” A whirlwind raced toward them and Kouga the Wolf Demon appeared his blue eyes wide with concern. “Naraku… he's gone! How…?” He looked down at Inuyasha's inert form on the ground and Kagome's continuing caresses. His eyes widened more. “What happened to Mutt-face? He got his ass kicked, didn't he? Knew Naraku was too much for him- he should've just stayed home in doghouse…” Kouga trailed off as he caught the look from Miroku and Sango. “What?”

 

“Inuyasha was… fatally injured as Naraku was defeated,” Miroku explained quietly. “There isn't anything we can do at this point…”

 

Kagome turned her head toward the trio, her eyes not focusing on anything. “There is one thing.”

 

Sango looked down at Kagome. “What do you mean? Is there something you can do for him in your time or something?”

 

Kagome shook her head slightly, and then turned to Kouga.

 

“You know my feelings for you, Kouga, were never anything more than friendship,” she said quietly, her gaze still unfocused. “But if you truly love me as you claim, then you will give me your jewel shards in your legs.”

 

Kouga stared at her for a moment, completely nonplussed. “If I give you the shards…” he trailed off, his mind completing the meaning of her request. “I suppose, after all, now that all the shards are found and restored, that I don't need your shard-finding ability.”

 

He looked down at her, his arms crossed and his expression grim. Then he turned his gaze to the still form of Inuyasha. “Besides,” he grinned, “I suppose I should've told you that Ayame and I are to be mated.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. He opened his eyes and looked down at Kagome again, seeing her paleness, her vacant stare, and her listless movements. She was hurting and it was all that stupid hanyou's fault.

 

He sat on the ground, legs crossed, eyes closed. Miroku and Sango watched him mutely as the Wolf Demon pondered his fate in silence. Kagome turned her attention, such as it was, back to Inuyasha. As she stroked the hanyou's white ears and gently touched his face, Kouga reached over and held out his hand, two slender jewel shards lying on his palm.

“Here,” he said, trying to act gruff. “Although I don't know what good they will do you...” Kagome turned slightly, nodded, and took the two shards. Then she turned toward Sango.

 

“Kohaku? You can come out now. Naraku is gone.” She turned her attention back to Inuyasha for the moment, as Sango turned around to see her little brother Kohaku standing nervously behind them.

 

“Kohaku? You… you're okay?” Sango flung herself at her little brother, who joyfully accepted her hug.

 

“Yes, sister,” he replied, sadly. “My memories- I have them back. But I also had the realization that while I did horrible things in my life, I have the chance to do something good now.” He pulled out of her embrace and walked to Kagome and Inuyasha. Sango watched him go, her heart heavy and denial caught in her throat.

 

The young boy kneeled next to Kagome, his head bowed. “Naraku gave me this shard so that he could use me to hurt others. Please- I ask that you now use it to heal Inuyasha and end the last of the evil of Naraku.”

 

Kagome looked up at Sango, her gaze finally focusing on the silently crying young woman. “Sango?”

 

Sango smiled through her tears. “It's all right, Kagome,” she said quietly. “I knew this day would have to come eventually. I'm just happy that Kohaku's death will save Inuyasha's life.”

 

Kagome nodded her head once. Kohaku remained as he was, kneeling with his head bowed.

 

Kagome reached over slowly, saddened by the turn of events. She touched his shoulder where the jewel shard rested, feeling for its exact location. With her other hand, she lifted one of her arrows. Verifying where the jewel shard was, she brought the arrow down hard, wincing as she did so. A small, pinkish jewel shard popped out, and immediately after the shard left, Kohaku smiled as his body fell forward. He finally felt at peace.

 

Kagome reached over and picked up the final jewel shard, looking at it. She looked down at her beloved Inuyasha, who was fading as they waited. Sango dropped to her knees next to Kohaku's body, lifting it partially into her lap and giving him one last embrace as she watched Kagome. Miroku kneeled by Sango's side, offering her his support. He closed his eyes and spoke some rites for Kohaku.

 

Kagome turned her attention back to the jewel shards. She placed the final three shards with the larger jewel between her hands and clasped them together in front of her heart, as though praying.

 

A pale pink light shone out from between Kagome's clasped hands as she concentrated, her eyes closed but tearful. This had to work. Finally, she opened her eyes and opened her hands.

 

Miroku and Sango both looked into her hands to see a perfectly spherical, completed Shikon no Tama. It was done! All the shards of the jewel had been found and restored.

Kagome turned her attention back to Inuyasha, still holding the Shikon no Tama in her hand. She leaned down and looked into Inuyasha's eyes.

 

“Inuyasha? Can you hear me?” She caressed his dog ears gently as she brushed his white hair out of his face.

 

Inuyasha's eyes came slightly into focus, blinking. He spoke, his voice rough and weak. “Ka-gome? Wha-what…?” He coughed, blood trickling out of the side of his mouth. Kagome shushed him.

 

“It's going to be okay, Inuyasha,” she whispered, cupping his face in her hand. “Naraku is defeated, completely. It's over.”

 

Inuyasha lifted his arm and took her hand. He focused his eyes as best he could on Kagome's face- she was starting to fade from his vision. “Kagome- there's something I need to tell you, before it's too late,” he rasped out. Kagome tried to quiet him again, but he squeezed her hand tighter.

 

“No! I need to say this,” he growled. “I may not get another chance, and I know it.” He passed his gaze around his friends, his brother, and finally landing on Kouga, who was watching a short distance away, his arms folded across his chest. “Sesshoumaru!” he called out in a grunt. “I know you're still here. I can smell your stink.”

 

Kagome looked up at Sesshoumaru, who walked over and stared down at Inuyasha with bored disinterest on his face. “What do you want now, half-breed? Can't you just die and get it over with?”

 

Inuyasha growled, and winced in pain. “I don't have time to listen to your griping right now,” he spat. “I need you to promise me you'll send Kagome back to her home after I'm gone.”