InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Truth's Tears ❯ Prelude to Life ( Chapter 1 )

Disclaimer~ All rights for Inu Yasha belong to Rumiko Takahashi. This fiction is only for entertainment purposes. And if any part of this fanfiction resembles another it is purely coincidental.

A's/N ~ Boy was this difficult to write. Well here's our newest fic, and we're breaking off from our normal, "hi, lets fuck" theme. Don't get us wrong there will be a lemon in here, somewhere, but it won't be the usual `I love you, and they lived happily ever after.' To warn you now before anyone gets any preconceived ideas, this fic will rotate on all the bad things that could happen in the end of the series. Of course our ideas may be different from most, but that's what makes writing a new and common theme breaking fic interesting. So if your prepared for the worst, please sit back and enjoy what our horrible little minds have come up with.

Chapter One ~ Prelude to Life

Slowly a young man made his way toward the attic of his mother's old home, dust had already begun to settle over the previously immaculate furniture. She had passed away merely a day ago sharing with him a story he was having a hard time believing.

"The old well on the temple grounds carried me 500 years to the past...."

Shaking his dark head the young man took one last glance around her home before making his way upstairs. Portraits of himself as a child hung on the wall, pictures of her were limited and few and there wasn't a single photo of his father anywhere.

"I met a man who changed my life...."

Continuing up the stairs, the son stopped briefly to lay his slender fingers over a low hanging portrait of his mother taken only a few years ago. Her dark hair softened with age and streaks of white while her face still held the sad look he had come to know his entire life. He had never seen his mother as happy as she was yesterday.

"A gem hidden within my body...."

Closing his violet eyes, the young man slowly dropped his hand from his mother's portrait and turned to continue up the stairs. One last request she had made of him, one last favor she had asked him, forgiveness.

"My memories are hidden in the attic....."

Finally reaching the attic opening, he gazed at the small door a moment before reaching up and pulling on the handle. His heart had begun to beat faster and he couldn't help but wonder what he would find hidden in murky darkness of that long forgotten room. A sharp creak broke the eerie silence of the house and the young man could have sworn he heard the air around him groan.

"Inu Yasha...."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Kagome!" Shippo cried out as he leapt into her waiting arms and quickly nestled into her chest before he whined softly against the fabric of her top. "Inu Yasha was being a jerk! He hit me...again...for no reason...repeatedly!"

Kagome laughed softly at Shippo's antics while the mentioned hanyou gave a sharp warning growl to the lying kit. Huffing softly to himself, Inu Yasha spun around stiffly before speaking gruffly, "Come on, we're running late. Those shards aren't going to find themselves ya know!"

Kagome rolled her eyes at Inu Yasha's back before following and quickly answering the never-ending flow of questions that came from Shippo's young and curious mouth. Kagome smiled tenderly as the village came into view, home. After three years in this time, going on the various missions, fighting all kinds of youkai, this one small village was more a home to her than any other place. Shippo had stopped talking a long time ago and a sucker now securely placed in his mouth leaving Kagome completely to her thoughts.

Had it only been three years ago that she had started this quest? It felt like she had lived this way forever; the constant jumping between times, the constant jewel shard hunting, the never-ending battles between power greedy youkai and she was still no closer to finishing this quest then she was having Inu Yasha proclaim his undying love for her.

Groaning softly to herself, Kagome allowed herself a moment of heartache as she thought about the man so close to her heart. Inu Yasha, half human and half youkai, promised to live in hatred and sorrow and to end his life with the resurrected remains of his first love. Kagome had stopped trying to tell Inu Yasha he could do things differently that he didn't need to kill himself for a woman who was already dead. Her heart ached a little more as she wished he could see her in the same light he saw Kikyo. She loved him more than life, she would never force him to be anything than he already was and yet he knew all of this but his promise to Kikyo came before his love for her.

Kagome smiled a soft sad smile as she took her gaze from the growing village before her and looked to the dark red back of the man she loved. Tenderly she gazed over the silvery length of his hair, wishing she could just throw her promise aside and rush into his arms. Wishing just for once he would cradle her in his arms like he had cradled Kikyo, kissed her as passionately as he had kissed Kikyo, loved her as much as she loved him.

Kagome smiled as Inu Yasha's bright yellow eyes turned on her, curiosity and suspicion dancing in those depths a moment before he snorted softly and turned his gaze once again to the road ahead. Her smile disappeared as she allowed herself only a couple more moments of heartache before she banished it away, forcing it to the deep recesses of her heart.

Taking silent, control steps Inu Yasha moved forward. The small village where the other's were waiting coming slowly into view, as soft pang of regret hit his heart as he watched the small plumes of smoke make they way skyward. Here he had once sought revenge, here he was beaten, here is where his heart died 53 years ago only to be reawakened by a small girl from another time. Kagome, the reincarnation of the woman he had been willing to give everything, his love his heart and his youkai blood. And yet he was still bound to a promise he had made, a promise he could not break and would leave the second woman he had ever loved alone.

Inu Yasha could feel Kagome's growing sorrow as they moved on, Shippo had finally ceased his nerve breaking chatter leaving them in silence. A silence he knew Kagome was using and breaking her already broken heart. Sighing softly, he reluctantly turned his gaze toward Kagome and caught one of her fake heartwarming smiles. Frowning slightly, Inu Yasha snorted to himself before turning his gaze back to the road ahead. Why did she feel she had to hide things from him, he knew how she felt and it hurt him. If there was anything he could do to ease her pain, if even for one day he would, but she held onto her promise as strongly as he did to his own.

Inu Yasha groaned softly as they finally entered the village, Kagome was welcomed happily by all while he was still greeted tentatively and as politely as the leery townspeople would allow. Shippo's silence ended the second Kaede's hut came into view, he quickly began to inform Kagome of what had happened while she was gone. Miroku and Sango slowly emerged from the small hut and waved at the newly arrived group, Miroku for once keeping his hands to himself.

"Lady Kagome, it's good to see you again." Miroku said pleasantly as he moved forward to greet her.

Sango simply embraced her in a sisterly hug, reminding Kagome of other things besides her impossible love. And yet unwanted thoughts of Inu Yasha still flooded her mind as she pulled away from Sango's embrace. Her eyes drifting over his agile form as he adamantly spoke with Miroku, his posture slowly becoming rigid as Miroku's words stressed him. And though she knew she should be listening intently to what was being said she couldn't pull her eyes away from Inu Yasha's fixed form.

"Lady Kagome, what thoughts do have on this matter," Miroku asked, his intense violet eyes addressing her.

Kagome stared blankly at Miroku before she realized he was speaking to her. Blushing slightly Kagome smiled sheepishly as she asked him to repeat what had just been said.

Miroku grinned mischievously as he graciously repeated his previous question, "Lady Kagome, I was just asking if you would like to celebrate your birthday here or wait for a few more days."

Kagome's sheepish expression quickly transformed to uncontainable joy as she squealed happily. Her hands clasped together as she cried out, "You remembered?"

Miroku smirked as he responded, "Of course, Lady Kagome such a special occasion would be hard to forget." His warm eyes full of mirth as he turned to cast a wink at Inu Yasha, almost as if to say, `you owe me one.'

Inu Yasha snorted softly as he spun on his heal with a barely audible "Keh" and entered Kaede's hut. Kagome paid little attention to Inu Yasha as she eagerly spoke with Miroku over the small birthday party details. She was surprised when Miroku told her everything had already been planned and all she had to do was enjoy the celebration.

Shippo's excited voice joined Miroku's as he bounced happily on the ground, "And we planned a BIG party, with lots of treats and gifts and games and...and...and lots of fun things! It'll be so much fun Kagome, I hope you like it!"

Kagome laughed lightly as she lifted Shippo up and into her arms, "I'm sure I will Shippo." Then turning to Miroku and smiling thankfully, "You really shouldn't have done all of this, it really wasn't necessary. Thank you."

Miroku returned Kagome's smile as he bowed his head and responded, "For all you have done for us, for all you have risked, this is our way of thanking you, Lady Kagome."

Kagome smiled brightly before she turned to Sango and chirped happily, "Well, I guess I have a long night awaiting me. How `bout we go wash up before everything gets started."

Sango smiled as she nodded her head and turned for the hut to retrieve her belongs before following Kagome to the spring.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Kagome this is from me!" Shippo exclaimed before he thrust a small package into her waiting hands.

"Thank you Shippo," Kagome kissed the top of his head before opening the fabric wrapped box. Inside she found a small top, identical to the ones he used for his fox-magic -- only this one was much more ornate and so much more special to her.

"Oh Shippo, its beautiful. Thank you so much."

"Kaede helped me make it for you, it's part her gift as well." Shippo was wearing a cheek splitting grin as Kagome nodded her head to the old woman.

"Thank you, Kaede. It is very beautiful."

Another gift was presented to her and Kagome smiled to her good friend and sister-like influence, Sango. The wrapping was quickly pulled away and Kagome let out a sudden laugh as she gazed over the small figurine in her hand. A dog, not any dog, a certain dog demon cut out of rock with the gentle care only a master craftsman could accomplish.

Giggling lightly Kagome thanked Sango before presenting her new figurine to the actual model for the piece. Inu Yasha gazed at the small figure for only a moment before his eyes widened, that was HIM!

"What the Hell! It doesn't look anything like me! Feh!" A warm blush touched his cheeks as he glared at a very pleased Sango.

Miroku casually gazed at the miniature Inu Yasha and grinned, "Why Inu Yasha, I believe it looks exactly like you. Lady Sango did a brilliant job of creating the most minuscule detail."

A low, harsh growl sounded from the annoyed hanyou, and yet aside from that he remained silent. Kagome continued to chuckle lightly as Miroku handed her his gift, a strangely familiar twinkle in his eye. Unable to insult before knowing what exactly was inside, Kagome tensilely opened the simple wrapping. Her gaze turned from worried to curious as she pulled out a small blue vile of what looked to be a scented oil.

"Miroku?"

"A gift to bring you prosperity and much happiness. Do not worry, it is nothing more than a simple scented oil that you may wear when you choose." Kagome smiled, still slightly worried, as she thanked the monk.

Setting her gifts aside Kagome again thanked everyone for their generosity before a husky voice sounded from behind her.

"Kagome."

Turning around Kagome looked upon the shadowed form of Inu Yasha and waited.

"Um, I have something for you."

Kagome smiled brightly as she waited for Inu Yasha to hand her, her gift. Frowning slightly when he stood up.

"Its not here." He motioned for her to stand as he quickly left the hut.

Kagome shrugged her shoulders as she stood and followed him outside. Kagome found Inu Yasha squatting down as his posture wordlessly told her she needed to get on in order to get to her gift. Frowning a little more, Kagome climbed on and held on tightly to his outer robes.

Inu Yasha wasted little time as he leapt through the air and bounded over the treetops, giving Kagome a breathtaking view of the surrounding area. He stopped after several minutes and let Kagome down then moved away from her and looked forward. Inu Yasha let his gaze pass over the horizon before he glanced out of the corner of his eye to Kagome, waiting for her reaction.

Kagome followed his lead and watched as the twilight turned to dusk, and finally to night. She watched in awe as bright hues of orange and lavender transformed to a dark violet blue, allowing the stars to sparkle brightly. Her hands had drifted over her heart as she continued to gaze around her new surroundings, a pool of water gleamed in the moon and starlight, reflecting the stars over its glassy surface. Stars from above and below twinkled brightly and Kagome let out a soft sigh, it was truly and utterly beautiful.

"I couldn't find anything to give you, so I thought this might make up for it." Inu Yasha's voice was husky and unsure as he watched her from the corner of his eye.

Kagome turned to face him, her eyes watering over as she reached out and took one of his hands, "Oh Inu Yasha, this is the best gift anyone has given me. Its so beautiful, so peaceful and so romantic, thank you so much for sharing this with me."

Inu Yasha smiled briefly before he quickly covered it up with a half-hearted "Keh" his hand still tightly held in Kagome's as they continued to watch the twinkling of the stars.

tbc...

Mystic: ::sob:: why am I writing this again!

Inca: because the we're horrible people, and we like watching bad things happen to good people ::evil laughter::

Mystic: God your cruel!

Inca: it was your idea to begin with! Don't blame me!

Mystic: hehe, um, ya I ah forgot.

Inca: ::groans and looks to sky:: why God, why!

Mystic: Well everyone stick around, as things go from good to bad.....

Inca: Shhh! You'll give the chapter away you baka!!! ::cough, clears throat:: oh and don't forget to leave a review in the little box!