InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Broken Hearts and Crushed Dreams ❯ Never Wanting To Let Go ( Chapter 12 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
.:Chapter Twelve:.
~Never Wanting to Let Go ~
As the two parted, Kagome's heart pounded in her ears, she felt the need to hold it in place to stop it from ripping apart from her body. She new she wouldn't be able to stay mad at him for very long; she also knew she needed to be rid of him. Being with him was bliss, she could never deny that. But he had put her through a living hell far too many times to count. Without her ever knowing it, she had given her heart to him, time after time after time he would drop it, trip on it, and make it bleed. She would repair it and hand it back to its abuser. Too many emotional scars had she received from Inuyasha.
Inuyasha held her gaze as her cheeks reddened in color. They both knew that he needed to say something, before it was too late; before Kagome turned away. There was no doubt in his mind that she would stay with him if he asked, however, if he didn't tell her how he felt she would surely fall apart. He had imagined this moment in his head for years, now that it had finally arrived, it wasn't at all what he had pictured; it was better, almost magical. Kagome's hair shone almost as bright as her eyes, which resembled the stars they stood under. Her cheeks were blushed; the dress she wore clung to her body, accentuating every curve of her being. Her eyes pleaded with him for answers; answers that he kept in the deepest depths of his heart.
“Kagome, I know- I know that you're mad at me. I can't tell you how much I wish that I had never gone to see Kikyo.”
Kagome flinched at the name which had deepened her pain, like packing salt in a never healing wound. She stared down at Inuyasha's dirt covered feet in an attempt to defer the fast approaching tears, if she stopped listening she could stop herself.
Inuyasha stalled and saw Kagome's pain clearly displayed in front of him. He brought his index finger under her chin and lifted her head so he could see her eyes, revealing one single tear rolling down her face. He sighed and took a moment to regroup his thoughts, the words that he had recited over and over in his mind were wiped clean and he was left speechless.
“Kagome… I- I never meant to hurt you. Kikyo wanted to tell me that she was dying. She's gone now. She told me to take care of you; I promised her I would. A- And when you left, I…” he trailed off, in search of more words. He had forgotten how to speak, how to breathe.
“I had to find a way to get you back. Kikyo also told me that we could only go through the well one more time. I didn't get a chance to tell you before you left.”
Kagome stared at him in silence, without expression, she was numb. She couldn't move or breathe or speak; all she could do was listen to Inuyasha's story in an attempt to get a handle on the situation laid naked before her.
“Kaede told me about a monk who lived on Mt. Hakurei and that he could re-open the well. I left the moment she told me and convinced the old man to help me--”
“Inuyasha… why are you doing this? Because it was Kikyo's dying wish? Or something totally different? I'm standing here waiting for an answer to the one question that matters to me. At this moment, right now, you need to tell me. Do- Do you love me?” The wound in her heart was torn open a little wider at the look of shock that passed over Inuyasha.
He didn't know? Why does he look like this is news? I thought it was clear as day how I felt. I guess not…
Kagome closed her eyes to hold back the tears, her heart pounded so loud she almost didn't hear Inuyasha whisper, “Well, yeah… I-I do.”
Kagome opened her eyes and stared at Inuyasha's red face. After a moment of listening to the crickets in the night, she smiled and wrapped her arms around his neck. Fits of laughter erupted from her, tears of happiness rolled down her already tear- stained face.
Inuyasha couldn't have been more relieved at the question Kagome had given him. If she hadn't said anything, he would probably be back in the feudal era licking his wounds right now.
As Inuyasha held her tight in his arms, he swore to himself he would never let her go; he would never hurt her again. In that instant, Kagome and Inuyasha locked in a kiss so loving, it made the moon throw a fit of envy as the golden orb sunk below the horizon and brought up the sun in a brand new day.
Neither Kagome nor Inuyasha had had any sleep all night and it was now 3 o'clock on the afternoon. The sun was shining through the windows in the kitchen and Mrs. Higurashi, her daughter, and Inuyasha were sitting around the table trying to decide on what to do.
Inuyasha had just brought up the fact that they had only one day to decide where they were going to live: in the feudal era or in Kagome's time. For the past five hours they have been to hell and back trying to come up with a solution to the problem. Inuyasha had always complained about how smelly and uncomfortable Kagome's time was but Kagome's family and friends were all here.
They had been through every possible situation that could be done and still no answers came, “Mama, I think- I think I want to live in the Feudal Era.”
Mrs. Higurashi flinched at her daughter's choice. To be cut off from her friends and family, to be desolated from all but Inuyasha left her uneasy about her daughter's welfare, “If you're sure… I won't stop you…” she could feel a lump quickly forming in her throat and choking back tears as she got up and left the table. She made her way to the kitchen cupboard and emptied all the ramen soup she could find onto the table and without a word, began packing it into a bag.
“I'll be upstairs packing, if anyone needs me,” Kagome said to her mother as she grabbed Inuyasha's hand and led him up the stairs.
With every heavy step that she took she felt Inuyasha's grip loosen on her hand until they walked into Kagome's room for the last and final time. She walked to her closet door and opened it without a word to Inuyasha. She grabbed at clothes without looking at them and quickly threw them down on the bed next to Inuyasha. Her face was distorted with grief and sorrow at what had just happened; at what she had just done to her mother and her grandfather, and her little brother.
She fell to her knees, in front of the bed and buried her face in her hands. Inuyasha almost immediately got down next to her on the floor and brought her into his lap. She clung to him; she wanted to feel him with her, she never wanted to let go of the life she was going to leave behind in a few short hours.
“Kagome… If you want to stay here, I'll stay with you.”
“Inuyasha, you know you can't do that. You're so sensitive to the smells and sounds here, not to mention the fact that your dog ears would draw quite a lot of attention. You would be miserable here.”
“Not if I'm with you…” he said quietly in her ear.
“No- Inuyasha, I want you to be happy. I'm fine. We'll live in the Feudal Era. Just hold me for a while…”
Inuyasha brought her closer knowing that he couldn't make this decision for her; he couldn't argue with her and he was powerless to stop the mayhem she was creating inside her family members' hearts.
Before long, with her head rested on his shoulder she was asleep. Inuyasha carefully stood with Kagome in his arms and set her down on the bed. He turned towards the clothes strewn all over the floor and sighed.
I better get this all packed before its time to leave…
Kagome awoke to shuffling sounds and a zipper closing shut. She opened her eyes to Inuyasha closing her yellow backpack full of her clothes and essentials. Mrs. Higurashi was standing in the doorway looking at her daughter.
“What time is it?” Kagome asked without really expecting an answer.
“Around eleven. You'll have to leave soon,” replied her mother without moving from her perch in the doorway.
Inuyasha stood and held out his hand to Kagome. She grabbed it and was hoisted quickly from her bed. She let go of Inuyasha's hand and went to her mother.
“Thank you, Mama. I love you so much,” Kagome said choking back tears.
The three made their way down to the well house with three bags full of food and clothes.
“Inuyasha, you take care of my little girl,” said Mrs. Higurashi.
“I will…”
Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's waist after a long farewell with her family and jumped through the well without looking back.
The two traveled through the warm time slip and within seconds, it was closed and done with. There was no going back and no regrets. Inuyasha leapt up over the edge of the ancient well with Kagome in his arms. They slowly walked on the dirt path towards the village within a few hundred yards.
“We're home, Kagome…” said Inuyasha, as he looked down at Kagome and smiled. Kagome smiled at the man at her side, the man whom she loved with all her heart and soul.