InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ I Do ❯ Chapter 3

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

Kagome awoke with a shiver. Allowing her eyes to adjust to the lack of light, she turned over. She felt strangely small, lying in so large a bed. Her thoughts strayed back to Kei, to his lengthy business trips and hundreds of “meetings”. Kagome was no fool, and there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that Kei was cheating on her. But something within her allowed her to ignore that fact, clouded any thought of leaving him, of even questioning him. She loved him - that had to be it. Kagome drew the blankets tighter around her.

He promised her that he would never touch another woman, assured her she was the only woman he would ever love - how could she resist? He was handsome, he was (albeit seemingly) respectable, he was wealthy. He was, in short, everything any parent would want for their child.

But Kagome couldn’t help but remember Inu-yasha’s strong arms around her every time Kei held her close to him. She couldn’t help but see a flash of amber in Kei’s deep hazel eyes when he looked at her happily. Kagome stared into the empty space beside her.

‘He’s probably with Kikyo now.’ said a voice somewhere in the back of her mind, ‘He’s probably happier that way. Without having to look out for you, or deal with you. And the jewel is complete, Naraku is gone, or soon gonna be.’ Kagome felt the tears well up in her eyes for the second time that evening. ‘Miroku and Sango have their lives back, Shippo has people who care about him, who will take care of him. And Inu-yasha and Kikyo - ‘ Suddenly, she turned her face into her pillow, and sobbed. She let the soft, spongy material absorb her tears.

Kagome had left that world behind a year ago, but with it - well, it seemed she had left the largest portion of her heart. How could she even dream of going back after what had passed between she and Inu-yasha, those twelve long months ago?

Weary with her constantly battling emotions, exhausted with the tears she had shed for countless reasons, on countless occasions - Kagome fell into an uneasy sleep. This time, Kagome didn’t mind that Inu-yasha’s face was all that she could see…

An hour or so later, Kagome still tossed and turned beneath her deep crimson comforter, drawing further attention to the single mound of a lone body. Kagome stirred slightly, her eyes opening reluctantly. Despite everything she told herself, Kagome would’ve much rather spent the night remembering Inu-yasha in her dreams, than waking up to an empty apartment, and a tear-stained face for another sleepless night.

Kei wasn’t going to be home. Why would he need to be? He could find all the play things he wanted at the airport. Kagome shoved the blanket aside, recalling their last conversation with frustration. Why hadn’t she said something? What had prevented her from simply asking?

Kagome sighed. Losing him. Losing the chance of a lifetime. Disappointing the people who had such high hopes for her, for her future. That’s what had prevented her. The young woman put her head in her hands, feeling the inexorability of it all begin to overwhelm her. No matter where she turned, she was trapped in the life she had chosen to live.

And what an awful choice she had made.

Inu-yasha awoke beside the well, in a daze. It took him a moment to realize that he had fallen asleep. He glanced up into the sky, cursing himself. The new moon. How had he forgotten? The events of the day crashed down on him like a harsh wave breaking against the shore. No wonder the new moon had slipped his mind…

Running a hand through his now black hair, he got to his feet. And, doubting his own intentions, he peered into the well. Kikyo’s face vanished from his mind, to be replaced by Kagome’s.

A year might not have done anything to Kikyo, but it had rendered a greater change in Inu-yasha than even he was willing to admit. He had never felt so alone in his life. He had left Sango, Miroku, and Shippo to their lives. Vanished with nothing more than a simple explanation and a goodbye. But he did not regret that nearly as much as he regretted letting Kagome go. And somehow, he knew if she could’ve only been there, things would’ve worked out so differently…

And now, after returning to find that the rumors of Kikyo’s battle with Naraku were true - he felt as if his every purpose had died with them both. He couldn’t defeat Naraku, and he couldn’t save Kikyo. Falling short. Never enough. Inu-yasha scowled. Would he be forever haunted by the things he should’ve done? Could’ve done?

Inu-yasha realized he had been staring blankly at the well, and as his eyes focused his shoulders seemed to sag. Inu-yasha had forgotten just how overwhelmingly strong his emotions could be in his human form, and silently scolded himself for coming to the one place that might drive him to do the thing he himself wasn’t sure he was ready to do.

He wanted to go. Wanted to see her, and feel her - know she was real. With every other purpose in his life fading quickly, what was left? Use the jewel? Become a true demon? Bring Kikyo back? He sighed, plopping down on the lip of the well. She was in hell. And he couldn’t help but feel as though he could’ve done something different, could’ve saved her - could’ve went with her. He ached all over just thinking about it all. He couldn’t change it. He’d just fall short. Again.

Inu-yasha turned, craning his neck to gaze down the well, and all he could see or smell or think about was the woman he had let go. Kikyo was gone, but Kagome - she was alive. She was still real. Still there. Even after a year, she was all he could see, at times.

Inu-yasha stared into the well still, all the sorrow and regret and frustration building up in him as he thought of everything that had happened. And as his newly acquired human emotions took complete hold of him at last, Inu-yasha climbed to his feet, and stood on the edge. “To hell with this.” He muttered, and leapt into the well.

Ree: Hmm. Not a very exciting chapter, I know, but it definitely gets the plot moving. I assure you the story will only go uphill from here. It’s been ages since I’ve attempted to write a fan fiction, and I’m incredibly proud of myself to be back. :] I’m aware that Inu-yasha seems fairly OOC, but the point I’m trying to get across is that Kagome’s absence has caused him quite a bit of distress. So hopefully, you can bear with me until I can get things back to normal a bit.