Promise Remembered
Promise Remembered
You never bade me hope,
'tis true;
I asked you not to swear:
But I looked in those eyes of blue,
And read a promise there.
- Gerald Griffin, You
Never Bade Me Hope
It was over.� Kagome stood trembling in the field worn out
from the battle and overcome by emotions: relief, disbelief, joy, and
sorrow.� After years of fighting him and
chasing jewel shards all over the countryside, the ragtag team of a two full
demons, one hanyou, a miko, a monk, and a demonslayer had finally done it.� They killed the monster known as Naraku.� It was over.�
But it hadn�t been easy.�
The four years it took them
to accomplish such a task weighed heavily on them all.� Years of encountering nothing but bloodshed
and tears, havoc and desolation as they followed Naraku�s trail could never
fully disappear from memory.� Time after
time of facing deception and overcoming dangerous traps had created scars on
all of them both physical and emotional.�
But now, it was over.� �So why do I feel like crying?�
�Is
something the matter, Kagome?� ����
Kagome looked to see Miroku�s
worried eyes.� Then her gaze drifted
downward to see his right hand.�
Unclothed and harmless for the first time since she met him four years
ago.� She couldn�t imagine what he was
feeling to finally have the peace of mind to know that he had a chance at live,
that he broken the curse that had been on his family for the last three
generations.� What a wonderful feeling
that must be to have achieved the dream he never thought possible.� �But I
still feel like crying.�
�Kagome, are you
alright?��
Her gaze drifted back to his
worried violet eyes; she managed a weak smile.�
She wanted to say �yes, everything�s fine.� Don�t worry about me,� but that would be a
lie.� The truth was that although the
battle with Naraku had ended, the next major saga of her own life was just
beginning.� Unlike Miroku, her own happy
ending had yet to arrive.� �What am I to do now? Where will I go from
here?� Kagome wondered.
�Kagome?�
�Miroku, I��
Suddenly the exhaustion from
the battled overwhelmed her.� She swayed
slightly as she attempted to remain upright for awhile longer. �Miroku�� she
tried again fighting against the blackness that seeped into her vision.� She heard him shout out something just before
she closed her eyes and fell to the ground unconscious.�
But even in her dreams Kagome
could not find rest.
It was the beginning of
summer.� Unlike the usual oppressive heat
that coated the land on the previous days, it was merely warm briefly
reminiscent of a day in early spring.�
The area around Kaede�s village appeared peaceful and content.� The villagers began to prepare their fields
for planting while the younger children played games with one another.� It seemed picturesque almost, like an image
out of children�s story.�
To truly enjoy the day,
Kagome suggested the idea of taking a walk with Inuyasha.� Surprisingly enough, he agreed.
Kagome twirled the dandelion
with her fingers.� Although the walk
itself was pleasant (great scenery, peaceful day, her crush as her companion
came to mind), it was boring.� Kagome
couldn�t fault Inuyasha for having a rough childhood and never developing good
social skills, but this was getting ridiculous.�
Couldn�t he say anything?
�So�� Kagome began.
Inuyasha looked at her expectantly
but didn�t reply.
Yep, looks like it�s all up
to Kagome to get the conversation going.
�So��
�You said that already.��
Ah, irritation, best known
way to get a certain half-demon�s tongue untied.� Too bad, Kagome still had yet to think of a topic
to talk about� at least not one that wouldn�t create a huge argument.� The idea of mentioning a trip home was
clearly a taboo subject since she just returned and especially since the number
of unclaimed jewel shards was waning.� It
seemed that the battle with Naraku was approaching soon and the fate of the
world would be decided by whoever won the battle and claimed the complete
Shikon Jewel.� Kagome stopped walking.
�Hey, Inuyasha?�
�What?�
�Are you still going to
become a full demon with the jewel shards after Naraku is dead?�
Inuyasha who had turned to
look at her when she called his name, turned away.� �No.�
�No?�
�I said no!� Now come on.�
Kagome smiled and hurried to
catch up to her companion.� She was glad
for him.� She never wanted to see him turn
into a full demon again, not after what happened to the bandits and how he
frantically tried to get the blood off his claws.� But still�
�So what will you do once
Naraku is destroyed?�
Silence.
Kagome looked up at her
silent companion.� Inuyasha�s shoulders
were tensed and his eyes stared on the ground, but he kept walking.� �Inu--- Inuyasha?�
�You know what.��
�I know what he�ll do?� What is
he� No, oh no.� He can�t mean.. No!�
Grabbing his arm, Kagome made
Inuyasha stop as she stood defiantly before him, blocking the path.� Hands on her hips, arms akimbo, she looked as
she was on the brink of calling out the �sit command� and send Inuyasha
crashing to the ground.� But although
Kagome was mad, she knew an angry �sit� would not solve the problem before her.�
�You mean after all of this,
you�re still going to go with her?� Kagome asked horrified at the thought.
Apparently, Inuyasha felt he
had no need of the jewel since he was going to hell Kikyo.
Inuyasha sent her a dark
glare but didn�t respond.
�Why?� she demanded.
Silence.
�Dammit, tell me why!� Tell me why
you would throw away your life.� Tell me,
Inuyasha.� I deserve to know that much.�
Inuyasha still didn�t want to
answer but seeing her tears and knowing that Kagome had a point, he gave in.
�I made a promise.�
�A promise involving your
death!�
His eyes looked away, seeking
to avoid her own.� �A promise is a
promise,� he told her gravely before he left her standing alone with nothing
but her tears.
With a strangled gasp, Kagome
awoke from her dream.� �No, that was no dream, but a nightmare.� Kagome
thought.� But unlike the nightmares of
her childhood, this one was real.� It
fact, it took place less than a month before the battle with Naraku.�
�Even after all this time, he still chooses a death with Kikyo over a
chance at life with his friends� with me.�
Stupid Inuyasha,� Kagome
thought bitterly.� But Kagome knew it was more than
that.� Inuyasha�s guilt over Kikyo�s
demise fifty years ago had and always would haunt him.� �If it
weren�t for his guilt, he wouldn�t be so determined to go to hell with her.�
�Kagome, you�re awake again,
I see.�
Startled Kagome looked up to
see Kaede entering the hut.� Kagome gave
her a weak smile and nodded.�
�Yeah.�� Her voice came out dry
and scratchy as if she had a sore throat.
�Another unpleasant dream?�
Kaede asked knowingly.� Kagome had been
plagued by nightmares ever since the defeat of Naraku one week ago.� What she didn�t realize is that Kagome�s nightmares
were less about Naraku and more about Inuyasha going to hell with Kikyo and
leaving her behind.�
Kagome nodded.
�Do not worry child.� Ye are safe here.�
�I know I am Kaede, thank
you,� Kagome replied automatically.� �But I also know that Inuyasha isn�t
safe.� I have to do something.� ��Kagome struggled to raise her body into a
standing position drawing the attention and concern of the elder miko.
�Kagome ye must rest.� Ye have yet to fully recover.�
�I need to go somewhere.�
�Where child?�
�The forest.�
�But Inuyasha and the others
have yet to return; ye should remain here where it is safe.�
�No,� Kagome replied firmly,
�I must find Kikyo.�
�But why child?� What business has ye with my sister?� Kaede
asked bewildered.
�I have a few words I need to
say to her.�
