Summer’s End
Chapter One
By: Lazuli
lazulidreamer@yahoo.com
Inuyasha looked at the girl who was *alive* now. She hadn’t been before…but now she was glaring at him, golden-blue eyes narrowed in suspicion. He didn’t really blame her…but…
“Hey, I just saved your life, you know.” He said frowning. “I found you in the bottom of my well, and you weren’t alive.”
“That’s usually what happens when a miko shoots an youkai, isn’t it? What *are* you doing here, anyways? I thought Kikyou already killed you.”
Confusion was on her small face, eyes searching his. He however…was now backing up. Youkai?!
“What are you talking about?” He was confused as well—why was this girl…youkai…acting like she knew him? He backed up a step further. She looked so innocent…but he remembered his grandfather’s stories of youkai, of how they would attack villages and kill the inhabitants for fun. How they’d try a ploy like this one, tricking the innocent person.
“You’re acting like you don’t *know* me, Inuyasha! Why?” Her voice was broken, and he turned away from her sad eyes.
“I don’t know you, youkai.” He glared at her. He couldn’t believe he saved a youkai. She was probably down there for a reason. Killed by that arrow he pulled out of her.
Her eyes filled with tears. “Inuyasha…” Her lip trembled as she slowly walked toward him. “How can you not remember me?”
“Look, bitch…I’m not the Inuyasha you know!” He bit out. He took another look at her though, and thought of the man under the tree.
”There is another Inuyasha here,
though.” He said slowly.
Kagome looked at him cautiously. Something in his tone of voice was warning her not to get happy—to enjoy the next piece of information he was going to give her.
“Nineteen years ago…my family found a man in our well, who was dying—he was bleeding to death. He gave his name as Inuyasha—then requested to be buried next to our sacred tree.” His eyes were sad as he told her this, and she detected actual sympathy in his voice.
“He’s buried over there…if you want to see his grave.”
Kagome barely heard the soft words. Grief was pouring over her again, and she quickly made her way over to the marker, tracing Inuyasha’s name with a clawed hand.
“Mate…” She sobbed over the grave, her eyes closing as she leaned her head on the marker. “Inuyasha…”
It was hard to believe…hard to swallow. She knew he was dead. She watched Kikyou toss his body into the well before she lunged at her, only to be laughed at, and chased away. She hadn’t been able to retrieve his body that day…and when she came back—it was gone. To appear here.
She slowly turned around to face the strange boy, keeping her gaze straight on his eyes. Eyes that held contempt and fear for her, eyes that told her that he wasn’t her Inuyasha.
“Where am I?” She asked quietly, trying to hide her fear of the situation. Nothing looked familiar…besides the tree she was standing next to, and the smells of the place overwhelmed her senses, making her cringe.
He glared at her. “Why should I tell you?” He demanded. “You’re on sacred ground—go back where you came from.”
Rolling her eyes, she stepped away from him. “So, a temple.” She murmered. “I’ll leave your temple, if you grant me one request.” She said softly.
“Why should I?” His voice was uncaring, and she whirled around, glaring at him.
“Look, I won’t be here for long! Just listen to me! I only want to be allowed to visit here once a day at least…so that I can visit Inuyasha’s grave.” She almost choked, trying to hold back her tears. She didn’t want to show this stupid boy her weakness…only her Inuyasha was allowed to see her cry.
Inuyasha stared at her in surprise—she was holding back something…but he nodded curtly, leaving her alone in front of the grave. As he walked back to the house to tell his family, he looked back to see the girl. She was already gone.
~~
Kagome stared down at the Inuyasha from her perch in the Goshinboku. He looked like her Inuyasha, but he wasn’t. Why was he *named* Inuyasha? It was hardly a common or wanted name. The name itself meant dog demon—why would anyone want to name their child that?
“Where the hell am I?” She muttered. She knew the area vaguely…it was changed though. She curled up in the tree, trying not to cry. Inuyasha had died only a few months ago, but here it was nineteen years? What did that well do to her? To Inuyasha?
She jumped down on the ground lightly, bare feet padding quietly as she walked over to the well. Why should she stay around here? Her gaze went to the grave next to the tree. Inuyasha…
She bit her lip, shaking her head. He was dead…she had her own shrine to him back home. She should go back there…there was nothing keeping her here—wherever here was. Jumping into the well, she wondered what would happen. Would it send her back home? She peered upwards, her brow furrowing when she realized that scents that met her nose didn’t change from the acrid smell from earlier. She leapt out with ease, crumbling to the floor in shock. She had no home left to go to.
Getting up after a few moments, she wondered where she was going to go. She doubted that hanyou or youkai were even respected in this place. She couldn’t live in the well—Inuyasha would surely find her and try to kill her like Kikyou did. Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad. Her eyes narrowed in speculation. She was supposed to die—why be denied of joining Inuyasha?
“That’s it…I’ll ask him.” It shamed her to ask a human to kill her—but she didn’t belong here, there was nowhere to go—
~~
Inuyasha blinked when the youkai walked up to the house, staring at him. His grandfather looked at him in shock as she walked up to him.
“You…boy…” She seemed reluctant to say his name. “I want you to do me a favor.” Her eyes bored into his, and he gulped.
“I…I’m already letting you visit here once a day. What more do you want?”
She glared at him. “Look—just one thing—and you won’t have to worry about me anymore.” She took a deep breath, bowing her head. Placing something in his hand, she looked up at him again.
“I want you to put this back in me. Shot me—I wasn’t supposed to be brought back.” There were tears standing in her eyes as she pleaded with him. “After you do…bury me next to Inuyasha.”
He stared at the arrow—it was the same one he pulled out of her, and practically crumbling. He shook his head. He was not a priest—no one in his family had the power to do that anymore. His mother might have—but she died when he was young.
“I’m sorry—I can’t.” He actually felt bad—she let down some sort of barrier to ask him that. He handed her back the arrow. “I don’t have that type of power.”
Her expression was heart broken as she took back the arrow. “Fine…I’ll wait a month—then ask you again.” She turned to leave again, and Inuyasha was surprised to see his grandfather get up to place a hand on her shoulder.
“You’re that young man’s love, aren’t you?” He asked quietly. She nodded slowly. “He spoke of you before he died. You’re Kagome?”
She nodded again, and his grandfather smiled. “Please…stay here. Inuyasha was only alive for a few days—but he said how he loved you.” He smiled. “I want you to stay here, if you have no other place to stay.”
Inuyasha stared at his grandfather. “But…she’s a youkai!” He exclaimed. He fell silent when his grandfather glared at him.
“Hush. She’s also a young, heartbroken, and confused girl. She’ll be staying here. Go fix up the guest room.”
Inuyasha nodded sullenly, leaving his grandfather alone with “Kagome.”
~~
Kagome stared at the old man, a weak smile on her face. “You knew Inuyasha?” She whispered. He nodded.
“He was a charming young man—for the few days he stayed with us. He was confused as to where he was—but he talked of you constantly. He wanted to get better to return to you.” His eyes were sad as he regarded her trembling form.
“He did?” She asked eagerly. He nodded. “He was eager to be with you—in his sleep he cried for his mate—Kagome. He didn’t live long—he had grave injuries…” His voice trailed off when her eyes narrowed.
“Kikyou.” She spat out. “She was the one who killed him.” Her lip trembled. “It’s been nineteen years since you found him?” She whispered. “Kikyou only killed him a few months ago…”
He looked surprised. “My grandson said he found you in the well—the same place where we found Inuyasha. What year did you live in?”
She looked perplexed and frowned in thought. “I…I’m not sure…” She said finally. “I never paid much attention to the years…they pass by without notice anyways.” She said shrugging.
He sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Any warlords that you know of?” He questioned. She nodded.
“I know of one…he’s an idiot, though.” She proclaimed, wrinkling her nose. “Oda Nobunaga.”
He smiled in understanding. “Ah…”Owari’s Fool.” He nodded. “That would be about…the mid 1500’s…” He mused. “You come from a long way, Kagome. It’s the year 2000 now.”
She stared at him in shock. No wonder the world was so different…years passed by with ease for her—but five hundred? She shook her head violently. The world she knew was completely gone…
“Kagome—“ A gentle hand landed on her shoulder, and she looked into the concerned eyes of the old man. “I’m sorry, child…you are welcome to stay here as long as you need.” She nodded absently as Inuyasha came down the stairs again. “Inuyasha will show you to your room.”
She followed the quiet boy up the stairs, her mind far away. She wanted to be alone—as soon as she was showed into her room, she shut the door and fell onto the bed, crying.
~~
Inuyasha sighed as he lay back on his bed. He couldn’t believe his grandfather let a youkai stay in their house. This never would have happened before—he always talked about getting rid of youkai—and this girl was a guest in their home.
“My life has gone nuts, that’s just it.” Unbidden, the image of the tearful girl flashed across his mind, eyes pleading with him to kill her so that she could be with her love.
“Does she really want to die so badly?” He murmered. He had to talk to his grandfather about her. He apparently knew more about her than he did…and he wanted some answers.
His grandfather looked up as he walked in, his expression amused. “So you want to know about our guest, do you?” He asked. Inuyasha nodded, sitting in the chair across from his grandfather.
“Yes…why are we letting her stay here? I thought you said that all youkai are evil!” He said.
His grandfather shook his head. “Not all youkai are evil, Inuyasha. Some are kind-hearted…and Kagome’s one of them. Although she’s not a full youkai.”
He blinked in surprise. “She’s not? What is she, then?”
His grandfather rolled his eyes. “You never listen to me, do you? She’s a hanyou…her father was human, her mother was a youkai.”
“How do you know this?” He asked suspiciously.
“Inuyasha told us much about her—he wanted to speak about nothing about her—his feeling ran very deep for her.” He gazed off as if remembering something.
Hiro gazed at the young man in bed, who’s eyes were glazed with pain. “And this Kagome—what is she like? Is she a beautiful young girl?” He asked teasingly.
Inuyasha smiled. “She’s beautiful, and a girl…” His voice trailed off. “But she’s older than me—she’s a hanyou. But gorgeous…and a beautiful heart.” His eyes closed momentarily. “I love her—and I’m worried so much because she’s all alone now…”
Sighing, Hiro wiped Inuyasha’ forehead with a wet cloth. “If I ever meet her, Inuyasha—I promise I’ll take good care of her.”
Inuyasha smiled. “She’s tough…but…I’m afraid of her heart…she need someone to love. Ever since her father died, she hasn’t had anyone to take care of her. She’s been alone since she was about six years old.”
Hiro stared. “The poor girl…forgive me…but how did you fall in love with a hanyou? I thought humans were usually scared of youkai.”
Inuyasha smiled. “She’s not scary—she’s just been alone all her life.” He sighed. “I’m not sure how I fell in love with her—she saved my life from another youkai—and vanished after that. I wasn’t aware she was keeping an eye on me.”
He laughed softly. “I was never scared of her. I always saw her lonely side…and…her human side.” His eyes were troubled.
Inuyasha’s eyes shut, but he mumbled something more. “If you see her, ever—tell her I love her.” Hiro nodded quietly.
Inuyasha was silent as his grandfather related that small part of the conversation. Poor Kagome—the only she cared for and cared back for her—was now dead. It was no wonder she wanted to join him.
“I’m sorry I treated her so badly, now.” He whispered. “It must have been harsh on her…” His grandfather was staring at him again. “What?”
“You really look like him…it must have been doubly hard on her.” Inuyasha shot up out of the chair.
“What?! You’ve got to be kidding me! I can’t look like him!” He exclaimed. A sound behind him made him whirl around, and he met the sad eyes of Kagome.
“You do, though.” She whispered. “You look exactly like him.” Her ears drooped in sadness, and he bit his lip, feeling guilty. She gave him a shy smile, though.
“Don’t worry about it.” She whispered. She turned to his grandfather. “Is there anything I can do to help with your home?” She asked. “I learned something from Inuyasha.” She was grinning.
“What is that, Kagome?”
“Manners.”
~~