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.”
