The Portal

Chapter 11 – A Lost Friend

“Inuyasha, I know you don’t want to, but honor says you should go!” Sango yelled at the Hanyou. Tears streamed down her face freely as she begged him to do this one thing.

Inuyasha paid her no heed. He simply sat up there in the Sacred Tree refusing to talk to anyone. She and Miroku had visited the tree several times, but nothing they said got through to him. They all grieved over their lost friend, but with Inuyasha it was different.

To Inuyasha, Kagome was hope. She was what made him tick. Since the day he met her the fire she held sparked him to life. The fights, the bickering, the ‘sits’, everything... everything revolved around Kagome. She was special to him. She loved him no matter what he was. She was his friend when he had no one. Hell, she pulled that fucking arrow out if his chest for Kami’s sake! That in itself was deserving of his undying loyalty to her.

He told her that he would protect her.

How could he have let her down?

He faintly heard Sango’s tearful request. She wanted him to go through the well, and tell Kagome’s mother, brother, and gramps that she was dead... never coming home. He just couldn’t do it right now. Let them have their happiness for now. Let them think that their sweet Kagome was still alive, for now. He would go... eventually, but not now... no not now. Right now the pain in his chest felt like a wound that would not take his life, but would only bring the most horrific pain for eternity.

‘I miss her.’

No matter what everyone thought, Kikyo and Kagome were two separate individuals. Looks meant nothing. A shared soul meant nothing. Kagome was unique. She could not be replaced. Sure, he had loved Kikyo once. He would always love her in a way, but he knew the Kikyo that he truly loved was dead to him. The now living dead miko was just not her. She lacked the things that made him love her. She lacked the kind, sweet, giving demeanor that she had before that damn witch brought her back from the grave. All she could elicit from him now was his honor, which he owed to her memory, and his pity.

That was no way to live, and he knew that Kikyo would never want to be like that. Kagome understood, even though she was extremely jealous of the older miko. Oh how Kagome could throw a temper tantrum over Kikyo! If his heart had not been so heavy, he would have laughed at the image of her pointing her finger while lecturing him on the subject. All because she cared.

He could hear the faint crunching of leaves as Sango finally gave up and walked away. He felt a pang of guilt, for not acknowledging his friend. He knew they were suffering too, but damn it, he just couldn’t speak right now... because... well, because... if he did, then he would probably... cry. He couldn’t cry, only weak women and children cried. Sesshomaru would never cry, and he would be damned if he would give in to that human emotion. He just wouldn’t do it.

So Inuyasha sat, watching as the sun set once more, thinking of his miko friend Kagome. The only person who ever made him feel like he was worth a shit.

“Sango, did you have any luck with Inuyasha?” Miroku asked tentatively. He could clearly see that she had been weeping once again. His heart ached for the lovely young woman. She had suffered so much, and yet remained so strong. It sometimes baffled him how she was able to keep it together.

“No. I tried. I really did. He will not even acknowledge that I’m there. Miroku, I don’t know what to do?” Her last remark was pushed through newly formed sobs of grief. She had cried so much that she was amazed that she still had more tears to shed. She was so very tired of being sad.

Kagome was the sister she never had. She was the one who brightened her day, and kept them all in line. How could they manage without her?

The sorrow over her fallen brother had been terrible, but comforting in a sense. Kohaku had suffered through so much at the hands of Naraku, that it was almost a relief when he was released from the evil hanyou’s spell. Death released him. Death gave his soul freedom to fly. Though Sango felt grievous, and much loss over the death of her little brother, she knew that he would finally be able to rest in peace.

Kagome, however, was so unexpected. One minute she was there, and the next she was gone. Her treasured friend was gone. Sango bowed her head as another wave of tears sprang to life. She knew Miroku was worried about her, and she wished she could ease his mind, but right now, she just couldn’t do that. No... not right now.

Miroku put his arm around Sango’s shoulder and helped her to the grass mat. He leaned her head into his chest, and he rubbed her back soothingly as he rocked her. He hated what had happened to their friend. It made him angry with Naraku all over again. The darkness that the evil hanyou spread, continued to bring sorrow even in his death. Kagome should not be dead. Kagome did not deserve this fate.

Miroku turned his head and glanced down at Shippo. The boy had finally given into sleep after hours of tearful retching. Kagome meant so much to the fox kit. She took care of him, and gave him the love he needed after his parents were killed. The child was almost inconsolable after Kagome’s demise. Kaede was forced to give him a sip of her spirits to help the kid fall to sleep.

Kaede... she was another that felt the loss of Kagome quite strongly. The old woman had taken to the silly young girl. She actually thought of her as a granddaughter. Though Kaede did not break down in front of the rest of them, Miroku could see the pain evident in her old eyes.

Miroku rested his back against the wall, and held Sango until she fell asleep in his arms. He wondered if any one of them would ever feel happiness again.

It was a sad time for all.

~~~~****~~~~

Back in the jungle....

A figure moved through the forest. Careful not to alert the ones ahead to his whereabouts. At first he couldn’t believe his eyes. The image of the inuyoukai followed by a hanyou and a human girl, was a bit strange, but not really that uncommon. What shocked him almost to the point of passing out was the one accompanying them.

He wasn’t sure at first, but he followed in order to get a closer look. There was no doubt now. It was the Exalted One’s pet. The creature had not been seen for many, many years. Some thought it to be dead, and some claimed it was mere myth to begin with. He had never seen the pet, until today, but had heard tale of it through the old one’s.

The pet was always at the side of the Exalted One, until that fateful day, never to be seen again... until now. The hidden figure watched, as the pet brought food to this strange young woman. The creature stayed close to her side, as she walked. It would occasionally run off into the jungle, only to return shortly to her side.

It had to be the pet. So, what does that make this young woman? Could the Exalted One have returned after these many moons? The thought that he could actually be standing in her presence sent chills down his spine.

The figure turned and began running as fast as his feet would carry him back to the Family. He had to tell them of the mysterious woman who had drawn out the pet.

The man ran as if his very life depended on it. He pushed his way through the thick jungle with ease. This was his home. He knew how to maneuver the growth.

Finally the Family dwellings came into view and the man headed straight to the head master’s home. Once he arrived, he was met by the Grandmother of the house. Her creaky old voice stopped him dead in his tracks. One did not disrespect the Grandmother.

“Boy! What has your heels afire?” The elderly woman asked.

“Konnichiwa Grandmother Louki! I have come with a matter that is of most urgent importance. I must speak to the Family Headmaster!”

“Well boy, do you forget with whom you speak? Tell Grandmother what is so urgent.” The elderly one demanded. She managed to hide the chuckle that rose in her throat. She loved to pick on these young kids.

Though he wished to speak to the headmaster first, he dared not defy the Grandmother. He walked up the stone steps, and repeated what he had seen.

The old woman stopped, and stepped awkwardly backwards, until she found her chair, then she took a seat with a thump. “Boy, are ye sure? Could ye be mistaken?” She sounded absolutely breathless with shock.

“I am most definitely sure, Grandmother.” He replied, anxiously waiting for the second that she would release him to complete his self-appointed task.

The old crone sat back in her rickety old chair to process what the lad had said. The pet had resurfaced after all these years, and was now attached to a young woman walking in the jungle. A slow smile crept across her face. “Boy, do you have any idea what this could mean for the Family?” She didn’t wait for his reply, instead she said, “Go lad! Go tell the news!”