First and foremost, I'm not much of a fanfic writer. I find I have trouble
with other people's characters, since they are, well, someone else's.
Which is the main reason this fic is set in an alternate universe (read:
dark fic) and the characters are somewhat out of character (I really tried
to keep them fairly close…damn that sounds redundant…). Anywho, I'm not
even very pleased with how this turned out and I'm always revising, which
is where you people that read it come in. Any and all info is helpful—I
want to make this a convincing world that you want to read about. I don't
want this to be some corny, badly written, ill-conceived universe. So I
need your imput. What do YOU want to read? What is it that you really
like/don't like? Like I said before, I'm not good at this but I really
wanna make an effort, so…any and all help is welcome.
So…enjoy.
Where Lost Souls Meet Again
Chapter One: Exposition
With a stretch and a yawn, Shippou crawled out of his bed of leaves. The cold morning air nipped at his sensitive ears and small paws as he made his way quickly to the nearest spring to wash up and get ready for the day. Nearby, Inuyasha let out a vast, rumbling snore, then turned and fell back asleep. The kitsune shook his head and continued on. He'd long ago grown used to his companion's actions.
The slowly meandering water hazily reflected Shippou's sleepy face back to him as he leaned over the bank to dip his paws in. The face that watched him from the rocks wavered, then disappeared into the ripples, only to emerge again as the water settled. Slowly, he removed his hands, shaking them vigorously to dry. Sprinkles fell from the kitsune's fingertips, raindrops and crystals in the morning light.
Inuyasha snored again, then cried out sharply. Shippou whipped about to face his companion, ears pricked for danger, feet ready to dash. He watched as the hanyou sat bolt upright, his fire-rat over robe drifting through the air toward the ground, settling. Inuyasha was breathing heavily, one hand covering his face, his shoulders shaking hard. Shippou watched for a few more moments, then politely turned his back and returned to his own reflection.
It wasn't polite to watch another cry.
More and more often, Inuyasha woke up in a wreck, his face haunted, eyes dead. Once or twice he'd begun crying, as he was now. The half-demon would be completely oblivious to the world around him, then take out his frustration on anyone that happened to be nearby when he finally came to his senses. He never explained himself, nor did anyone care to ask. No one dared. Shippou knew better than to ask, but he was fairly certain that he knew what had brought these breakdowns about.
The fox in the water faded away again as the demon placed his paws in yet again. He stared at them, as they sat on the silvery rocks beneath the surface, the fur matted from the water. They were small hands, delicate, but also very strong. He'd grown strong in the years he'd journeyed with Inuyasha and the others. In the past couple of months, he'd grown especially. Not that he was big or filled out, like the dog-demon or Miroku, but there was height, some build…he was older. Wiser, too, he guessed. He closed his paw, trying to capture the water that flowed past; he knew he couldn't, he was wise enough to know that, but he couldn't help but want to try. So much he wished he could catch…
Water sprayed up, sparkling in the light. Shippou brought his hands back from the water, one from beneath the surface, the other from where he'd just slapped it. For a brief moment, the stream seemed to stop, to swirl in place, then as the drops sprinkled back down, it rushed onward, uncaring. Shippou glared after it. Stupid stream, he thought sardonically. You were supposed to stop…
"Feh, just what the hell are you doing, kitsune?"
Shippou looked up, startled. "I-Inuyasha. I didn't hear you approach."
The hanyou snorted. "That's because you had your head in the water. Come on, we have to get going." He pulled on the rest of his robe and turned on bare feet, back towards where he came. Shippou watched him go, then climbed to his feet and hurried after. It was no use staying here anymore, anyhow, so he might as well follow along. Much as he hated taking orders.
As he gathered up his things, the kitsune watched his companion from the corner of his eyes, trying to assess how Inuyasha was feeling. Dog Boy looked all right, with the exception of his slightly puffy eyes. His posture was straight, his eyes focused. He had all his usual composure. I hope he isn't going to beat me up again. He needs to get a hold of himself. Damnit, I did! Why can't he?
Shippou picked up the last of his things, then walked over to join the slightly taller half-breed standing a short ways away. They stood together in silence a moment, then began walking, as though some sort of silent agreement had passed between them. They hardly ever talked, unless it was for Inuyasha to yell something at Shippou, or in the rare occurrence they got into a fight. So many of the demons had been wiped out…
"Hey, Shippou…"
The kitsune stopped short, surprised by the use of his name. His ears twitched slightly; he was a little unnerved. "Yes, Inuyasha?"
"Where…" The dog-demon paused, his eyes distant. Then he turned away and finished roughly: "Where do you think that bastard brother of mine disappeared to? I really wanna finish this with him."
"Oh…well…I really don't know, Inuyasha. He's been gone since…well, since that time."
Dog Boy sighed and nodded. "Yeah…I know…"
Silence.
Walking.
Damn him. That's not what he really wants to know. If Kagome were here, she'd… Shippou mentally slapped himself for that, then continued on. Thoughts like that got him nowhere but in a deep hole and he really couldn't afford to be depressed. Inuyasha and his fits were more than enough; Shippou didn't need his own. But it'd be better if he just talked about it instead of acting like a jerk. Maybe he'd feel better about it all…
The sun was high in the sky before they stopped again. They settled beneath a broad reaching cherry tree, the sun dappling their faces and the nearby area through the branches. Shippou dug through his pockets until he produced a small fruit, then began wolfing it down. Inuyasha just sat, his eyes closed, head against the rough trunk. Beside him was a small satchel. Hmm…I wonder…
Careful to keep an eye on the older demon, Shippou reached cautiously for the bag, his paws just barely grazing the hanyou's knee as he stretched. Frightened, Shippou stopped. When Inuyasha made no sign that he noticed the brush, the kitsune continued his trek toward the pack. Just a little further…
Shippou screamed as a powerful hand slammed down on his wrist and wrenched. From behind a snarl, Inuyasha spoke. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing, kitsune? Get the hell away from my bag!" Eyes black and cold, the half-demon flipped Shippou over onto his back, then hauled him back up and tossed him through the air. The kitsune landed about five or six feet away, crashing into the ground with an insane momentum, the bones in his body jarring painfully. Fuming, Inuyasha stalked over to the prone demon, ready to beat the other senseless for his transgression. "What were you doing with my bag?!"
"It's not your bag, Inuyasha! It's Kagome's bag!"
"No it's not! It's mine! I found it, damnit!"
"You picked it up off the ground after Kagome disappeared! You took it! It's hers!"
By now, Shippou was on his feet, staring straight into Inuyasha's pain-filled eyes. The half-demon shook with rage; and behind it, grief. As they faced off, Shippou could feel his friend's anger seep away as the sadness overtook him. It was apparent in his stance, in his face…in his eyes; they'd faded back to polished amber. Suddenly, Shippou realized what he'd said and let his anger dissipate as well. "Inuyasha…I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"
His anger gone, Inuyasha hobbled back to the tree, where he collapsed against the trunk, head resting against the bark. In one hand he gripped the straps of the satchel, his claws tearing into the fabric. When he realized what he was doing, his fingers sprang away and he held his hands close. Quietly, Shippou took a seat beside him, tucking his small feet beneath him. Together, they sat in silence.
Finally: "I have to find her, Shippou. And I have to find her soon."
The kitsune just nodded. "You haven't been your usual self lately…since she went away…I know it must sound weird but…I miss the old Inuyasha." Shippou turned to look at Inuyasha and mustered up a smile. "So we have to find her, or else I might just have to change into her, just to get the old you back."
Pulling his head out of the ground, Shippou smiled to himself. Inuyasha…he would get him back. And as much as he hated getting hit…he had to admit that it was good to know that Inuyasha could still be himself.
It was very cold. Somewhere nearby, water dripped; it echoed throughout the darkness, then died away. The few, oh so few times the water dripped were a welcome interruption from the continual silence that permeated the void. No wind blew here, but the feel of a chill breeze froze the blood and made one shiver. She shivered, all the time. There was nothing to see, nothing to hear, nothing to smell, touch, taste, experience. All there was was the cold. So much cold. Cold and dark and haunting nothingness.
She wasn't sure if she felt pain here. Inside she could sense a…a deep, pining sadness, a pang. She could sense turmoil and dullness. But was it pain? Pain, she knew, was a human experience, a truly human feeling. If she could feel pain, maybe she was still human. If she was human, then these emotions and conditions she sensed would therefore be real. She'd be real.
Nothing made sense here.
A flash of phantom breeze brushed past her, leaving her cold and bereft in its wake. Then nothingness rushed in and enveloped her again.
And she was left feeling only vestiges of humanity and an insanity of longing to be real.
The phantom child followed the two demons as they walked through the rubble of a long-forgotten town, bathed in the glow of the twilight. The smaller kitsune, bushy tail following behind, was skipping ahead, laughing and jesting with his companion, who sauntered along, kicking random stones with his bare feet. A sword swung at his hip, the scabbard clapping noisily against his legs. White hair drifted down his back and in the wind, the strands fine and silky. Beneath the locks was a long, graceful neck. Dog- ears pricked up from his crown.
Why are they here? I don't know them. The child scurried through the rubble behind them, watching where they went. Her large eyes took in their every move, along with the shadows of the decrepit buildings, the ghosts that stood, proud and faded, among the rubble. Two worlds…It was a curse to see them both. Why did people have to come here? It's easier to see the past when there are no people to remind me that it's gone.
So she followed them, curious. The two wandered directionless through the ruined streets, through the long-gone walls of huts, across the well-packed roads that twined throughout the village. They finally stopped among the remains of a small house, where the boy the child used to play with had lived. He'd died there, too, she believed. She couldn't see any other phantoms, of which she was glad, but she also couldn't see where they had died, either. She wished she good remember where they'd fallen…she wished she could honour their graves…
Instead, she watched the strangers settle down in a house whose walls she could see and where she retained memories. At least she could remember them. The village was empty, but at least it wasn't dead. But these strangers made the emptiness painful; it's why she chased them all away.
And even demons weren't safe from her hauntings.
Night fell over the lost town and soon sleep as well. The kitsune was first to go. Childish creatures, kitsune. The phantom child smiled. She would only scare the demon away, she wouldn't hurt it. Something so young and innocent didn't deserve to be harmed, even if it was a demon. Other youkai she would haunt to kill, but not ones such as these. She was a child, too…The other demon, however…he may prove differently. In her heart, she hoped she wouldn't have to hurt him, either; the kitsune might be sad.
As it was, the white-haired demon didn't drift off for another hour or so. When she was sure they were under sleep's spell, the child hurried into the house, her body passing through the ghostly wall. For a moment, she felt a brief surge of grief, as the house told her its memories; fire, screams, pain and death. Then the feeling was gone and she was standing beside the demons who had wandered into her home.
She first went to the kitsune. Kneeling beside his lithe frame, she placed her insubstantial hands against his chest and pressed inward. The boy shuddered momentarily, then stilled as she passed through his body and into his heart. His presence surrounded her, filled her and she felt her body merge with his. It was always like this when she possessed another creature—a living creature. Waves of warmth and life shifted through her, enveloping her until she felt as though she were wrapped inside a blanket. Regardless of the creature, cruel or kind, the sensation was the same. Sometimes she wondered if she didn't do this just to be able to feel alive again…to feel warmth. It had been a long time since she'd been alive…
Eventually, the warmth passed away, giving way to the demon's actual heart. A thin, ephemeral wall was the last barrier for her. The child sighed. Only the entrance into the person was inviting—afterward, she almost always found darkness and cold. So it was with some trepidation that she passed the final wall that led into the very center of the kitsune's heart. She stood in a cozy, well-dug fox burrow. Around her pulsed several bright orbs, hanging from the den's smooth walls. She recognized them as the kitsune's emotions. Directly behind her was an incredibly beautiful globe of light pulsating softly—his soul. With a mental tug, she pulled the last of her psyche in.
Once inside, she searched out his feelings: what he loved, what he feared. She briefly glossed over his soul, but knew better than to actually touch it with her hands. Not only would she hurt the kitsune terribly, she could possibly kill him. And his soul was his own—no one deserved to touch it but those he allowed. So she kept simply to his emotions.
It took her a moment, but she finally found what she wanted. Fears. Fears could motivate anyone, be he human, beast or demon. With a gentle caress, she strung his fears out on silver thread to gaze at. He had surprisingly few, for being a demon. In any others she encountered, their fears drove their lives. Everything was a danger for a demon, especially other demons. And that seemed to be what they feared most. But this boy, he was different. He feared his peers, but…those fears were nothing compared to one single thread of agony that lay strung out before her.
And all of it over a black-haired girl.
The phantom child studied the girl for a long time, taking her in, trying to understand her simply from the images that she captured from the kitsune's heart. She was bright, strong-willed and courageous, as well as caring and kind. Quicksilver as the wind, as loving as the earth. She was beautiful, as well. Her whole presence was imbued with a soft, golden glow. The child stared in fascination for a moment. The one he cares about most he fears the most…I wonder why…
Careful not to damage the image, the phantom girl gently pressed her fingers into the thread, bending it. As she pressed down, the thread bent further and further, then suddenly dissolved into her fingertips, unable to withstand the pressure. The images passed out of her mind, replaced with pure emotion; feelings, words and impressions from the kitsune. Perhaps now I can find out why he fears her…
A small fox demon lopped across a barren field, calling someone's name. Tears were in his eyes as he searched frantically for someone who obviously wasn't there. His feverishly high voice rang out among the nearby trees and into the cloudless blue sky.
"Kagome! Kagome, where are you?"
The phantom child pulled back sharply. He doesn't fear her. He fears for her…
"Just what do you think you're doing, ghost? You don't belong here."
Pulled back to her essence by the gruff, intruding voice, the girl took a moment to get her bearings straight. When her head was clear, she smiled darkly, then waved her arm. The white-haired demon crashed through the rubble, the force of the blow catching him completely off guard. The girl stood, her body pulsating and turned to face him as he struggled to right himself. Curses filtered through the midnight sky. Beside her, the kitsune whimpered and struggled in his sleep. She blocked him from her mind.
After a moment or so, the youkai pulled himself from the wreckage. Smiling lopsidedly, he flexed long claws and growled deep in his throat. His ears twitched. From across the lot, the child watched him with dead eyes. They stood silent for a moment longer, then the demon lunged forward, claws extended and growl exploding from his throat. His momentum propelled him straight into her essence, the spin of his hand driving his deadly claws deep into the ground. Shards of earth showered the area, combatants and fox-demon all.
When the dust settled, Inuyasha lay suspended in air, languid strings of black cord rotating slowly around him. A few feet away, the child stood, her arms outstretched in an arc, as though she were about to wrap them around someone. Cord twined around her, curling across her limbs, slithering through her hair. One thin silver thread clutched her throat so tightly the flesh indented. She made no indication that she noticed its strangling presence. Instead, her gaze was fixed entirely on the demon floating a few feet away.
The dog-demon struggled to get free of the cord, only entangling himself further. "Damnit all…Damnit all!"
"Such language, and in front of a child, too." The girl walked closer to him, bringing her hands together as she neared; the ropes that circled his body began to tighten. The youkai glared, but didn't speak. The ghost stared up at him. The cord around her throat looked tighter. "What is your name, demon? And what are you doing in my home?"
He growled at her. "You're dead. This isn't your home anymore."
The cords tightened drastically; the child's eyes clouded over. Her face contorted painfully as she screamed: "It is too my home! I asked you a question, demon! Answer it or I kill you!" The thread around her neck slithered slightly and a bright trail of blood began to slip down onto the girl's collarbone.
At first, it looked like he wasn't going to answer. Then his shoulders drooped and he barked: "My name is Inuyasha. Now who the hell are you?" When the ropes tightened again, he growled: "I told you who I was, it's only decent to tell me who the hell you are! And just what the hell are you doing here, anyhow?"
She was silent a moment. For a second, Inuyasha thought she was thinking of how to finish him off properly with her weird ropes, then had a sudden change in opinion as he fell from the sky into the rubble. Rubbing his sore behind, he noticed that the cords were gone too. The only evidence he had that they'd ever been there was the dark, thin cut that circled the small phantom's delicate throat. Even her eyes were deep pools of gray, instead of the suffocating black from before.
Nearby, the fox-demon suddenly sat up, a scream tearing from his lips. Tears stood in his eyes as he looked over to where Inuyasha and the child sat. With a voice raw from emotion, he said softly: "I miss Kagome."
Kagome…The little girl recognized the name from her probe. It sent shivers down her spine, thinking about it. So much pain and fear in that name…She regretted ever having tried to chase the kitsune away. I didn't want any more pain with me than I already have…
Inuyasha growled something under his breath, catching the child's attention. She turned to face him just in time to catch a glimpse of his eyes. She would never mention what she saw to anyone, even in heaven.
"Well…" she began. All eyes turned to her. She cleared her throat uncomfortably. "My name is Shoukaki. Akahiyoko Shoukaki. I…I died here…a long time ago…"
"You have a long name for a human. Are you a lord?"
Shoukaki started, not prepared for the kitsune's perception. Her gaze turned to take him in where he sat, a few feet away. She didn't think demons ever thought about humans and their society. She nodded. "My father…he was a minor lord in the area. We lived outside this village. I…I played here a lot, while I was alive…" She could feel her heart beginning to break again, so she trudged onward. Best to finish this as soon as possible. "Then a band of thieves came through here. They were very strong and resentful toward my father, because he was a lord. He'd never done anything to them, but they still hated him. So, they destroyed the village. Everyone died…"
A hand passing through her shoulder pulled her back. The girl looked up to see the small kitsune smiling at her. Inuyasha hmphed. "So why are you here?" His fox-like companion glared at him, but the white-haired demon trudged on. "You're dead, you said so yourself. So why didn't you go on?"
Shoukaki looked at the ground, shuffling her small feet in the sifting ashes. Small stones and pebbles littered the surface, their patterns disturbed by the movement. "I…I don't know."
"Feh. I don't have time for this. You're a lost spirit who doesn't know how to get home and you're getting in my way. Come on, Shippou. I don't have time to sit here anymore." He stood up abruptly, dusting off his kimono and heading for the cluttered street that passed outside the ruined house. The kitsune—Shippou—stared after him, his face taut, then got up to follow. He smiled at her once more, then began walking away.
The phantom child watched them go. She'd tried to chase them away, but now that they were leaving, she found she didn't want them gone. She hadn't talked to anyone in years, decades. Now that she had, she longed to keep it. Frantically, she thought of a way to keep them. She could trap them in her cords, but that was dangerous for all of them. The silver thread grew tighter each time…she didn't need to die twice. What else would keep them?
They're leaving to find someone…I don't want them to go. I don't want to be alone anymore…not anymore. Mommy…Mommy, I don't want to be alone. How can I keep them here? Maybe…maybe I can go with them. They're searching for someone, maybe I can help. The two were fading fast into the midnight darkness. They were leaving forever. Kagome…are they searching for her? "Kagome! Kagome, where are you?" That's it. I'll help them find Kagome. I'll help them…
"Wait! I can help you find her! Inuyasha, I'll help you find Kagome!"
In the distance, the white spectre of Inuyasha stopped abruptly. Shoukaki ran toward him, glad he'd stopped. He is searching for her! I can help! I can help them. I can be with them…I won't be alone… "Inuyasha, please, I'll help you find he—"
"Who are you…" Shoukaki stopped in her tracks, suddenly frightened. Inuyasha stood with shoulders taut, ears laid flat. His hands were clenched at his sides, the claws tearing through the skin; blood dripped casually from whitened knuckles. With eyes full of anger, Inuyasha turned and cried: "Who are you to speak her name?"
Without waiting for an answer, he lunged, claws spread. His effort was in vain—he passed cleanly through her ephemeral body, but he didn't stop. Landing lightly on his feet, the demon spun about gracefully and swiped through Shoukaki's middle, the air rushing past as a hiss. Inuyasha tumbled to the ground, only to jump back up, clawing at the insubstantial form of the little girl, all the while crying: "Who are you to speak her name? Who are you to speak her name?"
Finally spent, the dog-demon collapsed to the ground. Dirt felt the impact of his fists as he pounded the ground, tore at the very earth in his frustration. Behind him, Shippou watched on silently. His mouth was pressed into a hard line as he stared at his distraught companion. Shoukaki almost thought she saw pity in his features; pity and a cruel, callous coldness. The little kitsune looks like he's mad…at Inuyasha…I wonder why? She shook her head vehemently. It's not important now. Inuyasha…why are you so sad…?
Gently, Shoukaki knelt before the frustrated demon, pressing her small hands to his chest. Inuyasha shuddered, then went limp. Shippou gasped and made as though to grab his friend, but the child shooed him away. When she was sure the kitsune would leave her be, she slowly, oh so slowly dipped her hands into the dog-demon's chest and, once again, entered a living being's body.
Warmth flooded over her as she pushed deeper into him. Her body was caressed by the waves of emotion that swirled about her, that kept her afloat in this void of nothingness that she passed through. Then it melted away, leaving her standing before the shimmering outer wall of the heart, enveloped in nothingness and cold. Taking a deep breath, Shoukaki pushed through the last wall.
Incredible grief stretched from as far as she could see. Pillars, frail and crumbling, lined a dead river, the banks barren and dry. There was no colour, no feeling whatsoever. Shoukaki walked around, her heart in her throat. Never before had she seen a heart such as this. It was as though everything that was ever dear to this poor demon was gone, washed away. Everything was exposed. No one layer of his heart was intact—he was open and bare to the world. Where is his soul…? There's…there's nothing here…
Bones littered the ground where she stepped, snapping beneath her feet. The girl did her best to keep from breaking them, as they could be memories and emotions, but it was hard. They were littered everywhere. This was nothing like the little kitsune's heart. This was nothing like anyone's heart she'd ever seen. What had happened to Inuyasha? And what was that noise?
Somewhere, a child was crying. That's what it was, she realized. A child sniffling and crying. A child…whatever is a child doing in this hell? Curious, she began searching the landscape, among the dead trees, between the lifeless banks of the river, among the scattered bones. Finally, after searching fruitlessly, she came upon a rock outcropping, behind which sat a small, demon-child. In his hands was a foreign looking satchel. He was crying into the bag.
Shoukaki knelt beside him and waited for him to stop crying. When his sniffles finally died down, she smiled kindly at him and introduced herself. "Hello there, little one. My name is Shoukaki. Akahiyoko Shoukaki. May I ask your name?"
The boy looked up at her and sniffed. There was something terribly familiar about him… Can he be…?
"I'm Inuyasha. But, it's just Inuyasha. I don't have a lot of names, like you. Why are you here?"
Taken slightly aback, Shoukaki licked her lips and tried to think of a suitable answer. Finally, she answered: "I got lost. I was looking for someone—a girl named Kagome. Do you know her?"
Little Inuyasha nodded. He hugged the bag tightly to him as he replied: "She went away. She…she went away. I don't know where she is." He picked at the fabric of the satchel pitifully as his eyes glued themselves to the ground. A small, bare foot kicked out from beneath him, sending a pebble flying. His eyes picked themselves up long enough to watch it land among the weeds, then fell again. He clutched the bag tighter. "She left me this bag, though. See? That means she's coming back. She never went anywhere without her bag. So she'll come back and get it, right? Then I get to see her again." He forced a small smile, then went back to hugging his bag and staring at the ground.
How painful. I wonder why she left? Curious, but in no way wanting to hurt the poor child, Shoukaki thought of a way to ask where the girl had gone. Maybe, if she knew where Kagome was, she really could help them find her. She didn't want to be alone anymore and this was the best way she could think of to keep Inuyasha's and Shippou's company for any amount of time. "Do you know where she went?" she finally asked.
The demon shook his head. "Nope. She…she was holding the Shikon Jewel in her hands and saying something about wanting to save me. I remember a lot of demons being there. My brother, Sesshoumaru, was there, too. She was in the middle of them, the Shikon Jewel in her hands. Then she lifted it up and said something I couldn't hear. I remember screaming at her, running toward her…then she was gone. Most of the demons were gone, too…there haven't been many demons since. I wonder if she made a wish to get rid of them…" He trailed off again. Then he reached into his kimono and pulled out a small, white jewel. Shoukaki gasped at its beauty. "She dropped this, along with the bag. It's the Shikon Jewel. I always thought it would disappear after it was used. I wonder why it didn't…?"
Silence settled over the two again as Little Inuyasha stopped his story and Shoukaki thought about what he'd said. She'd used the power of this jewel to rid the world of demons? Then why were some demons still alive? Why didn't the jewel disappear? And…why did Kagome disappear? It didn't make much sense. Inuyasha's story just didn't make any sense…
She started as she heard him begin sniffling again. "Inuyasha…?"
The boy was staring at the ground, tears falling down his face. In front of him, where his eyes were focused, lay a small cluster of stones, arced out almost like a necklace. Reverently, the demon reached out and picked up a stone. With a shudder, he broke out into full-blown sobs, clutching the rock to him. Through his tears, he whispered: "I had a necklace made of beads. It looked a lot like this. Kagome…Kagome took it away with her. She disappeared and she set me free…wasn't that nice…nice of her…?" He buried his face in the bag and cried: "I just want Kagome back…I don't want my stupid freedom, I don't care about the demons. I…I just want my Kagome back…!"
Shoukaki watched silently, then quietly pulled herself out from his heart, leaving the little boy to pine his lost love alone, in the dark.
So…enjoy.
Where Lost Souls Meet Again
Chapter One: Exposition
With a stretch and a yawn, Shippou crawled out of his bed of leaves. The cold morning air nipped at his sensitive ears and small paws as he made his way quickly to the nearest spring to wash up and get ready for the day. Nearby, Inuyasha let out a vast, rumbling snore, then turned and fell back asleep. The kitsune shook his head and continued on. He'd long ago grown used to his companion's actions.
The slowly meandering water hazily reflected Shippou's sleepy face back to him as he leaned over the bank to dip his paws in. The face that watched him from the rocks wavered, then disappeared into the ripples, only to emerge again as the water settled. Slowly, he removed his hands, shaking them vigorously to dry. Sprinkles fell from the kitsune's fingertips, raindrops and crystals in the morning light.
Inuyasha snored again, then cried out sharply. Shippou whipped about to face his companion, ears pricked for danger, feet ready to dash. He watched as the hanyou sat bolt upright, his fire-rat over robe drifting through the air toward the ground, settling. Inuyasha was breathing heavily, one hand covering his face, his shoulders shaking hard. Shippou watched for a few more moments, then politely turned his back and returned to his own reflection.
It wasn't polite to watch another cry.
More and more often, Inuyasha woke up in a wreck, his face haunted, eyes dead. Once or twice he'd begun crying, as he was now. The half-demon would be completely oblivious to the world around him, then take out his frustration on anyone that happened to be nearby when he finally came to his senses. He never explained himself, nor did anyone care to ask. No one dared. Shippou knew better than to ask, but he was fairly certain that he knew what had brought these breakdowns about.
The fox in the water faded away again as the demon placed his paws in yet again. He stared at them, as they sat on the silvery rocks beneath the surface, the fur matted from the water. They were small hands, delicate, but also very strong. He'd grown strong in the years he'd journeyed with Inuyasha and the others. In the past couple of months, he'd grown especially. Not that he was big or filled out, like the dog-demon or Miroku, but there was height, some build…he was older. Wiser, too, he guessed. He closed his paw, trying to capture the water that flowed past; he knew he couldn't, he was wise enough to know that, but he couldn't help but want to try. So much he wished he could catch…
Water sprayed up, sparkling in the light. Shippou brought his hands back from the water, one from beneath the surface, the other from where he'd just slapped it. For a brief moment, the stream seemed to stop, to swirl in place, then as the drops sprinkled back down, it rushed onward, uncaring. Shippou glared after it. Stupid stream, he thought sardonically. You were supposed to stop…
"Feh, just what the hell are you doing, kitsune?"
Shippou looked up, startled. "I-Inuyasha. I didn't hear you approach."
The hanyou snorted. "That's because you had your head in the water. Come on, we have to get going." He pulled on the rest of his robe and turned on bare feet, back towards where he came. Shippou watched him go, then climbed to his feet and hurried after. It was no use staying here anymore, anyhow, so he might as well follow along. Much as he hated taking orders.
As he gathered up his things, the kitsune watched his companion from the corner of his eyes, trying to assess how Inuyasha was feeling. Dog Boy looked all right, with the exception of his slightly puffy eyes. His posture was straight, his eyes focused. He had all his usual composure. I hope he isn't going to beat me up again. He needs to get a hold of himself. Damnit, I did! Why can't he?
Shippou picked up the last of his things, then walked over to join the slightly taller half-breed standing a short ways away. They stood together in silence a moment, then began walking, as though some sort of silent agreement had passed between them. They hardly ever talked, unless it was for Inuyasha to yell something at Shippou, or in the rare occurrence they got into a fight. So many of the demons had been wiped out…
"Hey, Shippou…"
The kitsune stopped short, surprised by the use of his name. His ears twitched slightly; he was a little unnerved. "Yes, Inuyasha?"
"Where…" The dog-demon paused, his eyes distant. Then he turned away and finished roughly: "Where do you think that bastard brother of mine disappeared to? I really wanna finish this with him."
"Oh…well…I really don't know, Inuyasha. He's been gone since…well, since that time."
Dog Boy sighed and nodded. "Yeah…I know…"
Silence.
Walking.
Damn him. That's not what he really wants to know. If Kagome were here, she'd… Shippou mentally slapped himself for that, then continued on. Thoughts like that got him nowhere but in a deep hole and he really couldn't afford to be depressed. Inuyasha and his fits were more than enough; Shippou didn't need his own. But it'd be better if he just talked about it instead of acting like a jerk. Maybe he'd feel better about it all…
The sun was high in the sky before they stopped again. They settled beneath a broad reaching cherry tree, the sun dappling their faces and the nearby area through the branches. Shippou dug through his pockets until he produced a small fruit, then began wolfing it down. Inuyasha just sat, his eyes closed, head against the rough trunk. Beside him was a small satchel. Hmm…I wonder…
Careful to keep an eye on the older demon, Shippou reached cautiously for the bag, his paws just barely grazing the hanyou's knee as he stretched. Frightened, Shippou stopped. When Inuyasha made no sign that he noticed the brush, the kitsune continued his trek toward the pack. Just a little further…
Shippou screamed as a powerful hand slammed down on his wrist and wrenched. From behind a snarl, Inuyasha spoke. "Just what the hell do you think you're doing, kitsune? Get the hell away from my bag!" Eyes black and cold, the half-demon flipped Shippou over onto his back, then hauled him back up and tossed him through the air. The kitsune landed about five or six feet away, crashing into the ground with an insane momentum, the bones in his body jarring painfully. Fuming, Inuyasha stalked over to the prone demon, ready to beat the other senseless for his transgression. "What were you doing with my bag?!"
"It's not your bag, Inuyasha! It's Kagome's bag!"
"No it's not! It's mine! I found it, damnit!"
"You picked it up off the ground after Kagome disappeared! You took it! It's hers!"
By now, Shippou was on his feet, staring straight into Inuyasha's pain-filled eyes. The half-demon shook with rage; and behind it, grief. As they faced off, Shippou could feel his friend's anger seep away as the sadness overtook him. It was apparent in his stance, in his face…in his eyes; they'd faded back to polished amber. Suddenly, Shippou realized what he'd said and let his anger dissipate as well. "Inuyasha…I'm sorry, I didn't mean…"
His anger gone, Inuyasha hobbled back to the tree, where he collapsed against the trunk, head resting against the bark. In one hand he gripped the straps of the satchel, his claws tearing into the fabric. When he realized what he was doing, his fingers sprang away and he held his hands close. Quietly, Shippou took a seat beside him, tucking his small feet beneath him. Together, they sat in silence.
Finally: "I have to find her, Shippou. And I have to find her soon."
The kitsune just nodded. "You haven't been your usual self lately…since she went away…I know it must sound weird but…I miss the old Inuyasha." Shippou turned to look at Inuyasha and mustered up a smile. "So we have to find her, or else I might just have to change into her, just to get the old you back."
Pulling his head out of the ground, Shippou smiled to himself. Inuyasha…he would get him back. And as much as he hated getting hit…he had to admit that it was good to know that Inuyasha could still be himself.
It was very cold. Somewhere nearby, water dripped; it echoed throughout the darkness, then died away. The few, oh so few times the water dripped were a welcome interruption from the continual silence that permeated the void. No wind blew here, but the feel of a chill breeze froze the blood and made one shiver. She shivered, all the time. There was nothing to see, nothing to hear, nothing to smell, touch, taste, experience. All there was was the cold. So much cold. Cold and dark and haunting nothingness.
She wasn't sure if she felt pain here. Inside she could sense a…a deep, pining sadness, a pang. She could sense turmoil and dullness. But was it pain? Pain, she knew, was a human experience, a truly human feeling. If she could feel pain, maybe she was still human. If she was human, then these emotions and conditions she sensed would therefore be real. She'd be real.
Nothing made sense here.
A flash of phantom breeze brushed past her, leaving her cold and bereft in its wake. Then nothingness rushed in and enveloped her again.
And she was left feeling only vestiges of humanity and an insanity of longing to be real.
The phantom child followed the two demons as they walked through the rubble of a long-forgotten town, bathed in the glow of the twilight. The smaller kitsune, bushy tail following behind, was skipping ahead, laughing and jesting with his companion, who sauntered along, kicking random stones with his bare feet. A sword swung at his hip, the scabbard clapping noisily against his legs. White hair drifted down his back and in the wind, the strands fine and silky. Beneath the locks was a long, graceful neck. Dog- ears pricked up from his crown.
Why are they here? I don't know them. The child scurried through the rubble behind them, watching where they went. Her large eyes took in their every move, along with the shadows of the decrepit buildings, the ghosts that stood, proud and faded, among the rubble. Two worlds…It was a curse to see them both. Why did people have to come here? It's easier to see the past when there are no people to remind me that it's gone.
So she followed them, curious. The two wandered directionless through the ruined streets, through the long-gone walls of huts, across the well-packed roads that twined throughout the village. They finally stopped among the remains of a small house, where the boy the child used to play with had lived. He'd died there, too, she believed. She couldn't see any other phantoms, of which she was glad, but she also couldn't see where they had died, either. She wished she good remember where they'd fallen…she wished she could honour their graves…
Instead, she watched the strangers settle down in a house whose walls she could see and where she retained memories. At least she could remember them. The village was empty, but at least it wasn't dead. But these strangers made the emptiness painful; it's why she chased them all away.
And even demons weren't safe from her hauntings.
Night fell over the lost town and soon sleep as well. The kitsune was first to go. Childish creatures, kitsune. The phantom child smiled. She would only scare the demon away, she wouldn't hurt it. Something so young and innocent didn't deserve to be harmed, even if it was a demon. Other youkai she would haunt to kill, but not ones such as these. She was a child, too…The other demon, however…he may prove differently. In her heart, she hoped she wouldn't have to hurt him, either; the kitsune might be sad.
As it was, the white-haired demon didn't drift off for another hour or so. When she was sure they were under sleep's spell, the child hurried into the house, her body passing through the ghostly wall. For a moment, she felt a brief surge of grief, as the house told her its memories; fire, screams, pain and death. Then the feeling was gone and she was standing beside the demons who had wandered into her home.
She first went to the kitsune. Kneeling beside his lithe frame, she placed her insubstantial hands against his chest and pressed inward. The boy shuddered momentarily, then stilled as she passed through his body and into his heart. His presence surrounded her, filled her and she felt her body merge with his. It was always like this when she possessed another creature—a living creature. Waves of warmth and life shifted through her, enveloping her until she felt as though she were wrapped inside a blanket. Regardless of the creature, cruel or kind, the sensation was the same. Sometimes she wondered if she didn't do this just to be able to feel alive again…to feel warmth. It had been a long time since she'd been alive…
Eventually, the warmth passed away, giving way to the demon's actual heart. A thin, ephemeral wall was the last barrier for her. The child sighed. Only the entrance into the person was inviting—afterward, she almost always found darkness and cold. So it was with some trepidation that she passed the final wall that led into the very center of the kitsune's heart. She stood in a cozy, well-dug fox burrow. Around her pulsed several bright orbs, hanging from the den's smooth walls. She recognized them as the kitsune's emotions. Directly behind her was an incredibly beautiful globe of light pulsating softly—his soul. With a mental tug, she pulled the last of her psyche in.
Once inside, she searched out his feelings: what he loved, what he feared. She briefly glossed over his soul, but knew better than to actually touch it with her hands. Not only would she hurt the kitsune terribly, she could possibly kill him. And his soul was his own—no one deserved to touch it but those he allowed. So she kept simply to his emotions.
It took her a moment, but she finally found what she wanted. Fears. Fears could motivate anyone, be he human, beast or demon. With a gentle caress, she strung his fears out on silver thread to gaze at. He had surprisingly few, for being a demon. In any others she encountered, their fears drove their lives. Everything was a danger for a demon, especially other demons. And that seemed to be what they feared most. But this boy, he was different. He feared his peers, but…those fears were nothing compared to one single thread of agony that lay strung out before her.
And all of it over a black-haired girl.
The phantom child studied the girl for a long time, taking her in, trying to understand her simply from the images that she captured from the kitsune's heart. She was bright, strong-willed and courageous, as well as caring and kind. Quicksilver as the wind, as loving as the earth. She was beautiful, as well. Her whole presence was imbued with a soft, golden glow. The child stared in fascination for a moment. The one he cares about most he fears the most…I wonder why…
Careful not to damage the image, the phantom girl gently pressed her fingers into the thread, bending it. As she pressed down, the thread bent further and further, then suddenly dissolved into her fingertips, unable to withstand the pressure. The images passed out of her mind, replaced with pure emotion; feelings, words and impressions from the kitsune. Perhaps now I can find out why he fears her…
A small fox demon lopped across a barren field, calling someone's name. Tears were in his eyes as he searched frantically for someone who obviously wasn't there. His feverishly high voice rang out among the nearby trees and into the cloudless blue sky.
"Kagome! Kagome, where are you?"
The phantom child pulled back sharply. He doesn't fear her. He fears for her…
"Just what do you think you're doing, ghost? You don't belong here."
Pulled back to her essence by the gruff, intruding voice, the girl took a moment to get her bearings straight. When her head was clear, she smiled darkly, then waved her arm. The white-haired demon crashed through the rubble, the force of the blow catching him completely off guard. The girl stood, her body pulsating and turned to face him as he struggled to right himself. Curses filtered through the midnight sky. Beside her, the kitsune whimpered and struggled in his sleep. She blocked him from her mind.
After a moment or so, the youkai pulled himself from the wreckage. Smiling lopsidedly, he flexed long claws and growled deep in his throat. His ears twitched. From across the lot, the child watched him with dead eyes. They stood silent for a moment longer, then the demon lunged forward, claws extended and growl exploding from his throat. His momentum propelled him straight into her essence, the spin of his hand driving his deadly claws deep into the ground. Shards of earth showered the area, combatants and fox-demon all.
When the dust settled, Inuyasha lay suspended in air, languid strings of black cord rotating slowly around him. A few feet away, the child stood, her arms outstretched in an arc, as though she were about to wrap them around someone. Cord twined around her, curling across her limbs, slithering through her hair. One thin silver thread clutched her throat so tightly the flesh indented. She made no indication that she noticed its strangling presence. Instead, her gaze was fixed entirely on the demon floating a few feet away.
The dog-demon struggled to get free of the cord, only entangling himself further. "Damnit all…Damnit all!"
"Such language, and in front of a child, too." The girl walked closer to him, bringing her hands together as she neared; the ropes that circled his body began to tighten. The youkai glared, but didn't speak. The ghost stared up at him. The cord around her throat looked tighter. "What is your name, demon? And what are you doing in my home?"
He growled at her. "You're dead. This isn't your home anymore."
The cords tightened drastically; the child's eyes clouded over. Her face contorted painfully as she screamed: "It is too my home! I asked you a question, demon! Answer it or I kill you!" The thread around her neck slithered slightly and a bright trail of blood began to slip down onto the girl's collarbone.
At first, it looked like he wasn't going to answer. Then his shoulders drooped and he barked: "My name is Inuyasha. Now who the hell are you?" When the ropes tightened again, he growled: "I told you who I was, it's only decent to tell me who the hell you are! And just what the hell are you doing here, anyhow?"
She was silent a moment. For a second, Inuyasha thought she was thinking of how to finish him off properly with her weird ropes, then had a sudden change in opinion as he fell from the sky into the rubble. Rubbing his sore behind, he noticed that the cords were gone too. The only evidence he had that they'd ever been there was the dark, thin cut that circled the small phantom's delicate throat. Even her eyes were deep pools of gray, instead of the suffocating black from before.
Nearby, the fox-demon suddenly sat up, a scream tearing from his lips. Tears stood in his eyes as he looked over to where Inuyasha and the child sat. With a voice raw from emotion, he said softly: "I miss Kagome."
Kagome…The little girl recognized the name from her probe. It sent shivers down her spine, thinking about it. So much pain and fear in that name…She regretted ever having tried to chase the kitsune away. I didn't want any more pain with me than I already have…
Inuyasha growled something under his breath, catching the child's attention. She turned to face him just in time to catch a glimpse of his eyes. She would never mention what she saw to anyone, even in heaven.
"Well…" she began. All eyes turned to her. She cleared her throat uncomfortably. "My name is Shoukaki. Akahiyoko Shoukaki. I…I died here…a long time ago…"
"You have a long name for a human. Are you a lord?"
Shoukaki started, not prepared for the kitsune's perception. Her gaze turned to take him in where he sat, a few feet away. She didn't think demons ever thought about humans and their society. She nodded. "My father…he was a minor lord in the area. We lived outside this village. I…I played here a lot, while I was alive…" She could feel her heart beginning to break again, so she trudged onward. Best to finish this as soon as possible. "Then a band of thieves came through here. They were very strong and resentful toward my father, because he was a lord. He'd never done anything to them, but they still hated him. So, they destroyed the village. Everyone died…"
A hand passing through her shoulder pulled her back. The girl looked up to see the small kitsune smiling at her. Inuyasha hmphed. "So why are you here?" His fox-like companion glared at him, but the white-haired demon trudged on. "You're dead, you said so yourself. So why didn't you go on?"
Shoukaki looked at the ground, shuffling her small feet in the sifting ashes. Small stones and pebbles littered the surface, their patterns disturbed by the movement. "I…I don't know."
"Feh. I don't have time for this. You're a lost spirit who doesn't know how to get home and you're getting in my way. Come on, Shippou. I don't have time to sit here anymore." He stood up abruptly, dusting off his kimono and heading for the cluttered street that passed outside the ruined house. The kitsune—Shippou—stared after him, his face taut, then got up to follow. He smiled at her once more, then began walking away.
The phantom child watched them go. She'd tried to chase them away, but now that they were leaving, she found she didn't want them gone. She hadn't talked to anyone in years, decades. Now that she had, she longed to keep it. Frantically, she thought of a way to keep them. She could trap them in her cords, but that was dangerous for all of them. The silver thread grew tighter each time…she didn't need to die twice. What else would keep them?
They're leaving to find someone…I don't want them to go. I don't want to be alone anymore…not anymore. Mommy…Mommy, I don't want to be alone. How can I keep them here? Maybe…maybe I can go with them. They're searching for someone, maybe I can help. The two were fading fast into the midnight darkness. They were leaving forever. Kagome…are they searching for her? "Kagome! Kagome, where are you?" That's it. I'll help them find Kagome. I'll help them…
"Wait! I can help you find her! Inuyasha, I'll help you find Kagome!"
In the distance, the white spectre of Inuyasha stopped abruptly. Shoukaki ran toward him, glad he'd stopped. He is searching for her! I can help! I can help them. I can be with them…I won't be alone… "Inuyasha, please, I'll help you find he—"
"Who are you…" Shoukaki stopped in her tracks, suddenly frightened. Inuyasha stood with shoulders taut, ears laid flat. His hands were clenched at his sides, the claws tearing through the skin; blood dripped casually from whitened knuckles. With eyes full of anger, Inuyasha turned and cried: "Who are you to speak her name?"
Without waiting for an answer, he lunged, claws spread. His effort was in vain—he passed cleanly through her ephemeral body, but he didn't stop. Landing lightly on his feet, the demon spun about gracefully and swiped through Shoukaki's middle, the air rushing past as a hiss. Inuyasha tumbled to the ground, only to jump back up, clawing at the insubstantial form of the little girl, all the while crying: "Who are you to speak her name? Who are you to speak her name?"
Finally spent, the dog-demon collapsed to the ground. Dirt felt the impact of his fists as he pounded the ground, tore at the very earth in his frustration. Behind him, Shippou watched on silently. His mouth was pressed into a hard line as he stared at his distraught companion. Shoukaki almost thought she saw pity in his features; pity and a cruel, callous coldness. The little kitsune looks like he's mad…at Inuyasha…I wonder why? She shook her head vehemently. It's not important now. Inuyasha…why are you so sad…?
Gently, Shoukaki knelt before the frustrated demon, pressing her small hands to his chest. Inuyasha shuddered, then went limp. Shippou gasped and made as though to grab his friend, but the child shooed him away. When she was sure the kitsune would leave her be, she slowly, oh so slowly dipped her hands into the dog-demon's chest and, once again, entered a living being's body.
Warmth flooded over her as she pushed deeper into him. Her body was caressed by the waves of emotion that swirled about her, that kept her afloat in this void of nothingness that she passed through. Then it melted away, leaving her standing before the shimmering outer wall of the heart, enveloped in nothingness and cold. Taking a deep breath, Shoukaki pushed through the last wall.
Incredible grief stretched from as far as she could see. Pillars, frail and crumbling, lined a dead river, the banks barren and dry. There was no colour, no feeling whatsoever. Shoukaki walked around, her heart in her throat. Never before had she seen a heart such as this. It was as though everything that was ever dear to this poor demon was gone, washed away. Everything was exposed. No one layer of his heart was intact—he was open and bare to the world. Where is his soul…? There's…there's nothing here…
Bones littered the ground where she stepped, snapping beneath her feet. The girl did her best to keep from breaking them, as they could be memories and emotions, but it was hard. They were littered everywhere. This was nothing like the little kitsune's heart. This was nothing like anyone's heart she'd ever seen. What had happened to Inuyasha? And what was that noise?
Somewhere, a child was crying. That's what it was, she realized. A child sniffling and crying. A child…whatever is a child doing in this hell? Curious, she began searching the landscape, among the dead trees, between the lifeless banks of the river, among the scattered bones. Finally, after searching fruitlessly, she came upon a rock outcropping, behind which sat a small, demon-child. In his hands was a foreign looking satchel. He was crying into the bag.
Shoukaki knelt beside him and waited for him to stop crying. When his sniffles finally died down, she smiled kindly at him and introduced herself. "Hello there, little one. My name is Shoukaki. Akahiyoko Shoukaki. May I ask your name?"
The boy looked up at her and sniffed. There was something terribly familiar about him… Can he be…?
"I'm Inuyasha. But, it's just Inuyasha. I don't have a lot of names, like you. Why are you here?"
Taken slightly aback, Shoukaki licked her lips and tried to think of a suitable answer. Finally, she answered: "I got lost. I was looking for someone—a girl named Kagome. Do you know her?"
Little Inuyasha nodded. He hugged the bag tightly to him as he replied: "She went away. She…she went away. I don't know where she is." He picked at the fabric of the satchel pitifully as his eyes glued themselves to the ground. A small, bare foot kicked out from beneath him, sending a pebble flying. His eyes picked themselves up long enough to watch it land among the weeds, then fell again. He clutched the bag tighter. "She left me this bag, though. See? That means she's coming back. She never went anywhere without her bag. So she'll come back and get it, right? Then I get to see her again." He forced a small smile, then went back to hugging his bag and staring at the ground.
How painful. I wonder why she left? Curious, but in no way wanting to hurt the poor child, Shoukaki thought of a way to ask where the girl had gone. Maybe, if she knew where Kagome was, she really could help them find her. She didn't want to be alone anymore and this was the best way she could think of to keep Inuyasha's and Shippou's company for any amount of time. "Do you know where she went?" she finally asked.
The demon shook his head. "Nope. She…she was holding the Shikon Jewel in her hands and saying something about wanting to save me. I remember a lot of demons being there. My brother, Sesshoumaru, was there, too. She was in the middle of them, the Shikon Jewel in her hands. Then she lifted it up and said something I couldn't hear. I remember screaming at her, running toward her…then she was gone. Most of the demons were gone, too…there haven't been many demons since. I wonder if she made a wish to get rid of them…" He trailed off again. Then he reached into his kimono and pulled out a small, white jewel. Shoukaki gasped at its beauty. "She dropped this, along with the bag. It's the Shikon Jewel. I always thought it would disappear after it was used. I wonder why it didn't…?"
Silence settled over the two again as Little Inuyasha stopped his story and Shoukaki thought about what he'd said. She'd used the power of this jewel to rid the world of demons? Then why were some demons still alive? Why didn't the jewel disappear? And…why did Kagome disappear? It didn't make much sense. Inuyasha's story just didn't make any sense…
She started as she heard him begin sniffling again. "Inuyasha…?"
The boy was staring at the ground, tears falling down his face. In front of him, where his eyes were focused, lay a small cluster of stones, arced out almost like a necklace. Reverently, the demon reached out and picked up a stone. With a shudder, he broke out into full-blown sobs, clutching the rock to him. Through his tears, he whispered: "I had a necklace made of beads. It looked a lot like this. Kagome…Kagome took it away with her. She disappeared and she set me free…wasn't that nice…nice of her…?" He buried his face in the bag and cried: "I just want Kagome back…I don't want my stupid freedom, I don't care about the demons. I…I just want my Kagome back…!"
Shoukaki watched silently, then quietly pulled herself out from his heart, leaving the little boy to pine his lost love alone, in the dark.