Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha, though by the end of this fanfic I began to think I did.
A/N: This is it. The End.
I apologize for how late this is but I've been bombarded with illness. First the whole dehydration thing and then pneumonia; so it's been hard. But I'm doing better. :D
For all of you out there that were worried about me, thank you. I'm doing better now. I've been sleeping a lot and my mom has been shoveling food down my throat. I'm regaining my strength, thank goodness. Thank you for your concern, it was really sweet. :D
I'm working on 3 other fanfics at the moment. But I'm still a little fidgety about them. So don't plan on anything for the next month or so. But come and see me around March or April and there might be a surprise waiting for you. I'm hoping to maybe finish a couple oneshots. But right now I might just relax. Hehe. Happy Be-lated Holidays.
Cigarettes and Lavender
Chapter 23-Good Fortune/Epilogue
Bi Polar
"I think he'd have liked this one." Inuyasha said softly, pointing to the tall black slab of stone Kagome and him had been studying together.
"Okay." She gave him a warm smile.
It had been five months since last he had seen his parents. But he had heard from them, yes, the whole of Japan had heard from them. They were on the news almost every night for a whole month. He put them where they belonged. Sei and Izayoi Takahashi were rotting behind bars. The trial was promised to take place next year some time. Inuyasha didn't mind when it was, just as long as his parents were in prison.
The Higurashi's had so generously taken it upon themselves to hire an attorney for him. In fact, Kagome's Grandfather was the one who had done most of the work. Of course, they all knew he was trying to make up for his faults and assumptions. Everything had been explained to him the night he returned from his friend's shrine 2 weeks after Inuyasha came back. Inuyasha happily forgave him and now were getting along rather well.
Inuyasha had been working 2 jobs. One at the shrine itself, sweeping and lifting heaving things, and the other at a local bookstore, making coffee, stocking shelves and what not. He enjoyed it most of the time. His wages weren't bad either. A lot of his wealth came off of tips he received at the book store when he served young ladies who happened to think him quite handsome. It became more of a chore to serve coffee after they kept coming to "spy" on him.
He was grateful that Kagome came to visit him at work frequently. After his groupies saw his girlfriend come in they'd sigh and leave sullenly; giving him one last longing look.
Miroku and Sango were finishing up their last year in high school, but would come and visit whenever they got the chance. They didn't treat Inuyasha any differently than before and Inuyasha was indebted to them because of it. He enjoyed their company almost too much. Mrs. Higurashi had started treating them like her children the minute they walked through the front door and they didn't mind the attention. Inuyasha, Miroku, and Souta would play video games and poker while the girls whispered and giggled pretending like the boys couldn't see. They would usually stay two days or so and then were back on their way, but that was okay because they promised that as soon as they were out of school they'd come down here and try to find jobs. Inuyasha couldn't wait until then.
Smiling over at Kagome while she talked to the shopkeeper he felt an overwhelming feeling appreciation. He walked over and grabbed her hand squeezing it affectionately. She grinned back.
"I've got it." He said taking out his wallet.
She looked hesitant but then let him win, knowing that it was important to him. The clerk and his sons promised to deliver it to the correct gravesite tomorrow afternoon if they met them there.
"I'm glad I did that." Inuyasha whispered to her as they made their way out of the shop.
"Me too." She smiled brightly.
"Do you think…do you think that maybe I can just see him alone first?" He asked politely.
"Of course."
"So how was work Inuyasha?" Mrs. Higurashi asked as she scooped rice onto her plate.
"Fine."
"Those girls still following you around?" Kagome's Grandfather asked with humor.
"Yeah, they like to watch me from the couches." He chuckled. "They think they're being secretive. I think they've grown in size as well." He added thoughtfully.
"What do you mean?" Souta asked from across the table.
"Well…before there was probably only 10 or 11 but now they seen to have brought their friends so there's 15 or 16."
"Wow…to tell you the truth, I wouldn't mind having that." Souta said with a blush.
Inuyasha laughed whole heartedly. "There're some girls about your age, maybe I'll bring you to work someday." Souta beamed and nodded his head enthusiastically.
This was life. Having a nice dinner with his family, his very own family. This was how it was suppose to be.
"Oh yes! Inuyasha!" Mrs. Higurashi sounded with a start. "Mrs. Shizuoka called earlier. She wants to meet you tomorrow afternoon."
Mrs. Shizuoka was Inuyasha's case lawyer and he had come to like her very much. She was a middle aged woman with kind eyes hidden behind thick glasses. He liked her because she was easy to talk to, maybe not as easy as Kagome, but still pretty easy. She reminded him very much of Mrs. Higurashi and because of that the two women had become very close.
"But mom we were going to visit his brother tomorrow!" Kagome called from across the table.
"Then I'll call back tonight and maybe she can come over for dinner. Then she and Inuyasha can discuss what they need to afterwards." Mrs. Higurashi answered calmly.
"Thank you, that'd be much better." Inuyasha smiled as he picked up his plate to wash it at the sink.
The walk to Sesshomaru's gravesite wasn't half as bad and he had thought it would be. In fact, he felt almost excited to get there. It was one of the strangest feelings he had ever had. The headstone shop owner and three of his sons were waiting for him when he arrived and now all six of them were marching up a grassy hill to where his brother's remains lay.
"This is it…" He pointed to an overgrown spot of land where a wooden cross had tipped over.
The four men nodded and lowered the granite tombstone with care. Inuyasha only watched halfheartedly.
"Would like us to stay or anything, sir?" The old clerk asked kindly.
"No…that's fine. Thank you for all your hard work." Inuyasha smiled and shook all of their hands warmly.
Kagome nodded and bowed elegantly. "Thank you." She spoke softly, almost in a whisper.
The clerk and his sons had left and now it was just Inuyasha, Kagome, and Sesshomaru. Kagome peeked out from behind Inuyasha to read what the tombstone said:
Rest in Peace
Sesshomaru Takahashi
Beloved brother and friend
Your strength protected me from what I could not
Your wisdom shielded me from things I did not understand
Your kindness helped me overcome the things I feared most
And for that you will always be with me
Thank you
1984-2001
She smiled a slow sad smile at what Inuyasha had asked to be engraved in the stone. "Inuyasha…I'll be over there for a little…just to give you two some time alone." She left without his response.
Inuyasha watched the ground for quite some time before he finally spoke. "Hi…" The ground did not respond.
Inuyasha bent down and knelt before his brother's grave. "I really should have visited more often…I'm sorry." He started to pick the weeds and overgrown grass from where his brother rested.
"I'm 18 now…all grown up." His eyes didn't sting like he thought they would. "Mom and dad are in jail. I put them there…for us."
"I've missed you." Now his eyes began to water without warning and Inuyasha wiped the tears away quickly. "I tried to forget…but I couldn't...I just couldn't." His tears were coming down faster and he didn't bother wiping them away. "God I've missed you." His hands shook and he started to frantically pull up more weeds.
"There's been so many times that I've wished that you could be here." His hands were still preoccupied with ripping up the overgrown grass but his eyes were overflowing with tears, he brought a hand up to wipe them away hastily. "Like now…" He stopped ripping and just sat there, his hands and face covered with dirt.
"But I guess I wouldn't be where I am today if you hadn't…gone away." He wiped his hands on his jeans and smiled. "It's all better now. I'm better now. There are no more beatings or drinking or smoking or anything of the sort." He felt so much better now that he said what hadn't been happening aloud.
"I met a girl." He blushed but it disappeared as soon as it had come. "A real nice one. The one I think I'm going to spend the rest of my life with. I'm just waiting until she's out of school until I ask her to…you know, that's all."
He reached out one of his grimy hands and rested it on his brother's tombstone. "I'm going to visit more often now. Let you know what's going on. I know you'll always be here to listen. You always were when you were living." He smiled and wiped the last of his tears away getting more dirt on his already filthy face.
Inuyasha heard Kagome coming; he didn't even have to look to see that it was her. He could sense her very presence and smell her lavender scent. He smiled and got up off the ground to turn and look at her lovely face.
"Have you two had long enough or should I come back?" She asked tenderly.
"No…I think we're fine."
"Oh my, why is your face so dirty?" She asked as she reached one of her hands up to wipe the dirt from his face.
"I just…did a little weeding. I'll take a shower when I get home."
"Oh…Okay." She smiled and then turned her attention to the grave they were standing before. Kagome kneeled down just as Inuyasha had and pulled her purse in front of her, laying down a small bundle of blue forget-me-nots she had been hiding from Inuyasha. She turned to smile up at him. "I found them just now and thought they were pretty." She told him quietly.
Gracefully she took from her purse a small ring of flowers that had been tied together like a crown; it looked like it had been done by a small child. Then she pulled out one of the framed photographs of Inuyasha and Sesshomaru. It was the one that had been hanging on the refrigerator, Kagome's favorite and she turned to look back at him with questioning eyes. "May we keep this here?"
He nodded, feeling too overcome to speak. Kagome had done all this for him. Inuyasha went to kneel next to her taking her small fragile hand in his and kissing it lightly, he thanked her with his eyes. "This is Kagome Sesshomaru…the one I told you about." Kagome blushed.
"Hello Takahashi-san." She bowed her head. "Inuyasha has told me so much about you and I must thank you for all that you have done. I brought you some things." She held up the forget-me-nots and smiled. "I found these just now. I thought that maybe you would enjoy them." She smiled and laid them up against the gravestone.
"I also brought you a flower crown I made. I use to make them when I was younger with my father all the time. He passed away when I was small. I guess I brought it because it's a little something of me." She smiled a little and then placed it down besides the forget-me-nots.
"Last but not least, I brought the most important thing of all." She picked up the picture and positioned it carefully next to the flowers. "It's of Inuyasha and you. Such a beautiful photo." She wiped some tears from her eyes. "I'm so pleased to have met you. I want to promise that I will do my very best to take care of Inuyasha." She clasped her hands together and bowed once more.
Inuyasha helped her up from the ground, said one last goodbye, and walked back to Kagome's car, hand in hand. For awhile the two of them just sat in the car.
"Thank you." He whispered without looking at her.
"It's the least I could do for him after he took care of you all those years." She put a soft hand gently on his cheek, smiling kindly. "I'm so proud of you." She said quietly; and she meant it, he could tell just by her eyes. Kagome had cried while she was talking to his brother. He never liked to see her cry but somehow, this time, it comforted him.
"Thank you." He couldn't say it enough. Inuyasha leaned in and covered her mouth with his. They had kissed often after he had got back, he was pleased to say. And although he had never kissed a girl before Kagome, her kisses were the best he ever had. Kagome had told him on more than one occasion that she enjoyed kissing him and he felt the same way. It wasn't like they would do it all the time, it's just that, when they were that close they felt protected.
They separated reluctantly but Kagome reminded Inuyasha that Mrs. Shizuoka was waiting for them back home. They drove slowly because it was quite a scenic drive and relaxing. Halfway through the trip they switched drivers and Inuyasha drove the rest of the way home while Kagome caught up on her sleep.
They were 45 minutes late but everyone forgave them easily knowing the reason for their tardiness. They had a nice meal and talked of trite things but it was fun, it was warm. Kagome held his hand through most of the dinner. He didn't really know why but halfway through the meal she whispered to him that she was afraid of the news that Mrs. Shizuoka brought. Inuyasha nodded his head; he wasn't as nervous, in fact he felt rather calm and collected.
By the end of the meal Mrs. Shizuoka was ready to discuss business. She and Inuyasha sat in the living room while the rest of the family stayed in the kitchen. She sat in one of the chairs and it looked rather big for her small frame. Inuyasha sat on the couch, his hands clenched closely together.
"Well, Inuyasha I've got some news." She was holding back. He was beginning to sweat and doubt whatever confidence he had at dinner.
"Yes?" He asked in a raspy voice.
"Your mother…" She continued
"What about her?" Inuyasha wasn't concerned for her, as awful as it sounds, he more or so wanted to know whether or not she was free.
"Your mother has agreed to testify against your father. It's a plea bargain so it allows her to be released from jail earlier but it also guarantees us a victory, as well as many years of serving for your father." She smiled brightly, overwhelming proud of her announcement.
Inuyasha began to smile too. "That's great." He said, his grin becoming wider and wider.
"Izayoi will of course still go to prison but just 25 years instead of 35. That's okay, right?"
"Yes, of course. As long as my father is sent away for a very long time."
"Don't worry, he will be." She gave him a small confident wink, reminding him of Mrs. Higurashi.
"Can I go tell Kagome?"
"Sure." Mrs. Shizuoka beamed and waited patiently in the chair for the rest of the family to return.
Soon the living room was filled with Higurashi's. Kagome was hugging and kissing Inuyasha and squealing with delight and pride. Mrs. Higurashi was wiping her eyes thanking Mrs. Shizuoka over and over again. Grandpa and Souta were dancing together laughing at their good fortune.
A/N: So this probably isn't the epilogue you were hoping for. A lot of epilogues are three years into the future and Kagome and Inuyasha are married with 4 kids and all that jazz, but I thought that if I did that…it'd sort of ruin it. I don't know. I guess I also wanted to leave some things up to you guys to continue. Leave it up to your imaginations. I don't know about you but I like stories that leave me thinking at the end, where I can finish it up by myself and where the author doesn't spoon feed you everything that happens. By the way, thank you Inuyasha05. :D
There are so many reviews. My goodness I felt so…I don't know…just wonderful. I want to thank you all. You all kept me really motivated, not only to finish this fanfic but also to start others. At first I was terrified to write and post things, but now I'm thinking it's not so bad. :D Thank you, thank you, thank you for all your support and kind words. I usually write back to my reviewers but there's just so many of you this time. Haha, So thank you all!
IMPORTANT-Even though technically this fanfic is closed I'll still be checking reviews. I know I sound like a total attention-whore but they really do help keep me writing. Also, I noticed that some of you (creature of the light) tried to contact me through the email I have on my profile. I'm sorry, -guilty look-, but that's not going to work. You see, that one won't let me into it, so I haven't been able to check my email there for like…5 months. But! I do have a new one that you guys can use. It's so whenever you guys want to talk to me or whatever, go ahead and send it to this email instead of the other one.
THANK YOU!