Disclaimer: This story is based on "Inuyasha," copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi. No infringement of copyright intended or implied.

Waiting

"No, I am not coming with you. She'll be back—he promised. And when she gets back, someone has to be here: I have to be here."

Huddled against the back of the well-house, his aged ears were yet keen enough to follow the argument. Silence eventually followed as she prevailed, and the aged being shifted position, trying vainly to ease the pain in one hip, and the ache in stiffened, overworked muscles.

He still didn't know what had triggered the urgent need, two days before, to set out before dawn on a long day's journey into Tokyo on foot. Limping and leaning heavily on his sword as he clambered up the steep, heavily-wooded slope behind the shrine, he had arrived at the base of the well-house just in time to feel the shuddering thump and the pulse of eldritch power, followed moments later by the shocked cries as the family discovered the vanished well. Impulsively, he had whirled, intending to leap up to the grounds, only to ignominiously crumple to the ground as his leg collapsed. Panting, hip agonized, he heard a faint, hollow voice, and as wits caught up with emotion, realized from the words that it was his voice. And realized just when he was.

A faint sob came to his ears, and Inuyasha pulled his thoughts back to the present. Pulling himself closer to the wall, hooking his yellowing claws into the wood, Inuyasha fought the urge to slash through the wall and go to comfort Kagome's mother, to reassure her that yes, Kagome would return.

But he couldn't. Because he was afraid. Terrified. He couldn't bear the thought risking Kagome seeing him like this, even if it didn't change their shared history—his past, her future. He couldn't bear the thought of her seeing what he'd become—old, tattered, and decrepit. He couldn't bear the thought of her horror, or her pity. For the sake of a promise, he would someday find the courage to approach Mama Higurashi, once Kagome was safely gone. But, Kagome—he would never see her again, despite three years of opportunity.

The sobbing grew louder, and his throat tightened as his eyes burned. "I'm sorry," he whispered to the woman inside. "So sorry."

Three more years.

He had to wait.

He had to wait.

Author's Note: Until I actually starting writing the series about Inuyasha's final years, here are bits and pieces that fit in with that scenario - Inuyasha is still alive in modern Tokyo, but is very old and reduced in circumstances. The pieces written before this one can be found in the "Little Bits" catchall, in Number 18 (Monster at the Door), 31 (Reminisce), and... there's another one, can't find it: I'll edit the post when I do.

This piece was originally posted on the LiveJournal community "At First Tweak" for the prompt, "A Long Day's Journey." It was originally posted on Jan 30, 2011. It won the contest.