Silver in the Moonlight

Chapter 2

One year later . . .

Jolting awake, I sat up on my futon. Gasping for air; closing my eyes I rested my hand between my breasts. My heart thundered against my chest, Feeling the thundering against my hand. I took in slow deep breaths, minutes later finally able to breath properly and my heartbeat began to settle.

Opening my eyes, sunlight pooled in from the shutters. I could hear the villager already working it was probably around noon. Sighing I laid back down pulling the blanket over my tank top to fight off the goose bumps that seemed to cover me.

Amazing how life can be stretched, pulled and even ripped apart but then manages to mend itself again. My life had been stretched, pulled and ripped apart countless times in the feudal era. I wasn't that same childish girl that had fallen down the well. I was a reflection of her but not her anymore; I had to change,adapt to life that was entrusted upon me.

Today would be last day of my solitude; Inuyasha and Shippo would return home. Sango, Miroku and Kohaku weren't expected to be back from the demon slayer village for another couple weeks. Sighing I sat up, the blanket pooled in my lap.

Guess it's time to get up; it was long past a decent hour to be sleeping. Getting up I cleaned my futon. Opening the windows of all the bedrooms of the hut to let the hot summer air in. Summer was winding down it was just a few weeks of the warmth and long days.Before long the cold would be upon us.

Empty it was quiet but soon everyone would return and laughter would fill our home. The summer breeze blew in through the house smiling I grabbed my toiletries. Slowly making my way to the spring mulling over what had jolted me awake and put me into a fright.

I could never recall what happened in them but there were snippets a palace, cherry blossoms, mercury and amber eyes and there was this hearty laugh that always seemed to ring in my ears. Sometimes I would wake up screaming from my dreams, bringing everyone running from their bedrooms in the middle of the nights.

Something had happened in the battle with Naraku. I wasn't the same person that went into that battle. No of us were we had all lost part of ourselves in the battle.

Reaching the springs I moved the screen that enclosed the spring. A new addition in the last couple month's curtsey of Inuyasha or my nagging. I loved my baths but a spring in the middle of nowhere with no privacy that was not to be loved.

Since we had settled down, certain things had to be changed;quickly bathing I brushed my teeth. Dressing I packed up my things and began to walk home.

There was a person that had plagued my mind since the battle and even long before the battle. Sesshomaru. As the shards grew sparser and sparser either Naraku having them or us. We had all gathered anticipating Naraku to attack or plan something. Around him I felt dazed everything slowed down and I had to mentally concentrate to form a simple sentence.

Clearing the woods our home stood alone on the slight hill, it was the fruit of our labor and struggle. Sleeping somewhere new every night and having no place to call home was hard on all of us during the hunt. We had decided to make a home in Edo where we retuned again and again. Our home was large it had plenty of bedrooms for us all and all any visitors that dropped by.

Putting away my things I began to walk to the shrine just outside the village. I stopped by the well and ran my fingers over the smooth lib. I looked inside it was empty it was empty it had been empty for the last year, some habits die-hard. I smiled at the life I had lost my time was gone my family was gone. I had skinned my knees raw trying again and again to go back home. Inuyasha had to carry me back in the throws of hysteria.