Kaya's Story (An InuYasha Fanfic)

Chapter 68: Letting Go

We set up camp just outside the destruction zone of the mountain. InuYasha left in search of Lady Kikyo, hoping to find her. He was still in love with her and he wasn't ready to accept her death. I elected to stay with the others because I didn't have the same hope InuYasha did about the situation. As Sango and Miroku explained who Kikyo was to Koga, I sat and watched the flames of the fire with my head mostly down. My tears hadn't stopped since we found Lady Kikyo's broken bow near that river of liquid miasma. Shortly after Sango and Miroku finished their explanation, Ginta and Hakkaku caught up to us. In turn, Koga took Kagome's hands in his and gave her a few loving words before taking off. I didn't move for a long time. I just sat there and stared at the fire in a daze. There was no way she survived, even if the fall didn't kill her that wound or the miasma would have. Kagome's voice brought me out of my daze, but I didn't look up. "Kaya, are you okay?" I nodded in response. Shippo ran in front of me and we made eye contact. "I've never seen you cry before, Kaya." I growled in response and looked down again. Everyone was looking at me now and it was pissing me off. "InuYasha is not the only one who cared for Lady Kikyo," I muttered. Everyone was silent for a moment before Kagome spoke again, "Kaya, why did you run off earlier?" I looked up at her, "I went after a demon." "A demon that close to the mountain?" Kagome questioned. I nodded, before continuing. "Her name was Ko and she was working for Naraku as a distraction for me. Ko was the daughter of a powerful demon my mother killed a little over 50 years ago. Her lust for vengeance was the perfect opportunity to take me off the board." Kagome nodded but didn't say anything else. As it got later in the evening, Sango, Miroku, Shippo, and Kirara went to sleep. Kagome and I didn't, though. "You should get some rest Kagome, you've been through a lot lately," I told her. She shook her head and I moved to sit next to her. I took off the top to my robe of the fire rat and draped it over her shoulders. She looked down at it before grasping the fabric, "thank you, Kaya." We sat there in mutual silence until the sun came up. Soon after, InuYasha came into view and Kagome stood up. She removed the robe from her shoulders and handed it to me. I quickly put it back on as the two spoke. InuYasha's sadness had mixed into his very scent and there was nothing that anyone could do for him at this moment.

Shortly after InuYasha's return, we decided to head south. InuYasha was unusually quiet and spaced out. I could tell he was still thinking about Lady Kikyo. I didn't know how to help him and I wished I could. I could tell Kagome was feeling the same way about it because she kept glancing at InuYasha with sad/pained expression. After traveling for some time we returned to Shintaro's village. InuYasha went to the beach and was just staring out over the water. "I'm going to Master Totosai's for a couple of days. Will you be okay?" I asked InuYasha. He nodded before turning to me but didn't say anything. We just stood there staring at each other with understanding. That's when I hugged him, "be careful InuYasha. Please don't do anything rash, okay?" He returned the hug before humming in agreement. Kagome walked up to us shortly after we let go. "I'll see you later, be safe, all of you," I told the two before taking off towards the west.

It took me until sunset to reach Master Totosai's cave. "Are you here, Master Totosai?" I called when I arrived. "Ah, yes, Kaya, I was wondering when you were going to come back," Master Totosai stated as he walked to the entrance of his cave. "I take it Myoga told you something?" Master Totosai nodded in response before gesturing for me to come inside. After we sat down we shared a moment of silence, before Master Totosai spoke. "So, you want to know more about that new technique?" "Yeah, because the second time wasn't a fluke," I told him. He nodded in response before continuing, "you have unlocked it fully. Your want to protect InuYasha and his friends was enough." I looked at him confused. "You didn't have a selfish reason for wanting to protect them, unlike at that Village," Master Totosai explained. "I see. Master Totosai, you don't happen to have any arrows lying around, would you?" I inquired, changing the subject. "Arrows?" "Yeah, you see I used all of mine during my battle at Mt. Hakurei. If you happen to have supplies I can make some on my own," I explained. Before he could answer, I felt something on my cheek and slapped it. Myoga fell into my open hand, "Good Evening, Lady Kaya. I am sorry to hear about Lady Kikyo." I crushed Myoga in my hand and dropped him. He quickly reformed and jumped to Master Totosai's shoulder. "I expected that from Master InuYasha, but not you," Myoga stated, clearly offended. "I know, I just wish you hadn't brought it up," I said before facing Master Totosai, "Anyway, Master Totosai, I still need to know about arrows." He nodded before responding, "there are some parts for that in the back of the cave. Just don't touch anything else." "I won't." With that, I stood up and headed to the back of the cave.

I spent the entire night busy. It had been a long time since I had made any arrows of my own, so they weren't the best. The arrows I had used on Ko were taken from the battlefield where I got that arm for Naraku several months ago. Man, I messed up. All of this could've been prevented if I had just told Naraku to shove it in the beginning. He wouldn't have gotten this powerful and no one would've gotten hurt. This was all my fault and there was no way I could fix it. My vision was blurry with tears, so I put down the supplies I had been holding. I'm such a fool. When morning came, I thanked Master Totosai and headed to Kaede's village. According to Myoga, InuYasha was there. I had to try and make amends for everything, no matter what.