These Days by S'revan

One Shot

Kagome, after the end of the story. Expositional characterization.

Sometimes Kagome wants to cry. She doesn't, though, because it doesn't help anything and it gives her a headache and makes it harder to deal with the next day. These days her eyes rarely burn, even when she wants to scream with the pain of it. It's not that she has no tears left, her eyes aren't dry, and they still water over fresh-cut onions or sand in the wrong place or a stiff wind right into her face. She just doesn't cry. But sometimes she wants to.

She doesn't remember the end of her time in Feudal Japan, or how Naraku was defeated, or the jewel purified, the well sealed. She knows that it's happened, because she experienced it, but she doesn't remember it. She has no memories from that time. She doesn't have many memories these days, just a lot of knowledge.

For example, she knows that she used to be able to cry. She knows that there was a time when she wished she didn't cry so often. She doesn't remember the last time she cried, however. She doesn't remember crying at all. Nor does she remember wanting to cry, really. She just knows that sometimes she does.

She saw Sesshoumaru the other day; bright-haired, clear-eyed Sesshoumaru. He's a model, a mysterious celebrity. The press can never get a story on him, they can't find out anything about him. They don't even know that he visits her so often. At least, she can't remember ever reading that they do. She saw Inuyasha too, but he doesn't look the same. She doesn't think he looks the same. She can't remember what he used to look like anymore, although she could draw it if she wanted to. But she doesn't really want to, because she doesn't remember Inuyasha either. He just... doesn't seem to hold any meaning for her.

She does remember Sesshoumaru, though.

Kagome goes up to the roof of her apartment complex, to watch the eclipse. It's beautiful as the moon comes in front of the sun, cutting off light, creating strange rainbows. When the sliver of sun left to see looks like the crescent on Sesshoumaru's forehead, he appears before her, and holds out her hand. She takes it, and they watch the eclipse together. When the sun is completely covered, he kisses her, and she cries.

She will not remember this very clearly tomorrow, but she will know that they have renewed their bond, and that is enough for her. For the rest, living in the present is all she needs.

Tomorrow she will make ramen from scratch for Souta's birthday, and as she cuts up the onions her eyes will water, and she will smile because these days tears are the way she shows how happy she is.