Kohaku/Kagura - Death Theme

[rumpleteazer]

Title: Tell Me
Claimed Pairing: Kohaku/Kagura
Rating: PG-13
Words: 313
Squicks: Character death. Also, what could be interrpreted as a mention of Kohaku/Sango.
Summary: She wanted to know what dying was like.
Note: Spoiler for manga chapter 374.



"So what's it like?" Kagura asked him once, after she had grown accustomed to him being near.

He turned to look up at her; his blank eyes blinking, "What?"

"Dying, Kohaku." The wind-user replied, looking at him closely, "What's it like to die?"

Kohaku looked away from her then, turning his gaze to the ground, "I don't remember."

-

"Why?" He asked her, once he had finally gathered the courage to do so, "A long time ago... why did you ask me what it's like to die?"

"Why?" Kagura repeated the question back to him, before smiling grimly and closing her eyes, "Because, Kohaku, freedom may only be achieved in death."

"And..?"

She opened her eyes again, and looked towards the sky as the wind around them seemed to pick up slightly, "And, I'm ready to accept that, if things come down to it."

He looked at her a moment more, then looked down to the ground, "I see."

"So, what's it like?"

Kohaku closed his eyes; faintly recalling the pressure of a body atop his, warm breath whispering across his face as a voice thick with pain and sorrow told him things would be okay, the feeling of warmth that person's voice brought him even though death had its' cold, vice-like grip on him.

"Peaceful." He replied finally.

-

It hadn't taken him long to figure out what had happened; the boy easily caught the slight, satisfied glint in Naraku's eye. But, the main giveaway had been the passive reply he received after asking about Kagura's whereabouts.

Closing his eyes, he tilted his head towards the sky, feeling the breeze tousle his hair.

'So... this is what it's like.'

Kohaku could almost hear her voice on the wind as it blew past his ears. And, as he opened his eyes again, he couldn't help but nod slightly.

"Yeah... it's just like that."

Comments

[raihu.livejournal.com]

Aw - I adore Kagura, but when her death is well-written, I still really enjoy reading about it. ^^; It's kind of like an extention of her character, and it's a great chance to see what others think of her when she's not around.

I particularly like the first section. It's such an abrupt introduction to your idea, to the theme, but it's a smooth read and it hints at the odd familiarity that can build between two people after they've been together for a while. Kohaku's eventual answer is perfect; he could have started with a long, dramatic speech - but that one word sums everything up, and lends him a strange sort of maturity as well.

I like the tiny touch of KaguKoh; it only really exists to those who want to see it, but it's so interesting. Like mother/son, sister/brother, and a little more than friend/friend crammed into the tentative relationship between these two. So neat; it's pretty much a "read into it as you will" thing.

I really enjoy the way you handled this whole idea. It's appropriately tragic, but vaguely uplifting too. There's always the implication that Kagura is free at last, and the fact that she visits Kohaku even briefly is sweet and soothing.