AN: To get the full feel on this chapter please play the song Saturn by Sleeping at Last.
You taught me the courage of stars before you left.
Deep in a dark old shrine, as the sun went down laid a Miko guardian like no other before her. Her body was covered in sweat and her face covered in sheer pain. Yet she was still beautiful. She lay curled clutching crips silken sheets, the only noise that could be heard was the faint sound of her grunts. Though many offered their prayers, none could really help her.
The halls and rooms were only lit by small candles and gave little light to what was going on with her.
Tears fell of their own accord; she could do little to stop them now, the pain was far too great.
The young maiden Mikos of the shrine could do nothing more than watch over her night and day with the hope that one day someone could help her. The elder Miko's ran back and forth with coo; water to no avail. Her fever would not go away.
But she was not dying, no this Miko would always cheat death. Death was like a bad lover when it came to her.
This Miko from the future. This Miko who carried the jewel. This Miko who could not die but only live, suffer, cry, endure.
She grunted again, holding her breath.
"Lady Miko" A young maiden new to her care spoke, "Shall I call the head maiden for you?"
Kagome's hands tugged the sheets "Inuyasha," She whispered.
"Ano, Lady Miko, Lord Inuyasha has long since passed," The young girl said with worry in her voice, her heart hurt for Kagome.
"Inuyasha," She cried again.
It sent the girl running, calling for the head Miko. The oldest woman came sweeping into the dark room as the sun set on another day. Her gray hair was hidden under fabric, but you could tell by her face she was very old.
"Lady Miko, what is it?"
"Inuyasha?" She said again in but a whisper.
The old Miko placed a cold rag on her head "Inuyasha is dead, you know this girl." No wanted to speak to her harsh, but sometimes you had to for her to hear you.
Kagome curled more into her self, hiding her face. Then all the sudden her crying stop and she looked up "Stars," She said "I want to see the stars," Her voice was so broken and worn.
"Ne child, you know we can not move you in this state,"
Kagome lifted a hand, and her silken robe fell to her elbow as she pointed to the wooden roof "I need the stars,"
Both elder and young Miko looked up to the wooden roof.
"In my time, there are no stars," A tear fell down her face as she thought about on her choice to stay. One reason she had, was because of the stars.
The elder Miko looked at the young "Go, find a handyman in the nearby village to remove some of the wood at once, do not dally!"
The young girl ran and did as she was told.
Kagome eyes shown brightly as one by one the wood from the tall roof was lifted, and she could finally see the sky above. A few clouds passed by, but then there they were the stars.
She smiled, and it scared the living hell out of the two Mikos standing next to her. It was nothing something they saw from her often.
Kagome calmed, and her eyes got heavy, for now, she was strong again.
"I don't understand," Whispered the younger girl.
"Miroku," Kagome spoke, which made the elder Miko elbow, the younger girl "Hush girl!"
"It's ok" Kagome spoke not moving her eyes from the sky above.
"Miroku, he was my best friend." She was tired again and grunted with pain.
"Shhh, do not speak anymore," the elder Miko spoke,
"He was a monk," Kagome kept talking,
"Hia Lady Miko, I have heard of your story," The younger Miko like hearing her talk for Kagome didn't speak much.
"I was afraid when one by one they started to die," Tears formed in her eyes again. She shuttered, and her lips quivered.
"But he held my hand on his death bed,"
Kagome's eyes finally moved away from the stars and moved to the two Mikos "And do you know what he told me with his last breath on this earth?"
They didn't speak.
She smiled "He told me to always look at the stars, for they are our courage, our friends and our family,"
The two Mikos looked at each other while Kagome looked back up at the stars above. He had used his last breath to comfort her. She felt selfish, yet blessed at the same time. His wisdom would live on through her. She would never forget. The night he died a new star appeared, and she knew it was him, them, all of them.
Kagome finds the brightest star above, and it shone bright and tinkled in her pain-ridden eyes, she reached up as if trying to touch it. But she knew she never could; they were gone. Her friends, her family, they were all in the stars now.
"Inuyasha, Sango" She began to cry again "Miroku,"
"Lady Kagome please," The elder Miko begged coming closer "You will make yourself sick,"
"I am already sick," Kagome moved her hands down her body to her belly and pressed her palms down "This cursed jewel," She breathed.
The jewel left Kagome with more than just everlasting life and power. It left her barren to only it, and she was left to suffer through many miscarriages from a power unknown and unrecorded. This had never happened before. But no Miko before had ever made an unselfish wish either.
Kagome grunted again in pain; it was happening again. The jewel was trying to take hold on her womb, leaving her weak, tired and in great pain.
It hurt more than her body; it hurt her heart. For she knew should would lose this one as well.
"Myoga," She grunted,
"What?" The elder asked,
"Find, Myoga"
"What is a Myoga?" The young maiden asked.
"Demon flea belonging to Inuyasha and"- She almost didn't dare speak his name "And Lord Sesshomaru,"
The girl gasped at his name. Even now he struck fear in people, though Kagome had not seen him in ten years or so years. His brother's death, They had made brief eye contact, but he didn't stay, and she didn't speak a word of it, nor did she seek him out.
"Lady Kagome I beg of you"- The elder spoke quickly,
"Bring me an arrow please,"
The young girl ran and came back with an arrow and handed it to Kagome.
Kagome slowly poured what little power she had into it "Take this arrow, it will help you find him," She took in a deep breath "And should you run into Lord Sesshomaru, fear not, for he will know this arrow and my power and know you speak only the truth,"
The young maiden shook "You mean to send me?"
"Hai," Kagome reached out and touched her hand "Do not show him fear, but respect and you will be fine,"
The girl only nodded, clutching the arrow to her chest.
"Go please, you can do this,"
The girl ran, and Kagome turned her eyes back to the stars "Give me courage, where I have none,"
The starts all twinkled as if to acknowledge the Miko below.