A/N – Okay, so those of you who've read my stories know that I like to experiment with different pairings, so here's another one to keep your eyes on. It features Miroku and Kagome as the main pairing.
Summary: "We have to protect…" A Broken whisper and a Hushed murmur. Two vows to fulfill, a jewel to protect and an unexpected complication. Kagome and Miroku, the only two left from their small group, make one final attempt to protect the jewel by making a wish to be its final guardians. When neither has anything left to love, they turn to each other in an awkward acceptance of all that's left.
Prologue: The Final Battle
Kagome stared silently up at the darkening sky, before she quickly slid her gaze back to the battle field, an arrow notched in order to protect her friends from her high perch. How desperately Kagome wanted to be down there, in the midst of battle, being able to help. But she knew, lord she knew, how much more of a hindrance she would be rather than a help. With not a single fighting skill to her name, Kagome knew that if she were to leave her spot she would merely get in someone's way or end up distracting them, which went totally against their plan.
Sighing, she watched with a blooming dread as the sun sank further in the sky, covering the ground in darkness and shadows. If the battle went in longer, then everything was over. The time they had used to concoct this plan, the risks they were taking to put it into action. All would be lost if the battle wasn't won before the light was gone. He knew what the new moon meant for him, knew that he might very possibly die in this battle, yet he still forged ahead, badgering them all into agreeing with, just like he always did. Damn fool of a hanyou.
She jerked back to attention as a ragged cry came from the battle field and she cursed herself for not paying closer attention. Sango stood hunched over, holding her stomach with Miroku and Kirara protecting her as best they could. Frowning, she quickly loosed her arrow, purifying all the demons that surrounded them. Miroku sent her a thankful glance, before he went back to Sango.
It was hard for her to stand here, watching as her friends fought for their life's while she stood in relative safety. The final straw came however when the last ray of sunlight disappeared and the tips of Inuyasha's hair began to change, making him human. Kagome wasn't in time to stop the blow that sent the human Inuyasha flying, wasn't in time to stop the blow of a tentacle to his chest. She wasn't in time to stop the evil hanyou from absorbing the human body into his ugly, writhing mass.
"Inuyasha!!" Tears poured down her cheeks as she watched his body disappear, confusion and anger filling her tearful blue eyes.
Notching another arrow, she saw desperately and without aim, the arrow hitting the spot where Inuyasha's body had been stolen to. But it was useless, the bright purification leaving nothing but a dark scorch mark.
Devastated, she stood in horror as Naraku sent a tentacle flying towards her, stopped only by the sudden appearance of a barrier. Glancing over to Miroku, whom she knew had cast the barrier, it was the sight of him holding Sango so dearly in his arms that brought her back. The sight of her beloved sister, dead, just as her protector was.
Infusing a small amount of her miko powers into the barrier, she moved quickly across the field to where Miroku kneeled, dropping down beside him. She laid a hand on the girl's neck, desperate to find a pulse although she knew she wouldn't. She leaned forward and pressed her head against Sango's bloody stomach, tears pouring onto the dead girls chest, tears for her, tears for Inuyasha and tears for a life that was stolen so suddenly.
Outside their barrier, Kagome and Miroku could feel the hanyou badgering against it, pounding his tentacles into it in attempts to break through. It was the last straw for Kagome. Turning sad yet fierce blue eyes to Miroku, she leaned forward until they were nose to nose. "We have to protect…" she whispered brokenly, her words quiet and yet so loud. "The jewel, it needs to be protected."
Miroku stared silently at the girl, grief filling his violet eyes, before he nodded. Embracing the barrier with a bit more strength to distract the hanyou for a bit longer, he turned back to Kagome, determination masking the pain. "I know." His tone was hushed, emanating with a knowledge that Kagome did not understand. "There is only one way." He turned his gaze to the brilliant pink jewel around her neck, the final part that Kirara had managed to steal from Naraku in a moment of distraction. Now that it was around her neck, it glowed brightly, but there was still one shard missing, the final shard that Naraku held, hidden somewhere in his convoluted body.
Taking her hand, he pulled them both up, but not before placing a sutra over Sango's body to repel the demons and waited just a moment more, before removing the barrier. They ran in opposite directions, Miroku with his staff in hand and Kagome with her bow, an arrow already notched.
Laughter filled the area as Naraku watched their attempts, swinging tentacles at them without even trying. He had no fear that two mere humans could harm him, not to mention two with barely any fighting skills. But still, he kept his guard up, making sure to let them no closer than was absolutely necessary. He wasn't expecting the arrow that pierced his side, nor the large number of sutra's that suddenly attached themselves to his side, freezing him to the spot. Naraku listened silent as the sound of the monks voice was suddenly right behind him, whispering into his ear.
"You're going straight to hell now, hanyou. I'll send you there myself. Finally, my family will have the revenge they've always dreamed of. Kagome and I, we will kill you, she for her love and me for mine, because you have taken from what so desperately loved."
And then the monk was gone, kneeling next to Kagome as she hacked at a part of his body, digging deeper and deeper until she reached it, the small vial that held the final jewel shard, the last piece that he had stolen from them. Grabbing it quickly, Kagome broke the vial and put the shard in place on the jewel, a small pink glow surrounding it before both Kagome and Miroku stared at the hanyou, determination filling their human eyes.
Naraku feared now, cursing himself for allowing the humans to get so close to him, allowing them to take the last bit of strength he had. And he cursed the girl, because she could see the shards and had an advantage against him that he had forgotten. Damn miko! Still, he was silent as he watched them, wondering in what ways they would consign him to hell.
Miroku leaned forward and took Kagome's hand, placing it on his chest and holding it there, before motioning for her to do the same with his other hand. When he held her chest and she his, he leaned forward until their foreheads were touching. "Do you trust me, Kagome-sama?"
"Yes…" It was then that she closed her eyes and allowed the power from the Shikon to fill her, wrapping her around her very soul until it began to burn. She was quiet as the soothing feeling of Miroku's soul slowly began to sink into her own, a vibrant purple mixing with her own, whitish blue. It was almost as if they were connected, as if they were one being. He exposed her secrets and she hers until there were no more barriers between them. It was then that a buzzing sound filled her mind and if it hadn't been for Miroku, Kagome was sure she wouldn't have been able to handle it.
Who is it that summons us?
Kagome jumped, but swallowed her surprise and fear, allowing an answer to come from her lips. "I am the protector of the Shikon no Tama."
And why is it that you have summoned us?
She glanced at Miroku, hesitation tracing her lips. The sight of his calm serene face gave her courage and she closed her eyes again. "We…we would like to make you an offer."
The four souls were silent for a moment, before they spoke again, curiosity tingeing their voice. What kind of offer is it you'd like to make?
"I…We would like to ask for your power in order to defeat the evil hanyou Naraku, who tries to use you for his own disgusting intents. In return…we will offer you our services in protection forever. The final guardians."
Suddenly the buzzing intensified and Kagome winced, wanting to shrink back from the pain. But Miroku was doing this for her, helping her to reach out to the jewel, giving her a chance to end it all. So she stayed still and endured it. After a few moments the buzzing stopped and silence prevailed; it was so quiet that Kagome wondered if maybe the Four Souls had disappeared altogether. Kagome forced herself to stay calm when they spoke again.
We find you…suitable to sustain us, Miko, but what of you Monk? What is your purpose in helping the Miko with this task?
Miroku did not seem surprised when they addressed him and when he spoke, though is voice was still echoing his grief, his words were smooth and calm, filled with the diplomatic elegance that was him. "I wish to help her, as her friend and as…pack. The Miko is all I have left to me…and I would do anything to keep her safe."
Kagome was surprised by the answer and she can't say that she was able to keep the small blush from rising to her cheeks. Thank goodness he had his eyes closed.
Is that so… The Four Souls were silent again, as if considering his answer, before the buzzing returned again, though this time it wasn't painful at all, more like being surrounded by warmth and harmony.
Very well then. We will grant you your wish and in return you will be the Final Guardians of the Shikon no Tama.
And then all was quiet again. The buzzing warmth of the jewel was gone; the feeling of being protected was gone. Everything was just…gone. Except for Miroku. Vaguely she could still sense his presence, though she could no longer feel him physically connected to her. But the void was soon replaced with a pain that Kagome had never felt before.
It permeated through her veins, setting her blood on fire and scaring the living hell out of her. Where once she could feel Miroku, the soothing peace that was him was no longer there, leaving her abandoned in the pain and darkness of the Shikon no Tama. It ran through her body, putting ever nerve on end as she felt something inside of her change and grow, something she knew could consume her if she let it. Kagome was quiet, a small whimper escaping her every now and then. One more huge wave of power and pain mixed into one swept through her, before everything was quiet again. She tried to move, but it felt like every inch of her was on fire and she found it was almost impossible to move. Vaguely she hoped that Miroku didn't have to go through whatever it was she had.
There. You both have the power needed to protect the jewel. Working together, defeat of the hanyou should be easy enough. Miko…do not be distressed by the disappearance of the jewel. We have decided to divide ourselves so that no one can ever grasp the entire jewel.
Kagome listened quietly, the pain slowly fading away to be replaced with the warm buzzing from before, but it still burned slightly. She nodded silently as the Jewel spoke, taking into consideration what it was saying. So now both she and Miroku possessed parts of the jewel. The idea of that didn't sit well with her at first, but she figured she'd become accustomed to it, just as she did everything else. "Thank you very much. I swear that I will never let the jewel come to harm while it's under my care."
"As do I," Miroku said quietly. His voice was smooth, but it cracked slightly when he thought about what they had just done. Forever. He and Kagome would live an eternal life protecting a jewel, a life in which he would never get to hold his beloved Sango again, a life with no children, no love, and no family. Just Kagome and the Jewel, a fate as inseparable as the group had once been. He knew though, that no matter how hard he had it, Kagome, though she wasn't his love, wasn't anymore than a friend to him, would always be there for him, just as he would for her. He supposed, with his cursed life, that's all he could ask for.
We know this, they said arrogantly, for we would not have granted you this boon if we hadn't. There was silence again, before the Jewel added one more thing. Do not be concerned about your…physical appearance. It will prove…useful.
And then the buzzing was gone and the connection with the Shikon was slowly lost. As Miroku pulled his aura back from her and she pulled back hers as well, they stared at each other in surprise. Kagome had felt like she was lying on the ground but instead she found herself in the same position she had started out in, her hand still pressed to Miroku's chest, their foreheads touching, Miroku in the same pose. She stared at him for a moment, before glancing over at Sango's face and the blood that trickled out of her mouth.
The anger and the devastation came back to her in a moment and she pulled away from Miroku to glare at the still trapped Naraku. Although she hadn't been able to tell at first, Kagome could distinctly feel
something different about her body and the way it usually worked. Pushing herself to stand, Kagome turned to look at Miroku once more.
A small nod was the only warning he gave before he ran, faster than she had ever seen, possibly as fast as Sesshoumaru, and jumped into the air, only to come back down and slam his staff into Naraku's side, cutting off one large chunk of withering tentacles. Kagome smirked, before running forward, reveling in her new found speed, and notched an arrow only to let it fly; it hit its mark, slamming directly into the only expose part of Naraku's actual body, his chest. The evil hanyou let out a strangled yell and swung a tentacle at her, knocking the bow out of her hands and pushing her back about ten until she lay in a surprised heap on the ground.
Okay….that should have hurt. If fact, I'm quite sure I should be unconscious right about now…
She wasn't really sure how he had managed to get free, but Kagome had a feeling that her arrow might have hit the seal that was holding him still. Glancing down at her body to make sure she was alright, she sent another nod in Miroku's direction, knowing that he was watching her closely. Pushing herself up, she reached over to pick up a thick stick, one she would not normally have been able to hold onto. Putting those puzzling thoughts behind her for later questions, Kagome ran towards the hanyou and swung blindly. She may not have known how to fight, but Kagome certainly knew how to swing. With her steady swings she managed to cut off chunk after chunk of the writhing mess that was his lower body while Miroku worked away at clearing some of the other demons that were getting in the way.
For the most part she managed to avoid the other tentacles that came her way, though some caught her unawares and sent her flying again, always causing Miroku to call or look to see if she was alright. Eventually she told him to stop worrying about him and went back to Naraku who was glaring at her as if she were the most disgusting thing he'd ever laid eyes upon.
"I'll kill you, lowly human bitch. Just like I killed that filthy hanyou of yours! And then I'll rip you limb from limb until I have the jewel! Everything will be mine you damned bitch!"
Before she knew what she was doing, Kagome found herself tackling the hanyou, pinning what was left to him with the ground as she wrapped her thin fingers harshly around the hanyou's neck. She was beyond infuriated that he would even attempt to disgrace the name of Inuyasha. "You shut your mouth right now! What makes you think you have the right to say things like that!?" For good measure, she released one of her hands and slammed it into his jaw, adding a little of her purity just because. Bastard.
But then Miroku was behind her, pulling her away from the disgusting creature. "Calm yourself, Kagome-sama, please. You don't want to end it like this." And although Kagome knew he was right she could not help but to struggle and cry as he pulled her away from the small being below her. Because really, all that was left was his left shoulder, part of his chest and his head. He would die on his own given the chance. But given the chance, he would also be able to get away. "Not up close and personal. We'll destroy him, Kagome-sama, but you don't want his disgusting blood on your hands."
Kagome calmed for just a moment, before nodding and allowing Miroku to pull her away. Around them the battle field was quiet, Miroku having taken care of mindless, lower demons while Kagome fought against Naraku. She had a couple of cuts here and there, but nothing that wouldn't heal eventually. Glancing at the monk, she waited for his approval, before stepping forward and placing her hands
harshly on either side of the hanyou's face as he glared up at her, hatred shining through his opalescent black eyes. "This isn't over yet Miko! You'll see! There are some things even you can't purify! I'll get –" He was cut off by the pain that suddenly spread through what was left of his body, the purification of the Miko. The pain was suddenly intensified as the Monk placed his hands over hers, spreading his own power throughout the hanyou as well.
Within moments there was a right light that sent both Kagome and Miroku flying in opposite directions. As the light faded and disappeared to whence it had come, Kagome lay staring up at the dark sky, emotionally numb. She lay there for only a few more minutes, before sitting up and looking for Miroku, who she saw sitting on the other end of the clearing.
She pushed herself up at the same time as he did and as they walked slowly to meet each other in the center, Kagome noticed a few things about him that hadn't been there before. Below his right eye, one thing violet line, the same color of his eyes, was stark against his tan skin. The stars shone brightly because there was no moon tonight, drawing her eyes to the earring that reflected such light and to the tips of his ears, pointed now, like a demons. It dawned on her then, just what the Shikon no Tama had done to them.
In asking for the power to defeat Naraku and to be the final guardians of the jewel, the jewel had done the only thing it could do, turning them into demons but with the purity of a miko and the spirituality of a monk. How odd.
As they stared at each other, Kagome finally felt the grief she had been holding back break through as tears slipped down her cheeks and Miroku stared at her with a sadness that only she could understand. Wrapping her arms around him, to both take and offer comfort, Kagome poured her tears into him as they sank to the ground, letting out a grief that no one else could possibly understand.
Throughout the night, the only sound heard was the heart-wrenching sobs and howls of the two Guardians.