Some Other Beginning's End

Another Beginning

"Geez, you idiot!" Ba-bam! Inuyasha stood over Miroku, panting furiously. "Say that FIRST!"

Miroku felt gingerly at the newest lump on his head. "Thank you," he said dryly. "Between the battle, the explosion and you, now I may truly say I don't have an unbruised spot on my body." Turning to Sango, he caught one of her hands. "But I'm sure my beautiful, compassionate Sango will tenderly minister to each and every p—"

Slapping a hand over his mouth, Sango glared at him. "Consider yourself lucky I don't add to your bruises myself, monk." She turned back to Inuyasha. "But what do you mean?"

In response, the dog demon snorted. His hands moved to hide in the tattered remnants of his long sleeves. "You said Kagome disappeared in a blue flash that was full of stars, right?"

"That is how it appeared," Miroku confirmed. Sango nodded along with him.

"Well then she's FINE," Inuyasha snapped. "That's the magic of the well. It's the magic that takes her from our world to hers." He loomed over the others, angry all over again. "SO WHAT THE HELL WAS WITH THAT 'WE CAN'T FIND KAGOME' STUFF?!!!"

"How were we supposed to know?" Sango retorted. "You and Kagome are the only ones who can pass through the well!" She wished fervently that the power of his Beads of Subjugation would work for her, at least this once.

Inuyasha made the strangled, growling sound he always did when confronted with basic logic. "Bah!" he said, turning his head away sharply.

The others sighed.

"Oi!"

Calmly Miroku continued building the fire. "Yes, Inuyasha?" he asked with deliberate peace.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?!"

"What does it look like we're doing?" Sango asked, busy with her own preparations.

The scowl on Inuyasha's face deepened. "It looks like you're making camp."

"Ah," the monk responded. "That might be because we are."

"Buncha' weaklings! What're ya stopping now for? I can still see that stinkin' crater from here!" The jingling of rings gave Inuyasha some warning but not enough and Miroku's staff came down with a resounding crack on his head. Swearing, the half-demon spun on the monk, only to draw back from the hard look in the other man's eyes.

"That's right," Miroku said with deceptive mildness. "We're weak humans. It's not as if we've just been through a battle with Naraku and his offshoots. Nor been at the center of a mystic explosion. None of us have injuries to tend, nor do we need sleep. Really, we've had such nice, peaceful nights during this last hunt for Naraku; I can see why you're so full of get-up-and-go."

"Bah."

The monk's face softened and he knelt down by the crouching demon. "We understand that you're anxious to return to Kagome, Inuyasha, but we can't keep up the pace you set. It's hard enough at the best of times; it might as well be impossible now. Besides," he went on, "it's not as if you were completely unscathed either."

Inuyasha looked away, frowning. "Ah, it's nothing. I'm fine. You worry too much."

"You wouldn't say that if you'd seen what we had to dig through to find you. Your Fire-rat Robes have taken such a beating they have yet to regenerate. I'm sure Kagome-sama is just as anxious to see you again but I know she would want you to take care of yourself." Inuyasha shrugged unhappily then snorted and leapt into a nearby tree.

"Fine," he muttered, then shouted down at the camp. "But we're moving on at first light!!"

"AAAAA!"

"WOOOO!"

An explosion of birds rippled through the forest as they and other animals fled the wild noises coming from the camp. Inuyasha was down from his tree in a flash, brandishing Tetsusaiga. "What in hell is going on here?!!" he roared. His wild search for trouble found nothing but his companions jumping around and shrieking like idiots.

"We did it!" they shouted, beaming.

"Did it?" Inuyasha snorted. "Did what?"

In answer, Miroku shoved his hand into the irritated half-demon's face. His right hand. His bare right hand. "We've come so close so many times," he babbled, "I didn't even think to check. It wasn't until we were tending wounds and Sango asked me how the Wind Tunnel was faring after the last batch of Hell Wasps. I realized then that I felt nothing in my hand. Since I drank that potion of Yakuro Dokusen's there's been no pain but this… there was simply nothing."

Suddenly Sango collapsed, shaking. "It's over," she sobbed, her face in her hands. Concerned, Kirara hopped up on her shoulder and licked her mistress's cheek. "It's really over!" She cried silently for a bit before raising a face that, though tear-stained, was beaming. "Now Father and the others can rest in peace."

Miroku dropped down in front of her, gripping her hands intensely. "Yes," he said. "Now we can start our family!" He hauled her into an enthusiastic embrace. Surprisingly, she let him go on for a minute; then, of course, he got too heated and she slapped him.

"Not right now, you lecherous excuse for a monk," she admonished, blushing, but she didn't look as displeased as she might have. "At least wait until after the wedding." Miroku sighed in disappointment. "I'm sure we can ask Priestess Kaede to officiate when we get to the village." Miroku perked up at that.

"Well, better get to sleep!" he said hurriedly, trying to rush everyone off to bed, despite the fact that the sun had barely set. "We're moving at first light!"

Sango's blush deepened. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and returned to his tree.

Whump! Squeak! The breath was driven out of Shippo as something large and familiar smelling landed on him. "Inuyasha!" he shouted angrily, knowing intuitively who was at fault for his rude awakening. He pushed Kagome's backpack off and stood up, glaring around for the half-demon. There was no red-clad, arrogant figure in the small hut though, only Sango hugging her little brother.

"Kohaku!" She pulled back, beaming, and cupped his face in her hands. "It's over!" Tears of joy and relief slid down her cheeks. "It's truly over!"

Kohaku threw his arms around her neck. "Sis!"

The mat covering the door rustled as Miroku joined them inside. "Ah, Priestess Kaede," he greeted the old woman warmly.

"Hey!" Shippo interrupted. "Where's Kagome? And that jerk, Inuyasha?"

"Kagome-sama was returned to her home country. Inuyasha has gone to fetch her," the monk answered briefly. He had a mission and would not be delayed. He drew his breath to begin again.

Inuyasha's scream echoed from the woods through the village.

He'd been restless all morning, barely speaking to Sango or Miroku. He should have been shouting his excitement to the sky, as they had done. He should have made them listen to him brag about every single thing he'd done in the last battle. He should have been swearing and complaining about having to haul Kagome's huge bag.

I have a bad feeling.

They'd made good time and arrived back at the village by late afternoon. He'd sped up when the rice fields came into sight, quickly leaving the others behind. They'd shouted after him but he'd ignored them. He'd meant his confident words to them after the battle. It had clearly been the well magic. The well magic was familiar and that had made it seem okay. In the long watches of the night, as he'd waited impatiently for dawn, the doubts had set in. Why would the well magic have been at that last battle with Naraku? Why hadn't they been able to find the Jewel of Four Souls?

I have a bad feeling.

He'd dashed through the village, barely pausing to chuck the backpack into Kaede's hut. Miroku and Sango would have to answer the questions. There was a sick twisting in his gut. He had to get to the well.

I have a really bad feeling.

The well was still there. It looked the same. Everything smelled the same but the feeling didn't go away. He flung himself into the cool depths.

The blue light filled with stars didn't catch him. When he landed at the bottom, there was no well-house overhead, only a clear blue sky. There was no heavy, tingly scent of magic, just old, cold earth. He leapt out then back down again. Again, no stars. Again he leapt. Again, only blue sky.

No.Too shocked for tears, he began digging frantically.C'mon, c'mon… His claws scratched on bedrock and still the magic didn't come. "Kagome," he breathed hoarsely. "Kagome, please." The bad feeling slid away, replaced by a cold certainty that burned like Sesshomaru's poison. "KAGOME!!"