((Authors Note At Bottom of Page. Read only AFTER reading chapter!! ^_^))

Chapter Three –

(Three Months After Leaving The West)

Rain. Again. Again. And again. She was beginning to regret choosing the south.

It wasn't that she didn't like the rain, more that it was beginning to become monotonous. Still, it had been a good three months since she'd left the west and she was sure the rain was the only thing keeping her from being found. Either that or the deal she'd struck with the village head had worked and he was searching through the north. Maybe. Improbable, but still a possibility.

Turning from the window in the small hut she returned to her task of weaving baskets, slipping slightly as she moved to the other side of the room to sit. There was a tut-tutting sound from across the room on the opposite side the window was on. She hid her grimace from the elder miko.

"Ye should be more careful of your child, girl," came the frowning reprimand.

Again Kagome hid her frown and nodded, accepting the criticism quietly and instinctively reached down to her considerable stomach. She still couldn't quite believe she was going to a mother soon.


Aside from the swift patter of heavy rain in the mud, there was no noise, as almost all the villagers seemed to be in their homes. As I walked through the dirt lanes of the small village I realized I was beginning to see double, irritating me even more so than I was to begin with. All I needed now to finish off my horrible morning was to be sick. It would serve me right though for leaving the way I had. He would be hurting and even though I knew it was because of me, it still upset me to know. I wondered why he'd even bothered to become attached to me. Maybe it would have been better to never make that wish on the jewel, to let everything end with our deaths and Naraku's victory.

But such thoughts were not fair to him and I knew it. Although I was not happy with my life as it was I knew Miroku had managed to find some modicum of contentedness. I didn't understand it personally but I was happy for him none the less; if he was able to live his life without the one he loved…then he deserved to be just a bit happy.

I knew the villagers were not only hiding from the rain. My yōki even smothered by half for protection, though small in comparison to some larger demons, was still quite ostentatious to those humans who could sense it. What was worse? This tiny little southern village I'd wandered into was not a normal human settlement. This was a mixed community of Youkai, Priestesses and Monks, and regular human beings. None of them bothered to leave their warm huts and offer me a place to rest; I did not sense fear yet I also did not feel any kind of welcome.

The dizziness grew by the minute and as I stumbled upon the last house at the end of the row, a benevolent rise of power brushed against my own strengths, calling to me. With ease I knew this benign aura could belong to none other than a Miko and so I stepped inside her home, bowing automatically. I was only able to get out two words before fever claimed me and even now, the Miko tells me she still has not be able to decipher between the two she thinks she heard: "Save me," or "Kill me."

I don't remember what I said but it would not surprise me if some small part of me wished to be killed. The pain I'd caused, my betrayal…what was I but a person who did not deserve to be in the presence of others? I had turned into the very kind of person I loathed: the kind who hurt the one's they loved.


Miroku walked calmly through the meadow, the dry brown grass brushing against the tops of his thighs, tickling just a bit despite the fabric between them. He was so very tempted to just fall onto his back in the tall grass and hide, to brush away all the insecurities and anger, to hide from her and the future she might withhold from him.

His clothing was loose on him where before it had been tight. These past couple of months had been hell on him, barely eating, rarely sleeping. It was a bleeding miracle he'd survived this long; if he was still a human he would have been dead long before now. Last night was one of the more decent nights of sleep he'd had in a while so his strength was back for the most part and he ate enough to get by. If he found her again would she even recognize him? Would he want her to?

But he knew the answer to that as surely as he knew the answer to why she'd left in the first place. And he was damn tired of the latter. He loved her with all his heart, missed hearing her brilliant laughter, studying those crystalline blue swells of her eyes and touching her velvety soft skin. If she did not want him when they were reunited again he was still going to stick around, to beg her if need be. But even then if she turned him down…as long as she was happy. He dragged his hand through his hair and down his face, as if trying to rub away the depressing thoughts and focused on his path again.

The focus lasted for only a moment before he was drifting off again. That morning…god that morning. He'd wanted to cry and to scream, to break and destroy something! She was his and she left; he was hell bent to bring her back and steal an explanation! She owed him that at the very least!


As soon as the water had stopped just a few hours after my waking I was running through the halls and out into the courtyard, offering no clarification to Sesshoumaru as I flew out of the gates. Her scent was just barely there, mugged down by rain and what I could smell of her fear. Tracing her to the village had been easy enough and talking to the village head, though frustrating, was also simple enough. Although I could sense the lie in the man's words about my

tobarish and though she was not with me, I was sure this was something she would do. Perhaps there was a message for me to the North? I didn't know but I wasn't going to waste time looking elsewhere in the off-chance that's where she was.

Those days north were excruciating, the mountains high. Though her scent and presences were nowhere to be found I continued onward, hoping maybe just a little farther, just a little more and I'd find her. She wouldn't purposely hide from me. I would have liked to continue thinking that! But the days continued to pass and there was no sign of her. Eventually I began my Journey back to the west, lost but even more determined to find her.

As one month and then another slipped by unblinkingly, I wondered why she was trying so hard to evade me. She loved me, even if she wasn't ready to admit it. We had all the time in the world for her to come around so for her to hide like this, to not face those fears, though I didn't know what they were exactly, did not make sense to me. She was the world to me and I would make sure she knew it!

Many times I was courted by young human and demon females alike, though most were coerced by mothers hoping for a good catch. It was funny really the differences between me now and the me from Sango. I wondered why flirting continually no longer appealed to me. Sure, being with Sango at the time and Kagome now were very important to me, I loved them both, yet with Sango I didn't hesitate to flirt with women who happened to be passing by. Perhaps it was the fact I'm surer of Kagome's love now, even though she doesn't admit to it, than I had ever been of Sango? But why? It just didnt' make any sense...

I was hurting but I'd be damned before I let that stop me from finding her.


Despite the sun being out, there were still random little spurts of rain, spontaneous enough to keep most inside their small was glad for that; it would mean one less life to try and protect but of course, that didn't mean some of the male villagers would not try to come out and help her. Many times she'd told them to stay away, that she could more than handle whatever small oni happened to be trying to attack their village. Some though just wouldn't listen and it'd gotten even worse when she'd started to show. She supposed it was some sort of chivalry though none of them would speak to her without another woman present. Oh well. It' wasn't like she wanted to make friends here anyway.

As she slung her bow and quivers over her shoulder and peaked out the door to the still empty gates at the other end of the village, Lady Ami, the elder Miko, was frowning from the other side of the room and she could see the disapproval in the older woman's eyes. "You should not do this." The words were crisp and clear and it reminded Kagome very much of her grandfather.

"I have to. You're even worse off than I am and you and I both know this one…this one neither the humans nor youkai will be able to handle." Ami was old, even more so than Keade and it showed. She was tall and slender, but her skin was pock marked and she couldn't walk without a cane, let alone lift her arms to shoot an arrow. The demon that was coming…Kagome was sure it was going to take a lot of power to defeat it. She could tell it was no ordinary demon, despite its attempt to hide its yōki. In her current pregnant state, she was going to be on the defensive and looking for the fastest ending she could find. She had a simple sword on her she'd gone to the east for about a month into her pregnancy; the katana was compliments of Kouga's best blacksmith and despite her lack of skill with the blade it was going to have to do. She was supposed to go into labor any day now and Kagome knew the faster she ended the battle the more likely the child was to live; as far as she was aware, too much movement in the womb before labor could cause a miscarriage. She wasn't sure what she was going to do if she lost him.

Ami said nothing more but sighed. She nodded reluctantly before stepping outside ahead of the girl and continuing two doors down, motioning to the small hut beside her. Two apprentice miko's lived there. "We will be here when you get back girl to induce labor." For a moment Kagome would have sworn she saw just a tab bit of sadness in the old woman's eyes but she brushed that thought of. Now was not the time for second thoughts.

Kagome nodded and turned in the opposite direction, taking her time to get to the entrance of the gates. All along the top she could see the humans and youkai standing stiff at attention, bow and spears gripped in their sweaty calloused hands. Sighing, she jumped past the ladders and landed softly beside one of the men, this one young, around her age and strong. From the looks of it, he would be leading this time; she wondered when the coup had taken place, though she had to admit she was glad it had. Dojiimoi, the last leader, had been bothersome, having no care but for his own hide. "Taka."

The youth blushed when she addressed him and it occurred to her she was treating him like a child, despite their close ages. Perhaps it had to do with everything she'd experienced? Whatever. "Lady Kagome. You should---

"We've already talked about this. You and the other men are to stand back unless I call for your help. You use your weapons only if I lose. Is that understood?" Her words were calm and quiet, her best effort at staying disassociated with everyone in this small village. She didn't…want anymore attachments.

"Y-yes My Lady." She could see disappoint and even a little hurt on his face but she wasn't going to take back her words. "We'll do as you say."

Without another word Kagome jumped over the battlement and landed softly on the wet muddy ground. She bit back a sigh. The ground was going to be a problem. It was getting closer now. Maybe another couple of minutes before it reached the village. She really wasn't in the mood to deal with this but there was no other choice. There was no way in hell she was going to leave this village defenseless; she wasn't going to see any more bloodshed.

Her timing was off and as the humanoid youkai stepped into the clearing, Kagome made very sure that not even half of her power was obvious. She knew she had no real fighting skill and if this creature thought Kagome had a fighting chance they would try to end the battle quickly and Kagome really wouldn't have a prospect then. Best to let the male think he could toy with her and then go in for the cheap shot.

He was short for a humanoid male, probably reaching 4'6 in height and his child like features almost let her think he was no more than a child. But it was his eyes that gave him away, cold and completely lacking of soul. This was not going to be an easy battle. His hair was short and spiky, pale lavender in color and elegant looking. His eyes were black, quite literally.

"Big Sister! Have you come to play with me?" His voice too was childish and Kagome was put even more on edge. She didn't like the odds of this battle at all. It wouldn't be easy to kill her unless the child-man was able to get in one fatal shot but it also wouldn't be hard to fight her.

"I'm not your sister. Can't you tell I'm a priestess?" She could see her words fooled him about as much as his had her. This wasn't going to work; she was going to need to be operating on full power in order to win against this monster. "Let's stop playing games, shall we? Lose the childish voice." This was going to be her only option. Very quickly she re-opened the link to the Shikon and therefore to Miroku. She would need his strength to win and the Shikon's. He would be here within 20 minutes at least. She was sure she could do that.

The youkai smiled at her before speaking and this time his voice chilled her to the bone, it's deep, edgy tone more terrifying than Naraku's had ever been. Although she'd unleashed as much power as she could he had more yet. She knew it was possible of course to run into something with more power than the evil Naraku had lived off of, after-all, he was only a hanyou, but she'd hoped to not have to fight any of them. "Very interesting, girl." He smiled at her and took a step closer, not bothering to draw the sword from his back. "You are miko and yet…yōki resides within you as well. Extraordinary. You must be the Guardian then that I've heard so much about." Moving closer once again he was now no more than 12 feet away from her and looking more menacing by the moment. "The half-youkai/half-miko female there's been news about all over Japan. And about the male who's been searching for you. Though why you'd be interested in a weakling like him I couldn't fathom. Humans should learn to not bother those higher than them, don't you think?"

She didn't answer but unsheathed her katana, holding it in defensively in front of her like Sesshoumaru had taught her. Taking a step away from the creature she tried to analyze him, needed to understand how he moved and thought in order to stay one step ahead. Both would be hard unless they started to fight. It was all the harder by the frantic calls she could hear from Miroku, try as she might to ignore them. She couldn't focus in her mind as she tried to fight, not with this one. Some of his power was already making its way through their bond and she was grateful. She was going to need it.

"I see. You don't want to live much longer then." He tilted his head to the side for a moment, as if curious by her actions, before smiling happily at her. "Very well."

Before she could do much more than blink he was standing behind her, one hand on her sword hand and the other with a dagger at the small of her back. Not giving him the chance to warn her, she let loose a brilliant peel of her miko energy and burned him, though he only loosened his grip for a moment. It was enough. Without a word she twisted her sword arm around and knocked the dagger out of his small hands before he could stab her with it and kicked it out of range. He was too stunned to do much to stop her kick to his ribs in order to make him let go of her sword but the surprise didn't last. She'd barely managed to push him back a few feet before he was in front of her again, yet another smile gracing his pale lips.

Suddenly she was surrounded, six pairs of black eyes staring back at her in an unnerving way. "I liked your little magic trick over there," said one to the right. One to the left and in front of her finished for him. "But I think ours is better." They started to circle her as one, their movements predatory and utterly dangerous. If she didn't move quickly they could end the fight right here.

Snarling, she jumped up and out of the circle, only to have one of them drag her back down to the ground and kicking her in the thigh. But it left an opening and she quickly pulled an arrow out of her quiver and drove it across the creatures throat. It didn't bleed but instead disappeared with a pop into thin air. That left 5 and she wasn't going to let this end as easily as the creature hoped she was. Holding back a curse she pushed herself off the ground, holding the bloodied arrow in a tight fist. She wasn't sure when her sword had gotten knocked out of her hand but she didn't have it anymore. The tension from the humans was becoming even more apparent and holding back another curse she quickly through up barrier around the village and gate lest the youkai try to attack them.

Another of the copies rushed her and not bothering to hold back, she let a sharp chain of miko energy slash him to the ground. He too disappeared as the other had. As short a time as they'd been fighting she was sure at least 5 minutes had passed, maybe 10 if she was lucky. It would still be a bit before Miroku could get here and she could combine their powers, if he was even willing to help her.

There had to be a trick to figuring out which was the real youkai and which were copies but so far she couldn't find any differences; even the burn mark she'd given his hand as on the copies. Dancing out of the way as the continued to jump at her, some hits she managed to avoid and some she couldn't. As a hand swiped its way across her collar bone she bit back a yelp and ignored the blood dripped now her chest. It was deep and she could sense some kind of poison now making its way through her blood but there wasn't much she could do. Three of the remaining creatures were dancing around her, taunting her as they took and landed shots. Three…the other one. Growling, she jumped up into the air again and although one followed her up and was going to drag her back down, she managed to pull out three arrows and shoot. Two landed, making two more of the copies poof out of existence as the other arrow thudded into a tree.

She grabbed an arrow again but before she could sit up the copy slammed his foot into her arm. She heard the sickening crack and couldn't help the small scream she let loose. It hurt like a bitch and now she wouldn't be able to shoot an arrow for a couple of hours. Damn. The only positive thought she could pull out of the whole thing was at least it wasn't her right hand, then she'd be really screwed!

A foot landed on her throat and the pressure had her gasping for breath but she still held onto that arrow. She could barely hear the actual youkai as he came to stand at her feet and look down at her in disdain. When the copy suddenly leaned forward to grasp her neck and pull her up Kagome took her chance and slammed her arrow through the creature's neck, in one side and out the other. He disappeared too and she quickly rolled to the side and away from the still calm youkai. He seemed a little surprised but also a bit disappointed. "Is that all you've got girl? The great female warrior who defeated the great Naraku?" He looked down at his feet for a moment, as if truly dissatisfied before looking back up at her without any emotion. "I was almost hoping you would get the upper-hand for a moment, if only to see you in action. Oh well." He smiled at her as he finally unsheathed his sword. "Pity you aren't the evil type. You'd have made a great mate."

Her bow barely managed to stop the blow before it snapped in half, but it was enough time for her to move to the other side of the clearing. Her katana was just a few feet to the left, hidden by the tall grasses and visible only because of the few small spots of sunshine managing to sneak their way out of the clouds. She raised it just in time to block an attack from above and from then it was touch and go, with the evil youkai mainly on the offensive and Kagome on the defense. She hated being on this side of the fight but there really wasn't much she could do. The baby inside of her was the only thing stopping her from using her full powers. She wasn't sure if the child was going to be full youkai or if it was going to be tolerant purification like she and it's father were and she wasn't willing to take that risk.

Time seemed to pass quickly from then as she continued to block his attacks, though he still managed to get in two good slashes, one on her right hand and the other on her already broken left arm. It was hard to fight one handed with a sword and needless to say he had the upper hand because of his strength. He moved to attack her again and again she moved to block. But he tricked her and managed to knock the katana away again, leaving her defenseless as her quiver had long since emptied from all the dodging and the bow was broken.

She was panting as she stared at him and she could Miroku yelling at her in the back of her mind, feel him getting closer and closer. He was yelling the stupidest of things, about not dying until he got an explanation, about living to pay back the debt they owed to Sesshoumaru, about finding Shippou. He didn't mention the child now growing in her stomach and she wondered if he couldn't sense it. Funny the way her thoughts were going. Almost like last regrets. On the outside of the barrier she could hear the humans screaming, feel them beating against the shining pink protection wrapped around them and their home. Silly. If she couldn't beat them why did they think they could help?

"It really is a shame," said the male quietly, though she knew he didn't really mean it. Kagome might not have been good at reading people but she could sense this. He could feel Miroku coming; that was the only reason he was going to end this so quickly. "Children make women so fickle. You could have won if it weren't for that thing in your womb."

He smirked and swung the blade around, slamming it into the center of her chest and through her back.

'Please…help him,' she whispered to the jewel. 'Give him what I couldn't use.'


She was back. His inner beast growled in both joy and triumph. He would show his woman whom she belonged to. Miroku scoffed at the beasts thoughts but he was glad she'd opened their door. But her frantic thoughts and harried actions had him sprinting as quickly as he could across the land. 15 minutes. He could be there in 15 minutes and help her. He sped past many humans and youkai alike, ignoring the odd stares he got from both. A couple of the Male youkai he passed seemed to understand and he clenched his fists as they hugged their mates tighter to their sides.

He wasn't going to let her die! She couldn't! She didn't have the right to just leave all her duties behind her like this! Hear that Koi, you can't leave yet! He knew it was crazy to shout at her like this, knew she couldn't answer him but that didn't stop her from reminding her of everything she still had to do in this world. Almost there. The village he was approaching was going to be last on his list because he knew how much Kagome hated thunder; he'd assumed all the rain this region of the country got simply meant storms. Maybe he'd been wrong. Whatever. It didn't matter anymore.

The door closed just as quickly as it had opened and he stumbled as he entered the clearing. His chest hurt and he had the oddest urge to cry even as he felt suddenly stronger, miko abilities mingling with his own religious power. He could do naught but stare as a small male youkai pulled his sword from Kagome's chest and let her pregnant body fall to the dirt ground. Pregnant…his mate was pregnant. With his pup. And this man had killed them!!

He couldn't control himself as his eyes bled red and he let out a furious roar. It was a small feat to allow his powers to rage around him and transform into the massive black form of his beast. The male seemed surprised but there was no fear on his face. His beast craved revenge and that's what he would get. Uttering another loud roar he easily swung a paw forward and knocked the man into a pink barrier surrounding the village. The barrier…the barrier was still up. It wouldn't remain standing if the caster were…dead. Which meant he had minutes before she was gone. Minutes in which to save her.

Turning angrily back to the man who was now standing in front of the barrier he took a menacing step forward only to stop as the Shikon spoke to him, much like it had when he'd promised to stay with Kagome. 'She has asked us this boon. And so we shall grant it. Her wish to help you.' He'd felt her miko abilities mixing with his own powers earlier but this was nothing compared to that. He was bursting with purification. This man would be an easy kill now. Growling viciously he stepped forward again and allowed her purity to explode out from him and wrap around the purple-haired man.

As the pink purity finally faded and the male youkai slid to the ground unconscious Miroku took great joy and shredding the body to pieces with his razor sharp claws and teeth and purifying the remains with her purification. He didn't hesitate afterwards to transform back to his human form and appear beside Kagome, pulling her bleeding body into his lap as he cried and shook her.

"Wake-up damn you!! Wake up!" He could hear the barrier as it diminished and the humans as the warily approached him. He was too lost to do much more than growl a warning to stay away. He turned back to Kagome and shook her again, bending forward to lick at the wound on her chest in an attempt to seal it shut. "WAKE-UP!!" He was screaming now as he held her tightly and pressed his face into her chest. He was helpless to save her. Kagome. Kagome. Kagome. Gone. Again. Kagome…


Why was it so dark? Since when was my bed so soft? I felt around the ground and the first discrepancy I noticed was the soft moist dirt I lay on. The ground in Ami's hut was hard pack and dry. Why was the ground wet? Ah. Eyes were closed. Way to go Kagome. Brilliant.

I opened them and the first thing I saw was a rough woof ceiling. Wood ceiling…and four tall walls of wood. The well house! I was finally home!! After such a long time and so much loss I was finally home. Eager I pushed my way off the floor and crawled up the walls, hand over hand on the rungs until I reached the top and flumped onto the ground. Odd. Something niggled at the back of my mind but I brushed it away and hurried out of the well. Without thinking about it I started to scream, calling out to Mama as loud as I could! She could fix everything. Just a hug from her and the world was right again!

She opened the door and I could see she was surprised and as happy as I was. We met each other half way and I held onto her. I wondered if she'd always been so thin. Surely she'd weighed a bit more before I left for the last time? Well, now that I was home that was going to change. I wasn't going back again. Naraku was gone. My duties were fulfilled.

We sat at the kitchen table for hours with a pitcher of sweet tea and two cups in front of us. Supper sat forgotten on the stove as I told her of my adventures and Souta came home from school. Gramps came home shortly after from a boys day out with some of his friends and the book of 20th century ailments he'd picked up from the store dropped to the floor when he saw me. It was so good to be home. Dinner was a small affair as we ordered American styled pizza from a shop down the road. It wasn't the best but it would certainly due for tonight and then tomorrow I would help Mama cook dinner and play video games with Souta.

Before everyone went to bed, she pulled me close and held me tight, her face buried in my neck. I wondered when I'd gotten taller than her. It wasn't hard to wrap her as tightly as she held me but it sure was comforting. It was so good to be back home. We walked up the stairs hand-in-hand and parted ways only because of where our rooms were.

As I walked into my small pink room with its metal bed and pink comforter I felt almost nostalgic as I looked around the small space. But I brushed the feeling off as simply not being home for a while and slumped onto the bed. I don't know why but it didn't occur to me to change clothes. It was almost easy to drift off to sleep. His face flashed in my mind and so did hers. They looked happy despite how everything had ended. Ah. So that's where he'd gone; Shippou was there too. But…something didn't feel right. There was someone mumbling in the background of the dream but I couldn't figure out what it was.

I rolled off the bed as my eyes popped open and stared at the wood from my desk. My stomach was flat. My…I pushed the thought away and stood, slipped quietly out of my room and down the stairs. The house was dark and quiet and home. Yet I felt like I didn't fit anymore. I wonder why that feeling wasn't prominent when I first got back. I didn't want to think about that now. Moving to the door, I unlocked it and slipped outside before making my way around the house to the god-tree and the bench in front of it. But I stopped short when I saw Mama sitting there. She looked at me and smiled, as if she knew I'd be out here eventually.

"Mama, I ---

"Kagome…did you know…I was in love with someone else before I met your father." She turned and smiled at me, as if she knew this was something I needed to here. "We were…very close, Toya and I. But he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. He interrupted a market robbery." Mama brushed her short hair out of her face and patted the seat beside her as she turned to look up at the starry sky. What we could see of it anyway. "Your father Koji was a close friend of both Toya and I."

I sat beside her and when she offered me one of her hands I took it, holding it gently in my lap as a cool breeze brushed by us. "About 8 months before I lost Toya, Koji lost his wife to Leukemia. His wife was also a good friend of ours and we all felt the loss."

"Didn't you feel guilty about it? About loving Dad?" I didn't realize how tightly I was suddenly squeezing mama's hand until she gently returned the pressure.

Mama was silent for a little bit after that as if just now trying to determine her feelings. I wanted to know her answer, no, I needed to know. I couldn't figure out why but the answer was extremely important to me. "I don't think I did. Although Toya loved me, I know he wanted me to be happy, especially if it was with someone he trusted. He's always looked after me I think, even after I decided I wanted to be with Koji and have a family with him. I think he's forgiven me at this point."

I don't know why but I suddenly started to cry and my heart felt like it was tearing into tiny little pieces. I turned to Mama only to find her not sitting there and in my confusion I cried harder. Something was calling to me but before I could focus on it Mama was kneeling in front of me, my hands gripped gently in hers.

"Kagome…Kagome dear, you have people who need you. It's time for you to go back now, okay baby?" Mama's words were soft, almost as if she were trying to win me over into doing what she wanted. But I didn't need coaxing; I could already define the pain I was feeling and I knew the best way to ease it was to make Him happy. I closed my eyes.


"Kagome! Kagome, open your eyes!" The voice was desperate enough that she obeyed, albeit a bit weakly as she looked up at the person calling her name. Ah. Miroku.

"I…ve…yo…" she whispered but when the words came out half formed she tried again, only to have him cover her mouth with his hand. His eyes were gentle as he looked down at her, brushing his finger through her hair.

"I love you to Koishii, I…" He couldn't get the words out as he suddenly leaned down and pressed her face against his chest and his into hers.

A woman cleared her throat on the other side of the room and Miroku leaned back, not offering an apology. Kagome tried to lean forward only to yelp as both a pain in her chest and her in stomach shocked her. She was suddenly very aware of her body at the moment, including the pain ricocheting through it. "What's…hap…p..en…ing?!" She could feel something warm and liquidly on her chest and panicked, she looked up at Miroku. "Miroku…wha…ha....." His hand was warm at the back of her neck and she felt that warmth throughout the rest of her body and she was sleeping again.

"She's going into Labor," said Ami quietly as she motioned for the two young apprentice to come forward.

"I'm not leaving."

"I might not be able to save them both; the loss of blood greatly affected the child."

He looked pained as he spoke, but not once did he removed his eyes from Kagome. "Her. If it comes down to that, I chose her over the child."

"Very well."

2 Days Later

"I'm sorry." It was the thousandth time she'd apologized and just like the past few times the words were leaked with tears. She couldn't stop crying. Her little boy…they're little boy was dead. Ami hadn't been able to save him. She buried her face in Miroku's chest and held on as tightly as she could. He was holding on just as tightly and she could feel the tense shifting of his shoulders as he adjusted his weight. For the past two days all she'd done was cry as he held her and she wondered why he didn't hate her. They're child was gone because of her.

Suddenly she was on her feet in front of him and he had his hands under her chin, forcing her to look up at him. He was crying too but there was love in his eyes. "There will be others," he promised. "There won't be another you." He couldn't say he was glad the child was dead, after all, Saiai was from his loins, his first born son. But there would be more children and he'd never find another Kagome. "Just don't leave again. Ever."

When she'd woken up from labor and found him holding her again she hadn't been able to put into words her feelings, but she'd been able to push all her thoughts into his mind through that open door. She hadn't known if it would be enough but it was the best she could do. Now, as they stood face to face and he had yet to let go of her since she'd woken up that first time Kagome felt her heart swell. She knew she wasn't completely healed where it came to Inuyasha, Sango and Shippou, nowhere near, but she was working her way there. And Miroku would be right there by her. "It's a promise," she whispered, closing her eyes and leaning into him again.

'Forever?'

'Always.'

STORY FIN.


A/N – Okay, so I have to say, right now as I've finished writing this, I've got a really bubbly feelings, lol!! This is the first Fic I've completed so I'm really happy about that, although it is a bit short. Oh well. It wasn't meant to be a long one anyway. Originally I'd only intended for there to be the one chapter but I got a little carried away, lol!! Anyway, I hope everyone enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it! If you liked Final Guardians, then check out some of my other Fic's if you're interested. There might or might not be more Kag/Mir fics in the future, but I'm not writing any new stories until I finish all the other one's I've got, lol!!

Reviews:

TGSS – Well, the Beta was unsucessfull, lol, but oh well. I'm really thankful for all the support you've given me in the past four chapters and it makes me happy that you enjoyed the story. I'm looking forward to reading what you think of the end. ^_^

Shojo, JenJen, and Kandy – Thank you very much for the reviews!! I hope you guys liked reading it and that if you didn't you'd let me know! You four are part of the main reason I updated 'cause I knew you were waiting for the next chapter, lol! Sorry it took so long! Either way, let me know what you thought of the end, okay? Later!!