So I read all your comments and I appreciate all of your support. Thank you very much! There was a few concerns though about how Kagome died. In the first chapter we see that Kagome was killed by Hojo but in chapter three it is stated that Kagome died from the wound that Sesshomaru inflected upon her. Worry not my friends, this was not a mistake. The truth of Kagome's death and her child will be revealed at a later time. I just wanted to clarify that this was not a typo or forgetfulness on my part. This confusion was intentional. With that said, enjoy!
Chapter 4
Once the name was uttered from his lips, the barrier around Kikyo broke causing a massive explosion of power. Kikyo laid in the tub helplessly as her soul was pulled from her body and flew straight into Kagome's.
Kouga rushed to Kikyo's side. He pushed and pulled at her shoulder, trying to get her to wake up but it was no use. There was not even a slight flutter in her eyes. "Kikyo! Kikyo!"
Urasue looked at the cub with a sneer. "That body is nothing but a shell without its soul." Then she turned to the rising Kagome. Now that her soul was back her skin flushed with life. "I used my witchcraft and from Kagome's bones I not only resurrected her body but I have improved upon it! With my blood in her veins she is now in all sense my daughter and as her mother she will grant my every desire! Now come forth, Kagome and kill these men!"
Urasue watched as Kagome staggered over towards her ready to watch her lay waste to those that the girl loved at her command but she was rendered speechless when she felt the girl's arms wrap around her boney shoulders. "Wha?"
Before another word could be spoken from the old witch, Kagome summoned forth her spiritual power and struck Urasue will all her might. Urasue screamed as her body turned to ash.
"By giving me flesh, you rendered yourself helpless." Kagome whispered to the ashes. "As your offspring, I was no longer under your control."
Everyone stood still as they waited out the unexpected events. The first to move was Sesshomaru. "Kagome?"
Kagome stiffened at the sound of his voice. She was reminded of all those nights that she laid awake in tears as his voice haunted her. They often whispered words of love in her ear. She had longed for them to be true. To believe that he really was there next to her and loved her with all his heart. But every time that she checked, he was never there. She was almost afraid to see if he really was there this time. "Sesshomaru?" She finally whispered his name. It has been so long since she done so. It nearly broke her heart to do so again. "How are you here? You should be sealed away."
Sesshomaru took another step towards her. She didn't look like she was going to run away from him anytime soon. Or attack him for that matter. He wasn't going to test it though. He will take this slowly. "Kikyo, your reincarnation, freed me."
"I see." Kagome whispered. She took a deep breath. This was hard for her. Being in his presence again after all this time was just too heart breaking. She wanted nothing more than to run but she knew that she needed to stay. As much as she hated it, he was her weakness. She longed for him even though he betrayed her. She didn't want to feel this way. She wanted to be angry with him. She wanted to hate him but she just can't do it. She loved him. Even if he didn't feel the same. "How long has it been. Since I died?"
It was Sota who answered. "It's been twenty years. Kagome, do you recognize me? I'm Sota, your brother."
Kagome looked over at the middle age man that was wearing priest clothes. "Sota? Is that really you?" He was much older than she had last seen him. He was only fifteen years old back then.
Relief filled Sota's eyes. "Yes, sister, it's me. Many years has passed but it is still me." Sota walked freely towards his sister. She did not shy away from him. She even opened her arms and accept his hug.
"Oh, Sota! I missed you so much!" She cried on his shoulder before pulling back to get a good look at his face. Her eyes were puffy and tears ran down her face but she did not care to fix it. She had more important things to worried about than her looks. "Sota, surely you know. Tell me, what happened to my daughter?"
Everyone tensed up at her question. Especially Sesshomaru who had not taken another step towards her. He stood straight up with wide eyes. Kagome had a child? When did that happen? Why was he not told?
Sota was just as confused as everyone else. "What daughter, Kagome? You had no children."
Kagome shook her head violently. "No,I did! I had a little girl! Where is she!? What happened to her?" She waited for him to speak but when all she saw was confusion and a mix of concern in his eyes, she hung her head with disappointment. "You don't know, do you?"
"I'm sorry, Kagome." Sota whispered. He had no idea that Kagome had a child. If he thought back on it she could have had a child without him knowing it. She was gone for nearly a year before he saw her again and that was just her corpse.
"Bring Kikyo back!" Kouga screamed. He stood by and watched the two men interact with this girl in patience but now he was done waiting. He wanted his woman back. He wasn't going to let this woman go freely with Kikyo's soul. He didn't care who the soul belonged to first. As far as he was concerned, it was Kikyo's not Kagome's. He was willing to fight off both Sesshomaru and Sota if it meant that Kikyo would come back.
"Kouga" Sota looked at the pup in surprise. He had completely forgotten about the situation they were in once he laid eyes on his sister. But how was he supposed to go about this now with the new developments? Kagome was alive once more but at the cost of Kikyo. Was he willing to sacrifice an innocent life to keep her? He wasn't even sure if Kikyo could even come back. He wasn't knowledgeable in the subject of soul transferring. "
Kouga, I-"
"No! I won't accept it! I don't want this imposter! I want Kikyo! Bring her back!" Kouga screamed. He wasn't going to hear their excuses.
"Okay." Kagome told the cub simply. The two men that loved her deeply looked at her sharply. Sesshomaru even took a step forward as if to stop her.
Kouga looked at her surprised. He expected more of a fight from her on this. "R-really?"
Kagome nodded her head. "I don't know much on soul transferring but I think I can bring her back to us."
"Kagome" Sota spoke her name. He wanted to stop her from leaving him again but he knew that this was the right thing to do. After all, Kagome died. She lived out her life. Now it was Kikyo's turn. Yet apart of him wanted to be selfish. He wanted to keep his sister alive even if it did cost Kikyo her life. But he had to let her go. This was the right thing to do.
Kagome smiled at Sota. "Not to worry, Sota. I'm only going to give her half of my soul. I still have some unfinished business here that I want to take care of. Half should be enough to wake her up." She then looked at Kouga for a confirmation to her deal. "Is that alright? She can have the rest of it when I'm done."
Kouga wanted to say no. He wanted to demand the full return of Kikyo's soul but he couldn't when she put it like that. Besides, he didn't think she would even listen to him even if he did say no. This was the best option for Kikyo. So he just tsked as his answer and looked away.
Taking that as his acceptance to her deal, Kagome walked over to where the girl rested in the tub. As she walked, she glanced over to Sesshomaru. He had yet to move. He just stood there and watched her with a close eye. Did he not trust her? Was he watching her to make sure that she didn't do anything to Kikyo? Did he care for the girl that much? A sharp pain hit her heart at the thought that he may genuinely care for someone that was not her. Kagome ignored the pain.
Kagome knelt next to the tub and lifted Kikyo from the water. She wasn't lying when she had said that she didn't know much about soul transferring but somehow when she tried to think about what to do, the answers seemed to just come to her. Where this knowledge came from, she did not know. She could only guess that Urasue was to blame. Perhaps the old hag's knowledge carried through her blood that now ran in Kagome's veins? She will have to study up on just what that witch had done to her body.
The boys watched her in curiosity. None of them have ever had the luxury of witnessing a ritual of the dark arts before. For surely this was from the dark arts. After all, Urasue had just conducted such a ritual herself. Only this time, it was Kagome who was performing such a ritual.
Kagome leaned her head forward before sealing her lips around Kikyo's. All the men gasped at the sight. Kouga's jaw even dropped open. Kagome leaned her head back and as she did so, the boys saw a white light leave Kagome's mouth and went straight into Kikyo's.
Kagome sat back and watched as Kikyo's eyes fluttered open. "It's nice to meet you, Kikyo. I'm your incarnation, Kagome."
Kikyo blinked. Was she staring into a mirror? But her reflection just talked to her just now. Did she have some kind of long lost twin that she was never told about? She didn't have time ponder further about it though since Kouga ran into her arms and clung to her neck.
"Kikyo! You're awake!" Kouga sobbed. He thought that he had lost her for good.
Kagome took a step back to watch the heartwarming scene. Her reincarnation was so much like her from what she could see. Not only in her looks but also in her unbiased heart. After all Kikyo was obviously a human and the child was a yokai yet she showed no disgust. Only happiness.
Kagome looked over at Sesshomaru. He stared right back. There was once a time when she found happiness in the company of a yokai. Even if he was only a half bred. Briefly she wondered if they would ever be that happy again. Her eyes grew sad. It was never real though. That happiness was only an illusion.
"Kagome." Sesshomaru took a step forward but he stopped when she took a step back.
"Please don't." She whispered. It hurt too much to hear the adoration in his voice. He didn't care. She had to keep reminding herself of that. He never did. She had to stop fooling herself.
Sesshomaru looked down before his gaze hardened. "It wasn't me."
Kikyo looked up at the sound of Sesshomaru's voice. There was so much raw emotion in it that she was surprised. She never heard him speak like that before. Usually his tone was bored or disinterested.
Kagome turned her head away. "I don't understand what you are talking about. What wasn't you?"
"I didn't hurt you that day. It wasn't me."
Kagome clenched her teeth. Of course he would say that. He was trying to trick her again. "You won't fool me twice."
Sesshomaru took a step forward.
"No!" Kagome screamed. Her eyes were now on him and they were filled with anger. "Can you imagine how I felt? What I suffered through! I thought you loved me but it was all a lie! Well it's too bad, Sesshomaru! You can't fool me twice!"
Sesshomaru almost groaned in frustration. Kagome always had a temper that blinded her to logic. There was nothing anyone can say to change her mind when she got like this. He had to calm her down. There was only one way that worked in the past. He just hoped that she wouldn't kill him for it.
"Kagome, it's true! I don't know all the details but I know that Sesshomaru speaks the truth! He loves you. I know he does." Sota spoke up, defending Sesshomaru. He may not have seen proof of Sesshomaru's innocence but he has seen the love that shines in Sesshomaru's cold eyes when he speaks of Kagome.
Kagome looked at Sota in disbelief. "Don't let him deceive you, Sota! He's a master of tricks!" Before Kagome could say more, Sesshomaru was suddenly in front of her. He grabbed her wrists to prevent movement and pulled her forward, against his chest. Without delay, he placed his lips over her full ones.
Kagome tightly shut her eyes. He always did this when she was angry and every time she would turn to jelly as all her pent-up anger would die down. That wasn't going to happen this time though! He hurt her! He left her all alone with the pain! She will never forgive him for it. So she bit down on his lip as hard as she could.
Sesshomaru pulled back in surprise but he didn't let go of her wrists. Why did she have to be so damn stubborn about everything? "Stop it and shut up would you!" He lost all patient with her at this point. "I didn't do it, okay! I would never hurt you Kagome!"
Kagome furrowed her brows as furry set its place in her features. "Don't play innocent with me! I saw you! You were the one whose claws tore into me! You snatched the Shikon no Tama. You deceived me!"
"You want to wish for the jewel to disappear?" Sesshomaru wondered at the news that Kagome had just presented him with. At the moment, he sat in the fields like he always did when they talked. They gazed down at the village. It was so peaceful today. Not a yokai in sight.
Kagome was softly smiling. It really was peaceful today. These days were rare. After she had taken on the responsibly of the jewel she learned to enjoy these days while she had them. "If the jewel is gone then I will be like everyone else. I would then be able to love someone, get married, maybe even have children one day."
Sesshomaru stared at the village. She wished for a normal life. Perhaps even a peaceful one. She could never have that with him. After all, he was a hanyo. Still, the thought of her as his wife and baring his pups sprang in mind.
"Sesshomaru?" Kagome whispered his name.
He turned to look at her only to find that she had somehow moved closer to him without him even sensing it. He was too relaxed in her presence. Then again, was that a bad thing? She seemed to be just as relaxed as he was in hers. "Hn?"
"If I wish for the jewel to disappear, would you-" Kagome took a breath. She putting a lot on the line with this simple question. "Would you think about the possibility of us spending the rest of our days together?"
Sesshomaru could only blink at her question. Was she suggesting what he thought she was? Did she want to spend the rest of her days by his side? As his wife? Did she share the same feelings that he did for her?
"Sess-" Kagome was cut off by Sesshomaru's lips. She didn't think about the whys or what's. All she wanted to do right now was to just enjoy it. So she wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled herself closer to him. She practically in his lap as he devoured her mouth.
Her lungs were burning with the need for air when he finally pulled back. She sat there dazed with her eyes closed. She didn't want to open them and find that this was all a dream.
Sesshomaru stared as she panted for breath. Ever since he met this woman he was unable to pull his eyes away from her. He couldn't find it within himself to even want to. If he could spend all his days just gazing at her he would do it gladly. "I think we should wait on that wish." He told her. He watched as Kagome's eyes flew open with confusion. He simply chuckled at how cute she was. Reaching up to her face, he pushed a strand of hair that fell out of place to its rightful place behind her ear. "Just to make sure there won't be any unwanted side effects. Until then, I don't see why we should hide our feeling from each other any longer. Don't you agree?"
Kagome smiled wide and brightly. With a nod, she agreed and fell herself in his arms. She really loved this man and wouldn't wait to spend the rest of her life with him as his wife.
Tears welled up in Kagome's eyes as the memory of their happiness hit her with full force. She meant it. She wanted nothing more than to be with him. Why did he have to betray her? Why did he have to ruin all of those beautiful memories that they shared? "I wanted to be with you! And you agreed with me!"
"I was serious." Sesshomaru told her, following her train of thought. She was like an open book to him. But how could he get her to see the truth with she was so blind to it? It was killing him inside to see her so distraught.
Kagome shook her head violently. "I was a damn fool! I fell for your lies! And even now all I want to do is fall back into them. But I can't. She may need me and I won't fail her again. I refuse to do so. I swear, I will find out what happened to her!"
Sesshomaru opened his mouth to ask who she was talking about when he felt the burn of Kagome's purification energy zap him. He fell back in pain. When he looked back up to see Kagome, he found her gone.
