Alright, this is the last chapter for this story. Thanks for supporting me and keeping up with me for so long :).
Chapter 07 - Resolution
"Starting today, I'm going to take Kagome with me and protect her by myself." Sesshoumaru said indifferently and even though I was glad that he was trying to help me by taking the word I was hopeless at the way he decided to take.
Just as could be expected, that statement enraged Inuyasha more than when he first barged in here and he was again reaching for his sword. Before I could even realize what was going on, Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru already clashed their swords again and I fell backwards from the force of their powers. Shippo quickly came to my aid, changing to his pink baloon and softening my fall. Sango and Miroku also came to my side and all that was left for us was to watch those two as they were in full battle.
For a short while it looked like Sesshoumaru was trying to keep his word and not fight back, but shamefully, that didn't last for long. I could see that they were talking about something during their fight, but I couldn't hear them. Though whatever the topic of their conversaiton was, it made Sesshoumaru fight back and I knew that if I stopped Inuyasha right there, I couldn't be sure that Sesshoumaru wouldn't kill him when he would be defenceless.
"Kagome, are you alright?" Sango asked. I just nodded, because I didn't want her to worry, but at the same time I clenched my fists so hard that I was afraid that I would hurt myself. This was the scenario I feared the most and I couldn't think of anything to stop them, which wouldn't have the risk of hurting someone. If just Sesshoumaru were able to keep his word he gave to me, but I guess the hatred between those two wasn't that easy to overcome.
Sango must have noticed my uneasiness and she drew me into her embrace to calm me down. I was never happier to have her by my side, but it still wasn't enough. I needed to stop those two, but I had no idea how. They were so into the battle that they didn't even realize that they almost hurt me before, and I was alright only thanks to Shippo's quick reaction.
I was so sad for how those two were acting, but also so angry and so desperate to stop them, that I stopped to think about all the possible consequences and decided for one way which I thought could stop them at once. I released myself from Sango's embrace and started to walk straight towards them. Sango, Miroku and Shippo, realizing my intentions immediately started trying to stop me.
I heard them, but I wasn't listening. I felt their hands on my arms, but I didn't let that to stop me. I was determined to do it and I had to do it now. Inuyasha and Sesshoumaru were jumping back and forth, lengthening and shortening the distance between them as they were fighting. I used the time when they were farther from each other and stepped right in between them. Miroku, Sango and Shippo, realizing that they wouldn't be able to change my mind, instead of continuing to get me back, stepped there with me.
Thankfully, that action really brought both of them back to their senses, even though that Inuyasha still had a very irritated expression on his face. I didn't care though. I managed to stop them and that was more than enough for me at the moment. They both started to walk slowly back to us, still keeping an eye on each other as they were getting closer to us, but I knew they wouldn't start a fight again.
I could see it in Inuyasha's eyes that he wasn't satisfied in the least, but that he didn't want to upset me anymore, much less to carelessly hurt me and I was sure that Sesshoumaru was thinking something about the same.
"I'm not going to just accept this." Inuyasha uttered under his breath when he stopped at about a hand's reach from me, and I looked at him questioningly. He averted his eyes from all of us and was just looking into the distance. I looked at Sesshoumaru searching for some answer, but he didn't say anything. He just placed his hand on my shoulder, which, given the circumstances, kinda surprised me and I quickly looked at Inuyasha expecting him to at least have some complains or start to bark insults at Sesshoumaru. Though, he just clenched his fists, and gritted his teeth, but other than that did nothing.
The fact that he let Sesshoumaru touch me like this and still stayed still led me to the conclusion that what they were talking about during that fight was actually what happened between me and Sesshoumaru. I could see it was hard for Inuyasha to deal with it and I couldn't blame him, but I was really glad that I didn't have to be the one explaining the situation to him.
I leaned against Sesshoumaru and as I was thinking about it, I realized that I was too naïve to expect them not to fight when Inuyasha was told these news. I could have thought from the start that with him, there was no other way how to make him understand, or even listen, than to pound it into him. I looked at Inuyasha, he still haven't looked our way, and suddenly felt guilty.
"I'm sorry, Inuyasha." I said sincerely. I wasn't even sure for what exactly I was apologizing, but I just felt that I should. Though, instead of an answer, he just snorted and dashed out.
"Wait!" I tried to stop him, but I was stopped by Sesshoumaru who held me back. I looked at him, partly puzzled by that action and partly angry, but when our eyes met, he just shook his head. Even though they didn't exactly get along, I had to admit that Sesshoumaru probably understood him the most of us, so I decided it would be for the best to trust his decision this time. Though that didn't mean I was completely fine with it.
"I think that I'm missing something." Miroku stated calmly and I looked at him realizing, that he still didn't know what was going on. Shippo was also looking at me with puzzled expression and looking at those two, I knew that I didn't have enough strength left to go through this again. I looked at Sango with pleading eyes and she just sighed with smile.
"Ok guys, I'll explain everything to you, so come with me." She led Miroku and Shippo away from us, leaving us there alone with just each other. I was sad that Inuyasha just left like that, but I figured that it couldn't really be helped. It was still better outcome than I thought it would be.
We weren't talking. At the moment even I found the words to be too disturbing, so we were just standing there close to each other and watching as Sango was explaining the situation to the rest of the group. Once in a while they shot us a glance, but I didn't notice any strong emotions. When it looked that the explanations were all done, we went to join them.
There wasn't much talk done. Shippo looked even more puzzled than before the explanation and I couldn't really tell what Miroku was thinking, but overall, they seemed to be content with it. Now the only person left to deal with this was Inuyasha and I was really worried about what he would do. I didn't want to lose him as a friend, but deciding for his brother like this must have shaken up his trust a lot.
Miroku suggested that we should return to our camp and all of us agreed, well, almost. Unfortunately for me, Sesshoumaru seemed to have different idea for where to go and when I tried to follow the others, he stopped me.
"There's no need for you to stay with them anymore, you should come with me." He stated and I looked at him thinking if I heard him right. Then I reminded myself of his personality and I knew I did hear right, but I couldn't believe that he really was so simple minded when it came to things like friendship.
"But I want to stay with them." I said holding back my anger and for a split second noticed surprise on Sesshoumaru's face.
"Why?" He asked and I sighed giving up.
"Just because." I told him and started to walk again without any further explanation. I figured that it would be meaningless anyway and that it would only lead to more questions. I would have to choose some time and build up my patience to explain him certain things like these.
I've stayed with Kagome and her friends, as when I tried to take her with me failed and since I didn't want to take her away by force, she didn't give me any other choice. At first I could feel some uneasiness about my presence from her friends, but that didn't last for very long and soon they seemed to accept me as a part of them.
I've brought Rin and Jaken here as well after a while. Jaken almost freaked out when he learned about the situation, but I didn't pay him much attention. Rin, on the other hand was more than happy. She's been spending a lot of time with Kagome and they were getting along very well. Only Inuyasha hasn't showed up since that incident.
I knew Kagome was worried about him, but in this situation it was better to let him sort things out on his own. I managed to convince Kagome about that too, but that haven't really lessened her worries. Spending more time with her, I learned about how much she cared for her friends and I couldn't deny that Inuyasha was very close friend of her.
We were just at Kaede's village and Kagome was about to give birth to our child. I didn't like this place and when Kagome told me she wanted to go here, I was against it, but she presented me with reasons why this place was the best for her and in the end I was left with no other choice than to follow her here.
I understood how she trusted to Kaede and that she felt at peace here and I was aware that I couldn't provide her with the same no matter how hard I would try. It wasn't just that, but also her friends were here more at ease and maybe she even hoped that Inuyasha would show up as well.
Personally, I wasn't sure how I felt about that aspect. I wasn't really concerned about my little brother, but I knew that if he arrived, Kagome would be calmer. On the other hand, I couldn't be sure what he would do with that hot head of his if he really arrived, so considering that, I would prefer him not to come, but at this point, I knew that this had more to do with Kagome than with me.
I was waiting outside, together with Miroku and Shippo, while Sango was inside with Kagome and Kaede. I could only listen to Kagome's pained cries through the walls and wait. I don't think I was ever this nervous in my life but I didn't find it strange. Kagome made me feel many things I've never felt before and this was another one of them.
The time was passing by and I was slowly losing my patience, when I felt a familiar presence coming closer. I was a bit surprised that Inuyasha decided to come back after all, but that was about all I felt about that matter. I just accepted the fact that he came, and returned my attention back towards the hut where was Kagome. Inuyasha just greeted with Miroku and Shippo and then there was nothing else said anymore until we heard the cry of the baby and Kaede let us in.
The first thing I noticed was Kagome's satisfied and proud expression as she was holding our child in her arms and her eyes lit up even more when she saw that Inuyasha has returned. That little glint of worry which was always present in her eyes completely disappeared now and as I sat beside her and watched our child, the other occupants of the room and then her with her tired but satisfied expression on her face, I knew that she didn't change just my life, but the life of all the people around her.
