One last battle
Kagome started to go back to school about a month and a half since she fell through the well. She met new friends, who happened to know her, but to her they were new.
There was one boy who followed her around constantly, giving her odd little gifts. Kagome wondered often whether or not she and this Hojo had been a couple. Not now though, she thought knowing it would be a very long time for her to move on.
"Kagome!" Inwardly Kagome sighed and rolled her eyes, he's just so tiring but I can never seem to shake him. Turning around she wore a huge smile on her face.
"Hojo." She said it with less enthusiasm but the boy seemed not to notice.
"Have you been using that dried eel liver for your skin? It seems so bright today." She had to admit she did like being around someone that seemed so pure and unburdened with the cares of the world.
"Oh, no just a good nights sleep." When his face let down slightly, she quickly added, "But I used it on my hands, and it worked wonderfully." She smiled and rubbed her palms together.
"Let me see." Hojo took one of her hands and stroked it, he then held it and dropped their hands by his side. He looked up at her as if nothing was happening.
Externally Kagome tried to pretend it didn't bother her, but internally her heart and muscles tightened. I never even got a chance to hold Sesshomaru's hand and here I am with this guy I don't even like. Before long Kagome could feel the onset of tears and she quickly pushed herself away from Hojo.
"I'm sorry I have to go now." Not looking at him, or waiting for an answer she held her books tight and ran to the bathroom.
The bell rang while Kagome was still in the bathroom but she didn't care. The tears she had almost held back were still silently burning down her cheeks. I would give up every memory I had just to spend one more moment with you, she thought as she closed her eyes.
Mrs. Higurashi stood by the door every day at the same time. She always wanted to welcome Kagome home from school and ask how her day went. The weeks while her daughter was gone had been hard on the family, but it was worse for her. Knowing in her heart something was wrong and not being able to do anything almost killed Mrs. Higurashi. She thought she may be overprotecting her daughter but she didn't care. Any moment with her now was more precious than ever.
When she saw Kagome coming up the sidewalk she knew it had been a hard day for her. Kagome was able to put on a front that nothing was bothering her, but her mother knew better. She knew all Kagome wanted was to go back in time and stay with her love.
Kagome looked up to see her mother standing in the doorway of their house smiling down at her. I know she loves me, and cares for me, but I still can't remember her being my mother. It was hard for Kagome to relate to her family, who loved her and treated her so closely; her lack of memories wouldn't allow her to reciprocate those feelings. In time, please just be patient with me.
"Hi honey, how was school?" Her mother said when she reached the stoop.
"Not bad, I have a test tomorrow so I have to go and study." Kagome patted her mother on the back awkwardly when the older woman pulled her into a hug.
"I know things can be rough, but please move at your own pace." Her mother whispered into the girl's ear.
Kagome made her way to her room, a place where she still felt a bit uncomfortable. It was hard for her to tell herself that she had lived here, and she had made this space her own. She could understand the taste of some things, in fact she liked the design of the room exactly the way it was, it just was this place was a part of her past something she desperately wanted to remember.
After a few hours of trying to study; Kagome just couldn't concentrate, besides the test wasn't until next week she just needed time to be alone, there was a soft knock on the door.
"Kagome? Dinner's ready." She looked up to see the back of her mother's head pulling itself out of her doorway.
For the past few months there had been two kinds of dinner conversation, there was the one where the family talked and it felt somewhat normal, but when the 'do you remember when' phrase was brought up the table went silent. The other kind was when the family just couldn't talk at all.
The dinner tonight was like the first example. Kagome listened while her brother tried to get her mother to allow them to have a dog. She watched as he pleaded and begged, a small smile creeping out of her face.
When Sota finally said it would be financially beneficial for the dog because he could walk it instead of sitting inside watching television, Kagome full out smiled.
It took everyone at the table a moment to realize what had happened. Kagome had smiled all the time before she lost her memory, but since she came back not even a hint of lightness could be found around her.
The table quieted again, but this time it was a comfortable silence. The family had now realized they were going to be fine, and Kagome was starting to see she was moving forward.
That night when she was sitting on the roof, Kagome realized she had to move on. She knew she would never love so deeply again, but she knew she couldn't be in sorrow forever. Kagome looked out over the stars and sighed, wherever you are, I know you're with me. I don't think I'll ever forget the few short days we had, but I don't want to be sad anymore.
Like a poetic movement the sky was filled with sparks and explosions. Gold sparklers joined the stars, and Kagome had never seen anything so pretty. Halfway through the show a white explosion happened right above Kagome's head.
The memories and visions of her past pounded in so heavily and so fast Kagome lost her footing on the roof and fell. She remembered.
She was six and riding a small horse, she was crying the entire timeShe was eight and her father was gone.
She was sixteen and falling through the well for the first time
She saw him, stuck to the tree and speaking.
She saw Naraku dying before her very eyes.
She saw herself kissing Inuyasha and then running away.
She saw a knife sharp face, with cold purple eyes.
She saw him drawing his sword and charging
She saw him hitting
She saw only black
The last vision completely confused Kagome, but she didn't have to worry about that, she was falling of the edge of the roof by that time and all that went through her mind was the silver white hair fading away.
Kagome never touched the ground. Whoever had been watching her from below had run up and caught her.
She seemed to be unconscious in her protector's arms and with a heavy heart he gently lay her down and turned to go.
She remembers know, she won't ever forgive me for what I did to her the being thought with despair as he turned one last time to look at her.
Fortunately for both of them, he didn't make it to the forest before she woke up and saw him.
She ran as hard as she could and embraced him. Kagome's emotions were so strong they choked her voice for a very long time.
Sesshomaru had been waiting for this moment for hundreds of years. It had haunted his dreams, desires, but it also held all of his greatest fears. He knew now she held all of her memories that she would reject him the second she saw him. But he didn't care. He knew just seeing her one last time would be enough for him to live on for hundreds of years to come. That is if he was able to live through the rejection that was inevitably going to come.
When Kagome's emotions finally allowed her to get a few words out, they weren't what either had expected.
"I Love You!" Kagome hadn't expected that to be the first thing out of her mouth, nor had she really thought it would be quite so loud.
Sesshomaru stood there frozen, didn't she remember, didn't she realize I was the one who took away all of those memories?
Kagome never let go, but could feel the change in the being she held. Doesn't he feel the same? Maybe he came to tell me he loves another… Kagome's blood ran cold. I don't care I will never let go.
She could feel his hands taking hers and loosening them around his waist.
"No! I'm not going to let go! Even if you tell me you hate me, I'm never going to stop loving you!" She yelled, pushing her face into his back.
Sesshomaru was stunned; he had never been in a situation like this. Grabbing her arms more firmly he turned around to face her.
Kagome felt the warm fabric moving under her cheek, she tried to fight and stay with him but he was stronger than she was. Closing her eyes and dreading what was going to happen next she felt his chest rising and falling and his arms holding her as if he was afraid she would run away (AN he isn't wearing his old kimono but modern clothes).
They stayed this way, with the fireworks blazing above them, embracing as if time itself weren't present.
"Kagome," He pulled away only slightly to look at her face. "You remember, don't you?" He didn't want to bring it up, it was so painful, but he had to.
"Yeah," She remembered seeing his face, right before everything went dark. She pulled him tighter, needing his strength and comfort. "What happened?"
If she hadn't been there Sesshomaru wouldn't have had the power or the strength to speak about that stormy part of his past.
"Rin, Jaken, and I were walking. We were separated but it's happened before, I often went off by myself for days on end. When I came back to the place where I had left them I found them…." She squeezed him tighter and helped him on, "I found them dead. They weren't just killed they were slaughtered." Sesshomaru paled at the memory of seeing all of the blood and slashes everywhere. "The place reeked of my brother's scent and I went blind to everything but killing him. I tracked him for some days and one night I smelled it. What was even better was it was moving towards me. I hid behind a tree and you passed by…" Sesshomaru knew she remembered and let his voice die away.
"But he, I mean Inuyasha couldn't have killed them, I was with him the entire time." Her voice broke their silence with a quivering note.
"Yes, I found this out the night you went back through the well. But first, when I awoke from my rage and saw your body at my feet I knew you had some kind of power over me that I didn't even realize myself." Kagome lay her head back down on his chest, listening only to the beating of his heart. In one fluid motion Sesshomaru picked her up and sat down on the ground. "You must be tired," he whispered.
"Tell me what happened the night I fell through the well." Sesshomaru stayed silent for a while, taking his memory back to what had happened the night he vowed to wait for his true love.
"I left to find food but something found me first, it was my brother but there was something wrong with his aura. He had been with the Priestess Kikyo for several hours, and I believe she put some sort of spell on him. Without even speaking he pulled out his sword and charged at me." Sesshomaru thought about the crazed look in his brother's eye. "I jumped away and looked back at him, he seemed only intent on killing me and he kept running and stabbing even though I dodged every time." Kagome wondered why he didn't fight back but before she could ask Sesshomaru answered. "I didn't want to be a fighter anymore, all I wanted was to be with you. I wanted to be your lover not a fighter," he smiled slightly at the phrase he heard so often in the seventies, and for the little tease.
Her face went red but she said nothing to interrupt his story.
"Both Inuyasha and Kikyo grew frustrated with my behavior and they stopped fighting. Kikyo called out to me…..
'Demon!' she called, Sesshomaru was able to sense the sinister note even from where he was standing, 'I'll give you a good reason to fight.' She smiled a wicked smile and Sesshomaru could do nothing but listen.
'I killed your precious pets,' His rage heightened, but the only thing that kept him sane was the thought that Kagome was waiting for him. 'I watched them plead and beg for their lives.' She threw back her head and cackled.
'Why?' Sesshomaru's voice tried to be calm but the edge on it could have cut metal.
'Because I knew you would go after your brother, and then when your swords connected I would be able to get the one thing I have desired for years.'
'What?' Sesshomaru didn't trust his patience or his voice for anything more than a few words.
'I WANT TO BE HUMAN, DO YOU THINK I LIKE LIVING OFF THE SOULS OF THE DEAD?' She screamed raging towards him.
Sesshomaru stepped easily to the side as she tried to claw at him. Inuyasha ran towards her, his sword raised. This time Sesshomaru didn't want to stand aside, he wanted to fight, his one last battle.
With a seconds motion he pulled his sword out and ran to the center of the clearing. Inuyasha as usual charged without thinking aiming straight for his brother's heart. Their swords made a deadly clash the sound raging through the forest.
Because both swords were created equal to the other, the power created between the two bothers was fierce. They raged on, each time the swords touched or clashed dangerous sparks would shower the two brothers.
After a powerful blow from both sides, Sesshomaru and Inuyasha were sent flying away from one another. When they reached their feet both brother looked at Kikyo who seemed to be enjoying the fight.
Inuyasha set up for the attack and Sesshomaru started to block it. When the Wind Scar and Sesshomaru's block touched the entire forest was surrounded in a white light. Sesshomaru looked up to see Kikyo floating above them the change to mortality overtaking her.
When she fell to the ground the brothers took no time to reach her side. Without thinking Sesshomaru plunged his blade through Kikyo's stomach.
'That was for Rin and Jaken.' Kikyo glared and then fell back.
Sesshomaru stared at his brother, the black spot on his aura seeming to fall away. Something else started to change in him as well. His hair started to darken as his ears shrank.
'You two were linked, when she became human, so did you.' Sesshomaru explained as Inuyasha looked at his hands.
It was only until Sesshomaru heard the yells and cries of the villagers did he remember Kagome.
"I rushed back only to find you were gone." He finished, relieved he was finally able to speak about that night.
"So they're both dead," Her voice had been unused for a while so the question came out only in a whisper, Sesshomaru nodded and waited for her to continue, "What did you do after that?"
"I waited for you." He told her stories about his life and the different adventures he went on.
Sesshomaru spoke for hours, he never noticed when she fell asleep on his chest, but he really didn't care. She was with him and she loved him, there was noting that could go wrong.
He woke her up in the few moments before dawn and took her up to the roof.
"I want to start a new beginning with you." He said holding her tight, as they gazed at the sunrise.
Kagome still groggy from sleep, grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him into a deep kiss.
And there they stood, never noticing the troubles around them, and kissing like there was no tomorrow.