Star had been right, she had paralyzed Sango when she punched her back, and while Sango didn't blame Star she blamed herself. She got that from her father she supposed. Sango adjusted fine to not being able to walk as it's been a few years since the incident but Star still held onto the guilt. Koda had returned to them soon after leaving like he said and they'd become a couple pretty quick. He knew how she felt about Sango as he wrapped his arms around her and held her close to them. Star sighed as he laid her head on Koda's shoulder. He kissed her head knowing that Sango wasn't the only thing on her mind. They'd nearly completed the Shikon Jewel but they'd never be able to fully put it back together because two shards would always be missing. Those same two shards that kept Star alive.
"Koda, maybe it's time I go back." Star said with a sigh. She turned eighteen yesterday, five more years had been spent with her family since her resurrection.
"What do you mean?" Koda asked looking down at her feigning ignorance. Truthfully he knew what she was talking about but he wasn't ready to let her go yet.
"You know what I mean Koda, we can't keep running from this topic forever. I'm a walking corpse kept alive by the remaining two jewel shards." Star said as she sat up off of him and turned to face him.
Koda sighed and rubbed her cheek. Her body had never been the same since bringing her back, her skin no longer held that warmth it once did, and her eyes no longer held the same joy. He looked at her with a frown as she leaned her head into his touch. If he let her go he would never have the same happiness again and having imprinted on her losing her would cause him more pain then he would care to admit. He scooped her up as he jumped down from the tree they were cuddled in. He helped her stand and ran his hand through his own pitch black hair. As he aged he looked more and more like his father and Star looked just like Inuyasha just with more feminine features. It was like she hadn't taken after Kagome at all.
"If I let you go then I go with you." He said looking back at her.
"I can't let you do that Koda." Star said surprised.
"Star, I don't think you understand how my kind work. We imprint on someone and we're with that someone for life, I've imprinted on you, and losing you would be like death itself." Koda said as he looked up at the moon.
"Koda.." Star said quietly.
"Don't fight me on it Star, I've made up my mind." Koda said as he turned to her and took her hand.
They headed into the village where their family was gathered around a camp fire. Koda and Star sat down at the fire's edge and he held her close to him. She looked up at him and he nodded to her. Inuyasha seemed to know what they were about to say as he looked at Star with hurt written all over his face.
"I have to announce something to everyone." Star said as she sat up and looked at them while holding Koda's hand, "I've decided it's time to remove these jewel shards." She said as she watched the reactions of her friends.
"And I'm going with her." Koda said as he rubbed the back of his head.
"Are you serious?" Inuyasha said as he looked at Koda who nodded in return.
"I've imprinted on Star and allowing her to die while still living would be worse than death itself." Koda said, "I would like to have a shared coffin be made for both of us to rest together." He added as Star nodded to her family that this is what she wanted as well.
"I have a special drink that will leave your body comatose, you'll be buried with Star while still alive, but you'll run out of oxygen while you sleep. It will be a peaceful death." Kaede said as she looked at Koda.
"I would appreciate that, Lady Kaede." Koda said as he nodded to her.
"I would like to be buried tomorrow if possible." Star said as she looked at everyone.
"As would I." Koda said agreeing.
"Alright, then tomorrow night we will bury the both of you. Koda I will make the drink for you to drink tonight as you get ready to sleep that is when I will also remove the jewel shards from you Star." Kaede said, "Say your goodbyes tonight and may you both be in peace by tomorrow night." She added.
Koda and Star stood up from the camp fire, their friends made their peace with them and Inuyasha hugged them both tightly with Kagome. It wasn't as sad as they expected because everyone has been preparing themselves for when this day was to come. I doubt they expected it to be so soon but this needed to happen because Star was no longer happy and Koda couldn't be without her.