Okay, you people twisted my arm, so I'm going to post the last chapter. Sigh, this has been such an emotinal ride, I don't want it to end but, sadly, this is the fate of all things good. I just want to thank everyone who read my work, even those who didn't review, and especially those who did; without you guys, I would have trashed this thing before I'd gotten past the first chapter. I never knew I would have so many people anxious to read my story, I almost don't tknow what to say!Thank you all so much, this one goes to out you guys!
Deds:
0TwistedAngel0 - Your messages were a riot, you are a barrel of laughs! Thanks for reading and complimenting me; see, flatter someone enough, and life will hand you your desires on a platter...or in this case, a computer monitor! Enjoy this one, it's all because of you!
kal080 - You remind me of a dog chasing it's tail, hun! As cute as that is, I will be merciful and end your wandering imagination's dizziness with the final chap. I hope it all becomes clear to you soon, and you get what you wanted, though I'm not sure if you will, and I hate to disappoint!
cookiemonsterks - As you recall, I did mention Creative Writing, and I must say, that besides my Latin and Art classes, that one was my favourite. I'm blushing at your compliments, because no one around home reads my stuff, I thought I was a bad writer until becoming a member here, and I must say, people like you make life worth living. I am at a crossroads in life; perhaps writing, and not art, is my true calling, I just don't know. But thank you for your gracious compliments, and I look forward to hearing what you have to say about my other stories. Enjoy the last chapter, you're just in time!
InuYame - I hope I haven't kept you waiting too long, and I hope this ends the suspenseful torment!
Without further ado, I give you the Final Chapter of...
Twisted Logic
When Kagome reached the top, she was alone. It was too cold for anyone to pray at the Temple today; so, offering a handful of coins, lighting the incense, and ringing the gong, she made her presence to the Gods known. Putting her hands together, she said, "Forgive me Gods, but I commend myself to you."
And, pulling a long kitchen knife from her coat pocket, she sliced her wrists and sank to her knees, her head resting atop the offering plate as the world around her began to grow fuzzy.
XnY
Inuyasha sat on Kaede's porch in the snow, staring at Kagome's footprints. He was thinking that he'd just done the dumbest thing in the history of his existence when he decided to go after her.
She was right; she had always forgiven him. He loved her, how could he not return the favour, and give her another chance? He hated to think that she'd had sex with his brother, but that did not spoil her for him. He had been her first, after all.
Halfway up the stairs, the scent of fresh blood hit him like a bullet to the head.
Kagome's blood.
What was going on up there??
XnY
Kagome awoke to see Inuyasha's worried face hovering above her own. It had been a hot tear from his eye that had awakened her. Her voice hoarse, she croaked, "Inuyasha? Are we in Heaven?"
He wiped his eyes and felt his heart clench at her question. Sango, hearing it, took Miroku's hand in a deathgrip. Shippo leaned over her shoulder to peer at her face, but Inuyasha pushed him away. Taking her shoulders, he brought her to his chest, and, holding her tight, said, "Kagome, I want you to promise me something."
She didn't answer, but was listening.
"Don't ever attempt to take your life again. If you do, I would have to follow, and I want to live here on Earth with you, not in Heaven. That time will come, but it is not going to be now."
She nodded. "Does that mean you've forgiven me?"
Holding her away so he could look into her wet eyes, he murmured, "A thousand times over, Kags, I'm sorry I didn't forgive you the first time."
"I'm so sorry, Inuyasha!" she wailed, "I wouldn't have done it if I hadn't been so depressed…I just wanted to be with you…one way or another!"
For a while they just held each other there, Sango, Miroku, and Kaede smiling at the pair. Shippo, working up his nerve, tapped Kagome's back.
Turning, she looked at him, and, rembereing his last words to her said, "Oh, Shippo, I'm sorry for leaving you! I had no right to do that!"
Shippo, crying, flew into her arms and revelled in the feeling of warmth there between Kagome and Inuyasha, just like they were a little family.
"Does this mean that you've gotten rid of Sesshoumaru?"
Inuyasha was adamant that this be done.
"More or less. I don't think he'll be after me anymore."
"Good. Because I've got news for you babe."
"Hmm? What's that?"
"You're pregnant."
XnY
Several months later, Sesshoumaru was walking with Rin and Jaken, patrolling the borders, when a demon Sesshoumaru knew came to speak with him.
While Rin chased Jaken around, she overheard the demon tell Sesshoumaru of some news that she hadn't expected to hear. In fact, being as young as she was, it had never even occurred to her to expect it.
They were just ending their conversation when the demon dropped the information.
"Oh, by the way my Lord, congratulations."
Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes.
"Excuse me?"
The demon looked away, then back at his face. "Don't tell me you don't know?"
Sesshoumaru, who'd been annoyed to begin with, for the Lynx demon before him was wasting valuable patrolling time, said irritably, "Do I sound like I know? Spit it out, lest I remove your flapping tongue."
The demon bowed quickly and said, "Your brother, the hanyou, Inuyasha, I believe? His mate, Kagome, just had a pup. I was congratulating you on becoming an uncle."
"I see. That will be all."
Turning away, Sesshoumaru decided to take a little side trip.
Jaken asked, "My Lord, is what that demon says true?"
Sesshoumaru was slow to reply, but eventually he said, "We'll soon find out."
Jaken wondered why Sesshoumaru even cared. A while back, Jaken had noticed the stench of the human female his Lord's brother travelled with all over him, and had begun to suspect that Sesshoumaru had been courting her, but had dropped the notion; his Lord would never stoop so low. But now, seeing the look on Sesshoumaru's face, he thought maybe he was much closer to the truth than he had thought.
XnY
Kagome leaned over the crib, smiling as her baby slept. Absently she twisted the gold band on her ring finger, and thought of Inuyasha.
She could see him, if she looked out the window. He'd built this hut for her, right next to Kaede's, at the base of the Shrine stairs. He worked in a blacksmith's shop not far away, and she could hear him hammering steel on the anvil he'd allocated for himself. He was still an apprentice; he would build his own shop out back when he became a full blacksmith.
She heard a knock at the door, and, assuming it was Sango, who'd said she was coming over for cookies and to play with the baby, she called out, "Come on in, Sango!"
She picked the baby up out of the crib and jiggled him to wake him, but when she turned around, a big smile on her face, it wasn't Sango she was smiling at.
Sesshoumaru stood in the doorway, his silhouette weak against the bright sun outside, which gave him a golden halo, and for a moment, she thought she was seeing an angel.
"Sesshoumaru," she breathed, unconsciously clutching her baby tighter to her chest. "What are you doing here?"
Coming closer, he stopped just before her, so he could look down into her eyes, and into the face of her still napping child.
"I came to see if what I'd heard was true."
Reaching out, he touched the baby's head, and was surprised at how downy soft the baby's white hair was. It smelled good, too - a bit like her, but a scent all its own, and very powdery, too. She smiled as he continued to stare, almost in a daze, at the baby boy in her arms. She thought maybe she'd shake things up a bit.
"Would you like to hold him?"
Sesshoumaru whipped his gaze up to hers as if he'd been poked, but her smile, and her laughter, were not at all mocking and somehow reassured him. Nodding, she carefully handed him the baby, making sure he supported the child's head, and when he was finally in Sesshoumaru's arms, he began to wake up.
The child's eyes cracked open, and a beautiful shade of rusty-gold reflected his own molten gold orbs. Stretching his fists, the baby boy yawned and looked around, flicking his little white ears, smiling at Sesshoumaru.
"What is his name?"
Kagome smiled. Sesshoumaru's icy heart had been melted by no more than the bright eyes of his first nephew. How sweet!
"We named him Tomi, because of his eyes. Aren't they beautiful?"
He looked at the child's eyes again, and was awestruck once more by their hue; she was right, his eyes were an interesting mix of reddish-gold. He smiled a little.
"That they are."
Handing the child back to his mother, Sesshoumaru said, "I wish to ask you something, Kagome."
"Ask away." She cooed at the baby, but looked up at Sesshoumaru after a moment.
"I would like to name Tomi as my heir. Are you agreeable to my request?"
She was speechless for a moment, wondering what Inuyasha would want, and, pretty sure that she knew, said, "Inuyasha and I would be honoured by that, Sesshoumaru. Thank you."
He nodded once, and turned to leave.
"Sesshoumaru?"
He stopped, but did not turn around.
"Thank you…for everything."
Looking over his shoulder at her, he gave her a genuine smile, which was beautiful.
"You are more than welcome, Kagome."
She smiled back. "Be sure to drop by again soon!"
Nodding, he departed. Tomi grabbed her fragment of the Sacred Jewel at her neck and gave it a tug, but she never noticed. He may not have intended it, but had Sesshoumaru not interfered between her and Inuyasha, they'd never be married and raising their first child. She owed it all to him, and here he was, giving it all back by naming their son heir to the Western Lands.
She laughed.
And everyone thought he had a heart of ice...
XnY
Tomi - red.
Well, there you have it, a happy ending! Cry! Of course, all my endings are happy, I think I'm incapable of writing an unhappy one! lol! Thanks again babes, I hope to hear from you when I post my next story...which I haven't started yet, but will be brainstorming about until I do! See you at the next story dudes! xoxox Shannon