When Sango arrived at the gates, Miroku was relieved. Not only to see his wife home safely, but to see that she had succeeded in rescuing Kagome as well. He ran to the carriage but stopped once he had seen Kagome still unconscious.
"Is this what Naraku has done to her?"
"It's much worse…" Sango replied as Miroku helped her take Kagome inside. "Let's get her to Lord Inutaishou…"
Inutaishou, still mourning over his son's death sat in the throne room, but was quickly brought out of his mourning state when Miroku and Sango came in carrying Kagome. He stood up and hollered for his nurse maids to quickly prepare a room.
"Is that…"
Sango and Miroku nodded. Inutaishou was gravely upset by what lay before him. It was almost like hearing another one of his children had died.
"She is still breathing…" Sango said to Inutaishou's relief. "But she needs medical attention quickly."
Inutaishou nodded as he led them to the room. Miroku laid Kagome on the bed and left the nurse maids to do the best they could for her. Once out of the room, Inutaishou spoke.
"How did this happen?"
"Naraku… Had killed your son's unborn child… and made Kagome… unable to have children." Sango explained. "He became furious at Kagome when he found out… She had told him that if she was so worthless to him then he should free her… He was… going… to kill her milord… but she said that death would be the best thing he could do for her… because she would be reunited… with Inuyasha… So instead, he made her sign over her kingdom… and promise to disappear forever… for her freedom."
Inutaishou could not believe what Kagome had gone though in these past few months. He had desperately wished that his son were still alive to help Kagome heal… But he knew that was only a wish that would never come true.
When Kagome woke, she found a strange person hovering over her from her bedside. She could not make out any features for the stranger was wearing a cloak to conceal their identity. She immediately wanted to scream, but for some reason, did not feel threatened. Instead, she felt safer than she had in months so she closed her eyes once more and fell asleep.
Miroku came into the room to check on Kagome and saw the stranger. But to him, this was no stranger. He knew exactly who it was.
"I see you were able to rescue her," the stranger stated.
"Yes. But there was a cost. She had to give up her own kingdom in order to be free. But none the less, Kagome won over her own freedom… for you… Inuyasha."
The stranger looked over at Miroku with golden eyes and removed his cloak. Inuyasha stared back down at Kagome. "I wasn't able to save her myself…"
"But the news of your quote unquote death had given her the strength to fight back and come up with a plan to earn her freedom."
"I should've acted sooner. I should not have let her go a year ago… None of this would have happened if I would have just listened to my father…" Inuyasha whispered.
"Your brother is here now… Technically, your death gave the kingdom back to Sesshomaru… And because of Kagome, your brother was able to find love and take a Queen. So really, there was some good that came out of it."
"Rin?"
Miroku nodded. "Remember? Kagome introduced your brother to Rin three years ago. They've been happy ever since. So you got what you wanted… You got out of ruling a kingdom."
"No… I didn't get what I wanted… I got what I thought I wanted. But what I really wanted… Was Kagome. I wanted to have a family with her… I knew this the moment I danced with her that night at the ball… But I was too ignorant to say it… To tell her that she is all I need to survive… That she is the air I need to keep my blood pumping and my heart beating… I was too naïve to realize that Kagome cares for me… The same way I do for her… I didn't realize at that time that Kikyo was evil and was only playing as Naraku's pawn… And I fell for it… I am the reason that Kagome is lying in front of me right now… bleeding… childless… no longer able to have children… her mother, grandfather and younger brother killed by Naraku… All of this happened because of me… I have taken everything away from her…"
"I was hoping you would realize that," Inutaishou said from the doorway. "You owe Kagome a lot… But that does not mean that you go about feeling sorry for her. That will only anger her. You need to show her that you care for her. That you love her…"
"Father… I… I don't know how to…"
"Just say to her what you said to Miroku and I just now. Trust me… She will be thrilled to know that you are alive…" And with that, Inutaishou left the room. Miroku walked over to Inuyasha and put his hand on Inuyasha's shoulder.
"Your father is right. If you want to make things right… start with her," he said before leaving the room.
Inuyasha knelt down at Kagome's bedside. 'Kagome... Forgive me...' he thought.
