Kagome woke slowly, her eyes needing a minute to adjust into the white light.
She found herself in a beautifully soft bed, with cotton soft sheets and pillows like clouds, she knew then that she must be in heaven.
She was just so comfortably at peace at that very moment that she was unwilling to move, to look around at her new surroundings, being somewhere she had never seen before, and as such it was with an almost dream-like vision her gaze wandered about her, from the high arched ceiling to the softly carpeted floor.
There was a gentle little snore that she heard, and she looked around, to discover none other than InuYasha was sound asleep at the side of that bed, his face resting gently against the back of her palm, his own arms folded casually against the edge, the Tetsusaiga leaning next to him against the sheets in such a way that reminded Kagome of the morning after the first time she had slept with him; that drunken night what felt like a million moons ago.
What's going on here? She thought, but she couldn't help smiling at his relaxed, sleeping face. Is InuYasha dead too?
The thought sent a cold chill up her spine, and it made her feel a little dizzy.
He shouldn't be dead. She thought. He should live on. She paused. I wonder what could have killed him? He's pretty tough.
She chuckled slightly. I'll bet he killed Akihigo, though.
She looked around a little more, to discover they were in a soft white, gold-lined room, with equally-high windows that ran along one side to Kagome's left, and curtains that billowed slightly in the breeze, bringing the fresh scent of a breathtaking garden beyond.
Heaven seems to be a pretty nice place to be. She thought quietly, at the beautiful serenity to the room.
Quietly, the intricate looking door opposing the windows opened, and Kagome started slightly.
She looked around at InuYasha, fully expecting him to awaken with his fists raised.
Yet, simply, one of his ears flicked, and he stirred slightly, but snoozed on.
Kagome couldn't believe it.
She whipped around to stare at the door, and the two people who entered, one of which Kagome had a vague recollection of.
As she stared at the midnight haired beauty, a sort of memory came to her.
Ah, she's the angel. She thought placidly.
Well, that's not entirely the case. Came another voice in her head, and she nearly fell off of the bed in shock, however putting in every effort not to wake InuYasha.
I was wondering where the hanyou had wandered off to, said yet a third, and Kagome found herself to be very confused, and this confusion made her dizzy.
What's going on? This is a very weird heaven. She thought, and the two angels smiled.
This, Kagome, is Takamagahara. You would call it the "realm of the gods". The blonde angel shrugged, still smiling. Though it's sort of a bowl, so could you call it "valley of the gods"?
Nee-san, you're not being very helpful. The dark-haired angel reproved, before turning her attention to the priestess, and bowing slightly. My name is Tsukuyomi, and this is my sister, Amaterasu. We are the goddesses of the sun and moon.
Oh, well, Kagome thought, it's an honour to meet you, I'm Kagome Higurashi. She inclined her head. Um, what's going on? Why are you here in heaven?
Actually, this is my palace. Amaterasu thought. And this isn't what you mortals call "heaven".
Oh but I must be. Kagome responded. But what is InuYasha doing here?
To use the phrase, Tsukuyomi smiled, he went through hell and back for you.
I thought he might do something stupid. Kagome's eyes wandered back down to where her love was sleeping. What happened?
You'll have to wake him for the whole story, Tsukuyomi quietly thought. But I managed to get most of it from my familiars; Hiku and Osu. She smiled. You owe a lot to that hanyou.
At least we're dead together. Kagome sighed, but the two women frowned.
You're not dead, Kagome. Amaterasu thought. Neither is InuYasha. We put a lot of effort into that not happening.
InuYasha snuffled slightly from next to her, then yawned greatly as he awoke, rightening himself halfheartedly and stretching, cutting through Kagome's slight disbelief like a knife.
He looked up blearily, to see the three women staring at him, and he started greatly, raising his hands half defensively, still obviously not completely awake yet.
He'd obviously been sleeping there for a while, there was pocket marks down the side of his face from her knuckles, but his left hand fell back to curl around the hand had been sleeping against absentmindedly.
'Whaz goin' on?' He said, his voice thick with sleep, rubbing at one eye with his free right hand, but then he relaxed, looking at the two goddesses, and frowning, clearing his throat, which didn't help much. 'Don't sneak around like that!'
Kagome still couldn't help but find his sleepy voice a little sexy, and she smiled.
'Good morning, InuYasha!' Amaterasu said cheerfully. 'I've been looking for you everywhere!'
'Isn't that funny: I've been avoiding you everywhere.' InuYasha said grouchily.
Tsukuyomi spoke up. 'InuYasha, please tell Kagome here that you're both not dead? She doesn't believe us.' She said a little shortly.
He frowned at her, then looked around, to see Kagome smiling, she wiggled her free fingers at him.
'Kagome?' He said just a little breathlessly, and before she knew it, he had swept her up in a tight hug.
'We'll, give you two a minute.' She vaguely heard Amaterasu say as the door opened behind them, then closed.
'InuYasha,' Kagome responded, tears forming in her eyes, as she buried her face in the side of his neck.
'Kagome,' He responded, his right hand at the back of her head, his left around her shoulders, holding her as close as she could get, where she could feel wounds hidden under his haori. 'Don't you ever do something like that again.' He said a little thickly into her ear.
'What, get attacked while I'm minding my own business?' She chuckled slightly.
He pulled her back suddenly, his lips were forming a thin, grim line, and there were tears threatening on his face.
It was then she noticed his right eye was unfocused and hazy, yet watery nontheless, as well as little scratches and partially healed scars dotting his face and neck.
'What's this, InuYasha?' She said, as she felt her own spill over.
He blinked furiously, but it only made the problem worse, two tears from one damaged eye and one from one clear eye overflowed and ran down his face. 'Don't you ever do that to me again.' He said, gritting his jaw.
'I'm sorry,' she responded, pressing herself against him again, feeling one of those tears drip onto her shoulder. 'I didn't mean to make you worry like that.'
'Just, don't, scare me like that.' He said gruffly, burying his nose in her hair.
'I'm sorry for that too.' She smiled slightly. 'I love you,' she was freeing one hand and looking to clasp his right hand, but discovered it to be hard like a rock, but with skin that felt closer to wood.
'I love you too.' He responded, encircling her tightly, with the clear intention of never letting go, his shoulders shaking slightly.
She pressed her face against his neck again, struggling a little against his engulfing form. 'Could you tell me what's going on, though?'
summing up, but there's still a few chapters to go. I love talking about the Valley of the Gods, and all of the new characters there!