ULTIMATE SACRIFICE
Disclaimer: Yup, I don't own Inuyasha!
Beta-ed by the magnificent Ceferadel.
Chapter 25 – Love Final: Kindness
"Hana is really making a huge fuss on this." Kagome stated with irritation when she once again was being grounded to sit upon the furs. Prior she had hurt her back when she tried to help Hikaru move the small chair into the birthing chamber.
Fuuki who was passing by her side, carrying a pile of linen, chuckled. "You really should have just rested while we do all the work, Kagome-sama."
"You know I don't like to just sit and watch while other people work, Fuuki. Even more, because you're all working to prepare my birthing room and my baby's room."
Fuuki contemplated for a while. "Yes, you do not like it. But try to tolerate it now, Kagome-sama. By resting you have helped us by taking care of your health and our future lord."
"I suppose…"
Fuuki smiled cheerily. "I will bring a pot of tea so Kagome-sama can be more relaxed in here."
Kagome sighed. "No, Fuuki. I think I'll go try to find Sesshoumaru."
"Yes. Kagome-sama. I will escort you right away."
"No. You have work to do. I think I'm capable enough to find my own mate by myself."
"But…"
Kagome moved her body to stand properly. "Just go Fuuki. I'll be fine."
00000
Kagome let out a sigh. She was sitting beside the Koi pond in the garden; playing with the water absently. Sesshoumaru was nowhere to be found. She was bored. Everyone is busy with the baby's preparation; Hideaki is busy training the guards… She frowned. ...he said the guards needed to double the strength to protect the baby, and Sesshoumaru is nowhere to be found. She forced a smile when a Koi fish swam near and tickled her foot. I miss my friends. How's Shippo? Is he still guarding Inuyasha's body? Her heart constricted. Inuyasha was still a major sensitive issue for her. She let it go for now; not wanting to stress herself more. I wonder what Sango and Miroku are doing right now? Have they had another baby? I bet Sango will understand the anxiety I feel right now. She had undergone the birthing process twice! If only I could talk to her.
Her eyes dimmed in sadness. Stop! Stop thinking about them! It will only make you feel more depressed, Kagome! She admonished herself. I don't even know what I would say if I met them. Will they understand my condition? She let out a breath. What I have now is only Sesshoumaru, and I miss him already… Sesshoumaru, where are you? Silent tears fell from her eyes.
000000000
"Are you now willing to understand what this old one said back then to you, young lord Sesshoumaru?" Haruka asked in her sweet voice while she played with the birds around her.
Sesshoumaru did not answer. He only stared at her with his usual icy stare.
They were at Haruka's sanctuary, the flower field that was surrounded by high terrains in the western region. Sesshoumaru had wanted to hear her wise advice after Kagome's last month confession on her thought to leave him.
Haruka turned her face to see him, and then she smiled. "Like I said that first time you asked for my advice. There is no artificial magic that we could use to play a with a human's heart. The magic that you seek may be found if you are willing to listen to the nature." She closed her eyes and let the wind whirl around her; making the birds fly up following the turbulence. "Just like these birds. If you kept them in a cage, they would desperately seek for a way out, flying away from you." The birds had settled back at Haruka's hands. "But if you let them free they might come back to you."
"Might." he quoted.
Haruka smiled patiently. "Hope to stay is better than a certain constant feeling of wanting to leave you. That hope can be closer to reality, especially when you have something that connects you both."
Sesshoumaru contemplated. "My heir."
"And?"
Love. Sesshoumaru said nothing. Telling and showing his true emotions was not a thing that he was fond to do.
Haruka chuckled. "We, the elders, have decided that we like her, young lord. We want her to stay as the Western Lady beside you. And believe me when I say that we are willing to do anything to ensure that. Mizuki is having a hard time to prevent Hotaru from obliterating her village just so she does not have any place to go besides being here with us."
Sesshoumaru's jaw hardened.
"But is that really the way you want to keep her?"
If Haruka asked him that question long ago maybe he would have said yes. He had wanted to own her by any means possible at first, violence and threats and anything that would ensure her staying. He did not understand the concept of love at that time. What he wanted was to possess the great power that she contained. But now, the idea of hurting her seemed repulsive. It made something inside his chest ached when he thought that she would be hurt; that she would shed tears. What he really wanted was her smile, her mesmerizing smile that he grew to love so much.
"No."
"No?"
"It will hurt her. She is better smiling. Beside this Sesshoumaru." He added.
"Then do my advice, young lord."
"She might leave."
"True. But…" Haruka smiled in understanding. "…she also might want to stay."
Silence from Sesshoumaru.
"Young lord, you know you have something that she wants. Give it to her unconditionally, and then she will fly back to your arms."
Love. That single word echoed in Sesshoumaru's mind.
"Believe in what this old soul says, young lord. I am Haruka the wind." A gust of wind blew around the flower field; caressing Sesshoumaru's silver and Haruka's white hair. "I have seen many things that you have not. I know many life's secrets that you have not yet understood. Trust my advice, young lord." She bowed towards Sesshoumaru on her last words.
000000
"Where are we going, Sesshoumaru?" Kagome once again asked. They were flying high on Sesshoumaru's youki cloud that made it impossible for her to see the ground.
Kagome vaguely remembered that she cried herself to sleep last night in loneliness. She was relieved when she felt Sesshoumaru was finally home; though she did not let her feeling show. She knew he was home by the feeling of warmth that enveloped her while she was in between her dream world and reality. He was embracing her. And it was so natural for her that she easily fell deeper into her sleep.
"An important place." He answered her question.
She frowned. "Yes, you answered that way a minute ago. What important place? Is it you're ancestor's castle? Sumire-sama's palace?"
"Hn. We're almost there."
Kagome sighed. So much for cajoling him to answer in a longer and more descriptive phrase. "Where ever you take me, I believe you will not do me harm, right Sesshoumaru? I trust you."
A long silence before he finally responded. "Hn."
Kagome snuggled deeper into his hold. Simply enjoying herself in Sesshoumaru's embrace, listening to her now favorite music in the world, Sesshoumaru's strong heart beat. She would not deny that she loved being close with him. Sesshoumaru made her feel safe and treasured. Not even Inuyasha had ever made her feel this way.
Kagome stilled. Stop comparing Kagome! The more you do it, the more your forbidden feelings for Sesshoumaru will grow! And Inuyasha won't want that! Kagome blinked.
But how about me? Do I want that?
Kagome's thoughts broke when Sesshoumaru slowly descended to the ground.
"We've arrived?'
"Hn."
Kagome turned her head to survey and try identifying her surrounding. Her breath stalled when she realized the familiar view. Is this place really what I think it is? She snapped her head back at Sesshoumaru; trying to gauge his reaction. There was no way Sesshoumaru would willingly take her to Inuyasha's forest! But she found nothing, nothing to predict his emotions or reason, just a blank stare from him.
"What are you…?"
Sesshoumaru did not answer her; instead he was looking at a particular spot behind her. Kagome turned her head slowly.
"Kagome-chan?"
Kagome stilled. It's impossible. This voice… She missed that voice so much!
"Kagome, is it really you??"
"Kagome-sama."
She saw Sango, Shippo, and Miroku standing on the other side of the field. Mixes of emotions were on their faces; relieve, disbelieve, happiness, and longing.
"Minna-san?" She could not believe that her friends were here. She missed them so much!
"Kagomee!!!" Shippou was the first one to run towards her. He jumped on her and began crying into her chest. "Kagome, Kagome we miss you so much! I know you'll be back someday! I'm still waiting with Inuyasha here!"
"Oh, Shippou…" Kagome held him tighter.
"Kagome-chan!" Sango was hugging her now. "I'm so glad you're truly safe. I've been worrying about you all these years. I'm so glad. I'm so glad."
"Sango…" Kagome tears ran freely now.
"Kagome-sama. I'm so glad to see you're well." Kagome felt like laughing in relieve seeing Miroku's worried expression that she missed so much.
When Kagome turned her head back towards him Sesshoumaru was nowhere to be seen, but she could still feel his youki surrounding her, protecting her from afar.
"Sesshoumaru-sama suddenly appeared at early morning, ordering us to wait for you at the western end of Inuyasha's forest." Miroku's explanation turned Kagome's attention back.
"Kagome, have you been well? Is he treating you well? Because if he hurt you…" Sango's eyes narrowed in determination.
"No." Kagome remembered her friend's protectiveness. "Sesshoumaru has been… nice."
"I'm sure Sesshoumaru-sama is." Kagome saw Miroku grabbed Sango's shoulder as if trying to reprimand her. Sango glared at him but quickly bit back her next comment.
"And…" Miroku's gaze averted to her bulging stomach. "When is the baby due?"
Kagome startled. "I… You know?"
Miroku let out a sigh. "Sesshoumaru-sama told us that you're carrying the heir of the Western Land."
What? He told them?
"He demanded us to erase your sadness and refrained from causing you more stress."
"I…" What was Sesshoumaru thinking? Now, what would they think of me?
Sango hugged her. "It's okay Kagome. At first we were so shocked and confused; but after a lot of thinking we decided that whatever you do, it must be for the best for all of us, and perhaps it has something to do with Inuyasha's revival."
"Yes, yes it is." Kagome quickly nodded and then took a deep breath. She did not think she could handle the emotions if she told them her story now. "I'll tell you all about it when I'm ready. Is it okay, minna-san?"
"Of course, Kagome. What's most important now is your health and happiness." Sango hugged her again.
"Now let me tell you how I battle a swarm of mosquitoes that were trying to bite Inuyasha last month, Kagome." Shippo jumped off and began describing accurately his adventures in protecting Inuyasha.
Kagome laughed merrily. She had never felt this happy since her pregnancy.
0000000
It was almost dusk when Sesshoumaru appeared and decided that it was time for her to rest. Sesshoumaru had given his word that she would be able to visit her friends again soon. And after teary hugs and promises; Kagome left with him.
There was a long silence on their ride back. But after awhile Kagome, being what she was, broke the silence.
"Why?"
Sesshoumaru sighed inwardly. Explanation, explanation… This Sesshoumaru believes he has never explained his actions this much before mating her.
"You smile less." He saw her stared at him in question. "You called them in your sleep."
"I smile less?" She stared at him in something akin to awe. "You did it because I smile less?"
"Hn. Your smile is most beautiful. You must do it more. It pleases this Sesshoumaru."
She seemed surprised by his explanation. She then blushed and averted her face.
"I never realize I miss them so much." She turned her face back at him and smiled that mesmerizing smile that made his heart beat faster. "Thank you, Sesshoumaru. It was wonderful to see them again after all these years."
"Hn." Indeed it is. It is wonderful to see you so pleased.
She suddenly turned her body to face him in his hold. He tightened his hold at her sudden action; not wanting her to fall. Careless mate.
She seemed to ignore the fact that she almost fell, or perhaps she trusted that he would never let her fall. She then began talking enthusiastically.
"Do you know that Sango and Miroku are now planning for their fifth child? Rin must have her hands full with their children because Sango said Rin is helping her in taking care of her too energetic children. But Shippou sometimes helps her, so…"
Sesshoumaru absently heard her words; focusing more to the way her eyes twinkled with happiness, her cheek flushed with healthy red hue, and her enticing lips smiled while talking. Sesshoumaru then realized one important fact. Yes, this is what this Sesshoumaru wants her to be like every single day. Happiness by this Sesshoumaru's side. He continued watching her and absently hearing her words on their journey home.
0000000
Kagome felt wonderful; tired but satisfied and happy. She snuggled closer to his warm body beside her in his futon; caressing his well-built chest that was shown through his parted lapels of kimono absently. She yawned before saying, "Thank you so much for today Sesshoumaru. I never knew that you could be so kind."
He growled slightly. "This Sesshoumaru is not kind."
She chuckled. "Then what are you, if not kind today?"
No response from him. Kagome gave up in tiredness and let his strong heart-beat lulled her to sleep as usual.
000000
When Sesshoumaru felt that she was asleep, he shifted to watch her. He admired her serene sleeping face, always looking so innocent and pure. He reached out to caress her cheek slowly and then leaned down to softly kiss her face. Kagome stirred but did not wake up.
"This Sesshoumaru is not kind and will never be kind." He corrected her words and held her tightly.
"What this Sesshoumaru is… yours." He kissed her forehead softly and lovingly. "A mighty lord of the Western Land who is falling for a pure human miko."
No one heard Sesshoumaru's sincere words that night.
"You are the holder of this Sesshoumaru's heart… Kagome, this Sesshoumaru loves you."
And he resumed kissing and nuzzling his beloved mate.
-----------
Kindness : Charity, compassion, friendship, and empathy without prejudice and for its own sake.
AN: Yay!!! He finally admitted his feeling to her! …Athough she was sleeping and most likely did not hear any words he had said… hmm so the next challenge is to get him to admit it to her when she is conscious and awake!
I'm really, really sorry for the late update. The issue with my and Ceferadel's RL and a lot of fun challenges made this chapter delayed. So happy I managed to post this one!
Now that their pregnancy drabbles is over, the next chapter will be the birth of their beloved heir that they had been waiting for so long. What will happen? Stay tuned for the next surprises!
Reviews will be treated with outmost respect and serve as the catalyst for the making of the next chapter :) Thank you dear friends!
Ow, ow it's time to nominate again!
©miwa03 – 2009