Chapter Twenty-Five: Aftermath

"Oh… Sessh... It's alright... You don't need to cr-" You stopped, remembering his pride.

"I'm fine.." You sat up, kissing him lightly. You lay with him for a while, nuzzling into his haori, speaking softly with him until three figures jumped upon you both.

"Mommy!" They all chimed together. "You're back!"

"Hello!" You said back to them, taking them all in your arms. Sesshoumaru ruffled their hair as they ask you questions.

"Where'd you go?"

"Was it scary?"

"You've been asleep for three days!"

"I heard you had a jewel.." Heiwa said. Sesshomaru looked at him skeptically.

"Now where'd you hear that?"

"I heard Kaede-sama and you talking about…" He said with his cute, guilty face.

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Laughing, you sit up and pull him onto your lap for a cuddle.

"You're entirely too cute for your own good, you know that?" He giggles and tries to squirm out of your grasp as you begin tickling him.

"Ah!!! Nii-Sama, Hanabi!!! Help me!!!!"

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The two shook their head no with a little smile and hugged their father.

"Missed you, Daddy." Hanabi said into his hair.

"Yeah, me too, Dad." Akira said, clinging to his waist. Sesshomaru winked at you and hugged his children.
You laughed as Heiwa stuck his tongue out at you and tried to tickle you back. You heard the soft padding of feet and looked in that direction. Rin stood there, looking at the ground.

"Welcome back, -san..." She looked up at the five of you and smiled. You handed Heiwa off to your meiko and opened your arms for Rin. She grinned and jumped into them.

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Rin hugs you tightly, almost as if she is afraid to let go.
"... Sakura-chan said she was sorry, -sama. Rin is sorry too-"

"For what, sweetie? You didn't do anything wrong."

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"Rin is sorry because went through a lot of horrible things Rin would never go through. Then, Rin would be scared."

"Oh." You say, shocked.

"C'mon, let's go home and eat dinner. Naomi got everything prepared just for you." Sesshoumaru said, breaking the silence. About a second later, Sesshoumaru collapsed on the ground clutching his side.

"S-Sesshomaru?!? Are you alright?!" You scream.
"He just needs a little more rest before he wakes up. It seems that he still hasn't fully recovered ever since the war broke out. That's all I can say." Kaede replies.

"How long will it take for him to recover??" Hanabi pipes up.

"I'm not so sure that he might be able to recover from that kind of wound. . . . . . "

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You looked down at your meiko's face. It was about an hour past midnight, and everyone except you was asleep. shifting Sesshomaru slightly, you managed to place his head off your lap, where it had been resting, on the pillow you had been sitting on. Standing up, you wince at the stiffness of your legs. Sighing and inwardly groaning, you leave Kaede's hut. The sky outside was beginning to lighten into a false dawn. You walked down the path towards the lake. Testing the water, you smile at its bitter cold. Some things never change... Satisfied, you undress and slip in. You had to suppress a gasp as the shockingly cold water rushed over you. Taking a deep breath, you dive under. Fish scattered as you swam past them, going deeper and deeper. Finally you touched the bottom. The fish you had scattered came back, wondering at this strange creature in their midst. Accepting that you were no threat, they swam on. Smiling, you started upwards for air. Breaking the surface, you heard a different splash as someone else got in the water. Alert instantly, you hear a familiar voice.

"C'mon Kagome, it's not that cold." Hesitantly, you swam over to a bunch of rock jutting up from the middle of the lake. Peeking around you smile as you watch as Kagome joined Inuyasha in the lake.

"Inuyasha! You lied! It's FREEZING!!" Inuyasha swam over to her, pulling her into his arms.

"Don't worry, you'll be warm enough..." Smiling softly, you retreated, giving the couple their privacy. Then you swam to the other side of the bluff when you heard other splashes. Glancing around that side, you retreated almost immediately, feeling your face growing hot.

Well, it seems that Sango got her wish about Miroku and her... Feeling a little lonely, you dove back under the water. Reaching the bottom quickly, you slowly pushed yourself through the water. Suddenly, the fish scattered again. About to turn around to see who was there, you found yourself in a familiar embrace, pulling you up to the surface. Bursting through the surface of the water, you turned in the arms holding you close, to come face-to-chest with your meiko. You slowly raised your head, and met those pair of glowing yellow eyes you knew so well. "Sesshu-" He interrupted you with a perfect way to silence you, kissing. Sighing into his mouth, you let yourself be swept away with his passion, his love. Mush of the rest of the night, you didn't mind the water temperature at all.
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Morning finds you back in Kaede's hut, curled up beside your sleeping mate. He's holding you close, protecting you, it seems. Sitting up carefully so as not to disturb him, you look around to see if the others have returned. Apparently they have; Kagome is cocooned in her sleeping bag across the room from you, Rin, Shippo and the children nearby, Miroku holds a sleeping Sango in his arms, smiling in his sleep. Through the door flap you can make out the familiar cardinal-red of Inuyasha's haori in his usual tree outside.

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You walk outside as a cool breeze ruffles through the trees of the forest bearing Inuyasha's name. You sigh as the cool air comes through the thin material of your slightly damp kimono. You're not surprised it's still a little wet, after all you and Sesshomaru had been the last to come back, or at least you two had been the last out of the water. You had no idea if the others had continued their encounters elsewhere. You shivered, not from the cold but from the excitement of the late night and early morning. You're smiling as you glance up at the tree Inuyasha is reclining in. His eyes are closed, he's still asleep. You think as you realize the rarity of the scene before you. Then you turn and walk away, being careful not to make too much noise lest you wake him from his slumber.
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As you walk away, you try not to giggle as the sleeping hanyou's ears twitch. Apparently he even hears things even as he's sleeping. You can't help wondering what he dreams about.

Probably about Kagome.. or what they did last night, or both... You continue your walk, heading up onto the ridge overlooking the village. For a long time you stand there, watching the sun rise.

It's so beautiful...

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Standing there, completely focused on the orange painted sky and the fresh smell of the dew and the sleepy voices of the birds, you hardly notice as a clawed hand lays gently down upon your shoulder.

"Sesshomaru!" You say, spinning around to face you mate and get swept into a quick embrace. As you separate, you simply stare into his yellow eyes and, in a hushed voice. "I'm so happy you're well."

With that, you reach up and gently kiss his cheek, your lips just brushing against his skin. He catches you up into another hug and just holds you as the sun's rays make their way towards you and eventually reach you two, bathed in light as golden as your mate's eyes and embraced in the best hug you've ever had.
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At last the sky brightens and begins to turn blue. You and Sesshoumaru reluctantly draw apart.
"I guess we should get back... the others might worry..."

"Mmmhmm.." His ears twitch suddenly, though what he's hearing you can't be sure. Then, distantly, you hear a loud 'Thud!' followed by curses.

I guess the others are awake... or else Kagome's talking in her sleep again...
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"You go on down... I think I'll stay up here a while longer.." Sesshomaru looks at you worriedly.

"Is anything... wrong?"

"Oh no!" You laugh and kiss him softly on the cheek. "I just have... Something to think about."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes. Now hurry! Before the children wake and think we've left them." Sesshomaru turned and started off, turning once to look back at you, a lonely figure against the pale morning sunlight. You wave to him cheerfully as he turns again. With a sigh you sit down on the dewy grass, observing the morning bustle in the now awakened village. The villagers scurried around, doing morning chores and calling greetings to one another. You pull your knees into your chest, resting your chin on them with a sigh. You found yourself remembering. Everything. The purple light thingy, whatever it or he or she was had awakened your memories. Your human memories. Bringing with them those emotions that mortals are blessed, or cursed with from birth. Mortality. It had been a long time since you had thought about it. And now, as memories flooded back, tears stung in the back of your eyes.

"Yep... Definitely looked better as a human..."

You turn quickly, surprising your unnoticed companion and yourself with the speed of you movements.
You hurriedly wipe away the hot tears as you observe the person in front of you. Killer stands casually against a tree, watching you curiously.
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