521: Changes

A familiar pull, and Kagome was falling again.

The white shattered around her, and she dropped from the sky with a scream.

Sesshomaru, forgetting his victim, rushed after the priestess, scooping her gently into his arms, slowing their descent.

Her scent washed over him, different than he remembered it being, though all the more alluring somehow.

"Sesshomaru!"

Her relief was palpable, and she threw her arms around his neck, pulling him close, and burying her face into his neck and shoulder.

His feet touched ground and he regarded her curiously, noting subtle – and not-so-subtle – changes.

With trepidation, he released her.

522: Finale

How did I fail to notice? Sesshomaru wondered as Kagome turned to survey the area. Kagome is…

Inuyasha blasted his wind scar in the distance, directed at the giant spider who'd started it all.

Shippo sat on Kirara's back as the cat soared through the sky at a safe distance.

Kagome glanced briefly around the battlefield to determine where her other friends were, and once satisfied, turned back to Sesshomaru, blinding him with her radiant smile.

"We did it!" She breathed, in awe. "They're alive."

Sesshomaru, putting his thoughts aside, pulled Bakusaiga from its sheath. "Let's finish this, miko."

523: No Survivors

Three attacks flew in tandem.

Green, yellow, purple cut across the clearing before colliding as they hit their target.

A silent cloud rose like a mushroom, and Kagome's eyes widened in terror.

"Run!" She screamed, turning to grab Sesshomaru's hand and bolt.

Sesshomaru, trusting her instincts, grabbed her and rocketed into the sky.

An explosion sounded, their ears ringing and the earth trembling.

A shockwave crashed by faster than anyone could run, and the land around them was destroyed.

Uprooted trees splintered beneath the change in air pressure.

Nothing could survive that blast.

Not Naraku.

…and certainly not her friends.

524: The Ultimate Price

"Oh god…"

Kagome blanched, staring down at the devastation they'd just caused.

Safe in Sesshomaru's arms, she trembled as she realized what she'd just done.

"No. There's no way." She shook her head violently. "No! We didn't just go through all that for nothing!"

Pandora's and Anesidora's words came back to her.

There'd be a price. A sacrifice.

But… wasn't this too much?

How could this be the price?

It's… it's too much. It's not fair.

"It's not fair," she whimpered, and Sesshomaru instinctively held her closer.

"We have to go down there," she whispered. "We – I have to see."

525: Shippo

"Kagome!"

Shippo's voice stilled her heart, and she whipped her head in his direction, climbing further up Sesshomaru in her excitement. He tightened his grasp in response but said nothing, though he felt stiff to her.

"Shippo," she whispered, before yelling in relief. "Shippo!"

The fire cat sidled closer and Kagome's eyes pooled as she surveyed Shippo for injuries.

Safe.

"Touch down somewhere safe. We'll search for survivors."

Sesshomaru's words, though cold, reminded Kagome of their task, and she nodded, watching as Kirara landed below them.

"Do you think they're alive?" She questioned, her voice trembling.

Uncertain, he remained quiet.

526: Lost

Touching ground, Sesshomaru released his youki, assessing the destruction.

He gritted his teeth as his ki brushed over Kagome, and the life she carried within her.

How? How had I failed to notice she was with-child?

Clenching his trembling hands into fists, he hid them in his sleeves.

Though he'd never planned to pursue the priestess, it pained him all the same to know she'd been intimate with someone; to know she carried another's child.

Sighing, he pushed it aside for now, and allowed his ki to blanket the area.

"Inuyasha! Sango!" Kagome called, glancing at Sesshomaru for any confirmation.

527: Passive Aggressive

A cough off to the side alerted Kagome to the presence of a person.

"Damn it," Inuyasha groaned, punching his way through a large tree.

Looking worse-for-the-wear, Kagome thought he never looked better.

A relieved gasp escaped her lips, and she rushed toward him.

"Inuyasha! Thank god you're okay!"

Sesshomaru's hand clamped around her arm, holding her back.

Blue eyes met narrowed amber.

"Sesshomaru?"

"The grounds unsafe. He can come to you."

His voice bothered her, and she eyed him, hand resting on his arm.

"Hey… you okay?"

No, he thought, eyes narrowing further. He brushed her hand away.

"Hn."

528: All Is Right With the World

"Guys! Miroku and Sango are over here!" Shippo hopped up and down excitedly, arms waving in the air. "They're okay!"

"How?" Kagome breathed, eyes wide as she looked in Shippo's direction.

"They found cover in a trench. Likely from Inuyasha's wind scar."

She'd never been more grateful for Inuyasha's lack of restraint.

Seeing with her own eyes as they climbed from the trench, her eyes widened again when two others followed afterward.

"Ah! Aila! Ian! You're both safe, as well!"

Inuyasha glanced at her oddly as he moved closer, brow lifted.

"You know them?"

"It's a long story," she sighed.

529: Come Again?

"Woah… Kagome… you, um, look…"

Inuyasha trailed off, eyes glued to her midsection.

Her cheeks pinked, but a small smile pulled at her lips, her hand caressing her growing belly.

"It wasn't planned, but…" She met his eye. "I hope you can be happy for me. For us." She glanced back to Sesshomaru, surprised to see him walking away. "Sesshomaru? Where are you going?"

He didn't stop but he gave her the courtesy of an answer.

"The battle is won. I have no need to linger here."

The blood drained from her face, her thoughts halting as he walked away.

530: Unexpected, Though Preferable

Sesshomaru took controlled steps through the destruction, avoiding glancing back at the priestess.

He could taste her anger erupting, and he had a confusing moment where he almost wished he'd be on the receiving end.

Something of her was preferable to nothing at all.

"Sesshomaru, stop!" She demanded angrily, and his steps faltered. Silver hair spilled over his shoulders as he turned to regard her. "What's that supposed to mean, huh?" She growled. "No reason to linger?"

She marched up to him, blue eyes narrowed angrily, and grasped his hand, placing it on her stomach. "How's this for a reason?"