Stretching as he awoke he could smell smoked wood. Opening his eyes and sitting up he saw Kagome sitting next to a small fire a few feet away from him.
"Have a nice nap?" She asked. Sesshomaru gave a short nod his eyes resting on the flames.
"You built a fire?"
"Mhmm. Sango has been reteaching me life skills but this is the first one I built on my own so, yay." Kagome mused. "I know it's stupid and basic but…"
"Never diminish your accomplishments." He said standing. "Would you like me to procure some meat?"
"That would be nice. I'll do my best to prepare it. Don't dress it, I need to start doing these things on my own."
"Very well." Retreating away Kagome smirked.
"Not gonna grab your clothes?"
"No." She heard his reply before he seemed to vanish.
"An-Un." She called out hearing a trampling sound as they approached her. "Help me up please." Reaching up for their lead as one reached down to offer it Kagome lifted herself off of the ground.
Getting her balance she glanced around seeing a small patch of what looked like different herbs. Pulling on the lead but still holding on for support she walked over easing herself down.
"Mint." She said plucking a leafy strand and sniffing it. Cautiously she tasted some and smiled to herself. Examining what seemed to be grass she pulled one and rejoiced. "Scallions!"
Gathering a handful of each she pulled herself back up placing the herbs down on a small flat rock by the fire. Grabbing her water canteen she sat down and removed the lid pouring a small amount of water into it.
Grinding down the mint and scallions with a smaller rock she added it to the water making a sauce. Sniffing at it she hummed contently. "This will go amazing with some meat."
Leaning against the dragons Kagome stared out at the lake wanting nothing more than to go for a swim. It felt like ages since she had submerged herself in any type of water.
"Once I get the meat on the fire can we go for a swim?" Kagome asked as Sesshomaru approached her with two large hares held by their ears.
"Of course." He said placing one down next to her. "Pick which one you would like for yourself."
"This ones good." She picked up the smaller one examining it. "I don't see any marks on it, how do you kill your prey?"
"I snap its neck." Sesshomaru sat in a crouching position with his hands resting against his knees. "It is quick and does not damage the meat."
Pulling a knife from the pack that her friends had put together for her she sighed. "Alright, I can do this." She said more to herself. Removing the hide took more effort than she had anticipated but once she had it off she placed it down beside her.
Cleaning it and gutting it she had to swallow down some acid as it threatened to creep into her throat. "I can use some of the guts to fish with. Do you want me to prepare yours too?"
"If you wish to remove the hide you may. Cleaning it out is not necessary."
"Are you going to eat it whole?"
"The inner organs are the best parts." He replied. "You used to make meals out of the hearts, livers, and kidneys. A stew."
"Yeah I'm gonna have to work my way back up to that." Kagome said smiling. "Can you rinse this for me?"
Once her meal had been washed and Sesshomaru gave it a once over to make sure it was prepared well enough Kagome slathered it in her handmade sauce.
Sesshomaru set up a spit and impaled the hare onto it placing it on the fire. "What about yours?"
"I do not eat cooked meat."
"Do you want to eat now then? Hey!" She laughed out as he picked her up bridal style and walked towards the lake.
After their meal was finished and they were comfortably clean and full Kagome sat against Sesshomarus chest with her back against him. His arms wrapped around her as did the moko-moko around them both.
Watching as the sun fell below the horizon painting the sky in vibrant reds, purples, yellows, and blood orange. Kagome entwined her fingers with his and smiled.
"I can't remember a time when I have been so happy." She said softly. "Thank you for everything."
"Which star do you want?" He asked nuzzling against her hair. Kagome glanced up to see the first few make their appearance in the sky.
"That one. I want that one to be ours." She pointed up bringing his hand up with hers.
"Why that one?" He questioned curiously. "It isn't the most impressive."
"Watch it. See how it dims and then brightens? It becomes the brightest one out of all of them." Kagome said. "Like us, we may dim but when we're together we shine bright."
"Then I shall retrieve it for you."
"No." Kagome shook her head. "I want it to stay right where it is. That way everyone can see our star, whether they realize it or not they're witness to our love for one another."
Sesshomaru stopped breathing holding the air in his lungs. He didn't want to move let alone speak lest he break her out of whatever trance she had been put in.
Turning to face him she knelt and took his face into her hands. "I love you Sesshomaru. I'm sorry for everything that happened, I was an idiot for letting you go but I won't make that mistake again."
Exhaling raggedly before taking another shaky breath Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck bringing his head to rest against her breasts. Wrapping his arms around her middle he sighed contently.
"My Kagome."
Upon arriving back home Kagome was met by Sango, Rin, Yukime, and their combined horde of children. Inuyasha had accompanied them and challenged Sesshomaru to a 'friendly' competition which they both made off to do somewhere else.
"Where's Miroku?" Kagome asked curiously.
"He had to go to monk Mushin. He does a pilgrimage to the temple once a year." Sango stated. "It usually takes him about a month."
"I still can't tell you how happy I am that you two ended up together." Kagome said. "And Rin, you and Kohaku are just adorable. Yukime, when will you be giving birth?"
"Less than a month now." She smiled. "I think there is more than one."
"Twins?" Kagome gushed. "I can't wait!"
"I would like you there Kagome, I had Ichirou elsewhere so you did not attend his birth." Yukime replied.
"It's kind of one of my priestess jobs isn't it? To attend births?" She asked looking to her friends.
"We used to take turns to perform midwifery." Rin said. "You were very good at it."
"I delivered babies?" Kagomes eye went wide as it was a new revelation to her.
"Yes. You helped me, with both Kimi and Cho, Yukime we were both there for with her daughter. You're the one who assisted them into the world." Rin beamed with pride all directed at Kagome.
"Oh wow." She exclaimed. "I guess I'm pretty amazing then, huh?"
"That is what we have been telling you for months now Kagome." Sango smiled at her. "You are so very important to us." Her voice cracking as tears welled to her eyes streaming down.
"Don't cry Sango." Kagome moved taking her friend into her arms. "Everything is alright."
"I just have been so worried about you and I know how hard this has all been. Kagome, I would trade places with you in a heartbeat if I could." She sniffled out.
"I think this was meant to be." Kagome said slowly receiving questioning glances from them all. "For Sesshomaru and I, I don't think we would have been able to get back together with how things were before but now…"
"You and Lord Sesshomaru are together again?" Rin asked her eyes going wide as her face broke out into a happy smile.
"Yeah, we are." Nearly toppling over as Rin launched herself at both the women receiving a laugh from Yukime as she did so. Pulling them into a tight hug Rin began to sniffle.
"I'm so happy Kagome! I was so upset when you were not a couple! I love you both so very much and I want you both to be happy."
"Oh man, you two are a mess." Resting her head against Rins shoulder she glanced over at Yukime. "Want a hug?"
"Always from you Kagome. Aside from Inuyasha you were my first friend and I am so glad that you are doing well." Moving behind them Yukime wrapped her arms the best she could around the others placing her head against Sangos shoulder.
"Why are they smiling but crying?" Sesshomaru asked as he and Inuyasha stood atop the waterfall watching the scene down below.
"I dunno." Inuyasha said. "I don't ask questions, the women just confuse me sometimes."
"I don't want to hurt you!" Kagome tensed gripping the cane she had begun to use tightly. Standing in the clearing by the stream she shook her head.
"You need to relearn to use your abilities. Your spiritual energy combated mine. It is very much present and untethered, if something were to happen and your energy were to get out of control you are strong enough that you could purify the entire area of any demons." Sesshomaru said. "That may include Inuyasha, Yukime, and their children."
Kagome took a sharp breath. "I don't want to hurt anyone but I don't want to risk you for training."
Closing the gap between them Sesshomaru opened up his top to expose his chest. "I want to show you something, what this illusion hides." In a moment Kagome saw a multitude of scars crossing his chest, abdomen, arms, even his face was marred.
"Oh." Reaching out her hand she traced down the length of one. "All of your battles?"
"Yes." Taking her free hand he placed it to the corners of his mouth where the skin was discolored and raised almost puckered. "These are my favorite. You gave me these."
"I hurt you…"
"It was in battle. I was in my true form, you shot an enemy right out of my mouth with a purifying arrow." Resting his forehead against hers her sighed. "This was nothing compared to losing you, to not knowing what would happen to you after your accident, and wondering if you would ever accept me back into your life."
"Your scars look good on you." She whispered out smiling placing a light kiss against his lips. Sesshomaru let out a low growl at the contact.
"As do yours mate." Kissing at her fingertips Sesshomaru backed away from her. "Now, shall we begin?"
Giving an affirmative nod Kagome braced herself as he slowly unleashed his demonic energy to clash with her own spiritual energy.
Kagome pushed forward and pulled back watching the pink wisps become almost tendrils wrapping around the ice blue energy that Sesshomaru emitted.
Waving her hand in front of her caused it to push forward a bit more enveloping his and negating it, forcing it to dissipate.
"Well done." He remarked. "Soon enough perhaps you can practice your archery again."
"Soon as I can stand on my own two feet again." Wavering slightly due to the immense amount of energy she dispelled and the control she had exerted. Sesshomaru was by her side in a heartbeat.
"Come my dearest, so that way you may rest." He offered.
"No. I want to try again, if you're willing." Kagome replied. "It's like you said, I have to push myself if I ever want to be close to where I was before."
"Very well." He said standing with her until she had steadied herself and was able to summon her energy once more.