Disclaimer: All publicly recognizable characters in this fan fiction are the property of Rumiko Takahashi. The original characters and plot are the property of Chiaztolite, who is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.

The Way to Elysium

Chapter 2: Silence

Inuyasha's eyes widened when Kagome's body gave a little shudder before she stilled. He held her closer, wishing so desperately that the warmth of his body could somehow anchor her to this life. But even as he embraced her, he felt her soul slipping away just as tangibly as her hand falling out of his grasp and onto the ground.

Lifeless.

"Kagome?" His voice was hoarse, barely a whisper. She did not answer. Of course she did not. Even when he did not want to believe it, he knew. Her body was still warm, and warm blood was still pouring out of the ghastly wound on her chest, but he knew.

She was gone.

Part of him wanted to laugh at the absurdity of it all. All those vicious battles she had been a part of. All those formidable foes they had faced together. The danger of chasing after the Shikon jewel shards every single day. That never-ending fight against Naraku. She had survived them all. And now… Now, just when they were at the cusp of a peaceful life together, she was taken away from him.

"Kagome." Gently, Inuyasha laid her down on the ground. With his knuckle he smoothed her hair away from her face. He had no idea how he managed to sound so calm when every fibre of his being was in torment. "After everything we've been through, you just had to die now and leave me alone."

Head lowered and jaws clenched, the rage at the unfairness of it all spilled over like the content of an overfilled cup. Then, as he looked up again to gaze at that beloved pale face, the flicker of hope – snuffed to smoke when she took her last breath – was again set ablaze.

I won't allow it.

He gripped the hilt of Tessaiga as hard as he could, ignoring the pain as the tip of his claws dug into the flesh of his palm and made it bleed. He had never attempted this before, never felt the need of it, but now he needed him. Oh, the thought of him needing Sesshōmaru would send him into peals of laughter if the situation were not so dire. He could not think of another way to send a message to his half-brother other than to rely on the minute chance that their swords were somehow connected. He had no idea where to start, but he did it anyway: he channeled all his will and emotions to his sword, praying to whichever gods were listening that the message would be passed on to his brother.

Don't disappoint me now, Tessaiga.

Tenseiga was pulsing.

The forehead that was usually smooth - as very few things held enough significance to concern him - furrowed. The sword was usually a calm presence at his waist, a light and unobtrusive weight, but now it was sending off vibrations like it never did before. He placed a hand on its hilt, emitting a bit of his yōki to try to subdue it, but the sword refused to be calmed. He continued walking, and the sword's pulsation strengthened, until it finally rattled against his armour and the sheath of his other sword: Bakusaiga.

He stopped.

Just as he ceased his stride, Tensaiga too stopped its rattle. Yet, the gentle pulsations remained, as though it had suddenly acquired a heartbeat.

"Sesshōmaru-sama?" Jaken, riding the two-headed dragon Ah-Un, came up from behind him, undoubtedly alarmed by his sudden halt. "What is the matter, Sesshōmaru-sama?"

He did not answer, but the imp was surely used to that already. His first thought was of Rin, and this set off a ripple of uneasiness in his chest. The young girl should be safely ensconced at the old priestess' house in the human village. From which he was miles away.

The uneasiness amplified.

He tried asking the sword the question: Is Rin in danger?

The sword continued to pulse calmly. He took this as a 'no'.

Is Rin looking for me?

The steady pulse did not change. Another 'no', then.

An intruder in my lands?

Ridiculous. This should not cause Tenseiga any concern, as he would dispatch any intruders to the nether realm with ease and efficiency. And just as he predicted, the sword persisted with its rhythmic pulsing. How tedious it was, this guessing game with the old sword, but he had that itch on the back of his spine that urged him to continue. He thought for a moment.

Is it Tessaiga?

The rattle began anew. Just then, the wind blew from the northeast, carrying scents from the village miles away. He lifted his head and breathed in. He caught Inuyasha's scent as easily as someone singling out a sore thumb. But this acrid, metallic scent that was intertwined with it…

His eyebrows lifted in interest. Launching himself into the air, he followed the direction of the wind, Jaken and Ah-Un tailing behind him.

"Inuyasha!"

He was not sure how long he had been kneeling in front of Kagome's body. When Sango and Miroku returned, he barely heard their voices calling him.

"Inuyasha!" Sango approached first, panting from exertion of rushing to the village and back. "How's Kagome-chan?! Kaede-san and Rin were not at home. We couldn't—"

"It's alright, Sango," Inuyasha said, his voice sounded eerily calm even to his own ears. "She's past their help now."

"Inuyasha, what are you saying?" Miroku gripped his shoulder. "She can't be—"

They both gasped when they saw her body. For a long moment, there was no noise other than the soft whispering of the breeze. Sango started to sob.

But there was no time to mourn. Already, the air practically vibrated with powerful amount of yōki. In the distance, they could see the familiar red and white clad figure of Sesshōmaru landing on the grassy plains just a few feet away. Miroku and Sango bristled, taking a defensive stance, unsure of the reason for the sudden appearance of the daiyōkai of the western lands.

"Inuyasha, do you know why he's here?" Sango asked as she wiped the remnants of tears with the back of her hand.

"Yeah," Inuyasha replied as he rose to his feet. "I asked him to come."

Eyes widened, they appeared shocked at first but then understanding dawned. Inuyasha nodded to confirm their suspicion.

"I'm going to make Sesshōmaru revive her."

Even as he started walking towards Sesshōmaru, Inuyasha knew it would be much more difficult than it sounded. No one could make Sesshōmaru do anything he did not intend to do. What could he offer his half-brother in exchange for Kagome's life?

"Inuyasha," Sesshōmaru said. He gave Kagome's body a cursory glance before he fixed his eyes on his half-brother. "You certainly have a knack for luring human women into their deaths."

Those words stabbed him like a knife in his windpipe, but Inuyasha strived to shrug it off and keep a level head. "You're the only one I know with the power to change that," he gritted through clenched teeth.

Sesshōmaru studied him with a pair of cold golden eyes. "Undoubtedly, you wish for me to use Tenseiga on her."

"How easy it would be for you, Sesshōmaru. And at no cost to you at all."

Sesshōmaru scoffed. "Her death is none of my concern. She perished while under your care. You will have to live with that burden for the rest of your miserable life. I want no part in it."

He had begun to walk away when Inuyasha called out: "Not even for Tessaiga?"

At the mention of their father's former sword, Sesshōmaru turned and raised one eyebrow. "Ho, Inuyasha, you would so easily hand over father's inheritance in exchange for her resurrection? If I had known that is all it takes, I would've killed her myself a long time ago."

"When Kagome's revival is at stake, the choice is easy. I choose her return over Tessaiga."

Turning fully, Sesshōmaru faced Inuyasha so he could better observe his half-brother. The desperation to see someone brought back to life was not a foreign concept. In fact, it did bring back a particular memory of Rin's second death, when he was careless enough to risk her life to advance Tenseiga. At the time, he too would have sacrificed many things to revive Rin.

But Rin was his ward and his responsibility to protect. This woman was most definitely not.

"I am under no obligation to save your human lover from anything. You were clearly desperate enough to lure me here using Tenseiga and dangled Tessaiga as a bait. What makes you think I still desire that sword?"

"'Desire' was putting it mildly. You were obsessed with it, and I don't believe an obsession is so easily erased."

Sesshōmaru ignored Inuyasha's deliberate jab at his fixation with Tessaiga. A younger version of himself might have considered the offer, but now he knew better. Silently, he approached Kagome's body. Her skin had taken on that deathly pallor, though her expression was calm. If it were not for the paleness of her colour and the bloodied clothing, one might think she was sleeping. But the large gash along her torso was too severe for any human to sustain. Even if her comrades had managed to get her to a healer, she would not have lived much longer.

Yes, she was most definitely dead. However, he did not see the creatures of the underworld crawling over the woman's corpse. How strange.

"How long ago did she die?" Sesshōmaru asked.

"Only shortly after noon."

That was not so long ago, Sesshōmaru thought. The sun had not even descended halfway down to the horizon from its zenith. Rin had been dead for much longer when he brought her back to life the first time.

He unsheathed Tenseiga and gazed at the sword in his hand. Why, Tenseiga?

Unlike before, the sword was now completely silent, offering no answer.

Sesshōmaru slipped his hand under Kagome's lifeless body and lifted her up. Ignoring the protests from Inuyasha and his comrades, he enveloped himself and the human woman inside a golden orb of light and vanished.