Disclaimer - I don't own them. They belong to Rumiko Takahashi, who should be worshipped as a goddess in her own right.
Author's Notes - Or maybe I should call this review responses : O
Thanks go out to Aithril the Elf-Maiden, Dark and Deluted Child, Mika Saito, HMPrune, Key, sweetstuff, PixiesOfTheNight, paws34125, Anandria, sHaMaN qUeEn NaTaKu, Moonfairy2000, alli the author, depressed-girl001, Kaida-Little Dragon, Ariane Adora, mvdiva, Hanyou-Girl25, Queen of Blades, slvrstarlight, psycho king, kagomesjewel, ForeverGoddessPeorth, Leomae, holynarf, NamelessMoonshine ----- To all of you, a huge thanks for reviewing and as always, fueling the creative fire that burns inside. You guys are the best reviewers and fans a fanfic artist could ask for.
code-wyze - Why thank you *grin* I've actually been in a slump lately . . . I think I'm depressed because SAS is ending . . . but that's going to change here shortly.
inulover - I'm updating, I'm updating! *ducks*
inuficcrzy - Don't do that hun, you scared me! *heaves a sigh of relief* I luv u too, hun. I luv all my reviewers, and I'm glad you think this rules, and I forgive you for not reviewing sooner, and I'm happy too. *gasps for breath* woo, that was a mouthful.
Shayshay-sama - Why thank you : ) Here's an update for you, and I hope you enjoy it.
chibi stumbler - I am? *blinks in surprise* That's the first time I've heard that one . . . hmmm. Well, anyway, no more melancholiness (yes, I think it's a word). Continue to enjoy hun.
inulover - I'm glad you didn't read the lemons . . . wouldn't want to think I was corrupting a 12 year old. But, wait a sec . . . you're a boy? HOLY . . . You'll have to pardon me . . . it's a constant surprise to me that there are guys out there who like this story too. *takes a drink of her nearby Mt. Dew* Mind shock.
ssp51201 - *bows* Thank you very much for the compliments. I could never have ended it that way . . . that would have been too cruel of me by far. I'm so glad you have enjoyed it . . . of course, I hope people enjoy all my fanfictions, even my darker ones, but this one is my baby, and my first ever fan fic . . . hard to believe, neh?
yosei/ambereyes - *hides behind Sephiroth, peeking out from behind his coat* ummm . . . please don't hunt me down . . . I'd hate to lose one of my most faithful readers to the Masamune, but Seph is rather protective . . . *moves a little further out from behind her muse* Here's hoping amber didn't kill you, and I hope you both enjoy it. *ducks back behind Seph* Here's to hiding if you don't *grin*
Real Author's Notes - hehe, that was pretty bad, wasn't it?
Seph - I don't think I have ever seen you hide behind me so often. *dusts off his coat* Something must be the matter with you.
Drac - Thanks hun, I love you too. Actually, I'm just overly happy and excited, but sad and depressed at the same time, if that makes sense.
Seph - It doesn't, by the way.
Drac - Oh shoosh. The reason why is that . . . well, Starlight is coming to an end. This is the second to the last chapter (as in Chapter 31 will be the ending to the story) and I'm sorry to see it go. I mean, I've been working on this fanfiction for almost a year now, and this has been my baby and my pride and joy for that entire time. I've met dozens upon dozens of wonderful people, been both complimented to the point of blushing and angered to the point of murder . . . such an emotional rollercoaster this fiction has been for me as the author, it's astounding.
Now . . . why am I overly happy and excited? Because I have good news for all of you . . . THERE WILL BE A SEQUEL!
Seph - *sighs* yeah, she's putting me back to work in cleaning out the cobwebs in that draconic brain of hers.
Drac - *huffs and crosses her arms* You keep that up, and I'll see if Marik and Bakura will come keep me company instead.
Seph - You would let those two psycho's near you while you were trying to write? *raises one elegant silver eyebrow skeptically*
Drac - All right, all right . . . so it was an empty threat. Bad enough that those two influence my dueling (I actually built and play Bakura's Final Destiny Board / Necrofear Deck, for those of you who are familiar with Yu-Gi-Oh.) I've already gained a reputation for being a very sadistic duelist. Anyway, as I was saying before Seph interrupted, I'm working on the sequel to Starlight and Shadows now. Give me a few months or so, and I'll be showing back up with a whole new rollercoaster ride. I hope all of you will enjoy it as much as you've enjoyed this one. And now, on with the show.
Seph - About damn time.
Chapter 30 - Surprises
The first thing she noticed was the dampness of the soil in the well . . . the second was the sounds of battle up above. 'Oh no,' she thought, before beginning to scramble up the vines towards the opening far above.
Sango and Miroku were both fighting for their lives. Without InuYasha or Miroku's Wind Tunnel, this fight was a lot harder than any of the others they had gone through before. Sango barely dodged a poisoned stinger tail, only to be smashed by a claw seconds later. She was back on her feet in an instant, swinging up onto Kirara's back as the neko youkai joined the fray.
"We have to keep him busy so Miroku can get to InuYasha, Kirara," she shouted. The huge cat growled in reply before diving towards the weaving form below, her thick jaws snapping and her claws raking at the figure as Sango swung with her boomerang. The snake demon instantly turned to them, leaving Miroku free to dash across the clearing to InuYasha.
As he checked in the inert hanyou, he pondered the mysterious flash of light that had arisen from the well moments ago. It had been momentary, barely a flicker . . . which made him wonder if it had truly been there or if his mind was playing tricks on him. He would have to ask Sango about it later . . . for now he needed to revive InuYasha and get him back in the fight. He set to work checking the hanyou's wounds.
There was quite a lot of blood . . . it seemed that the snake demon had nicked an artery during it's death grip, but the wound was already closing rapidly. 'Thank the gods for his healing abilities,' Miroku thought as he sat back. Watching InuYasha closely for any signs of consciousness, he didn't see the lone figure in white and grey miko's robes climb out of the well into the heart of the battle.
Kagome stopped on the rim of the well, staring up into a mass of writhing coils as the snake demon dodged and attacked in response to Kirara and Sango. Finding herself rather suddenly in the path of a moving coil, she quickly dodged out of the fray, moving into the cover of the nearby forest edge. Once there, she turned, scanning the fight for any sign of her mate.
"Where is he?" she murmured, suddenly worried. What if something had happened to him while she was trapped on the other side of the well? What if he was . . . she shook her head rapidly to clear that thought. InuYasha couldn't be dead . . . he was too strong and stubborn for that. But if she was going to get any answers, she needed to help Sango kill this demon quickly.
Turning to her bag, she pulled a slightly large case from inside it. Kneeling on the ground beside it, she opened it swiftly and smiled at what lay within. Gleaming in the soft light, the metal pieces seemed random and incapable of forming a greater whole, but Kagome knew better. Her hands quickly reassembled the item, forming it into a lightweight metal bow. Kagome had ordered this months ago from an online hunters store, but had not had the chance to use it as of yet. Too much had happened in the past months . . . she had practically forgotten it's existence until a chance encounter with the underside of her bed while looking for Buyo had led her to remember it.
Now, she had ample chance to use it . . . and the matching arrows that she had ordered to go with it. No more worrying about overcharging her simple wood arrows and having them disintegrate before she could fire them . . . these light metal arrows would hold everything she could give them and remain intact.
Turning with an arrow already drawn and at ready, she charged it as she took aim on the coiling snake demon, absently keeping track of Sango and Kirara to make sure they weren't anywhere near her line of fire. Once set on her aim, she let fly . . . and then quickly raised her free arm to shield her eyes as the arrow burst into a blinding radiance that equaled the heart of a sun.
Miroku fell back in astonishment when InuYasha suddenly awoke and sat up, his ears pricked forward in attentiveness, his nose lifting to sniff lightly at the night air before his eyes took on a glow that was almost unholy in it's brightness. He staggered to his feet, weaker than he had expected from blood loss, but held himself upright with the help of a nearby tree as he scanned his surroundings.
"Kagome . . ." he murmured, his voice hoarse with longing and hope as he recognized her scent. It wasn't the ghost scent that had been tormenting him for the past four months . . . this scent was warm, living . . . and close. He found himself hoping to all the gods that he wasn't just dreaming . . . because if he wasn't, then Kagome was there.
"InuYasha, Kagome can't be . . ." Miroku began, standing himself . . . only to be knocked flat in surprise as the clearing and the surrounding woods were lit in a fury of light like the explosion of a star. InuYasha yelped in surprise and pain as the light burned into his sensitive eyes before he managed to get them covered.
The blinding light faded after several moments . . . during which ears were covered to protect them from the high pitched death scream the snake demon emitted as it was purified. Kagome uncovered her eyes and ears slowly, rising up to her knees from the huddled ball she had curled into in an attempt to escape the wail of the burning demon, scanning the area for any sign that it was still alive. She was met with nothing but a rain of ashes and the slight glint of her arrow . . . until she found herself facing a completely stunned Sango. Rising to her feet, she smiled at Sango weakly . . . and found herself being enveloped in a huge hug as the demon exterminator begin to cry.
"Oh my god . . . Kagome!" Sango murmured, overjoyed at seeing the girl who had become like a sister to her. Kagome hugged her tightly, her own eyes glinting with tears before she pushed Sango back slightly to look at her.
"Hello Sango . . ." she murmured. "I'm back." Sango smiled wetly, her tears gleaming on her cheeks as she looked at the young miko who had been so desperately missed.
Kagome's eyes widened as she spied something over her shoulder, and Sango wisely stepped out of the way of the approaching hanyou.
InuYasha stopped several feet away, unable to come closer for fear that she would disappear like so much smoke on the wind if he tried to touch her. He quivered with the need to pull her into his arms and verify that she was there as his nose said she was, but the past four months of seeing her in his dreams were not going to be so easily dispelled.
Somehow, Kagome understood what he was going through as he stood there, simply staring at her with longing and desperate hope in his golden eyes. She took a step forward, then another, until she was running for him, her arms open as she was caught in arms that had not held her in far too long and enveloped in a familiar fire-rat clad embrace that scooped her against a shaking body that she knew almost as well as her own.
"Inu . . ." she breathed, her voice catching slightly as tears began to trickle down her face. She buried her head in his chest, breathing in the scent of him as she hid her own fears that this was simply a dream in the reality of him holding her.
"Kagome . . . oh gods, Kagome . . ." InuYasha murmured, his own voice thick with unshed tears as he clasped her tighter to him, refusing for all the world to let her go. He buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent as if his life and sanity depended upon it. Together, they sank to their knees on the grassy clearing, and that was how they stayed, simply holding on to each other, for a very long time.
*--------*--------*--------*--------*
It was nearing dawn when Kagome and InuYasha finally came back to themselves and the world around them. Leaning back a little way, Kagome hesitantly reached up, brushing feather light fingertips over his face as she stared up into his golden eyes. He did the same, claws safely tucked back as he ran his knuckles lightly across her cheek, brushing away the traces of her tears gently as his eyes took in her worn appearance.
"I can hardly believe this is real . . ." she murmured. "I've been without you for so long . . . gods, it felt like an eternity. And I never got to say goodbye or anything to you . . ." InuYasha shook his head firmly.
"I wouldn't have let you say goodbye . . . you are my mate, and we are tied together for all eternity," he replied softly, his golden eyes softening. "I would have found you . . . some way, some how, I would have found you again."
"I couldn't have waited that long," Kagome said, smiling slightly. Leaning forward, she brushed her lips lightly over his, her smile widening as he refused to let her back out, and deepened the kiss into one of desperation and longing. Sighing when he finally ended it, she leaned her head back on his shoulder, feeling safe and happy for the first time in four months.
Sighing himself, he tucked her more firmly into him, pulling her onto his lap as he settled back on the grass, his back against the well as clawed fingers worked their way gently through her ebony locks. They sat together like that in silence for several more moments, merely content to be in each other's presence again, before someone cleared their throat behind them.
Kagome looked up, and blushed when she met Miroku's amused gaze. Sango was tucked into his arm, wearing her own silly grin as she gazed at the mated pair who had been oblivious to just about everyone but each other.
"What are you smirking at, monk?" InuYasha growled, his sheepish grin belying the annoyed tone in his voice as he spied Miroku's answering grin.
"Nothing at all, InuYasha . . . nothing at all," Miroku answered, before kneeling down next to Kagome and pulling her into his own welcoming hug . . . always aware that InuYasha was mere inches away and watching for any unnecessary gropage. "Relax InuYasha," he murmured as he sat back after a few moments. "Trust me, I have no wish to lose any of my limbs by testing your bonds to your mate." Kagome giggled at the bored look that passed over InuYasha's face.
"Like I'm concerned, monk," he rumbled, pulling Kagome back against him. "Feh." Miroku merely shook his head before moving to stand. He didn't quite make it however . . . Kagome's hand shot out and pulled him back down, where she quickly grabbed his once cursed hand and examined it carefully.
"Oh Miroku . . . it worked!" she breathed, looking up with her eyes full of happiness for him. He nodded.
"Yes . . . my family is free of Naraku's curse," he said. "Now, I'm free to live my life . . . with Sango, who has agreed to be my wife and bear me many sons." He dodged a playful smack from the exterminator, who's bright red blush told Kagome all she needed to know.
"I'm so happy for both of you," she said, snuggling back against her mate as she looked up at the people who had become her family. "Where will you go?" Sango shrugged and smiled.
"Actually . . . we already have a house in the village. We're staying here." Kagome smiled sleepily as she lay against InuYasha's chest.
"That's great," she murmured . . . and drifted into an easy slumber, exhausted by the emotional stress and the amount of energy she had expended that night. InuYasha snorted in amusement, and carefully levered himself up off the ground, cradling his sleeping mate close to his heart as he stood.
"Let's get back to the village," he murmured. Sango and Miroku nodded, and followed quietly behind the inu-hanyou, who's steps, while burdened, were lighter than they had been in what felt like a very long time.
To Be Continued . . .
Author's Note - One more chapter to go . . . and don't forget to review : P Feed that addiction : )