The Crucible of Time
By Fujifunmum
Chapter 6
Kiara bore Miroku, Sango, Kohaku, Shippou and Kikyo's body back to Kaede's village. Inuyasha carried Kagome on his back as he ran through the forests back to the Go-Shimboku tree where Kikyo had impaled him all those years ago. The evil presence that had deceived them both was finally dead.
Kouga and his wolves had taken their leave of Kagome, thanking her again for her intercession with Sesshoumaru. She and Rin had persuaded him to travel back to his home via the path that led to the wolves killed earlier in the day by Naraku's demon hoard attack. It was uncertain that Tenseiga would revive them, but the pack's help in fighting Naraku had convinced The Demon Lord of the Western Lands that these canine subjects were worthy of his help. It was not really on the way back to Sesshoumaru's home, but Rin convinced him that she had a desire to see a particularly fragrant flower that she had heard only grew on a slope near there. Sesshoumaru ignored the fact that it was a ridiculous attempt to convince him, and surprised everyone by agreeing. Jaken was especially disgruntled. It was bad enough that his Lord has deigned to use the sword of his father to benefit Inuyasha and his friends, but to stoop to help lowly wolves was too much. Rin booted him across the graveyard, and Jaken was forced to run to catch up with the departing Lord.
Kouga stayed behind to have a final quiet word with Kagome. As he approached and took her hands in his, Inuyasha's frown turned into a violent growl. He was stopped from attacking Kouga yet again by the look Kagome turned on him. It was the exact same look he had given her earlier in the day when he had taken the Shikon no Kakera from her. It asked him to trust her, to believe in her, just as he had asked her for trust and belief regarding Kikyo. He had no choice; he held back his anger as he clutched at Tetsusaiga. Only the fact that he knew Kouga could not let his asshole brother get too far ahead of him kept him from exploding.
"Thank you for your help, Kouga. And for the help of your entire pack. The Western Lands owe you a debt of gratitude."
"You are my woman, Kagome. How could I refuse you? Come back with me now. Your search with the inukkoro is finished. Come home with me where you belong."
"I am and will always be your friend, Kouga. But my place is by Inuyasha's side. Naraku is dead, but our quest is not yet finished. We have more to do."
"I will come for you, Kagome."
"Come only as a friend, Kouga."
Kouga took his leave and ran to catch up with Sesshoumaru and his wolf pack. Kagome couldn't tell whether he had finally believed her words of friendship, but she could feel the relief of Inuyasha behind her. The anger that had blazed so brightly was seeping away.
Kagome was exhausted from purifying the evil that was Naraku as well as the latent evil in the formation of the Shikon no Tama. Once on Inuyasha's back she slept peacefully, holding him close as he ran. The Jewel was once again on the necklace that Kaede had given her when she had first come to Sengoku Jidai. It seemed like a lifetime ago.
It had been a good day, a good battle, and one that left them closer to completing their quest. The Jewel was whole, the threat of Naraku gone, and Kikyo soon to be at peace. The thoughts the hanyou had while holding his Kagome were no longer the worried and anxious ones of the night before. He and his friends had prevailed. But there was still more to do.
They arrived at the village long after midnight, choosing to spend the night beneath Inuyasha and Kagome's God Tree rather than suffer the inquiring eyes of the village.
In the morning, Miroku showed them his healed right hand. He kept the casing and the rosary intact. After a lifetime of wearing them, he was not yet ready to cast them away. They became a symbol of his future rather than a reminder of his family's sad past.
He celebrated a particularly long and prayerful laying to rest for Kikyo, including their dear departed Kaede in the finalizing of that chapter. It gave Inuyasha an opportunity to reflect on his relationship with Kikyo surrounded by his friends and without having to express himself. The hanyou was both touched and grateful.
Kikyo and her sister were interred together in what Kagome knew would become the shrine grounds in her time. It was a sad and awkward moment for both Kagome and Inuyasha. She had loved Kaede deeply both as mentor and surrogate mother. Inuyasha had loved both of the sisters. Now they were both at peace and in a safe place.
"I will watch over them in my time Inuyasha. They will be safe and cared for always."
He merely nodded, too overcome with the final recognition that the search was over, Kikyo at rest and the future at hand.
Healing Kohaku's heart was going to take a lot longer. The boy remembered every evil thing that Naraku had forced him to do. He was still appalled that Sango had permitted him to be restored by Tenseiga. He was withdrawn and hollow-eyed, barely speaking to anyone, especially Sango. She was a constant reminder of the rest of his dead family.
After the services for Kikyo, Sango took Kagome aside. She was most anxious to return to her village to try to make a new start with Kohaku. She fervently hoped that the familiar surroundings would remind him of happier days. Kagome asked her to be patient for at least a few days while she, Miroku and Inuyasha recovered their health and equilibrium. Sango would have left without them, but Kagome stopped her.
"You will be needed Sango. Our quest is not finished. Please, just be a little patient. It won't be long, I promise." Kagome had some ideas about the next phase of their quest, but it would be at least a little more time before she was sure about where they were headed.
They again stayed under Inuyasha's tree, the Go-Shimboku, in the forest named for him. The villagers left them alone, save for gifts of food. They saw the new grave at the shrine and knew that Kagome had protected them, and perhaps the hanyou, as well. After a full day of resting, eating and generally recovering from their battle with Naraku, Kagome called the group together after lunch under the God Tree for an important discussion.
"My family in the future is very dear to me," she began, "but no dearer than the family I see around me now, here in Inuyasha's Forest. We have defeated Naraku and completed the restoration of the Shikon no Tama. These are important achievements, not just for us, but for everyone in Sengoku Jidai." She stood and went over to Inuyasha to bring him to his feet so they could stand together before them.
"I want to share this with all of you." She calmly reached underneath the neckline of her sweater and pulled out the Shikon no Tama on its chain. She carefully slipped the chain over her head and held the Jewel itself up by two fingers to glow crystal clear in the sunlight.
"The Shikon no Tama is whole and purified." Sango gasped. Kagome turned to Sango and continued. "Your village gave the Shikon no Tama to Kikyo to purify. She was a strong and capable Miko but Onigumo prevented her from accomplishing the purification of the Jewel." She didn't add her own opinion that Kikyo had not been able to purify the Jewel because she did not have enough strength. There was no purpose to be served by defaming the dead Miko.
When everyone had had a chance to examine the precious Jewel as Kagome held it safely in her powerful grasp, she turned to Inuyasha.
"Trade you." She smiled and said, taking his hand and placing the Jewel in it. Then she used both hands to grasp the prayer beads and took them off over his head. The two leaders of the quest stood, under the tree where they had met, each with a precious necklace in their hands, smiling broadly at each other. The others were surprised and waited anxiously to see what Inuyasha would do. He was now released from Kagome's spell and had full and free possession of the Shikon no Tama he had sought for so long.
What would he do? How he would choose? Kikyo had wanted him to be human; Inuyasha had wanted to be full youkai. Kagome just wanted him.
Inuyasha seemed frozen in place. He had not expected Kagome to give him the jewel freely. Nor had he expected her to remove the prayer beads of her own free will.
He stood there, looking from the Jewel to Kagome's smiling face, and then back to the Jewel for what seemed like an eternity. He remembered the long ago words of Miroku about the Jewel, that it had never brought anyone happiness. He looked over at Miroku and saw worry in his eyes. Worry for a friend. No one would stop him; no one would force him. The choice was his alone to make, surrounded by their love and friendship.
Inuyasha looked around at the faces watching him, wondering what he would do. They were his friends. They were curious. They would accept him whether he was human, youkai or hanyou. He saw them for what they had become, his family.
Then his gaze fell on Kagome. Her beautiful eyes smiling at him, her face glowing with the love she felt for him, trusting him to do the right thing. Trusting him to take care of all of them. Trusting him to know what to do. Not telling him, not even asking him, just accepting. The love he felt from her made his heart leap.
He was unbound. He was free. He was accepted. For the first time in his life he was whole. He was Inuyasha who wielded the Tetsusaiga in defense of them all. He was hanyou.
He took the shining clear Jewel, purified by the love of his life, and lovingly placed it back in her hand, closing her fingers around it and holding her hands in his.
To be continued…