*sniffle* You know, I'm actually kind of sad that this is ending. After this, there is only a short epilogue to finally wrap things up. I would have done it earlier, but there's one last thing that I wanted to do before I completed this. Actually, I'm kind of surprised that no one asked me about the voices that Kagome heard last chapter, but if you were wondering, then everything will be explained shortly.
I'm really sorry that it took me so long to get this chapter out. I take five classes, and they all decided to give essays and/or tests all at once, so I was really busy with that, then I had this nasty case of writers block, and I've had a hellacious past few days. Whew, it feels good to get that all off my chest; sorry for griping so much, I'm just in a really bad mood. If you leave me some really nice reviews then I'll feel a lot better!
Miroku: Aww, you poor thing … I'll make you feel better.
LL: *thwaps Miroku*
Speaking of which, I just checked mine, and I've got 598!!!!!!!! I love you people! Seriously though, I really appreciate all your wonderful feedback, you guys are the greatest!!!
One last thing and I'll shut up: I've had quite a few questions about the sequel, so here's just some basic info: the sequel will be called Broken, and it takes place ten years after Promises ends. I don't want to give too much away, but I will say that Kagome and Sess have two kids. However, it is mostly about Inu-Yasha finally getting over his feelings for Kagome. It is not a 'Inu-Yasha gets a hot babe' plot, which, as AoiHyou said, would not be cool at all. I might add in a bit of romance for Inu though, just cause he deserves it and I feel sorry for him (I won't say who though cause it's a surprise ^_~). I intend to take a break between Promises and Broken though, mostly to work a little on Duality (which is updated btw) and I really want to write a Miroku fic.
Miroku: *inches away slowly*
Disclaimer: *burning Adult Swim in effigy* Inu-Yasha is mine! *evil cackle* All mine! *grabs Sesshy and Miroku and runs away still cackling* B0b: We would like to point out that LL is lying, and we don't own Inu-Yasha. Plus we are broke, so suing us wouldn't do any good anyway.
Chapter 13: Promising Forever
"We have to invite Omura-san," Kagome said as she skimmed lazily through Sesshoumaru's papers. They were lying on their bed, enjoying a quiet afternoon, while Sesshoumaru did some paperwork. At least, that had been the original idea.
The demon lord grumbled as he wrapped his arms around Kagome's waist and buried his face into her back. "No we don't."
"But he's your best friend. I think that he'd like to be here … Hey! Stop that! It tickles!" Kagome dissolved into helpless giggles as Sesshoumaru nibbled on her neck. With a swift movement, the demon grabbed her waist and flipped her, pinning the woman underneath him with an evil grin. "Stop that," she giggled, pressing her palms to his chest as if to push him away, "We've got work to do." Sesshoumaru grinned wider and tickled her mercilessly. Kagome screeched, and wiggled out of his grasp, flinging herself across the room to catch her breath. When Sesshoumaru stood with a predatory look on his face, she held out a hand to warn him away. "You'd better watch out, buster, I'll call Shippou in here, and he'll stick you to the floor, you just watch… Oh shit!" With that last exclamation, Kagome slid open the door and ran down the hall, shrieking in delight, Sesshoumaru hot on her heels.
A door slid open and they rushed past, and Rin and Shippou peeked out. The young fox demon sighed once he'd recovered from his initial shock and shook his head in mock despair. "Grown-ups."
***
"Come in." Kagome looked up from her book as the door slid open and Shippou stepped into her room.
"Hey, Kagome. Are you feeling all right?" the young kitsune asked. Kagome fought back a smile as she watched the boy. It was obvious that he wanted to crawl into her lap, but at the same time was worried about invading her personal space.
She reached forward and snagged the kit with a grin, solving his dilemma as she settled him into her lap. "I'm fine. Why do you ask?" Shippou hesitated, toying with the book she'd been reading. "Well?" Kagome prompted playfully.
"Sesshoumaru told me about Inu-Yasha. And you're in here all alone, so I thought I'd just check on you," he said quietly.
Kagome blinked. "I wasn't aware that you were on speaking terms with Sesshoumaru," she teased.
"Of course I am, we're the best of friends." They shared a laugh, until Shippou's face became grave. "But seriously Kagome, are you ok about all of this?"
The woman clutched Shippou like a teddy bear, resting her chin on his head. Finally, she sighed, "I don't know. I was in love with Inu-Yasha for so long, or at least I thought I was … but what I felt for him was nothing compared to what I feel for Sesshou. I do worry about him though, about what he'll do. Inu-Yasha is all alone now."
Shippou twisted until he could hug Kagome. "He's not alone, he has Miroku and Sango and even Kaede. He'll be fine." Kagome blinked again, and looked down at Shippou with a small smile.
"You're right of course, Shippou-kun. Sometimes you seem to be a lot older than you look." After a short pause, Kagome grinned suddenly. Without warning, she attacked the kitsune, tickling him without mercy. "All right, who are you and what have you done with Shippou?"
"I am Shippou!" the boy gasped between giggles. He squirmed away and wiped the tears from his eyes, still giggling, half daring Kagome to come after him.
She didn't take the dare, but sat back with a thoughtful expression. Shippou watched her warily. "All right," she said finally, "I believe you. But what are you doing inside? You should be out playing with Rin; it's such a nice day."
Shippou made a face. "She's playing Princess or something girly like that with Jaken."
Kagome fought to keep a straight face, "Well, don't you think the Princess needs a Prince?"
"No." Shippou eyed the woman warily as she pouted at him. Finally he sighed, "Fine. Will you come with me?"
"Oh, I don't think I'll make a very good Prince," Kagome said, picking up her book. Seeing that she wanted to read, Shippou left quietly. Kagome watched him go over the rim of her book. I suppose that you are right about Inu-Yasha, Shippou. But what will Sesshoumaru do when I am gone?
***
Shippou was lost so deep in thought as he bounced down the hall that he nearly ran into Sesshoumaru on his way to find Rin and Jaken. Thanks to Inu-Yasha, he was able to easily avoid the hand that grabbed for his bushy tail. Dancing just out of reach, he grinned up at the demon lord who was doing his best to glare at him sternly.
"Well?" Sesshoumaru demanded.
"She's fine," Shippou chirped before running off.
The demon lord watched him go, and then turned to look back towards Kagome's room, "Is that so?"
***
Kagome tossed a pebble into the pond in the garden. She was sitting on the bridge that spanned over the water, leaning up against the railing, with a pile of small rocks sitting next to her. One by one, she tossed them.
Plop.
Sesshoumaru was off doing some Lord-type stuff. Someday soon, she had to ask him just exactly what he did to take care of his territory. Knowing the demon as she did, he probably spent as much time pissing off his neighbors as he did making treaties with them. No doubt he could use a hand with negotiating. If he even bothered to negotiate.
Plop.
Shippou and Rin were off torturing, er, playing with Jaken. She was seriously beginning to think that the toad demon was masochistic, for he had actually volunteered to take the kids off her hands for a bit. Not that she wasn't grateful or anything, but she had seen some of the stuff that those two had done to him, and well, it wasn't pretty. Damn funny though.
Plop.
Fuck it. No matter how hard she tried, Kagome was unable to get her current problem off her mind. And she had tried, but if cross dresser Jaken didn't distract her than nothing would. The real killer was that she shouldn't even be having this problem. Sesshoumaru had accepted her for who she was: a human. And yet, she worried about the future. She worried that their child wouldn't be accepted by other demons as Sesshoumaru's heir because of its heritage. She was afraid to grow old while he remained young. She was afraid to leave him. Not because she didn't think that he wasn't strong enough to survive her death, but …
Plop.
It just didn't feel right.
"It is time," a sudden voice intoned. Kagome's head shot up, but there was no one near. Yet, she recognized that voice, if only she could place it…
And suddenly it all came back to her. Her odd dream while she was ill; the voices that had soothed her pain once she had woken. This was one of the four that she had comforted her.
"I am Kushi-mitama," he continued, as if he could read her thoughts.
Kagome frowned thoughtfully. Wasn't that…?
Her train of thought was abruptly severed as she happened to look down into the pond. An old man was staring up at her from the now still waters, reflected on the surface. With a yelp, she twisted to look behind her, but there was no one there. Slowly, and a little fearfully, she turned back; the old man still stood there behind her reflection as if that was exactly where he belonged.
"Oh man, I am finally losing it," the woman whimpered, pressing her palms into her eye sockets in an attempt to ward off a headache.
"You've been dragged down a well by a giant centipede. Ended up in the feudal era. Traveled all over Japan with a hanyou, a perverted monk, a kitsune, and a demon exterminator who carries a boomerang bigger than she is. You've survived stuff that they wouldn't put into stories, it's so ludicrous. You're marrying a demon, who, I'd like to point out, turns into a giant dog, and tried to kill you more than once. And only now you think that you are going crazy?" That wasn't the voice of the old man. Sure enough, when Kagome looked up, a teenage boy with a playful expression on his face was reflected on her other side. The strangest part was that his voice came from slightly behind her, where the reflection said that he should be.
Crossing her arms, Kagome glared into the water. "If I'm not nuts, then who are you?"
"Ara-mitama of course," he replied. "And Saki-mitama and Nigi-mitama are here too." As he pointed, a young girl who was sitting in front of him and a middle aged woman standing behind Kagome appeared in turn.
Something dawned on the woman. "The four souls," she whispered. "You are the four souls…" her hand went to her hip, "Of the jewel?"
"Naturally," Saki-mitama said somewhat flippantly.
"We wish to speak with you," Kushi-mitama added. Kagome shivered; she had just been wondering why they were there.
"It is time you learned the nature of your existence," Nigi-mitama added.
Kagome half-laughed, "Hey, I know all about the birds and the bees, don't worry."
"That's not what we mean, and you know it," Ara-mitama said. Even he was serious now.
Kagome swallowed. "Then what?"
The four eyed each other for a moment, and finally, Kushi-mitama spoke. "We will start with the creation of the jewel through Midoriko."
"As you know, Midoriko was a priestess much like yourself who lived nearly 500 years ago. Demons were much more abundant back then. In fact, there were more demons than humans, though their population was beginning to decline…"
"Skip the history lesson, Kushi," Ara cut in, "She knows how the jewel was created."
The older man sighed, "Yes, of course. But what you don't know, Kagome, is the journey that the jewel went through before it ended up in the hands of Kikyo. Suffice it to say that the jewel was shuffled from demon to demon, sometimes to humans and back to demons, until finally it ended back up in the hands of the exterminators who passed it on to the priestess. Much blood was spilt over that bead."
"And it wasn't any fun for us either. Have you ever been inside a demon's stomach?" Saki said. "They have atrocious eating habits, or most of them do. In any case, you of course know the story of Kikyo and Inu-Yasha." Kagome nodded, and Saki sighed dreamily, "We thought that the two would benefit from each other's love."
"Wait a minute," Kagome broke in, "You mean that you made Kikyo and Inu-Yasha fall in love?"
Saki huffed, "Well, I wouldn't say that we 'made' them fall in love, we just helped it along a little bit. And it would have worked wonderfully if that dratted Naraku hadn't gotten in the way."
"We felt that with both Inu-Yasha and Kikyo protecting the jewel, we would be much safer than we had been for the last few hundred years." Ara added, "After all, had a demon like Sesshoumaru attempted to take the jewel from Kikyo when she was by herself, she wouldn't be able to stop him."
"It was working quite nicely actually until Naraku came along," Nigi continued, taking up the tale. "And that is where you come in."
"I know," Kagome said glumly, "I'm the reincarnation of Kikyo." She hated hearing that; it was getting a little old after all."
"Nonsense," Nigi snorted. "You are inherently much stronger than she, your magic is different … in fact, there is very little alike between the two of you. No, you are something far different, and much stronger."
"A rei-youkai?" Kagome breathed.
"No. You are us," Nigi waved, indicating the four souls that surrounded her. At Kagome's confused look, she continued, "Though you are not Kikyo's reincarnation, per se, you do contain some of the essential elements of her soul, but not all of them, which was why she was able to come back to life with you still living here. When she burned the jewel with her body, a bit of her soul became attached to it, causing this effect, which is why you look so much like her, and exhibit a few of her powers."
"However," Kushi broke in, "Your true soul is that of the jewel."
"You were created to protect the jewel in your time," Ara added.
Kagome blinked a few times. "Oh." There wasn't much else to say, but still, it sounded rather weak. Taking a deep breath, she tried to clear her head. "So, you're saying that you four created me to protect you?" They glanced at one another and half shrugged.
"In a way," Ara said.
Saki continued, "We were safe enough in your time … and well, we always figured that we'd end up back here eventually. Hence the well."
"You were responsible for the well too?" They nodded, and Kagome shrugged; it made sense if she thought about it. The woman leaned up against the railing of the bridge, deep in thought. Around her, the four souls waited patiently for the inevitable question. "So why are you telling me all of this now?"
Kushi said solemnly, "The jewel's life draws to a close; Midoriko's battle is nearly won, thanks in a large part to your efforts." Before Kagome could comment, he continued, "We wish to release you from your burden." Had it been anyone else, Kagome would have sworn that those last words were a death threat. As it was, she wasn't afraid to keep listening.
Saki began to speak, "You wish to remain with the demon lord." It wasn't a question. "We can arrange that."
"Arrange?" Kagome stuttered.
Nigi smiled down at her, "With the last of the jewel's power, we will grant you the immortality of a demon. Though your physical form will not change."
Kagome's head was spinning, "Really? You mean I won't grow old and die like a normal human…"
"In case you haven't noticed, you aren't a normal human," Ara grinned.
Suddenly she thought of something, "The jewel will be gone right? So what will happen to you four?"
Another glance was exchanged between the four. "We are not sure," one of them said finally. Kagome couldn't tell who had spoken; for some reason, their voices were melding together and rapidly becoming indistinguishable. "It matters not Kagome," they continued when she was about to protest, "You have made your wish, whether or not you choose to realize it." They were beginning to fade from the reflection in the pond.
What was that Kaede had told her once? '…the powers of the jewel of the four souls can make any ambition a reality.' Kagome gasped and looked down into the still waters of the pond. The four were gone.
And suddenly, her vision was replaced by a blinding pinkish light which consumed her. She screamed as she was enveloped, more out of surprise than anything, for she felt no pain. Then, just as abruptly, the light faded, and the first thing she became aware of was Sesshoumaru running towards her. Before she could stop him, or explain herself, he pulled her close and began to search the surrounding area for the cause of her distress.
"What's wrong Kagome? Are you all right?"
She didn't answer right away. Everything seemed normal, but … she felt different somehow. Her hand went to her side, and she wasn't wholly unsurprised to discover that the familiar throb of power that had reminded her that the jewel was there was gone.
Kagome grinned as she looked up at Sesshoumaru, "I'm fine."
***
Sesshoumaru blinked in disbelief, processing all that Kagome had told him. It explained a few things for sure, like why she smelled a touch different, but he wasn't entirely satisfied. "So, you are immortal now?" It was more than he had ever hoped for, but he couldn't help feeling that it was too good to be true.
Kagome knelt down in the tall grass, plucking a wildflower in front of her. They were in a field just outside the castle, watching Rin and Shippou while they played tag. "'As immortal as a demon' is what they said. I'm assuming that I have a demon's lifespan now." She shaded her eyes and smiled up at him before she stood, tucking the flower behind his ear with a grin. He let her because she seemed so happy at the moment. Their entire relationship thus far had been overshadowed with one thing or another; first it had been the search for the shards and Naraku, then the death of their son. But it seemed that she had put her past behind her and devoted herself to their new life together. "How long do demons live anyway?" she asked, with a cute thoughtful frown.
Did he just say cute? Gods, what an affect this woman was having on him.
"Quite a while," he replied with a small smile of his own, "but I do not think that we need to worry about dying any time soon in any case."
She laughed lightly, "Of course not." A shout from the direction of the children caught their attention, and they turned to see Rin and Shippou kneeling down, intent on something that they couldn't see.
"Don't touch it!" both adults shouted at once. They trotted over to see what had caught the attention of the kids. It was a small, black kitten. At once, Kagome cooed and scooped the little thing up.
"Oh, look at you, you are just so precious!" she told it. "Where's your mommy, huh?" The kitten mewed. "Aww, it's all right little one. I bet Itamae can find some milk for you."
"Absolutely not," Sesshoumaru broke in. "We are not keeping that thing."
Kagome turned toward him with an odd look that he couldn't quite place, but he was sure that it wasn't good. Then she turned back to the little cat. "Did you hear that? Sesshou says that we can't keep you. Well guess what else; Sesshou isn't going to be getting any for a while either."
Below them, while Sesshoumaru sputtered, Rin asked Shippou, "What does Kagome-mama mean?"
Shippou grinned a bit at Kagome's deviousness, "Ask me later Rin-chan."
The demon lord sighed, "Fine. You can keep the damn thing."
Kagome smiled sweetly at batted her eyelashes at him. "Oh Fluffy-chan, you're such a darling. Here you go Rin-chan," she handed the kitten to the girl, "Why don't you and Shippou go ask Itamae-san for some milk?" The two children ran off giggling.
Sesshoumaru sighed as he slipped a protective arm around Kagome's waist. "You are a bitch, you know that?" he commented as they began to walk back to the castle.
She grinned at him, "I know." Despite himself, the demon lord smiled back as he looked down at the woman whom he would be spending the rest of his life with. Forever was a long time, but he found himself looking forward to it.
Sesshy: *blink*blink* What the hell was that?
LL: Chapter 13.
Sesshy: I was laughing, and smiling, and playing and being happy! It was totally OOC!
LL: You were happy. Even you can smile sometimes, you know.
Sesshy: *deadpan* Really.
LL: Oh-kay, maybe not…