{Disclaimer: See chapter one big baby! ^.^}
SF: Sorry about how late this chapter is. Silver actually locked me out of his laptop. I had to beg to get the chapter, then run home after work to load it. What I don't get is how he did that. I mean, he barely knows how to work the thing, no less do what he did. And he won't tell me either…grrrr…
Chapter Eleven: The Declaration
Inuyasha sat in the windowsill in the study, staring at the stars. The celebration had dispersed hours ago, but since Kagome left, he didn't feel much like celebrating. He sat now in his natural form, the pointed ears and the stripes startling anyone who didn't expect them. Inuyasha sighed, cursing his stupidity.
"How in the hell did this happen?" he asked himself as a tear slid down his cheek. He could hear Kagome's laughter on the breeze as it drifted by him.
"Why didn't I tell her I loved her? Why did I wait? It's too late now."
A small creek at the door turned his head around. Shippou scurried in and stood below him, tears threatening to spill down his cheeks at the slightest upset.
"Inuyasha, Sakura has calmed down. She and Miroku forgive you."
Inuyasha turned away, ready to dismiss the child when he continued:
"But I don't agree with them. I don't think you did anything wrong, other than put your foot in your mouth. I think you think Kagome will hate you if you tell her what you are. I don't think so. I think she'll love you anyway, no matter if you're full blooded or half. And the fact that she helped you will only make her happy. So you didn't know that? So what? We all make mistakes. But now we'll never see Kagome again."
Shippou started to cry. Inuyasha turned to berate him, but when he looked at him, he couldn't. Watching him reminded him of Kagome. He knew then that he had a kindred spirit in his pain. Inuyasha reached down and cradled the child in his lap, stroking his ponytail in the same way he'd seen Kagome do so many times before. He rocked gently, waiting for Shippou's whimpering to stop before speaking:
"Shippou, it's my fault. If I wasn't such a coward, I would have told her earlier. Instead, I let her leave. Its my punishment for being so stupid, but you shouldn't suffer because of me." He dried the child's face, giving him a sad smile.
"I want you to stay with me. Here."
Shippou looked at him curiously. "Sesshoumaru wouldn't want me to stay here. You either."
Inuyasha chuckled, a ghost of its former self. It was enough, however, to make Shippou wonder about his sanity.
"Shippou, this isn't Sesshoumaru's castle. It's mine." He calmed down a little at Shippou's surprise. "This is my castle because I'm the Great Demon of this part of the West. That's why the servants here only listen to me, Sesshoumaru and Sango are on the southern wing of the castle, and why my clothes have changed to the robes I wore in the Demon Tournament." Inuyasha turned back to his view of the sky as Shippou stared at him in amazement.
"I want you to stay here with me. We'll wait for her together."
Shippou smiled and hugged Inuyasha fiercely, causing them to fall backward into the study on Inuyasha's back with a thud. Shippou cringed, expecting Inuyasha to rant and rave about how careless he was. When he opened his eyes, Inuyasha stared back at him, a smile crossing his face. He set Shippou down and stood up, dusting himself off.
"You are so much like Kagome," he winked "like your mother, it's scary." He reached for Shippou's hand and guided him out of the study. They walked down the hall to the eastern part of the castle.
"Let's pick out your room."
Shippou gazed up at him, a newfound respect for the grieving dog demon. 'Inuyasha's hurting too, maybe more than me. He's right. We do need each other.' He smiled. His sudden quietness disturbed Inuyasha. He looked down and found him smiling at him.
"What?"
"Nothing Papa. Lead the way."
Inuyasha smiled back and continued to walk, knowing Kagome would be pleased. {So sweet. I would love a picture of this. Oh yeah, he's still in the Demon Tournament kimono.}
********
"Don't worry, Sango. Inuyasha will go get her in the morning and everything will be fine, you'll see." Sesshoumaru kissed her cheek and retired back into the bedroom, finding it more than ironic that he was in the guest wing of the castle.
Sango stood on the balcony, fingering the envelope in her hands. She finally reached inside and pulled out its contents. One was a small piece of paper. The other was the Shikon no Tama. Sango hadn't noticed it wasn't in its rightful place around Kagome's neck until now. She stared at it in wonder, returned it back to the envelope and sat down to read the note that came with it.
Dear Sango,
If you're reading this, it means I've decided to leave the feudal era and return to my own time. For good. I know the well doesn't work if I don't have this, so I don't think I'll be coming back. I will miss you greatly. I just want you to know that no matter what, you'll always be the older sister I've always wanted.
I know you want to know why I left the Shikon no Tama with you. I can't keep it in my time. It will only tempt me to return here and face Inuyasha. I know now he doesn't love me, and never will. I'm tired of pretending that its ok to pine after him while he loves another, but my heart can't take it anymore. Please tell him I love him.
I left the Shikon no Tama with you , and not Kaede, because I feel like it would be in better hands with you than with her. It will disappear as soon as you make a wish. I instructed the jewel to obey you, for you to be happy in your new life. I hope it will serve you well.
Even though I won't see you again, you are always in my heart and in my memories.
Love Always,
Kagome
P. S. : Take care of Inuyasha and Shippou for me. They need a sane female to keep them from killing each other."
Sango sobbed loudly, her mate rushing outside at the sound.
"Sango, what is it?"
Sango sobbed as she explained the letter, the well and Kagome's reason to leave. Sesshoumaru nodded his head and sighed. "This is destiny, Sango. Kagome chose her path, and you have chosen yours. Who knows, you may see her yet." He carried her from the balcony to the bed, gently setting her down as he kissed away her tears. "You can't change what's already happened. You can only enjoy the present. I know it hurts, but you must go on." His kisses became more intense as he moved from her cheeks to her throat. "Don't worry."
Sango looked at him, then giggled through her tears. "You're horny, aren't you love?"
"Unbelievably so."
He tackled her against the bed, her laughing as he sat and tickled her ribs. Sango swatted his hands away from her sides. "So impatient. This isn't like you."
Sesshoumaru nuzzled against her neck, sending shivers down her spine to her toes. "I can be that way with you. I love you, remember?"
Sango blinked at him, not believing what she just heard. Sesshoumaru continued to smell her hair, unaware of the stunned state his mate was in.
"It's no fun if you don't participate."
"What did you just say?"
"I said, 'It's no fun if you don't'-"
"Before that?"
Sesshoumaru raised himself to her eye level, brushing a stray hair away from her eyes as he answered her. "I love you."
Sango cried out and hugged him, kissing his ear in her happiness. Sesshoumaru smiled and wrapped his arms around her.
**********
Kagome stared at her surroundings. She was in her courtyard behind her house. "Oh God, I was hoping that wouldn't happen."
She sank into a fetal position beneath the Sacred Tree and cried, not realizing a lone figure was coming up the steps to the front of the house. He stopped before ringing the doorbell, standing still for a moment before putting down his package and turning the corner to the back of the house. One look at the balled up girl sent him running to her side. He picked her up gently and used the toe of his shoe to open the back door, thankful it was unlocked. He called for her mother, then realized no one was home. 'Why would they leave her alone like this,' he wondered as he sat Kagome down on the couch. He marveled at the kimono she wore, and the odd flower in her hair as she cried against his shoulder. He patted her back gingerly, not really sure what he should do. Kagome raised her head to look at him.
"Hojo, what are you doing here?"
{SF: HA! Ya'll thought it was someone else, didn't you? ::smirks, then ducks some flying fruit::}
Hojo shrugged his shoulders. "You're grandfather said you weren't feeling well. Are you ok?"
Kagome nodded and leaned against him, tears spilling down her face again. This time Hojo hugged her, pulling her to him gently. He cried out suddenly as something zapped him.
"Ow!"
Kagome sat up quickly. "What is it?"
"Something shocked me." He looked down at the smoking hole in his sweater.
Kagome gasped, running her fingers along the edge of the hole. "Oh my God, are you ok?"
Hojo blushed a little, running his hands through his hair. "Yeah, but I wonder what did that?"
Kagome stared at the hole, then down at her kimono. "How in the world?"
Hojo stared at her point of interest. "That's a pretty necklace, Kagome, but I think it's a little large for your throat." He paused at her silence before stealing a glance at her. Kagome had taken the necklace off, holding it in front of her face in total shock. Hojo leaned closer to her as she whispered
"What the-What's the Shikon no Tama doing here?"
Fin
SF: Yeah, I gave Kagome the last word in this one. Sesshoumaru had it in the last ones, so it's only fair. Now its time to switch gears and launch ourselves into the last part of this series. Don't change that channel, because next stop: Redemption.
Responses:
Anna_Asukura: Miroku is hanging around here somewhere. I'm going to make up for his lack of presence in December.
Jack Sparrow1: You're right, he should have. Or he could have told her what happened to him. Silly hanyou. But don't worry about a thing. He'll make things better soon.
Ookami Spirit Hishana: It's like this: the Shikon no Tama was really the only thing keeping her in the Feudal Ages (or that's the way things are in this story). As long as she possessed one tiny shard, she was straight. When she gave it to Sango, she basically faded from that time and back to hers. Get it now? If you don't, let me know and I'll have Moms to explain. She's good at that kind of thing.
Tenshi no Yami: Don't worry. He'll be better with words in about 500 years. You'll see.
Fireash: Kagome is so not going to kill herself. She's going to go on, live strong and fall in love with the man of her dreams...
Amethyst Hanyou: Thanks a lot! The sequel is coming in a few weeks.
Gray Wolf Demon: Thanks a lot. Mores on the way in a few weeks.
LadyoftheDragons1: It won't get fixed for a few weeks. Possibly not before Christmas either.
Suzuko: Yeah well, you never know what I'll do. Just ask anyone who's IM'ed me.
Tranador: Sorry. Kagome never returns to the Feudal Era.
Tessa3: Here's the letter, and what was in it.
Sugarhigh:P: Thanks a lot, though now I'm kinda worried about your sanity. ^.^
The Big Pen: Not a problem. I'm getting to it as we speak. Thanks for the review!
Namesake: It gets better, but not right now. Redemption starts Thanksgiving Day.
xnycz azn angelx: I wish I could, but I do whatever the Little Muse and Silver Fox tell me to. If they decide to do a I/K story, then that's what I type. I'm just swaying in their proverbial wind. I'll talk to them about it though.