Hello, here's the next chapter.
Lady Hawke and sailorpsychosis: Thank you both for reading and for your compliments! :) I'm glad that you're both enjoying the story so far.
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and its characters are the property of their respective owners. This piece is not for profitable purposes.
Chapter 2: A Union and a Parting
Having had watched from a distance the entire time, Rin can no longer contain herself, and runs from the shelter of the trees to Sesshomarou, Jaken chasing and yelling after her.
"Sesshmarou-samaaaa!" she squeals.
When she arrives next to him, he acknowledges her presence with a glance, but then turns around and slowly walks away in the direction from which she had come.
Wanting to speak with Kohaku but not wanting to risk Sesshomarou leaving, Rin turns back and forth between the two, and then decides to stand still and to call out to him.
"Kohaku-kun!"
Hearing his name, Kohaku jogs over to her.
She smiles at him and says, "I hope that we can see each other again soon."
He smiles in return and says, "I think that would be nice, too."
Satisfied, she waves good bye and begins to run to catch up with Sesshomarou.
He waves in return before returning to the group.
Setting her plan in motion, Kagome looks at everyone gathered, a smile upon her face that expresses only some of her emotions, and says, "We should return to Kaede oba-chan's village."
Sango and Miroku, hand-in-hand, shake their heads in agreement. Kohaku remains silent while Shippou smiles broadly in response. It is Inuyasha who senses that there is something awry. Deciding that this is something that should not be ignored, this thought remains foremost in his mind as he starts to walk ahead, leading the group as they make there way.
When they arrive, Kaede is there to greet them. She had sensed the great decrease in jaki, and was pleased that she had reached the correct conclusion. Sango introduces Kaede and Kohaku before they all enter Kaede's home to settle and relax. Kagome and Sango choose to go to the hot springs. Noting the opportunity, Kagome decides to speak with Sango about one of the steps in her plan, to assure her good friend's happiness.
"Sango-chan, has Miroku-sama said anything more about getting married?"
Blushing, Sango stammers a response, "Miroku did make that promise, and now that Kohaku has been saved and the kazanna is gone…"
Kagome giggles as she says, "I'm sure Kaede oba-chan would be happy to marry you."
Surprised and wide-eyed, Sango answers, "Do you really think so, Kagome-chan?"
She smiles as she says, "Of course."
"I, I see," she says, her face betraying the rapid swirling of thoughts in her mind.
Kagome and Sango return after they finish, and Kagome speaks to Kaede, who gladly agrees to her idea. Sango approaches Miroku, who is sitting quietly in a corner.
Trying to sound confident, she says, "Miroku."
He looks to her and smiles as he says, "Yes, Sango?"
She blushes and moves nervously as she says, "Kaede oba-chan, she – she's willing to perform the ceremony."
He stands and moves towards her.
As he takes hold of her hand, he says, "Shall we then?"
She smiles broadly and nods her head yes.
While Sango goes to a village tailor to have a wedding ceremonial kimono fitted, Miroku prepares himself and Kagome and Shippou collect flowers. When Sango returns, Kagome places on her head a flower chain crown that Shippou had made and gives her a bunch of flowers to hold during the ceremony. Sango thanks them for their gifts and hugs them both. The group and other guests gather in the village center, where Kaede performs the ceremony, Miroku smiling and Sango tearing throughout. A joyous celebration is held after nightfall, with food, sake, and songs from local musicians.
Pleased to see Sango and Miroku happy and noting that, in the midst of the party, no one is watching her, Kagome decides that now is the time – the time to follow through with the promise she had made to herself. She looks once more to be sure that Inuyasha is not there, and experiences conflicting feelings when she realizes he is nowhere nearby. Knowing this, she slips away quietly, headed towards the well that had brought here, and which will take her away. As she walks, she hears and feels the chill wind and notices the solitude that pervades the darkness. She looks up at the stars, and remembers the first time she had seen them here, how excited she was because they were missing from her own time. As other memories flood her mind, she smiles sadly, knowing that she will miss this place, her friends, but by far most of all…
"Inuyasha?" she says, startled to see him standing silently beside the well, the moonlight showing the sleeves of his fire-rat fir coat and strands of his hair moving with the breeze.
His expression serious, he watches her as he says, "I could tell – by the sound of your voice and how you acted - that I would find you here."
