Kagome's return chapter 23
Sesshomaru looks at his little brother, and then sighs, massively. "No. As long as I can have some private time with her, I will be content."
"How much time?" Shippo asks.
Sesshomaru shrugs. "I would like to demand a third of her time. But, I won't."
"Why?" Inu-yasha hisses out.
"Two reasons, Inu-yasha. Unlike the two of you, I do have responsibilities, as the Lord of the Western Lands. And those responsibilities will occupy a great deal of my time. So, I, probably, could not spend a third of it with her, no matter what."
"The second." Shippo hisses.
Sesshomaru raises his eyebrow. "That, no matter what we might decide, Kagome will make her own choices. And I will respect her choice." He smiles. "I will argue with her, perhaps, to change her mind, but, I will respect her decision."
"Then, why did you two drag me in here?" Shippo asks.
"Because, this Sesshomaru would like Kagome to think that I, at least, am not causing her problems. No matter how much she cares for someone, even myself, if I'm causing her to yell, scream and get upset, how much will she like that?" he pauses, as he looks at Shippo and Inu-yasha. "So, much against my normal desires, I will be diplomatic."
"And, if we don't agree, you'll run to her and squeal on us." Shippo spits out.
Sesshomaru smiles, but doesn't say a thing.
Shippo and Inu-yasha exchange a glance. Both grimace.
"Ok, what do you have planned?" Inu-yasha, finally, asks.
Later . . .
Inside Kagome's house.
After Sesshomaru and Rin have a few private minutes together, they join most of the rest in the living room.
Once, there, since Kagome, Sango, Mrs. H and Chika are upstairs with Kohaku, Rin (with promoting and help of Shippo, Miroku and Kagome's friends) manages to get Sesshomaru to tell the story of what he and Kagome went through.
Sesshomaru, of course, remains standing during his story. Rin, sits next to him, hugging his leg, as she listens to him.
Kagome's three girl friends are sitting on the couch, with Shippo. They pass him around, petting and hugging him, as they listen to his story. (He's having a ball, by the way.)
Miroku and Sota sit together in the chair. Miroku does ask Sesshomaru questions, and occasionally flips off with a one-liner or two, as Sesshomaru tells the story.
Inu-yasha, also not sitting down, paces the room, looking up the stairs every time he passes them. And, growling every time he hears something in Sesshomaru story that he dislikes.
Suddenly, Inu-yasha spins and stares at the stairs. Sesshomaru and Shippo also twist and stare at the stairs.
Kagome, Sango, Mrs. H and Chika are walking down the stairs, slowly.
Silence as everyone looks at them, and watches as they settle into place in the room.
Sota quickly gets off the chair with Miroku, allowing Sango to sit next to Miroku. He quickly grabs her hand and squeezes it. Sango smiles or grimaces, depending on your point of view, at him. He smiles back, trying to lift her spirits.
Kagome's three friends slide off the couch, allowing Mrs. h and Chika to sit down, with Shippo. Kagome, after a silent invitation from her mother, shakes her head and remains standing.
She begins to slowly look around the room.
Silence.
Tension builds as everyone realizes that important decisions are about to be announced.
"Kagome?" Sango's voice cracks as she speaks. "You wanted us."
"Together." Kagome interrupts her friend.
"Yes." Sango hisses.
Kagome takes a long look at the wall facing the god tree's location, as if she is trying to look through the wall, then she sighs and turns to her family and friends.
"I have some things that I have to say." Kagome begins. "And I have to say them before we can begin to decide about Kohaku or a lot of other things."
"What?" Inu-yasha asks in a harsh tone.
Kagome raises her hand and looks at as she twists it around.
Everyone stares at her . . .
Kagome sighs. "I'm don't know how to say this, so. I'll be blunt."
She looks at her mother, takes a deep breath, and quickly says, "During the battle with Naraku, I used a magic acorn given to me by the god tree."
The word "fuck" slips through Inu-yasha's lips.
"That acorn, combined with the fact that my father is the god tree." Shippo, Miroku and Sango hiss in surprise at the statement. "Has changed me. I am my father's daughter. In all ways."
"A Kami?" Sesshomaru asks. "A goddess?"
Kagome grimaces and nods. "I think so. Ever since then, my senses, especially my mystical senses have been going overboard." She shakes her head. "It's like I'm squinting into the sun, just to see straight, there is some much . . . " her voice trails off, as she looks at her three friends.
'Some, a lot, of what I'm feeling, the words to describe it, doesn't exist' she thinks. She shakes her head, again.
"Are you sure?" Mrs. H asks.
Kagome nods. "Sure enough that I'm talking about it." Mrs. H grimaces. "I am planning on a long talk with the god tree, to make sure about some things, but, that's just minor details."
"What type of things?" Yuka asks, before a couple of others can.
Kagome slumps. "On this side of the well, I feel bad, tried, worn out. On the other side of the well, I felt . . . "She blushes, "like I am making love and I am riding the orgasm."
Most of the people in the room, cough or blush at that statement.
"And," Kagome stresses, "I'm feeling worse, as time passes."
"Kagome?!" Mrs. H squeals, "Should Chika look at you?"
"I am going to have her to that, mother." Kagome replies, "I don't think she'll learn much, but, I am going to have her do it." She pauses. "I think that the acorn anchored my soul on the other side of the well."
She sighs. "If fact, I'm pretty sure about that. It is one of the things that I was planning on asking the god tree about, but, that's simply because I wanted to ask him, not that I think that I'll get a different answer."
"If that is the case." Miroku begins to say, "Then sooner or later, you'll have to return to the other side of the well. And live on that side."
Kagome nods. "Yes." She nods her head at her friends. "So, sooner or later, Ayumi, Eri and Yuka, I'm going to have to say good-bye."
"How soon?" Ayumi asks, first.
Kagome shrugs."That I'm not sure about, probably a couple of months, I hope."
"Hope?" Eri asks. "Why? Even if you have to live on that side of the well, surely you can visit?"
Kagome grimaces. "The god tree has, also, told me that his power is fading. Soon, and he didn't know how soon, his power will fade and the well will stop working."
"Can your powers help?" Sango asks.
She shakes her head. "He said that only his could power the well."
"Hmmmm." Sesshomaru begins to speak. "That does not prevent you from recreating his spell."
Kagome's eyes flash. She bows to him. "Thank you, my consort." A large growl from Inu-yasha at that term, along with puzzled looks from the rest of the group. "I didn't think about that. I will ask him about that spell."
Sesshomaru continues. "Although, Higurashi Kagome-kami, I should warn you, that I'm quite sure that such a spell would be very complex and require a tremendous amount of power and experience to cast."
Kagome takes a deep breath, as she nods. "Even if I can't cast it, I'd still like to know it."
"So would this Sesshomaru."
Mrs. h, in a shaky voice, says, "So, my dear, you'll will have to live on the other side of the well, and the well will stop working soon."
Kagome, tears beginning to form in her eyes, nods.
"And you have no idea about how soon?"
"Not really. He promised me that he'd warn me when his power drops too much, but he also said that more often we use the well, the faster his power will fade."
Silence . . .
"How does that affect what we talked about with Kohaku?" Sango whispers into it.
Kagome turns to her friend and with tears in her eyes, whispers, "I don't know. But that was why I didn't say anything when my mother made her offer."
"What offer?" Miroku asks."That Kohaku live here with Kagome's mother, at least for a while, so the doctors on this side of the well could help him. And I would live here, traveling back and forth through the well as necessary." Sango replies. "Now, if the well is going to stop and soon, I can't. Kohaku is going to have to return to our side of the well."
'Even though, Chika and Mrs. h have convinced me that, if he returns home with me, he'll never be the same. He'll hate me for forcing him to use weapons.' Sango thinks. 'Can I do that to my brother?'
"Or, he can still stay here." Mrs. H states in a firm tone."Mom?" Sota asks in a shocked tone.
Mrs. h, allows a small smile on her lips. "If I'm going to be losing a daughter, having a son to replace her, would be nice. And I'm sure that my father would have approved."
"You would make that offer?" Sango asks. "You've never"
Kagome's mother waves her to be silent. "The offer stands." She says in a tone that will not allow a reply or an argument. "I will help him to the best of my ability. You are my daughter, if I don't make that offer, If I don't do everything that I can, then I am not a parent."
Everyone looks at Mrs. h.
A pause, the silence broken by Sesshomaru as he bows to Mrs. H and says. "You, madam, are, almost, making me wish that you were my mother."
Mrs. h, quickly raises and gives Sesshomaru a quick bow in reply. "I am grateful that you, almost, wish to be my human son."
He nods. 'She did understand the magnitude of that compliment. Good.' He thinks.
Sango, her eyes wide, whispers, "You really mean that offer?"
Mrs. h nods.
"Mother?" Kagome asks. "How will you explain Kohaku?"
"I woke up one morning, and while sweeping the front door, I saw him, laying unconscious, outside on the temple grounds." Mrs. h explains. "Something, obviously, has happened to him. Since he was found on my land, in my temple, I am responsible for him." Her eyes twinkle. "And, since I'm going to be losing my daughter, under mysterious circumstances, he might be connected, so I'm not letting him go."
She smiles. "I'll let the government try to explain his history."
"They won't know what to do with him." Chika says firmly.
Mrs. H nods. "And, as such, since he is nobody's responsibility, my offer to care for him, probably won't be argued with." She shrugs. "And, if there is, one of my friends husband is a reporter for one of the local tv stations. A little public exposure, framed properly, will take of any other problems."
She turns to Sango and asks, "Sango?"
Sango bites her lips. "I'll think about, and even mention it to him, ah, mother. But, I'm not going to make this important decision without thinking about it."
"Of course." Mrs. H replies. "And, since we will have time to consider it, there is no hurry."
"You're still nervous." Inu-yasha declares at he stares at Kagome. "I can smell it. So what else is there?"
Kagome nods. "Yes, there are still a few more announcements. I need to do." She looks at Inu-yasha, and then at Sesshomaru.
"Would you two, please, come here and stand next to me?" She asks them.
Sesshomaru and Inu-yasha glance at each other, grimace and move to stand next to Kagome. Inu-yasha on her right, Sesshomaru on her left.
She grabs their hands and squeezes. "Mother," She nods to her mother. "Sota, Sango, Miroku." She continues nodding to them. "Shippo. Rin. And my friends."
"Inu-yasha, Sesshomaru, and I have made our choices." She pauses. "Inu-yasha and I will, with your permission," She nods to her mother. "Get married."
A huge sigh passes through the room.
"I have, also, agreed to become Sesshomaru's consort."
Silence . . .
"Mother." Kagome looks at Mrs. H. "Do I posses your approval?"
Mrs. h stands up. Her eyes flick to Sesshomaru.
He stares back, then, gives her a slight nod.
Her eyes flick to Inu-yasha.
Inu-yasha, with a stone cold face, gives her a slight nod.
She walks up to Kagome. She looks at Kagome's hands, which still grip Inu-yasha's and Sesshomaru's hands. She reaches out. One hand covers the grip between Inu-yasha and Kagome. The other hand covers Sesshomaru's and Kagome's grip.
"I give you my permission."
Kagome, instantly, drops her grip on the men, and hugs her mother. Mrs. H, instantly grips the hands of Inu-yasha and Kagome.
As Kagome hugs and cries into her mother's shoulder. Her mother is silently, via her gaze communicating with Inu-yasha and Sesshomaru.
Her gaze is telling them, in no-uncertain terms, do not hurt, in any way, her daughter. Do it, and even if she is on the other side of the well, she'll know, and she'll find a way to punish them.
Both Inu-yasha and Sesshomaru break eye contact, and nod, silently agreeing to her demand.
Mrs. H drops their hands and hugs her daughter.
"Congratulations." Miroku says in a neutral tone. 'I would try to make a joke, perhaps, since they are sharing Kagome, if I could join in, but, the mood of the room is wrong.' He thinks.
Everyone else in the room adds in their congratulations, as well.
Kagome, finally, releases her mother and steps back to Inu-yasha and Sesshomaru. She clears her throat. "Now." She pauses. "In a couple of days, Inu-yasha and I will be returning to the other side of the well. We will, then, go on a vacation."
"You're going to be married that quickly!" Eri squeals out.
Inu-yasha blanches and goes pale.
Kagome shakes her head. "No, Eri. He and I have been apart from each other. And, both of us would like to get to know each other again."
"And without Naraku and Kikyo around, you two need time to talk." Sango adds in.
Kagome nods.
"Once we return from that, then," Kagome looks at her mother. "Then, maybe, we'll have a wedding then."
"I don't know about that." Inu-yasha growls out. "I agreed to marry you, but, don't you think that is too quick."
Kagome turns to him and smiles. "It something to talk about."
Inu-yasha snorts, but nods.
Kagome's smile grows.
Sesshomaru clears his throat. "Kagome have you found out why the God tree used Naraku, Kikyo and Jewel? All of that was a test, a forge to create you. For what?"
Kagome turns to Sesshomaru, her face changes becoming very serious. "Yes. I have."
"What?!" Miroku asks in an excited voice. "What does that mean, Kagome?"
Kagome sighs. "It's going to be hard to explain to you two." She nods to Miroku and Sango. She looks at her mother, Chika and her friends. "Although you should understand."
"Explain?" Sango asks.
"On this side of the well, Sango." Kagome replies. "Mankind rules. But, instead of caring for the world, mankind is destroying the world." She shivers. "I can feel it."
"You can?" Mrs. H asks in a low voice.
Kagome nods. "My senses. Somehow, I can feel the deaths of the trees in the world." She takes a deep breath. "And, that is why they created me. To save the world."
Silence . . .
She slumps. "Their plan was to create a person, from now, with the knowledge of the destruction of the world and send that person back in time, to change the world."
"The well." Inu-yasha growls.
Kagome nods. "Yes. However, their plan didn't work as they had hoped. But."
She looks around the room. "But." She repeats herself. "I can't ignore what is happening. And, since I'm going to living on the other side of the well, I can't ignore what will happen."
She takes a deep breath. "I have tremendous power. I have the knowledge that unless something happens, mankind will destroy the world I live in. I have a moral responsibility to prevent that."
She pauses as she looks around the room.
Everyone in the room, slowly, nods.
She sighs. "My dreams . . . I always thought that Inu-yasha and I would live happily ever after. I never really considered how we would live. You know, what job Inu-yasha would have, or I would have." She sighs again. "Now."
Anther pause.
"Now, I know. My job is to change the world." Kagome states.
She looks at her friends and family. Her lips twist into a small smile. "At least, on the other side of the well, I don't have to start changing the world instantly."
Her eyes catch and hold the eyes of her family and friends as she slowly surveys the room. "But, sooner or later, I'm going to need help."
"OF course, I'll help." Sango says, instantly. 'Kagome has stood by me from the very first time that we've met. Not to help her would be, probably, the worst mistake that I'll ever make.' She thinks.
"Change the world?" Miroku murmurs. "For the better?" he asks.
"Of course." Kagome replies instantly. She sighs. "Exactly how, I don't know. Although, I don't think, it will be all that simple."
"That, I think," Miroku replies. "Is an understatement of tremendous proportions." A twinkle appears in his eyes. "Of course, I'll help."
'As a goddess, she'll need someone to help her as her following grows. Someone will have to be her high priest.' He thinks.
Shippo smiles and nods, as Kagome's eyes catch his. 'My mother is a goddess! I wonder what will happen?' he thinks.
Kagome's three girl friends nod, awe in their eyes.
Kagome's mother and Kagome lock eyes.
A timeless pause, as everyone looks at Mrs. h, waiting for her reaction.
Mrs. h's lips slowly expand into a smile. "I always knew that you would grow into someone special." She pauses. "You can change the world, my daughter. And I will, of course, support you."
"Yeah!" Sota exclaims.
Kagome turns to Sesshomaru.
He replies to her silent question. "Of course, I will support you."
'Hmmm.' Sesshomaru thinks. 'The exact details about who, what, and how to change the world will be interesting to determine.'
She turns to Inu-yasha.
Inu-yasha smirks. "Change the world, hmmm. Good. After Naraku, I need a challenge."
Kagome's lips twitch into a smile. "Of course, Inu-yasha."
The end of this chapter.
Author's note: there is a couple of loose ends left, but this sets up my next major storyline Kagome: Goddess of japan.
Right now, I'll probably have another couple of chapters, as I clean up the loose ends, then, sometime in September I'll start that storyline.
Thank you for reading
jeff shelton