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Chapter 13

Kagome swam beside the whale's large eye as they both moved through the water. She kept very quiet, afraid of what might come out of her mouth. The whale had its own gentle silence. Kagome only watched the ocean bottom as it moved slowly below her. The silence was awkward and unlike her. Her heart still bleeds for Inuyasha. Her prayers begged to keep him safe. Perhaps she had been to forward with him? But, he seemed so…distant from her. Like his whole personality was changed due to his sudden lust for blood and revenge. However, her heart also wished for the revenge on Naraku, the destroyer of her world. Was her desire as strong as his?

"Will you sing for me, little one?" the whale asked suddenly.

Kagome was so shocked by the comment that she did a semi-summersault in the water. She gazed back at the whale's large clouded eye. His age was so striking to her for some reason. He seemed to fill up so much space with his words. Kagome felt so diminished next to his wisdom and silent power.

She then thought about the whale's words and said, "I don't know if I have the voice too."

"I've never heard of a mermaid who didn't have the voice to sing." The whale echoed.

Kagome didn't answer.

"Perhaps you no longer wish to sing for the children of the sea?" the whale stated.

Kagome shook her head and turned away from the whale's large eye that glared into her very soul. "I'll always sing for the sea. You know that."

"Perhaps," the whale said softly, "but I know that I have missed your songs. Currently, there seem to be more important things in your life than singing for the children of the sea."

Kagome narrowed her eyes and put her hands on her hips. "If you want me to sing then, fine, I'll sing!" She stood up straighter in the water and cleared her throat.

With a scowl on her face, Kagome waited for a few seconds, trying to decide on a song to sing. Singing was always considered an art to her people, now it seemed an annoyance. Whatever gave the whale the audacity to ask her to sing agitated her.

Kagome sighed and when she found the melody, the words began to flow. At first she was irritated to sing so suddenly, but as the song progressed, she closed her eyes and got into the rhythm. Her voice stretched through the water, and rode on the waves. Creatures of the deep turned their heads up to listen; many swam with earnest to get closer to the wondrous sound.

As the song progressed, Kagome began to lose herself in the music she was creating. Her hands moved in front of her body, willing the sounds from her throat. The ocean joined into the chorus and gave her a live symphony. She carried her voice to highs and lows, extending notes, holding a cord.

Finally her body gave in and she began to dance. She twirled in circles of bubbles, and rode in the music. She threw her arms wide and opened her soul to the movement of the volumes of harmony.

When she finally caught herself, she was quite out of breath, but a rosy hue had sprung to her cheeks and she was shining a bright smile. She opened her eyes to see that quite a crowd had surrounded her; they all looked glassy-eyed and were barely moving; lulled by the sound of the music. Kagome could still see her whale in the background, a gigantic shadow but still present, as always.

Kagome sighed to herself, pleasant with what she had just done. It had felt good to use her voice for pleasure and not to cause pain.

A school of dull colored fish swam up to her. In a wash of silver they encircled her and touched her skin with their smooth scales. Their bodies tickled Kagome's skin and she laughed richly. The fish only moved closer and swam through her hair and around her arms and waist.

"You are very welcome." Kagome laughed. She tried to shoo them away, but larger sea creatures pressed towards her and encircled her. They all found a way to brush against her skin and be near her.

Small seahorses wrapped their tales in her hair and held on tight. Several small white-tipped sharks swam in lazy circles at her fin. Schools of fish hung in tight groups all around her. A few sea snakes tucked themselves in the curve of her neck. Larger fish swam in front of her, with a dolphin or two just off in the distance. Her whale and a few others similar stayed as close as their large bodies would allow them to be.

Kagome continued to smile and laugh at all the beautiful creatures around her. "Oh! Inuyasha would love this!" she exclaimed, remembering the time they had spent the day together underwater amongst her sea friends. Her heart was warm and joy-filled. It felt so good to laugh and smile. Some events lately had taken away her smile and hidden it away.

"Princess Kagome!"

Kagome jumped. She glanced around wildly to find out who called her name.

"Princess Kagome!"

The fish parted in a mad dash as a familiar figure swam towards her. Some of the more loyal stayed at her side.

Before she could see a face she felt a body slam into her and embrace her in a tight hug.

"Oh I have searched for days on end to find you, Princess. Your ever sweet song finally led me to you."

Kagome was shocked and tried to relax in the grip of the strangers arms. "S-Sir, I am honored by your warmth, but who are you?"

The man pulled away, and bowed low before her, before finally raising his face.

When Kagome saw his face her heart warmed with hope and love. It was her turn to charge forward and encircle the man in her arms. Tears suddenly stained her cheeks in happiness.

The man laughed against her embrace. "Now I am the one who is honored, that you remember such an old friend, Princess." When he heard her sobs he rubbed her back affectionately, "Do not waist your tears on me, my Princess, I am but an old man."

He gently pulled her away from him, and wiped her tears away. Kagome's sobbing continued, "F-Forgive me, I-I had all but f-forgotten you. I am a-ashamed. You have n-no right to call me your p-princess."

The kind old face only smiled upon her. "You will always and forever be my Princess." He said sincerely.

Kagome wrapped her arms around the old man again and softly sobbed. "Oh, Hojo I've missed you."

When Kagome finally pulled away from her death grip on her old friend, she faced him with drying tears of happiness.

"Hojo…" Kagome began. "I'm so sor-…"

"Princess Kagome," Hojo interrupted, "You do not need to apologize. I am pleased that your effort to escape was a success."

"Thanks to you, Hojo, I am indebted forever." Kagome said. The old man only waved her comment away.

He moved slowly around Kagome, glancing at her from head to tip of fin. "By the rich color of your skin, you've been at the surface quite a bit." He remarked.

"Yes," Kagome said shyly, "I have spent much time on the surface, and even in this crystal clear water, the suns rays have tanned my once pale skin." She smiled warmly. "And you, Hojo, have a youthful glow about you as well."

Hojo chuckled, "Your comments are sweet, Princess, I do believe being back in the waters of my home has renewed some of my stamina, but I am still a very old man. I don't plan to live longer than the next tide."

Kagome frowned, "Hojo, what a horrible thing to say! You shall live a thousand years!"

Hojo smiled with only a curve of his lips, "I don't ever want to live that long, Princess. Such long years should be granted to you. May you reign at the Coral Palace." He gave a low bow.

"I'm sure Koga has taken over my position as leader. Who would ever follow a mermaid?" Kagome said.

"Quite the contrary, Princess. Koga was overthrown by his own people." Hojo told her.

"WHAT?" Kagome cried. "Impossible! How, how did this happen?"

"When you left the Dark Waters, it seemed the morale of every merfolk dropped to depressing lows. Small groups of Arctic Merfolk, and Shadow Merfolk have traveled to the ruins of the Coral Palace, hoping to rebuild King Yuu's legacy." Hojo explained.

"King Yuu…" Kagome whispered, remembering her wondrous father who had been so good to her and had defended his kingdom to the last second of his life.

Kagome's mind was suddenly pulled from her father back to Hojo who suddenly seemed to be drifting away in a daze. "Hojo!" she called, trying to cradle his body in her arms, "Hojo!"

Hojo shook himself awake, but seemed dazed and dreary. "I believe I'm only holding on long enough to tell you this…" he said weakly.

"Oh Hojo," Kagome cried affectionately.

He gave her a weak smile. "We were hoping that if you saw the Palace being rebuilt, you would return, and be our Queen."

Kagome's eyes widened and her mouth hung open slightly in surprise. Her swelling heart was in her throat, and pounding with compassion.

"The Shadow Merfolk and the Arctic merfolk want to conjoin the seas and rule as one government, one ocean. For too long have the merpeople been separated by cultural rituals. After the cold war between the demons, we thought separation would save us from a great attack…but it only divided our people. Your survival and bravery has spread throughout the sea." He took her hand in his old, wrinkled one. "We want you to return and take the throne, not as Princess of the Sea, but as the Queen of Eternal Waters."

"Queen…" Kagome breathed.

"You are of royal blood." Hojo reminded her. "Pure and strong."

"I am of tainted blood." Kagome reassured him. "I lead a cursed past, and an uncertain future."

Hojo was quiet for a few moments, unsure how to react to her words. "I do not understand, Princess. What has happened?"

Before Kagome could answer, her great whale's voice filled the water.

"The Queen has fallen in love." He said.

"In love…?" Kagome began.

"Ahh!" Hojo said, nodding his head in agreement. "My suspicion is confirmed."

"Suspicion?" Kagome asked.

"Indeed." Hojo answered.

"Her love is one of the land's children." The whale continued.

"I would only suspect as much." Hojo said, nodding his head.

"Will you both stop it!" Kagome cried.

"Why do you hide your love, my Queen?" the whale asked softly.

Kagome whirled around in the water. "I am not Queen." She stated.

"You are my Queen." Hojo said.

Kagome whirled back around to face Hojo once more. "Stop saying that. What if I can't do this? What if I'm not fit to be Queen? What if the rest of the merfolk will not recognize me as their Queen?"

"I think perhaps you do not recognize yourself as your own Queen." Hojo answered. Kagome opened her mouth but shut it again. Hojo took her hand in his, once again. "Princess Kagome, I have never seen you so torn. What ails you so?"

Kagome bowed her head in thought. Everyone around her knew what she wanted, everyone but herself. She thought no one would understand, but they do, and they do not resent her. She could admit what had been in the back of her mind for days on end, they would still accept her.

"I…I…" She began.

Everything pressed closer to her, as if they could feel the power of her words, the truth she was about to admit.

By the time she got to the last word, she was screaming it. "I…I am in love with the demon prince Inuyasha!"

The seas erupted with silent applause. Her long dead ancestors rose from their graves and clapped for the Princess. Kagome could feel them all. She had emitted her hearts desire. No one blamed her for her love. She was free to love whoever she chose. She had only been the one who hadn't seen that until now.

In a sudden burst of light, the Jewel around her neck sprang to life. It enveloped her in a light pink bubble of power and pulled at her soul. Kagome was lost to its power and didn't fight it; she welcomed the Jewel's strength and wisdom.

When Kagome opened her eyes, she stood on the sand of an unknown beach with the ocean at her back. She was in a vision, a vision that the Jewel was giving her. And the figures before her were just the ones she wanted to see.

The demoness and her merman stood together on the sand. The demoness had her face nuzzled against the merman's bare chest, while his chin rested on her snowy hair. The merman wore only a long white cloak in which he wrapped both himself and his love in. The extra cloth billowed around them and blew in a non-existent breeze.

Kagome had begun to cry at the mere sight of them. Lovers so torn from their horrible lives that only in death could they be happy. They both now smiled together, wrapped tightly in a pure white cape of love.

The demoness lifted her head and turned to face Kagome, she smiled a smile of pure ecstasy. "Young mermaid, Princess Kagome, Queen of Eternal Waters your heart is never alone. We walk with you always."

Kagome couldn't think of anything to say, she only nodded. The demoness placed her head back on her love's chest, and shut her eyes. The merman hugged her tightly for a second then looked up at Kagome.

"My ancestor, your fate is for only you to decide. Not for any prophecy to curse. In the end, it is love that conquers all. Let love give you strength, let it be your guide."

With a wave of his hand, an image appeared before Kagome. It was blurry and colorless, but the site of it made her heart leap to her throat.

Inuyasha stood, sword in hand, facing her with eyes that did not see her. He looked like a warrior, valiant and true. Her warrior.

Kagome reached out with her hand to touch his face, but her hand only passed through the image of Inuyasha, like ghost. Then, the image of him faded away on its own. Kagome clutched her hand that had just passed through the image as if it was her only lifeline to Inuyasha.

"Go to him," the demoness said.

"Let him become your king." The merman finished.

"But…" Kagome whispered, "how can I face him? What if he hates me now?" She raised her voice higher to say, "He now fights the same being who was your assassin…Naraku! How can we defeat such an evil?"

The demoness hugged her merman softly, "Separated you are alone and weaker, but together your souls become one, and you can win."

"Grow from love." The merman answered.

With those words the two lovers stared at each other, and then both glared down at something in the cloak around them. The demoness moved her arms upwards and cradled a bundle under the cloak. The merman moved the cloak away to reveal the body of a sleeping baby. Quietly resting in the folds of the cloth.

Kagome could not believe her eyes, as she watched the father stroke the baby's head with his thumb in the most gentlest of gestures. The couple smiled at each other and then turned to look at Kagome.

There love was forever pure and untouchable. As Kagome felt the vision slip away and the aura of magic recede, her heart swelled with compassion and her strength returned.

When Kagome found herself once again back in her watery home, with Hojo standing in front of her and her whale just slightly in the distance, she took a deep breath and said, "I need to go to him."

Hojo nodded slowly, he grabbed her hand gently and kissed her knuckles. Kagome smiled at her friend and nodded back in return.

"The sea awaits your command, my Queen." The whale's voice echoed. Hojo dropped Kagome's hand and she said, "Wait for me at the Coral Palace."

"Promise me that you will return." Hojo said.

"I promise you." Kagome answered. And with that she kicked her fin with new strength and headed for the surface.

When she surfaced, various other sea creatures greeted her and awaited orders. Kagome called to the sea birds to find Inuyasha's location, and they look flight with speed. Several dolphins came up along side Kagome, she grabbed their dorsal fins and held on as they propelled her through the water, following the seabirds.

Kagome's heart was beating so fast, that she heard it in her ears. She didn't know what she could do, but she knew she had to try. She prayed to the spirits of the sea and earth that she would not be too late.