Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

The Beginning And The End

Chapter 9

It all happened so fast, she never saw what happened. But she did feel it. She heard Sessho-maru call out to her and she turned to see the normally composed youkai looking at her with wide golden eyes full of panic and fear. And in that instant she too became scared, but she didn't have time to discover the source of Sessho-maru's fear because suddenly she felt a sharp burning sensation across her throat and then she was falling. She didn't remember hitting the ground, nor did she know what caused her to fall. Her next recalled memory was trying to speak, but nothing was coming out. Then she saw Inu-yasha standing above her, a bloody claw clenched tight to his heart. Inu-yasha…..did you…..kill me?

Kagome woke up gasping and clutching at her throat, calling out Inu-yasha's name. Sessho-maru was by her side in an instant, holding her tightly as she broke down in hysterics.

"He…..Inu-yasha…..he killed me, didn't he! He ripped out….his claws, I saw them….they were bloody….it was my blood…."

"Shhhh….Kagome, please, you're alright now. You're safe with me at the fortress and Inu-yasha is nowhere to be found. "

"Why am I alive?"

"I used Tenseiga to revive you. I will never lose you, nisou. Now please, just---"

"He killed me…..he killed me….Inu-yasha, why? Why did you kill me?"

Sessho-maru could hear the rise in pitch in Kagome's voice and she wasn't calming down. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks in a steady stream; she was shaking and unresponsive to his comments. Sessho-maru had no choice but to call for Jaken to sedate her. He sat there, stroking her hair, listening to the small, steady sound of her breathing. It was a sound he would never take for granted again. In the blink of an eye, he had lost Kagome. The one creature he loved most in this world and would sacrifice anything for, had, in that brief moment, been taken away from him.

He stood up in one swift move, fists clenched and jaw tight. I don't know if you're dead or not, Inu-yasha, but you had better hope you are. If I ever see you again, I will make you regret having ever been born.

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It had been a week since Inu-yasha had killed Kagome in a fit of rage and every time she fell asleep, she woke up grasping at her throat and screaming. Sessho-maru had to have her sedated a few times just to calm her down, while other times he would just hold her and let her cry until she finally fell asleep from exhaustion.

She had argued with Sessho-maru about what to do about Inu-yasha. They didn't know if he was dead or alive and Sessho-maru wanted to find him and make sure he could confidently say the hanyou was dead. Kagome begged him not to kill his half-brother.

"How can you ask me to not kill the being who murdered you!"

Kagome flinched at Sessho-maru's raised voice and looked off to the side, focusing on the bookcase on the opposite wall. "I don't think illing inuyasha will solve anything."

"Then what would you have me do? Let you return to him as if nothing happened, hoping he's learned his lesson?"

Kagome sighed and stood up, heading for the frustrated inu, wrapping her arms around his waist and resting her head against his chest. She closed her eyes as strong arms wrapped around her, holding her tight. "If Inu-yasha is dead, then there's no need to worry about him. And if he's alive…" She pulled back and looked into the golden eyes, "…he will come looking for me. And then, I will decide whether or not I want revenge. But he killed me, so if any revenge is to be taken, it will be done by me."

Sessho-maru listened to Kagome calmly explain her feelings on the matter. He could do nothing but honor her request. He wouldn't argue with her anymore. "As you wish."

"Thank you." She placed her head back against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. "May I make another request?" When she didn't hear any reply, she continued on, "Will you take a message to Kaede for me, please? I doubt they know any details and are probably worried about me."

"Of course."

Kagome lifted her head and kissed the exposed skin offered by Sessho-maru's tunic. Her hands started to slowly make their way from around his waist, snaking their way up his stomach to his chest where they started to unbutton the tunic. Strong hands gripped her hips and a low growl could be heard. As the two indulged in each other, their minds were cleared of their troubles, their only thoughts of each other.

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As Sessho-maru approached the old woman's dwelling his body was tense and his senses were working overtime trying to detect any trace of his half brother. His relief at not sensing Inu-yasha's presence was short-lived as a young woman emerged from the dwelling, bringing with her a weak lingering scent. Inu-yasha. So you still live, hanyou?

Sango's eyes went wide at the sight of Sessho-maru. Oh gods. Does he know? Is he here looking for her? Thank goodness Inu-yasha left two days ago.

"S-S-Sessho-maru?"

"Greetings. I am here to see Kaede. Is she at home?"

Sango nodded her head mutely and Sessho-maru continued past her and into the dwelling. Suddenly he was stopped as Sango grabbed his arm.

"Wait!" She looked up into the golden eyes and lost the words she wanted to say. I can't. I'm not strong enough to tell him she's dead. Her grip slowly loosened and she let him pass, only to follow silently.

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Kaede sat across from the inu youkai, tea gripped tightly with both hands. From the moment Sessho-maru entered the main room she'd been dreading either of them speaking. But after the greetings, she and Sango silently prepared the tea and Sessho-maru patiently waited. But now, there was nothing left to do but to give Sessho-maru the horrible news.

"I come bearing a message from Kagome."

Both women gasped and Sango dropped her tea. She was completely unaware of the hot liquid until Sessho-maru offered her a handkerchief that he retrieved from his sleeve. As she dabbed at her lap, she looked to Kaede for her voice.

"A m-message? From Kagome? When did you see her last?"

"I left her at my fortress this morning. Why do you ask?" Sessho-maru instantly became suspicious. Is it possible Inu-yasha is on his way to see Kagome? Could he be that insane?

"Today? But Inu-yasha…..he said…."

"What about Inu-yasha?"

Sango winced at the venom in Sessho-maru's voice.

"He…he said…."

"Inu-yasha said he killed Kagome."

Sessho-maru calmly placed his tea down in front of him and sat back, addressing the two bewildered women before him.

"He is correct. He did kill Kagome. He killed her in a fit of rage when he found out that we were mates. In return I ran him through. Then I used Tenseiga to revive Kagome and I took her home to recover, leaving that worthless hanyou to his fate."

"She's….Kagome's alive?"

Sango felt tears of shock and relief rolling down her cheeks. "She's alive! I have to tell Miroku!" The young woman disappeared out the door crying and laughing at the same time.

"Please forgive an old woman. I was still recovering from the shock of Kagome's death and now I'm being told she's alive."

Sessho-maru nodded and patiently waited as Kaede collected herself and took a few sips of tea.

"You said you were here to deliver a message?"

"Yes. She apologizes for making you worry for so long but she's been having great difficulty dealing with what happened between her and Inu-yasha."

"I cannot begin to imagine what tortures she is enduring." They sat in silence for several minutes before Kaede spoke again. "I am sure that she is grateful to have you by her side at such a difficult time."

Sessho-maru caught the implication of Kaede's statement and he was not surprised. Kagome had already told him that Sango knew about them but he was assured that the demon slayer would keep their secret. He found Kagome's trust well placed.

"I would do anything for her."

Kaede nodded her head and took another sip of tea. "Finding love in this world can sometimes prove very difficult. I am happy for you both and wish you all the joys life can offer."

"Thank you. I will pass along your message but I'm sure she'd like to hear it from you personally. Hopefully she will feel well enough to return soon."

"I will be happy to see her whenever she returns. Please take car of her, Sessho-maru. And thank you for delivering her message. Our hearts were breaking a little more each day we believed her dead."

Sessho-maru nodded and rose to take his leave and return to Kagome. But just as he was about to exit, he turned his profile towards Kaede.

"Where is Inu-yasha?" Neither spoke for a few tense moments. "I promised Kagome I would not kill him and I have no intentions of breaking that promise."

"He left two days ago. He told Miroku he killed Kagome and then he left without saying a word."

"I see."

Sessho-maru slipped silently out of the dwelling and into the forest, too caught up in his thoughts to notice the dark figure on the roof watching his every move.

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He was quickly approaching Kaede's dwelling when he saw Sango running, crying and laughing, calling for Miroku. What's going on with her? As he changed direction and started to follow the demon slayer he caught the barest of scents in the air and his pursuit halted. Sessho-maru. He doubled back and headed for Kaede's. He silently lowered himself to the roof and his sensitive inu ears caught the conversation going on below him as it floated up from the open window.

"You said you were here to deliver a message?"

"Yes. She apologizes for making you worry for so long but she's been having great difficulty dealing with what happened between her and Inu-yasha."

Inu-yasha's eyes widened as realization dawned on him. She's alive? Kagome….Thank the gods…..but how? As his mind struggled to comprehend how the woman he killed survived, words spoken by a soft commanding voice reached his ears.

"I promised Kagome I would not kill him and I have no intentions of breaking that promise."

Inu-yasha's chest tightened. She doesn't want me dead? Is it possible? Could she truly forgive me? His body tensed and he lowered himself flush with the roof, clinging to the shadows as Sessho-maru exited the dwelling and disappeared into the forest.

Kagome….

To be continued….