Disclaimer: See chapter 1.

I just want to thank everyone who didn't yell at me and offered their understanding for Inu-yasha's death. I was worried about how people would react but I was very relieved not to get any hate mail. Thank you! This story has taken on a life of its own and I'm not really sure where it's goingso I hope you guys will hang in there until the end.

Thanks again for all your wonderful words and support and I apologize for taking so long to update.

The Beginning And The End

Chapter 11

Sessho-maru returned to his fortress to find Kagome gone. After recovering from his initial frozen state of panic, he began searching to grounds for his missing mate. He quickly came across Jaken who proceeded to run around in circles in a blind panic until he remembered something very important.

"My Lord! She left a note! Where is the note!"

Sessho-maru picked the toad youkai up by his collar and glared daggers into the petrified creature.

"Where. Did. She. Leave. The. Note."

"Uh, uh, uh….I, I,…."

"Jaken."

"AH! Your bedroom! I think it was in the bedroom!"

Sessho-maru returned to his bedroom and scanned the room, finally finding the note on the floor, obviously blown off the table by the open window.

Dearest,

I have gone to visit Rin to escape this place and the anxiety it causes. I cannot remain here without you when his body is still here. I am eagerly awaiting your return, my love.

Kagome

It didn't take Sessho-maru more than a few minutes to reach the nearby village. There he found Kagome and Rin laughing and talking as they played with a group of children. Kagome felt Sessho-maru's presence a few seconds before he appeared and as soon as he materialized, she was already running for him. She threw herself into his arms and he held her as tightly as he dared.

"I'm so happy you're back!"

"I missed you too, nisou." He pulled back and looked down into her shining green eyes. "It's good to see you smiling."

Kagome held onto his hand and led him over to Rin who greeted him in kind, followed by the children. Kagome couldn't stop the laughter as she watched a very uncomfortable Sessho-maru fight the urge to kick and toss the clamoring children away as they jumped up and down, chanting his name and grabbing at his clothes and hair.

"Rin."

The young girl managed to get her laughter under control enough to shoo the children away, promising them more stories about Sessho-maru once she was done visiting. Sessho-maru took a deep breath and turned to Kagome who was sitting down on a fallen tree, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve.

"So what did they say?"

Sessho-maru sat down next to his mate and put his arm around her waist, pulling her to him, her body fitting perfectly within the crook of his arm, her head resting on his shoulder.

"Kaede is worried about you and hopes you will come back to the village when you are ready. It is as I said. She cares for you, Kagome, and does not blame you."

"What about Sango and the others?"

"I did not see them."

Kagome sighed and closed her eyes. After a few quiet moments she turned into Sessho-maru, burying her face in his chest and clutching a handful of his haori. Sessho-maru gathered Kagome into his lap and held her, remaining silent, sensing she had more to say.

"Will you…..will you stay with me for the funeral?"

"Of course. I will do anything you ask, nisou."

"K-Kagome?"

Both looked up at the sweet, hesitant voice to find Rin standing there, her normally happy face showing signs of her worry and sadness.

"Um….I'd like to go too. I-if that's ok with you. I know I didn't----"

Kagome held her arms out and Rin flew into them, the two women hugging each other tightly, crying.

"Thank you, Rin. That means so much to me. It would mean a great deal to me if you came with us."

Sessho-maru sat there as Kagome and Rin situated themselves in his lap, each one taking a thigh to sit on, their arms around his neck, hugging him close. He put his arms around the two women in his life and held tight, thankful for all that the gods had seen fit to grant him in his life.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Sessho-maru stared down at the corpse of his dead half brother. He'd instructed Jaken to place a spell on the body to keep it preserved, but he had no idea that the servant would take it upon himself to prepare the body. He had moved the body into the fortress, cleaning it and cleaning and repairing Inu-yasha's signature firerat haori. He laid the body out on a dais in a room by his own in the far corner of the fortress.

"He did a lovely job."

Sessho-maru turned to see Kagome standing in the doorway, hands clasped tightly. She smiled, weakly, at her mate and walked in to stand by his side, gazing down at the body of her friend.

"I saw him earlier this morning. he told me what he did and apologized for not being able to attend the funeral." Kagome let a soft chuckle free and reached out to hold Sessho-maru's hand. "He may drive us crazy at times, but he is a member of this family."

Sessho-maru stiffened and turned to face Kagome.

"Family?"

"Yes." Kagome stepped into her mate and laid her head upon his chest. "You, me, Rin and Jaken. We are a family. A bit of an odd family, but we are a family."

He placed a loving hand on Kagome's head and kissed the top of her head, lingering a few moments to enjoy her scent. He hoped that Kagome hadn't picked up on his momentary bout of panic at her words. When she mentioned family, the first thing that had popped into his head was that Kagome was pregnant. He was convinced that his heart stopped at that very moment. We can never have a family in that sense. I won't allow it. His gaze shifted to that of his dead half brother and his resolve became that much stronger. I will not bring a half breed child into this world.

Kagome sensed Sessho-maru's tension, but she couldn't place the source. She supposed he was still walking on eggshells around her after everything that had happened. Can't say that I blame him. She wrapped her arms around Sessho-maru and squeezed tight.

"As long as I have you by my side, I know everything will work out just fine."

Sessho-maru tilted Kagome's chin up and gave her a tender kiss.

"I shall always be with you, nisou."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It was decided that Kagome and Rin would take Aun to Musashi village, and then the dragon would return and bring Sessho-maru and Inu-yasha. Kagome sat atop the dragon, her mind and heart in turmoil over seeing her friends for the first time, having to face them and confess her crime.

Suddenly she felt soft arms embrace her waist and hug her close as a weight settled into her back and between her shoulder blades.

"Everything will be fine, Kagome. You all love each other and that love will bring you through this."

Kagome placed a hand over the clasped hands on her stomach and smiled.

"Thank you, Rin. I hope you're right."

They arrived in the village a few hours later, landing on the outskirts so as not to alarm anyone. Kagome and Rin made their way to Kaede's dwelling, holding hands the whole way. Kagome was grateful for the young girl's presence and the comfort and strength she provided. As they cleared the small bridge over the stream, they saw a group of people waiting for them not far off. Sango, Kaede, Miroku, Shippo and Kirara were all waiting, looking subdued.

Rin gave Kagome's hand a reassuring squeeze and proceeded forward, even as Kagome stumbled along with her.

"Good morning."

Rin bowed to the group and similar greetings were exchanged. Then all eyes turned to the woman in the miko clothes, her head bowed, free hand clenched tight.

Rin studied the group and became worried the longer everyone stood there, silent. Finally, Sango took a few hesitant steps forward until she was within a foot of Kagome. Rin could see how upset the woman was and wondered what she was going to do. She gave no indication of whether her emotions were due to sorrow or anger.

"K-Kagome?"

Rin squeezed the priestess's hand again and Kagome slowly looked up at her friend.

Sango cringed when she saw the fear within her friend's eyes. It's as Kaede said. She really is terrified that we hate her.

Before Kagome could voice any response, Sango threw her arms around her friend and hugged her tightly, speaking into the ebony hair even as she started crying.

"Oh, Kagome, I'm so sorry for everything that's happened! I'm so glad you came back! We've been so worried about you!"

Kagome immediately hugged her friend back, breaking down just as the other woman did.

"Oh, Sango, I was so scared that you would hate me."

"No, no! We love you and could never hate you."

As the two women stood there hugging, they were soon joined by Miroku. Rin noticed the small fox demon did not join his friends and she went to stand by Kaede's side.

"I am relieved to see them comforting each other."

"Yes, that's what true family and friendship is about, Rin."

Both women eyed the young demon and saw him stiffen at their words. Rin was hopeful they had gotten through to him, but he remained where he was for several seconds, then turned and retreated to Kaede's dwelling.

"He does not forgive Kagome?"

"I think his trouble stems from other issues. Kagome is like a guardian to him and he was devastated when he thought she was dead and equally elated to find out she was alive. But children place a great amount of faith in their elders and develop a certain idealized image within their hearts. And when an elder does something that does not fit within that image, the child withdraws, unable to accept the new image."

"I see. Poor Shippo had her on a pedestal."

The group hug broke up and the threesome made their way to Kaede and Rin. Kagome hugged Kaede in greeting and was relieved to receive a fierce hug in return.

"I'm glad you came home, child."

"Thank you, Kaede. Where did Shippo go?"

"He's having trouble handling the whole situation. Just give him some time."

Kagome nodded mutely and the group made their way inside for tea. They sat together and Kagome relayed the events as best she could without breaking down again, all the while, searching the room, doorways and windows for any sign of their absent fox demon. It broke her heart to think that he would not be able to forgive her.

What Kagome didn't realize was that Shippo had learned a thing or two from Inu-yasha. He sat on the roof and listened to Kagome's every word as her voice carried up to his sensitive ears. He sat there as streams of silent tears ran down his cheeks, more confused than ever about the woman he looked to asa big sisterand role model.

To be continued….