In the Beholders Eye

Written By Sarga

May/June 2006

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters, I'm just taking a theme and running with it...

Chapter 31: Fulfillment

Rin stood defiantly back, her feet firmly planted in position.

"Rin!" Sesshoumaru's voice, a stark contrast to his mangled body, resounded loudly about the group. "Bring her the amulet now."

The child was taken aback for a moment before her mouth turned upwards as she fell into a fit of giggles. "The amulet?" Rin twittered between giggles. Kagome looked from master to ward, her confusion reflected by friend and foe alike. "She can have the amulet." Rin ripped it from her neck harshly, a trickle of blood trailing down the place where the metal had cut into her flesh. Stepping forward, a youthful look of amusement in her eyes, she stopped just to the side of Sesshoumaru, tossing the amulet the body's length between her and Kagome.

"She can have the amulet," Rin repeated. "But she will not get her wish."

"How do you know...?" Kagome stared at the child. She knew more than she was stating.

"Rin, stop your nonsense." Sesshoumaru's harsh voice. "This Sesshoumaru has relinquished the amulet freely. There is nothing that an insolent child can do to stop this."

"She may have the amulet, but I will not grant her her wish." Rin spat out. "No matter how many battles my protector looses, I will not give up my life! Not until I decide to!"

Kagome looked at the amulet in her hand, feeling the energy it projected. Looking back at the girl she made the sickening realization. "You...You're the Kasei-Ippin?" Lost and suddenly weary, Kagome sank to her knees. A fight for the Kasei-Ippin, and they did not even know its true form. A wish on an amulet, a wish on hair pins, even a wish on a tea pot Kagome could handle...but a wish that would destroy a child?

"The only reason you wanted that trinket in the first place was because I saw its potential to protect me." As the child spoke, her powerful aura expanded about her, revealing her magical origins. "The powers of the amulet are weak, granted, but that little trinket would have done well to protect this frail form from weaker curses of dark mikos." Rin looked at her master. "You could tell just as I could that they whisper about me, about taking me from you. They say it is to prevent you from becoming distracted, but we both know that it is out of jealousy. I may be nothing more than the incarnation of the Kasei-Ippin, born out of the darkness of that vile village, but I am loyal."

Kagome felt herself being lifted into the arms of her mate. Pushing gently free of him, she sent a weary, blood stained smile his way. "There's something I have to do first."

Staggering towards the green imp-like demon, Kagome clasped the delicate floral wreath that adorned his head. Returning to the sitting demon lord, she laid the wreath gently about his neck, his suspicious look the only resistance he offered.

"You'll thank me in three days," Kagome whispered in his ear. "Heal."

Kagome pulled back, chuckling at the potential for the double meaning. 'I hope the intent is more important than the phrasing. I wouldn't like to see Sesshoumaru in three days if he is forced to follow me where ever I go.'

True to her intent, however, the curse took hold. Before their eyes, Sesshoumaru's wounds began repairing themselves at a rate that could not be explained even by his demon blood. Kagome stood and stumbled back to Inuyasha.

"Take me to Kaede's, Mate," Kagome panted as she collapsed in Inuyasha's arms.

- - - - - - - - - -

It took several days before Kagome was fit to walk on her own. The battle had drained her physically and emotionally. Her path to becoming human had been cut off once more.

Not giving up, Sango and Miroku went in search of another lead, but came back after two weeks empty handed. Another tale of the Kasei-Ippin was the result, a less detailed version than the one that had actually led them to it.

Spending her free time recovering, and being 'recovered' by Inuyasha, Kagome counted the days until she could visit her family again. She knew that if she could break it to them when she was in human form, they might not take the shock so hard. Plus, she also had to break it to her mother that she was essentially married and had not had a wedding. The anxiety built as the day grew nearer.

Finally the day arrived and Kagome stood at the edge of the well with Inuyasha. Kagome touched the Shikon jewel affixed about her neck once more, it's purified powers wrapped protectively about her own. As the sun's final rays disappeared from the sky, Kagome felt the change overcome her. Jumping hand in hand with Inuyasha, they landed solidly at the bottom.

Panic welled up in Kagome: her doorway had been shut! She had the Shikon jewel, Inuyasha and was with her...nothing should have prevented her from returning to her own time. For hours she jumped, dug, jumped again, and cried before finally giving up. Someone had sealed it shut from the other side. She could not get through.

Kagome was shattered. Her human emotions more compelling than her hanyou ones, forcing her into a deep sorrow. The following night, when Inuyasha was human himself, she forced her tears to the wayside.

Not to deny herself the chance to learn more about the human side of Inuyasha, Kagome made it a memorable night. She discovered how to make the human Inuyasha purr.

As the years progressed, so too did Kagome's powers. She was able to suppress her demon side for longer and longer periods. Eventually, with the help of Momoko, she taught Inuyasha to do the same. It took a hundred years, but she managed to convince him that it would be worth his while to not be killed for his demon traits.

It seemed that they had started a trend. Hanyous of all kinds were able to use the same technique, were able to blend in with the 'common folk'. Full blooded demons like Sesshoumaru developed their own magic to protect their identities. Eventually, the common folk forgot that demons were even real.

Then came the Americans. Then came the isolation. Then came the Americans. Then came the War. Then came the 50's, 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's...

Then came the time of her childhood.

Kagome watched from a distance as her younger self bid farewell to her mother, that fateful day so many years ago. That fateful day today. Kagome, apparently only a couple of years older, had grown in so many ways. She was no longer a child.

Steeling herself for what she knew she must do, Kagome waited for her mother to leave the yard.

Walking to the well, Kagome spoke the incantation needed to seal its entryway from her younger self. A single tear slipped down her cheek as she thought of the reunion to come. A gentle hand wiped the tear away, turning her face towards his.

Inuyasha, his human form also apparently in his mid twenties, embraced his mate, his wife, his other half. Breaking from their embrace after a moment, the pair fell into a comfortable silence, just enjoying each other's presence.

Turning from the well house, Kagome and Inuyasha walked towards her home to a reunion 5 minutes and 500 years in the making.

FIN

There you have it. 45 000 words in a month. I hope you enjoyed this journey. I plan on bringing you many more.

By the by, I've purposely left the ending rather broad. Imagine all of the possibilities for sequels!

Until next time

- Sarga