Chapter 36

As his reiki surrounded Kagome's they began to hear a soft female voice join his, singing the same song as him. It sounded like Kagome, but her mouth wasn't moving. It was as if the voice was an echo. However, as soon as Miroku heard it, he stood, putting that much more power into his voice.

Two things happened simultaneously then. Kagome's eyes snapped open, glowing white as her reiki began to intertwine with Miroku's, using him to heal itself. She gasped, jaw dropping, and everyone could only stare in awe. So much raw power.

"Sing Kagome!" Sango yelled, tears in her eyes as she gripped onto Izayoi's arm, the two women holding each other. "Use Miroku!"

Kagome's back arched suddenly then, so hard that only her feet and head touched the bed beneath her. Her reiki was surging wildly, as if it was losing control of itself, as if it was in pain. Tears escaped Kagome's eyes, and slowly, she opened her mouth, beginning to sing.

The power in the room intensified, becoming overwhelming. Adding Kagome's voice, even with it being strained, had the reiki in the room pushing everyone back until they were pressed into the walls. Both Kagome and Miroku raised up from the floor and bed, hovering several feet above it. Their voices harmonized perfectly, Kagome's voice getting stronger with each second.

She lifted her hand, raising it up as her power returned to her. She was gaining back her energy, awake when they hadn't been sure she would ever open her eyes again. Miroku's plan was working. As the song came to a close, they both hovered there for a second longer, absolutely no sound in the room. No one even dared to breathe. Then their reiki snapped back inside of them, both of them falling back to the ground harshly. Kagome landed on the bed while Miroku thudded on the ground.

No one moved, amazed at what had just happened. They didn't want to break the magic that Miroku had just cast. They stood stock still, waiting to see what happened. Miroku pushed himself up off the floor, looking straight at Kagome. His movements were strained from using so much power, but he stood, waiting on some sort of movement from Kagome.

Then she lifted her hand, holding it out to Miroku who took it with a tearful smile. He helped her to sit up, yanking her into a tight hug as he did. His eyes were watery, his hand holding the back of her head as he hugged her. She was awake, and alive.

"I'm so sorry." Kagome whispered, her voice breaking. "I took back my reiki from Sango that I put into her. It's why I didn't die, but my reiki had been injured and it wasn't healing."

"You're okay now." Miroku murmured, pulling back from her enough to grip her shoulders. "Never again, Kagome. I mean it."

"Gome!" InuYasha broke apart the scene by running forward, slamming himself into her. She grunted, but wrapped her arms around him, holding him as tightly as she had Miroku. Her eyes came up, meeting Sesshomaru's, but he made no move to go to her.

His emotions were in turmoil. He was ecstatic, happy that she was awake and okay, but he also felt betrayed and tossed aside. She hadn't thought of him when she tried to give her life for Sango. She hadn't thought of anyone else. Sesshomaru loved Kagome, but he wondered if she truly loved him at all.

"I'm so happy you're okay." Touga moved forward then, the others following him. They all hugged her, and she returned the gesture. Sesshomaru was the only one that didn't move, the only one who stayed back, watching the reunion. Kagome kept glancing at him, but with the others surrounding her, she didn't have a chance to say anything or come to him.

When she finally had a chance to breathe, InuYasha gripped a handful of her night slip, tugging on it. "Do you not care about us, Gome?"

"What? Of course I do, InuYasha. I love all of you." She knelt to his level, grabbing his hands. "I didn't mean for this to happen. I thought when I pulled back my reiki, I would be okay."

"But you didn't care." Sesshoamru finally said, hands fisting at his side. "You determined your life was forfeit and accepted it to save Sango and the child. You cared not for anyone else."

"That's not-"

"It is." Touga interrupted, cupping her cheek and making her look at him. "Kagome, you wanted to save Sango and the baby. No one, absolutely no one can fault you for that. Your heart has always been large, and it was no surprise that you would jeopardize your life. Before, when it was just the three of you, perhaps you would have even gotten away with giving your life, though Sango and Miroku would have lived with that guilt for the rest of their lives."

"Now?" Izayoi pulled Kagome's face from Touga's hand, cupping Kagome's cheeks in both her hands. "Now you have a much larger family. You're like our daughter. InuYasha thinks of you as his sister. Sesshomaru…" Izayoi took a deep shuddering breath. "You would have left Sesshomaru alone. You didn't think of him once. If you had, you wouldn't have gone through with it. You wouldn't have been okay with leaving your soul bonded behind, alone."

Kagome looked up at Sesshomaru, tears in her eyes. He didn't look at her, kept his head tilted down and to the side. He still felt hurt and betrayed, he still felt as if he didn't mean anything to her. How else could he feel?

"Thank you so much, Kagome. Without what you did, I would have lost my baby." Sango swallowed as she wrapped her arms around Kagome, holding her tightly. "But I almost lost my sister too. Miroku knows what happened. He realized you had managed to get your reiki and his to get along, and that was why you hadn't died. Kagome, if you hadn't rushed in to throw away your life, you would have been able to see exactly what was wrong. All of this could have been avoided if you had just taken a single second to think about it and everyone else. We all need you in our lives, Kagome. All of us."

"I'm sorry." Kagome hugged Sango back, pressing her face into Sango's neck. After a moment, she pulled back, wiping at her tears. "Can we have a moment alone?" Everyone agreed, knowing Sesshomaru and Kagome had things they needed to work out. Sesshomaru didn't watch anyone leave.

He couldn't decide if he even wanted to stay. He knew he should, but for the first time in his life, he wanted to run away and avoid the conversation that was coming. What if she confirmed his thoughts, that she didn't love him like he loved her?

"Sesshomaru." Kagome approached him, but he didn't move, didn't look at her. Her little hands came up hesitantly to rest against his chest, her mouth pressing against his cheek in a small affectionate kiss. "Sesshomaru, I love you. I'm so sorry."

He felt as if he had been punched in the gut, his eyes widening as he looked down at Kagome. Tears ran down her cheeks, the guilt evident. But he could see the love she spoke of. More than that, he could finally feel their bond again. He could feel the love she was sending him. He had felt it before she had fallen unconscious and right before she had begun to heal Sango. She had let him feel how much she loved him, but he refused to see it.

"You left me." He growled, still not reaching out to touch her. "You did not care."

"Sango was right. If I had just taken a second more to think… but I didn't. There is no excuse, Sesshomaru. I thought of no one but myself and what I could do. I was selfish and foolish. I…" She looked down, stepping back from him. "If you can't forgive me, I understand."

Scoffing, Sesshomaru looked away. Foolish, indeed. She had forgiven him for everything he had done to her, and yet, she thinks he can't forgive her for wanting to save the life of one of her best friends. She had acted to save another, he had just been cruel. "I forgive you, but I am angry. I am furious. I want to take you over my knee, lock you away, and never let you out again."

She looked up at him, hope in her gaze as she listened to him rant. "I sat by your bed for three weeks. I thought I had lost you. Your body would have been here, but your heart and soul, your smile and laugh, they would have been gone. Everything that makes you who you are would have disappeared. I would have been left with a husk, a shell."

"I'm so sorry." Hands coming up to clasp over her heart, Kagome began to cry again, the tears falling heavier this time. "I didn't… I won't let it happen again, Sesshomaru. I promise you I won't carelessly act without looking at every option possible first."

"That's not enough, Kagome." Sesshomaru shook his head, growling. "That promise still allows you to make careless decisions. It still allows you to sacrifice your life if you feel there is no other option. I will not allow it." Sesshoamru stepped forward, gripping her chin and pulling her up until their faces were inches apart. "The only promise that will do is one that will save your life. Promise that you will never give your life for another. Not Sango, not Miroku, Not father or InuYasha. Not even me. Promise it, Kagome. It is the only one I will accept."

"But then people will die? What if Touga dies, or InuYasha? What if you die?" she grabbed his wrist, pressing her forehead against his. One of his arms snaked around her waist, the other still pinching her chin, forcing her to look at him.

"That is life, Kagome. Death will touch us all. You cannot block death's fingers forever. Should you give your life to save one, it will only be a matter of time before death claims them anyway. You would give your life for nothing. You would leave the rest of us behind because of a useless sacrifice. You cannot save them all." Yanking her to him harshly, he held her body against his, made her feel his warmth, his anger and fury at her hesitance. "I am a selfish being, Kagome. I will not share your life with anyone else. Should we continue this, it will belong to me, and me alone."

"If we continue this?" She looked up at him, mouth parted in shock. "You would leave me if I don't make this promise?"

No. Sesshomaru didn't have it in him to ever leave her, but if hearing him say yes would spur her into agreeing, then so be it. He would do anything to keep her safe. Any fucking thing. "Yes. If you don't make this promise, our courtship is over. I will not watch you kill yourself for nothing."

Kagome pulled her chin from his fingers, pressing her forehead to his chest. She was shaking, taking in everything he said. He could only hold her, rocking her as he let her think. Sighing, he knew he was being harsh. He knew this was going against the very nature of her being. "Kagome, I ask this of you, because I can not lose you. I love you, as you claim to love me. Despite me knowing this is not any easy choice for your nature, I still ask it. Promise me that you will not sacrifice your life for anyone. That you will not share your reiki with anyone else, that you will put your life above all others."

She looked up at him, eyes wide and watery. Cupping his cheek, she pulled him down and he let her. "I love you too, Sesshomaru. I promise." She sealed it with a kiss, and he took hold of the promise, never letting it go. He would make sure she never broke this promise. He would make sure she never acted carelessly again. She was stuck with him, just as he wanted to be stuck with her.

...

Here's a challenge for you. There is some heavy foreshadowing in this chapter. It is something Sesshomaru says to Kagome. If you can guess it in a review, I'll post another chapter for you to read. You only get one chance, and no more hints. Good luck! Do ya'll want a teaser? Sesshomaru finally takes Kagome to the meadow to explore their new home.

Everyone has finally said their peace, and Kagome knows not to sacrifice her life anymore for anyone. It's not just her anymore, and they all made sure she knew that. They understand her need to save everyone, but she can't save them all. Not without giving too much of herself away. She will have to let life and death follow their natural courses.

Anyway. I hope you all enjoyed this chapter.