I do NOT own Inuyasha or its characters, nor do I profit in any way from this or any other story that I write for this site...but this story is mine, however as it was borne of my imagination...
If Only in my Dreams ch21
Sesshomaru watched in silence as Kagome threw herself into harm's way
to protect Rin-he'd thought she'd do as much, based on their previous
encounters. He was truly surprised, though, upon seeing Kikyo attempt to
protect both his ward and his brother's wench by shielding them with
her own body. He raised an eyebrow questioningly (a most uncharacteristic
state for the Lord of the Western Lands), then turned around upon
sensing his brother's slightly changed youki.
Beside him stood a now human Inuyasha, his friends crashing through the
tree line shortly after his appearance. Sword drawn he hacked away at
the barrier, all the while screaming Kagome's name.
Naraku hadn't expected Kikyo to throw herself into harms way. She
detested her reincarnation, didn't she? What was it about these two women?
They hated each other, and yet given the opportunity to finally be rid
of the other, they both continued to deny destiny's true path: that only
one of them should be alive, not both. Regardless, both would die by
his hand this night. He sent tentacles one after another into her
barrier, ignoring the searing pain she caused him as she purified each piece
that came across her power, but she was weakening, and he knew it.
He walked forward, his strikes increasing steadily one after another
until he stood just a few feet from her barrier. He threw several attacks
at once, smiling when he saw her energy shield flicker briefly before
coming up again, igniting his anger further. He struck again and again,
with each hit he relished as if it were the sustenance of life that he
fed upon. He ignored the incessant pounding upon his barrier. By now
not only Sesshomaru resided outside, but Inuyasha had also joined in.
Kagura should have attacked them by now, but as usual the wench seemed to
have defied his orders, seemingly taking Kohaku and Kanna with her, but
no worries...he'd simply gut the bitch when this was through.
He watched as the two carried a conversation, the thought that they
could just ignore his presence like he was nothing, infuriating him
further, and with renewed anger he struck again. A sudden flare up of energy
caused him to back away. He glanced around him. On the outskirts of his
barrier he could see Sesshomaru, Sango, the monk and Inuyasha, though
he only just now realized Inuyasha's little secret...He was human...
It was too bad that he'd never have the opportunity to use that
information against him. The inside of the barrier lit up. He watched in
stunned silence as each piece of his body began to disintegrate, and no
matter how hard he tried he couldn't regenerate. But it was her voice that
seared through the pain of his demise, her voice that would forever
haunt his last moments..
"Rest in peace, Onigumo, rest in peace. "
It was then that the blackness closed in; then, that he felt the heart
he had thought to have long since ridden himself of, beating within his
chest; and in the distance he saw her. Her silhouette awaited him in
the afterlife, welcoming him to join her as Onigumo, the man...
X
Inuyasha watched as Kagome and Kikyo's power built up, their energy
spiraling into a sphere that grew as each second passed. He could feel the
energy pulsing as if it were their very heartbeat, encompassing
everything that surrounded them. He watched as piece by piece, Naraku
disintegrated, disappearing soundlessly. His eyes were wide in fear at the
knowledge that he'd finally met his end, that once and for all these women
had accomplished what had seemed impossible all these years, because
they had done it together, as the complete soul that was needed to purify
the one evil borne of sheer hate and jealousy.
"I love you, Inuyasha."
He heard the words whisper past his ears, his heart clenching around
the knowledge that he'd very possibly just lost all that he'd held so
dear to him: both women and his child. They were all inside that barrier,
all fighting a battle that should have included them all, not just two
priestesses, a girl and an unborn pup.
He felt the barrier start to give way, felt it shutter beneath the
power that radiated from within its shell and on instinct alone, he yelled
for Sango to cover Shippo and Kirara, before turning and plowing into
Sesshomaru, the force of his impact knocking the Dog-Lord off his feet
and burying him beneath himself, in an attempt to protect the demon he
knew as his brother. In that moment the barrier went down-the very earth
vibrating with the power that surged over her.
Inuyasha glanced down at his brother, who, for centuries, had been
known for his stoic, passionless face, and noticed in wonder how, for a split
second, his face registered his shock: Inuyasha had protected him from
being purified, his being human had actually saved both from the blast
of power that surged past them, when the barrier gave way.
Inuyasha was the first to recover, followed shortly after by
Sesshomaru, and they both raced to the place they'd last seen the women standing.
Inuyasha bent to his mate, her body shaking and bleeding before him- and for
the first time since his Mother died, he felt lost. Kikyo had
disappeared within the blast, and distantly he could still hear her tell him she
loved him before he'd jumped to the ground.
An almost inaudible whimper escaped his lips: he was human, had no way
to channel his youki to their child, had no way to mend the wounds upon
her skin. He pressed his hands to her shoulder trying to stop the surge
of blood that poured from her. He picked her up and rocked her gently,
one hand still resting upon her shoulder, his face buried into her
neck. He whined pitifully, his human vocal chords trying their best to
answer his need to cry. Sesshomaru watched quietly, his mind telling him
that he owed this girl for saving his Rin, and he owed Inuyasha for
saving him. He cradled the little girl within his arms, and for the first
time since the barrier came down he realized...he had both arms...fully
functional, both wrapped carefully around a still unconscious, yet
seemingly uninjured Rin.
Sango and Miroku stood watching, Shippo held by Miroku and Kirara
standing fully transformed beside them.
Sesshomaru moved to place Rin on the ground beside him. "Inuyasha, I
can help her, but only if you'll allow it."Sesshomaru said.
"Why would you help my mate, Sesshomaru, you hate humans
remember?"Inuyashascreamed wildly, his mind retracing all paths of healing and
help. Kaede was too far away, and Shippo wasn't big enough. Faintly he
could hearthe kit crying but nothing at this point would convince him
that she would be alright...nothing but Sesshomaru's offer to help. His
human side demanded he allow it, reasoned that this was the only way,
and his demon consented as it sensed the blood ties that were held
between them. Ultimately it was accepted as blood was of the pack, and pack
was okay, however, his hanyou side was hesitant as it had been he who
had ultimately battled Sesshomaru on more than one occasion. But the
severe state of Kagome's condition, and the safety of their pup won out.
"What can you do?" Inuyasha questioned as he raised his face from
her neck and studied his full demon brother.
"I can channel youki to your pup, if you'll allow it. And I can help
close her wounds, but you must consent first. It requires me to touch
her. If you prefer for her and the pup to die then that is, of course,
your choice."He knew his brother would do all he could to save his
wench.
"Do it." Inuyasha whispered," but I'm not leaving you alone with
her."
"Indeed, but the others will go. I place Rin in your care." he
said as he redirected his attention to the taijiya.
"Why me?"she questioned, shocked and honored that he'd find her a
suitable protector for the girl.
"You will protect her, or I will kill you where you stand." he
replied, his voice icy.
"Well, I suppose I have no choice in the matter then, do I ?"
Sango muttered as she made her way over to pick up the girl.
She had grown since they's seen her last.
"Indeed, you do not. We will find you when the miko is well enough
to travel."
"Cut the shit already and get to helping my mate." Inuyasha growled
as he watched the others turn and disappear into the forest.
"Very well then, Inuyasha, close your eyes." Sesshomaru ordered.
"What the hell for?"Inuyasha ground out, his eyes narrowing
suspiciously as he watched his brother for any sign of deceit, upon finding
none he simply waited for his reply.
"Because you will not like what I am about to do." he said simply.
Feeling no other choice Inuyasha closed his eyes, and he waited. ...
A smoky mist collected around the demons, an air of peace brushing them
softly as both jerked their attention from the woman in their arms to
the apparition that slowly formed next to Sesshomaru. Her body leaned
forward, her hair billowed on some unfelt breeze as she began to sing
softly, her words unclear though beautiful, her hands moving slowly over
each wound upon Kagome's unconscious body.
"Kikyo?" Inuyasha whispered , his hand coming up to cup what should
have been her cheek.
"I give her back the soul that was taken, and with it her power. I
can only help her a little, the rest will be up to you both. "
She smiled softly as she reached to push a stray piece of Kagome's hair
from her face before looking up at him: "Love her well, Inuyasha, for
she loves enough for both of us."
She leaned forward then, across Kagome's injured body, to press a soft
kiss to his mouth, her eyes staring deeply into his own..
"She gave me peace Inuyasha...she gave me forgiveness...I give her
life. Goodbye Inuyasha..."
Her body slid over Kagome's like a silken caress, until she simply
merged with her.
Inuyasha sat dumbfounded, his mind trying to grasp what had just
happened. Sesshomaru sat still as well-his face, unreadable. With a quiet
resolve he reached to pull Kagome's shirt from its resting place, sliding
it to rest higher upon her ribs. He glanced at Inuyasha, their eyes
holding, and rested his hand gently upon her lower stomach.
He sat there silently, his eyes on Inuyasha's, as his body took on an
ominous green glow -a sign he was channeling his energy to his brother's
unborn pup.
A short while later found Inuyasha cleaning what remained of Kagome's
wounds. Kikyo's gift of life had also given her fewer wounds to have to
wake to, the more minor ones having disappeared completely. She no
longer held the claw marks from her encounter with Sesshomaru, though
Inuyasha had yet to hear of those anyway, and the only real injury remaining
was that to her shoulder.
Sesshomaru sat quietly a few yards away as he watched his brother
carefully tending to his mate. The sun was beginning to make its appearance
upon the horizon. The animals of the forest were beginning to scurry
about as the day began, and it was then that he realized that something
was indeed wrong...
Inuyasha still sat tending to his mate...oblivious to the sunlight
spilling over his raven black hair...
It was morning...and Inuyasha was still human...
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If you all want more, please use the little purple button to let me lnow, okay? Much Thanks again to Azaleea. She had been a great editer and friend...