AN: As always, InuYasha is owned by Rumiko Takahashi. The story is my own. If you'd like to leave a review, thank you!
In downtown Tokyo, a well-dressed man stared out over the city, lost in the turmoil of his thoughts. He had seen her, finally, in that mornings paper, in an article covering an upcoming archery tournament for the high schools. She looked the same, yet not. More mature, focused, but still with the mirth around her eyes.
Did he dare approach her, being unsure of how much time had passed since she returned? The article said she was 17, but he was unsure of when her birthday was. She could only be back one year and not the two he had hoped for, since he knew she was 15 when she defeated Naraku. Should he first seek her reaction, if she recognized him in passing? If she didn't recognize him, would he be able to continue? He snarled at the thought. He, Taisho Sesshomaru, afraid to approach a human! His beast rose to the surface, HIS human! HER! Impatient, frustrated, he had waited years and that frustration caused his youki to flare and then…he felt her reach out in response. He quickly retracted him youki, but remained alert. He could feel her reiki seeking the slightly familiar signature of his youki. Damnit! He was better than this. He needed to remain calm and begin planning.
Shaking his head to clear it, he turned from the window. The living room in his plush penthouse appeared to be no more than a suite in an extravagant hotel for VIP's, tastefully and expensively decorated, with not one item to reflect the personality of its owner. He preferred it that way; being forced to live among humans meant moving often to prevent his longevity from being discovered. Living simply ensured that, for the most part. Besides, he never brought guests to his sanctuary.
Sesshomaru tugged his tie loose, heading into the bedroom. This room was not so sparse; a shelf above a long dresser held several high-end watches, a divided tray on the dresser had an array of cufflinks. A display on the wall above the overly large bed held three swords, the most favored on the bottom, for easy reach, though it had not been used in over a century. A shadow box on an ancient chest that was surrounded by an incense stand, candle, and offering bowl held a well-loved yellow-orange kimono. Encased with it was a happi coat, turquoise in color. He had kept his promise. He'd never forgotten her. Or her mate-to-be.
Stepping into the closet, he stripped off the accoutrements that reflected how the humans viewed power in this century. Expensive suits had long replaced the spiked armor and kimono he wore while traveling Nippon. Although no longer Lord of the West, he wielded no less power now. As CEO of Tasiho Corporation, an investment firm with widely diversified interests, Sesshomaru had his hand in nearly every industry in Nippon. There were even divisions in North America and the United Kingdom, mainly medical research facilities.
Stepping into the warm stream of the shower, he allowed his mind to wander back to the last time he had seen the miko, as it often did when he wasn't beset by the daily distractions of his empire. Three days after she disappeared, with InuYasha hot on her heels, they appeared out of a meido, claiming to have been inside the jewel itself. He had been waiting with her friends and his pack, as Rin had refused to leave the kit's side, having grown close to him in the year Kagome had been teaching them both to read and write whenever the groups were close. Sesshomaru had begun to step towards Kagome, locking his golden gaze on her cerulean orbs, determined to never leave her side again having finally determined her worth during the three days without her presence, when she had been pulled back. Lunging for her did him no good - she disappeared as quickly as she had appeared, her hand reaching for his. Snarling, he whirled and grabbed his half brother.
"Where has she gone?" Sesshomaru grated out.
"I don't know, asshole!" was the answer. Gritting his teeth, InuYasha lifted his filling eyes to his brothers, ears drooping. "The Shikon no Tama is gone. She wished for it to disappear. It's over."
The taijiya suddenly gasped. "InuYasha! Behind you!"
Both brothers whipped their heads around. There, in seiza position, was Kikyo, appearing as though she were an intricately wrought statue, one that would take a masters lifetime to complete. No heartbeat could be detected from her. Sesshomaru released his brother, hand flying to the hilt of Bakusaiga, ready to remove the dead one if needed; she had caused enough problems when allied with Naraku. Sniffing, he detected no decay about her. Softly, almost unnoticeable even to his daiyokai senses, he scented calla lilies and rain where there had been none before. A light heartbeat accompanied the scent, growing stronger with each beat. Gently, Kikyo's chest began to rise and color crept into her cheeks. He caught InuYasha's hands twitching as he beheld the miko brought back for a third time.
"Ki..Kikyo? Are.. Are you truly here?" the awe and gentleness in his voice could not be mistaken, his eyes fixated on her.
Starting, her eyes slid open. Doe-like brown eyes fought for focus, finally settling on InuYasha's face. A light blush began to color her cheeks as warmth filled her gaze. "InuYasha? How am I here?"
Kneeling next to her, InuYasha reached for her hand. "I don't know. I thought you were taken to the Kamis when Naraku's miasma killed you. But are you whole?"
Squeezing his hand, she nodded. "I feel as I did in the days before Onigumo's betrayal, almost. Some things are...different. How, I know not yet."
"It is because of the pure wish of Miko Kagome," a voice familiar to most of those gathered sounded. A soft light a few feet from Kikyo began to grow until the form of Midoriko could be made out. "With the Shikon no Tama wished out of existence, her journey for the Kamis is complete. She was given two paths to choose from. Her choice has been made, and she has been granted a boon." Midoriko reached a hand out towards Shippo, who had been clutched in Sango's arms since his mother vanished, barely acknowledging Rin when she attempted to console him. "Kit, your mother wishes to speak with you. This is her granted boon."
Tears formed in Shippo's eyes. He knew what that meant; he was coming back alone. But he loved Kagome far too much to not grab the chance to say goodbye, so he climbed down from Sango's arms and walked to Midoriko.
"Shippo! Tell Momma Rin loves her very much! And that Rin is grateful she loved Rin like Rin's first momma," called Rin, who still stood by Sango, Jaken just behind her with Ah-Un. Sesshomaru winced at his ward's address of the miko.
Nodding to her, Shippo reached for Midoriko's hand and both disappeared. InuYasha helped Kikyo to her feet, handling her as though her body was still made of earth. They knew Shippo would tell them what happened when he returned, so they might as well all get comfortable. Rin curled up with Ah-Un and drifted off to sleep, lulled by the soft voices of the monk and taijiya as they told Kikyo of what had happened since she died.
When Shippo reappeared, his eyes, although sad and reddened from crying, were determined. He explained that when InuYasha had saved Kagome from making the wrong wish on the Shikon no Tama, the Kamis had offered her a choice. She choose to allow InuYasha to be reunited with Kikyo, to allow them their lifetimes together. It was the one thing she knew she could grant her dearest friend and brother. InuYasha couldn't believe it. She had been so unselfish.
The boon she had asked for, was for the Kamis to allow her to say goodbye to Shippo, because she didn't want him to think she abandoned him. He was her son, always, no matter where she was. Her love was sent to everyone, with a special blessing for Sango and Miroku's upcoming wedding, and another for happiness for InuYasha and Kikyo.
"Lord Sesshomaru, Mother asked that in return for the teachings she was giving Rin, when I am not attending kitsune school, I attend you to learn more of the way of the youkai and of the court," Shippo looked directly at the Lord of the West, before walking over to the yellow bag that his mother always carried. Digging through it, he found what his mother had instructed him to give to Sesshomaru. "Mother knew that her short time teaching Rin would not be equal to her request, so she asked me to give you this - she called it a history book."
Sesshomaru took the strange object from the kit. He had often seen the miko looking at differing ones, sometimes writing on her strange paper after reading a page. He turned the book over, noting the words 'History of Nippon' on one side. Carefully, he opened the book. The kanji inside, while different and neater than any scholar he could ever employ, was familiar enough that he could read it.
"Momma said it was what scrolls look like where she comes from," Shippo explained, taking a deep breath. "Momma wasn't from Edo. She was from the fu-"
"SHIPPO!" InuYasha yelled. "Whadd'ya think you're doing?! Don't tell Lord Asshole that!"
"Hn. Do not tell This One that the miko was from a different time, using the Bone Eaters Well as her path?" Sesshomaru intoned, leveling an icy stare at InuYasha. "She confessed that to This Sesshomaru some five moons ago, when confronted with my knowledge that the well led to her home and I threatened to destroy it."
"You did WHAT!?" Sango gasped. "How could you do that to Kagome? She's been helping you with Rin for nearly a year!"
"Be assured, slayer, that I am not so cruel. Her safety needed to be ensured when Naraku planned to take her. This One needed to force a truthful answer to forge trust between uneasy allies. This One did threaten to kill her on our first meeting."
"Keh. Great, so you knew about her all along, huh, Sesshomaru? Is that why you started taking an interest in her? I could smell your stench whenever I escorted her to the well," InuYasha spat in his direction, even with Kikyo held in his arms, her head tucked under his chin.
"This One's beast began the interest in the miko, if you must know, little brother," Sesshomaru's eyes sparked when InuYasha's ears twitched in annoyance at the new form of address. "Her loyalty and power are beacons to her worth. Kit, I accept your offering on behalf of the Miko Kagome. You will come with me to the West in three months time. This will allow you time to attend to your business with your friends. Rin, you will accompany the kit for the time. Jaken, you will protect Rin. This One needs no distractions while he cleans up after the hanyou." With that declaration, Sesshomaru left Edo, returning to his stronghold in the West.
Stepping out of the shower, Sesshomaru began toweling off. Even though he fought his enemies on a different battlefield, he still kept himself fit, working out several times a week. Tucking the towel around his waist, he walked to the balcony attached to his bedroom. Looking in the direction where he had felt her reiki originate, his eyes narrowed, as if he could see her through the impressive Tokyo skyline. He nodded, mind made up; he would approach the miko slowly. If she did recognize him, it could have negative affects, and harming her was the very last thing he ever wanted to do again.