When Miroku revealed his wind tunnel was gone, relief nearly knocked Kagome to the ground. She threw herself into Inuyasha's arms, and in his ecstasy he pulled her into a long, passionate kiss that left her breathless.
They had done it.
They had won.
Naraku was gone.
They had all survived!
Her joy turned sour when she saw Kohaku kneeling on the ground, fingers touching a pile of ash. They hadn't all survived. This victory was not theirs. The one who ensured it would never see the result of her sacrifice. The vision of Hotaru burning came to the forefront of Kagome's mind.
It can't be true. It was just an illusion, nothing more.
"Kohaku…" Sango started. She made a move towards her brother.
Kohaku stood up. His eyes were void and listless. He simply turned and walked away.
The following hours were a whirlwind of emotions. In spite of everything there was an irrevocable joy that came from Naraku's defeat. It was over. The Shikon Jewel had been destroyed save for the single shard in Kohaku's neck. They were finally free.
The village celebrated. After all, they had all grown close. Many of the elders had known Kikyo. The children had followed Shippo's stories with rapt attention over the many rest periods they've had here. Adults and teenagers made sure to get updates on any progress every time the group was home.
Kaede was particularly emotional knowing her sister was finally avenged, and that the group she had come to care so much for had survived the ordeal.
Rin was overjoyed to see Sesshomaru, he even allowed her to hug him. Something Kagome had never seen him do before.
Villagers had brought out sake and were sitting around listening to Inuyasha and Miroku recall the story with varying levels of truth. Shippo sat on Miroku's shoulder asking questions and chipping in when he could. Kids were running around with sparklers Kagome had brought back after the Sanja Festival in Tokyo. People were roasting and sharing food. There was laughing and dancing. The fresh spring air lent an extra feeling of excitement to the festivities.
When evening began to fall, Kagome found Sango watching her brother from a distance. All of a sudden, all of the joy and relief came crashing down. Kagome was overcome with guilt for celebrating.
Upon returning to the village Kohaku had sat down in front of Hotaru's shrine and had yet to move or talk to anyone. Sango's arms were crossed, she wore an expression that Kagome recognized well. The look she always had when she was worried about her brother. It always broke Kagome's heart to see her best friend hurting so much.
"Hey."
"Hey."
There was a long silence. The sun began to bleed red streaks over the tree line. Crickets were beginning to chirp. Kagome and Sango stood side-by-side, watching Kohaku.
"He hasn't said a word or moved an inch since we got back."
Kagome remained silent. Poor Kohaku. She couldn't even begin to imagine the pain he must be going through. It hurt to even try.
The sun was almost gone now, only a few crimson streaks remained.
Sango took a deep breath.
"When we were inside Naraku's body, both Inuyasha and I had visions. Miroku said he and Sesshomaru did as well."
Kagome nodded.
"I saw Inuyasha as a full-demon, he attacked Kohaku and I."
"Do you have any idea what Kohaku saw?"
Kagome's insides twisted uncomfortably.
She remembered Hotaru writhing in the fire. Her skin was blistering and boiling away. Kagome knew if she lived to be one hundred, she would never forget the sound of Hotaru's screams. It was a sound unlike Kagome could ever even fathom existing. It burned in her ears like acid.
She died with Magatsuhi clinging to her soul. She died a demon. Because of that they were both dragged down into the fires of Hell.
"Yes." Kagome's mouth felt almost too dry to speak.
Sango waited for more, but Kagome just shook her head.
"I can't tell you, Sango. Please, don't ask me to."
"Kagome…"
"You don't want to know."
"I need to."
"No, you don't." Kagome met her friend's eyes, "I'm sorry, Sango, but I can't talk about it. I can't think about it. I...I just can't."
Sango searched Kagome's face. "I understand."
"Thank you." Kagome looked back in the direction of the forest where the Bone-Eater's well was. "I still need to find her parents…"
Sango didn't need to ask who she was talking about.
"Have you thought about what you are going to say to them?"
"No."
Sango put her hand on Kagome's shoulder.
"It's not fair that you have to face it alone. If I had the ability to go to your world…"
"I know, but he needs you more than I do."
"Hey, Kagome!" Inuyasha called. "Where'd'ja go?"
"Coming!" Kagome shouted back. She squeezed Sango's hand again and went back to the party.
The next day Kagome returned home. She saw Sota first and greeted him with a giant hug.
"Hey! Geddoff me! Sis! I can't breathe!"
Kagome just squeezed him harder. She ran inside and reported to her mom and grandpa the good news. Naraku was gone. The Shikon Jewel was gone. They had won.
"That's wonderful, Honey! I'll make a big dinner to celebrate!"
Kagome celebrated with a bath. But when she finished, her excitement faded when she saw the missing flier still sitting on her desk. She picked it up.
"Mom?" She asked as she went into the kitchen, "Did you ever manage to track down Hotaru's family?"
Mrs. Higurashi's eyes softened with sympathy.
"I did. Their phone number is written down by the phone. I haven't called them yet."
Kagome found the number. She stared down at it for a long time. Her mother came up behind her and put a hand on her shoulder. Finally Kagome picked up the phone and dialed.
It rang a few times before a woman answered.
"Hello?"
"Hello," Kagome said, her heart was pounding. "Is this...is this Hotaru Tomoe's mother?"
There was a momentary pause before a tired response.
"I'm sorry, but please contact Detective Sato with any information…"
Kagome panicked, knowing she only had a few seconds before she was hung up on. She had to say something about Hotaru that not just anyone would know.
"Wait! I know about Sailor Saturn!"
Kagome prayed she had gotten the name right. Jaken had said it once, Kagome was unsure what it meant, but she knew it was a title connected to Hotaru somehow. There was a long pregnant pause. When the woman spoke again her voice had piqued.
"Okay, you have my attention."
Kagome's throat was dry, the easy part was over.
"My name is Kagome Higurashi. Is it possible to meet somewhere? I have some information and I...I need to tell you in person."
There was another pause.
"I will fax you an address."
,
,
,
The phone rang. Michiru picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Hello...is this...is this Hotaru's family?"
Pain sliced through Michiru. Since Hotaru had disappeared three months ago, Michiru, Setsuna, and Haruka have done basically nothing but search for her. Michiru had spent days upon days divining in her mirror, chasing fuzzy glimpses of Hotaru. What she could see was vague and difficult to make out. An old shrine, an ancient village, a forest, a mountain pass...enough to give Michiru hope that Hotaru was still alive, until a few days when the mirror suddenly went dark. She hadn't told Haruka or Setsuna about this yet.
Haruka had been leading extensive ground searches with their friends and volunteers. She had done most of the coordinating with the police, and she came home every night weary and defeated. Her job was the most fruitless of all of them. They knew Hotaru would not be found by a search and rescue group. She was lost beyond time. But Haruka and Michiru were celebrities, they couldn't hide Hotaru's disappearance, and they needed an open police case to keep up appearances until they were able to bring her home.
Setsuna, meanwhile, had worked tirelessly to repair her garnet rod. It had been shattered when Hotaru fell, without it she could not gaze into the timestreams. It was an arduous task which required Setsuna to pour a constant stream of pure planetary energy into the talisman, which left her sick and exhausted after two months. She had just recently regained enough strength to begin her own search, but it was difficult to find a single person throughout all of space and time.
On top of all of that, all three of them had to deal with hundreds of leadless tips and opportunists pretending to be kidnappers asking for a ransom. They had employed a private detective to deal with the tipline, knowing that none of them would lead to any results. But every now and then calls got through, it always tore their hearts open anew.
"I'm sorry, but please contact Detective Sato with any information…"
"Wait! I know about Sailor Saturn!"
Michiru froze. Her whole body language must have betrayed her shock because Haruka instantly noticed and sat up.
"Michiru? What is it?" She asked.
Michiru took a breath.
"You have my attention." She finally replied.
"My name is Kagome Higurashi. Is it...is it possible to meet somewhere? I have some information and I...I need to tell you in person."
In that second, Michiru had to fight against every single instinct she had not to slam the phone down. She didn't need clairvoyance to know what this person had to say. The tightness in her voice was enough.
Haruka placed a hand on Michiru's shoulder, looking inquisitive. Michiru took Haruka's hand and squeezed it.
"I will fax you our address."
An hour later, there was a knock at the door. Michiru had been sitting alongside Haruka, their hands clasped together. They pressed their bodies together, soaking in each other's comfort and strength.
Setsuna waited in the chair, separated from the other two. Always the distant one, even now. She kept her expression unreadable, centuries of loneliness and heartbreak had hardened her in a way that the other two couldn't even fathom. When the girl knocked it was Setsuna who answered the door.
Kagome Higurashi entered, she was young; fifteen, maybe sixteen. She looked around nervously. Her expression confirmed Michiru's fears. She had clearly witnessed something horrible recently. Michiru knew without a shadow of a doubt that Hotaru was never coming home.
Kagome sat down, she looked down at her hands for a moment. Then she looked up at them and took a shaky breath, but seemed unable to start speaking.
"It's okay." Michiru said. "We already know."
"You do?" Kagome's voice cracked slightly.
"You could have told us good news over the phone." Setsuna replied. "You asked to meet in person. You wouldn't have done that if Hotaru was alive unless you were either exceptionally cruel or exceptionally tone deaf. Are you either one of those things, Ms Higurashi?"
Kagome took another shaky breath and shook her head. Michiru felt her heart twist painfully. She squeezed Haruka's hand very tightly. She could hear Haruka's breathing change as well. They would both keep their emotions in check for now. They needed to. They needed to know what had happened. They could bury themselves in their grief later when they were alone.
"Please, tell us what happened?"
Kagome nodded.
"I...I can travel through time."
She paused and waited for their reactions, when they didn't scoff at her she continued.
"There is a well on my family's shrine, and I can use it to travel between our era and the feudal era. I met Hotaru there a few months ago. She told me where and when she was from. I offered to bring her home but she had made friends with a boy named Kohaku, she said he needed her and she wouldn't leave him until...until he didn't need her anymore.
"A demon named Naraku was after Kohaku, and he sent another demon called Magatsuhi after them. Magatsuhi possessed Hotaru and…"
Kagome broke off again. She completely broke down.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! We tried to save her, but she...she...There was nothing anyone could do...
"She asked me to find you, she told me to tell you she loved you, and that she was brave and...and that she didn't...she didn't feel any pain."
The last part was a lie. Michiru absolutely believed that Hotaru had told Kagome to say it, but it was a lie. Possession was never painless.
Hotaru… Michiru tried to block out images of what she must have endured.
Setsuna had sat up straighter.
"She died possessed by a demon?"
There was a note of urgency and fear in Setsuna's voice.
"Yes." The girl's voice was very small, and broke on the single syllable.
Setsuna took Kagome's hand. She closed her eyes. She was looking for something no one else could see.
"1493." Setsuna took a step back from Kagome who now looked confused and frightened. Setsuna transformed and looked at Haruka and Michiru. Something in Setsuna's eyes told Michiru that she wasn't coming back. This was goodbye. Michiru nodded. Pluto returned the gesture. Then she was gone.
There was a moment of silence.
"What happened to her body?" Michiru asked. Again Kagome did not seem to want to answer. "Please, we need to know."
"She asked to be cremated," Kagome said, "I...I didn't know if I would be able to find you, or I would have returned her remains to you, but...she...she didn't want anyone to use her body for evil so...we scattered her ashes. I'm sorry…"
"No." Michiru said, though her heart was beyond broken. "Don't apologize. That was the right thing to do."
"Did she make a difference?" Haruka asked, her voice was low and tight.
Michiru could feel the tension in Haruka's muscles. While most people assumed Haruka was the stronger of the couple because she was often the louder one, the rasher one, the one who would fling herself into danger without a second thought. But Haruka felt everything so deeply. She loved so hard. She walked on a tightrope of emotions, always one step away from falling. Losing Hotaru was enough to shatter her, but if Hotaru's death was in vain, not even Michiru would be able to put her back together.
"You said she was brave." Haruka continued when Kagome didn't reply, "We already knew that. She's always been brave. She was born brave. Brave, and selfless, and good. I want to know, did she make a difference?"
"Yes. She did."
Haruka nodded.
"Thank you." Michiru said, "For coming here, for telling us. I'm sure that it was not an easy thing to do."
"I wish I could have brought her home to you. I wish…"
"We know." Michiru said. "You seem very kind, it's comforting to know she was surrounded by kindness in the end. But now we need to be alone."
Kagome nodded. Michiru brought her to the door, thanked her again, and said goodbye. As soon as the door closed there was a loud THUD.
"Damnit!" Haruka had punched a hole straight through the wall. "Damnit, Damnit, DAMNIT!" She punched the wall again. Then she leaned her forehead against it and let out a fractured sob.
Michiru took her hand, her knuckles were already starting to swell, but Michiru doubted she cared. They faced each other for a moment, the weight of their loss settling over them like a heavy blanket. Then Michiru wrapped her arms around Haruka, buried her face into Haruka's chest. And together they cried.