"Inuyasha ... I'm feeling unwell." Kagome muttered softly, gazing up at Inuyasha as he entered their home with an armfull of fire wood.
He'd only half payed attention to her as he walked the wood inside. "What was that?"
She fought the urge to roll her eyes, he had impeccable hearing so she knew he'd understood her. "I said, I don't feel well."
He stopped in the middle of the room and crossed his arms over his chest. "What do you mean, unwell?"
Inuyasha could feel his heart beat in his throat now.
"Could you take me to the tree?" She questioned with a faint smile. "I think I'd like to sit outside for a bit, but I don't know if I could walk there in this condition..."
He gave her a timid nod. "Right now?"
"I think so."
Inuyasha stepped forward and scooped her up, one arm under her knees and the other under her shoulders. "Good thing it's a nice day."
"Mhm!" She agreed with a smile as they exited their home. The sun was lingering over the horizon, half the sky was blue and the other half was transitioning to a deep navy colour. It was spring now, the grasses that surrounded their home had been fruitful in providing a horde of flowers.
Inuyasha took his time cascading through the grass. He could go a lot faster to provide Kagome with her request quicker, but for his own sake he drew it out. His heart pounded so hard he felt it from his ears through his toes.
A gentle breeze hugged them and Kagome tucked a lock of her long hair behind her ear, keeping her eyes on the approaching treeline toward the forest.
"How are you feeling?" He peered down on her face, taking in every single detail he could.
"Content." She replied, looking upon him with her rich brown eyes that he'd fallen in love with. He leaned his head forward and placed a kiss on her forehead.
They passed through the trees leading to the tree of ages. It was serene. Forest critters passed over the branches overhead and the sickly sweet scent of the spring flowers filled their nostrils. Spring was Kagome's favourite season for a reason, she loved the flowers and the bloom of tint creatures that thrived just outside their front door.
The meadow surrounding the tree of ages welcomed them, a breeze creating a wave effect in the long grass.
"Where do you want me to put you?" He questioned thoughtfully as they approached.
"Hm, maybe at the base of the tree."
"Okay." He agreed and the two approached the tree. The breeze now came from behind them, as if beckoning them closer to the tree.
"Here..." Inuyasha mumbled as they made it to the base of the tree, carefully shifting her in his arms so that he could sit her against the welcoming bark. "Are you comfortable?"
"This is nice." Kagome sighed comfortably, giving the large root she sat beside a nice pat with her hand.
He crouched beside her so he looked upon her at eye level.
Kagome had lived a good life.
Her long black hair had been overcome with gray. She'd laughed that they looked more alike now, but her comment had only made him sad. He placed his hand on the top of her head sullenly, petting her hair like he knew she liked.
Her skin had aged. In her late thirties he'd noticed gentle creases in the corners of her eyes. By her late forties he'd noticed more creases, and by that time her body began to slow down. She wasn't as agile as she used to be. He'd cried about it in private.
Now her face had sagged quite a bit. Her skin hung loosely from her skull and her body deteriorated. She walked as an older woman did, slow and calculated. She reminded him of Kaede, who had passed so long ago she felt like a distant memory.
He hadn't aged. He looked the exact same as he did those seventy years ago, not a lick over twenty years old. He's been by her side each and every year, just as he promised.
He sat cross legged beside her with his face growing hot. He was usually one to fight back tears but this evening he would not. They prickled behind his eyes and finally formed, spilling over his bottom eyelid.
"K-Kagome..." His voice had caught in his throat, only a whimper erupted from between his lips. He shook his head angrily at his own failure to keep his composure. "Is it time?"
"I think it is." She confirmed calmly, she only watched him with tender brown eyes. "It's been a long time coming."
"Tch, no it hasn't. It feels like I've blinked and we ended up here."
"For you I suppose." He reached over and clasped her hands over his. His skin was warm and weathered over the years of using them to heal, to teach, to aid.
His tears continued to skim over his cheeks. "I'm not ready." He stuttered, raising his eyes to meet hers. He would not spend their last moments together peering away from her.
She gave his hand a gentle squeeze. "I don't think anybody is ready for the inevitable... but I feel... at peace with it."
"That's... good, Kagome." He sighed, giving her hand a squeeze back. He could see the tears forming in her eyes.
"Will you sit beside me?" She questioned, letting go of his hand to pat the grass beside her.
He nodded. "Of course." Inuyasha leaned forward and sat beside her, their legs touching, his back against the trunk.
The breeze flew through their hair. It was a calming feeling, just the two of them under the tree and the breeze hugging him as if the tree itself held them. It dried his tears, and oddly enough, he did not feel as if he had to cry more at this moment.
"Were you happy, Kagome?" He swiveled his head over to gaze upon her. "Do you feel like you made the right choice all those years ago?"
"I wouldn't change it for anything." Kagome replied. "I was bound for another desk job back home with nothing to come of it. Be trapped in an endless cycle that every single person experiences. I've lived a life that I wouldn't have even dreamed of back in my old era. Marrying you, having our beautiful daughter..."
Inuyasha felt his throat tighten as her words became slower and his entire chest felt aflame.
"You did good Kagome." He reassured her, and she smiled at his words. "You've touched the lives of everyone you've met."
"That... makes me happy." She sighed, leaning further back into the trunk of the tree. "To think I did something worthwhile."
"O-of course you did!" He stammered with a blazing hot face, tears returning. "So many people depend on you, I depend on you.."
She craned her neck so she could prop it up against his shoulder. He could hear her breathing begin to slow even more.
With a wavering sigh he leaned his head against the top of hers. His heart pounded like a drum but he felt a wash of bliss hit him.
"Inuyasha?" She asked.
"Y-yeah?"
"You've made me happier than anyone could."
His chest felt like caving in. "Kagome.. I can't imagine how my life would have been without you by my side."
"You'd... still be sealed to the tree.." She giggled faintly, her voice losing its umph with every word. Her body was close to letting go.
For some reason, his body felt the same.
"You're right." He smiled to himself. "I love you so much Kagome. Nothing will ever change that."
"You won't forget about me?"
His lips twisted at the accusation, eyelids heavy with tears. "Of course I won't.."
"Good..." She snuggled in closer to his arm. Her breathing was shallow now. "I love you more than anything Inuyasha."
The moon peeked through the intermittent clouds. He hadn't even noticed, night of the new moon. He gazed down to see his jet black hair.
Could it be?
His own body felt like unwinding. He closed his eyes and took comfort in her presence for the last time. He listened in on her breathing as best he could, it was spacing out, and so was his.
His one wish was to be granted.
x.
A gentle breeze ran through Moroha's hair. It was unlike any breeze, though it may seem like an ordinary breeze, she felt something was off.
From the hillside she camped up on she peered in the direction of home, or what was her family home, before she left to stake her claim in this world.
"Is... is it time." Moroha spoke softly as she stood from the log that served as a bench, approaching the cliff side to get a better view.
Her heart raced. Something told her to return home, and so she would.
She packed her bag of gear and began running. She wasn't as fast as her father but she made do with her abilities. Thankfully she was well fed and well rested, she would definitely get there this night.
Her nose pointed her in the direction of the forest, but why? She'd stop by the home first. She stepped inside to find it empty of any life.
"Dad?" She called out, despite knowing he was not there. She would have heard him by now. She only called for Inuyasha, because she knew her mothers time was coming to a close.
With a sigh she raked her fingers through her hair, stopping at the red bow adorning her ponytail. She was a grown up now, but suddenly she felt like a lost child, anxiety creeping up her throat, scared eyes looking for her parents.
"The tree..." Moroha sighed with a shake. The cool night air crept under her garment, usually she was quite resilient but her long run and panic leaked her of her energy to keep warm.
She ditched her bag in the house and began her last run toward the treeline.
She ran through the thicket of trees toward the bare meadow, and if her nose was correct ...
Her feet carried her through the last patch of trees and into the soft grass of the meadow. She stopped in her tracks, her sharp eyesight narrowing ahead toward the sacred tree.
"Oh." Her eyes immediately spilled with tears but she smiled despite it.
Moroha continued forward, waterfalls of tears dripping off her jawline, but the smile persisted.
She approached them as they sat peacefully under the tree of ages.
She smiled because her father got was he wanted all along.
Moroha dropped to her knees and happily sobbed before her parents. "I-it's better this way, isn't it..." She whispered to herself and clawed the tears off her face.
What would her father do without her mother? Hell, she didn't know. They were two peas in a pod. Inseparable. All her life they'd been glued to each other, despite their stupid spats over literally nothing.
Moroha giggled at the memories. They were the reason why she was so stubborn and pigheaded. She always had to have the last say in an argument, and made sure to be assertive about it. She was the ultimate culmination of her parents.
Her mother looked happy in her passing. A smile ghosting her lips. The worst pain Moroha felt was watching her mother age, while Inuyasha and she did not. This day was coming, Inuyasha knew. He told Moroha to go chase after rumors to keep her away, at Kagome's request.
Like her father she was sensitive but hid it well. She gazed upon his face, he as well had looked peaceful in his passing. Especially in his human form.
Oh how fate works. She thought to herself with a small smile. The one night his body became vulnerable, susceptible to everything a human could fall to.
And for Inuyasha, he'd fallen victim to a broken heart.
Moroha crawled close to her mother, and embraced her one last time. Maybe it was morbid, but she'd accepted Inuyashas plea to leave the area while Kagome neared her end, so she felt it was only fair to have one last hug.
She did the same to her father. Though she felt it strange to say goodbye to his human form, a part of him she rarely knew, but found grateful this was who she said her farewell to.
She touched at their hands entwined one last time before leaning back into the balls of her feet to stand up.
x.
Their graves by the tree had been dug, and once the deed was done, covered back up.
It was the next day, and their family friends arrived to pay their respects. Moroha watched with smiles as familiar faces arrived at different times.
"Hey!" She waved as she saw a group of people arrive through the treeline. "I'm so happy you made it Sango."
Sango had aged just like her mother, incredibly gracefully. Though she was slower now, she was ever resilient.
"I would not miss saying my goodbyes for the world." Sango replied, grasping at her son Hisui's arm as she approached. "They were there instantly when Miroku had passed."
"I remember." Moroha replied thoughtfully, taking to the woman's other side. Behind Sango and Hisui, his own full grown children attended. They had children of their own, but Moroha did not see them in attendance.
Sango turned a handful of flowers in her free hand and took a few lonesome steps towards the graves, placing the flowers over the fresh mounds.
Tears prickled behind Moroha's eyes but she fought them back. Besides Shippo, the fox demon, what was left of their gang would be gone soon, as Sango herself was nearing her end. Call it intuition, but she could smell these things. The same smell her mother had.
"I'm so sorry." Sango returned to her and held her in a warm embrace. "I still remember catching you when you were birthed. I feel so very sorry that you had to bury them both on this day. I know what it's like to lay more than one family member to rest."
"That's right. Though I think this was the perfect way for them to be laid to rest. Together beneath the tree of ages."
Sango nodded. "What brought them together will now see them end together."
Moroha knew they'd be the only visitors for the day, word hadn't spread beyond the village yet. She'd stayed at their graves until the next moon had peered overhead. Her nose twitched.
She gazed upwards and saw him. Sesshomaru flying overhead. He surely wouldn't land, but a warmth spread in her chest to know he, in his own way, paid his respects.
Moroha sat cross legged between the graves. She wasn't ready to go back home just yet. Another night with her parents would make her feel better.
"We did good, Inuyasha." Kagome spoke with a sweet smile, gazing over to Inuyasha who apparated by her side. Despite passing in his human form, Kagome saw him in his hanyou form, the form she fell in love with.
Inuyasha watched their daughter sit at their graves with nothing but a proud smile gracing his lips. "We did, Kagome." He peered back to her, her young rounded face like the day he'd met her.
"Now, let's go."