A Beautiful Recompense

Every step was an eerie echo of their past, every blossom that fell; longing memories of a hundred and fifty years that had been. And every breath was a painful reminder of what could have been.

The moment he reached out to her, she convulsed like an invalid, her precious little body slammed hard on the ground. He was at least thankful that it was grassy earth that cushioned her fall. As he came closer, the more she grimaced in sheer torture. She grit her teeth in absolute pain, her soft whimpers cutting his heart open, raw.

It was when she looked at him that his breath was knocked away: gone was the joy that sparked in her eyes, there was no warmth in her regard.

It was as if she was seeing a stranger.

He was a stranger.

Nothing more, nothing less. And his mating mark was erased. Snuffed out in existence. He stood dumbfounded, torn between his emotions and the crippling desire to hold her, to comfort her from that debilitating pain.

But every step away seemed to ease her cries.

He took a step away, and another, and another. And his muscles protested every movement, his instincts, his mind screaming at him to go back.

And so he ran as fast as his legs could carry him, every fiber of his soul overwhelmed with a wave of emotions… he did not know when he dialed his father's number. He couldn't remember what he said, or if he was able to say anything at all. Most probably he sobbed like an idiot, where he stopped running in the corner of the sidewalk, the people around him staring.

Or maybe he didn't, because the next thing he knew he was surrounded by a group of white-haired Inuyoukai like himself – his family,

And he felt his father's hand squeeze his shoulder, and his distinctive voice as he whispered: "Son, tell me everything that you saw."

When they reached the very top of the thousand steps, a terrible ache started to constrict his throat. It was getting harder to breathe, but his father's supportive hand on his shoulder prodded him to move along.

An old Shrine Maiden was sweeping the grounds.

Sesshomaru opened his mouth to speak, but no sound came out.

"Is Kyoshiro in the shrine?" His father spoke.

"He went to Shinjuku with his wife," she smiled cordially, "You are the Taishos, aren't you?" she asked with a slight blush on her cheeks. "If this is about council matters, I suggest you come back another day. They won't be back until tomorrow. But feel free to linger, the Shrine is not closed for operations."

"Sorry for the trouble," Touga bowed his head slightly, and he turned to leave, expecting his son to follow. But the younger youkai rushed past him and disappeared towards the Kagura-den. The Taisho patriarch followed closely behind. "Son?"

He entered the dusty structure, the heavy wooden doors creaking as he opened it. His footsteps echoed inside the performance hall, light streamed into the room, its golden rays hitting the ground, bouncing on the lonely walls of the long-unused space.

He found his heir on the farthest wall, hands splayed on the giant mural.

"It's beautiful," Touga said, golden eyes scanning the detailed painting of Sakura blossoms and a cloudless blue sky. "She finally finished it, huh?"

"She did," Sesshomaru answered. But there was a crack to the young daiyoukai's voice, a certain desperation that he knew all too well.

Touga turned to him. The young Inu's shoulders were slumped, and he was shaking. His son, it turned out, was trying to control his tears.

"Father," Sesshomaru asked, with sheer torture in his pleading eyes, "I'm not in the picture."

Touga stepped back, as the whole mural sank in his eyes. Sakura trees, endless blue sky, and a little girl staring up to the heavens.

Gone was the large Inu that sat beside her… always beside her, as if he was deliberately erased in the painting, disappeared in her most cherished memory.

Sesshomaru's hands clenched in restraint. "She has to remember me," Sesshomaru said, "She has to… I'm her MATE, for crying out loud!"

Touga stepped back, alarmed. His son's eyes were growing dangerously red, fangs were lengthening, "Son,"

"I'm her mate," He said, consumed like wildfire in his rage, "She has to know that. She was mine, I was hers… for a hundred and fifty years…" His demonic aura was barely being suppressed, sending chills at the back of Touga's spine,

The Patriarch backed away.

"She should remember that, right? This must have been some mistake…"

Back then, during Kagome's funeral, Sesshomaru lost control. It took the strongest of the Inuyoukai clan and the rest of the council to suppress him.

But this time it was only the two of them.

"Son," Touga tried to no avail, as Sesshomaru slowly reached out a clawed hand towards him,

"Yes," another voice drifted in the tense silence, "She is your mate. No one could contest that,"

The two spun around to the other corner of the room. Standing on the corner was a very familiar face. She smiled gently, "I'm sorry, but I couldn't help but eavesdrop." The middle-aged woman gathered the silk layers of her elaborate kimono and stepped towards them.

"I know you," Sesshomaru said, his eyes bleeding back to gold, "Where have I seen you before?"

"Such youth," the woman chuckled, "Yet your memory is clouded with the veils of time…"

A memory of their conversation in the Lantern Festival fleeted in the Daiyoukai's mind. "Midoriko," he said, and the woman nodded.

"Midoriko?" Touga said, his lips growing pale. "But isn't she the…"

She reached out to Sesshomaru, and she rested the palm of her hand on his forehead. "The creator of the Shikon Jewel." She admitted, "I have been watching… we have been watching."

She closed her eyes, and a warmth wrapped Sesshomaru's soul.

Blows of memory – Kagome's memories –

Filled Sesshomaru's mind.

And she revealed to the Inu, through Kagome's eyes,

Everything that happened.

"Is this…" he croaked, his knees giving way, and he sank into the wooden floor, drowning in his tears.

"Her last six days." She answered softly.

"I'm sorry…" he whispered, his eyes wide open as every detail of her miserable life flashed before his eyes, "I'm so sorry…"

From her being forced to drink the scalding liquid to taking back her own vomit, her pleading to him on bended knees, her encounter in the train station, her crawling to his gate, begging for help…

The image of her bloody hands scratching on the floor,

his silhouette walking away from her,

and that final encounter with her father…

as her little red energy fluttered goodbye,

and her grasping desperately at her last fleeting memory of her lover's golden eyes.

"Son," Touga stepped forward in concern. His son was curled on the floor, never blinking, tears streaming on his face. But the spirit of Midoriko held her free hand up, stopping him from intervening.

"Let's try to go further," she said gently, "Let me show you what happened… after those six days."

Rain, never-ending rain. But little Souta did watch the news beforehand, and he knew that there would be a storm, and the rain would last two days.

This was the second day, and as he expected, it wouldn't end until tomorrow.

He tried to gather his sore body forward, but he was just in so much pain. His father threw him out of the door, breaking the shoji, breaking his ribs and shoulder. He landed on the hard stone ground, to the Haiden that was directly outside of the offertory hall.

In between the sound of the rain, pounding in his ears, and the rush of blood in his head, he could still hear his mother's cries, his father's enraged screaming,

And Kagome nee-san's begging.

And he heard silence.

It was a very long silence… until the sound of the doors slammed again.

It was probably over. He waited, and waited a little bit more. There was no warmth of his mother, no concerned fussing of his older sister.

"Please, if you are watching over us… if you can hear me…" he whispered, with all his heart and soul, "I know you can hear me. Keep her safe… wherever she is… keep her safe.

My nee-san…

Keep her safe."

He wanted to cry out, but he was afraid that his nee-san might hear. She had been through so much, worrying about him was the last thing he wanted her to do.

Little Souta felt funny, his hands and lips were tingling. He could see a curious pool of red spread around his broken body. And no matter how he tried to move he couldn't… he closed his eyes, somehow, he felt sleepy… very sleepy.

In his fading vision, he could see someone walking towards him.

And the unfamiliar figure knelt before him, "Of course we saw everything," she gathered him in her embrace, "And yes, we can hear you." She rested his head on her chest, "Sleep, child. You don't deserve such memories…

And your nee-san… we will keep her safe. I promise you myself, she will be safe."

Little Souta finally allowed himself to surrender to the unusual drowsiness.

"Where am I?" Kagome said.

It was surreal, hovering between life and death. She could see her lifeless body on the cold tatami floor, yet she could feel herself floating. It was a wonderful feeling… free of any pain and heartache. Yet it was terrifying… it was as if there was a very thin string that anchored her to the present…

She saw a hazy light not far from her.

She felt as if she would disappear at any moment.

"Here and now, then and there," said a voice, and Kagome looked behind her.

"That is… " Kagome said, and the woman nodded. Then the Shrine Girl's eyes widened in recognition. "You are…"

"Midoriko." She bowed down.

Kagome blushed, getting down on her knees and scrambling to prostrate herself, "The Shikon Jewel," she stuck her face on the ground. "I'm sorry, Midoriko-sama… my name is—"

"I know who you are, Kagome-chan. I've been with you… every second, since the day you were born."

"Eh?" Her blush grew heavier, as memories of her and her white Inu filled her mind, and all the mischevious things that they did, "Really? Uhh, Like… 'every' second?"

The woman laughed. "Yes."

"Oh," she trailed off, unable to control the raging blush on her cheeks, "I'm… I…"

"There's no need to be embarrassed.

Kagome-chan… is a special gift, after all."

"Special?" The shrine girl looked at her.

Midoriko nodded her head. "Kagome-chan is special to me. Very, very special." She reached out and wrapped her in her warm embrace. And they stayed that way for long moments, not minding the time.

"A very special gift," Midoriko said softly, "Exploited by outside elements… I'm sorry…"

Kagome then remembered, she finally remembered everything else that happened. And a certain sadness came over her.

"Don't be. It's not your fault." She closed her eyes, "It's not anyone's fault."

Silence.

"You do not detest your father for doing what he did?"

The Shrine Girl shook her head. "In his mind… he was doing what was best for the family."

Midoriko pulled away, her eyes wide in genuine surprise. She wiped the tears on Kagome's cheeks, "Do you detest your mother?"

"I couldn't blame her… she was crippled from her fear."

"How about… your White Inu?"

Kagome looked at her and smiled. "How could I? He saturated my skies with so much color, he filled my soul with so much emotion that even the wind sings my happiness. He was the reason why my life was beautiful… No, I could never detest him." Kagome's eyes then deepened in hue, "And I am sad… that I have to leave it all behind."

The woman gave her a reassuring nod as she pulled away.

"If you don't mind… Midoriko-sama, before I go, can I make one last prayer?" Kagome turned to face the Prayer Hall by the broken Shoji door, and she closed her eyes. "This last prayer…" The Shrine Girl whispered, "Is for my white-haired, golden-eyed Inu."

Midoriko could only smile. For a hundred and fifty years, her prayer was—

She reached out, and she held the girl's hands.

Kagome squeezed back. "I pray that the Kamis keep him safe from harm, that they lift his spirits whenever he finds himself discouraged." They held each other's hands tighter, not bothering to wipe the tears that were inevitable on the girl's cheeks,

"I thank you… for giving me the chance to get to know him in this lifetime. I wish that I may get to know him in the next… and all other lifetimes that will follow." The girl whimpered softly, filling a long stretch of silence with her sobs. "But if there is no other life after this…" she whispered, "If this was my last… then I pray for his happiness.

Kami, I pray that you give him someone whom he will love more than me, and someone who loves him more than I…I pray that he bears many, many offspring, that his proud lineage be continued,

I pray that his skies continue to be beautiful… and he would never be consumed by the past that he had with me…. he would continue to move forward and fill his life with love.

I pray that when he looks back, there would only be a fleeting memory of a Shrine Girl that loved him with all her heart."

Kagome opened her eyes. Midoriko had cried, too. The Shrine Girl let out an exhausted breath when the hazy light before them flickered.

"I think I have to go."

"Wait," her elder said, pulling her from her grasp. Kagome looked back, confused.

"Remember when I said… that Kagome-chan is very, very special to me? Remember when I said that she is a very special gift?" Midoriko held her hands tight, "I dedicated my whole being to the war… down to my last breath."

Kagome tilted her head, utterly confused,

"The Kamis took pity and decided to reward me with another life," Midoriko continued,

"One that is filled with family, and beauty and love…" She leaned over, "Kagome-chan is different from all the other guardians, you see, she is much more special than that." She whispered, ever so softly,

"Because Kagome-chan is my reincarnation.

She is supposed to be my second lifetime."

The Shrine Girl stood quiet, stunned.

"My soul and yours, they're one and the same. And the Kamis… they won't allow anyone else to take this wonderful gift away from me." Midoriko wrapped her in a tight embrace,

"This beautiful gift,

That I cherish… with all my weary soul…"

Kagome felt herself slowly fading, as Midoriko's soul quietly melted into her own.

"Anna and Souta recovered from their injuries, but the Higurashi's ancestors- my past guardians- made sure the little boy had no memory of what happened.

He shouldn't remember a thing, it would scar him for life if he did."

Touga tried to reel in his growing anger. "Why did Kyoshiro lie to us? If Kagome lived after that night, why go through such lengths, he even held a mock funeral,"

"We do not know his reasons, but we are watching. We gave him one last warning… that if he interfered with my life, Kagome's life again… a definite judgment will be served.

Not by us, for who are we but mere spirits of what had been,

But by the Kami, who holds our life from beginning to end."

"I can't go near her," Sesshomaru said, "She falls into this terrible torture when I am close,"

"Her body still has the remnants of Kyoshiro's exorcism spell. Your energy, specifically, will be rejected violently. You have to keep your distance from her until she has fully detoxified."

"How will I know if she is ready?" his voice cracked again, the utter torture numbing his body.

"When she can come to you without any rejection."

"Her memory… will she… remember me?"

Midoriko remained silent for quite a while. "The matters of the spirit… they are different. The body can heal… but the soul is difficult to mend. I'm sorry, Sesshomaru. That is beyond my knowledge."

"It doesn't matter," Sesshomaru finally said. The warmth of her proximity strongly reminded him of his Shrine Girl's, and a renewed courage filled the empty void that once gaped in his soul. "If she remembers or not…As long as she is here. I will have her back by my side,

Whatever it takes."

Midoriko nodded, and she bowed down. "Thank you… And Sesshomaru-kun?"

The young daiyoukai's eyes met hers.

"Whatever happens, this time… don't let her go."

The wooden doors fully opened, spilling sunlight into the room. The old Shrine Maiden stepped inside, and seeing them by the murals, she stepped back in frantic apology. "I'm sorry, I was going to clean this area here. I'll come back later." She quietly exited, leaving the two Inus behind.

Two, because the Lady Midoriko had disappeared,

As if she were never there.

Sesshomaru reached out to the smooth painting of the little girl who was staring up at the blue sky, and he splayed his hands, running it gently, lovingly on her outline.

"I have to tell our clan," Touga said, standing up in urgency, "And I have to report Kyoshiro's heinous deeds to the council."

Sesshomaru merely nodded, his gaze still on little Kagome's image. Touga walked out of the Kagura-den, and the young daiyoukai rested his head on her finished mural.

"Kagome," he whispered, "Whatever happens,

This time,

I'm not letting go. "