While reading: I recommend listening to " Soundtrack – Lord Rings – King Elessar sings Elendil's Oath" on YouTube. This is not my channel/movie nor do I have any rights to song but I love this work and I think it adds a great atmosphere while reading.

Warning: Nudity and adult content in chapter

The Heart of the Nile: New Beginnings Must Start Somewhere

Sesshomaru was standing on his balcony of his bedchamber gazing at the city below. The city was sparkling new and he could hear celebration ringing all through the town. The stones that had shot out of the sky reached every corner of Egypt bringing with it healing magic. The entire way back to his palace from the South they watched the land spring-forth new life. Trees began to bare fruit again. The grass in the fields and the crops sprung out of the ground with vigor. Animals were seen grazing along the now crystal clear Nile. Towns were repaired and all disease was gone. It was as if it had never happened, except those who had perished remained dead and those who had lost them still remembered their loss.

It had taken them all day for them to get back. Now that the Wishing Stone was gone Sesshomaru no longer had the protecting energy to stay awake day and night. He was exhausted but did not wish to sleep. He was not ready to see her in his dreams, for that was his only place now to see her and the grief was still far too near. He had retreated back into his emotionless shell not wishing to show his pain. He had already shown too much weakness in his grief upon the riverside. His brother tried to console him but nothing he did could bring her back to him. His heart had died along with her. He did not understand the depth of his pain. It felt like a piece of his soul was torn from him.

Now he would stay in his shell were no one would ever touch his heart again. He would never have another. Just then he heard a knock on his door and a servant called him away to his courtroom. His cousin, the two remaining members of the Band of Seven and the slave who had attempted to kill his sister-in-law and niece were to stand trial for their acts of treason against the crown. While he was there he would also crown his half-brother the new Lord of the South. Everything was falling into place just like he wished for. His enemies would be cut down, his brother would be his new political alliance, his country was cleansed and his people were happy. Everything was at peace. Everything was as it should be. Everyone was happy.

Everyone… but him.

Walking into the courtroom he goes to his chair and sits at the top of the platform. He looks down the steps towards those who were on trial in front of him. They were kneeling with their hands bound and their faces mixed with fear, anxiety, depression and acceptance. They knew they were going to die. The magician and shape shifter both had black bands around their arms to keep them from transforming or using magic against them. In the room were the countries elders, high priests, tribal officials and the Royal Guard. There was also dozens of witnesses for every person on trial with documented accounts of their treason. They were all easily found guilty and were hung in the back of the courtyard right after their conviction.

Inuyasha and Kikyo then came into the room and the coronation ceremony began. They both swore under the gods to be honest and faithful leaders of their new people and would be under the protection and loyalty to their King. Sesshomaru filled his glass with wine made from their city, drank from it before he then gave it to both of them to drink. By them drinking from his cup it symbolized their shared brotherhood and loyalty to him and their people. Then prayers were blessed over them before crowning him and Kikyo with their new crowns. Sesshomaru wore a double crown to show the unity of the two kingdoms becoming one once more.

The long pointed white crown with white ostrich feathers on the sides representing the north sat inside of an open red top hat with red feathers, representing the south. Inuyasha's crown was the same style but half as tall, was reversed in colors (Red crown sitting in white base). It also did not have a snakehead adorn the front or red feathers attached to his red crown. Kikyo's was a black crown that covered her head like a helmet. It was tube-shaped and was flat on the top. It was rimmed with gold and had red and white stones embedded along the base. Once they were finished with the ceremony they had a grand feast to celebrate their victory in war and for the reunion of the two kingdoms.

Sesshomaru did not stay long at the celebration. He was not hungry and was still to strung over with grief to feel anything. Seeing his brother laughing happily with his wife and giving attention to their expecting child made his heart ache with longing. After saying goodnight to his family he then retreated back to his bedchambers for solitude. Once in his room he walked over to his balcony and watched the sun finally set in the sky. This was normally when she would awaken from her slumber, but she would not awaken this night. Having her not reappear after the sun went down only made her death a reality. His chest was tight and he had a lump sitting in his throat. She was really... gone.

Sesshomaru reclined in his chair on his balcony. He snuggled under the blanket he and Kagome used to lay under while watching the stars. He held her lavender dress in his hands as he brought it to his face. He breathed deeply into the fabric. It still smelled of her, spring rain and water lilies. As he lay under the stars he thought back over everything that had happened. It all started with the mystery of the map. This lead to the adventure across the Mediterranean Sea where they encountered the great storm, the whirlpool and the birds of paradise. He remembered when they found the treasure behind the hidden gate and how she had called to him. Then sweet Kaede's sacrifice, along with the men who had fallen while traveling with them.

He remembered the arrival home and his first time seeing her transform before him. She'd been so beautiful. Her soft voice was like a ghost on the wind to him now. Then his blasted uncle had to come in and ruin everything. He wished he could bring him back from the dead to kill him a thousand times over. His uncle almost killed his sister-in-law and niece causing Kagome great distress in saving them. He also ruined Rin's birthday and gave her nightmares for days. He remembered the second worst day of his life when the plagues hit, realized she was gone and having to revive his daughter from the dead. Then he had to revive his entire city! There was so much death.

The first worst day of his life was when they reached the Southern Kingdom. He remembers the wrath of the plagues, the battle drums, his uncle holding a knife to her throat, seeing her battered body and his uncle's horrid laugh before his cries of agony as she stabbed him. Then how his blood ran cold watching him stab her in the chest with a dagger before everything went dark. The battle seemed to last forever and he could never get to her fast enough. He remembers coming out of his fog from the sound of his brothers voice and running onto the stage, pulling out her dagger and holding her close as he made his wish. The wish was pure and it had freed her from the stone but it had also freed her to the hands of death.

It had all been for nothing! Nothing! She had died and there was nothing he could do about it. No wish, no amount treasure or power was worth her life. He wished he'd had the chance to hold her one more time, to kiss her lips and to tell her how much he loved her. He wished to hear her say his name with her beautiful angelic voice. But no, she was gone and was never coming back. He was alone to wallow in his grief till the end of his days. He would hold out though and not go out the easy way. He would remain king to his people as he promised. He would fulfill his duty and have a son from one of his concubines but never have a queen. Once his son was ready to take his place he would find her in the afterlife

He got up from his chair as the sun began to rise in the sky. This morning marked one whole day without her. There would be many more after this day but as all new beginnings they must start somewhere. It was too painful to watch the sunrise, for with the sunrise her presence always left him. He loved being under the moon but now that too was lonely. He was now alone both under then sun and the moon. Walking back to his bed he sits down on the side and looks towards the small pound in the center of his courtyard. This small pound would forever hold a piece of his heart. He looked to the floor and closed his eyes. It was then he began to sing his dedication to his duty:

(***Soundtrack – Lord Rings – King Elessar sings Elendil's Oath ***)

Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien. (Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come)

Sinome maruvan ar Hildinyar (In this place I will abide, and my heirs,)

tenn' Ambar-metta! (Unto the ending of the world.)

Warning: Nudity and Adult Content bellow

As the sun rose in the sky the small pound near his bed began to make very small bubbles under the flower petals. As the rays continued to warm the water the bubbles became bigger and more frequent. Sesshomaru heard the water making noises and ignored it at first thinking it was one of his fish splashing around, however once turning around he sees the waters begin to glow as soft blue. Standing up and rushing over to the water he sees before his very eyes the woman of his dreams begin to rise out of the water. The crown of her head breaks to the surface and her long black hair floats around her. Her eyes were closed as she continued to rise out of the water. Soon her shoulders, breasts, and abdomen show as she takes in her first breath of life and opens her beautiful blue eyes.

She see's him and slowly walks towards him climbing the stairs. The flowers wrap around her as she lifts up and out of the water. Water drips from her as she climbs, light steam comes off of her once again warm, perfect, porcelain skin. She finally reaches the top and is standing in front of him. His eyes are large, mouth slightly agar. His breath is slightly out of rhythm and his body is lightly trembling. He reaches his shaking hand out and lightly grazes her cheek, realizing she is not a hallucination. He stares into her eyes with every emotion imaginable running through them. She then smiles softly and his breath catches in his throat. He lunges forward capturing her mouth with his and pulls her into his arms, both closing their eyes. Her wet body soaks into his loincloth and along his upper body bringing chills down his spine.

Her mouth tasted so sweet and her lips are warm and full. He was engulfed in the smell of spring rain and water lilies. Sesshomaru brings his other hand up into her hair pulling her face harder into his, deepening their kiss. He brings his other hand and slides down her lower back bringing her flush up against him. Kagome rings her arms closer around his neck. Her one arm wraps around his neck grabbing hold of his hair with her fingers while the other hand wraps around his shoulders pushing his back forward. This causes his chest to brush up against hers, making them both take a gasping breath. Breaking their lips apart they breathe heavily as they stare into each other's eyes.

"This must be a dream…" he said softly as he brushed her face with the back of his hand.

"Then it is a good dream…" she said as she captured his lips again.

They continued to hold each other, softly touching their bodies and kissing. They were gentle, they were slow, and they were passionate. Sesshomaru eventually picked her up, wrapping her leg around his waist as he ran his hand up on down her back gently and gripping her lower hip with the other. He slowly makes his way over to his bed and gently lays them down as they continuing to embrace each other afraid of letting go.

[End of Chapter 21]

Authors Note:

*Warning lemons next chapter.

*Please let me know what you think! Hope you enjoyed reading. More to come :)