Author's notes: I'm sorry again for the delay but is blocked in our office so I can't update as often as I wanted to. Anyway, enjoy!
Chapter 29: Betrayal
Sesshoumaru staggered as he felt the tentacle pierce his flesh. He felt it go through his shoulder and he clutched at it. It was not really that serious. The wound was already starting to heal as soon as Naraku's tentacle was removed. He was busy regaining his balance when he felt Kagome's fluctuating aura.
His eyes immediately found her a few feet away from him. Her head was bowed as her hand shook as it held the sword. Kagome was glowing pink, the strength of her aura blowing her hair wildly about her. Still, she kept her head bowed.
"What's happening to her?" Inuyasha shouted to Sesshoumaru.
They all stood in fascination as the fluctuation stopped. Instead, they all felt the steadily growing power that threatened to consume anyone who could feel it. It was such an immense power that went beyond anyone's imagination.
Naraku had stopped to look at the miko who stood unmoving as her power grew. Finally, he began his attacks on her, realizing the danger that she imposed upon him. The hanyou focused all his power on her as he realized that his tentacles get purified even before it reached her.
Kagome looked up and Sesshoumaru saw that her eyes were bleeding red. He could not believe it. Kagome is experiencing a rage that only consumes youkai when their inner beasts are beyond control. What surprised him more is that she seemed to have allowed the rage to consume her. She was glaring hatefully at Naraku who didn't stop attacking despite the obvious futility of it all.
Kagome screamed and a burst of immense miko energy came out of her. "You will pay for harming my mate!" she screamed angrily before attacking Naraku.
At Kagome's angry yell, everybody moved as one to attack Naraku. There was a burst of light as all their attacks connected. Naraku's scream echoed through the forest.
When the light finally died down, they saw Onigumo's mangled body in the middle of a crater created by the huge explosion.
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Kagome felt spent as the rage left her. She stared at their fallen enemy as she breathed raggedly, kneeling on the ground. Her senses reassured her that everybody was all right.
She saw the almost complete shikon no tama on Onigumo's right hand. She stood shakily to her feet and walked towards the bandit who had loved her twin so much that it consumed him. She stooped down and took the jewel, noting Onigumo's labored breathing. She turned her back on him and walked towards her mate.
Sesshoumaru looked her in the eye as she walked towards him. She was almost before him when he crumpled to the ground, a sword protruding through his chest. Akitori's leering face looked back at her as he stepped back from Sesshoumaru.
He looked down at his rival. "You always had everything, Sesshoumaru," he said as he looked down to the Western Lord. "You had Michiko but you allowed her to die. I won't let you have Kagome. She will be mine."
"No!" Kagome screamed as she ran to her mate. She took out the protruding sword and touched his face. "Sesshoumaru, talk to me."
Sesshoumaru looked up at her. Kagome could not stop the tears that kept falling. This was Naraku all over again. She looked at Sesshoumaru's pale face and she was consumed with guilt. She should have done something to make sure that Akitori would not be able to do anything to harm Sesshoumaru.
"Kagome," Sesshoumaru said hoarsely.
Kagome erected a barrier around her and Sesshoumaru. She didn't want to take any more chances. "Yes, Sesshoumaru," she said. "I'm here. You have to get up now. Touya and Mariko are waiting for us."
"The twins," he said with a soft smile.
Kagome's heart clenched as she saw that smile. Sesshoumaru never smiles and the fact that the thought of their pups could make him smile made her heart ache. "Yes, the twins," she said. "They are waiting for us. We need to get back to the Palace of the Moon."
His eyes started to fade. "No," Kagome whispered, sobbing openly. "Don't you dare leave me now, not now that you've made me love you. You can't do this, Sesshoumaru. You promised to protect me and the twins. There is no way you are getting out of that promise, do you hear?"
Sesshoumaru opened his mouth to speak. Blood dripped from the side of his mouth. Kagome moved her head closer to him. "I... love... you..." he whispered before he closed his eyes completely.
"No!" Kagome screamed. "You tell me now that you love me and then leave me. Don't do this to me! Sesshoumaru, open your eyes, damn you! Open your eyes and tell me you meant it. Please..."
Kagome was too consumed by anguish that she had not noticed when her barrier had come down. She was oblivious to the fact that Akitori now lay bleeding to the side but still breathing. She didn't care as she held Sesshoumaru's prone body to her.
"Sesshoumaru meant what he said, Kagome," Inuyasha said gently. "I know he does."
"I don't care!" Kagome lashed out. "I don't need you to tell me that. I need him!"
Kikyou kneeled in front of Kagome. "Kagome, you have to be strong for the twins," she said. "They need you, too."
She shook her head in denial. "They need him, too," she sobbed. Kagome felt her heart shattering into a million pieces as Sesshoumaru remained immobile.
The others stared at the couple who had loved each other despite their differences. Now, fate had brought them apart.
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It had taken them two days to get back to the Western Lands. They had called for Ah-Un and Kagome had ridden with her mate. When they got back to the Palace of the Moon, they had taken Sesshoumaru to their chambers where Kagome had bathed him.
Kagome had noticed that the wound had healed. She caressed his face. It looked so serene, as if he was just asleep. She traced his markings lovingly. Finally, she kissed his lips as her tears fell.
"I love you, Sesshoumaru," she whispered. "You were the only one that made my life worth living."
Everything that happened finally took its toll on Kagome. She closed her eyes and let sleep claim her.
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InuTaisho knocked on Kagome and Sesshoumaru's chambers. Kagome had not gone down the whole day, not even to eat. He was worried so he decided to check on her. When there was no answer, he entered and the sight that greeted his eyes caused his heart to ache for his daughter-in-law.
Kagome had fallen asleep, her head resting on Sesshoumaru's chest. Fate had been cruel to both Kagome and Sesshoumaru.
Kagome had lived a lie and was given a very heavy burden to carry. When she had finally fulfilled everything that was asked of her, the only person that she had loved so deeply was taken away from her.
Sesshoumaru had been forced to grow up earlier when his mother died and his father was also taken from him. He was forced to lead his people and live a lonely life until he met Kagome. She had been like a ray of sunlight in his cold world. When he had finally been able to experience the things that he had denied himself, his life had ended so abruptly.
As InuTaisho looked at the couple who had endured so much, he could not help but question the wisdom of the Fates. Would it be so much to ask them to give his son and her mate a chance for happiness? It was too late for that.
He quietly went out of the room to let Kagome sleep. When she wakes up, the pain will be unbearable for her. Maybe having the twins with her when she wakes up would make it better.
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A gentle breeze blew Kagome's hair. It felt so nice and peaceful. She slowly opened her eyes. She smiled sadly as she stared at the canopy of cherry blossoms. She watched the tiny pink petals dance in the wind. It was a beautiful place but it would have been better if she had someone to share it with.
Kagome's brows furrowed as the recent events came back to her. This was a dream, she finally realized as she remembered everything. This could not have been true since the last thing she remembered was cleaning Sesshoumaru.
Sesshoumaru…
An overwhelming ache came over her as she remembered her mate. He had told her that he loved her before he closed his eyes for the last time. He had smiled genuinely at her. Both would be the first and last time he would ever do those things to her. As she felt her heart shatter all over again, she allowed the tears to fall freely, blurring the beautiful surrounding. She did not care where she was or how beautiful the place was. Nothing will ever be the same again now that Sesshoumaru is gone.
It was all unfair. She did what she was supposed to do. Why can't she at least be happy after everything? They had taken away her life and now they had taken away the only person that could make it all better
The pain intensified as she remembered her mate who had never told her how he felt until the last minute of his life. He was the best thing that ever happened to her. Sesshoumaru had comforted her and made her feel special in ways that was very simple and yet endearing.
Kagome curled into a fetus position as she sobbed her heart out, trying to alleviate the pain that seemed to intensify every time she remembered how he had looked at her. She would never see those golden eyes look at her like that again.
"It pains me to see you this way," a voice so familiar stopped Kagome's tears abruptly.
Kagome looked up, almost scared to see that she had been mistaken. Her heart began to beat hard against her chest as she turned around to look in the direction of the voice. Tears began to well in her eyes as she saw her mate standing across from her.
"This is a dream, isn't it?" Kagome whispered hoarsely, her throat raw after crying. "Nothing good in my life had lasted long enough and this is too good to be true but I'll take what I can."
Kagome ran to Sesshoumaru's arms, reveling in the feel of his arms around her.
End chapter