I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA AND CO.
Author's Notes: This is the last chapter. I hoped you liked my work. I want to thank everyone who had helped me through this especially my beta reader who had helped me improved on my writing. Also, I would like to express my appreciation to the people who had taken the time to read and review my work. Thank you!
Chapter 30:
InuTaisho entered the chambers again with Hitomi and Kimiko in tow. The two women were holding Touya and Mariko. He stopped just inside the door when he saw what was happening. Kagome lay against Sesshoumaru just as he left them a few moments ago. What stopped him in his tracks was the red light that enveloped the two.
He felt his heart lodge in his throat as he felt Kagome's fluctuating heartbeat. It was alternately beating fast then slowing down. It scared him how she sleeped so peacefully as if she would never wake up. Then he felt her miko powers contained inside the red light. It was going out of control, the pressure straining to get out of the red light.
"InuTaisho-sama," Kimiko called from outside. "Why did you stop? I thought we were going to bring the twins to Kagome."
"Look," he whispered, unable to contain his awe as he opened the door wider in order for the two to see.
"What is happening?" Kimiko asked in awe.
InuTaisho shook his head. "I don't know," he said. "I just hope Kagome had not decided to join Sesshoumaru. Can you feel her heart beat? It's fluctuating dangerously. If this continues, her heart would self-destruct."
"No," Hitomi said with conviction. "Lady Kagome would not leave the twins."
"Hitomi is right," Miroku said from behind them. "Lady Kagome might hurt the rest of her life but she would not leave her pups. Look closer."
The others had gone up as they felt Kagome's power going out of control. Each wore disbelieving expressions as they looked at the couple on the bed. Kagome was peacefully asleep, unaware of what was happening.
InuTaisho looked back at the two and what he saw gave him hope. Their mating tokens were glowing red and the Tenseiga was pulsing. He waited with baited breath as Sesshoumaru finally drew one deep shuddering breath and slowly opened his eyes. As Sesshoumaru opened his eyes, the miko power slowly retracted and the red glow diminished.
"He's alive!" Inuyasha blurted in disbelief.
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Sesshoumaru floated in blackness. He knew he had died. He closed his eyes as he remembered Kagome's anguished face. It hurts to see her that way but he could not do anything about it.
So this was how it feels to love. He was happy he had known and loved Kagome and yet it hurts to see her unhappy and in pain. Now he remembered why he did not want to love again. He had fought hard against this weakness. Then Kagome came along and stealthily created a hole on his carefully built defenses. It was too late when he realized that she had been able to get through his defenses. Still, he had been stubborn. He tried to ignore her but Kagome was more stubborn than him. She had made camp in his heart until he was no longer able to ignore her.
Yes, he loves her and now it's too late for them. His time has come. Finally, the coldest and most ruthless taiyoukai had been conquered. Surprisingly, he did not feel any regrets. Kagome may have been his weakness but she was also the only one who ever made him feel alive again. At least he had known how to live, even for a little while.
Kagome, my mate...
Sesshoumaru was wondering what would happen next or if he would just float into nothingness forever when he felt a pull. He looked at the finger which was wearing Kagome's ring. He again saw the string that had led him to her in the clearing. His heart thumped as he decided to follow it again.
Not taking his eyes away from the red string, he walked and walked. He didn't know how long he had been walking and he did not particularly care. Finally, he saw a pinpoint of light from a distance. He quickened his pace and the darkness faded and light enveloped him. He closed his eyes and opened it slowly. He looked around and found himself under a canopy of cherry blossoms.
Sesshoumaru scanned his surroundings until he found her. Kagome was sobbing, her body curled as if to protect herself from all the pain she was feeling. Cherry blossoms fell on the ground, dancing briefly with the wind. His heart wrenched when he heard her sobs.
"It pains me to see you this way," he said.
Kagome stopped crying abruptly. He watched as she looked up to him. It fascinated him to no end how light she could make him feel with just a look from her.
"This is a dream, isn't it?" Kagome whispered hoarsely, her throat raw from 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."
Sesshoumaru caught her as she ran to his arms. He closed his eyes as he felt her melt against him.
"I love you, Sesshoumaru," Kagome whispered emotionally.
He tightened his hold on her. "And I love you," Sesshoumaru finally admitted aloud.
Slowly, their lips met and Sesshoumaru felt life flowing back at him. When he opened his eyes, he was in their chambers, their family and friends looked at him in awe as he looked at Kagome's sleeping face.
"Merging of ki," Kikyou said. "In essence, your life and Kagome's are tied to each other. If one of you dies, the other will either be able to bring the other back from the dead or the other would die with the other."
Miroku nodded. "Lady Kikyou and I had been reading about it and we found an ancient scroll that described it," he said. "It is fortunate that both Lord Sesshoumaru and Lady Kagome are strong. If they were not, they would both be dead by now."
"You mean," Kimiko interjected. "They cannot be killed?"
"No," Kikyou answered. "Unless you kill them at exactly the same time."
Yoji smirked. "Which would be next to impossible since killing one of them is hard enough," he said.
Sesshoumaru listened to the conversation. He was now looking forward to an eternity with his mate.
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Kagome awoke with a start. Something was not right. Then she noticed that she was lying on the bed, alone. She jumped up as she noticed the setting sun. Panicked, she ran down the hallway barefooted. She searched the area and felt everyone in the library.
"Where's Sesshoumaru?" she demanded as she burst inside.
Her eyes widened as a gasp escaped her lips. There he was, sitting on the floor with Mariko and Touya hanging all over him. How had she missed his presence? How was he here…alive?
"I'm glad you're awake," he said with a twinkle in his eye.
Blood rushed to Kagome's head as she tried to take in what she was seeing. She swayed on her feet. Fortunately, she was already leaning on the door. She looked up as she felt strong arms around her.
"Are you all right?" Sesshoumaru asked with worry.
Kagome looked up to his golden eyes. Tears spilled unchecked as she was finally reassured that he was alive. "It is you!" she cried happily. She flung her arms around him and sobbed.
"No one will ever keep us apart," Sesshoumaru said as he held her again.
Kagome felt the twins tugging at their robes and she picked up Touya while Sesshoumaru picked up Mariko. "Yes," she said happily. "No one will keep us apart."
"Man, Sesshoumaru," Kenji teased. "I didn't know you had it in you to be this sweet. It gives me toothaches."
Sesshoumaru growled at his cousin.
Kagome laughed. "Well, I heard you say something along the same lines to a certain demoness," she teased.
Kenji and Kimiko turned beet red, their guilt showing on their faces. She laughed again. Oh, yes, she had seen them one time at the gardens and she was happy for the both of them. She just hoped everything would also be good for them.
"You should see your faces," Inuyasha laughed at the two. "Priceless, absolutely priceless."
"Oh yeah," Kenji said irritably. "You're one to talk. I saw you and Kikyou the other day. You were kissing!"
Kikyou blushed and Inuyasha's face turned to the color of his fire rat haori.
Kagome giggled again, her happiness showing. Just then, she noticed something different. She went to her sister and touched her. She was warm and soft. "How did this happen?" she asked happily.
"While you were sleeping," InuTaisho began. "We used the Tenseiga on her. It was still glowing red after Sesshoumaru was revived. We tried using it on your twin."
Kagome hugged Kikyou tightly. "I'm so happy," she said as she cried.
"I have you and your mate to thank for my second chance," Kikyou said.
"Well," Yoji interjected. "There is only one other thing left to do."
"What's that?" Inuyasha asked.
"The wish," Yoji said seriously.
Kagome clutched at the jewel which hung on her neck. "If you still want it, Inuyasha," she began but was cut off by her best friend.
"Feh!" he said brusquely. "I don't need it anymore."
She smiled to herself. "Then I'll just make a wish," she said. "Where is Akitori?"
"What do you need him for?" Kimiko asked angrily. "He should be killed for what he has done."
"Please, trust me," she said.
"In a warded cave," Sesshoumaru replied. "I'll go with you."
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Sesshoumaru brought his mate to the cave. As she requested, only the two of them went. Akitori sat inside, his eyes staring vacantly into space.
"Akitori," Kagome called.
Akitori's eyes immediately focused on Kagome then on him. "I already killed you," he said bitterly. "You were the reason why Michiko died. You deserve to die."
"I did not kill Michiko, you did," Sesshoumaru answered.
"Liar! I could not hurt her!" Akitori said angrily.
Sesshoumaru nodded. "No, you couldn't," he agreed. "She died because she thought you did not want her anymore."
"What are you saying?" Akitori demanded. "She died because you rejected her."
He shook his head. "No, she loved you," Sesshoumaru said. "You no longer went to see her. So she had tried to go to you instead. Michiko had been poisoned and asked for my help but it was too late. The poison had already spread. She died a day after."
"You lie!" Akitori said vehemently.
Sesshoumaru looked him in the eye until Akitori looked away.
"Oh, Akitori," Kagome said. "I'm so sorry."
"Michiko," Akitori called brokenly. The proud demon crumpled to the ground as he cried for the love that was wasted.
Sesshoumaru pitied him. A year ago, he would have scoffed at the pitiful way he was behaving but he understood how Akitori felt. He watched as Kagome went to Akitori and kneeled before him. She brought out the jewel and whispered to it. There was a blinding burst of light before the jewel disappeared.
"I could not bring her back," Kagome said. "But I asked the jewel to cleanse your heart and remove the hatred. Stop living in the past, Akitori. Learn from your mistakes and move on. Michiko would have wanted you to be happy
"You don't hate me?" Akitori asked.
"I forgave you already," Kagome said before returning to his side. "Besides, nothing will take me away from my mate."
Sesshoumaru nodded. "Take your leave, Akitori," he said. "I am not as forgiving as my mate."
He took Kagome's hand and returned to the others.
Kagome smiled to her mate. "I guess our curse was broken," she said cheerfully. "Both Kikyou and I now have our second chance at happiness."
THE END