Disclaimer: No own InuYasha.
His Past, Her Present, Their Future
Chapter 45 - Rewrite
They reached the center of the town in quick fashion and all sat at a round table that sat outside of what was likely Kouga's home under a wide canvas awning. The youkai milling around the town's square tried to look disinterested but failed miserably, and a crowd was forming. Kagome blushed quite red and silently turned to Shippou for help, who was smirking and puffing up under all the attention they were receiving.
After silently communicating her exasperation he sighed and stood. "Since I'm sure we won't get any peace until I explain, I will, and then you will all go about your days, got it?"
People nodded, the muttering dying out and harsh looks turning to the foc that was standing hands on hips and smiling in an unsettling way at them.
"The woman beside me," here he motioned to the still red-faced Kagome, "is the mate of Sesshoumaru, your Lord. You will show her respect and if there are any of you thinking you will test her, think back to the tales of the defeat of Naraku and know she is the one who assisted the hanyou InuYasha in his defeat. Stay away from her and her companion, got it?"
Kagome blinked at her son, quite surprised by his threatening tone and commanding presence that sent the gawking people scattering. The timid little fox she had known was all but lost in the powerful man, and she only just realized it. He turned and his smile was a bit self-effacing. "I was a general to Sesshoumaru for two centuries, I'm used to it."
"I just seem to get a new shock daily when it comes to you, dear," she said with a smile, and turned to the now composed Kouga who was watching her intently.
"Kagome, care to start the explaining now?"
She smiled, pulling a smile in return and nodded. "Of course. Is your mother here by any chance?"
He nodded hesitantly and yelled into the house rudely, making Kagome roll her eyes. Some things never changed.
The golden brown haired former Lady of the East walked out the door moments later, looking hardly aged from the last time Kagome had seen her a millennium ago, though much smaller around the middle than she had been for obvious reasons. She grinned and ran to Kagome, hugging her fiercely. "Kagome, it's been so long! It's good to see you again!"
"You as well, Raku! You look wonderful!"
"Ah, you only say that because I was round the last time you saw me."
Kagome giggled. "No, the last time I saw you was the day after you were round," she said with a grin. "But the evening got… a little out of hand and Kaori and Sesshou wouldn't let me out of my room until the rest of you had left."
A sad smile flitted across the older woman's face. "Dear Kaori. I miss her like it was yesterday."
Kagome's eyes brimmed with tears. "For me it practically was. I miss all of them terribly."
A clearing of a throat pulled her attention back to Kouga, who was watching them with interest and barely concealed irritation. "Kags? Care to explain?"
The miko giggled at the consternation on his face and decided to let him in on the 'conspiracy'. "Kouga, did you know you were an adorable baby? I was the first one to touch you, you know."
At his incredulous look she gave a quick synopsis of what had happened after she had seen him last in the forest of the Sengoku Jidai, giving him the titles of her book series if he wanted the full long story of it all. He shook his head with a wry smile. "I see everyone was against me, huh?"
Shippou grinned. "Well, duh."
"Well, to celebrate the long lost Lady's return, what say you we have a party tonight?" Raku said cheerfully, and Kouga nodded, apparently deciding to just accept the truth as it was and smiled.
"Sounds like a plan, all right."
Raku ran off to send out word to all the villagers, dragging Shippou with her, and Kouga gave her a rakish grin. "So Kagome, this means you won't be my mate?"
She laughed jovially and smiled. "Sorry Kouga, spot's been taken."
He sighed in an overdramatic fashion and leaned his cheek on a hand. "Such a pity. Now, introduce me to your friend, hmm?" he said wolfishly, leering at a blushing Ayumi.
This brought a new round of laughter and a scowl from Kagura. The group talked for hours, recounting stories and telling jokes. When Shippou returned he sat next to his mother-figure and leaned against her side. "So, Kouga, when's the last time you heard from Lord Arrogance?"
He ignored Kagome's snort and raised a eyebrow at the wolf. Kouga thought for a few moments. "Probably seven or eight years ago he dropped by, making sure all was running smoothly. I expect him again in another year or two."
Kagome sighed in relief. "That's a much nicer number than forty."
"Yes, see Ma? I told you he'd keep in touch with Kouga here."
"I'm very glad… I didn't relish in the idea of waiting several decades more when I know we could be together now."
Kouga studied her intently and sniffed the air, his puzzled frown deepening. "You know… I put this off to the mating, but now I think about it, you smell… different."
Shippou nodded. "I gave her the potion."
Ocean blue eyes lit up. "Oh? That makes sense then."
"How did it change my scent?" Kagome asked, raising her eyebrows at the two youkai.
"All humans smell of death to some degree… of decay, you know? From the moment any being is born they are dying slowly, but humans are doing it at super speed. Hence, aging. Since the tonic strengthened your internal organs and made you nearly immortal like the rest of us, you no longer have the same scent of impending death now."
Ayumi blinked wide-eyed at her friend. "Kagome?"
Kagome smiled sadly. "I'm sorry that I didn't tell you. Shippou offered me a chance to extend my life and I took it. It was a difficult decision, but not as hard as I was making it out to be. My mother pointed it out to me and so I accepted."
Ayumi nodded, albeit sadly. "It was your decision, I can't say anything about it. You'll not leave though, will you?"
Kagome shook her head. "No. At least while my family and loved ones are alive I will make sure to stay near… but eventually I hope to convince Sesshou to move here. I'm in love with this place already."
Kouga smirked. "Of course you are, I'm here after all."
Everyone scoffed and Kouga tried to look offended, but his lips twitched and gave him away. Once again the group was laughing.
The night was dark but the town was alive, a large bonfire lit in the center square of the village and hundreds of the island's inhabitants had come out to celebrate the 'return' of the Lady of the West. Most were dubious at best, but any excuse for a celebration was a good one. People danced and performed; Shippou forced Kagome up several times to dance with him.
Ayumi was currently being introduced around by Kouga. He had insisted it was his duty to find her a youkai mate, because being Kagome's friend she deserved to be elevated away from those 'annoying human men'. Kagome knew her friend was far too soft spoken to be Kouga's type, and still held hope that he would pull his head out of his ass and realize he and Kagura were perfect for one another. The atmosphere of the night was lighthearted, but the guest of honor was anything but.
As the night had worn on, Kagome had slowly become more morose as she dwelled on her thoughts of the last few years. How could she complain over having to wait a few decades when Sesshoumaru had been practically waiting for the better part of a millennium? How could she hurt so much after three years when it was but the blink of an eye compared to the time he had waited? Thinking it would cheer her, Kouga had recounted some of the times he had caught Sesshoumaru just staring into nothing and thinking deeply, and it hurt her to imagine her love so alone for all those years.
The crescent necklace warmed curiously, and she smiled as she traced it. It was like it answered her downtrodden thoughts. She let her fingers trail up the chain as she stared into the dancing fire, her finger wrapping around the chain tugging on it as she was lost in melancholy. She wondered what he was doing at the moment, and if he ever thought about her as well. According to everyone, he did, and that thought was the only thing making her smile.
"Heavy thoughts, Kagome?"
"Yes," she said softly, looking up into the aqua eyes of Raku.
"Might I assume you are thinking of your prince? Well, I suppose he is a prince no more."
"I am. And he will always be my prince, though I knew him first and longer when he was older. But, if I close my eyes, I can still see him smiling as he did when he asked for my hand."
Raku smiled and cupped the young woman's face in both hands. "You will have him again soon, child. Your love story crosses a thousand years, surely a few more won't hurt. You must be strong, and try to live life in the present, no matter how far in the past you have been."
Kagome smiled at that. "I know better than to brood, I shouldn't be doing so. Thank you for reminding me, Raku. This is just one more storm to dance through. I just hope the next bout of sun will last."
Raku looked at her curiously but did not ask for clarification. Kagome stood and stretched her limbs, ready to find Shippou for another dance, when her necklace burnt hot against her skin and made her look down at it with wide eyes.
Sesshoumaru glared dispassionately down at the island he had purchased some years ago, only mildly curious as to why it was so active. Kouga was an odd sort and seemed to relish in throwing celebrations for any occasion, so it could have been anything to cause it this night. He hadn't planned to come here for several more years at least, but been entirely bored over the last month and decided now was as good of time as any to drop in and check on the running of his largest investment.
He had been living in the mountains of eastern Europe for the last several decades, known to local humans as a rich hermit. He spent much of his time in his natural form running through the wilds and relishing in once again being able to run on four paws. It had taken nearly four centuries for his arm and hand to regenerate completely, and even after those it had taken a lot of exercises with it to once again get used to having a second limb. He had really only had full mastery of his transformed state for a hundred years before the Tessaiga had taken his ability to enjoy it.
He sighed and shook himself free of reminiscences sure to come if he thought of InuYasha, because all thoughts of the annoying hanyou brought thoughts of Kagome, and that would make him hover above his island for another few hours in an annoying state of mind, and he had business to attend to.
He had changed a lot in the last four hundred and fifty years… or perhaps not so much changed as regressed. As the years had gone by and his masks of cool superiority became less needed, he had slowly allowed himself to emerge once more, sometimes even caught smiling or startled into laughing by those who knew him best. To the general population he had simply mellowed to nonchalance rather than active disdain, and to his awkward and strange family he had 'lightened up' as Shippou was fond of telling him.
He cloaked his aura and scent tightly, making sure not even the most powerful and alert of the youkai inhabiting Iwaku would detect his presence. He just needed to get into Kouga's hut without being noticed and he would be fine. Not that sneaking around was easy for him; his hair alone sent off warning signals aplenty. It was a pity he hadn't thought to bring along the enchanted necklace Shippou had made him that made his appearance more mundane. He hated the thing, it made him feel like he was in the wrong skin, but in these times it was necessary anywhere public but Iwaku.
Lowering himself into the deep shadows of the forest outside of the village proper he stalked along the outskirts of the town, only pausing when anyone came within his senses so that he could be unseen. It seemed strange of him to 'hiding' per se, but his plans for the night had not included being accosted by dozens of youkai wanting to relive their 'glory days'.
A couple was coming up on his position, so he leapt onto a branch silently, waiting for them to pass him by. By scent he could tell they weren't even of mating age yet, and the girl was utterly annoyed and disgusted with her companion. The teenaged man was obviously drunk and his escort was groaning as she tried to keep him upright. Sesshoumaru sneered and turned his nose away, disgusted at the idiocy of modern youth. He almost leapt over them to another tree when their conversation caught his attention.
"…I mean, a human? Yosoku has a human mate but he can't bring her here! That's why he left! We're all here to get away from them and now they let one in… man…" the golden haired eagle youkai slurred.
The female sighed. "It's circumstances. If you were as powerful as our Lord and owned someplace, you could say who could and couldn't come and go too. He owns this place, of course his mate can come here!"
"But why would someone like Sesshoumaru take a human anyway? Sure, she was cute but what's so special about her? And why ain't he here with her if they're so great? You sure she ain't lying?"
"Of course she isn't, you idiot. Weren't you scared shitless of her earlier because she 'tried to purify' you?"
"She did!"
"Because you attacked her!"
"Well, how in the hell was I supposed to know? It wasn't till she moved her hair that I saw the damned mark…"
Sesshoumaru had heard enough, finally snapping out of the daze he had been in while listening. Kagome was here? His Kagome? He dropped down in front of the couple, making them jump in surprise and the drunk eagle fall flat on his face. Sesshoumaru sneered in disgust at the pitiful youkai and turned an icy glare at the cowering female. "You, what's this about?"
The girl had obviously recognized him for who he was and was trying to stammer out an answer, but the eagle on the ground hadn't looked much a him and was stone drunk on his spot on the forest floor. "There's humans on the island! Who cares if she's mated to fucking Sesshoumaru…"
Annoyed, Sesshoumaru kicked the bird in the head to knock him unconscious and turned back to the girl. "Is this true?"
"Ye-yes my lord."
He didn't realize he had smiled until he saw the shocked look on the girl's face and promptly blanked his gaze. "Very well. I would suggest keeping better company from now on."
He stomped past the two young youkai and dashed though the forest now, uncaring if he was seen or not. As he reached the village he leapt from rooftop to rooftop, landing on a house at the edge of the square and looking out over the celebrating crowd.
His eyes were drawn to her as they always had been, golden eyes snapping to the far side of the fire where she sat contemplatively staring at nothing and toying with her betrothal necklace. He suddenly couldn't breathe as he saw the object of so many of his thoughts over the last several centuries. He didn't know how she had come to be here, but at the moment he couldn't care less.
She was approached now by the golden haired and aqua eyed Lady Raku, Kouga's mother. Whatever she said to her made Kagome smile so sadly that he thought she might cry and tighten her grip on her pendant painfully. Raku took the girl's face and spoke again to her, and it was like a weight was taken from her as the young human smiled again, making Sesshoumaru's breath come back in a rush and a small smile flit across his own face. He had to go to her now, and leapt from his place onto the ground and released the mask on his aura and scent, making everyone stop what they were doing and stare at him, and Kagome's necklace activate.
She knew what the heat meant, but at the moment she had felt it, it was like her brain was on pause. She stared dumbly at the gem that laid innocuously against the top of her breasts, not even registering that the town's square had gone silent. It took her several long moments to finally look up, and when she did her heart stopped.
Standing across the fire, the crowd parted before him was her Sesshoumaru, his silver hair bound back at the nape of his neck and dressed in modern clothing. In a rather hysterical part of her mind, she was giggling insanely over how good he looked in the pinstriped pants and white button down shirt, but thoughts were slowly coming to order and before she knew it she was moving, fast, running towards the man who seemed as frozen as she was.
"Se-Sesshoumaru!" she called, laughing gaily and shaking her head to free her eyes of the tears that had sprung into her eyes as she looked at him. The smile on his face in response was slow, but widened as she finally reached him and leapt into his arms, her own arms winding around his neck and burying her face into his shoulder. She sobbed as she felt both - both - his arms wind around her and hug her fiercely, and she heard the deep chuckle that escaped him as she alternately laughed and cried against him.
She pulled away enough to look up at him, and he smiled softly down at her, wiping away tear tracks with his thumbs and stroking her hair away from her face. Her smile in response was shaky but filled with joy and she pulled him down into a hard kiss that poured out the last years worth of anxiety, love, and confusion. He returned it fervently, and all of them forgot there were several hundred youkai around them until Shippou cleared his throat.
"Mom? Mooooom? Aren't you a little too into that? Mom? Not the place for that, I think guys… whoa, hands, Sesshoumaru! Yo, Sesshoumaru-papa, you have an audience that you just smiled in front of, and you're going to give people heart attacks…"
That was enough to bring them to their senses and they broke apart gasping for air. Kagome glowed in happiness and turned to face her son who was smirking smugly behind her as Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around her waist from behind. "Well, welcome back to reality you two. Good t' see ya, 'shoumaru, I know Mom's glad to have you back. Now, how about we go let all these nice people have a good time, because their still gawking at that stupid grin on your face, man."
Sesshoumaru scowled dangerously at the fox but released his miko and took her hand in his to lead her away to the table she had spent the afternoon at. Slowly the crowd began to come back to life and conversation was sparked everywhere. Kagome still glowed happily and practically bounced in her seat as she watched her love glaring at her son, who looked wholly unconcerned as he examined his claws.
Kouga, Ayumi, and Raku joined them shortly, and Sesshoumaru nodded to each of them stoically. Ayumi looked shocked, staring at the silver haired man and her best friend at his left who couldn't stop touching his shoulder, arm, hand, or leg and smiling widely. The cold-looking man would look at her from the corner of his eye and his lips would twitch softly as he touched her back. He was beautiful; many of the men she had met that night had been, but he was like a god, an Adonis! Pictures had done him no justice at all.
Finally Kagome broke her silence, her fingers grazing the dark magenta markings on his cheek. "How did you know to come tonight, love?"
He turned to her and smiled softly, tucking a few strands of hair behind her hear with a clawed hand. "I didn't. I came to see Kouga and overheard talk of you being here. How is it that you are here? It has not yet been five hundred years."
"I came back three years ago," she said softly, sapphire eyes locked on golden ones. "I guess it wasn't five hundred between my time and the Feudal Era, I just assumed it was. When I went back farther, it was your age that let me know it had been five hundred years, but I had no such marker in my time."
He inclined his head and traced a claw along her cheekbone and across her lips, her eyes sliding closed as he memorized her features. Of course, Shippou interrupted again. "Okay guys, I know it's been a while, but we're still here."
Kagome jumped slightly, looking sheepish and Sesshoumaru looked at the fox from the corner of his eye. "I am well aware of where you are, pup, I doubt I could get rid of you if I tried. Gods know I've tried," he muttered, a few snickers coming from Raku and Kouga. "But perhaps we should all save this conversation for morning, because if you want me to talk in return, it is not going to happen until I get to catch up with my mate."
Shippou grinned and inclined his head. "That what they call it nowadays?"
He turned his head and held up one glowing claw. "Run, Fox."
Shippou, obviously having gotten this threat many times in his life, yelped and ran, barely being missed when Sesshoumaru let his whip out after him. Shippou promptly spun around and grabbed his tail, whining over a singed patch and petting it apologetically. Kagome giggled and leaned against her lover, his arm wrapping around her waist and pulling her to his side.
Lips brushed against her ear lightly. "Come with me to my home here, Ka-go-me," he annunciated softly while claws brushed softly against her outer thigh. "Your friend may stay with the wolf."
Kagome shivered and nodded absently, her eyes glazed and staring at her hands.
A short, silent conversation with Kouga later, Sesshoumaru was standing and pulling Kagome up with him. "We will retire for the night, all conversation can wait until the morning."
Several of the group smirked as Kagome gave a rather dazed smile and wave before following her mate off down a side street. He pulled her into his side quickly, wrapping his arm around her waist and forming his youki cloud to speed the short journey. Kagome looked up at him and her first action was to yank off the tie that held back his hair, making silver blow around them both and a pleased smile to appear on her face.
The house was on the northern outskirts of the town, large in comparison to many of the other homes but very modest for Sesshoumaru. Then again, as he had told Kagome all those years ago, he felt more alive, more at home in the wilds than within walls anyway, so it was no surprise.
Kagome didn't even get a look at anything beyond the front door before it was slammed behind her and she was crushed between it and the hard body of her inuyoukai. The kiss was nearly brutal, with clacking teeth and ruthless pressure. Soon it eased in pressure but built in intensity, tongues twining and low sounds escaping the backs of their throats.
Breaking the kiss, Sesshoumaru growled and seized her by her thighs, pushing her up the door and lifting her legs to his waist. His hands gripped her hips tightly as he lavished her neck in attention, brining forth rather embarrassing whimpers from her throat.
She could feel him hard against her and arched her back, only making her mate push her harder against the door and bite at her throat, almost hard enough to break the skin. This ripped a loud moan from the back of her throat, and suddenly there was no door at her back. Within mere seconds she was thrown from Sesshoumaru's grip and landed on a bed - when had they gotten to the bedroom? - and pinned there by a slightly feral Western Lord.
"Mine," he purred throatily, tracing a line down her jaw.
"Y-Yours," Kagome choked out, arching her body up. In a rather inane moment, just before losing herself in the sensations, she giddily realized she would have to change the ending to her last novel, after all.
It would not be until after dawn awoke them that they would see the telltale lack of crescent moon on Sesshoumaru's brow, nor would they see the smirking ghostly figure of a woman in ancient armor. The spirit hummed in approval and waved her hand gently. "A gift from the fates, child."
Kiyoi stared into her sated mate's eyes, brushing back sweaty bangs and nuzzling his cheek. "I missed you so much. Gods I love you, Sesshou."
He laughed quietly, leaning back over her and his lips brushing against hers gently. "That damned name again."
"Oh, you love it," she said softly against his mouth, grabbing his lower lip and nibbling softly.
"I never thought I'd say this, but yes, I do. If it means you're here, then I don't give a damn."
Falling asleep in one another's arms, the only thing to be thought was completion. Perfection. Destiny. Finally, a love story a millennium in the making had come together, leaving its players in happiness. But as Kiyoi drifted to sleep she smiled, knowing this ending was only the beginning.
Owari.
A/N: Due to a huge amount of questions pertaining to Kiyoi… Kiyoi is what Kagome named 'herself' in her book series. "In a rather inane moment, just before losing herself in the sensations, she giddily realized she would have to change the ending to her last novel, after all." It's meant to be the new version of the 'ending' that started the Chapter Tenrai. I blame myself for this, since there was such a huge space between updates.