A New Hope

Saeka had died giving birth to her first son, Kaoru. Of course, Sesshomaru had attempted the Tenseiga and as he had predicted, it had failed him. Three times was far too much. Kaede explained this happens sometimes, where fluid from the birth somehow gets into the artery and is delivered to the heart. This then stops the heart from beating and kills the mother in the process. There was no way to predict it and they only knew from inspection of some victims whose families allowed it.

Kagome and Sango felt horrible and Sakura was devastated to learn of her aunt's death. Kagome was dreading sending a letter to Saaya telling her what had happened, so she decided to put it off for a day. But there was a strict time limit and she knew she had to send it soon, or Saaya would get angry.

As for the baby, Sesshomaru refused to even look at him. When he had lain Saeka's body back on the floor and spotted Kagome holding Kaoru, he'd flown into a rage and attempted to slash the infant to pieces while she was holding it. Only InuYasha slamming into him, sending them both through the wall saved both Kaoru and Kagome from joining Saeka.

For the next few hours, a grave was being dug beside Miharu's. The whole village had loved Saeka and all put their best effort in to give her a wonderful ceremony. Because Sesshomaru didn't want anything to do with the baby that had killed Saeka, Kagome was stuck holding him while Sesshomaru hung around near the trees, watching the grave being dug out.

When Saeka's body was brought out, Miroku personally stepped up and started to murmur prayers of salvation for her, for all she'd done in the past nine years. It was now that Sesshomaru finally came down and paused near the grave as they prepared to lower her body in. He hurried over and stopped them for a moment. The villagers backed away slowly as he lifted the cover from her face. Kaede knew he was going to say goodbye, so she made everyone go further away.

Sesshomaru raised her up a bit and stared at her closed eyes. He'd never see the emerald green again. He slowly leaned down and kissed her lips gently. He felt his heart nearly tear in two as he did this and when he pulled away, he murmured something. " Goodbye, Saeka. I'll always love you."

He laid her back down and replaced the cover over her face carefully. He stood up and moved away so the villagers could continue. He watched as they lowered her into the grave. But they didn't fill it in yet. Kagome handed Kaoru to Sango and stepped forward. She took a shaky breath and opened her mouth.

" Father once said to me,

Many moons ago, a demon hand will defend.

Mother said one day, there is more that you must know,

A mortal hand will sustain.

Two hands together, incomplete alone,

Balancing union, and the gate will open.

Go my children go, go to crimson flames!

To save, our children,

The lights of memory remain!"

InuYasha, Sango and Miroku instantly recognized it as The Song of Parting that the half-demon children of Horai Island sang. Sango remembered that Dai had said it was sung at funerals. She now felt touched that Kagome was singing it now. So when the song finished, she started up a new chorus and soon, the whole village had joined in, raising their voices in the song as their way of saying goodbye to Saeka. Sesshomaru just listened and closed his eyes. He knew what the song was. And though he'd never tell anyone, he was glad they had sung it.

The song was sung four times and as it was sung, the grave was slowly filled in until the soil at the top was smoothed down. One of the women stepped forward with a handful of iris flowers. These she placed on top as the song began to die down.

Kagome sniffed silently and took Kaoru back from Sango. As the villagers began to leave sadly, she turned to where Sesshomaru had been. He was moving away toward the lake. Concerned, she followed him. InuYasha followed her, worried she might do something stupid.

Sesshomaru stopped at the lakeshore. The sun was beginning to set and this would be his first night without Saeka, Kagome knew. He was facing the horizon as the half-moon came up.

Kagome slowly approached, holding Kaoru. InuYasha tried to stop her, but was seconds too late.

Sesshomaru didn't move as she came up behind him and set the baby down on the grass next to him. Kaoru was silent.

" Sesshomaru." Kagome said. " I know you're angry and upset about Saeka's death. I'm so sorry it had to happen to you. But my personal advice is not to take it out on Kaoru. I won't tell you what to do. But…." She paused as she stroked Kaoru's hair fondly. " I do hope you make a wise decision."

She got to her feet and backed away from the demon. She made her way back to InuYasha who snatched her and pulled her into the bushes.

" You idiot!" he hissed. " Do you have any idea what you've just done? He'll kill the thing!"

" It's his child, InuYasha. We can't make the choice for him." Kagome whispered. " If Kaoru is to die, then there's nothing we can do." She said remorsefully.

Sesshomaru turned and glared at Kaoru. He almost couldn't stand the sight of the baby. He looked so much like Saeka and that infuriated him for some reason. He growled low in his throat as the infant made a soft noise like a dove and snuggled into the folds of the blanket. Sesshomaru raised his left hand, and his claws sprang out. He held his hand poised over the baby. This child, this, whatever it was, had killed Saeka, the only one he had ever loved as much as he did. She had died bringing this creature into the world. Sesshomaru flexed his claws and raised his hand.

Suddenly, Kaoru's eyes opened and stared up at him curiously. Once again, Sesshomaru found himself fascinated with the strange eye-color. He paused for a moment.

Kaoru cocked his head to the right, making a noise like, " Eh?" as he did. Then, to Sesshomaru's surprise, he lifted both tiny arms up and reached for his hand, smiling broadly and giggling. Sesshomaru blinked and slowly, ever so slowly, lowered his hand until he felt teeny fingers clasp onto only one of his own, examining it carefully.

But as Kaoru inspected his father's hand, one of Sesshomaru's claws brushed against his face. Kaoru started to cry loudly and released his hand, curling into a tight ball. Sesshomaru drew a breath and his eyes softened a little. He reached out and carefully lifted Kaoru into his arms, staring at him curiously. He pulled his claws back into his hand and stroked his son's silky hair. Kaoru continued to wail.

" Shh." Sesshomaru said. " Kaoru, I'm sorry. Shh."

Kaoru gradually stopped crying and started hiccupping occasionally as he snuggled against Sesshomaru, eyes closing wearily. Sesshomaru continued to stroke his hair, watching him carefully. He looked so much like Saeka. It made Sesshomaru want her now more than ever.

He bowed his head.

Not even his son would see him cry.

Kagome sighed with relief when she saw Sesshomaru comfort his son rather than kill him. InuYasha held Kagome against him as she closed her eyes, thankful.

" I'm so glad." She murmured.

" Yeah. Come on. I think we'd better go." He said.

" Why?"

" Sesshomaru doesn't believe tears solve anything." Was all InuYasha had to say. Kagome's mouth formed an 'O' shape and she silently followed him back to the village.

The next day, everyone was reluctant to go about their duties. The wolf tribe had vanished from the area and Sango had sent a message to Saaya, explaining what had happened. She got another one several hours later, written and signed by Naraku. He said in the letter that as soon as she got the message, she had become overwhelmed with sadness and wasn't speaking. The trek to the northern lands was being postponed until further notice, when she was back on her feet. He also mentioned she wasn't feeling the greatest lately, so he'd let them know when they got moving again.

It was close to a week and a half after the funeral that they got another message from Saaya, this one written by Saaya herself. She said that she was sorry to her father about her mother and she wanted to see Kaoru soon:

I still can't believe she's gone. I will miss her greatly and so will Kaoru when he's old enough to know about her. I know dad is the worst affected by this though. I wish I could be there for him, since Kaoru and I are the only ones left of Saeka. But as we are forced to, life goes on.

Our trek is going well. I have made many allies in the north and they will fight with us to reclaim our lands and our heritage. I am gaining power and the ability to transform at will. Although, due to circumstances, I should remain humanoid for the time being, for I am to have a child myself sometime next winter. I know that to dad, I will probably be much too young, but I am fully grown now and responsible enough to handle it. I hope you will visit me beforehand, for I shall require guidance. Naraku says that he will do as much penance as he can to redeem himself for all the misery he inflicted upon all of you and I plan to have him start by helping to raise his child, as is expected. But for now, he is doing a fine job leading alongside me, and he wishes you all well.

Come visit anytime.

-Saaya

The letter said a lot about how things were going and Kagome was insanely happy about this now. Sesshomaru responded to the news rather clumsily, but eventually came to terms with the fact that his daughter and his enemy were destined to be together and that he had no choice but to accept the fact that Naraku had changed.

" Wow!" InuYasha exclaimed. " I guess Saaya's grown up now, huh?"

" Yeah." Kagome said. She held Sakura in her lap and watched as the sun was beginning to set. It was almost two weeks since Saeka died.

They both turned as Sesshomaru came up behind them, Kaoru held tightly and disguised by his sleeves.

" Hey, Sesshomaru." InuYasha said. " What's up?"

" I came to bid you farewell." He said. They both jumped. " What?" Kagome exclaimed. " You're leaving?"

" Yes. I am going to the north. I will join the trek of the Dragon Clan and stay with Saaya. I'm going to take Kaoru with me."

" Oh." Kagome said. " When?"

" Very soon." He replied. " I wish to thank you all, for everything you've done. Though I wish Saeka could come, I must leave her behind." He said quietly. He looked down at his son in his arms.

" But, Sesshomaru, won't he be vulnerable?" Kagome asked. Sesshomaru shot her a look. " Do you really think I'm so irresponsible as to put my son in harm's way? He will be protected." He said. Kagome smiled. " I'm sure he will be." She said. Sesshomaru shifted him in his arms. " I also thought of something." He said. " Do you remember Saeka's sword, Kassenah?"

They both nodded. " Yeah," Said InuYasha. " We remember it."

" I realized I could use it to find Saeka in the netherworld. I may still see her again." Sesshomaru said quietly. " She may want to see our son." Sesshomaru started to turn. " Tell Kaede where I am going." He said. Kagome nodded.

Sesshomaru was suddenly surrounded in the bright sphere and took off into the sky, heading north. InuYasha and Kagome watched him until they couldn't see him anymore. Kagome sighed and leaned against InuYasha. He put his arm around her and stared out over the land.

" Kagome." He said.

" Hmm?"

" What'cha thinking about?"

Kagome hummed and smiled. " The future."

A/N: Thank you all for reading. See, even in a tragedy, there can still be a happy ending. I beg your forgiveness for killing Saeka. I won't be writing a sequel to this story, though I easily could, seeing how Saaya will have a child herself, Sesshomaru can use Kassenah the sword and Kaoru still has a long life coming. I'm a little tired of writing this story, if you don't mind. I mean, I've written ten books. That's more than I've written in a long time. I would also like to thank everyone who stuck by me throughout this whole thing. They are, Kinkatia, Silentmoondemon, Seiko no Neko, Serenityrain, Shadowdragon2005, Arizonabay, Alanna-sama, Hatchilover, and whoever else read it. This is also dedicated in the memory of my good friend Phil who passed away during the completion of this particular book and to one of my favorite authors on this site, elle6778 who wrote A Simple Legacy and inspired the improvement of my own writing skills (her Simple Legacy isn't so simple anymore, hehe). I HIGHLY recommend her work. I'm going to start a new fanfic after this called THE FIRST LEGACY. If anyone is interested in reading about the life of Izayoi, feel free to check it out. Ciao everyone!!