Disclaimer: I do not own anything except for the few characters that I have invented to make my story possible. If there are any questions about the story refer to the end of chapter 15 or leave a signed review and I will answer it.
Ch.22 Celebration or A Victory of Sorts or A Conclusion
Jaken jumped from the little dragons back with no time to loose and ran towards the great tree demon.
"Bokusenou-sensei, I have gathered the required ingredients as you told me!"
The tree demon opened his eyes at the yells of Jaken and began to blink rapidly and yawned, "Wh---aaat?"
Jaken was now before him bowing, "I have returned with the ingredients for the potion. I have the shells of a dragon's egg, the flower of life, and the feathers of the bird of paradise. I have done and gathered everything you said would be necessary!"
Bokusenou looked slightly confused and this frustrated Jaken into explaining a bit further in hopes of reminding the old demon, "I came to you for a potion for Sess…"
The tree demon then chuckled lightly, "Ah yes, I know Jaken. Now you need to make the potion."
Jaken let out a sigh of relief that the tree demon hadn't forgotten everything.
"So what must I do? I have been away for over a week now and need to get back before anything should happen to the lady."
"Be patient Jaken, you must focus on one thing at a time. Now this will only take as long as necessary."
Jaken nodded and waited patiently as Bokusenou began to instruct him on preparing the potion.
"First you will need to grind the egg shells into affine powder. You may use this motor and pistol to do it. After it is a fine powder and there are no longer any clumps of egg shell you will add some of the water from my roots that you can cut with this knife.
"Once you have mixed in the water you will add the feathers into the mixture grinding them down also into a powder. The acids along the inside of the dragon eggs will help you to do so."
Jaken nodded as he began the process holding the bowl and placing the egg shells in it before grinding them down using the pistol. The eggs didn't grind so easily at first but once he started they gave in easily and soon he had a light bluish white powder in the bowl.
He then stood carrying the bowl to where Bokusenou lifted a root. Jaken took the knife and cut the softer flesh of the underside of the root and watched as water dripped into the bowl.
Jaken then moved back to sitting in front of the tree demon and mixed the concoction.
"You should add the feathers now Jaken."
Jaken nodded and turned to receive the feathers from the dragon that was sitting to his side with his bag. He then dropped the few blue and green feathers which they had managed to retrieve into the motor and began to grind it down.
"The potion should turn a blue green color once it has been fully mixed. Has it changed yet?"
Jaken continued to grind down the feathers that were easier than the shell itself as Bokusenou had said and watched as it slowly changed color, "Yes, it's changing."
"Allow for it to sit. Now grab the knife again Jaken and get the flower from your bag."
Jaken reached in his bag and pulled out the flower.
"Ah yes that is the correct flower. Now lay it on the ground and remove its thorns and add them to the mixture but do not pick it up yet. We are not done with the flower."
Jaken did as he instructed and threw the red thorns into the mixture and watched surprised as the thorns seemed to melt into red puddles atop the mixture.
"Now you will cut the base of the flower slightly above the stem and then quickly pick up the bud and allow for the nectar that will be spilling out to do so into the mixture."
Jaken moved the bowl closer to where he sat and then lifted the knife slicing it along where Bokusenou had directed. A golden liquid that was hot as fire poured out and onto his hands but he ignored the pain as he moved to allow the molten liquid to flow into the bowl. It smelled overwhelmingly sweet and made Jaken dizzy.
He was about to let go of the bud and lay down out of fatigue when Bokusenou shouted, "Jaken, that is enough!"
Jaken then dropped the bud and moved back from the bowl.
"Allow your dragon to lick your hands. The nectar is not too hot for her and her saliva will heal the burns."
Jaken then did as he said and the dragon happily lapped up the liquid, "Thank you little one."
Bokusenou laughed and Jaken turned to him, "What?"
"Nothing Jaken now you need to mix the mixture one last time and it should turn into a darker green color. Then you will need to pour it into this vial." Bokusenou instructed as Jaken finished and then proceeded to pour the liquid into the vial.
Jaken placed the cork in the vial and had an accomplished smile on his face, "Now back to the East!"
"Jaken."
"Ah yes Bokusenou-sensei?"
"There is one thing missing from the potion."
"What? I have added everything."
"You said for her to live forever and to be with Sesshomaru right?"
"Yes."
"Well it needs the blood of one who gives it willingly for her to live forever."
"Then I will give mine for their happiness."
"Not unless you wish for her to be a toad demoness."
"Then I will have to tell lord Sesshomaru. I am sure he will do it."
"Good luck Jaken."
Jaken bowed smiling and mounted the dragon before they took off to the air.
"I wonder if he knows that the war ended. Hmm oh well." Bokusenou thought as he watched the two disappear into the distance before going back to his nap.
~*~*~*~
Kagome and her friends were helping Inuyasha, Kikyou and the villagers build huts one for Sango and Miroku after they got married in the next couple of days and another for Kikyou and Inuyasha who would be getting married that evening. Kagome grabbed the jewel for a second as it hung against her chest inside her kimono. She wondered what would happen to her and the jewel now. She had yet to decide if she should entrust the jewel to Kikyo or take it with her.
She then looked down at herself she wore priestess garbs but the hakama were orange and were a gift from her friend Kumiko the new lady of the Eastern lands. And since Kagome was the first honored miko of the East now in a long time since they had been wiped out she was given the colors of the land.
Kagome smiled and looked around at her friends smiling faces. They had gotten back the day before and it had already been two days since the battle ended. Sesshomaru had gone to his castle to start rebuilding his staff, army, and home. He had promised her to come back to see her in a few days but she already missed him since his departure last night. Arisugawa and Kumiko would also be coming soon to pay their respects to the newlyweds before taking Shippo with them.
After the battle Shippo had been at Kagome's side and he had cried wishing he could have better protected his mother. Kumiko then had patted his head and offered to train him if Kagome agreed and of course she did.
Kagome then took the bucket of water over to a few of the villagers offering them a drink before they went back to work.
~*~ A couple days later ~*~
Sango wore a white kimono and had her hair flowing freely down her back in curls. She word make up that Kagome had done for her which accentuated her brown eyes and puffed out lips. She smiled as she walked along side Miroku who also was wearing a plain white kimono past those watching and to where Kaede stood. The ceremony wasn't long and everyone cheered for the newly wedded couple as they kissed for the first time as husband and wife.
After the ceremonial feast, Kumiko and Arisugawa approached Kagome and Shippo. They exchanged bows and discussed what Kagome planned to do.
"Well you see Lord Sesshomaru will be coming back this way soon and if he no longer needs me then I have decided to go back to my time to keep the jewel safe."
Kumiko nodded sadly for her friend and her missed love with Sesshomaru.
"Kagome can you not see yourself staying with us all in this time?", it was Arisugawa who asked, "You are welcome in the East and your son will need you as he grows."
Kagome looked down at Shippo who was beginning to tear up, "Shippo? You know that I love you and will come back to visit as often as I can f the well still allows it right?"
"Yes but… what if it doesn't?"
"Then I will leave you with my picture and you will always know I love you and am with you even if it is not in person."
Shippo nodded and wiped away his tears.
"Then allow us to escort you to Sesshomaru's at least." Arisugawa told Kagome as he saw that Shippo couldn't get her to stay and perhaps if she saw Sesshomaru sooner he could get her to stay.
Kagome smiled, "I would appreciate it. I will gather my things then and say good bye real quick and then we can go."
Arisugawa smiled and nodded to Kagome as she went off towards Kaede's hut.
~*~*~*~
Kagome arrived at the Western castle with lord Arisugawa at her side. Kumiko had taken Shippo to the East to get a head start on his training so that when Kagome came back she would see how well he was doing. Kagome had smiled knowingly that the kit had a hard time with good byes and allowed him to go.
The guards at the front stopped lord Arisugawa at first until one of them looked at Kagome and recognized her.
"You're the miko that healed me during the last battle."
Kagome looked up at him, "I'm sorry but I healed a lot of people and don't remember you. Are you doing better now though?"
He smiled, "Much better and thanks to you miko-sama."
Kagome smiled, "no problem."
He then motioned for the others to move aside and allow her and Lord Arisugawa through. The two barely made it to the doors when they opened to reveal Sesshomaru standing there before them.
He looked his calm and cool collected self but on the inside he was very happy that Kagome was there with him to see his palace, his home.
"Lord Sesshomaru." Arisugawa bowed slightly.
"Lord Arisugawa." Sesshomaru returned the gesture.
Kagome looked at lord Sesshomaru as he began to bow to her, "please my lord." She bowed instead, "It is my pleasure to be back and able to serve you as long as you need me."
Sesshomaru nodded understanding why she didn't want him to bow. She had felt horrible that his brother had gotten hurt on her account supposedly but it hurt her even worse to know that he had been injured and again she blamed herself. He had been surprised at how a little wound could make her so upset in comparison to how mildly she reacted to Inuyasha's near death. But in the same it didn't bother him too much.
"And I am glad to have you." He said before turning to Arisugawa.
"Well I'm going to get going now. Take care Kagome and I hope to see you again soon. Sesshomaru." He said with a bow and then he was gone.
"Come. Let me show you the grounds." Sesshomaru said in his cold mono tone.
Kagome smiled, "Sure, I would love to see."
They spent the next couple hours looking around his castle that for the most part had managed to remain intact surprisingly enough. They had started with the library and study, and then he showed her the dining room and ball room. Then he took her from the west wing to the east wing that over looked a garden before reaching a cliff that lead to the ocean.
This is where they sat for a long time just enjoying the presence of the other and the feel and smell of the water and garden mixing.
Kagome was the one to break the silence, "When I was unconscious due to the poison. You took care of me."
Sesshomaru was a bit startled that she knew but then remembered Miyuki being there, "Yes."
Kagome smiled, "Thank you. I have done a lot of thinking since then."
He waited for her to continue.
"And one of the things I have thought on is what I will do from here."
"And have you figured that out?"
"I hope that I will have soon."
"What are your options?"
Kagome blushed slightly but quickly concealed it, "I can either stay in this time with you and everyone else protecting the jewel or I can go home to the future to protect it." She then looked up at him and their eyes met.
They stayed like that for a few moments and then he looked away, "you should do what you want, Kagome."
'I need you to tell me to stay Sesshomaru. That's all you have to do.'
"But what do you think?"
He turned back to look at her again, "Kagome you should…"
~*~*~*~
A/N: Ok so I left you with a cliffy. I'm horrible I know but I really want to do their conversation as a focal point in the next chapter so we are stopping here. Please continue to read, I try to post on Fridays and for the most part have done so and please, please, PLEASE review. It make the butterflies swoon and me feel like a decent writer. There are only four chapters left so now is the time to review.
-Vamp