Hey guys! Sorry it took so long to get the 12th chapter up, but it's that time of year again; midterms and what not. Oh well :) Please enjoy the latest addition of With the Wind! And when you're done please review the chapter if you liked it! And please, please be patient with me, I'll get 13 up when i can.

12. The Final Decision

Yori slowly opened her eyes to a dimly lit room. Light from a burning fire spotted her vision and warmed her as the cold night air made its way through a door made of straw. She breathed in the breeze and then tried to sit up. Immediate pain shot through her back. Oh ya, that's right. I was fighting Kikyo and took the arrow for Rin. But, where am I? Yori tried sitting up again and let out a small cry, but despite the pain and obvious annoyance at being injured, she was successful in her attempt to sit up.
"You shouldn't try to move too much." some one said. The voice was soft, full of sadness and apprehension but still unmistakable. Yori spoke without looking at the speaker.
"Where is everyone?" she asked.
"Well, after you passed out, we headed towards Kaede's village. On the way Lady Kiesu explained everything to us. And when we got here, her, Inuyasha, and Kaede went off somewhere to talk. Shippo, Sango, and Miroku are out looking for supplies." Yori nodded her head and played with her fingers idly.
"And Sesshomaru?" There was a pause, then a sigh, and she continued.
"I don't know. But Yori, you were unconscious for a day and he's really worried about you. He left about an hour ago." Kagome paused and Yori saw her through the corner of her eye run a hand through her hair. "I watched him from the time you passed out. He carried you here and then held you in his arms before Kaede told him it was better to put you down... He really loves you, you know." There was another long pause.
"And you, what are you doing here?" Yori's voice harbored unintended bitterness. Kagome flinched a little and then came to sit by her former friend.
"I wanted to be here when you woke up." She hugged her knees and began to tremble a little. "I wanted to apologize for what happened a couple days ago. I had no right to say the things I said and I'm sorry." Yori's eyes widened and she turned to the girl sitting next to her. Then she sighed.
"There's no need to apologize. I shouldn't have said anything either. No one was right then, and I understand why you feel the way you do." Kagome shook her head.
"No, you don't understand. When I saw you two together, I, I didn't know how to react. That was the first time I'd ever seen Sesshomaru show emotion, and so openly. I was shocked... and heartbroken. When you asked me how I could love Inuyasha, I didn't have an answer." Yori touched Kagome's shoulder lightly and smiled sadly.
"Kagome, Inuyasha really does care for you. He's just stuck on Kikyo. He loves you, but he probably feels bad about it because Kikyo is- er, was- still alive in a way. And the two never really had closure. I think Inuyasha is afraid to admit his feelings for you, afraid to trust them. Just give him some time and I promise it'll get better." Kagome looked to Yori and nodded her head. Then she looked in front of her.
"So, what are you going to do now?" Yori raised her eyebrow.
"What do you mean?"
"You can either stay here and become the High Priestess or go home. Lady Kiesu told me that it was your destiny to take her place." Yori nodded her head.
"I hadn't even thought of home. You've seen my parents right?" Kagome nodded.
"Ya, they're very worried about you." Yori let her eyelids fall a little as a soft sadness overtook her heart.
"Can you tell them about this place?" Kagome touched Yori's shoulder.
"Then you're staying? So you want to be the High Priestess?"
"No. I'm staying for another reason, something even more important. I'd tell you, but I'd rather wait until everyone is back." Yori offered her a smile.
"Is it Sesshomaru? Are you staying because you love him?" Yori laughed slightly, and then winced at the response from her back.
"You're close, very close." And with that she tried to stand up. Pain enveloped her back and Kagome jumped up.
"What did I tell you Yori? You shouldn't be moving around!" Kagome said, grabbing Yori by the arm and helping her up. Yori smiled again and leaned against the wall for support. Then the straw door rattled and Sesshomaru walked in. He looked at her with eyes plagued by worry and immediately walked over to her. Sesshomaru touched her face softly, his eyes meeting hers. He grabbed her hand and placed his forehead on hers.
"Are you alright?" Yori took in a deep breath, the soft smell of lilacs and vanilla filling her nose.
"Yes." Sesshomaru brought her hand to his chest and caressed it softly with his fingers. He kissed her hand gently and spoke softly.
"I was so worried." He kissed her forehead and then she smiled.
"Where's your faith in me? You think Kikyo's weak arrow would be enough to do me in?" He smiled also, a deep genuine masterpiece.
"No, of course not." He was leaning in for a kiss when Kagome cleared her throat. They'd forgotten she was even there. She smiled with her eyes closed and held up her hand and waved in an extremely playful motion. "Hi there." Sesshomaru just looked at her and then offered her the closest he could get to a warm expression. It seemed to be enough for Kagome as she cracked an even bigger grin.
"I can see it." Yori scrunched her eyebrows together.
"You can see what?"
"The secret, I can see it now. It's big isn't it?" she asked and Yori blushed."Ya, pretty big." Kagome made a puppy dog face and stepped closer to her friend, gently pushing Sesshomaru out of the way. He made a face that screamed 'how dare you push me away like I'm some unimportant character?' and made a move for his sword. And before Yori could say anything, he stopped himself and regained his composure. Whoa. Her thoughts went astray though, as Kagome begun poking her friend in the shoulder and giving her an innocent and cutsie pleading face.
"So, what is it?" Yori stared at her friend, disbelief written across her face. It was hard to believe that the two had even fought. It seemed like they were back to being best friends again in no time at all.
"You have to wait until—" Just then, the wind blew inside the room as the door opened once more and Lady Kiesu, Kaede, and Inuyasha stepped in. Inuyasha tossed her an accusing glance, full of hate and anger. But then, like ice, his expression melted as his eye traced over her bandages. He walked over to her and Kagome moved out of the way. He stood in front of her and since he was just a little taller than she was, Yori looked up at him.
"How's your back?" What is this? Sesshomaru didn't kill Kagome and Inuyasha's being nice to me? What's next? She stared at him, completely taken aback at his sudden show of care and concern. Her jaw dropped a little before she responded.
"It still hurts, but its healing rather quickly." He nodded his head.
"That's good to hear." And then he grabbed Kagome's hand and the two went to sit in one of the corners of the room. The door opened again, for what would probably be the last time of the night, and Miroku, Sango, and Shippo stepped into Kaede's rather crowded house. They all found seats and sighed. It was apparent that they weren't very successful in their search for supplies. And that could have been for any number of reasons. For one, Sango and Shippo were both soaking wet. And two, Miroku had a huge red handprint on the side of his face. Yori shook her head while Kiesu only smiled a little. It was very quiet as the High Priestess made her way to the middle of the floor, grabbing hold of everyone's attention. She reached into her shirt and that's when Yori sensed it. No way.
Kiesu pulled out of her shirt a small pink orb. It was shinning, giving off a powerful presence as if it were alive, and almost complete save for a small fracture in the side of it. Gasps rung about the room and Inuyasha whispered "The Sacred Jewel." Lady Kiesu nodded her head.
"Yes. My friends, this is indeed the Sacred Jewel. It appeared to me just moments after my sister passed on, almost whole and untainted. The Jewel is close to being restored to its proper form, it just requires the last shard." She then looked at Yori and a memory floated back into her head. She reached into her own shirt and pulled out the remaining shard.
"When I first met Kaede, I saved the village from a demon. This was embedded in its stomach and I meant to give it to you all the next time I saw you." she said handing the shard to the High Priestess. Kiesu nodded her thanks and then placed the last shard in its proper place. There was a bright light as the shard merged into the Jewel and it became complete. Kiesu smiled and placed the Shikon Jewel back into her shirt.
"What will you do with it?" Yori asked. Then Inuyasha jumped in also.
"And what about Naraku?"
"I shall return with it to the Sacred Lands and protect it inside of the castle. There, it shall never again fall into the hands of evil. As for Naraku, he has no means of growing any stronger. If you all wish to pursue him, I implore you to do so. If he is to die by your blade, Inuyasha, then he shall die at the hands of justice." Kaede nodded her head.
"Thank you sister. Ay, Inuyasha, do ye wish to continue in your search for Naraku?" Inuyasha nodded.
"We've been looking for him for so long, we can't quit now. We have people to avenge; Kikyo, Kohaku, Miroku's family, and the mangy wolf's tribe." And at the mention of Kohaku, everyone's eyes shifted to Sango. She had tears in her eyes and Miroku grabbed her in a comforting hug. Kiesu turned to Yori.
"Who is this Kohaku?"
"I believe he's Sango's younger brother." Kiesu's eyes widened.
"Might he have large brown eyes and wear a uniform of the demon slayers?" Sango nodded to her and Kiesu smiled.
"Your brother is not dead. You shall undoubtedly run into him during your search for Naraku. The shard that lied in Kohaku's back brought him back from the dead. And after having it for so long, he grabbed onto life and he is sustained." Sango's eyes widened with joy and a smile touched everyone's lips in the room. Then Kaede turned to Yori.
"And ye? What do ye intend to do now Yori? Will ye return home now that all is said and done?" Everyone's eyes turned to her and she blushed, stepping a little closer to Sesshomaru.
"Um, well I'd intended to return to the Western Lands with Sesshomaru." Kagome piped up.
"Will you tell us the secret now?" Eyes pasted themselves on Kagome and she smiled a wide smile. Yori blushed again and cleared her throat as Sesshomaru grabbed her hand and squeezed it supportively.
"Well, everyone, we've decided to get married."

Everyone's reaction was a small different than everyone else's. Miroku nodded his approval and Sango smiled. Kaede's eyes widened and she grinned while Shippo shook his head happily. Kagome jumped up and grabbed her friend's hands, elated while Lady Kiesu's face remained passive. And Inuyasha screamed "WHAT?" But oddly, Yori could hear another voice mixed into his scream. It was familiar; sort of whinny, definitely annoying, and… impish.
"Master Jaken?" Jaken came stomping into the room, his green face painted red.
"Lord Sesshomaru, how could you even think of marrying this girl! She is the very least fitted for you!" Oh that little imp. If it wasn't for my injury, I would clobber him. But Sesshomaru did something better.
"Watch your tone Jaken. And you might want to get used to the idea of referring to her as Lady Yori." He almost lost consciousness and Yori couldn't resist the urge of laughing in his face. The silent war was over between the two; Yori, victorious. Little Rin ran in and hugged Yori and then Sesshomaru.
"I'm so happy for you!" she said and the two smiled down at her. And Yori could tell they'd had the same general thought. When the time came, they would adopt Rin as their own child. Yori looked out to her friend's and was overtaken by a feeling of complete joy, even with Inuyasha's mouth still hanging wide open. She smiled a big smile and then noticed that Lady Kiesu had vanished.
"Well I say we celebrate! Let us all visit the nearest tavern and rejoice with a bit of sake." Miroku said and the others nodded in agreement. They all filed out of the small hut and Yori pulled at Sesshomaru's sleeve.
"I'll be back. I have to find the High Priestess." He nodded and gave her a quick peck on the cheek and she quickly walked in the other direction.
Lady Kiesu was standing alone when Yori found her in the forest. She was going to say something when the priestess turned her head around to see who had found her, shot a look at Yori when she realized it was her, and faced the other direction once more.
"You are a fool." Her words hit Yori like nothing she'd ever felt before.
"What—"
"How could you even think of marrying him? He is a demon Yori, and you are a priestess. Things such as these are not meant to be." Although Yori couldn't believe her ears, she held her ground.
"Who are we to say they are not? Lady Kiesu, we are but mere mortals. We have no say in what fate has in store for us."
"You are wrong. There are some things that are written in stone and we indeed know. Have you forgotten! You are next in line, the one who shall take my place as High Priestess!" Yori shook her head hard.
"I fell in love with Sesshomaru before I met you. I will not become the High Priestess! And no one decides my fate but myself and I wish to be with Sesshomaru." Kiesu turned her then.
"You are wrong again. You have no control over what fate decides. It shall bring you to its final decision in the end." Kiesu turned in the other direction once more.
"My final decision has already been made. Fate will by no means change that." Yori said. She could see the fury in Kiesu's form and she walked away from Yori and into the thick trees. The wind blew in the night and just like that, the High Priestess was gone. Yori sighed and turned around, finding her way back to the village.
The rest of that night had been filled with laughs, smiles, and congratulations. Even Jaken had perked up in the midst of things. They decided to leave in the morning, but as Yori lay down to sleep her and Lady Kiesu's conversation plagued her thoughts. And when she slept, she slept alongside nightmares of what was to come.