Author's Note:

This story evolved as an as I went thing with no real end in mind. It was more of a character exploration of "what would happen if..." So enjoy this bitter exploration into hurt, healing and hope.

Be warned, since I haven't followed the series closely in years or seen the Final Act, I'm pretty sure some things won't fit into cannon.

Of Pride and Power
Chapter 33: Promises Kept

Packed dirt found her bottom as Kagome collided with the hard cold ground. Panic seized her chest and instantly she jumped to her feet, her chin lifting to look to the lip of the well where minutes before, Sesshomaru had disappeared to face the monks. Rather than find evidence of a battle, a lazy "Meow" from the pudgy ginger cat who lounged atop the ledge greeted her instead. At the sight of the familiar feline, Kagome went still. Could it be true? After all this time?

"Buyo?"

While he didn't respond to his name, Buyo did respond to her presence and frantically paced along the ledge, looking for a way to jump to her. With tears in her eyes, Kagome clambered from the well taking her cat into her arms as tears streamed down her face. "Oh Buyo I missed you so much!" she cried, rubbing her cheek into his fur. Buyo gave a long meow before his paw reached out to bat at the jewel and beads hanging from her neck.

Kagome rested against the well sobbing. Where the debilitating fear of Sesshomaru's death would have left her paralyzed, the joy and relief of being home resuscitated her heart once more to reignite the emotional cycle between grief and joy, repeating until all tension and anxiety emptied from her. Once her tearfulness ebbed enough to allow movement, Kagome stood on shaky legs, rushing from the well house towards the Higurashi home. "Mom!" she called frantically. "Mom I'm home!"

Dishes crashed from within the house seconds before Mrs. Higurashi ran from the house pausing briefly at the front steps to take in her daughter. The pause only lasted a second before mother and daughter collided in a tearful embrace. Hearing the commotion, her grandfather soon joined. They laughed, they cried and they loved. Over a hot lunch of orange glazed fish and pickled radishes, Kagome recanted her adventures and detailed her extended absence.

Sota returned home from school, his backpack and homework forgotten in the presence of his long-lost sister, her brother tackling her to the ground in a fierce hug. That evening Kagome sipped tea with her mother, curled against her side while Mrs. Higurashi stroked her daughter's hair. "It's so good to have you back Kagome." she breathed warmly.

"I thought about you guys everyday." Kagome admitted, as she snuggled closer to her mother.

"It must have been so hard for you." Mrs. Higurashi sighed, her tone heavy. "Sesshomaru... I'm not sure if I should hate him or be grateful. On one hand he took you from us, on the other, he kept you safe."

Kagome sighed, leaning her head back. "What he did was so childish..." she agreed before closing her eyes. Inuyasha, Shippo, Sango, Miroku, Kirara, Kaede– all of them gone. Kagome swallowed against a hard lump in her throat. The picture of the red-eyed monster appeared before her once more, only to fade to the bruised and bloodied face of her rescuer. Her eyes fluttered opened to stare at the ceiling.

"He's so stupid." she murmured. "He always acts for himself. Worries me half to death but does he care? No." a hand moved to her chest, clenching at the pain she felt. "What does he do? Just throws me down a well because he felt like it. He can be so selfish!" Kagome paused briefly, the pain doubling."I-I don't even know if was okay after..." It was the future, he was in the past. It was only natural if he died...

"...if you arrive at any time and I am not present, you have only yourself to blame..."

Kagome's cheeks reddened in her fluster. "Stupid selfish dog." she frowned. "He lied. Stupid."

Her mother who'd gone quiet looked to her daughter with compassion, her expression soft and knowing. "You love him." she observed, wiping a tear from Kagome's cheek.

"Love?" Kagome repeated in surprise. Was that what it was? Did she actually fall for him? If so, when had that happened? At what point did his sins against her become irrelevant enough that love could foster? "I don't know." she admitted. "I never thought about it really."

"I take it he cares for you as well."

"I mean, yeah, he did take care of me..." the memories of the protection and provisions he offered when with him came to mind. At the most recent recollection of Sesshomaru's act of selflessness, her fingers twitched, recalling the blood soaking his garments at her rescue. Sesshomaru risked his life just to save her. "I guess he did care." she admitted solemnly.

The doorbell rang and Mrs. Higurashi sat up looking to the door. "That's right, I called Ayumi, Eri and Yuka and told them you were back."

"You did?" Kagome questioned, feeling a rush of excitement to see her friends once more. Bolting up from the couch Kagome ran to the front door, swinging it open to greet her friends. Instead, a tall monolith dressed in white silk greeted her with smoldering amber eyes.

"Sesshomaru..." she breathed.

Kagome paused briefly before suddenly slamming the door in his face and putting her back to the door to barricade his entrance. Her heart and mind racing with one thought completely clear. Kagome was wholly unprepared to face Sesshomaru and all the implications of his presence in her time.