Chapter 51
Moments after take-off, Sesshoumaru summoned a barrier to surround himself and his chosen. She was wearing practically nothing and it was terribly cold up here. He cuddled her close, warming her with his body heat, taking in her scent to check for injuries or distress while murmuring in her ear.
Inuyasha scowled at his brother and Kagome, crossing his arms over his chest. "Both of them can create cozy barriers, but do you think they'd make one for us? Nooooo."
Shiori just smiled and shook her head, muttering, "How soon they forget." She climbed into his lap and summoned a red barrier to keep them sheltered. "Really, Inuyasha? Forgot who gave you the red Tessaiga attack already?"
He lowered his head sheepishly, his puppy ears laying back flat. "Oh. Yeah. Sorry, babe."
"That's what I thought." She craned her neck under his bangs while tilting his chin with her fingers, placing a sweet kiss on her mate's lips.
…
Meanwhile, Sesshoumaru was holding Kagome, telling her everything was alright, that he could never hurt her again, and as he spoke those soothing words, the dam holding back her emotions she had built since awakening in the bathroom with Kanna broke and she wept into his stark white kimono.
"Oh, Sesshoumaru, I'm so sorry! I almost messed everything up! If it weren't for Kanna, if you had survived the battle, you would have found me dead in his bathtub! All because I'm so stupid! How could I be so stupid? Gram and Amaterasu said I was special but look at me? I'm no warrior, no weapon. I'm just a scared girl."
'Amaterasu? The Sun Goddess?' "Shhhhh. Enough, miko. There will be time enough for explanations. For now, just feel my strength around you and rest." He purred his soothing growl and in minutes her sniffles abated and her breathing leveled out in sleep.
…..
They arrived at the shiro and Kagome was still asleep, so Sesshoumaru carried her straight into their chambers, ignoring the questioning words and looks from Izayoi and Kaede. His mate came first. He removed her clothing and laid her in bed, joining her after he had doffed his remaining clothing. He had tried to remove the Shikon no Tama from her right fist, but she held fast, even in sleep, and he was afraid to use more force and injure her.
After the purification, all scents on her had been removed so she no longer smelled like Naraku, but she also no longer smelled like him and it was rattling his instincts not to have her covered in multiple layers of his scent. He rolled her on her side and spooned her warming body. He flung a leg over both of hers, rested her head on an arm, and held her with another, burying his face in her hair and the back of her neck.
Toga had agreed on the way there to handle things with the police and to explain as much as he could to Izayoi, Kaede, and Kagome's family, who would be stopping over after Kaneko finished up at work. Inuyasha and Shiori headed to their suite, hit the showers and went off to bed. It had been a long, tense night of fighting and it was about 3pm when they finally got home with none of them having any rest since the previous night.
After finishing his long call to the police detective, letting them know Kagome was safe, where to find Naraku's hideout and Kagome's rental car, and of the whereabouts of Onigumo/Naraku, he made his way to the kitchen to find Jaken but somehow wasn't surprised to see what he did. Izayoi was in there with Jaken, making food that would be easy for everyone to grab and eat when they finally rolled out of bed and needed to fill their bellies. A big pot of fish stew was simmering if they were really hungry, sandwiches and lettuce wraps made with lunchmeat and cheese, and Kagome's recipe for tuna salad stuffed in endive leaves if they were a little hungry, and they made a cream cheese spread with smoked salmon and onion and spread it in celery for a crunchy snack. There was also a fresh pitcher of iced tea brewing on the counter. Toga walked up behind his mate and held her around her middle, whispering in her ear how grateful he was to share his life with such a thoughtful woman.
She turned in his hold, putting down the butter knife she had been applying the salmon spread with and wrapped her arms around him. With a twinkle in her eyes, she asked, "Just how grateful would that be?"
In a flash, Jaken was very alone in the kitchen and rolling his eyes, grumbling about lusty dog demons.
…
It was after 8pm by the time Kagome's mother and grandfather arrived. No one had awoken, so Jaken greeted them at the door, got them settled in the den and went to rouse the great general.
After speaking for some time, they accepted Toga's invitation to stay. It was Kagome's birthday tomorrow, and they would be attending the parties this week so it just made more sense. Izayoi found them rooms in the family wing and they settled in for the night.
….
When Kagome and Sesshoumaru padded out to the kitchen, there were plates everywhere and the raucous sounds of slurping and open-mouthed chewing were coming from the dining room. They followed the sound to find Shiori nibbling a loaded celery stick next to Inuyasha who actually was drinking the last dregs of fish stew right out of the upended stock pot at his lips.
"Piggy," Kagome accused.
Inuyasha slammed down the pot with a satisfied growl. "You should talk. Back in the day, you could match me mouthful for mouthful."
"Still can, actually. That asshole had a spread of my old binging food waiting for me and I was freaked out enough about being there alone with him that I became the human garbage disposal," she said, loading a plate with a couple filled endive leaves and some stuffed celery.
"I knew it! I knew he was fucking with you in there. You shoulda seen Sesshoumaru climbing the walls. He had a bad feeling about you being there and it was killing him."
"You don't know the half of it." Then, turning to Sesshoumaru, she asked, "Is that true? You were worried for me?"
"Hn," he said, nodding.
"Well I think you better tell us the rest. We have a right to know if you're hurt. You can't just bring that fucker up and not tell us," Inuyasha insisted.
"Inuyasha…,"Sesshoumaru warned in a growling tone. He wasn't going to rush her. He knew it wouldn't be pleasant, whatever it was.
She laid a hand on Sesshoumaru's arm. "It's OK. He's right and the sooner I get it out, the sooner I never have to think about it again. I want to concentrate on happy things, like exploding dye packs in the icing to keep Inuyasha from devouring our cake." They sat down at the table opposite Inuyasha and Shiori as Kagome filled everyone in on what had happened before she arrived in the cave and about her amazing experience in Heaven. It was full of interjections by Inuyasha, each answered with growls from Sesshoumaru.
When she finally finished, she was met by silence until, "No. Fucking. Way."
"Which part, Yasha?" Kagome asked.
"I mean…first, I would rip that fucker to shreds if you hadn't already sent him to hell for fucking touching you, let alone all that other shit, and I'm not the only one in here thinking that, but…Kags, you seriously had cookie soup with a god? Are you sure you weren't just delusional from the blood loss?"
"Sure, that's possible. Maybe even probable. How would I know I was going to become a demon, though? And when have you ever known me to have that kind of self-esteem? I personally can't even imagine me ever saying things like that. I am the gods' Great Croquet Mallet of Love? Really? Does that even sound like me?"
"I believe you," Shiori said.
"Hn," chimed in Sesshoumaru, scooting his chair closer and putting his arm around her. "Even your subconscious would never think of yourself so extraordinarily. Even when you know you have excelled, you are modest. Also, I would not imagine a god to be so…amiable: another incongruity with Inuyasha's supposition."
"Yeah, I guess you're right. I mean who could make up any part of that scene," Inuyasha ceded. "But, Kags, if that's true, are you gonna tell your family about seeing your Gram?"
"Of course I am. They don't need to know about Naraku other than he's been destroyed, but how could I not tell them about Gram? Mom will probably think I'm crazy, but Gramps will believe me and it will make him happy."
"Ten bucks says he asks what she was wearing," Inuyasha quipped.
Two women snapped, "Inuyasha!" at once, making his ears fold back and his head to lower.
"Just saying…he hasn't seen her in decades. I would ask."
"Not everyone is a pervert like you, Yasha. Especially not my Gramps."
"Just 'cause he's old doesn't mean he ain't male. And besides, Miss Turned-On-By-The-Wind-Changing-Direction, you really don't have room to talk."
"Hey!"
….
The next morning at breakfast, Kagome shared her experience in Heaven with the rest of the family.
"Oh, I'm so delighted to hear my grandchild was blessed enough to see my Manami. Tell me, sweetheart, what was she wearing?"
"Gramps!" exclaimed a scandalized Kagome and Kaneko.
Inuyasha sent orange juice flying out his mouth as he burst out laughing.
…..
After breakfast, Kaede pulled Kagome aside to speak with her privately. Sesshoumaru kept them within earshot.
"Kagome, child, there is much lore of the Shikon no Tama. Destruction and death follow in its wake. Now with the Jewel no longer safely housed in your body, we must begin our work immediately to destroy it before it attracts those that would seek its power for themselves."
"OK. Guess there's no days off for saving the world…so how do we destroy it?
"As you know, the Shikon no Tama was created by the priestess Midoriko thousands of years ago. She was the greatest priestess of all time, fully attaining the four spirits of Shinto philosophy, Aramitama, Nigimitama, Kushimitama, and Sakimitama in herself, and she entered a battle with a great and powerful youkai. The battle raged for seven days and seven nights and she realized she would never defeat the demon. With her last ounce of strength, she seized the evil spirit of the youkai and bound it to her own soul, locking them together in an eternal battle in the Jewel that burst from her chest."
"The ancient scrolls speak of a perfect wish by one pure of heart. It must be a truly selfless wish, and the beauty of it will end the battle."
"A selfless wish? But Kaede-sensei, aren't wishes by their very nature inherently selfish?"
"Perhaps, child, but this is the only way I have read to end the power of the Sacred Jewel. We must try."
…
A/N: Manami means "beautiful love."
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