A/N: Thank you, The 214th Rabid Fangirl,for your reviews since the last chapter was posted. And unless I've completely lost track, some new people have added this to their lists. Thank you for doing that.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al.
Her Knight
Ch. 24
Kagome stared at the broken jewel in her hand and couldn't believe she'd done it again. Hesitant to look up at her friends, she was surprised by the chuckling coming from behind her. Not recognizing who it was, she slowly turned her head to the sound. Sesshoumaru was not only smiling, but he apparently found her predicament funny. "It seems, miko that you are more powerful than we gave you credit for."
"Uh, thanks?" As if taking the demon lord's amusement as a cue, the others began laughing, relieving the stress and worry of the last months.
"Hn, you will do," he said before calling his servant and ward to follow. The others watched as he walked away, slumping in fatigue when he was gone.
Kouga silently gathered his men up and left, allowing the small pack to enjoy the new peace alone. His clan had been avenged, that was all that mattered at the moment. It was time to gather what wolf demons remained and start anew.
Kagome laid down on the ground, and gazed up at the now clear sky. She didn't care that there were chucks of dead demons around. A bath would take care of any mess they might create. "We did it," she said softly, voicing what everyone was thinking.
"You did it, little sister," Miroku returned. Lifting his hand, he studied his now uncovered hand. He hadn't seen his right palm since the day his father had died. "Praise be; you did it."
"He's right, Kagome. It was always going to be you who killed Naraku. Your arrow purified his soul along with the souls of all the demons he absorbed." Sango knelt beside the younger girl. "Thank you." Tears ran freely down her face.
"Oh, Sango, you don't have to thank me." Kagome began sniffling, emotion overcoming her.
Inuyasha, who until that moment had been stunned by his brother's laughter, crouched by the two females and placed his arms around them, allowing them to use his shoulders to cry on. Being pack leader had its disadvantages too. "Oi, monk, get over here and comfort your betrothed." Miroku smiled at him, laying his staff down to do just that. Kirara brushed up against the four, purring in relief. She turned to the two boys, standing to one side.
"Mew!" she called to them, happy when they obeyed her summons.
"Kagome!" Shippou leapt into his adoptive mother's arms. He snuggled against her chest, burying his head in her neck. After a brief bout of tears, he fell asleep, safe once more.
Kohaku fell to his knees beside his sister, bowing his head in abject humiliation. "Forgive me, aneue."
"Of course, I forgive you, Kohaku. You're my little brother." The preteen felt tears form in his eyes and although he tried to hide them from his older sister, Sango saw them and drew him into her arms. He sobbed out his grief and guilt, feeling the warmth of the love she gave him.
Inuyasha lifted Kagome to her feet, looking in the direction of the nearby village. "We've got to get those wounds tended to. There's a group of men coming from the west. Are you sure you have the whole jewel, Kagome?"
"Well, there is a shard missing but that's not from me breaking it in two. I think we'll find it in a youkai Naraku gave it to and forgot to retrieve before facing us. He probably did it as a precaution or maybe just to irritate us if we did kill him."
"It can wait," Miroku said, placing his right hand to his injured shoulder. "Inuyasha's right, we need to get these tended to. Kohaku, can you carry Kirara and Shippou for us?"
"Sure, Miroku-sama. Aneue?"
"I'm okay, Kohaku." Sango stood slowly, swaying from fatigue. Without being asked, Inuyasha picked up Hiraikotsu.
The weary warriors met the villagers halfway down a steep hill, the local miko in attendance. She had her bow at the ready and took a startled step back when she saw the mixture of demons and humans. "Who are you?" she demanded.
"Miko-sama, my name is Kagome Higurashi. I am the Miko no Shikon. My friends and I have just defeated the evil half demon known as Naraku. I ask for assistance from you and your village. Some of us are in need of medical attention." The young priestess bowed deeply to the older woman, praying that she would accept everyone into the village. If she didn't they would have to camp out in the woods. Sango's arm and Miroku's shoulder needed to be disinfected as quickly as possible.
"You are the priestess who protects the Sacred Jewel. Come, my home shall be yours for the night." Turning, she pointed to two young men. "Haru, Daichi, go back and tell the women to prepare hot water immediately. These warriors are in need of food and baths. Tell your uncle to prepare a room for them." The young man mumbled agreement and took off for the village. Once more facing the shard hunters, she smiled. "My brother owns the local inn. I live there while my hut is being rebuilt. It seems a troublesome youkai with a jewel shard crashed into it three days ago."
"You have the shard?" Kagome asked hopefully.
"I do." The others slumped in relief. They wouldn't have to go running all over Musashi looking for one lone demon. Escorted by armed villagers, they accepted the hospitality offered them gratefully.
Baths were ordered readied, wounds were tended to and a feast set before them. The teens and younger boys ate like they were starving, telling the older miko just how hard the battle was. She wondered if she should tell them just how long it had gone on. The miasma had arrived in the early morning, the fighting had begun shortly before midday and now it was close to sunset.
"I believe, priestess, this belongs in your hands." Kagome took the shard, watching as it melded with the rest of the jewel.
"Thank you, so much." Shortly after she received the shard, they were shown to their room. Inuyasha stood guard outside the shoji door facing the courtyard while Miroku posted himself in the hall so that the girls could have privacy in order to ready themselves for bed. One helpful villager had found Kagome's yellow backpack some distance away from the battle site, covered in dust and debris. Inside was a change of clothing for the school girl as well as her night clothes.
The guys had settled themselves into comfortable positions, weary but unable to relax when Kagome sat up to look over the divider at them. "Do either of you find it strange that the priestess had the one remaining jewel shard?"
"Odd, yes, Kagome but there's nothing to worry about. It is likely that Naraku came to this village to take it back and Sesshoumaru, Kikyo and Kouga stalled him until we got there. I can feel her reiki. It's not nearly as strong as yours but she's really a miko." Miroku glanced over at his half demon friend. Inuyasha was sitting upright in the corner of the room like usual, listening to the surrounding noises.
"Go to sleep, wench. We're going home in the morning."
Home sounded like just the place to be at the moment.
Upon arriving at Kaede's village the next day, they were given a hero's welcome. The news had spread quickly across the domain thanks to the local demons that Naraku was dead. The elderly priestess didn't bother to hide her relief that every member of the little group had come back alive, if not uninjured. A celebration was put on, many praising the teens but also mourning the permanent loss of the Priestess Kikyo. Inuyasha joined Kaede at her sister's grave, staying silent until she spoke.
"She is finally at peace."
"Yes, she gave the last of her energy to save Kohaku from becoming another victim. We have the whole jewel."
"Then you must continue to protect it until Kagome finds the right wish."
"I think she already knows the right one, Kaede. I'm going to bring her home in the morning and then after a few days we'll come back so she can take care of it." He turned to go, pausing when she called his name softly. "Yes?"
"That clay imitation was not my real sister."
"I know, but at the end, she was as close to the real Kikyo as she could get." Inuyasha walked away, not surprised to find Kagome waiting for him.
"Are you all right, Inuyasha?" For an answer he took her into his arms, kissing the top of her head.
"I'm fine, wench. We'll go back to the shrine in the morning so that your mom knows you're okay."
"She'll want to know you're okay too. She loves you, you know." Kagome snuggled into his embrace, content to let him carry her when he picked her up to bring her back to the others.
"I know," he said and they both fell quiet. There was no more need for words.
