Sesshomaru landed at the bottom of the well and glanced up to see a clear blue sky; no shrine hindering it. He leapt out and landed smoothly onto the soft snow. Miyuki let go of his shoulders and dropped to the floor behind him. He carefully set down Kagome and watched her as she inhaled a shaky breath and faced the well.
Miyuki smelled the salty air and felt the pain throb out of the tiny miko. "Sesshomaru," she whispered, "what is the matter?" He looked to her and then back to the miko.
He kept his voice low and quiet, so the miko wouldn't be disturbed. "She is going to destroy the well," he told her. Miyuki gasped and understood then that she had just seen her home for the last time…very much like her. Her hearts went out to Kagome as she watched her walk up to the well and brace herself against its stone wall.
"Why?" she asked, concerned.
"Others have figured a way to travel through it. To leave the well vulnerable will put many lives in the future in danger. Kagome decided to remain in this era, and shatter her portal home."
Kagome could hear them, but appreciated the quiet tone they both had. Miyuki might not be her favorite person in the world, but she didn't do anything wrong. And she was still her friend. She understood that things just happened this way.
Kneeling in front of the well, she concentrated hard on where the magic rested. It was ancient, and powerful. She wasn't even sure if she could bring it down. So she focused her energy, seeking out the belly of the beast.
The sun had set directly above them, and the snow around the area had begun to melt. Winter was passing, and soon it would be spring. Sesshomaru watched intently as Kagome's breath grew into short gasps as she expelled her power to find the source of the wells magic. Sweat beaded on her forehead and she felt choked. Miyuki saw her struggle and tried to decode the well herself. She noticed something then.
"Hey, Kagome?" she called questioningly. Kagome broke her concentration and glanced at her.
"Yeah?" she asked in a slight gasp.
"The magic in the well isn't only holy. There's a mix of youkai in it too," she pointed out. Kagome focused on the well again and found what she was talking about. She glanced at Miyuki and set her jaw.
"I don't know how to break it," she admitted.
"I think…if a miko and a youkai created it together…then maybe it would take both energies to bring it down?" Miyuki suggested. Kagome looked between her and Sesshomaru and slumped her shoulders.
"It's worth a shot. I need someone powerful though," she said with a hint, glancing at Sesshomaru. She felt uncomfortable being close to him with Miyuki watching. It made her feel like a home wrecker. But it had to be done.
He stepped up to her and knelt next to her by the well. They shared a glance at each other then both focused their energies to the well. Kagome pushed herself to the miko energy, and Sesshomaru to the youkai. Sesshomaru realized that the youkai that created this was indeed powerful, and so was the miko. They had entwined their magic together to create it, something dangerous and strong. It became obvious to him what he had to do, then.
Instead of wrapping his youkai into the well, he wrapped it around Kagome. Kagome was startled at first, but then caught on to what he was doing. She pushed her own miko energy to his youkai and soon their energies were buzzing around each other threateningly. Their energies tested each other, taking a shape of their own. Sesshomaru's energy took the form of an inu, and Kagome's resembled a hawk.
Suddenly, their energies swallowed each other and shot towards the well. The well shook violently and purple light exploded from it in a loud bang. Their energies found the magic in the well, devoured it, and destroyed it. The well groaned with its demise, and collapsed in itself. Dust flew up from the bottom, shrouding the small area with debris. Sesshomaru and Kagome were left gasping for air; neither of them had experienced anything like it. They stared at each other for a while then Kagome broke the gaze to look upon the well.
She stood, seeing there was nothing left. No magic, no throb of the ancient power. Just dust and bone. She said a prayer to her family then turned her back quickly, fighting the tears in her eyes.
"It is done. Let's go," she said moving forward. Shippo's ears had dropped to his head and he walked beside Kagome, looking up at her with his big puppy eyes. She opened her arms to him and nuzzled him close.
"I still have you," she murmured to him. He hugged her tight and allowed her to shed a few tears on him. He knew she was hurting. The collapse of the well was the collapse of all ties she had to her home.
Miyuki stepped up to her and touched her hand to her shoulder. Kagome turned and faced her. Two powerful females, each spectacular in their own right. They understood the purpose of the other and shared a content smile.
"You did the right thing," she told Kagome. "Don't regret you're decision."
Kagome nodded solemnly and hugged Shippo closer. Sesshomaru still felt the vibration of their energies, felt the way they collided into each other and mixed. He shook the feeling off and walked over to them and formed his cloud. Soon they were on their way to the western palace.
Sesshomaru was in probably one of the most awkward positions a man could be in, no matter what century. At least Kagome and Miyuki were behaving civil. He didn't want to have to pull their claws apart. Literally and metaphorically. He gazed out over his lands. Kagome was right about something. He had all the riches he could want. But he was lonely. He glanced at Miyuki and decided, it might not be the way he wanted, but at least he wouldn't be alone.
They approached the palace and Miyuki was in awe. The years she had been gone had change the scenery. The gardens were more vivid and the landscape seemed healthier. The guards at the gate focused their eyes on her, as if they had seen a ghost. They bowed low to the lord and you couldn't mistake the twinkle in their eyes. Sesshomaru nodded to them and they opened the gates. As Sesshomaru lead the two females through the castle, the gossip of the Eastern Princess's appearance quickly spread throughout the servants. Suddenly, a shrill cry was heard from the upstairs corridor and Kei ran to the top of the steps, clutching her heart.
Kagome knew this was a very touching moment, and even she couldn't help but smile. "Lady Miyuki!" She screamed, tears streaming down her face. She flew down the steps and the two embraced. "Oh Kami I thought you were dead! I thought…" she cried onto her shoulder and Sesshomaru cleared his throat. Kei straightened herself off and wiped her tears.
She was confused and joyous. "Kei," Sesshomaru told her, "take Lady Miyuki to her sleeping quarters." Kei smiled and nodded, hurrying the neko to her room.
Kagome watched as she disappeared down the hall. She sighed and set Shippo down. "Go find Rin and play with her. I'll join you guys and we'll play," she told him. He smiled and nodded, then bounced away to find Rin.
"Excuse me, Sesshomaru," she said bowing. "I just want to relax in my room for a little." He nodded to her and watched her as she turned and headed up the steps. He pivoted on his heel and moved in the direction of his office. He needed time to adjust and to let reality sink in.
Heading down his corridor, he quickly put much space between himself and the voices of the servets whispering the news of Miyuki's return. Yes, he was extremely thrilled he had finally found her. Elated, in fact. But the timing could have never been more worse.
Feeling painfully choked, Sesshomaru decided that he needed to blow off his stress before he tore something apart. He felt his eyes bleeding red and he sped his way out of the palace. With an enormous roar, he shifted into his full demon form and fled. His claws tore through the ground and he snarled an angry warning to anything that dared interfere with him. He ran to a clearing and paused at the edge of a cliff, howling to Kami in the open sky.
Kagome had heard the commotion and glanced outside her window in time to see a giant white blur speed into the forest. She turned her back to the window, her face shadowed by her inner sorrows. She curled into her bed, unable to get his scent away from her nose, his touch from her skin, or that unspoken promise of love from her watery eyes.