XXXVIII.

Echoes Of A Fallen Gem

As Kagome disappeared into the forest, Kouga turned and ignored the many whispers of his people, walked straight into his Den and vanished behind the curtain of his own chamber. He was too caught up in his own thoughts to notice the single pair of eyes that watched darkly from the doorway, their expression not one of surprise or confusion but jealous anger.

Those eyes belonged to Tokiko, who had born Kouga three pups in the season just past. Until she had learned of Kagome, she had held herself in good position to be his mate – in a few years, perhaps, if she was given the opportunity to have more pups, or if her sons prove their strength early.

But now!

That Inu upstart – no one knows where she came from, who she is...or how she got her claws into Kouga! Except those two – and they won't talk. They're as infatuated as he is!

He lost his Challenge for her, and he's still pining after her like a lost puppy...still letting her pull him around on a string -

Allegiance!

When I'm his mate, Inu bitch, you can be sure that things will be quite different -

Tokiko stepped back into the den, one step at a time, masking a furious expression, and then turned to follow Kouga inside.

It was never too early to work on her increase in position...or so she thought.

Kouga had a very different idea. He gave her a talking to that wiped all thoughts of ascendancy from her brain, permanently.

"You will never be my mate, Tokiko. I expect that I will never take a mate. One of my sons will be named my heir; perhaps it will be one of my sons by you. But even if that becomes true...you will never have power. You are not strong enough to rule. And if you try, before I am dead - if you mention this again – I'll kill you."

He fixed her with a cold, very not-Kouga stare.

"I took you to my bed; I took you in your heat, and I'm glad of the pups you gave me. But any more of this bullshit, and I will no longer be glad of you."

Tokiko was suddenly reminded of the reason why he was Lord, and shivered.

He had dared Challenge Sesshomaru...

Kouga saw her thoughts on her face and laughed out loud, remembering what he had said to Kagome. The laughter had a bitter taste. His weakness, his failure – how could they think of it as a strength? It had lost him his woman.

Oh my Kagome...

And suddenly angry again, he dismissed Tokiko from the room with a furious gesture. She fled, grateful to have escaped his wrath.

Kagome.

He would mourn her forever. He would die for her, but even then – even then, he would not forget.

He knew that now.

He had visited with the darkness and returned.

In the quiet of his own den, with sleeping sounds around him and the touch of memory moving on his skin like a thick cloud, Kouga paced the hall and passages, ignoring the ache of his shoulder and the burning in his throat; he suffered other pains far deeper.

His feelings were confused, if not traitorous; his thoughts told him he should feel shame. He had been defeated; he had lost...had died. But then, was his father not dead in shame, and all the others who had died in Challenge? That could not be the truth – he wouldn't let it be the truth.

I wakened to life, and I didn't expect that any more than the death that preceded it. If she hadn't - if she hadn't –

"Why couldn't she have been for me – for me?"

He whispered the words to himself and felt an ache in his bones. The old ways spoke truly; it was not safe to love - not a female, not one who would be mate.

I will die for her. I will.

Again.

Penetrating, the thought stayed with him, but it was not frightening. He had seen death, tasted it, and now, though he could not laugh at it, he could meet its eyes on his own terms. His struggle with shame brought him close to understanding, but still, he was not without regret.

If I had followed her; if I had not let her leave, the last time I saw her; if I had not waited; if I had gone to find her, take her –

The long corridor he was following led him back to his own chambers, to firelight and to Ginta and Hakkaku, who were waiting by his cushions with strong wine.

It was Hakkaku who spoke.

"Drink, Kouga-sama, and remember – and then forget. We are...we wanted to tell you we're sorry."

Kouga, watching them, the familiar faces, the familiar features, remembered the look of pity that he had thought imaginary, that question, so odd, following on the heels of the message that had come announcing the Presentation of Sesshomaru's mate.

"Anything special for the female, my lord?"

"You – you knew! You knew she was the one – and you did not tell me – "

Black anger was loud in his face, and both of them took a step backwards, shaking their heads, all their gestures placating.

"We suspected, only. That's all – we suspected. How could we tell you when we weren't sure? There was only rumor, and that scent...and we…we hoped it was not true, Kouga-sama – for your sake."

Kouga stood still, and his claws relaxed.

"We saw how you cared for her, Kouga-sama; we care for her too. She's our Kagome-nee-san still."

And Kouga laughed then, a deep, hard sound that made them flinch away again.

"But nothing else is the same; she is Inu – Inu. And I am told…I am told that before, even when she seemed most human, she was hiding a Dragon under her skin. Can you imagine, Ginta, Hakkaku? Can you see it? I could have made her mine, mine, and she would have been a Wolf for me – a Wolf, glittering with her darkness –"

He fell silent, and Ginta became aware that he was holding back a yowl of despair, fighting with it. Finally, Kouga let out a long sigh.

"I should have…I should have known."

He grimaced.

"She has always walked with an Inu at her side."

They all sat in silence after that, Ginta and Hakkaku keeping company with Kouga's anger and grief. Ginta poured wine for all three of them, and pretended not to notice the long streaks of dampness that lined Kouga's cheeks, reflecting the firelight.

In the silence, there was comfort – the only comfort there could be.

In that same nightfall, patrolling the edge of the village and the fields adjoining the wood, Miroku stood quietly, listening. There was a rustle in the darkness, and then silence – he knew it for the sounds of fleeing beasts in the forest coming to him faintly

The moon, near its full in a cloudless sky, illuminated the furthest reaches of the night, so bright that every blade of grass cast a cutting shadow. The wind was cool, but faint; there was so much seeming calmness that Miroku felt tension prickling in counterpoint on his skin. Energy flared at him as he concentrated, a bright aura deep among the trees, approaching fast.

"A demon...a strong one."

He muttered quietly to himself; then his eyes widened, and he turned slightly towards the trees.

"No – more than one. Two! But one is much stronger..."

He scanned the edge of the forest, his staff gripped tightly in one hand – and then turned quickly, and broke it in half with a strike of overwhelming force that hit the rock which was behind where Kagome had been standing...

His thoughts skipped. Kagome?

"Kagome – Kagome!"

He scowled at the remains of his staff for a moment, and then tossed it aside and hugged her tightly.

"I wasn't expecting to see you; sorry, I thought you were -"

"A rampaging demon come to destroy the village?"

Miroku looked sheepish.

"Sort of. Yes."

He grinned.

"But it's good to see you, anyway; and – Shippou. Hello!"

"Hi, Miroku! You're gonna need a new staff -"

"Yes, I know -"

Kagome interrupted what was sure to become an interesting rant.

"Miroku, where's Sango? Shouldn't she be out here with you? I went to see Kouga for this...thing...and then I realized I was close, so I thought I'd stop by..."

Miroku shrugged.

"Sango's back home; we've been doing alternate night patrols since Kaede's been occupied with some villagers. A stranger came through with a caravan, and stayed – man named Taru who married in while you were away. His daughter died, and he and his wife have been sick since then – and his wife's aunt, too, just came down with the same thing last night."

He sighed.

"Sango and I decided to postpone the wedding – didn't seem right, after..."

He rolled his shoulders uncertainly and looked back toward the village.

"Next month, I hope. Are you going to come and stay the rest of the night, Kagome? Shippou looks tired – and if you stay I can come back in with you."

Kagome laughed.

"Trying to get out of guard duty? All right – but just until Sango gets up. If I left without telling her she'd kill me."

Kagome ignored the touch of guilt at accepting this invitation when she had denied Kouga's, and consoled herself with the thought that it just wouldn't have been wise. Especially not after he kissed her, which was...well, understandable, but a very bad idea. Miroku led the way into the village, and brought Kagome to Kaede's hut.

Surprisingly, the old woman was awake, packing a basket of herbs in the faint light of the fire burning on the hearth. She turned quickly to the demon presence in her door, and then smiled when she saw that it was only Kagome and Shippou, without any...escort.

"Kagome, what a pleasant surprise; my home is open to you as always. Are you well?"

"Very well, Kaede; I was nearby, and thought I'd stop to visit."

Shippou leapt out of Kagome's grasp, so that Kagome could bend and hug the old woman.

"And are you well, Kaede? Miroku said some people were sick..."

Kaede accepted Kagome's hand to lever herself up from the floor, and patted her shoulder reassuringly.

"I wouldn't worry, child. People are always getting sick this time of year; it is the change of the season, and it gets chilly at night. Farmers go out into the fields in the morning, and the dew is cold and they become damp, and work all day...and then the next morning, they are feverish and complain, and wonder why. Foolish men."

Kagome smiled a little, relieved. It didn't occur to her to question that such an explanation could not apply to a traveling merchant...or his daughter.

"All right; if you say so. Do you want some help? I'm not tired – I slept last night, so..."

"No, no; you stay here, and visit with Miroku. I've just what I need here, and the water boiling in Kanzuki's house; with any luck, Taru and his wife will sleep after this, and then I will get some sleep."

Quickly and quietly, Kaede made her way outside. Miroku gestured for Kagome to seat herself by the fire, and Shippou scampered over to where Kirara was sleeping and curled up into a ball with a contented sigh. He fell asleep listening the low hum of conversation and Kagome's laughter.

By the time the moon had set, Kagome sat alone in the moonlight; Miroku had fallen asleep where he was sitting, his head leaning to one side, a smile on his face. Her eyes fell to his hand, unwrapped, unbound, loose and open on the floor; then she turned her gaze out the window and smiled to herself, thinking; thinking.

About the many meanings of happiness; about the way each of those meanings seemed to have settled around her life. She had a mate; a son. She had her friends, and they had each other. She had won acceptance from those whose opinions mattered; she had restored a great part of what had been lost between herself and Kouga...

Waiting for her friends to wake, or Kaede to return, Kagome strolled around the outside of the house and then leapt up onto the roof to watch the dawn. Rose-golden light flowed down from a clear sky; she turned her face toward the sun and smiled.

Life was good, and that was unusual and worthy of note.

It was Sango who was the first one up, and Kagome was glad; time was wearing on, and she wanted to be on her way. The anxious feeling that accompanied her delayed homecoming made real for her with a swaying moment of strangeness how completely her life had changed; Sesshomaru's fortress, home?

Yes.

Sango was surprised to find Kagome peering down from the roof when she came outside, yawning and stretching, but she was pleased at the unexpected visit and squeezed Kagome in a tight hug when she came down.

"I wasn't expecting you; did you come about the wedding? It's been postponed -"

Kagome waved away Sango's explanations.

"I know – Miroku was on guard duty when I showed up last night; did you see his staff anywhere when you got up?"

Kagome giggled as Sango shook her head, mystified.

"No..."

"Well try not to laugh too hard when you see it; he broke it in half on a rock trying to bash my head in."

More giggles. Sango glared at the door behind her and fisted her hands on her hips.

"Bash your head in? What in the world – I'll give him a good bashing -"

"Well, he didn't know it was me, but still – you should've seen his face!"

And Kagome's giggles became laughter, which Sango joined after a moment's pause.

When their amusement had faded away, Sango cocked her head to one side and looked at Kagome strangely for a moment, then reached out with one finger and touched Kagome's forehead gently. She traced the shape of the crescent moon that had been Inked there, and gave Kagome a questioning glance.

"How did that happen?"

So while Kagome helped with the usual morning tasks – lighting the fire, setting water to boil for tea and rice porridge – she told Sango all the details of her Presentation, the adoption of Rin and the appearance of Eldest.

"I'm not sure I can real explain what she's like, Sango – umm...you know how Kaede is, right – how she's all wise, and motherly, but...she has that scaryness, too?"

Sango raised her eyebrows, but nodded.

"Well...Oyume-sama – Eldest – she's like that...but the scaryness is much worse."

Sango laughed lightly; Kagome grinned, and paused before continuing.

"Eldest...she thinks my mother was her sister; that we're related. That's why she came to the Presentation; she says she wants to be part of my family, but - well. You know where I'm from; what do you think, Sango?"

Sango shrugged, and puttered around gathering up her bath things – soap, sponge, towel.

"I'm not sure, Kagome. But I would be careful...and good to her. It sounds like she's someone of power and presence. If she wishes things to go well for you, surely her influence can't be terrible?"

Kagome gained a thoughtful expression, and tapped a finger against her chin.

"I wonder. She tried to give me a – well, a servant I suppose, as a Presentation gift. But Sesshomaru seemed very much displeased by the idea, so I refused her. Politely, of course, and she didn't seem upset – but..."

And Kagome shrugged.

"But never mind. I didn't come here to bother you with silly stuff like that. Tell me about your wedding plans, Sango!"

She sat beside the river while Sango bathed, endured teasing about Sesshomaru, and teased in return about Miroku – which, to be honest, wasn't a fair exchange as Kagome had infinitely more material to use – but before the morning had worn away, Kagome found herself making excuses and saying her goodbyes.

"I only stopped to stay hello, and now I've stayed so long -"

Sango stared at her anxiously.

"Sesshomaru won't...won't be angry, will he?"

Kagome shrugged, and patted her friend's shoulder reassuringly.

"It doesn't matter – no, really it doesn't. Even if he was unhappy, he wouldn't hurt me. It's...it's not like that between us."

Sango looked distinctly relieved, and then nudged Kagome with her shoulder as they walked along back toward the village.

"Hey, Kagome...all teasing aside – tell me...what is it like between you and Sesshomaru?"

Kagome flushed, and folded her arms across her chest, squeezing herself tightly.

"At first it was...strange. Very strange. But – it's...he's...we've changed. At least, I know I have; and... it's wonderful. I think – he said - "

She paused, shook her head. Sesshomaru's question, his feral tenderness – she wanted to keep that to herself. She smiled, full and brilliantly, and Sango returned the expression.

"That's good, Kagome; I'm glad for you. Miroku and I were worried, you know; what we've seen of Sesshomaru hasn't been...uh...the most reassuring thing to think about."

Kagome patted her shoulder, and then gave her friend a worried look as Sango broke into a sudden, hacking fit of coughing.

"Ack – I'm fine, I'm fine – how I managed to choke on air..."

Sango shook her head and rubbed at her throat. Both their attention was quickly distracted by the welcoming committee of Miroku, Shippou, and Kirara that greeted them at the edge of the village. Sango noticed at once that, indeed, Miroku was without his ever-present staff, and broke into peals of laughter.

Kagome scratched behind Kirara's ears, poked fun at Miroku with the thought of a lecherous houshi with a broken staff, and allowed Shippou to leap up onto her shoulder.

"I have to get going; I bet Sesshomaru will go so far as to wrinkle his nose when I get home smelling like humans!"

She laughed, and squeezed each of them in a final hug. Then she darted across the fields, and into the edge of the trees, and was gone from their view.

Miroku and Sango watched until she was gone; as they turned to walk away, Sango was seized with another fit of coughing that ended in an irritated wheeze.

"Sango -"

"I'm fine – fine! Don't worry about me."

Feeling daring, still a little shy, she reached out and grasped his hand, wove their fingers together.

"So what do we have to do today, Miroku?"

It was not yet far past noon when Kagome returned home, and she was slightly disappointed that Sesshomaru was not waiting for her; the memory of him standing in the gate, watching her leave, was still clear in her mind. Instead, she left Shippou at his rooms to unpack and followed the scent of her mate through the hallways. The strongest trail of his presence led past their bedchamber and up to the third floor, winding here and there.

Soon, she found herself going up again by a staircase tucked in a corner and smelling of dust; one she had not yet climbed. It seemed endless; after several dozen steps the stairs were no longer smooth and even. The walls became rocky and rough.

Finally, the stairs ended in a wide, open chamber, and she looked down and saw that the view from the narrow windows looked down at the side of the mountain that backed the fortress. In front of her, high above the limits of the wall that bounded the courtyards and gardens, Kagome could see the expanse of the West open before her. She saw pale meadows, dark forests, blue flowing water.

"Oh! I'm inside the mountain..."

She had climbed deep into its stony heart.

From her right, through an open door, came the sound of papers rustling and then a call of her name.

"Kagome -"

She took a few quick steps, and then he looked up at her and scowled. As she had predicted, only a moment passed before his nose wrinkled, just slightly, a crinkle of skin, a drawing down of his pale eyebrows.

But it was not the scent of humans that had disturbed him; it was the drifting odor of Kouga that still hung on her skin, in her clothes - the musk of Wolves and their den. It bothered him more than he wanted to admit; the smell of the human village, of the ones she called friends, lingered – but Kouga's scent clung, as if even the stench of the Wolf was intent on claiming her.

With one quick movement he stood and set aside the parchment volume he had been perusing, left it open on a table of dark wood.

"I would have come to greet you, mate, but I did not expect you; I had thought you would visit longer with your friends."

Kagome raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"How did you know I was -"

"I did not know – but I suspected you would stop by there; Edo lies close to the path that runs between our home and the Wolf Den. But – do not speak, now, Kagome."

Her features scrunched quizzically, and then smoothed as he kissed her, carefully, thoroughly, washing away the scent and the thought of the Wolf with his own presence.

After a minute or so, when Kagome was thoroughly flushed, Sesshomaru stepped back and gave her a hard stare, reached out and lay a finger on her lips.

"Kagome – the Wolf. Why do I-"

Kagome scowled brilliantly, and then let out a sigh.

"Please don't go on a rampage. I hugged him, because I was happy he didn't hate me – and he kissed me."

Kagome shook her head, snorted faintly.

"Idiot, I swear...but it's okay. He asked me to stay the night, but there was no way that was going to happen – I think he's just...sad, mate."

Kagome's attitude placated the immediate flaring of all Sesshomaru's possessive instincts, but he filed away his momentary rage for another day, and Kouga's presence. He allowed himself to revel in the memory of his victorious Challenge, the lifeblood of the Wolf at his feet...

It was just for an instant, but he felt better after that.

Pleased to find that Sesshomaru was not intent on going out to murder Kouga – at least, not immediately – Kagome leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him.

"Anyway – will you tell me what you're doing, Sesshomaru? I haven't been up here, yet – and it's awfully dusty..."

There was a glint of humor in his eyes as he shook his head and stepped back, gesturing for her to follow him over to the pile of papers he had been reading. He reached out for the book that had been in his hands when he called to her, and began to turn the pages back, looking for something. Idly, he questioned her while his fingers sifted through parchment.

"Kagome, what can you tell me about your mother?"

"My...my mother? Well – that depends, what do you want to know?"

Sesshomaru came to the page he had been searching for and eyed her speculatively, tapped his claws against the table.

"Her name, her nature...how she came to bring you into the world. You told me you come from the future; how is it that you came to be in this time?"

"I...I came through the Bone Eater's Well. It's a dry well in the middle of Inuya – in the middle of the forest near the village."

"The well beneath the tree. I have seen it; it is empty. Just an empty well -"

"Yes, but you've never been inside it, have you?"

Sesshomaru stared at her.

"Inside – why would I -"

"Well that's just it, you see! In the future, I was trying to get my cat, Buyo, out of the well house - because my brother was dumb and let him in...anyway, a Centipede youkai burst out of the well, started screeching about the shikon jewel, and then...pulled me through the well."

"Through the well?"

"Yes. Through. When I jumped in the well, it opened a portal in time – a portal from my present, your future, to your present, the Sengoku Jidai...which is in my past."

Sesshomaru stared.

"That is...improbable."

Kagome grinned.

"Yes! But...it happened. Or I wouldn't be here."

Sesshomaru appeared lost in thought, and Kagome waved a hand in front of his face, amused and then chagrined when he caught hold of it, pressed his lips to her wrist and then nipped gently at it.

"You are distracting, mate – let me think."

"Yes, Sesshomaru."

After several moments, he nodded slowly, and then lifted the heavy book up in front of her eyes. The pages were dusty, and the ink was pale in some spots, the black beginning to fade. On one page, there were long columns of characters in a fine hand – but on the other...

"Here. Look, mate. Do you see anyone familiar?"

On the other page there was a pair of portraits, their colors faded but the lines carefully preserved. Kagome reached out with fingers suddenly trembling to touch the page, and then slowly, very slowly, opened her mouth to speak.

"M-mama?"

Sesshomaru looked at her with an odd expression, comforting and calculating both, and then nodded.

"I cannot...I do not understand how this can be – but mate, this portrait is of Kurakazurahime; she was the elder sister of the one you know as Eldest. Ages ago she was lost, as she fled to protect her unborn child. Many generations have passed since then, even among youkai – but you...you recognize her face; you call her mother though you are so young it is almost a travesty that I have taken you for my mate."

He shook his head.

"Are you certain, Kagome? Are you certain of what you see?"

Carefully, Kagome took the weight of the book from him, and peered down at the portrait. She recognized Oyume-sama, Eldest's fine-drawn features almost exactly the same in the picture as they had been in person. And her sister...

Kagome studied the shape of those eyes, the curves of the face, that certain smile. Her ears were demon-pointed, her painted smile glimmering with fangs – but still, she recognized her mother. She recalled the photograph of her parent's wedding that her mother cherished like a precious treasure, and imagined that youthful version of her mother's features overlaid on the portrait in front of her.

The same. They are the same – but – how?

She felt Sesshomaru's hand on her shoulder, curiously gentle, and looked up.

"After much thought, and knowing now how you came here – I wonder, now, if you are the first of your bloodline to have fallen through time."

Kagome waited, wide-eyed, though she could already imagine what he was going to say.

"Kurakazurahime was lost in the forest, fleeing from foes that sought to end her and the child she carried; this much is known to history. I believe now that was not slain – that the tales of her enemies, who died claiming they had never found her, are to be believed. She must have encountered that well – the well which brought you here...and through its power, she was brought to the future that became her home, and yours. In that future, you were born, a Dragon-miko bound by ancient powers made strong by your closeness to their source..."

"And then I returned here."

"Yes."

"And found Inuyasha – and you -"

"Yes. All this time, I have wondered how you could be true-bred; how the demon blood in your veins could be so strong – and now I know. Eldest spoke truth to you; you are the daughter of the Lost Princess, the last Heir of a vanished Line."

And Sesshomaru suddenly smiled.

"Do you understand what this means, Kagome? Do you understand – who you are?"

Wordlessly, Kagome shook her head.

"You are the eldest daughter of an eldest daughter, who mated an eldest son – the eldest son. You are the last scion of the true Line of the Dragonlord...and now you are Inu, and mine."

She swallowed.

"Between us, Kagome, we unite the broken line of the True House; for I am descendant, through many fathers, of the second mate of the one who was your father – the Rebel Emperor, the elder brother of the Last Dragonlord – the one who was betrayed. Your mother, who was thought stolen, or destroyed, instead passed through time and never knew of the war her passing precipitated...a war between brothers; a war that divided the world for all time."

For a moment, mysterious, his eyes glowed at her, mystic yellow.

"Perhaps, Kagome, you are more of a Healer than you know."

And he stared at her in the silence after his words, wondering.

Would she aid him on his Path of Conquest?

Would she close the wound of lives that lay between him and his goal?

And sparkling before him, glistening, tempting, was suddenly that thought that the one who claimed Kagome claimed also a mate's right to the Lordship of her House.

I could be Dragonlord. I could rule them all.

His father had been a general; he could be king. Emperor.

And then he scowled brilliantly.

But that was never what I wanted. I wanted - justice. Vengeance. And now – her.

A/N: FINALLY! I have spent the better part of the last few days saving this chapter, which was eaten by my openoffice and then regurgitated as ####'s. Every word became a #. It was AWFUL. But, thanks to Norton, I recovered it, and was inspired by the Mighty Lillian-dono to actually FINISH it. Seriously, inspired – because I had been stuck in the MIDDLE of this for AGES even before it was lost. Oh – and the reference in the title to a "falling gem" is to Kurakazurahime (black+jeweled+princess), NOT to the shikon no tama :p

Lastly...would you prefer to see more long chapters like this one and those before – or something more like Alpha, which tends to have "drabble chapters" between 400 and 1500 words?

Please Review!