Rain washed away the death and blood. Sesshomaru stood there even after it had all been washed away. He stared at the portal. He wasn't sure why, but he knew deep down she wasn't coming back. Why would she? He told her things he would never say to another, and she still left him. Could it be that she had played him for a fool? Perhaps she wasn't the woman he thought she was, that he had come to care about.
He spoke to no one as he returned to his fortress. Sango and Miroku vanished. It felt so empty, and in the days after, they would visit the well; they didnt know why.
But the rain kept falling.
Sesshomaru refused to dwell on it any longer. It was his own words, anyway. Her mark meant nothing; that's what he told her. But now that she was gone?
Now that others wanted to take her place?
He could not mate another woman, but he could take another and have children, and if it hurt her through the bonds of the universe, then, well, it was her own fault. But, then, would he feel it in his heart if she moved on? Take a human husband?
He told himself he wasn't so weak. That he didn't care.
Word traveled fast about what happened, about the girl who left, about the Lord who locked himself away for days. Word traveled even faster when he emerged and claimed he would take not a mate but a wife.
Sango and Miroku raced to the West. The ground was muddy, and they looked a mess. They were not allowed to seek an audience with him. Besides, how could they stop him? So they went back to the well.
Miroku was not so sure, but Sango just knew Kagome would come back. Somehow. If only they could tell the demon Lord that.
Nine days after she left, Sesshomaru entered the dark cleansing pool; he stood tall and naked and ready, and yet, not, but he wasn't one to give anyone any clues as to what he was thinking.
Many women came seeking his attention. All were prepared. Washed, dried, oiled, beautiful, and now all stood around his pool naked and waiting to be chosen.
He didn't even look up.
Sure, they were beautiful, the best even. But they were not her. They could not burn him like she could.
Damn her. Damn her to hell!
His eyes lifted to take in each bowed woman. He could smell the heat on them, and yet it stirred nothing; this was easy. Kagome was hard, a chase, something he could not have, and it made him want her even more, even more now that he literally could not have her.
He had half a mind to go back to the portal and break through it, but he wasn't going to chase her; she left him. She didn't mean it when she said she accepted all of him.
He sent all the dark-haired women away; she had dark hair.
Meanwhile, Sango's demon cat was pacing.
"Maybe with the portal shut, there won't be any consequences," Miroku offered. Sango looked at him. "Do you not think I would feel you, our bond?"
"You love me," He said,
"He loves her,"
"That is a stretch, don't you think?"
"You love me," She said back calmly. He sighed. "Not even a barrier could disconnect our bond," He admitted, "But they are not us,"
She bit her lip. "They are far stronger,"
"Their power, yes, their bond, wasn't even complete,"
Sango looked back at the portal. "Kagome, you have to come back; your mate is being stupid!"
"Why do you believe she will return?" He asked, coming up to rub Sango's arm,
"She belongs here,"
"Yet she left,"
Sango shook her head, "I just thought she wanted to say goodbye to them, not us,"
"We should go," He grabs her hand. "She made her choice, and Lord Sesshomaru is making his,"
"But it's wrong,"
"Do you truly believe they belong together, the darkness and the light?"
They began to walk away. "They always touch, "She said, "The darkness and light always meet,"
He raised an eyebrow,
"Whenever there is light, there is darkness following it," She leaned into him,
"Yes, but the darkness consumes the light,"
"And yet, never overcomes it, the light always rises again,"
Miroku leaned his head against her and hummed in agreement.
