Kagome was aware of everything going on around her, but only dimly. The mark on her throat was still dead, because her mate was still dead. Despite Sesshoumaru's physical presence next to her she still couldn't quite believe he was alive, and the pain of that loss was almost more than she could bear.
She existed in a fog of confusion and un-relieved heartache, her body still trying to give in to the urge to follow her love into the underworld. The constant assurances that Sesshoumaru whispered into her ear were just barely keeping her tethered to this realm.
She had heard Shippou's claim that he could help, had felt him rush away, soon after followed by Kimi. Some dim corner of her mind was saddened at their absence. And then her adopted son had returned, bringing with him smells and sounds, and snippets of conversations she couldn't quite follow.
"Are you sure?"
"Honestly, no. But it's our best..."
"If any harm comes to her..."
"I can't promise that it won't be painful."
That bit was met with a threatening growl and was quickly followed by a placating plea,
"But it won't make things any worse and it should, hopefully, bring some kind of relief."
Silence, followed by a heavy sigh. "Do what you must, fox."
Then a hand laid against her throat, covering her mark. A quiet voice whispered "I'm sorry, momma." before a burst of fox fire flared over her mark, and the scent of burning medicinal herbs hit her nose.
Kagome's body went stiff, shaking and gasping as she felt the fire burn through her, and then suddenly she knew Sesshoumaru was alive again. She still couldn't feel anything through her mark but at least now she could tell that it was merely blocked, not dead.
She heard sobbing and for a moment she thought it was her own tears of relief. But no, these were cries of pain. There was anguish and torment in the sounds, and they were coming from her mate.
Sesshoumaru, Daiyoukai, Lord of the West, the Killing Perfection, was weeping, for her.
Sesshoumaru watched the fox's preparations with a wary eye. He knew the young man would never try to harm his adoptive mother, but given the current situation he was wary of anything that could affect her.
"Are you sure?" He asked, his voice tight with suppressed apprehension. He had barely been able to control his emotions since he had brought Kagome home. Every time she whimpered in pain he slipped a little further.
"Honestly, no. But it's our best option to help stabilize her and give her some relief until we can break the curse that's on her mark."
"If any harm comes to her..."
"I can't promise that it won't be painful."
Shippou was cut off midsentance as a low, harsh growl reverberated through the room. Everyone else instinctively taking a few steps back as the clear threat in his tone registered.
Shippou bowed his head in submission, his voice pleading. "But it won't make things any worse and it should, hopefully, bring some kind of relief." He raised his eyes, his own worry and care for the Miko evident in his gaze.
Sesshoumaru studied him for a long moment before releasing a heavy sigh. "Do what you must, fox."
Shippou covered his hand in the concoction he had made before moving to kneel in front of Kagome. Sesshoumaru turned her so that he could see her mark, the normally pale scar looking bruised and infected.
Wincing at the pain he knew he had to cause, he whispered "I'm sorry, momma." before pressing his hand to her throat and igniting his powers.
She gasped and shuddered, crying out once before suddenly settling. Her body finally relaxing against her mate. But it was Sesshoumaru's reaction that left everyone else frozen in shock
When the illusion broke he suddenly realized just how muted his own half of the connection had been. They'd known the attacker had to block it to some extent to try to prevent him from saving Kagome before it was too late, just not how much. But now, with the full force of all her pain, all her bereavement, and despair crashing down on him in one crushing blow, the yokai had reached his limit.
At last the mighty and powerful Daiyoukai was broken. With a wild howl of pain and loss that echoed across the palace, he curled himself around his precious mate, and sobbed.
