Words: 2842

Child of the Sky

Final Chapter

Paradise

"Oh! Excuse me" Kagome said, stepping away from the muscled chest with which she'd awkwardly collided. Ouch. Damn. She rubbed her sore nose. "I can be such a klutz some… times..."

She trailed off, staring at the man in disbelief. The handful of asters she had brought to place on Kocoum's grave slipped out of her hands.

"No, it's fine. I should have paid more attention to where I was walking" the man apologized, hurriedly kneeling to help her pick up the scattered blossoms. He spoke with Kocoum's deep voice and smiled with his warm smile. His dark hair was shorter and cut in a more modern way and his trimmed bangs were swept tastefully to the side; his movements were a little different and the way he spoke was less formal too, but he was Kocoum. When he offered her the dropped flowers she desperately searched his onyx eyes for some sign that he remembered her.

Her heart clenched painfully in her chest. Nothing.

Of course he didn't remember her. This man was Kocoum's reincarnation and memories did not carry over through the after life. After all of her encounters with Kikyo, the time-traveling miko should have known better than to hope for him to call her name.

"I'm so sorry. Those must have been important" he apologized again, mistaking her distressed silence for a simmering anger.

Kagome carefully took the asters from him with her trembling hands and stood. The Shikon burned hot in her chest, drawing out emotions and hopes she'd buried long ago.

"Miss, are you okay?"

Miss. The word stung. Kagome looked away knowing that if she saw those familiar yet distant eyes one more time she was going to burst into tears. She couldn't breathe.

"Yes. Yes, I'm fine. Sorry" she whispered quickly, wringing the stems in her clenched fingers and then pushing past him. She needed to leave. Now.

The man grabbed her arm, stopping her with a firm and gentle grip. "Wait! You don't look fi-"

Kagome whirled around and threw the bouquet at his face. Her chest heaved with her quick, shallow pants, and she sniffed as tears rolled down her flushed cheeks. He stared at her with wide, startled eyes and stiffly released her as the mangled stems and pink petals drifted to the ground. Quietly, they observed each other for what felt like ages, and then he sniffled too.

"Please stop crying" he finally begged, rubbing his eyes with the back of his sleeved arm.

The miko swallowed guiltily, and then furiously wiped away the rest of her tears with her hands. What is wrong with you, girl? Its not like he upset you on purpose.

"I-I'm sorry. I just- I don't know what came over me and- Oh no, did I hurt you?" Kagome fretted. Was he crying? Was he really that much of a wuss? She only smacked him with a few flowers. Was Kocoum too much of a monster in his previous life and this was the result of karma's balancing act?

The man sniffled again and moaned with disgust. "I'm okay. Ugh. I knew I should've taken those allergy pills this morning."

Kagome paused. "Allergies?" He did not strike her as a man who would have allergies, but then again what would she know? Practically everyone had allergies these days and it wasn't like they just popped up in a person with a certain look.

"Pollen. Yeah" he confirmed. "It's been bothering me a bit all day but..." he gestured to the scattered petals skittering across the pavement. "I think that was the last straw."

"I am so, so sorry" she stated, flabbergasted. "Should I go pick up some meds for you? There's a little pharmacy right on the corner over there. I can just pop in really quick and be right back out with them."

He shook his head. "No, that's alright. Though if you really want to apologize you can buy me a cup of coffee. Name's Connor, by the way."

Kagome gaped. Was he? No. Was he? "Did you seriously just ask me out on a date and then introduce yourself?"

The man sniffed and gave her a lopsided smile. "What, you don't like men with allergies?"

"I think you got the order a little mixed up" the miko answered dryly.

He grinned mischievously and held out his hand. "Let me fix that then. Hi. I'm Connor. You just exacerbated my seasonal allergy. Would you like to beg me for forgiveness over a cup of coffee?"

Oh my god. You can't be serious. "Hi. I'm Kagome. I'm the woman who just chucked a bunch of flowers at your face, and I'm starting to think I should have thrown them harder" she replied, irked. She bitterly stared at his outstretched hand – a hand that used to cradle her and love her – and crossed her arms. The miko had suffered lifetimes of pain because she took Kocoum's hand so long ago and she wasn't about to ride that roller coaster again. He awkwardly retracted it upon seeing her reaction and nervously rubbed the back of his neck.

"Is that a no, then?"

The miko hesitated, narrowing her eyes and looking at him with suspicion. "Why me? You don't even know me."

He shrugged. "Maybe, but… I don't know how to explain it. You're going to think I'm nuts."

After all she'd been through? Yeah right. "Try me."

"Well..." he sighed, "when I bumped into you it kind of felt like we belong together, and I feel like if I don't ask you now then I'll never get another chance…?"

If he hadn't been blushing as furiously as he was and said that last bit like a question, Kagome would have thought that this was one of his cheesy pickup lines. She did understand his feeling of them belonging together though, because even if he didn't remember her, she remembered him. The torn miko was really tempted to take him up on his offer, but would they turn out fine if she did? Inuyasha had spent years struggling with the fact that she wasn't Kikyo, and even though he'd tried so hard to keep the two separate in his mind he frequently expected her to be someone she wasn't. It was only after he'd had decades without either of them around that he'd been able to truly distance one from the other. Kagome feared she'd fall into that same rut.

She'd only interacted with Connor for a matter of minutes and she was already floundering in confusion. She knew in her mind that the person in front of her was not Kocoum. Though their looks and voices were alike, the similarities ended there. If Kocoum were a calm moon, Connor was the bright sun. Instead of a silent intensity, the man before her had an outspoken enthusiasm. Calm determination was replaced by untamed tenacity. Unfortunately, some dark, greedy part of her heart could only focus on their one consistency: the tenderness with which they touched her.

If she continued, wouldn't she be haunted by the memory of Kocoum every time she looked into Connor's eyes? Wouldn't that be cruel? She'd experienced the agony of not being loved for herself and refused to deal the same pain to another.

No. She couldn't risk it. She should refuse.

Connor shifted uncomfortably at her silence. "If you're hesitating because you think I'm some kind of creeper, I'm not. Trust me. If you're that worried, then we can just-"

"No" Kagome interrupted. "No, that's not it."

The Shikon was still burning inside of her, its scalding heat now cooled to a comforting warmth that pulsed pleadingly against her heart. It beckoned for her to face the man in front of her and stand her ground. The miko frowned at its insistence, quietly pondering why the jewel had decided that now of all times was the best moment to remind her of its presence after centuries of silence. She glanced at Connor, her frown softening. Maybe everything the Shikon had dragged her through was to lead her here - to now. Maybe it had blocked Tenseiga all those years ago and prevented Kocoum's revival so she could meet him again in her own time and not be torn between the distant past and the modern era. Shippo and Kagura were only a hop, skip, and a jump away. Traveling overseas to visit her family on the shrine grounds would take only a few hours, and seeing Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha wouldn't be much more difficult. Everyone was spread across the globe, but they'd never been closer. If she was to fall in love again, now was the time to do it.

Maybe, just this once, the Shikon would finally give her the ending she deserved.

Connor sniffed again and the young woman slowly exhaled. She could at least give the poor man a chance.

"Let's get you inside" she relented, turning and walking in the direction of the closest café.

He perked. "Is that a yes?"

"Of course it is. You're a mess and it's my fault. This is the least I can do."

He jogged to her side and leaned over to grin at her with his red nose and watery eyes. "You're also a mess, you know."

"You made me like this. Are you going to pay for my coffee, too?"

"Sure."

"I'll make sure to get the most expensive drink on the menu" she announced.

He rolled his eyes with a snort and reached for her hand. Connor wasn't sure what compelled him to do it, but some force within him was urging him forward and pushing his emotions in a direction they'd never gone with an intensity they'd never had. Obsession, relief, desperation, joy. The conflicting feelings swirled inside him and surged like a tidal wave, and then suddenly her hand was in his. He quietly cursed his misbehaving appendage. If Kagome didn't think he was a creep before, she definitely did now, especially after she had given him that scathing look earlier when all he wanted to do was shake her hand. However, she didn't hesitate before intertwining their fingers together. She didn't look, didn't even flinch, before she did it. The young woman simply weaved their fingers together and held on as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Her one action whisked away the flurry of emotions rampaging in his heart, and the man was suspended within a state of euphoria.

"And we can be sniveling wrecks together" she added.

Gods he loved the sound of her voice. Connor watched her silently, taking in the way her azure eyes sparkled in the sunlight and the way her lips curved into a slight pout when they were at rest. Everything about her tugged at his heartstrings.

"Together," he repeated softly, "together sounds good."

The way she beamed at him convinced him that whatever force was driving him towards her was also nudging her to him. They'd just met and the way she looked at him made it seem like she'd known him for centuries. They'd just met and he felt like he'd known her for centuries.

He could see church bells ringing and Kagome walking down the aisle in a white dress; him caressing the small, chubby cheeks of their child while she prepared dinner and their eldest played with his friends in the backyard; them walking through forests together, hand in hand; and them growing old together and sitting on a small wooden bench, her head resting against his shoulder. Connor basked in his bliss, positive that they would treasure each other for eternity.

When he held the door open for her at the café and waited for her to pass through its threshold, Kagome felt something within her begin to move like the struggled creak of an old, rusted clock's first tick. She paused in her steps as the sensation gradually ticked faster and smoother. Somehow, she knew that the jewel had set her free. She hesitated, though. Had it really just decided to up and leave her after her 400 years of service without so much as a goodbye? No strange voices booming in her head? No 'thank you' in some crazy white mindspace? It was so sudden that Kagome wasn't sure if she should be ecstatic or pissed.

"You coming in?" Connor asked.

She studied him critically for a second, half afraid that she would shrivel up and rot away right in front of him, but walked through the entrance when he said nothing more. As they walked hand in hand to the counter the miko briefly felt the steady thumping of his clock beating in sync with hers, and then she knew for sure that she was no longer suspended in time - she was floating along through time with him. Kagome placed a hand over her heart where the now dormant Shikon rested. She could start over. She could build a new relationship with Connor, unhindered by immortality or her duty to the jewel. Kagome gently squeezed his hand and smiled when he turned to look at her. He returned her smile with one of his own.

Right before he sneezed.

It was a soft, quiet 'chu!' and the miko felt her insides melt because that paradoxically small noise and the little twitch of his nose were so cute. He stared at her for a moment, distressed, before he laughed with embarrassment and grabbed a napkin to press against his runny nose.

"What can I get you, miss?" the barista asked, bringing her out of her musings. The miko glanced up and raked her eyes down the numbers on the wall before grinning. Connor paled at her impish smile.

Screw the menu.

"An extra large mocha with four extra shots of espresso, one pump vanilla, and two pumps of mint, with caramel drizzle, chocolate chips and crushed peppermint sprinkled on top, please. Oh, and yes to whipped cream."

"That's not on the menu, you little con artist" Connor hissed. Kagome hummed happily when he opened up his wallet anyway, stepping closer to him and innocently locking arms.

"I hope you know what you're getting yourself into" she teased, patting his bicep with her hand. Connor had a strange sense of deja vu, and whatever was pushing his emotions in her direction told him that he knew exactly what mischief she could get herself into. He glanced down at her, eyes flashing with unconcealed wickedness. Kagome gasped, knowing that rogueish smile after centuries of raising a kitsune, and then released him to frantically cover her purse with her hands as if that would stop him from ordering something outrageous.

"Likewise" he vowed ominously, and then softer "Next time. There's no way you'll be able to finish that gigantic drink on your own. That much caffeine will give you a heart attack. Seriously, what were you thinking ordering that?"

She pouted at his scolding, but secretly loved how he verbalized the unspoken promise between them.

Next time.

After 'next time' there would undoubtedly be another one, and another one after that. Idly, the miko wondered how many 'next time's were in a forever, because there would be a forever. She could read the tender fondness in his aura just as easily as she could feel the butterflies in her stomach. Abruptly, she realized that the jewel had given her a parting gift. It had led her to the one man who could make her happy - to Connor - and he was sweeping her off her feet with his playful, sniffly charm. Kagome smiled, suddenly unafraid of what the future had in store. How could she worry when she was once again tumbling headfirst into love?

She laughed at the fascinated disgust on Connor's face when the barista handed him the massive cup, chocolatey coffee dribbling over its edges and chocolate chips and crushed peppermint tumbling off the top of the mountain of whipped cream. The barista held up the lid, hovering it nervously over the drink, before thinking better of it and handing it to Connor instead. Connor took it, and then passed it to Kagome.

"I hope you're happy" he grumbled petulantly, narrowing his eyes and focusing on not spilling the scalding liquid onto his hand as they made their way to a table.

"Mmmmhm" Kagome hummed as she trailed after him, and she was. At long last, after centuries of waiting, she was finally stepping into her own special paradise - cute sneezes, sickening coffee orders, and all.

~End~

Hello to all my lovely readers!

This 9 year journey is finally over. What a trip. Thank you all for being so encouraging and patient with me during these last few years. *bows gratefully* To all of you who have stuck with me from the beginning, holy crap that's some dedication.

As I mentioned before, I spent many of the last few months going through the story and doing some research in order to make this as profound and cohesive and just downright wonderful of a fic as I could. As such, there are several references to US history and American folklore, as well as subtle nods to other parts of the fic within the last half of the story. For those of you who are curious, I've made a list of some of my favorites below. This is by no means all of them (there are way too many and I don't want this to be a textbook), but gosh darnit, all of you people who like to critically analyze everything you read better appreciate my efforts!

Most chapters that delve into pack culture (lookin' especially at you, Chapter 67): Many of the intricacies within their interactions are based off firsthand accounts and from peer-reviewed scientific research. I cannot tell you how many journals from wildlife experts and others who have immersed themselves into a wolf pack I have read. Yes, I know, dogs aren't wolves. I did my best.

Multiple Chapters: Asters. These star-like flowers symbolize patience, elegance, and daintiness, and are often used during occasions of remembrance (like visiting a grave). Pink ones specifically also symbolize sensitivity and love - truly a fitting flower for the relationship that Kagome and Kocoum share.

Chapter 58: Her Pride : The elder Hiawatha is an actual historical figure - a leader of the Onondaga people who created the Iroquois Confederacy. He built this confederacy with the Great Peacemaker, who was a prophet with a severe speech impediment. The timeline in the story should be pretty close to the actual timeline in US history.

Chapter 86: Dust : A very subtle (and depressing) nod to Chapter 72.5: To Hold in the way Kocoum consumes Kagome's sorrows.

Thanks again for reading! You're all amazing!

-firefox369