DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA, NOR MANGA NOR ANIME... NOR THE SCIENTIST BY COLDPLAY
Chapter 20: The Journey Ends
Kagome whimpered as she struggled to open her eyes. She looked at the roof of an elegant room. Her body ached painfully from her fight, especially her torso and lower body. She looked at her surroundings, noticing that she was at Sesshomaru's castle. She turned to her side where she was met by a fox-like creature. His green eyes grew wide in amazement before hugging her close.
"Kagome! You're alive!!!" Shippo cried.
"Where am I?" Kagome asked.
"Wait here," Shippo said completely ignoring her question due to his joy, "I must tell him the news!"
Shippo retreated from her room yelling indistinctly.
Sesshomaru was walking through the hallways when Shippo latched to his leg as if his life depended on it.
"She's... a... wake" Shippo wheezed.
Before Shippo could gather his breath, he felt like he was flying through the hallways and closed his eyes tightly in fear. Sesshomaru quickly moved towards their quarters, ignoring completely at the still latched fox around his leg. When he stopped at the entrance, he pried the fox off his leg gently and laid a hand on Shippo's head.
"Go play with Rin..." Sesshomaru ordered.
"Yes sir!" Shippo said trying to act as coolly as the Lord did.
Kagome was startled from her thoughts when the door was opened. She smiled weakly as Sesshomaru let himself him. He looked at her with passionate, loving eyes before quickly sitting by the bed and taking her into his arms.
"You're awake, my mate" he whispered, "I thought I lost you... like I did my mother". A lone tear fell when he closed his eyes, finally at peace.
"What happened, Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked as she wiped his tear gently from his cheek.
"Naraku is dead... You destroyed him" Sesshomaru answered.
"But how?" Kagome asked.
"No one really knows... When Inuyasha's bitch shot her arrow at you... you were suddenly engulfed in pink and white light... your eyes lit ablaze in chi. Everything that surrounded you, save myself and the others were instantly pulverized at your purifying aura. The dead wench... was not spared. She was broken up along the sacred jewel." Sesshomaru explained, "After the light cleared, you were unconscious on the ground, not breathing. It has been a week since then."
"I did that?" Kagome whispered.
"You saved all of us... and I am genuinely glad that you are all right" Sesshomaru assured kissing her chastely on her lips.
"Where are all the others?" Kagome asked.
"The monk is at the demon slayer's room. She is recovering from Naraku's blow. The fox is just outside probably playing with Rin as we speak" Sesshomaru answered.
"And Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, knowing the answer to her question.
"He is... not here. He is mourning the death of the dead miko and recovering from her betrayal"
"Oh..." she said softly as her head hung low in regret.
Sesshomaru raised her face to meet his, his hand softly caressing her face, "I'm afraid I carry more bad news, my love" his own eyes welled in tears as he summoned the words to come, "The dead miko's arrow... it managed to hit you..."
He laid his free hand on her womb. Kagome gasped in shock, silently acknowledging what he tried to say. She quickly raised her gown uncovering her flat belly. It was now scarred just over her navel. 'That is why my body ached so...' Kagome thought sadly, 'My child... our child'.
She looked at Sesshomaru, who was vainly holding back his tears. She wrapped her arms around the Taiyoukai, who let out his tears of sadness in short, deep breaths.
"It's okay..." Kagome said soothingly as she delved her hands into his silver mane, without realizing that tears were flowing from her eyes as well.
Suddenly, a flashback went throughout her mind...
'Kagome', Sesshomaru thought frantically as he delved after her.
I'm experiencing one of Sesshomaru's memories... This is the battle... The moment when Kikyo shot her arrow...
Kagome watched as the arrow impaled itself at her body's womb. She yelled in agony as blood oozed from her wound, staining her clothes in a crimson color. Naraku laughed maniacally at this turn of events.
"KIKYO WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU JUST DO?" Inuyasha cried as he struggled to set himself free from the claws.
"Kagome!" she heard the shard hunting group cry for her.
Kagome felt Sesshomaru's heartbeat elevate heavily.
'My mate... my unborn pup...they've been taken from me...' Sesshomaru thought as his eyes turned crimson and tears flowed freely from his eyes.
But before Sesshomaru could advance to kill the dead priestess, he noticed at blinding pink light emanating from Kagome.
Her eyes were white and her face grimaced in anger. The tentacles that surrounded her were purified instantly from her touch. Before Naraku could react, Kagome released a white ray towards his heart, pulverizing him completely to dust.
Kagome remained floating in the air breathing heavily in exhaustion. She turned angrily towards Kikyo as the aura grew ever stronger. Sesshomaru and Inuyasha distanced themselves from the large amount of power. Miroku and the others remained safe behind the shield. Kikyo trembled from the approaching miko.
Kagome yelled in pain as the aura exploded in blinding rays, aiming towards Kikyo. The dead priestess died instantly from the first ray of purification.
When the light was cleared, Inuyasha took the corpse of Kikyo and ran away from the meadow. Sesshomaru held his unconscious mate while the others looked upon them. He took the arrow out from her belly and placed his head on it. His eyes welled in tears as he howled in pain and suffering. Miroku carried an unconscious Sango and held her tightly. Kagura walked towards the unmoving Taiyoukai.
"Do not fret over the losses... be grateful for what you have... and now... you have her" Kagura said as she took a feather and flew away rejoicing her newfound freedom.
Sesshomaru took Kagome bridal style and turned towards the monk. Miroku silently understood as he followed the Demon Lord towards his castle.
Kagome finally snapped out from her daze and looked upon Sesshomaru. She was back in her room. Sesshomaru noticed her tension.
"What is wrong?" he asked.
"I saw... I saw what happened..." Kagome said, "I felt your emotions... but it will be all right in time".
"I hope it will be..." Sesshomaru assured as he continued to hold her in his embrace.
"Do you really have to go, Kagome?" Shippo said sadly as Kagome gathered her yellow bookbag.
Kagome left Sesshomaru's castle with the rest of shard hunting group a few days later. She had spoken to Sesshomaru about her decision to go back to her world, and he did not stop her.
"Do as you like..." the Taiyoukai said, "I will not force you to do things you don't want to".
"But-" Kagome started.
Sesshomaru, unfortunately, had other matters to take care in his land, so he was not able to escort them to Kaede's village.
"Yeah... even though I want to stay here... I don't belong here..." Kagome replied.
"Well... safe journey and do not forget us" Sango cried as she hugged Kagome tightly.
"Sorry for not being able to stay for your wedding" Kagome said.
"You'll be here in spirit," Miroku assured before patting her shoulder.
"Well... I'll see you guys" Kagome waved as she stepped back.
Kagome accidentally bumped into someone when she stepped back. She turned around to glance at a face of someone she wanted to see before she left. She gazed into the saddened amber orbs and his silver white hair.
"I'm sorry..." Kagome whispered.
"It's okay," Inuyasha whispered, "Be safe... and thank you".
Before thinking it twice, Inuyasha hugged Kagome tightly against him.
"And don't be sorry... I should be the one apologizing" Inuyasha whispered before quickly stepping back and joining the others.
"I thought you wouldn't be here, Inuyasha" Miroku said.
"Yeah...who knew" Sango added with a smile as she stood next to her future husband.
"Well... I had to say good-bye to her... and apologize" Inuyasha replied as his dog ears flattened in bashfulness.
"Thank you, everyone... good bye!" Kagome called out before running towards the forest.
Kagome reached the meadow towards the well, silently reminiscing all the moments she spent here. Her meeting with Inuyasha, the gathering of the shards, Miroku, Sango, Shippo... and...
She raised her face to find her mate sitting at the lip of the well, waiting for her. He looked at her, his eyes hiding no emotion, as she made her way towards him. He rose and gave way for her to jump in the well.
"So... now's the time" Kagome said, "I never thought it would be so soon".
She was met by silence. She looked nervously at the floor, averting her gaze from the Taiyoukai. She knew he wouldn't be in the mood to talk to her for what she's about to do. 'It must be so hard on him' Kagome thought, 'but... I cannot stay here... I have to go back... this is not my time'. She walked past the stoic Taiyoukai and stopped at the lip of the well. She threw her yellow bag and watched it disappear in the darkness, traveling through dimensions.
"I know what you are thinking, miko..." Sesshomaru stated, "You think you don't belong here... and you are correct... just as our union is not meant to be... If it helps quench your conscience, your mark will eventually fade when you meet someone in your world who meets your expectations"
"What if it is you who meets my expectations? What if I do not find another?" Kagome asked as she raised herself on the lip of the well. Instead of standing she sat there, with her back facing the Taiyoukai.
"Then you are a fool" Sesshomaru answered as he drew closer to her, "For wanting something that is not yours to begin with."
"What about you? What about your mark? What about your expectations?" Kagome asked worriedly.
"I was not meant for this ... this love... but still I am grateful" Sesshomaru whispered as he encircled his arms around her, "that you gave me a taste, a moment of what it was like to love and be loved. I will not remove my mark, for I will always belong to you. Belonging to you is the greatest gift I could ever ask for. Have faith...we'll meet again".
Kagome held back her tears as he spoke those loving words. He soothed her by resting his head atop of hers. 'What am I doing?' Kagome thought, 'I belong here... Fate has nothing to do with it... it is about choice'
"Sesshomaru... wait" Kagome murmured at her mate. She felt his head and arms removing themselves from her body.
"Thank you... for loving me" he whispered before pushing her into the well,
"Nooooooooooooooooo..." she yelled as she fell in.
"... I'll always wait for you..." she heard his voice echo through the well.
Kagome extended her hand towards the fading Taiyoukai, knowing that she could never reach him. She watched as the light grew darker and the silhouette of her mate grew smaller by the second. She closed her eyes as she was transported back to her world. Forever.
"Kagome! Earth to Kagome!!! Are you awake?" one of her friends yelled at her.
"Sorry... guess I fell asleep again!" Kagome said as she mustered a smile at her college friends.
"Are you sure you can come to school after your frequent illnesses?" another friend asked her worriedly, "Not that it matters... it seems you haven't aged a day since you've returned."
"Yeah, I'm sure... after all it is the first year of college at Tokyo University" Kagome answered proudly, "I don't have time to be sick".
"But... you fell in a well not too long ago... and you're suffering from amnesia" her friends cried worriedly.
"Yeah... but I still have some of my memories intact... better than not having any at all" Kagome said happily.
The professor dismissed the students as he left the classroom. After a while only Kagome remained seated. She raised her hand to feel the mark on her neck. 'I had this mark, this bite when I came to in the hospital' she thought.
Come up to meet you,
Tell you I'm sorry,
You don't know how lovely you are.
Kagome left the classroom and went on her way back to her home alone. She gazed at the rose colored petals of the cherry blossoms that fell around her, gracing her with soft caresses that sadly, couldn't compare to someone who she couldn't make out his face.
I had to find you,
Tell you I need you,
Tell you I set you apart.
She twirled in circles around and around until the dizziness caught up to her and she faced the shrine. 'That's the shrine where I found the well, which gave start to my amnesia. The well which my family found me unconscious... What was I doing inside a well? I jumped in but all there was there was dirt and dust... I must have fallen in by accident."
Tell me your secrets,
And ask me your questions,
Oh, let's go back to the start.
She continued onward to her house when she felt her mark burn. 'What is this? This hasn't happened before...' she thought desperately. She closed her eyes trying to control herself. Then, she fell to her knees and she glanced up at the now far away shrine. But this time, someone was in front of the shrine, admiring its beauty and the history that it held.
Runnin' in circles,
Comin' up tails,
Its only science apart.
Kagome narrowed her eyes to see the figure more clearly. She gazed at the man with blonde, nearly white hair that fell just over the top of the collar of his suit.. He wore a black winter coat and business pants. His perfect, fair skin contrasted heavily to the ebony coat as he turned towards her, his amber eyes fixing on her intently.
Nobody said it was easy,
It's such a shame for us to part.
Nobody said it was easy,
No one ever said it would be this hard.
Oh, take me back to the start.
"M-May I help you?" Kagome asked the man before her as she stood up and straightened herself.
The stranger walked towards her. Kagome breathed heavily at the sight.
"I am quite lost... I have spent a long time lingering around here... but thankfully I found you" the stranger said eloquently.
I was just guessing,
At numbers and figures,
Pulling the puzzles apart.
"Um... sure, I could explain to you where do you want to go if you simply name me a street or a place" Kagome said nervously, trying to push down her thoughts at his striking resemblance of someone from here past. 'But who?' she thought.
She was met by a genuine laugh. 'I know that laugh' Kagome thought as her cheeks grew crimson in realization.
"You really are something..." the stranger said, staring at her, marveling her kindness and beauty, "I apologize... I made you uncomfortable."
Questions of science,
Science and progress,
Do not speak as loud as my heart.
"It's okay...," Kagome said.
"Oh... Well I'm looking for a certain University... I am a newcomer... transferring from Shizuoka" the handsome man told her.
Tell me you love me,
Come back and haunt me,
Oh, when I rush to the start.
The stranger loosened the knot of his charcoal grey tie and opened the first button of his collar.
"It is quite hot for this time of year" the stranger said teasingly.
"If you have ice for blood" Kagome replied sarcastically, "This is the same university that I attend to... it is about 3 blocks south and four blocks to the right... you can't miss it"
"Thank you! I hope to see you..." the man bowed low and left her there.
Runnin' in circles,
Chasin' tails,
Comin' back as we are.
'That man... he somehow looks familiar... But I must be dreaming...' Kagome thought as she turned away from the retreating outcast and went towards her home
"Sessho... Did you get the directions from her?" a young man about his age asked him as he rolled down the window from the passenger seat of Sessho's yellow corvette.
"You're right Miroku Lee... Strange but I feel like I met her before... but I must be dreaming" Sessho said as he got into his car and sped away.
"I don't know why but I feel like... we have a destiny do fulfill..." Miroku added deep in thought
Nobody said it was easy,
Oh, it's such a shame for us to part.
Nobody said it was easy,
No one ever said it would be so hard.
"Now THAT'S stupid" Sessho said as he shifted gears.
"Think about it... We're both descendants of powerful ancestors that have battled right here centuries ago... Who knows? Maybe here we can find the meanings of our dreams of our past lives" Miroku said.
"It was only one... and it's the same... The stupid battle, the stupid miko... and the stupid Taiyoukai that fell for her" Sessho said icily before shuddering in pain.
"Maybe we can also find a cure... for that pain you've had since you were born" Miroku stated as he leaned back and watched the approaching university.
I'm goin' back to the start...
THE END
SunMoon1285: The end (sniffles) I'm so happy!...
Sesshomaru: Yay! I get the girl!
Inuyasha: That's easy for you to say...
SunMoon1285: Sorry Inu... but it WAS a SESS/KAG fic.
Kagome: Yeah... even right now... (blushes) I love you, Inuyasha...
Inuyasha: Kagome (kisses her breathlessly)
Kikyo: Why do I always have to die?
Naraku: Speak for yourself... I HAVE TO DIE IN THE MANGA... IN THE ANIME, AND IN MOST OF THESE PEOPLE'S FICS!!! (sulks)
(Both of them look at each other before sparks fly through the air between them)
Sesshomaru: Well... then I lost my girl... (sighs in defeat as he looks upon the two couples)
SunMoon1285: Anyways... this is the end of Belonging to You... I hope you guys enjoyed it and thanks a lot for supporting me all this time. BUT there's a second part... (smirks) WHEELS OF DESTINY!!!
(Sesshomaru sits next to SunMoon1285 and rests his head on her shoulder)
Sesshomaru: I don't have the girl...
SunMoon1285: Don't worry Sesshomaru... (pets his head lovingly) You're one sexy fellow!!! If you lived in reality all the girls would be pouncing on you... (mumbles) including myself
(Sesshomaru's head perks up in anticipation... surreptitiously taking breath mints)
Sesshomaru: All the girls? (draws himself closer to SunMoon1285)
Inuyasha: WHY DOES HE GET TO BE A LADIES' MAN!?!!?
(Sesshomaru kicks him away and smirks at SunMoon1285)
Sesshomaru: The time has come... this Sesshomaru said... to do OH so many things...
SunMoon1285: What the hell are you- (Sesshomaru takes SunMoon1285 and kisses her) whoa...
SunMoon1285: Please read my next fic... Wheels of Destiny... The pairing is absolutely SECRET!!! It's about the continuation of this story... Will Kagome remember her past? Will Sessho get rid of his pain? And if Miroku's there... where are the others? Some questions that are left unanswered here (hint: Where did Sesshomaru go instead of escorting Kagome) will be answered in Wheels of Destiny (drum rolls) you'll have to read to find out
Everyone: BYE BYE EVERYONE!!!!