InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Deeper Destiny ❯ Chapter 23

A Deeper Destiny: Chapter 23

Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all rights to him are owned by Rumiko Takahashi. I do not profit from this in any way, nor do I claim ownership of Inuyasha, any of the characters, settings, etc. However, any original characters, as well as this plot, belong to me

Deep within the dwellings of the Western Palace, the blinding white light that had just flooded the entire sky of Japan slowly began to recede back into its origin; the slender form of one mated miko, nestled in the arms of her silver-haired mate, the Taiyoukai of the West.
Sesshoumaru had long since ceased to make any sounds, his grief-filled cries and howls had faded into whimpers that eventually gave into silence. He now sat kneeling; his head laid upon the chest of his mate, his warm yet lifeless mate.
“Kagome.” Her name, whispered brokenly, seemed to echo within the confines of his lavish sleeping chamber. “Kagome,” he repeated her name, this time his voice stronger and more firm. ‘Having washed down my throat, your name will moisten my heart.’ He laughed inwardly. Even at a time like this, her songs seemed to always come back to him. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips and he tightened his hold on Kagome.
“Kawaki kitta nodo he nagashita
kimi no mei de kokoro wo uruoshiteku..” Struggling to remember the next lines, he almost jumped when a soft voice provided said lines.
“How many cuts should I repeat?
How many fates should I accept?
Does it have an end?”
Sesshoumaru was frozen, eyes wide and ears fixated. With every word sung by that soft, female voice, the pulsing he heard strengthened. It was strange, this pulsing. It almost sounded like. . . . The beat of a heart. This steady, constant pulsating beneath his ear grew stronger with each passing second and the tattered remains of his hope began to flutter and rise. Shutting his eyes tight, he steeled himself for what he was about to do. Turning his head, he slowly opened his eyes; to be met with sapphire depths surrounded by thick, dewy lashes.
“Sesshoumaru,” those sweet lips that had separated to impart his name found themselves deliciously pressed against the lips of said Taiyoukai, reflexively parting to allow his tongue into her mouth. Their kiss was fierce, frenzied, and filled with raw emotion. Feeling hot moisture upon her face, the miko pulled back, staring bewilderedly at her mate. Those tears were not her own, they were his; hot and burning. Slender fingers came up to gently wipe the tears away, cupping his face gently when she realized her attempts were futile.
“Oh Sesshoumaru,” she sighed breathlessly, pulling him to her in an embrace. As he buried his face into her throat, she ran her fingers through his silver locks soothingly, one arm wound around him tightly. Pressing a kiss to the top of his head, she exhaled. “Stop your tears, koishii. These tears.. They do not sully you in all your striking glory at all, and yet... They do not suit you.” Feeling him stiffen within her embrace, she could almost feel his indignation well up, revulsion for his shameless behavior rolling off him in waves. Tightening her arms around him, she bent her head, placing her mouth at his ear.
“But these tears of yours, they mean the world to me. Each and every drop speaks volumes of your feelings for me. They show me... That you care, that you... love me.” His face had emerged from her throat and he looked her numbly, everything blank but for his eyes, flickering and swimming with emotion. Relief, sorrow, and joy shone the brightest among the myriad of feelings, and Kagome almost laughed. It was usually she with emotions clear in her eyes, not he.
“I am certain of one thing, Sesshoumaru. I’m certain... That I love you. My love for you is what brought me back to the land of the living.” Sesshoumaru listened silently, his voice having left him the moment she’d sighed his name. His eyes, soft with emotion, were trained on her face, trying to make out her features in the shadows; seeing as she sat with her back to the moon. “I left this world, hoping to rid you of your unwanted mate,” Sesshoumaru choked back a strangled cry, eyes going wide. “When I woke up that morning three days ago, my greatest fear had come true. You were at a great distance, a distance so great that you were almost on the edge of my awareness, with an aura so bitter, heavy with grief and yet raging with fury.” She paused then, looking down into her lap. “I suppose I allowed my fear to seize me, control me. I had thought that you realized your mistake in mating with me.”
“No, Kagome I--” She pressed two fingers to his lips, smiling gently within the shadows.
“As a result, I tried to be a good mate, one that didn’t interfere or cause you any more regret. But I couldn’t stand it. I remember reading somewhere that Inu-Youkai mate for life, but also that they are allowed to take another should their mate die. I didn’t want to hold you back, to keep you from your happiness. And so I took my life, hoping it would set you free from your burdensome mate.” She laughed then; a strange, half-amused laugh. “But that was not to be. Someone helped me to realize that I shouldn’t have doubted your love.” Sesshoumaru whipped his head up, eyes flashing with hurt.
“This someone, he is Inuyasha, is he not?” Kagome blinked at him, smile fading from her face.
“No, Sesshou. It wasn’t Inuyasha. Why would you say that?”
“Is it not he that you dreamt of three mornings ago? Was it not his name that you called so broken-heartedly? This Sesshoumaru is not one to openly display his emotions, but he can decipher them when need be.” It was silent for a few moments before Kagome tilted her gaze up at him.
“Is that the reason you were gone when I woke up? Is that why you were angry and bitter?” Her tone held so much hurt that Sesshoumaru visibly cringed at her soft questions. With a long, silent sigh, he looked into her face, shoulders limp.
“You are correct in your presumptions. I thought that you had come to realize that it was the Hanyou you loved, and not me.” A whole five minutes of silence passed before the miko exploded into laughter, falling backwards on the futon as her mate stared on in hopeless bewilderment. Brows furrowing, he stalked over her form, standing on all fours above her as she gasped for air.
“What is it that you find so amusing, Kagome?” Stifling her giggles, she tilted her head to look into the deep golden depths of her mate’s eyes. His molten gold gaze told her that it might have been too early for laughs. Reaching up tentatively, she placed a hand on his cheek, watching in awe as his eyes closed while he moved into her touch.
“How could I still love Inuyasha when it is your very existence that keeps me in the world of the living? I do not deny that I love Inuyasha. But I love him as a best friend, as a brother of sorts, nothing more.” Sesshoumaru was silent, gazing down at her through his eyelashes.
"This Sesshoumaru...admits he was wrong... to doubt your love." Wide sapphire eyes stared back at him unblinkingly, growing larger and larger as a gentle hand on his neck brought him closer. Sparkling sapphire disappeared behind the smooth curtain of her alabaster lids as he registered the silky texture of her lips against his. Murmuring her name tenderly, he gathered her within his arms; proclaiming his love for her with soft words.
The moon slowly continued its descent into the sky, heralding the impending morning as the couple embraced within the shadowy remains of night.

-End Chapter-

A/N: My first order of business upon my return to MM.Org will be to apologize, with every ounce of my heart and soul. I know I have been gone for almost an entire year now, and with no updates! You must all hate me. But know that I am truly sorry. It was not my intent to leave you all hanging and frustrated with unanswered questions. I would however, like to thank Chase65, who emailed me personally to inquire about my well-being, and Nyuka, who left so many reviews and effectively used the appeal of pathos on me. Everyone please congratulate her, if I remember right, she will be graduating from high school this year.
School will end on June 5th, I believe, and I will then take the SAT on June 7th; blehh. The boyfriend and I are… hmm, and I have been the victim of a lot of drama. I may even write a short fic based on one drama, replacing myself and those involved with Kagome and the others. I will also be cranking out more lemon one-shots.
Next year will be my last and final year of high school. I suppose I can’t wait, but I’m also very much worried. Keep in mind that I will try to update during that time as well; it will be difficult but I will at least update once a month. If you have any questions, don’t be afraid to ask. You can always email me, and as always, reviews are welcome.