InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Demon's Heart and Ultimate Sacrifice (Kag/Sess) ❯ A Love Denied ( Chapter 23 )

Kagome approached InuYasha. At first she thought he was upset with her. Then he quickly pulled her to him and began crying softly. "Kagome, you're ok." She returned his hug, and then pulled back. There was pain in his eyes.

"InuYasha, I am so sorry. I didn't want to kill Kikyo. But I couldn't stand there while she killed you." He bowed his head. It had hurt to hold Kikyo while she died. No matter what, he would always love her. "I know you didn't." As she stood there looking at InuYasha, she realized that she still cared for him deeply, but she no longer felt the love for him she once had. He would always hold a special place in her heart, but part of her knew he would always see Kikyo when he looked at her.

"I couldn't believe the strength you had when you faced Naraku. Kagome, you were unbelievable. How did you do it?" She looked at him for a moment. She could never tell him, that her power came from her grief. The grief of watching his brother die. Though at the time she hadn't realized it, she meant what she told him. She did love him.

"My power just took over me, and I knew what I had to do." Sango stepped up to the two of them. "InuYasha, Kagome needs to get more rest so that she doesn't become weak." He nodded at them and Sango lead Kagome back to Kaede's hut.

A short time later, Sesshoumaru appeared. "Kagome, Rin and Shippou would like to see you. They have been worried very much." Kagome sat up and asked him to bring them in. She sat on the bed for quite some time, holding the two of them. Listening to them talk incessantly. Finally Sesshoumaru told them it was time to go, that he would bring them back the next day. Sango came for the children, and Sesshoumaru went to Kagome's side.

"Tonight if you feel well, I would like to take a short walk with you." She looked up at him, she could see he had something that he wanted to speak with her about, and so she agreed. Sango again appeared and told him that Kagome should get some sleep. He nodded and looked back to Kagome. Sango could see that he wasn't going to leave without a moment of privacy so she stepped outside the hut. Sesshoumaru sat beside Kagome and touched her face softly. He embraced her again, holding her for a moment. He then turned and left the room.

Around dusk she awoke and he was again watching over her. She sat up and looked towards him "you still up for that walk?" He gazed at her thoughtfully and nodded.

"Can you give me a couple of minutes so that I can get dressed?" He stood and walked outside. She found a beautiful blue kimono and brushed her hair out. She stepped out into the cool air, breathing in deeply. The two walked in total silence until they were out in the fields. He was the first to speak.

"Now that the jewel is no longer in Naraku's possession, will you remain here with my brother?" She stopped walking and looked up at him. "I think it would be best if I returned to my own era."

He contemplated her for a moment, "You can return to the castle, with Rin and myself." The thought tempted her very much.

"A part of my soul feels very tortured. Kikyo's life was cut short tragically by Naraku. If I returned to my own time, you can bring her back with the Tenseiga." A pain washed over his face. "You love my brother that much?"

She came closer to him, "I do care for InuYasha, and he has been an important part of my life. But I share Kikyo's soul. I can feel the pain she has felt. She deserves to live the life she was meant for." Tears where now flowing down Kagome's cheeks. "I will probably leave tomorrow, staying only prolongs the pain." The thought of her leaving was almost unbearable to him, but he did not show it. "If that is your wish."

That two walked back to the village in silence and he took her to her room. He gazed at her for a moment, "Tonight I will watch over you one last time." She watched him move towards the chair he had been sleeping in.

"Sesshoumaru, would you hold me until I fall asleep?" A look of sadness washed over his face and he walked back to her. He sat on her bed, his back against the headboard. She hugged into him, crying softly.

Sango was slightly taken off guard, but oddly not surprised at the sight when she went to wake Kagome. Sesshoumaru was sleeping on his back, Kagome had her head rested on his chest her arms clinging around him tightly. His arms too were around her, holding her very close. She decided to leave them.

Kagome woke to the sound of Sesshoumaru's heart beat. How wonderful that sound was to her. She had not expected him to remain on her bed all night. She looked up and saw that he was still asleep. He had a content look on his face. His strong arms were wrapped around her, so she simply laid her head back down. A few moments later, she heard the sound of his voice.

"Have you reconsidered?" She bit back tears "I can't live between worlds my whole life. I would never have a chance to have a family or do many of the things I want to do." Her tears broke free, for she did want to stay. He made no attempt to move, he just continued to hold her close to him. Sometime passed and she gave thought to the children. "I need to go see Rin and Shippou." He released his grasp and she sat up, looking down at him. He had a sad look on his face. She reached out and brushed her fingers over his beautiful markings, then got out of the bed. He got up and left her to get dressed.

After spending some time with the children, she went to her friends and told them of her intention to leave. Sango started crying and hugged Kagome. Miroku too, had tears though he kept them in.

InuYasha waited until Sango released Kagome, and took her into his arms. "I'll miss you Kagome. At least I know you will be safe now." Both had started crying.

She spent the rest of the day, talking with them. She spent time with the children and tried to explain to them that she had to go away. They too, cried. That evening she gathered her things, and said her good-byes. Everyone cried, and Kagome could bear no more. Sesshoumaru took her hand and they walked back to her well together.

"Please make sure Rin knows that I love her, and that I am not abandoning her." Kagome had tears pouring down her cheeks. She grabbed him and held onto him for several minutes, unable to make herself let go. He put his arms around her, and he too did not want to let go. Finally she pulled away and looked up at him.

"Thank you, you have done so much for me." His eyes were shining with tears, but he could not reply. He watched her as she climbed into the well, and disappeared. He walked to the well and looked down into its emptiness. He felt a single tear travel down his cheek, a feeling that was foreign to him.

He returned to the village and sought out Kaede. He told her of his intentions to bring Kikyo back. She was surprised and led him to where Kikyo's body remained. He brought the priestess back, and immediately he could see the resemblance to Kagome, though it was obvious to him that it was not her. Kikyo looked at him with intensity, and then softened.

"You are a demon, why are you here?" He turned to Kaede, who explained his presence. He asked Kikyo to follow him. She sensed that his intentions were good and followed him. He went to Sango and Miroku's hut, where his brother was. He asked Kikyo to remain outside for a moment. He stepped into the hut, and gave his brother long look "InuYasha, come with me." InuYasha stood hesitantly and followed Sesshoumaru.

InuYasha could not believe his eyes. His Kikyo was standing in front of him. Not as a puppet to Naraku, but as the live woman he had loved for so long. He rushed to her and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Kikyo, I've missed you so much." There was a deep pain in her eyes. When he pulled back, he began to explain to her what Naraku had done. She listened and tears began streaming down her cheeks. Again they embraced, knowing that finally they could be happy together. Sesshoumaru watched the whole scene with both pain and oddly happiness. He turned and left. He gathered Rin, Ah and Un and left the village. Unable to stay there any longer.

Weeks went by, and Rin remained melancholy. Nothing Sesshoumaru did could ease the pain of losing Kagome. She was a mother to Rin, and a human child needs a mother. Finally he gathered Rin and returned to the village. He sought out Kikyo.

"Priestess, I know you now possess the Shikon Jewel and you will not likely hand it over to a demon. However, I cannot watch this child suffer anymore. The woman that was your reincarnation was like a mother to her, the only way that I can ease her suffering is by taking Rin to her. For that I need the jewel." Kikyo listened to his words, and could feel his intentions. He held love for humans, perhaps not all humans, but he did hold love for humans. She watched the girl, who stared up at her in confusion.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, why does she look like Kagome?" The girl's eyes filled with tears. Kikyo turned from them and returned moments later carrying the jewel.

"I trust you will take care of this, demon though you are." He nodded then walked away. He stopped a moment, and then headed towards the hut where Sango and Miroku lived. There he found Shippou. "Shippou, I am taking Rin to Kagome. Would you too like to come?" The fox looked slightly weary and then jumped at him. "I can't wait to see Kagome again." He led the two young ones to the well. The jewel allowed them all to pass to the other side safely.