InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ If only in my Dreams ❯ Still Human ( Chapter 21 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

I do NOT own Inuyasha or its characters, nor do I profit in any way from this or any other story that I write for this site...but this story is mine, however as it was borne of my imagination...
If Only in my Dreams ch21
Sesshomaru watched in silence as Kagome threw herself into harm's wayto protect Rin-he'd thought she'd do as much, based on their previousencounters. He was truly surprised, though, upon seeing Kikyo attempt toprotect both his ward and his brother's wench by shielding them withher own body. He raised an eyebrow questioningly (a most uncharacteristicstate for the Lord of the Western Lands), then turned around uponsensing his brother's slightly changed youki.
Beside him stood a now human Inuyasha, his friends crashing through thetree line shortly after his appearance. Sword drawn he hacked away atthe barrier, all the while screaming Kagome's name.
Naraku hadn't expected Kikyo to throw herself into harms way. Shedetested her reincarnation, didn't she? What was it about these two women?They hated each other, and yet given the opportunity to finally be ridof the other, they both continued to deny destiny's true path: that onlyone of them should be alive, not both. Regardless, both would die byhis hand this night. He sent tentacles one after another into herbarrier, ignoring the searing pain she caused him as she purified each piecethat came across her power, but she was weakening, and he knew it.
He walked forward, his strikes increasing steadily one after anotheruntil he stood just a few feet from her barrier. He threw several attacksat once, smiling when he saw her energy shield flicker briefly beforecoming up again, igniting his anger further. He struck again and again,with each hit he relished as if it were the sustenance of life that hefed upon. He ignored the incessant pounding upon his barrier. By nownot only Sesshomaru resided outside, but Inuyasha had also joined in.Kagura should have attacked them by now, but as usual the wench seemed tohave defied his orders, seemingly taking Kohaku and Kanna with her, butno worries...he'd simply gut the bitch when this was through.
He watched as the two carried a conversation, the thought that theycould just ignore his presence like he was nothing, infuriating himfurther, and with renewed anger he struck again. A sudden flare up of energycaused him to back away. He glanced around him. On the outskirts of hisbarrier he could see Sesshomaru, Sango, the monk and Inuyasha, thoughhe only just now realized Inuyasha's little secret...He was human...
It was too bad that he'd never have the opportunity to use thatinformation against him. The inside of the barrier lit up. He watched instunned silence as each piece of his body began to disintegrate, and nomatter how hard he tried he couldn't regenerate. But it was her voice thatseared through the pain of his demise, her voice that would foreverhaunt his last moments..
"Rest in peace, Onigumo, rest in peace. "
It was then that the blackness closed in; then, that he felt the hearthe had thought to have long since ridden himself of, beating within hischest; and in the distance he saw her. Her silhouette awaited him inthe afterlife, welcoming him to join her as Onigumo, the man...
X
Inuyasha watched as Kagome and Kikyo's power built up, their energyspiraling into a sphere that grew as each second passed. He could feel theenergy pulsing as if it were their very heartbeat, encompassingeverything that surrounded them. He watched as piece by piece, Narakudisintegrated, disappearing soundlessly. His eyes were wide in fear at theknowledge that he'd finally met his end, that once and for all these womenhad accomplished what had seemed impossible all these years, becausethey had done it together, as the complete soul that was needed to purifythe one evil borne of sheer hate and jealousy.
"I love you, Inuyasha."
He heard the words whisper past his ears, his heart clenching aroundthe knowledge that he'd very possibly just lost all that he'd held sodear to him: both women and his child. They were all inside that barrier,all fighting a battle that should have included them all, not just twopriestesses, a girl and an unborn pup.
He felt the barrier start to give way, felt it shutter beneath thepower that radiated from within its shell and on instinct alone, he yelledfor Sango to cover Shippo and Kirara, before turning and plowing intoSesshomaru, the force of his impact knocking the Dog-Lord off his feetand burying him beneath himself, in an attempt to protect the demon heknew as his brother. In that moment the barrier went down-the very earthvibrating with the power that surged over her.
Inuyasha glanced down at his brother, who, for centuries, had beenknown for his stoic, passionless face, and noticed in wonder how, for a splitsecond, his face registered his shock: Inuyasha had protected him frombeing purified, his being human had actually saved both from the blastof power that surged past them, when the barrier gave way.
Inuyasha was the first to recover, followed shortly after bySesshomaru, and they both raced to the place they'd last seen the women standing.
Inuyasha bent to his mate, her body shaking and bleeding before him- and forthe first time since his Mother died, he felt lost. Kikyo haddisappeared within the blast, and distantly he could still hear her tell him sheloved him before he'd jumped to the ground.
An almost inaudible whimper escaped his lips: he was human, had no wayto channel his youki to their child, had no way to mend the wounds uponher skin. He pressed his hands to her shoulder trying to stop the surgeof blood that poured from her. He picked her up and rocked her gently,one hand still resting upon her shoulder, his face buried into herneck. He whined pitifully, his human vocal chords trying their best toanswer his need to cry. Sesshomaru watched quietly, his mind telling himthat he owed this girl for saving his Rin, and he owed Inuyasha forsaving him. He cradled the little girl within his arms, and for the firsttime since the barrier came down he realized...he had both arms...fullyfunctional, both wrapped carefully around a still unconscious, yetseemingly uninjured Rin.
Sango and Miroku stood watching, Shippo held by Miroku and Kirarastanding fully transformed beside them.
Sesshomaru moved to place Rin on the ground beside him. "Inuyasha, Ican help her, but only if you'll allow it."Sesshomaru said.
"Why would you help my mate, Sesshomaru, you hate humansremember?"Inuyashascreamed wildly, his mind retracing all paths of healing andhelp. Kaede was too far away, and Shippo wasn't big enough. Faintly hecould hearthe kit crying but nothing at this point would convince himthat she would be alright...nothing but Sesshomaru's offer to help. Hishuman side demanded he allow it, reasoned that this was the only way,and his demon consented as it sensed the blood ties that were heldbetween them. Ultimately it was accepted as blood was of the pack, and packwas okay, however, his hanyou side was hesitant as it had been he whohad ultimately battled Sesshomaru on more than one occasion. But thesevere state of Kagome's condition, and the safety of their pup won out.
"What can you do?" Inuyasha questioned as he raised his face fromher neck and studied his full demon brother.
"I can channel youki to your pup, if you'll allow it. And I can helpclose her wounds, but you must consent first. It requires me to touchher. If you prefer for her and the pup to die then that is, of course,your choice."He knew his brother would do all he could to save hiswench.
"Do it." Inuyasha whispered," but I'm not leaving you alone withher."
"Indeed, but the others will go. I place Rin in your care." hesaid as he redirected his attention to the taijiya.
"Why me?"she questioned, shocked and honored that he'd find her asuitable protector for the girl.
"You will protect her, or I will kill you where you stand." hereplied, his voice icy.
"Well, I suppose I have no choice in the matter then, do I ?"Sango muttered as she made her way over to pick up the girl.
She had grown since they's seen her last.
"Indeed, you do not. We will find you when the miko is well enoughto travel."
"Cut the shit already and get to helping my mate." Inuyasha growledas he watched the others turn and disappear into the forest.
"Very well then, Inuyasha, close your eyes." Sesshomaru ordered.
"What the hell for?"Inuyasha ground out, his eyes narrowingsuspiciously as he watched his brother for any sign of deceit, upon findingnone he simply waited for his reply.
"Because you will not like what I am about to do." he said simply.
Feeling no other choice Inuyasha closed his eyes, and he waited. ...
A smoky mist collected around the demons, an air of peace brushing themsoftly as both jerked their attention from the woman in their arms tothe apparition that slowly formed next to Sesshomaru. Her body leanedforward, her hair billowed on some unfelt breeze as she began to singsoftly, her words unclear though beautiful, her hands moving slowly overeach wound upon Kagome's unconscious body.
"Kikyo?" Inuyasha whispered , his hand coming up to cup what shouldhave been her cheek.
"I give her back the soul that was taken, and with it her power. Ican only help her a little, the rest will be up to you both. "
She smiled softly as she reached to push a stray piece of Kagome's hairfrom her face before looking up at him: "Love her well, Inuyasha, forshe loves enough for both of us."
She leaned forward then, across Kagome's injured body, to press a softkiss to his mouth, her eyes staring deeply into his own..
"She gave me peace Inuyasha...she gave me forgiveness...I give herlife. Goodbye Inuyasha..."
Her body slid over Kagome's like a silken caress, until she simplymerged with her.
Inuyasha sat dumbfounded, his mind trying to grasp what had justhappened. Sesshomaru sat still as well-his face, unreadable. With a quietresolve he reached to pull Kagome's shirt from its resting place, slidingit to rest higher upon her ribs. He glanced at Inuyasha, their eyesholding, and rested his hand gently upon her lower stomach.
He sat there silently, his eyes on Inuyasha's, as his body took on anominous green glow -a sign he was channeling his energy to his brother'sunborn pup.
A short while later found Inuyasha cleaning what remained of Kagome'swounds. Kikyo's gift of life had also given her fewer wounds to have towake to, the more minor ones having disappeared completely. She nolonger held the claw marks from her encounter with Sesshomaru, thoughInuyasha had yet to hear of those anyway, and the only real injury remainingwas that to her shoulder.
Sesshomaru sat quietly a few yards away as he watched his brothercarefully tending to his mate. The sun was beginning to make its appearanceupon the horizon. The animals of the forest were beginning to scurryabout as the day began, and it was then that he realized that somethingwas indeed wrong...
Inuyasha still sat tending to his mate...oblivious to the sunlightspilling over his raven black hair...
It was morning...and Inuyasha was still human...
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If you all want more, please use the little purple button to let me lnow, okay? Much Thanks again to Azaleea. She had been a great editer and friend...