InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ In Death, Trust Me, as You Didn't in Life ❯ Making Peace ( Chapter 72 )
[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]
By: kanna37 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Hentai / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 07.09.2011 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 590 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance / Fantasy / Hentai / Drama / Adventure / Action | Type: Divergence | Uploaded On: 07.09.2011 | Pages: 2 | Words: 3.4K | Visits: 590 | Status: Work In Progress
Chapter 72: Making Peace
I knew this duty would be difficult for her, Sesshoumaru thought to himself as the day drew to a close, the last few to be judged standing before them. While she had held her demeanor through the long day, he could feel what those on the outside of their bond could not – she was wilting, badly.
Still, he was proud of her. Neither by word, deed, or expression had she given her sorrow away, and even now, when despair was eating at her, despair at what she'd had to do many times over the day, she held herself like the figure of authority she now was, even though it was obvious to him she did not like it in the least.
But he couldn't be anything but grateful that the day was almost over – she needed to get away from all of this, needed some time with him to restore her heart and mind.
Turning his attention to the last group of captured samurai and monks, he gazed at them flatly, already reading through their hearts and minds, as he knew Kagome was, from the strain in her thoughts.
“Your army has lost, your ideals have been turned away, and this-” he gestured all around them, to humans, half-demons and demons working together amiably, “-is the new way of things. Are you going to be part of it, whole-heartedly, or not?” he questioned flatly.
Hatred seethed in three of the beings before them, one samurai and two monks, and it was apparent that they would only be the cause of more suffering and grief were they to leave this field alive. The hearts of the two monks, especially, read like an open book – if they were not stopped, they would leave this place, and move on to other places, attempting to foment hatred and fighting amongst the races once more.
They would have to be killed here, to save lives in the long run, and Kagome knew it as well as he did. Motioning to the guards, he had the three separated from their fellows and taken to the area where executions were taking place – out of sight and hearing of his little mate. While she knew what was happening, there was no need for her to see or hear it.
The rest watched silently as the three were led off, and Sesshoumaru spoke once more, dragging their attention back to him and his mate.
“If your hearts are not filled with hatred, why did you follow Ungai to begin with?”
There were glances all around, and then a monk stepped forward to answer for the small group. He bowed reverently to the kami he was standing before, and then sank to his knees, showing obeisance. “Forgive our misjudgment, Sesshoumaru-sama, Kagome-sama. We followed Ungai at first because we believed his cause, thinking that evil youkai should not be allowed to ravage the innocent. Then he began to change, and we were frightened – we could not leave. And for the samurai – they had no choice in who their masters chose to support, just as they never do when a clan leader declares war on another.”
Both Kagome and Sesshoumaru knew these things, but they wanted to see how they would choose to present themselves. When the monk had knelt before them, there was no hatred or deceit in his heart, and the other men behind him had followed his example, kneeling and showing proper, honest respect. To both of them, human goddess - and youkai god.
He gestured as Kagome's face broke into a relieved smile, and said, “You are free to go. It would show your remorse for your actions to volunteer to help with restoring this place as the others are doing, but it is your choice.”
There were thankful nods all around, and the group of men rose, disappearing immediately after bowing once more. Without another thought to those around them, Sesshoumaru turned to his mate and eyed her wilting form with concern.
“This is what I wanted to avoid, beloved,” he thought at her, a concerned frown creasing his brow. “Every action taken today scarred your heart, I can feel your pain as if it were my own. I would keep you from it all if you would but let me, Kagome.”
She smiled at him, thought it was tinted with sadness, there was also love. He was so worried for her, and she couldn't help the way it melted her heart. “What happened today hurt, you're right – but you heal me, Sesshoumaru. Feeling how much you love me, and knowing that you would take all of this on yourself to spare me – those things make me feel better. Life isn't all sweetness and light, and I know that, but you are my balance. You balance the bad out, and take away the hurt.” She clasped the hand he reached out to her, and caressed it with her thumb. “All I need is you, and I'm able to face whatever may come.”
He didn't say anything, but he once more inundated her in his feelings for her, his devotion, his love, letting it do just what she claimed it did – heal her hurts. After a few minutes of sitting there ignoring everything around them as if they were the only things in the world, Sesshoumaru stood, effortlessly pulling her up with him, and still with no words between them, led her off towards the command tent.
Both of them wished to see what progress had been made this long, weary day of dealing with the aftermath of the battle for all of life.
Sesshoumaru wanted things done as soon as possible – because he had plans to take his sweet mate away from all the ugliness of the last few years, and spend time healing all the hurts that had accumulated from dealing with Naraku, and now this. All the pain that had scarred her heart would be eliminated.
She would always retain her soft, loving heart, come what may...
… he would make sure of it.
~oOo~
Izayoi looked up as her mate's eldest son entered the tent followed by his own mate, and it was easy to see the young woman's unhappy state of mind, though she tried to hide it. It was then she decided to speak to them as soon as possible, knowing that the subject she wished to address would please Kagome.
It would help to cheer her up, and that would also smooth things over with her very protective mate – the one hovering over her and keeping everyone else away.
I think now would be a good time.
With that in mind, she stood up and, as the tent went quiet, she looked at Sesshoumaru and Kagome and smiled lightly.
“I would like to have a word with both of you, if you don't mind.” She caught Sesshoumaru's cautious expression, and finished with, “I think it is something that would please Kagome-sama, give her something nice to counteract the effects of this day.”
Sesshoumaru was startled at her words, and even more so that she was showing such an empathy towards his little mate and her sadness. For that reason, he inclined his head and allowed his father's human mate to lead them to the back of the tent after whispering something to her mate to keep him still. He looked at his father, and was soothed a bit by his sire's calm smile.
Once they reached the rear of the tent and had gained as much privacy as was possible in such surroundings, she wasted no time in inviting them to sit. As soon as they were comfortable, she spoke.
Needless to say, Sesshoumaru was quite taken aback at her words.
“I wished, first of all, to apologize for my actions when we were in the other realms, Kagome-sama. I did not mean to take my frustration over my son's hard life out on you. I was pushing him to recognize the same thing that you had tried so hard to get him to understand, and that was that he was worthy of love.” She sighed, looking away for a moment, before continuing. “And I was frustrated that it seemed that my mate's older son was getting what my own son had been denied for so long. It was wrong, and I regret making you feel as though you were abandoning Inuyasha. In a way, that's why I warned you of what he was going to do in bringing you back – I knew that Sesshoumaru-sama would find a way to bind you to his side, no matter what my son managed to do.”
Kagome blinked, startled at first. So much had happened since that time, she'd forgotten that little incident. But then she smiled at the older woman, her heart feeling a little ease. “It's okay, Izayoi-sama. It's what a mother does, try to protect her children. I don't hold it against you at all,” she assured the other woman.
The hime nodded, smiling at her for a moment, before she turned to regard Sesshoumaru steadily. She took a few moments to formulate her thoughts, then said, “In the past, things did not go well between you and I. At the time, I was too young, frightened, and uncertain to understand your hatred or your actions towards me, and you were too young and angry, too threatened by me to look past all of that and accept my presence in your father's life.” Sadness crossed her face as she remembered that long-ago past. It made her sigh. “I would hope that we are now older and more mature, and that we can get along as we could not then. I do not want to force my mate to keep parts of his life separate because we cannot set aside our differences and act with maturity. It will take a bit of time, but I am willing to try, Sesshoumaru-sama. Are you?”
Sesshoumaru let his mind touch on the events she was hinting at, and sighed inwardly, knowing that she was actually being quite understanding in her words. In truth, he'd been an ass to her, and her death could really be laid at his feet. That she was willing to put it all aside for his father's sake, if nothing else, told him that she really did love his father, and he knew he could no longer carry the prejudices that he once had – not with the choices he, himself, had made.
With his mate's hopeful eyes turned on him, and his father's mate's steady gaze waiting, he inclined his head, and allowed a slightly softer look to enter his eyes. Izayoi proved herself to be quite perceptive and took the small signs as they were meant – a commitment to peace between them.
With a bright smile up at him, affection open in her eyes, Sesshoumaru's mind was immediately firmly on his little mate, and Izayoi, with a knowing smile, stood and excused herself, leaving the couple alone together as the male so obviously wanted.
“I'm glad you two will get along now, Sesshoumaru – I could see in his eyes that Sugimi-sama had hoped that you would this time around. I don't know anything about the past between you, but I can imagine how it must have been, and it would only hurt everyone for you guys to keep fighting.”
Sesshoumaru sighed openly as memories flooded him, and regret, something that he rarely felt, also opened up within him. There was nothing good about what passed between my father's chosen and I. I have no desire to return to such hostilities – it would only damage my father, and hurt my mate. And I certainly can no longer claim such hatreds, at any rate, as, though she is no longer human, Kagome started out that way, and I had chosen her before she gained her divine nature. He focused on her for a moment, at her smiling features and warm and loving expression, and could find no regret within himself for that choice. No... were she still human, I would love her just the same. I understand you so much better, now, father.
“Just as we have demanded that hostilities between human and demon must end, so must the hatred and anger between she and I be laid to rest – in the past, where they belong. I no longer hold the same beliefs as I did then, and cannot hold her humanity against her. It is certain that I did not hate her for her personality, for I never allowed myself to know her enough to judge such a thing. She seems to be agreeable enough.”
Kagome nodded, but before she could say anything, Touran's voice came from the front of the tent, and Sesshoumaru stood, pulling her up gently with him. “Come, mate, I have need to speak to the panther.”
Startled but amenable, Kagome followed along behind her mate as he stepped from behind the partition, quiet as he walked to the front of the tent to confront the leader of the panthers. Curiosity was eating at her though, wondering what he wanted to say to the woman, and she shamelessly listened in as he spoke at length to her.
She noticed that she wasn't the only one listening, as Sugimi himself paid close attention to the interaction between his son and Touran. The two had never before gotten along, always hating each other and trying to kill one another. Of course, that was before he had intervened in their master's stealing of their souls, returning her siblings souls to them. After that, they had mostly stayed away from each other, simply sniping at each other when they did meet - with enjoyment - though Sesshoumaru would never admit that.
Still, everyone wondered what the two could have to talk about, and that was why the tent went silent – not one person inside it wasn't curious.
But it was all to no avail – Sesshoumaru was careful to block every sound, and all anyone had to go on was the expression of Touran to have any kind of clue to what was being said.
Kagome could have eavesdropped, unlike everyone else, but chose to respect her mate's silent wishes, even though the curiosity nearly ate her mind alive, and so she, along with everyone else, scowled slightly when the barrier around the two dropped, and the panther demoness disappeared.
“What?” he blandly enquired when he took note of all the stares.
After a few moments of loaded silence, Sugimi sighed and shook his head, dismissing the subject. “Now what, Sesshoumaru? Now that the victory is ours, and the cleanup well in hand, what is needed?”
At that particular question, the younger daiyoukai frowned at his father. “You have been given life anew, father – do you need me to tell you how to live it? The changes that need take place in the world will have no bearing on your life, you are free to do as you choose – once everything is finished here, of course,” he said, a sense of amusement entering his voice at his father's scowl.
Eyeing his son with a suspicious gaze, Sugimi chose not to make anything out of Sesshoumaru's words, instead turning his attention back to the matters at hand, leaving those still in the tent to do whatever they chose to do.
Kagome looked over her companions with fondness, her eyes catching on a rather weary Sango, but before she could speak, Miroku and another taijya followed by Ryozo, entered the tent and walked up to confer in low voices with Sango. Within moments, the men were gone, followed by Sango, and Kagome chuckled, a sense of melancholy settling inside her. Our lives are separating, now... we each have different responsibilities and wants in life, and can no longer remain the way we were, she sighed. It was a good thing, but it also saddened her. She wondered how everyone's lives would shape, now, hers and Sesshoumaru's not the least in her mind.
For it occurred to her in that moment, her divine duties – and her mates. What would they do about the Western Lands? Would they really have time to govern and protect just that one part of creation, now that they held responsibility to all lands? Looks like he and I have a lot of thinking to do, she decided wryly, now that this mess is pretty much over. Sure, the changes we began will need more work, but what else do we have to do? We're both so new to this.
Sesshoumaru wasn't oblivious to those same things; he'd pondered on them already. But where Kagome began to doubt, to worry, he began to plan, and make decisions about things. He wanted to settle matters quickly, because he and his mate needed time away – time to work through everything that had happened in the last few weeks.
Hard to believe that it had only been a matter of weeks since they had been forcibly returned to life. With a magnanimous gesture towards peace, the daiyoukai decided not to punish his brother for forcing he and Kagome back to this realm, understanding that fault for such was truly to be laid at Amaterasu's door. It had all been part of her scheme to defeat her brother, and his actions had been needed, though unwelcome at the time.
Glancing at his little mate, he said, “Perhaps you and I should return to the village this evening, mate. Though doubtless, father dispatched runners to the village to apprise those there of the victory, I am certain the kit and Rin would appreciate our return.”
“Not to mention Jaken,” she mumbled under her breath, the thought of the loyal, though annoying little gami almost making her want to roll her eyes.
Sesshoumaru didn't react to his mate's words or thoughts, though he was amused. He simply held out his hand and let her grasp it, then cast a glance at his father, before allowing his essence, and that of Kagome's to dissipate, almost instantaneously reforming just outside the barriers around the village. As soon as they reformed, he let go his mate's hand and followed along sedately behind her as she headed straight for the elder miko's hut, quite well aware that there would be several hours ahead of discussion as she rehashed everything for the benefit of those who had remained behind here in the village.
While she was busy doing that, he let his mind wander, pondering once more over life – and what he and his mate would now make of it.
There were, of course, endless possibilities, and that kept his mind occupied until the hour had grown late and everyone else had sought their beds, his mate curled up against him, allowing herself to sleep, as well.
He was quite content to sit up and watch over everyone, though it was not strictly necessary any longer.
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I knew this duty would be difficult for her, Sesshoumaru thought to himself as the day drew to a close, the last few to be judged standing before them. While she had held her demeanor through the long day, he could feel what those on the outside of their bond could not – she was wilting, badly.
Still, he was proud of her. Neither by word, deed, or expression had she given her sorrow away, and even now, when despair was eating at her, despair at what she'd had to do many times over the day, she held herself like the figure of authority she now was, even though it was obvious to him she did not like it in the least.
But he couldn't be anything but grateful that the day was almost over – she needed to get away from all of this, needed some time with him to restore her heart and mind.
Turning his attention to the last group of captured samurai and monks, he gazed at them flatly, already reading through their hearts and minds, as he knew Kagome was, from the strain in her thoughts.
“Your army has lost, your ideals have been turned away, and this-” he gestured all around them, to humans, half-demons and demons working together amiably, “-is the new way of things. Are you going to be part of it, whole-heartedly, or not?” he questioned flatly.
Hatred seethed in three of the beings before them, one samurai and two monks, and it was apparent that they would only be the cause of more suffering and grief were they to leave this field alive. The hearts of the two monks, especially, read like an open book – if they were not stopped, they would leave this place, and move on to other places, attempting to foment hatred and fighting amongst the races once more.
They would have to be killed here, to save lives in the long run, and Kagome knew it as well as he did. Motioning to the guards, he had the three separated from their fellows and taken to the area where executions were taking place – out of sight and hearing of his little mate. While she knew what was happening, there was no need for her to see or hear it.
The rest watched silently as the three were led off, and Sesshoumaru spoke once more, dragging their attention back to him and his mate.
“If your hearts are not filled with hatred, why did you follow Ungai to begin with?”
There were glances all around, and then a monk stepped forward to answer for the small group. He bowed reverently to the kami he was standing before, and then sank to his knees, showing obeisance. “Forgive our misjudgment, Sesshoumaru-sama, Kagome-sama. We followed Ungai at first because we believed his cause, thinking that evil youkai should not be allowed to ravage the innocent. Then he began to change, and we were frightened – we could not leave. And for the samurai – they had no choice in who their masters chose to support, just as they never do when a clan leader declares war on another.”
Both Kagome and Sesshoumaru knew these things, but they wanted to see how they would choose to present themselves. When the monk had knelt before them, there was no hatred or deceit in his heart, and the other men behind him had followed his example, kneeling and showing proper, honest respect. To both of them, human goddess - and youkai god.
He gestured as Kagome's face broke into a relieved smile, and said, “You are free to go. It would show your remorse for your actions to volunteer to help with restoring this place as the others are doing, but it is your choice.”
There were thankful nods all around, and the group of men rose, disappearing immediately after bowing once more. Without another thought to those around them, Sesshoumaru turned to his mate and eyed her wilting form with concern.
“This is what I wanted to avoid, beloved,” he thought at her, a concerned frown creasing his brow. “Every action taken today scarred your heart, I can feel your pain as if it were my own. I would keep you from it all if you would but let me, Kagome.”
She smiled at him, thought it was tinted with sadness, there was also love. He was so worried for her, and she couldn't help the way it melted her heart. “What happened today hurt, you're right – but you heal me, Sesshoumaru. Feeling how much you love me, and knowing that you would take all of this on yourself to spare me – those things make me feel better. Life isn't all sweetness and light, and I know that, but you are my balance. You balance the bad out, and take away the hurt.” She clasped the hand he reached out to her, and caressed it with her thumb. “All I need is you, and I'm able to face whatever may come.”
He didn't say anything, but he once more inundated her in his feelings for her, his devotion, his love, letting it do just what she claimed it did – heal her hurts. After a few minutes of sitting there ignoring everything around them as if they were the only things in the world, Sesshoumaru stood, effortlessly pulling her up with him, and still with no words between them, led her off towards the command tent.
Both of them wished to see what progress had been made this long, weary day of dealing with the aftermath of the battle for all of life.
Sesshoumaru wanted things done as soon as possible – because he had plans to take his sweet mate away from all the ugliness of the last few years, and spend time healing all the hurts that had accumulated from dealing with Naraku, and now this. All the pain that had scarred her heart would be eliminated.
She would always retain her soft, loving heart, come what may...
… he would make sure of it.
~oOo~
Izayoi looked up as her mate's eldest son entered the tent followed by his own mate, and it was easy to see the young woman's unhappy state of mind, though she tried to hide it. It was then she decided to speak to them as soon as possible, knowing that the subject she wished to address would please Kagome.
It would help to cheer her up, and that would also smooth things over with her very protective mate – the one hovering over her and keeping everyone else away.
I think now would be a good time.
With that in mind, she stood up and, as the tent went quiet, she looked at Sesshoumaru and Kagome and smiled lightly.
“I would like to have a word with both of you, if you don't mind.” She caught Sesshoumaru's cautious expression, and finished with, “I think it is something that would please Kagome-sama, give her something nice to counteract the effects of this day.”
Sesshoumaru was startled at her words, and even more so that she was showing such an empathy towards his little mate and her sadness. For that reason, he inclined his head and allowed his father's human mate to lead them to the back of the tent after whispering something to her mate to keep him still. He looked at his father, and was soothed a bit by his sire's calm smile.
Once they reached the rear of the tent and had gained as much privacy as was possible in such surroundings, she wasted no time in inviting them to sit. As soon as they were comfortable, she spoke.
Needless to say, Sesshoumaru was quite taken aback at her words.
“I wished, first of all, to apologize for my actions when we were in the other realms, Kagome-sama. I did not mean to take my frustration over my son's hard life out on you. I was pushing him to recognize the same thing that you had tried so hard to get him to understand, and that was that he was worthy of love.” She sighed, looking away for a moment, before continuing. “And I was frustrated that it seemed that my mate's older son was getting what my own son had been denied for so long. It was wrong, and I regret making you feel as though you were abandoning Inuyasha. In a way, that's why I warned you of what he was going to do in bringing you back – I knew that Sesshoumaru-sama would find a way to bind you to his side, no matter what my son managed to do.”
Kagome blinked, startled at first. So much had happened since that time, she'd forgotten that little incident. But then she smiled at the older woman, her heart feeling a little ease. “It's okay, Izayoi-sama. It's what a mother does, try to protect her children. I don't hold it against you at all,” she assured the other woman.
The hime nodded, smiling at her for a moment, before she turned to regard Sesshoumaru steadily. She took a few moments to formulate her thoughts, then said, “In the past, things did not go well between you and I. At the time, I was too young, frightened, and uncertain to understand your hatred or your actions towards me, and you were too young and angry, too threatened by me to look past all of that and accept my presence in your father's life.” Sadness crossed her face as she remembered that long-ago past. It made her sigh. “I would hope that we are now older and more mature, and that we can get along as we could not then. I do not want to force my mate to keep parts of his life separate because we cannot set aside our differences and act with maturity. It will take a bit of time, but I am willing to try, Sesshoumaru-sama. Are you?”
Sesshoumaru let his mind touch on the events she was hinting at, and sighed inwardly, knowing that she was actually being quite understanding in her words. In truth, he'd been an ass to her, and her death could really be laid at his feet. That she was willing to put it all aside for his father's sake, if nothing else, told him that she really did love his father, and he knew he could no longer carry the prejudices that he once had – not with the choices he, himself, had made.
With his mate's hopeful eyes turned on him, and his father's mate's steady gaze waiting, he inclined his head, and allowed a slightly softer look to enter his eyes. Izayoi proved herself to be quite perceptive and took the small signs as they were meant – a commitment to peace between them.
With a bright smile up at him, affection open in her eyes, Sesshoumaru's mind was immediately firmly on his little mate, and Izayoi, with a knowing smile, stood and excused herself, leaving the couple alone together as the male so obviously wanted.
“I'm glad you two will get along now, Sesshoumaru – I could see in his eyes that Sugimi-sama had hoped that you would this time around. I don't know anything about the past between you, but I can imagine how it must have been, and it would only hurt everyone for you guys to keep fighting.”
Sesshoumaru sighed openly as memories flooded him, and regret, something that he rarely felt, also opened up within him. There was nothing good about what passed between my father's chosen and I. I have no desire to return to such hostilities – it would only damage my father, and hurt my mate. And I certainly can no longer claim such hatreds, at any rate, as, though she is no longer human, Kagome started out that way, and I had chosen her before she gained her divine nature. He focused on her for a moment, at her smiling features and warm and loving expression, and could find no regret within himself for that choice. No... were she still human, I would love her just the same. I understand you so much better, now, father.
“Just as we have demanded that hostilities between human and demon must end, so must the hatred and anger between she and I be laid to rest – in the past, where they belong. I no longer hold the same beliefs as I did then, and cannot hold her humanity against her. It is certain that I did not hate her for her personality, for I never allowed myself to know her enough to judge such a thing. She seems to be agreeable enough.”
Kagome nodded, but before she could say anything, Touran's voice came from the front of the tent, and Sesshoumaru stood, pulling her up gently with him. “Come, mate, I have need to speak to the panther.”
Startled but amenable, Kagome followed along behind her mate as he stepped from behind the partition, quiet as he walked to the front of the tent to confront the leader of the panthers. Curiosity was eating at her though, wondering what he wanted to say to the woman, and she shamelessly listened in as he spoke at length to her.
She noticed that she wasn't the only one listening, as Sugimi himself paid close attention to the interaction between his son and Touran. The two had never before gotten along, always hating each other and trying to kill one another. Of course, that was before he had intervened in their master's stealing of their souls, returning her siblings souls to them. After that, they had mostly stayed away from each other, simply sniping at each other when they did meet - with enjoyment - though Sesshoumaru would never admit that.
Still, everyone wondered what the two could have to talk about, and that was why the tent went silent – not one person inside it wasn't curious.
But it was all to no avail – Sesshoumaru was careful to block every sound, and all anyone had to go on was the expression of Touran to have any kind of clue to what was being said.
Kagome could have eavesdropped, unlike everyone else, but chose to respect her mate's silent wishes, even though the curiosity nearly ate her mind alive, and so she, along with everyone else, scowled slightly when the barrier around the two dropped, and the panther demoness disappeared.
“What?” he blandly enquired when he took note of all the stares.
After a few moments of loaded silence, Sugimi sighed and shook his head, dismissing the subject. “Now what, Sesshoumaru? Now that the victory is ours, and the cleanup well in hand, what is needed?”
At that particular question, the younger daiyoukai frowned at his father. “You have been given life anew, father – do you need me to tell you how to live it? The changes that need take place in the world will have no bearing on your life, you are free to do as you choose – once everything is finished here, of course,” he said, a sense of amusement entering his voice at his father's scowl.
Eyeing his son with a suspicious gaze, Sugimi chose not to make anything out of Sesshoumaru's words, instead turning his attention back to the matters at hand, leaving those still in the tent to do whatever they chose to do.
Kagome looked over her companions with fondness, her eyes catching on a rather weary Sango, but before she could speak, Miroku and another taijya followed by Ryozo, entered the tent and walked up to confer in low voices with Sango. Within moments, the men were gone, followed by Sango, and Kagome chuckled, a sense of melancholy settling inside her. Our lives are separating, now... we each have different responsibilities and wants in life, and can no longer remain the way we were, she sighed. It was a good thing, but it also saddened her. She wondered how everyone's lives would shape, now, hers and Sesshoumaru's not the least in her mind.
For it occurred to her in that moment, her divine duties – and her mates. What would they do about the Western Lands? Would they really have time to govern and protect just that one part of creation, now that they held responsibility to all lands? Looks like he and I have a lot of thinking to do, she decided wryly, now that this mess is pretty much over. Sure, the changes we began will need more work, but what else do we have to do? We're both so new to this.
Sesshoumaru wasn't oblivious to those same things; he'd pondered on them already. But where Kagome began to doubt, to worry, he began to plan, and make decisions about things. He wanted to settle matters quickly, because he and his mate needed time away – time to work through everything that had happened in the last few weeks.
Hard to believe that it had only been a matter of weeks since they had been forcibly returned to life. With a magnanimous gesture towards peace, the daiyoukai decided not to punish his brother for forcing he and Kagome back to this realm, understanding that fault for such was truly to be laid at Amaterasu's door. It had all been part of her scheme to defeat her brother, and his actions had been needed, though unwelcome at the time.
Glancing at his little mate, he said, “Perhaps you and I should return to the village this evening, mate. Though doubtless, father dispatched runners to the village to apprise those there of the victory, I am certain the kit and Rin would appreciate our return.”
“Not to mention Jaken,” she mumbled under her breath, the thought of the loyal, though annoying little gami almost making her want to roll her eyes.
Sesshoumaru didn't react to his mate's words or thoughts, though he was amused. He simply held out his hand and let her grasp it, then cast a glance at his father, before allowing his essence, and that of Kagome's to dissipate, almost instantaneously reforming just outside the barriers around the village. As soon as they reformed, he let go his mate's hand and followed along sedately behind her as she headed straight for the elder miko's hut, quite well aware that there would be several hours ahead of discussion as she rehashed everything for the benefit of those who had remained behind here in the village.
While she was busy doing that, he let his mind wander, pondering once more over life – and what he and his mate would now make of it.
There were, of course, endless possibilities, and that kept his mind occupied until the hour had grown late and everyone else had sought their beds, his mate curled up against him, allowing herself to sleep, as well.
He was quite content to sit up and watch over everyone, though it was not strictly necessary any longer.
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