InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Kagome's Return (sequel to Kagome! Where are you!? ❯ It begins... ( Chapter 17 )
[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]
Kagome's return's chapter 17
"Because she wouldn't stop loving you!" Sesshomaru screams! He
moves, fast . . . and a blink of an eye, Tetsusaiga is flying
through the air and Sesshomaru has Inu-yasha by the throat.
Inu-yasha's eyes widen in shock. They focus on Sesshomaru's free
hand, it is glowing green and acid is dripping from it.
Sesshomaru's other hand is around Inu-yasha's throat and is
lifting him off the ground.
"Damn you, Inu-yasha." Sesshomaru growls through clenched teeth.
"Will you think!? Will you hurt her!? Or will you help her!?"
"You can't kill me." Inu-yasha whispers through his constricted
throat.
Sesshomaru takes deep breath and shoves Inu-yasha to the ground.
"You're right, damn you. Killing you would hurt Kagome and I
can't do that."
"And killing you would hurt her." Inu-yasha says in a hoarse
voice as he rubs his throat. He is sitting up from the push
Sesshomaru gave him.
Sesshomaru nods. "And leaving Kagome would hurt her. Not that I
can leave her."
Inu-yasha nods. ‘Same here. I can't leave her.' He thinks.
A pause.
"I will put Kagome's desires above mine own, Inu-yasha."
Sesshomaru begins to say, "Will you do the same?"
Inu-yasha glares at his brother. He opens his mouth to speak. He
closes it with a snap.
"Well?" Sesshomaru growls out.
"I'm going to hear about Kagome's perfect world from her lips,
not yours." Inu-yasha spits out. "For all I know, all this has
been a trick!"
His eyes narrow, as he thinks, ‘this could be some trick to make
me seem more like Miroku. I can see him proposing to two women,
even at the same time. And if I tell Kagome that I'm willing to
try to be with her and Sesshomaru at the same time that sounds a
lot like one of Miroku's schemes.'
Sesshomaru nods. "An adequate answer. Even, given our history,
better than one could expect." He says in a very reasonable tone.
"You're not going to force me to answer, yes?" Inu-yasha asks in
a puzzled tone.
Sesshomaru shakes his head, no. "I'm not, little brother. For two
reasons: first, I know enough about love, that it has come from
the heart, and forcing you to say yes, would not be a good idea."
"And the second?"
Sesshomaru's raises an eyebrow. "Part of me wants you to say, no.
Because once you reject that plan, you will try to make her
yours. And, right now, your jealousy and possessiveness will
drive her away and into my arms."
Inu-yasha growls, deep in his chest. "I don't like it, or you."
He slams his fist into the ground. "I wish I could rip your head
off and piss down your bleeding neck."
"You are welcome to try, little brother."
Inu-yasha glares at Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru gazes back, without expression.
A silent pause . . .
"You will listen to her?" Sesshomaru asks in quiet voice.
Inu-yasha, after a long pause, slowly nods.
"Good. Excellent." Sesshomaru replies. "The best reply I was
hoping for, in fact."
"Huh?" Inu-yasha blurts out. "I thought that you wanted me to say
yes?"
"When she left, you weren't listening to her. You were fighting
her and screaming at her." Sesshomaru replies. "Now, You've just
promised to listen to her, not fight her."
Inu-yasha growls, "I don't like it when you put words in my
mouth. I didn't promise a thing."
Sesshomaru rolls his eyes and sighs. "Fine. Have it your way,
then, Inu-yasha." He points to Kirara. "You are aware that we had
an observer."
Inu-yasha looks at Kirara . . . his eyes widen.
Kirara mews, softly, in the trees.
"You weren't. Why does that not surprise me?" Sesshomaru bemoans.
"Fuck you." Inu-yasha sneers.
‘Brilliant conversationalist . . . ' Sesshomaru thinks. ‘I've got
to see if Kagome can fix that.'
"You will listen to her?" Sesshomaru asks again.
"I said I would, damn it!" inu-yasha screams. He waves his fist
at Sesshomaru. "I just wish I could rip your face off!"
Sesshomaru raises an eyebrow. ‘It would be best if he could burn
off some his energy in combat. If he's already had a real fight,
he might not fight with Kagome.' He thinks.
Sesshomaru moves into a basic defensive position and forms his
acid whip.
Inu-yasha quickly grabs Tetsusaiga and moves into a defensive
position.
‘What is going on?' Kirara thinks. ‘I didn't think that they
would fight?'
Sesshomaru pauses, and shifts his head. ‘Perhaps, instead of me .
. . there is another target. Someone that I would enjoy killing,
as well.' He thinks.
Inu-yasha, still in his defensive position looks in the same
direction. ‘Is he sensing something? A possible attacker?' Inu-
yasha thinks.
"Inu-yasha." Sesshomaru begins to speak in a very low voice, only
Inu-yasha's superb senses allow him to hear him. Even Kirara is
too far away to understand the whispers.
"What?" Inu-yasha whispers back. "A demon or something?"
"Something." Sesshomaru continues, still in that low whisper,
"While we were traveling, Kagome found out that the Jewel and all
the adventures and trails that she and you went through were
tests."
"Tests?" Inu-yasha hisses.
"Yes, tests." Sesshomaru's eyes narrow. "For what, exactly, I
don't know. Kagome, I think, has found out, but, between Naraku,
Sango's brother, and us, she hasn't had time to tell anyone."
"What do you know?"
"That Go-Shin-Boku-kami was the one that was testing her and
you."
"The fucking god tree?" Inu-yasha squeaks. He growls. "That makes
sense. His motherfucking spring fertility festival. He
manipulated and caused that orgy to happen. I hated being
possessed and fucking Kagome in public."
"I found being shifted from world to world, against my will, to
be offensive as well, Inu-yasha." Sesshomaru growls. "Kagome told
me, that the god tree on her side of the well, is the creature
that is powering the well."
Inu-yasha's eyes narrow. "She stopped you from attacking him,
didn't she?"
"Of course."
A pause.
Inu-yasha lowers Tetsusaiga and looks at Sesshomaru. He smirks
and begins to speak in a normal volume. "Big Brother,"
Sesshomaru's eyebrows raise, but his doesn't say a thing.
"Since, if you are correct about Kagome's desires, we will need
to get along, perhaps you and I should take a stroll."
"And talk?" Sesshomaru smiles, showing his fangs.
Inu-yasha smiles back, showing his fangs. "Of course. I'm sure
you'll find the conversation very enjoyable."
"Of course. I enjoy a good conversation."
Both brothers begin to walk, slowly toward the god tree. As they
walk, Sesshomaru begins to tell Inu-yasha about his and Kagome's
travels.
"You do know, that no matter what, I still don't trust you." Inu-
yasha whispers to Sesshomaru.
"And you do know, that no matter what, I am your superior."
Sesshomaru whispers back.
Kirara follows . . .
Since I am evil . . . I'll leave it there.
But, since I'm not that evil, I won't end the chapter . . .
On the other side of the well . . . (continuing from chapter 15)
Miroku's clean and whole hand grabs hers.
His mouth twitches, "I am embarrassed, Sango, I had a wonderful,
romantic speech planned, but, I can't remember a word. So." He
pauses, then . . .
"Higurashi Sango, I Higurashi Miroku, wish to marry you." He
asks, in a low voice. His head is up and he is looking at her.
Sango looks at him in the eyes. Her other hand covers his. "I
accept." She whispers.
"And I approve." Their adopted mother says as she stands up.
Kagome, silently, stands up as well.
"Yeah." Sota squeaks out.
"Yes!" "Great!" "Congratulations!" Kagome's friends yell.
Kagome and her mother rush around the couch and hug Sango and
Miroku.
"I would have thought you would have done it with more romance?"
Kagome whispers to Miroku as they hug each other.
"I wanted to." Miroku whispers back. He looks at Sango, who is
listening, "but, I made a promise that once Naraku was dead, I'd
ask. And, this is the first chance I really had. Also, once your
brother wakes up, you'll be distracted."
Sango nods. "I do appreciate it, Monk. No. Miroku." She whispers.
"Tonight, unless something comes up," their mother whispers, "you
two can use my bedroom."
"Are you sure?" Sango squeaks.
Mrs. H smiles. "I'll be Ok."
"What are you four whispering about?" One of Kagome's friends
calls.
They break the group hug. "Just stuff, Eri." Kagome says as she
and her mother sit back down on the couch.
Miroku, his hand holding Sango's, goes to the chair and he sits
down on it. "I don't like being fondled in public." Sango says as
she looks down at him. He obviously wants her to sit in his lap.
"Up" Sango growls. "You get up, and I'll sit down. And then, you
can sit on my lap."
Miroku looks around the room. ‘She's got a lot of support here,
doesn't she? Her newly adopted mother and sister, who also just
happens to be her best friend. Her best friends three female
friends, and little brother and adopted son.' He sighs and stands
up.
Sango's lips twitch into a quick smile, as she sits down.
Miroku, after another sigh, sits down on Sango's lap.
She, easily, picks him up, and shifts him, so he fits comfortably
on her lap.
"If I was sitting on your lap." Sango whispers into his ear.
"You'd perform outrages on me. I am very tempted, to do the
same." Her hands, still around his waist, move suggestively.
"But, instead, I will set an example of proper behavior for you."
‘Proper behavior,' Miroku thinks, ‘is what? What other people
think is proper? And if that's the case, are they correct or are
they wrong?' He sighs, ‘at least, once things settle down some, I
can teach her about what is the correct behavior. My way.'
"When will you two get married?" Yuka asks.
Sango and Miroku twist to share a glance. "That is hard to say."
Sango begins. "There's my brother. There is Kagome, Inu-yasha and
know Sesshomaru to consider."
"The village has been destroyed, as well." Miroku adds. "We'll be
busy helping them, as well. It could be some months before the
official ceremony."
Sango nods, agreeing with him. She looks at Kagome. "You will do
the honor?"
Kagome smiles. "I'll kill anyone that tries to stop me."
‘It's not traditional for a miko to consecrate the marriage,
but.' Miroku thinks. ‘Like Kagome says, I can't think of anyone
I'd rather have to it.'
‘hmmm.' Shippo thinks. ‘Now that they're out of the way.'
"What about you, Kagome?" Shippo asks. "You were talking about
your adventures."
"And courtship!" Yuka purrs as she continues to fondle Shippo's
tail.
Kagome looks around the room, and instead of looking at Sango and
Miroku, everyone is looking at her.
She sighs. "Courtship, Yuka?" She nods. "Yes, Sesshomaru and I
courted, among other things."
Her mouth twitches, and a far away look appears in her eyes. "I
told him things that I've been wishing to tell Inu-yasha. He told
me things that he's never told anyone, or even wished to tell
anyone."
She turns to look at her mother. "Which is, I suppose, where it started?"
"what started?" her mother asks.
"The conversations that we had." Kagome replies, still with a far
away gleam in her eyes. "I started to open up with him. And,
unlike Inu-yasha, who always pushes me away, he started to open
up to me."
Kagome glances at Miroku and Sango. "Oh, we knew that there was a
physical attraction between us. We even knew that, probably
sooner or later, we'd allow that physical attraction to lead to
sex, but." She pauses.
"But?" Sango asks.
"It was the conversations that we were having that changed
things, Sango." Kagome slowly nods. "Oh, I still might have. No.
I'll be honest." She says as she shakes her head. "We would have
fucked each other. But, without those conversations, all that
fucking would have meant to us was just a momentary pleasuring on
our bodies, nothing else."
"But you talked to each, instead of fighting?" Miroku asks.
Kagome nods. "Oh, there were times when we'd disagree about
things. Sesshomaru firmly believes that killing everyone and
letting the gods sort them out is a good strategy. Whereas I'm
always trying to find a way to avoid death and destruction."
Mrs. H places her hand Kagome's thigh, as they sit on the couch.
"your's is the correct path."
Kagome smiles, "I know. I've even changed his mind enough to
allow me to make an attempt at a peaceful solution." She sighs.
‘But, talking with Sesshomaru is so much more than anything that
Inu-yasha has ever done with me.' Kagome thinks. ‘I've adventured
with inu-yasha. He's saved my life, I've saved his, but, because
he won't talk to me, I think, I know less about him than I do
Sesshomaru.'
"Talking to lord Sesshomaru led to what?" Rin asks from the
floor, as she sits with Sota.
Kagome looks at Rin. ‘How do I say this? Especially to her?' she
thinks.
A long pause as all the adults and teenagers in the room wait to
see how Kagome will handle that question.
"Led lord Sesshomaru and I into making love to each other."
Kagome replies. Her mouth twists into a smile. "I never
understood how Inu-yasha could love Kikyo and I at the same time.
Now, I can. Inu-yasha and Sesshomaru have each captured part of
my heart."
A pause.
"Are you Rin's mother now?" Rin asks.
Another pause.
"I will, if you want me to be." Kagome replies. "And, Rin, that
is will be true no matter what happens between Inu-yasha,
Sesshomaru and myself."
A pause.
Rin stands up and walks to Kagome. Tears begin to form in her
eyes. "Rin . . . doesn't remember her mother."
Kagome gives Shippo to Yuka as she slides off the couch and hugs
Rin. "Cry." She whispers.
Rin hugs Kagome as she cries into Kagome's shoulder.
Kagome, after a couple of minutes, leans back against the couch
as she sits on the floor. She drags Rin's body into her lap and
watches as Rin curls into a ball as she lays on Kagome's stomach.
"No matter what, Rin." Kagome says in a low emotion filled voice.
"No matter what, I'll be here for you."
Time passes as Rin softly cries . . .
Mrs. H bends over and whispers into Kagome's ear. "Will you be
there for everyone?"
"Probably not." Kagome answers back. "But, which is better.
Trying to be there for everyone, and maybe, failing? Or only
being there for yourself?"
Mrs. h reaches down and squeezes Kagome's shoulder. "I am proud
to have as my daughter." She says in a low voice.
Everyone in the room, softly agrees with Mrs. h.
Kagome flicks her eyes to Sango in time to see Sango's nod.
After a short time, Rin stops crying, but she still remains in
Kagome's lap.
"What happened with you and Sesshomaru?" Eri, finally, asks.
"We made love to each other and fell in love with each other."
Kagome replies, speaking in a soft, emotion filled voice.
"Inu-yasha?" Miroku asks in a gentle voice.
Kagome looks at him. "That's the odd thing, Miroku. I always
assumed that if I ever fell in love with someone else, I'd stop
loving Inu-yasha."
She licks her lips. "But, that never happened. If anything, being
away from him, caused my feelings for him to increase." She
shakes her head, "but, it didn't stop my heart from feeling love
and caring for Sesshomaru at the same time."
"So you still love Inu-yasha?" Ayumi asks. "And Sesshomaru, at
the same time?"
Kagome nods.
Various people in the room look at each other, all of them
thinking the same thing. ‘Kagome's got a choice to make and it'll
be a hard one.'
"What are you going to do?" Eri asks.
A pause . . . as nothing happens.
"Kagome?" Her mother says.
Kagome sighs. She glares at Miroku. "I don't want to hear a word
from you, by the way."
"Me?" Miroku asks, very surprised. "My dear sister, except for
Sota, I'm the only male in this room. If I do something that you
don't like, what do you think would happen to me? Especially
since I'm sitting on Sango's lap" he says as he wiggles his ass
into Sango's lap.
"Grr." Sango growls into his ear, as the other females in the
room giggle at Miroku's speech. "You're about to find out."
"Yes, dear." Miroku whispers back.
"You're trying to upset me." Sango hisses.
Miroku smiles, without saying a word.
Kagome looks around the room. She sighs again. ‘How to explain?'
she thinks.
She looks at the floor, so she doesn't have to stare at anyone's
face. "Ayumi, Eri, and Yuka, you three do know that in the past,
it was Ok for a man to have two or more wives, right?"
"Yes." Eri replies.
"And concubines," Yuka replies.
"And probably sex slaves." Ayumi adds.
Most of the people in the room look at Ayumi. Miroku has a weird
gleam in his eye. At least he does until Sango hand squeezes him,
hard.
Kagome, who keeps her eyes on the floor, continues, "well,
Sesshomaru and I were talking, and, he came up with the idea
that."
"Both of them." Sango interrupts. "You want to marry both of them
at the same time!"
Kagome nods, without looking at her friend, or anybody.
Both anyone else can speak . . .
"That's great!" Ayumi calls out. A daydreaming look in her eyes.
"Both of them at the same time!"
At the same time . . .
"That's horrible!" Eri calls out. "You can only love one person
at a time!"
Kagome looks at Eri. "Why? What rule? Does, my heart has to
follow that rule?"
"Why?" Eri replies. "But. But. It just doesn't happen."
"Does that make it wrong?" Kagome asks, "and, if so, why does it
make it wrong?"
"Jealousy and possessiveness." Miroku gently breaks in. "Those
emotions can disrupt a simple relationship between a man and a
woman. With a woman and two men, those emotions becomes even more
powerful and more likely to destroy that relationship."
Kagome looks at Miroku. She nods. "But, those emotions are not
absolute, are they Miroku? Those emotions can be controlled. And,
given the right people, a relationship like that can work."
He nods. "In principal you are correct, Lady Kagome. With the
proper training, those emotions are controllable and such a
three-way relationship can be stable." He raises a hand in a stop
signal. "But."
"But, can Inu-yasha and Sesshomaru control their emotions."
Kagome says as soon as she hears Miroku's ‘but.'
He nods.
Kagome sighs, deeply. "I don't know, Miroku. Sesshomaru and I
have had long talks about jealousy and possessiveness. He's
pretty sure that he can control his."
"Are you sure?" Shippo asks. "What about all those fights over
Tetsusaiga? That doesn't strike me as a man that can share."
Kagome nods at Shippo's question. "We've talked about that, as
well, Shippo." She pauses. "I'm sure that dealing with Tetsusaiga
and Tenseiga will be harder than he thinks."
Her lips twitch. "But, he's promised me that he'll do it. And I
don't think he'll want to disappoint me."
"Sesshomaru?" Shippo squeals. "Are you sure?"
Kagome nods. "I have to trust him and I will."
"Inu-yasha?" Sango asks.
Kagome looks at the ground. "I don't know." She whispers.
A long Silence . . .
"Kagome?" her mother whispers, loudly into the silence.
"I don't know, mom!" Kagome cries out. She pulls Rin close to her
and begins to cry into Rin's shoulder.
Her mother, instantly, slides off the couch and gathers Kagome
and Rin into her arms.
Sango, instantly, picks Miroku up and stands up, places him down,
and moves to Mrs. H and Kagome. She, stops, suddenly her hands
formed into fists. ‘I don't know what to do.' She thinks. ‘There
is no one here to hit.'
Miroku, gestures for Sota to stand next to him, as he stands up.
Sota moves next to Miroku.
Kagome's three friends, who looked at Sango as she moved, all
recoil away from her. The look in Sango's eyes . . . They've
never stared into the eyes of a stone-cold warrior before.
"Mom," Kagome sobs, "I want everything to work out. I want to
live happily ever after, but."
"Everything will fine." Her mother
"Inu-yasha will never agree to this!" Kagome wails. "I know him.
He'll never do it! I've tried to believe it! I want to believe
it! But, it'll never happen." Her voice fades into sobs as she
cries.
"Shush," Mrs. H begins to rock her daughter, as Rin, quietly
slips out between them and stands next to Sango.
"They're fighting." Kagome sobs. "Right now, on the other side of
the well, they are fighting. And only one of them will live. I
know this." She wails. "And the worse part, I don't know who I
want to live . . . "
"Everything will be fine." Kagome's mother whispers. "You'll see.
It will work out in the end."
"How?" Kagome asks. "Inu-yasha is so jealous. He is so possessive
. . . "
"He loves you." Mrs. h states in a no-nonsense tone. "Right?"
Kagome nods, rubbing her head against her mother's shoulder.
"He'll die for you, right?"
"Yes." Kagome whispers.
"You love him."
"Yes."
"You would die for him."
"Yes."
"Then, by all the gods, he'll put your feelings before his own."
Kagome's mother declares. "Otherwise, he's lying to you."
"But, shouldn't I put his feeling before mine?" Kagome asks.
A pause . . . as everyone looks at Kagome's mother, watching
her.
"That, my dear, is for you to decide." Mrs. H whispers. "But,
before you do, think about how your decision will affect the
people you love and care for. And consider, will Inu-yasha, or
Sesshomaru, for that matter, think about how their decisions will
affect others, or do they only care about themselves?"
A pause . . .
"Sesshomaru will consider my opinions." Kagome replies. "He's
shown that and I trust him to continue doing that."
"Inu-yasha?" Mrs. H asks.
"I don't know." Kagome whispers. "There's times when I think he
would, then, there's times when he doesn't care what I think,
he's made a decision and I have no say in it."
"I think, Kagome," Sango says, as she stands next to Kagome.
"Until inu-yasha can show that he will listen to you that you
have to think for yourself."
Kagome looks up at her best friend, tears falling from her
checks. "Are you sure?" she whispers.
Sango nods. "I like Inu-yasha. In combat, I'll trust his
judgments without question. But, outside combat? Especially where
love is concerned?" Sango shakes her head. "I'll trust your
judgment far more than I'll trust his."
Sango kneels down and hugs Kagome's shoulders. "If you say that
you and Sesshomaru are in love, together. I'll believe you and
I'll help you, without question."
Sango's lips twist. "And, if that means, helping you create some
sort of three-way relationship, so be it." She stares into
Kagome's eyes. "I trust you."
"Thank you, Sango." Kagome whispers. Mrs. h lets go of her
daughter, allowing Sango room to kneel next to her.
Sango hugs her best friend, tightly. "You do know that your going
to be in the middle, as those two fight for your affection?" she
whispers.
Kagome sighs, "I know. It won't be pretty, especially at first.
But. I've had a while to think about this, and I've got a plan."
"I hope so." Sango whispers back. "I'll help."
"Thank you."
Mrs. h reaches out and grabs Kagome's shoulder. "Are you all
right, now?"
Kagome looks at her mother and at her best friend. "I'm better,
mom." She sighs, "I just wish that I knew what was happening on
the other side of the well."
"I don't have to hear the rest of your story, right now." Mrs. h
says. "If you wish to go back through the well, without finishing
this, go ahead."
Kagome looks at her mother. Her mother nods.
Kagome looks around the room. After a hurried whispered
conference, all three of her friends nods. (Yuka looks a bit
pissed, but . . . )
Everyone else, nods.
Kagome takes a deep breath and nods. "In that case, I'll leave
right now."
Sango stands up, picking Kagome up in the process. "I'll walk you
to the well." Sango glares at the room, "I'd like to have a
private moment with you." Her glare freezes the room.
"Ok." Kagome says in a shaky voice.
Sango and Kagome leave the house and go to the well house.
"You do know that Inu-yasha will visit geishas, trying to upset
you?" Sango asks.
Kagome sighs. "I can see him doing that."
"And?"
"And, I'll ignore it. They don't matter to him. He'd only be
doing it too upset me."
Sango nods. "You do know that Miroku will try to horn himself
in."
"Inu-yasha's and Sesshomaru's glares should stop that."
Sango nods. "Perhaps, at least for a while." She sighs, "but,
what about this?"
"What?"
"Sooner or later, Inu-yasha will try to come onto me."
Kagome looks at Sango, her eyes wide. "Huh?"
"He'll figure out that his plan with the geisha's isn't working,
so he'll try it with someone that he and you care about."
"You."
Sango nods.
Kagome reaches out and grabs Sango's hands. "I trust you, Sango."
"And?"
"You'll never try to hurt me or hurt him."
Sango smiles. "I'll live up to your trust."
"That went without saying." Kagome smiles.
Her eyes flick to the well. "I really need to leave. I'll feeling
something."
Sango looks at the well. "Hurry back."
Kagome nods and jumps down the well.
On the side of the well . . .
Kagome frowns, instantly, as she appears.
She jumps up and out of the well and looks around.
She turns into the direction of the god tree.
"What did you two do!?" she cries.
She starts to run in that direction . . .
The end chapter 17 . . .
thank you for reading
jeff shelton
"Because she wouldn't stop loving you!" Sesshomaru screams! He
moves, fast . . . and a blink of an eye, Tetsusaiga is flying
through the air and Sesshomaru has Inu-yasha by the throat.
Inu-yasha's eyes widen in shock. They focus on Sesshomaru's free
hand, it is glowing green and acid is dripping from it.
Sesshomaru's other hand is around Inu-yasha's throat and is
lifting him off the ground.
"Damn you, Inu-yasha." Sesshomaru growls through clenched teeth.
"Will you think!? Will you hurt her!? Or will you help her!?"
"You can't kill me." Inu-yasha whispers through his constricted
throat.
Sesshomaru takes deep breath and shoves Inu-yasha to the ground.
"You're right, damn you. Killing you would hurt Kagome and I
can't do that."
"And killing you would hurt her." Inu-yasha says in a hoarse
voice as he rubs his throat. He is sitting up from the push
Sesshomaru gave him.
Sesshomaru nods. "And leaving Kagome would hurt her. Not that I
can leave her."
Inu-yasha nods. ‘Same here. I can't leave her.' He thinks.
A pause.
"I will put Kagome's desires above mine own, Inu-yasha."
Sesshomaru begins to say, "Will you do the same?"
Inu-yasha glares at his brother. He opens his mouth to speak. He
closes it with a snap.
"Well?" Sesshomaru growls out.
"I'm going to hear about Kagome's perfect world from her lips,
not yours." Inu-yasha spits out. "For all I know, all this has
been a trick!"
His eyes narrow, as he thinks, ‘this could be some trick to make
me seem more like Miroku. I can see him proposing to two women,
even at the same time. And if I tell Kagome that I'm willing to
try to be with her and Sesshomaru at the same time that sounds a
lot like one of Miroku's schemes.'
Sesshomaru nods. "An adequate answer. Even, given our history,
better than one could expect." He says in a very reasonable tone.
"You're not going to force me to answer, yes?" Inu-yasha asks in
a puzzled tone.
Sesshomaru shakes his head, no. "I'm not, little brother. For two
reasons: first, I know enough about love, that it has come from
the heart, and forcing you to say yes, would not be a good idea."
"And the second?"
Sesshomaru's raises an eyebrow. "Part of me wants you to say, no.
Because once you reject that plan, you will try to make her
yours. And, right now, your jealousy and possessiveness will
drive her away and into my arms."
Inu-yasha growls, deep in his chest. "I don't like it, or you."
He slams his fist into the ground. "I wish I could rip your head
off and piss down your bleeding neck."
"You are welcome to try, little brother."
Inu-yasha glares at Sesshomaru.
Sesshomaru gazes back, without expression.
A silent pause . . .
"You will listen to her?" Sesshomaru asks in quiet voice.
Inu-yasha, after a long pause, slowly nods.
"Good. Excellent." Sesshomaru replies. "The best reply I was
hoping for, in fact."
"Huh?" Inu-yasha blurts out. "I thought that you wanted me to say
yes?"
"When she left, you weren't listening to her. You were fighting
her and screaming at her." Sesshomaru replies. "Now, You've just
promised to listen to her, not fight her."
Inu-yasha growls, "I don't like it when you put words in my
mouth. I didn't promise a thing."
Sesshomaru rolls his eyes and sighs. "Fine. Have it your way,
then, Inu-yasha." He points to Kirara. "You are aware that we had
an observer."
Inu-yasha looks at Kirara . . . his eyes widen.
Kirara mews, softly, in the trees.
"You weren't. Why does that not surprise me?" Sesshomaru bemoans.
"Fuck you." Inu-yasha sneers.
‘Brilliant conversationalist . . . ' Sesshomaru thinks. ‘I've got
to see if Kagome can fix that.'
"You will listen to her?" Sesshomaru asks again.
"I said I would, damn it!" inu-yasha screams. He waves his fist
at Sesshomaru. "I just wish I could rip your face off!"
Sesshomaru raises an eyebrow. ‘It would be best if he could burn
off some his energy in combat. If he's already had a real fight,
he might not fight with Kagome.' He thinks.
Sesshomaru moves into a basic defensive position and forms his
acid whip.
Inu-yasha quickly grabs Tetsusaiga and moves into a defensive
position.
‘What is going on?' Kirara thinks. ‘I didn't think that they
would fight?'
Sesshomaru pauses, and shifts his head. ‘Perhaps, instead of me .
. . there is another target. Someone that I would enjoy killing,
as well.' He thinks.
Inu-yasha, still in his defensive position looks in the same
direction. ‘Is he sensing something? A possible attacker?' Inu-
yasha thinks.
"Inu-yasha." Sesshomaru begins to speak in a very low voice, only
Inu-yasha's superb senses allow him to hear him. Even Kirara is
too far away to understand the whispers.
"What?" Inu-yasha whispers back. "A demon or something?"
"Something." Sesshomaru continues, still in that low whisper,
"While we were traveling, Kagome found out that the Jewel and all
the adventures and trails that she and you went through were
tests."
"Tests?" Inu-yasha hisses.
"Yes, tests." Sesshomaru's eyes narrow. "For what, exactly, I
don't know. Kagome, I think, has found out, but, between Naraku,
Sango's brother, and us, she hasn't had time to tell anyone."
"What do you know?"
"That Go-Shin-Boku-kami was the one that was testing her and
you."
"The fucking god tree?" Inu-yasha squeaks. He growls. "That makes
sense. His motherfucking spring fertility festival. He
manipulated and caused that orgy to happen. I hated being
possessed and fucking Kagome in public."
"I found being shifted from world to world, against my will, to
be offensive as well, Inu-yasha." Sesshomaru growls. "Kagome told
me, that the god tree on her side of the well, is the creature
that is powering the well."
Inu-yasha's eyes narrow. "She stopped you from attacking him,
didn't she?"
"Of course."
A pause.
Inu-yasha lowers Tetsusaiga and looks at Sesshomaru. He smirks
and begins to speak in a normal volume. "Big Brother,"
Sesshomaru's eyebrows raise, but his doesn't say a thing.
"Since, if you are correct about Kagome's desires, we will need
to get along, perhaps you and I should take a stroll."
"And talk?" Sesshomaru smiles, showing his fangs.
Inu-yasha smiles back, showing his fangs. "Of course. I'm sure
you'll find the conversation very enjoyable."
"Of course. I enjoy a good conversation."
Both brothers begin to walk, slowly toward the god tree. As they
walk, Sesshomaru begins to tell Inu-yasha about his and Kagome's
travels.
"You do know, that no matter what, I still don't trust you." Inu-
yasha whispers to Sesshomaru.
"And you do know, that no matter what, I am your superior."
Sesshomaru whispers back.
Kirara follows . . .
Since I am evil . . . I'll leave it there.
But, since I'm not that evil, I won't end the chapter . . .
On the other side of the well . . . (continuing from chapter 15)
Miroku's clean and whole hand grabs hers.
His mouth twitches, "I am embarrassed, Sango, I had a wonderful,
romantic speech planned, but, I can't remember a word. So." He
pauses, then . . .
"Higurashi Sango, I Higurashi Miroku, wish to marry you." He
asks, in a low voice. His head is up and he is looking at her.
Sango looks at him in the eyes. Her other hand covers his. "I
accept." She whispers.
"And I approve." Their adopted mother says as she stands up.
Kagome, silently, stands up as well.
"Yeah." Sota squeaks out.
"Yes!" "Great!" "Congratulations!" Kagome's friends yell.
Kagome and her mother rush around the couch and hug Sango and
Miroku.
"I would have thought you would have done it with more romance?"
Kagome whispers to Miroku as they hug each other.
"I wanted to." Miroku whispers back. He looks at Sango, who is
listening, "but, I made a promise that once Naraku was dead, I'd
ask. And, this is the first chance I really had. Also, once your
brother wakes up, you'll be distracted."
Sango nods. "I do appreciate it, Monk. No. Miroku." She whispers.
"Tonight, unless something comes up," their mother whispers, "you
two can use my bedroom."
"Are you sure?" Sango squeaks.
Mrs. H smiles. "I'll be Ok."
"What are you four whispering about?" One of Kagome's friends
calls.
They break the group hug. "Just stuff, Eri." Kagome says as she
and her mother sit back down on the couch.
Miroku, his hand holding Sango's, goes to the chair and he sits
down on it. "I don't like being fondled in public." Sango says as
she looks down at him. He obviously wants her to sit in his lap.
"Up" Sango growls. "You get up, and I'll sit down. And then, you
can sit on my lap."
Miroku looks around the room. ‘She's got a lot of support here,
doesn't she? Her newly adopted mother and sister, who also just
happens to be her best friend. Her best friends three female
friends, and little brother and adopted son.' He sighs and stands
up.
Sango's lips twitch into a quick smile, as she sits down.
Miroku, after another sigh, sits down on Sango's lap.
She, easily, picks him up, and shifts him, so he fits comfortably
on her lap.
"If I was sitting on your lap." Sango whispers into his ear.
"You'd perform outrages on me. I am very tempted, to do the
same." Her hands, still around his waist, move suggestively.
"But, instead, I will set an example of proper behavior for you."
‘Proper behavior,' Miroku thinks, ‘is what? What other people
think is proper? And if that's the case, are they correct or are
they wrong?' He sighs, ‘at least, once things settle down some, I
can teach her about what is the correct behavior. My way.'
"When will you two get married?" Yuka asks.
Sango and Miroku twist to share a glance. "That is hard to say."
Sango begins. "There's my brother. There is Kagome, Inu-yasha and
know Sesshomaru to consider."
"The village has been destroyed, as well." Miroku adds. "We'll be
busy helping them, as well. It could be some months before the
official ceremony."
Sango nods, agreeing with him. She looks at Kagome. "You will do
the honor?"
Kagome smiles. "I'll kill anyone that tries to stop me."
‘It's not traditional for a miko to consecrate the marriage,
but.' Miroku thinks. ‘Like Kagome says, I can't think of anyone
I'd rather have to it.'
‘hmmm.' Shippo thinks. ‘Now that they're out of the way.'
"What about you, Kagome?" Shippo asks. "You were talking about
your adventures."
"And courtship!" Yuka purrs as she continues to fondle Shippo's
tail.
Kagome looks around the room, and instead of looking at Sango and
Miroku, everyone is looking at her.
She sighs. "Courtship, Yuka?" She nods. "Yes, Sesshomaru and I
courted, among other things."
Her mouth twitches, and a far away look appears in her eyes. "I
told him things that I've been wishing to tell Inu-yasha. He told
me things that he's never told anyone, or even wished to tell
anyone."
She turns to look at her mother. "Which is, I suppose, where it started?"
"what started?" her mother asks.
"The conversations that we had." Kagome replies, still with a far
away gleam in her eyes. "I started to open up with him. And,
unlike Inu-yasha, who always pushes me away, he started to open
up to me."
Kagome glances at Miroku and Sango. "Oh, we knew that there was a
physical attraction between us. We even knew that, probably
sooner or later, we'd allow that physical attraction to lead to
sex, but." She pauses.
"But?" Sango asks.
"It was the conversations that we were having that changed
things, Sango." Kagome slowly nods. "Oh, I still might have. No.
I'll be honest." She says as she shakes her head. "We would have
fucked each other. But, without those conversations, all that
fucking would have meant to us was just a momentary pleasuring on
our bodies, nothing else."
"But you talked to each, instead of fighting?" Miroku asks.
Kagome nods. "Oh, there were times when we'd disagree about
things. Sesshomaru firmly believes that killing everyone and
letting the gods sort them out is a good strategy. Whereas I'm
always trying to find a way to avoid death and destruction."
Mrs. H places her hand Kagome's thigh, as they sit on the couch.
"your's is the correct path."
Kagome smiles, "I know. I've even changed his mind enough to
allow me to make an attempt at a peaceful solution." She sighs.
‘But, talking with Sesshomaru is so much more than anything that
Inu-yasha has ever done with me.' Kagome thinks. ‘I've adventured
with inu-yasha. He's saved my life, I've saved his, but, because
he won't talk to me, I think, I know less about him than I do
Sesshomaru.'
"Talking to lord Sesshomaru led to what?" Rin asks from the
floor, as she sits with Sota.
Kagome looks at Rin. ‘How do I say this? Especially to her?' she
thinks.
A long pause as all the adults and teenagers in the room wait to
see how Kagome will handle that question.
"Led lord Sesshomaru and I into making love to each other."
Kagome replies. Her mouth twists into a smile. "I never
understood how Inu-yasha could love Kikyo and I at the same time.
Now, I can. Inu-yasha and Sesshomaru have each captured part of
my heart."
A pause.
"Are you Rin's mother now?" Rin asks.
Another pause.
"I will, if you want me to be." Kagome replies. "And, Rin, that
is will be true no matter what happens between Inu-yasha,
Sesshomaru and myself."
A pause.
Rin stands up and walks to Kagome. Tears begin to form in her
eyes. "Rin . . . doesn't remember her mother."
Kagome gives Shippo to Yuka as she slides off the couch and hugs
Rin. "Cry." She whispers.
Rin hugs Kagome as she cries into Kagome's shoulder.
Kagome, after a couple of minutes, leans back against the couch
as she sits on the floor. She drags Rin's body into her lap and
watches as Rin curls into a ball as she lays on Kagome's stomach.
"No matter what, Rin." Kagome says in a low emotion filled voice.
"No matter what, I'll be here for you."
Time passes as Rin softly cries . . .
Mrs. H bends over and whispers into Kagome's ear. "Will you be
there for everyone?"
"Probably not." Kagome answers back. "But, which is better.
Trying to be there for everyone, and maybe, failing? Or only
being there for yourself?"
Mrs. h reaches down and squeezes Kagome's shoulder. "I am proud
to have as my daughter." She says in a low voice.
Everyone in the room, softly agrees with Mrs. h.
Kagome flicks her eyes to Sango in time to see Sango's nod.
After a short time, Rin stops crying, but she still remains in
Kagome's lap.
"What happened with you and Sesshomaru?" Eri, finally, asks.
"We made love to each other and fell in love with each other."
Kagome replies, speaking in a soft, emotion filled voice.
"Inu-yasha?" Miroku asks in a gentle voice.
Kagome looks at him. "That's the odd thing, Miroku. I always
assumed that if I ever fell in love with someone else, I'd stop
loving Inu-yasha."
She licks her lips. "But, that never happened. If anything, being
away from him, caused my feelings for him to increase." She
shakes her head, "but, it didn't stop my heart from feeling love
and caring for Sesshomaru at the same time."
"So you still love Inu-yasha?" Ayumi asks. "And Sesshomaru, at
the same time?"
Kagome nods.
Various people in the room look at each other, all of them
thinking the same thing. ‘Kagome's got a choice to make and it'll
be a hard one.'
"What are you going to do?" Eri asks.
A pause . . . as nothing happens.
"Kagome?" Her mother says.
Kagome sighs. She glares at Miroku. "I don't want to hear a word
from you, by the way."
"Me?" Miroku asks, very surprised. "My dear sister, except for
Sota, I'm the only male in this room. If I do something that you
don't like, what do you think would happen to me? Especially
since I'm sitting on Sango's lap" he says as he wiggles his ass
into Sango's lap.
"Grr." Sango growls into his ear, as the other females in the
room giggle at Miroku's speech. "You're about to find out."
"Yes, dear." Miroku whispers back.
"You're trying to upset me." Sango hisses.
Miroku smiles, without saying a word.
Kagome looks around the room. She sighs again. ‘How to explain?'
she thinks.
She looks at the floor, so she doesn't have to stare at anyone's
face. "Ayumi, Eri, and Yuka, you three do know that in the past,
it was Ok for a man to have two or more wives, right?"
"Yes." Eri replies.
"And concubines," Yuka replies.
"And probably sex slaves." Ayumi adds.
Most of the people in the room look at Ayumi. Miroku has a weird
gleam in his eye. At least he does until Sango hand squeezes him,
hard.
Kagome, who keeps her eyes on the floor, continues, "well,
Sesshomaru and I were talking, and, he came up with the idea
that."
"Both of them." Sango interrupts. "You want to marry both of them
at the same time!"
Kagome nods, without looking at her friend, or anybody.
Both anyone else can speak . . .
"That's great!" Ayumi calls out. A daydreaming look in her eyes.
"Both of them at the same time!"
At the same time . . .
"That's horrible!" Eri calls out. "You can only love one person
at a time!"
Kagome looks at Eri. "Why? What rule? Does, my heart has to
follow that rule?"
"Why?" Eri replies. "But. But. It just doesn't happen."
"Does that make it wrong?" Kagome asks, "and, if so, why does it
make it wrong?"
"Jealousy and possessiveness." Miroku gently breaks in. "Those
emotions can disrupt a simple relationship between a man and a
woman. With a woman and two men, those emotions becomes even more
powerful and more likely to destroy that relationship."
Kagome looks at Miroku. She nods. "But, those emotions are not
absolute, are they Miroku? Those emotions can be controlled. And,
given the right people, a relationship like that can work."
He nods. "In principal you are correct, Lady Kagome. With the
proper training, those emotions are controllable and such a
three-way relationship can be stable." He raises a hand in a stop
signal. "But."
"But, can Inu-yasha and Sesshomaru control their emotions."
Kagome says as soon as she hears Miroku's ‘but.'
He nods.
Kagome sighs, deeply. "I don't know, Miroku. Sesshomaru and I
have had long talks about jealousy and possessiveness. He's
pretty sure that he can control his."
"Are you sure?" Shippo asks. "What about all those fights over
Tetsusaiga? That doesn't strike me as a man that can share."
Kagome nods at Shippo's question. "We've talked about that, as
well, Shippo." She pauses. "I'm sure that dealing with Tetsusaiga
and Tenseiga will be harder than he thinks."
Her lips twitch. "But, he's promised me that he'll do it. And I
don't think he'll want to disappoint me."
"Sesshomaru?" Shippo squeals. "Are you sure?"
Kagome nods. "I have to trust him and I will."
"Inu-yasha?" Sango asks.
Kagome looks at the ground. "I don't know." She whispers.
A long Silence . . .
"Kagome?" her mother whispers, loudly into the silence.
"I don't know, mom!" Kagome cries out. She pulls Rin close to her
and begins to cry into Rin's shoulder.
Her mother, instantly, slides off the couch and gathers Kagome
and Rin into her arms.
Sango, instantly, picks Miroku up and stands up, places him down,
and moves to Mrs. H and Kagome. She, stops, suddenly her hands
formed into fists. ‘I don't know what to do.' She thinks. ‘There
is no one here to hit.'
Miroku, gestures for Sota to stand next to him, as he stands up.
Sota moves next to Miroku.
Kagome's three friends, who looked at Sango as she moved, all
recoil away from her. The look in Sango's eyes . . . They've
never stared into the eyes of a stone-cold warrior before.
"Mom," Kagome sobs, "I want everything to work out. I want to
live happily ever after, but."
"Everything will fine." Her mother
"Inu-yasha will never agree to this!" Kagome wails. "I know him.
He'll never do it! I've tried to believe it! I want to believe
it! But, it'll never happen." Her voice fades into sobs as she
cries.
"Shush," Mrs. H begins to rock her daughter, as Rin, quietly
slips out between them and stands next to Sango.
"They're fighting." Kagome sobs. "Right now, on the other side of
the well, they are fighting. And only one of them will live. I
know this." She wails. "And the worse part, I don't know who I
want to live . . . "
"Everything will be fine." Kagome's mother whispers. "You'll see.
It will work out in the end."
"How?" Kagome asks. "Inu-yasha is so jealous. He is so possessive
. . . "
"He loves you." Mrs. h states in a no-nonsense tone. "Right?"
Kagome nods, rubbing her head against her mother's shoulder.
"He'll die for you, right?"
"Yes." Kagome whispers.
"You love him."
"Yes."
"You would die for him."
"Yes."
"Then, by all the gods, he'll put your feelings before his own."
Kagome's mother declares. "Otherwise, he's lying to you."
"But, shouldn't I put his feeling before mine?" Kagome asks.
A pause . . . as everyone looks at Kagome's mother, watching
her.
"That, my dear, is for you to decide." Mrs. H whispers. "But,
before you do, think about how your decision will affect the
people you love and care for. And consider, will Inu-yasha, or
Sesshomaru, for that matter, think about how their decisions will
affect others, or do they only care about themselves?"
A pause . . .
"Sesshomaru will consider my opinions." Kagome replies. "He's
shown that and I trust him to continue doing that."
"Inu-yasha?" Mrs. H asks.
"I don't know." Kagome whispers. "There's times when I think he
would, then, there's times when he doesn't care what I think,
he's made a decision and I have no say in it."
"I think, Kagome," Sango says, as she stands next to Kagome.
"Until inu-yasha can show that he will listen to you that you
have to think for yourself."
Kagome looks up at her best friend, tears falling from her
checks. "Are you sure?" she whispers.
Sango nods. "I like Inu-yasha. In combat, I'll trust his
judgments without question. But, outside combat? Especially where
love is concerned?" Sango shakes her head. "I'll trust your
judgment far more than I'll trust his."
Sango kneels down and hugs Kagome's shoulders. "If you say that
you and Sesshomaru are in love, together. I'll believe you and
I'll help you, without question."
Sango's lips twist. "And, if that means, helping you create some
sort of three-way relationship, so be it." She stares into
Kagome's eyes. "I trust you."
"Thank you, Sango." Kagome whispers. Mrs. h lets go of her
daughter, allowing Sango room to kneel next to her.
Sango hugs her best friend, tightly. "You do know that your going
to be in the middle, as those two fight for your affection?" she
whispers.
Kagome sighs, "I know. It won't be pretty, especially at first.
But. I've had a while to think about this, and I've got a plan."
"I hope so." Sango whispers back. "I'll help."
"Thank you."
Mrs. h reaches out and grabs Kagome's shoulder. "Are you all
right, now?"
Kagome looks at her mother and at her best friend. "I'm better,
mom." She sighs, "I just wish that I knew what was happening on
the other side of the well."
"I don't have to hear the rest of your story, right now." Mrs. h
says. "If you wish to go back through the well, without finishing
this, go ahead."
Kagome looks at her mother. Her mother nods.
Kagome looks around the room. After a hurried whispered
conference, all three of her friends nods. (Yuka looks a bit
pissed, but . . . )
Everyone else, nods.
Kagome takes a deep breath and nods. "In that case, I'll leave
right now."
Sango stands up, picking Kagome up in the process. "I'll walk you
to the well." Sango glares at the room, "I'd like to have a
private moment with you." Her glare freezes the room.
"Ok." Kagome says in a shaky voice.
Sango and Kagome leave the house and go to the well house.
"You do know that Inu-yasha will visit geishas, trying to upset
you?" Sango asks.
Kagome sighs. "I can see him doing that."
"And?"
"And, I'll ignore it. They don't matter to him. He'd only be
doing it too upset me."
Sango nods. "You do know that Miroku will try to horn himself
in."
"Inu-yasha's and Sesshomaru's glares should stop that."
Sango nods. "Perhaps, at least for a while." She sighs, "but,
what about this?"
"What?"
"Sooner or later, Inu-yasha will try to come onto me."
Kagome looks at Sango, her eyes wide. "Huh?"
"He'll figure out that his plan with the geisha's isn't working,
so he'll try it with someone that he and you care about."
"You."
Sango nods.
Kagome reaches out and grabs Sango's hands. "I trust you, Sango."
"And?"
"You'll never try to hurt me or hurt him."
Sango smiles. "I'll live up to your trust."
"That went without saying." Kagome smiles.
Her eyes flick to the well. "I really need to leave. I'll feeling
something."
Sango looks at the well. "Hurry back."
Kagome nods and jumps down the well.
On the side of the well . . .
Kagome frowns, instantly, as she appears.
She jumps up and out of the well and looks around.
She turns into the direction of the god tree.
"What did you two do!?" she cries.
She starts to run in that direction . . .
The end chapter 17 . . .
thank you for reading
jeff shelton