InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Is Blind ❯ The Jewel ( Chapter 6 )

Kagome could not help but gape at the sight in the courtyard. Sesshomaru was calmly and efficiently teaching Inuyasha swordsmanship. The two brothers had come to an uneasy truce over the past several days, but never had she believed they would actually begin to behave as though they were, well, family. She returned to her garden where Sango and Miroku were helping her with the children. Shippou was overjoyed at their presence. The two humans had come to be an extension of his family and he had missed them greatly. Sango looked up and laughed at the look on Kagome's face.

"You see, I told you."

"I know, next time I'll believe you. You know I think that is the closest to happy I have seen either of them?"

"You can tell Sesshomaru is happy?"

"Give it a few days, you'll be able to as well."

Sango shrugged. It was her personal opinion that Sesshomaru did not feel anything, that the icy mask he wore had long ago penetrated his soul until there was nothing left but anger and bitterness. Kagome, the unceasing optimist though, was convinced that there beat a heart as pure as her own under his mask. Lessons were cut short by a messenger, warning them to all go to the sanctuary. Kagome nodded. In the distance she could sense Naraku's jewel shard, the last jewel shard.

Sesshomaru stood on the wall beside his brother and waited. The black miasma that marked the presence of the hanyou they both sought slowly approached them. He heard Inuyasha growl softly and silently agreed with the sentiment. His nose was utterly useless against the stinking haze and would probably turn into a hindrance once the battle was joined. Sanji joined them along with Miroku and Sango. Naturally Myouga was no where to be seen. A few minutes later Kagome appeared. She nodded to him.

"How many?"

"One jewel shard, that would be Naraku's, and it's big. I count…over two hundred youkai out there and the wasps are with him."

Sesshomaru nodded. "The miasma, can you dispel it?"

She frowned. "I think so."

He watched as she lifted her right hand, the hand through which she had absorbed the Shikon no tama. A wind sprung up suddenly, pushing at their backs. It scattered the miasma, revealing the army hidden beneath it. Kagome lowered her hand and nodded in satisfaction. Sesshomaru laid a hand on her shoulder.

"Now go join the children."

She shook her head and her defiant blue eyes met his deep golden ones. She could read the worry there, but chose to ignore it. "We already had this conversation. I stay."

Inuyasha stepped closer. "Kagome…"

She turned her smile on him. "I know what I'm doing."

Suddenly the Shikon no tama pulsed within her chest. She lurched forward, the only thing holding her upright was Sesshomaru's grip on her shoulder. She gasped as her hand sought to cover the source of light that radiated from her. Sesshomaru could see tears form in her eyes as she squeezed them shut, trying to block out the pain. He shifted his grip, trying to hold her on her feet as her right hand extended palm out. She looked up at him, panic written into her face.

"What's happening to me?"

"You are finishing the spell. The Shikon no tama is calling to the last of the jewel shards."

Her eyes widened in horror. "No…no…I won't survive it. The taint is too great."

He could see the jewel shard moving toward her. There was nothing he could do to stop the spell or the shard. He watched as it pierced her hand as all the others had. She threw her head back and howled as the light traveled up her arm and came to rest in her chest. The light dimmed then flared, trying to return to its original brilliance. Kagome grew pale and began to collapse. He wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her upright as she fought the taint in Naraku's jewel shard. He could feel her life slipping away, the jewel was consuming her. Something inside him snapped. A single tear slipped down his face and he buried his face in her hair. The jewel could have his life, so long as Kagome remained unharmed. Suddenly the drain stopped. He looked down at the woman in his arms. The light pulsed with a steady and ever brighter light that seemed to surround them both. He gasped as it burned his eyes and squeezed them shut, gathering her closer to him. He felt his own energies slip away, bleed off into the Shikon no tama, but it never tapped his life force. He felt Kagome's life force return, then the jewel went dark and they both collapsed into darkness.