InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part IV): Power of the Purified Shinju ❯ Purifying the Shinju ( Chapter 23 )

Chapter Twenty Three
Purifying the Shinju

Kagome rushed from the shrine. Frightened at what she had been told. She didn't understand what had happened to her and that scared her. She found Sango and Miroku and quickly told them what they had learned about her and the shinju. Miroku nodded knowingly.

"Yes, when you sent your aura into the demoness you must have been able to overtake her power. You obviously had superior abilities. It is possible that using the Tenseiga to revive you when he did, that Sesshoumaru also played a part in what happened." The monk saw the worried look on Kagome's face and stepped towards her resting a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"Kagome, I would be happy to help you learn about your new powers. Do not be frightened by them." She took a deep breath and smiled at him gratefully.

She then gave thought to Sesshoumaru and the shinju. She quickly went to find him. She came upon InuYasha; he was near the shrine digging. Kagome felt tears come to her eyes, when she realized he was digging graves for the villagers. She slowly walked towards him and could feel the pain he was emitting.

"InuYasha..." He turned to look at her and she rushed forward to hug him. The two held each other for a few moments before InuYasha pulled back and looked into her eyes.

"Kagome, do you love Sesshoumaru?" She looked at him blankly not knowing how to answer him.

"I don't know. I care for him very much." He lowered his head. "You're in love with him. As soon as I mentioned his name, your heart began to beat faster and you scent changed." She stood there for a moment wanting to comfort him and not knowing how.

"InuYasha..." He looked up at her and shook his head. "Not now, Kagome. Please."

She waited there silently for a moment and then turned away. She left to find Sesshoumaru and see if they could figure out how to purify the shinju. She found him standing alone in a field just west of the village. She approached him slowly and stood beside him, both watching the setting sun.

"We have stood together like this before, just before you returned my arm to me. We were about to begin your training when you drew my attention to the sun rise." Kagome glanced at him and could see that he was deeply troubled. He continued to stare into the sky as he again began to speak.

"I do not know how to purify the shinju. I can feel myself changing, despite my best efforts to stop it." Kagome studied him as he spoke the words and tried to reassure him.

"It has already begun to purify, though I'm not sure why or how. It's not nearly as blackened as it was before and I don't feel intense hate radiating from it now. The fact that you were not overwhelmed by it this time is a good sign." She said trying to sound positive for her own sake as much as his. He simply continued to stare off into the sky. She sighed and moved towards him, gently taking his hand as she spoke.

"We'll figure it out." He looked down at her and tightened the grip on her hand but said nothing.

The group made camp in the field away from the village that night. Though there were many now vacant huts, they could not bring themselves to stay near the village where so many innocent people had faced their deaths. InuYasha jumped into a nearby tree while the others situated themselves on the ground.

Sesshoumaru sat near a different tree, intent on staying awake. Rin approached him and he allowed her to curl up beside him, her small head resting on his leg. Kagome watched the scene and smiled inwardly.

Shippou and Kohaku slept between Kagome and Sango while Miroku made him self comfortable opposite them, with a look that said he wished that he too could sleep between the women. To Kagome's surprise Kilala cuddled close to Miroku and quickly fell asleep, rather than going to Sango as she always did.

The night was calm and they had no trouble sleeping, however Kagome woke late into the night and sat up. InuYasha was now sleeping in the tree and all of her human companions along with Shippou and Kilala were asleep as well. She glanced at Sesshoumaru and found that he was still awake and appeared to be deep in thought.

Kagome gently got up, making sure she didn't wake Shippou, and slowly walked to Sesshoumaru's side. He looked up at her and then nodded towards his left. She sat beside him and they both sat in silence for several moments.

Kagome felt his hand begin to stroke her hair and she turned to him. He had changed slightly. His demeanor was more formal now, though he had managed to keep himself from becoming cold and impersonal. She smiled lightly and then glanced down at Rin, who looked content being at his side. Kagome's hand found Rin's hair and began to pet it affectionately, like a mother would.

She then leaned into Sesshoumaru. He now had Rin rested on his right leg and Kagome nestled into his chest. He brought his arm around her and watched as she continued to run her fingers through Rin's soft hair.

He found himself oddly pleased with her motherly gestures, for he knew Rin needed such attention. Soon he felt Kagome breathing become more regular and he knew she was again asleep. He studied the features of Rin and Kagome closely, at odds with himself. They were human yet they were the two most important things in his life.

He again gave thought to the shinju. He needed to purify it but he was at a loss. He did not know how to go about doing so. He gazed down at Kagome. Though she probably didn't realize it her powers exceeded his own. The idea that even she couldn't purify it nearly frightened the demon lord.

He heard a rustling from above and looked to the tree where his brother perched. InuYasha was staring down at him with a mixture of envy and longing. Sesshoumaru glanced down at Kagome again and realized just how badly his brother wanted her. He remembered the way InuYasha had reacted at his castle when he had learned that Kagome was with Naraku and knew that he cared for her deeply.

Momentarily, his instincts showed themselves. He felt a low growl rising in his chest knowing that his brother wanted Kagome as his own. He then regained his poise and gave it rational thought. Though he detested most qualities of the half-demon, he acknowledged that InuYasha had dedicated himself to protecting Kagome and would never attempt to harm her. For a fleeting second, Sesshoumaru pitied his younger brother. For he knew that he did love her and would never have her.

Come first light they were all up again. Sesshoumaru had drifted into sleep briefly. He awoke to find Kagome sitting upwards with her back resting against him. She was still asleep and had Rin in her lap. Her arms were tightly wrapped around the little girl and Rin was hugging tightly to her. His heart lightened immediately at the sight. Shortly after, the rest of them awoke and they began to gather their things.

They prepared to head back to Kaede's village when Miroku suggested they first go back to the village where Toshi lived and offer their prayers and blessing for the villagers. InuYasha had been digging for hours the previous day and was determined to come back later and finish so that they could lay the villagers to rest.

As they got closer Kagome felt a very light pulse from the Shikon Jewel she had around her neck. It was nearly complete, only requiring a few more shards. She stopped and looked at it. It was glowing slightly, and then she felt it pulse again. She looked around, noting that she felt a second pulse. She looked to Sesshoumaru and quickly recognized the call of the shinju. Both gems were pulsing simultaneously and were growing stronger.

No one else seemed to notice, except Sesshoumaru. He glanced at Kagome briefly and pulled the shinju out to look at it. It was still a dark gray color but was glowing slightly as well. He looked confused as though her were hearing something but couldn't understand.

Suddenly Kagome felt a very strong pulse that she didn't recognize. She glanced around and focused again on Sesshoumaru. He appeared to recognize it quite well. He gazed across the lands and looked towards the village where so many were dead. For the first time he acknowledged that these were his lands. Those were his people that had been killed. He looked down at the hilt of his Tenseiga...it was calling to him.

The others had now stopped and were watching the two of them. Kagome held the shikon jewel to her as she stared at Sesshoumaru. Suddenly, with almost lightening speed he pulled his Tenseiga. Kagome quickly realized that the third pulse had been the sword. She gasped when he unsheathed it.

It was no longer a mere sword, but a large fang matching the Tetsusaiga. It held a beautiful white aura around it, unlike any Kagome had ever seen. Sesshoumaru raised the sword up and brought it down hard, the same way InuYasha used the Wind Scar. The result, however, was very different. There was a brilliant white flash followed by a massive shock wave. They felt it move through them and travel across the lands. The energy that it radiated was invigorating. Sesshoumaru stood in front of them unmoving for several moments and finally sheathed the sword.

The Tenseiga's had finally taken its proper place as the Tetsusaiga's twin, having had it's ultimate power of life and healing revealed by Sesshoumaru's desire to save human life. Sesshoumaru, himself, had finally taken his place as protector of his lands as he was meant to. The powers that the sword held appeared to be magnified greatly by the Shinju and Shikon Jewel.

Everyone stood stunned at the beauty and power they had just witnessed. It wasn't until Shippou yelped that they turned to see InuYasha. Gone were his puppy ears, and in their place were proud demon ears just like his brothers. He held beautiful red markings on his face. His hair seemed to be silkier and he now resembled Sesshoumaru more than he ever had in his life.

Kagome turned back to Sesshoumaru and noted the soft look on his face. He opened his palm to reveal shinju radiating its pure beauty. The realization dawned on her; the shinju held his soul. To purify the gem Sesshoumaru's soul had to possess humanity.

She looked back at InuYasha. Apparently the purified shinju would allow him to finally become the one thing he had always wanted to be, a full demon.