InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Secrets of the Shinju (Part IV): Power of the Purified Shinju ❯ Forgiveness ( Chapter 27 )

Chapter Twenty Six

Forgiveness

That evening most of the villagers came to the group and offered their thanks. Many bringing along food and other gifts to show their appreciation. Toshi had addressed most of the villagers and told them what had transpired. The people were truly awed to discover that a demon had saved them. Kagome stayed by Sesshoumaru's side as one by one the villagers approached him and offered their gratitude.

Kagome smiled as he interacted with them. He still had a somewhat haughty air about him, but he was kind to them. He kept glancing at her and she knew he wanted to be alone again. That evening they were escorted to the local inn and were all given rooms. Kagome put Shippou and Rin into the room next to her and turned to find Kohaku waiting for her. Almost as soon as she turned, he was in her arms. She held him for a moment and then glanced down at him. He smiled but had tears in his eyes and she quickly pulled him back to her.

Finally he uttered a thank you and went to his own room. She felt sorry for him and decided she would take some time to speak with him before she went back to the well. She felt a strong bond with him now and could feel the turmoil he was in. Kohaku still couldn't forget what he had done to his father or his time with Naraku.

Kagome sighed heavily, for she too, couldn't forget her time with him. She then thought about Naraku himself. When he had left her with Sesshoumaru, he was no longer the monster that had tortured her. He had been devastated and a mere shell of the man he once was. Pity crept into her soul as she thought about the tragic life of Onigumo. She wondered what he had done after they left the castle.

She pushed the thoughts away when Sesshoumaru stepped out of his room and looked towards her. She could tell instantly that he needed her. She went to him and allowed him to take her into his room. He immediately brought his lips to hers but didn't seek out anything more. He then asked her to sleep in his bed and she agreed. Soon Kagome was tightly in Sesshoumaru's embrace trying to sleep. He had quickly fallen into sleep and she realized that he was exhausted. However, she had slept a good portion of the day and now found herself wide awake.

Her thoughts again wondered to Naraku. Not knowing what had become of him was bothering her, though she didn't know why. She closed her eyes and began focusing her powers. They were still fighting her. She didn't yet know how to use her own powers without them trying to fight the demon and sorceress blood that was now running through her veins. She sighed and forced herself to relax completely.

She then closed her eyes again and finally her spirit began to roam free. There was no dark world for her now. She gave thought to this and realized that it is possible she only had her darkened world as a means of escape. Now that she was no longer in danger, it wasn't there. She focused her energy and finally found the all too familiar presence of Naraku, still alive. This fact was both bitter and sweet at the same time.

He was still at the castle where she had left him. The familiar surroundings made her uneasy at first, as memories began to flood her mind. She then found him sitting in a small study. He had been reading scrolls but was now sitting, watching the door. They stared at one another for a moment. Kagome's heart rate rose at the very sight of him. Despite what she knew, seeing him still frightened her. He apparently sensed this right away and was washed with guilt.

"Why have you come here?" He asked in a quiet voice. She continued to stare at him, not sure of the answer herself. He stood slowly and walked towards her. Kagome fought her urge to back away from him, though her legs were beginning to feel weak.

"Priestess, I have only one request of you. Remove the spell you have placed on me." She was startled by his words and realized the reason for his asking. Her spell had protected him from his own attempt to end his life. She could feel it in his aura. She felt his intense pain and realized that he very much desired his death. Part of her wanted to give him what he wanted, but she knew that it would be impossible to release the spell. The purity of her priestess soul would not allow the spell to be lifted as long as his intentions were to bring himself harm.

"I can't lift the spell. You want to harm yourself. As long as that is your intention, the spell will remain intact. I have no choice in the matter." The idea that she was again bound to him in any way made her feel queasy. He lowered his head and turned back to the chair.

"Am I damned to walk this earth forever?" He asked in an emotionless voice. She stared down at him. Pain and sadness were radiating off of him. She stepped towards him and then touched his arm.

"I can make you forget. I can't allow you to end your life, but I can take away the painful memories." He stared up at her for a moment, weighing her words.

"What would I remember?" She thought about it and smiled.

"You would remember your life with your family. You will still have to grieve their loss, but you won't know that they died by your hands. Nor will you remember any of your later life as a thief or your time as Naraku." He sat there contemplating her words and then looked away.

"Why did you come to me? You should hate me, priestess, not pity me." She continued to stare down at him, knowing that he indeed spoke the truth.

"Come with me." She said to him softly. He looked up at her and finally stood again. She placed her hand on his shoulder and the castle disappeared. The two of them were now standing in a grassy clearing. It was mid-day, and the sky a beautiful shade of blue. The sun was shining brightly; lighting up the world around them making the green of the grass and trees stand out vibrantly. However, neither of them noticed the scenery. Both stood staring at the four graves in front of them. After several moments she spoke to him.

"They're at peace now. What happened was not your fault and it's time you moved on."

The words she spoke seemed to come from deep within and not from Kagome herself. He knelt by Akako's grave and hung his head, before asking her and his children to forgive him. Kagome stood silently allowing him to find some closure and hopefully peace. After several moments he stood and faced Kagome, tears shining in his eyes. Neither spoke for a moment only stared at the other. Painful memories danced through both of their minds and Kagome acknowledged that she would always be bound to him. Finally, Kagome found her voice though it was strained from the tears that were now threatening to overtake her.

"I know you said that you don't deserve my forgiveness and maybe I'm saying this more for myself than for you. But I forgive you for what you did." She then reached out to him and closed her eyes. Horrid images and memories began to flood into her causing her to wince but she didn't break contact with him. Soon she opened her eyes and could see that he held no recognition of her. His aura too had changed. Kagome had purified the demon blood that ran through his veins. He now stood in front of her as a mortal…as Onigumo.

The pain he had been feeling was diminished and he now remembered nothing of his life once Hitomi had come into it. He glanced down at the graves and looked back to her. She smiled at him slightly.

"They're resting peacefully now." She said and then woke them both. Kagome felt a tear move down her cheek and she buried her face into Sesshoumaru's chest. He woke and began stroking her hair trying to comfort her, though he didn't know why she needed comforting.