InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Enigma of Power ❯ Ceremony ( Chapter 18 )

Sesshomaru held Shippou and Rin in his arms. He knew what was about to happen would terrify the children. Twenty of the men stood in a circle. Kagome stood in the darkened circle. All around the camp the fires had been extinguished. The only light came from the strange lights above them that were like stars, but not. He was tempted to send the children away. Khalil was chanting softly, his hands raised to the skies. At last he dropped them. The men in the circle rushed Kagome, twisting her arms up behind her back, lifting her feet from the ground. She was raised over their heads, her face toward the heavens. Once, twice, three times they raised and lowered her. Then she was laid on the sands, her hands and feet held by the men.

Khalil approached a cruelly curved dagger in his hands. The children whimpered and Sesshomaru forced their faces away. They did not have to see this. With the dagger, Khalil cut away her clothes. On the flat of her stomach he slowly began to carve. Kagome was biting her lip, trying to remain silent, though her body jumped and twitched in pain. At last he stepped back. She was lifted once more by the men. Then Khalil spoke.

"The blood of the pure to mark the trail, the fire to light the way. Bathe the Wise One so that she might see."

She was carried to a great wooden pyre and tied to the top. Sesshomaru could see her struggling. They had not instructed him in his ceremony and he knew they had not instructed her. The pyre was lit and he heard her scream as the flames rose to consume her. Orange flames lit the night and licked at her body. He watched her back arch as pain shot through her. Suddenly the fire changed. The flames became white, rising so high as to obscure her from view, then just as suddenly they went out. Kagome stood where the pyre had been only a moment before. There were no wounds on her stomach, no burns on her body. One of the men draped a robe over her shoulders as Khalil spoke.

"A Wise One is born. The world shall rejoice in her coming."

With these words, Sesshomaru released the children. They ran to her and she fell to her knees to sweep them up in her embrace. Sesshomaru fell to his knees in front of her, his forehead pressed into the sand.

"Forgive me, I could not tell you."

"Sessho…I forgive you."

He looked up, never expecting to hear those words from her. Gently he gathered all three of them in his arms. He closed his eyes and rested his face in her hair.

"Let's go home."