InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Third Rate Romance ❯ Aftermath - Current Era - Part 1 ( Chapter 7 )

Third Rate Romance
Reba Jean 12/19/03
Email to: rebajean@writing.com
Category: Parody/Humor/Romance
Rating: R/NC

Disclaimer: Characters based on "Inuyasha" copyright 1997 by Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan, Inc.

Aftermath - Current Era - Part 1

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To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
A time to be born,
And a time to die;
A time to kill,
And a time to heal;
A time to weep,
And a time to laugh;
A time to love,
And a time to hate;
A time of war,
And a time of peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-4,8)

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-- Weblog - 200x.5.12 -- Travels of the Taiyoukai --

Reflections on the Past

'Naraku's minions were vanquished. He and his daughters were all that remained on the field. My own crack troops lay decimated as well. The monk and exterminator were grievously wounded and sidelined. My half brother staggered to his feet bleeding from half a dozen wounds, any one of which would have proved fatal to a human. His undead bitch retained but two arrows. My Kagome was caught up in a trance, attempting to purify and reform the Shikon no Tama from a distance. The fate of the battle thus rested on my shoulders alone.'

Kagome peered over Sesshoumaru's shoulder as he typed on his laptop. "Sess-chan, I thought you were going to tell the story of what 'really' happened at the last battle with Naruku. You're bragging as badly as Inuyasha."

"This Sesshoumaru does not brag, but merely states fact. There is a difference. That idiot hanyou suffers from delusions of grandeur. He was overcome by wounds and already dead before the end. I was there throughout and in full possession of all my faculties, unlike someone off in a mystical trance," Sesshoumaru sniped back. "Do you wish me to write the story or shall you continue to malign my creative genius."

"I was joking, O Great Sesshoumaru-sama," Kagome answered. "You take everything so seriously."

"It is my nature to do so," Sesshoumaru replied stiffly, somewhat insulted by the comparison with his brother.

"Still the proud, arrogant, prickly taiyoukai I mated all those years ago," Kagome commented fondly.

"But of course," Sesshoumaru agreed.

Kagome sighed and began stroking the tail curled over his shoulder. "Ah," Sesshoumaru murmured. Stretching lazily, rotating his shoulders, finally leaning his head back against Kagome, his eyes closed. "Now if this headache would just go away."

"I can fix that," Kagome commented as she began to massage his shoulders, neck, and temples, a light pink glow surrounding her fingers.

"Much better," he sighed. "I should finish this entry on the battle."

'Surrounding Naraku, we were deployed at the cardinal points with Kikyo to the north, Inuyasha in the east, Kagome to the south, and myself to the west. Combined Tetsusaiga and Toukijin sword attacks were immediately followed with purification attacks from Kikyo's arrows and Kagome's jewel. Unconsciously, apparently at the sword's prompting, I drew Tenseiga. The sword was alive with more power than I had ever experienced. In a sweeping arc, I cast the barrier against the backlash from Naraku's destruction. Naraku's entire cadre was purified; even the mountains of youkai remains disappeared. As an unexpected side effect, the sweeping wave of power from Tenseiga revived my troops. Kikyo, outside the arc, was blasted by the explosive force decimating Naraku, and dashed against the cliffs where she had perched. Inuyasha was protected from the blast by the fringes of Tenseiga's sweep, but fell where he stood from his mortal wounds. The barrier held fast and my Kagome was unharmed. Kagome staggered, about to fall, and I caught her before she hit the ground. I carried her to where Inuyasha lay.

Remarkably he still barely clung to life. Struggling to speak, he whispered, "I'm sorry, Kagome," as he breathed his last.

Rivers of tears drenched her face as she regarded the battle's aftermath. She closed her eyes and a faint glow surrounded her for a few moments. The aura faded, her eyes opened and her expression was resolute as she asked, "Please revive them, Inuyasha and Kikyo both."

"Would it not be better to allow them to rest. They are finally at peace," I questioned.

"Not so," Kagome countered. "They have left too much unfinished. Their karmic ties will doom them to repeat their tragic errors over many lifetimes until they resolve their tangled relationship."

"I thought Kikyo claimed that you were her reincarnation. How can you both be truly alive at the same time?" I had to ask.

"I learned that it is not so, when I was caught in the Shikon no Tama's trance. My life force is now entwined with the jewel force. Kikyo, Midoriko, and myself are all unique individuals who form a part of the same oversoul. As I have learned to control its use somewhat, I am now the physical guardian of the jewel for as long as I live. That life will also be as ageless and long lasting as the life you youkai endure," Kagome spoke solemnly in a tone most unlike her usual cheerful one.

Kagome told me later that a smile of wonder, such as she had never before seen from me, lit my face. I would not lose my Kagome after only the few short years of a human's life.

"Kikyo and I can't remain in the same time period for very long without affecting the power balance, until this 'past' time converges with my 'future' time," she continued with a look of despair.

"I must return to my own time after she is revived," she cried, throwing herself against me to weep into my fur. I murmured soothing nonsense sounds; she was the most distraught I could ever recall.

"We will be separated. Unless, you come with me," she looked up at me hopefully, through her tears.

The pain in her eyes was reflected in my own. "My time and place is here," I answered regretfully, but sure in the knowledge that it must be so.

Knowing her reaction was likely to be extreme, I none the less commanded her, "Let the dead remain so. You are my mate; your place is to stay here with me. I forbid you to leave." After experiencing even the short time we had together, I could not imagine facing the long centuries apart.'

-- pause -- journal entry --