Ok ... wow ... there is just so much to say.  I've been reading this for hours.  Straight through.  First, I thought it was an incredibly unique approach to the whole Sesshoumaru/Kagome pairing.  Not many people come up with such an original plot, and it was so beautifully written!  Rin's death ... it was very touching.  Realistic and portrayed with taste.  I could feel Inuyasha's horror at what he'd done.  Sesshoumaru's rage.  It was just perfect.

I also loved how you showed Sesshoumaru's pain.  Very in character.  Him talking about burrying her because he doesn't want to see her rot, because he wants to have only good memories of her, that was just sad.  I also like that he struck out at Kagome.  He knew it was wrong to do, but he didn't feel bad about it.  He was hurting, she spoke about Rin (when he felt she had no right to), and he struck out at her.  "It was Intentional"  I just loved that line.  I really felt for Sesshoumaru, and when you described Kagome lying awake at night, seeing Sesshoumaru in pain, and allowing him his nights to grieve, that was just great.

What I liked most about this story is you really addressed the relationship between Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha.  Not many authors do that, and you really brought them full circle in a very imaginative way.  I love how you had them fighting, striking out at eachother and talking about how each of them felt hurt by the other.  That was such a perfect way for them to hash out their problems, and you using Kagome's miscarriage to get Sesshoumaru to finally realize he had to grow up was sheer brillance!

The two points that really hit me the most with this story was Inuyasha's death and Sesshoumaru's going to hell to save him.  "Thank you, my brother."  I actually teared up there.  Really.  Inuyasha using his father's sword, the sword he fought his brother with and for, the sword that he had struck down Rin with (accidentally), and the sword that ultimately cost him Kagome, was how he atoned for Rin's death.  How he made the ultimate sacrifice.  He used his father's legacy to heal the hurt between him and his brother.  There is just so much hidden meaning there I could go on and on.  I loved that scene!  And then Sesshoumaru's striped arm, the arm his brother had severed, reaching through the barrier to pull him out?  Wow!  That was just poetic.  Like I said, those two scenes really got me.

I also like how you brought up Rin's mortality.  Having Sesshoumaru tell Sun (talk about hidden meaning!  Rin hating the dark and her mate being named Sun?) that he couldn't give Rin long life, but he could give her a happy one was just wonderful.  I like that you didn't write some way for her to live forever.  I like that you kept her human.

As for the ending?  I know in chat some people said that they weren't happy with the ending, and you yourself mentioned others took issue with it, but I loved it!  Again, it was very original and creative.  I thought it was a wonderful end to a wonderful tale.

Thanks for the good read.  I didn't get any of my other stories updated tonight like I had wanted to, but I don't even care.  The story was much more enjoyable!

Sincerely,

Texanlady

P.S.  I loved Sesshoumaru thinking "Just Because" when he was remembering Rin and why he cared about her.  That was very simple, but so true.

A truly poignant ending Miss K, i read it all at once and enjoyed every minute of it, it was beautiful and the epilogue focusing on Inu as truly haunting. Thanks for the read

O.o awesome story.... but the ending threw me for a real loop, i got teary eyed... it was so sad :( great job though!!!

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Well I spent the day reading this, waiting for Nat to give me the number, and so I must say it was a great story to read first and most of all. I think I can see why the fangirls got upset, and yet, at the same time -- I can't understand why, because I really see what you meant before, about the way the story evolved. It really was set up for it.

It had everything all together in one bundle and yet when I think back about the almost yearning feel all throughout, this ending makes incredible sense. It's really a great tie in. I know you talk about coming back and fixing it later, but really I think it stands alone very well. I can't say I expected it to end the way that it did, but once I read the ending, I felt the poignancy in Inuyasha's emotions. It really turns the Inuyasha world upside down, and you know -- I've often wondered if Inuyasha was able to think about things while pinned to that tree for 50 something odd years. This was a really a wonderful take on it, even with the ending not being ... happy. In real life, there isn't always a happy ending -- but it is human to hope. I can truly see why you take pride in this story. It really is amazing. Arigato for the hard work.

"When all was said and done, he had become greater than even he had imagined. If he looked over his shoulder, however, all he could see was the trail of bodies that had made the difference between 'strong,' and 'unforgettable.'"

Epic right there. That is a very well put together train of thought, and emotion. The question of the quest for power and what is wrought by it. Your writing is also smoothing out very nicely. Initially in the first chapter, it was more explaination and was a little disjointed, but I can see that here you are beginning to really get into your element.

Abi is a really, well rounded OC. And a very nice addition so far. A tainted past, a hard shell and sharply intelligent. Very nicely put together.

Kagome was sure the phrase still haunted Kikyou. It was a concept; an ideal that so many women simply took for granted. She was sure some of them dreamed of being something more, but from that point on, Kagome began to understand Kikyou's want for something less.

I like how you look at characters introspectively. I don't know who you like or dislike, but I enjoy the well-roundedness of thought. The end of the chapter was a bit unexpected, but that's what makes stories like this great to read.

"He was a warrior, a killer, and at times a monster of epic proportions. He wanted greatness, but at the end of the day, he needed something else to soften the edges of his abrasive personality."

This is another really nice insight. Often Sess/Kag fics have way too much fangirling over Sesshomaru, which in my opinion ruins the story, whereas here, you keep plenty of realism. The characters are who they are. Ahh Rumiko could have really had something really romantic going in Inuyasha if she had only kept Kikyo dead in the plot. Oh well, that's neither here nor there. I am still noticing that each chapter, though connected, do have a little disjointed feel. I think it's really neat how you pull the threads together that way. You mentioned people being upset with whatever ending you chose, but you make it really obvious to those who look -- that you aren't going for a typical plot. It's really well done so far. Plus the dose of realism in the emotions and thoughts are nicely put together. I also am noticing that, Kagome's thoughts sometimes aren't really feminine, but fairly blunt in an almost masculine outlook and way. So I'm really curious as to how you have everything plotted to come together.

Unexpected and fast here. The emotions between them were a bit disjointed and unconnected, to lead to lead to this point. But I'm noticing that you tend to contain the chapters, to a certain extent, and I am uncertain about how much time has passed between then. It feels like a storybook in a sense. I can read, and see it all happening, and yet I feel no connections. I am still uncertain if this was intended or not. Either way, very clean chapter.

You give lots of attention to character emotion and detail. This story feels more emotionally driven, than plot driven. At this point at least. It's a very interesting set up thus far, I really like how you bring the emotional ties of everyone together. I think people often forget about Kagome's family, and have her all happy to go off with Sesshomaru to have babies, when that's not the reality. She would miss her parents and whatnot. Very clean too. I don't think I've seen much of anything out of place, if at all.

"Sesshoumaru wondered what it was in mortal women that made them so capable of suffering to 'help' someone else."

I found this really profound and deep. I love reading stories, that truly are the epitome of fantasy and yet, it's amazing to see it brought down to earth, in a sense -- a piece of real life here. It's rendered very beautifully. It's not so much whether I find this a true statement or not, it's just a profound thought for Sesshomaru. I like how you tied that together.

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WOW! Congratulations on the great work you have here Miss K! Definitely one of the best stories I've read. EVER! It has such depth that it just sucks you in like a vacuum! It made me laugh and tear many times too : ) Hope I'll get to read more of your stories soon. Keep up the good work!