“Where did he go?” Kagome mumbled.
Unease filled her stomach as she walked through the village, looking for him. When she had returned to stay after completing high school, her and Inuyasha became an official couple. Nothing held them back anymore, except 6 months into their relationship, a woman had shown up in the village. She was a cousin to Kaede and had come for a visit. Kiyoko’s resemblance to Kikyo shocked everyone, especially her and Inuyasha. It was shortly after that, that things changed between the couple.
Inuyasha became more distant over time, leaving Kagome feeling alone and a bit neglected. He was often disappearing and there were rumours in the village about how he was spotted on several different occasions making out with Kiyoko. As much as she didn’t want to listen, Kagome knew deep down, there had to be some truth. Still, she tried to make it work with the hanyou. She played deaf to the rumours and naïve to his disappearances, all to keep the peace…no, it wasn’t to keep the peace. It was to hold out the hope that everyone was wrong and that she was the only one in his eyes.
Giving up finding him in the village, Kagome took the dreaded walk into the forest. It didn’t take long before she could hear a woman panting and a man’s groans. Not just any man. She knew that voice as her feet seemed to move on their own towards the voices. She felt dizzy as she approached the clearing where she saw her beloved hanyou coupling with Kiyoko. Her heart ached so much she gripped her chest in hopes it would ease the pain as she was forced to see her fears confirmed. The sight of them rutting became blurred by her tears as she quickly turned and left. The rumours were true. Inuyasha was cheating on her. A sobbed escaped her throat as she began running blindly through the trees so she could return to the village. She knew Sango and Miroku would be on her side and she needed their support right now. Hitting something hard, she let out a squeal as she fell backwards.
“What a pretty thing”.
Kagome looked up to see a green oni standing in front of her and gasped as she realized she hadn’t been running towards the village, but further away “leave me be, please”.
His yellow eyes stared at her lustfully “now how can I leave a pretty thing like you all alone” he chuckled, “someone has broken your heart, allow me to take their place. I’ll take good care of you”.
Her eyes widened as she watched him grip his swelling cock from under his cloth while he licked his lips “I don’t want you” she stated as she began slowly backing away, tensing when she felt a tree behind her “please leave me alone”.
He sniffed the air “such a pure scent. You are untouched” he grinned, “I will make you mine”.
Kagome glanced around for something she could use and found a branch. She silently thanked Kaede for teaching her how to transfer her powers to other items other than her arrows. Charging the branch with purification, she waited till he oni was practically hovering over her and then, without hesitation, drove the branch into his chest. As he wailed in pain, she took off running without a glance back. As much as Inuyasha had betrayed her, she hoped if she got close enough to scream for help, he’d come save her. However, luck was not on her side. She cried out as as her hair was grabbed and she was yanked backwards.
“You’re a Miko!” The oni snarled as he towered over her while blood dropped from his wounds onto her “I hate mikos!” He crouched down, “the only good Miko is a dead one!”
She let out a cry as his fist connected with her face. A gasp as other punch got her in the ribs. The pain was severe and she knew he had broken at least one rib, possibly her cheek bone too. The punches continued until she couldn’t even make a sound and she knew she was going to die. No one would save her and if they did, she was sure she had internal bleeding and with no advanced medical treatment, she was dead. Her hearing was muffled due to her hearing going from one punch to the side of the head, but she heard someone scream her name and the beating stopped. She found she was able to still open one eye and saw the blurred, panicked face of Rin.
The child had been staying in the village since the defeat of Naraku. Kaede had told Sesshomaru it would be good for the child to learn human ways and then when she was older, she could make the choice to live with humans or live with Youkai. The Taiyoukai hadn’t argued and managed to make Rin understand the importance of the choice, but he made monthly visits.
“Sesshomaru Sama!” Rin cried as she knelt down in front of the woman, “Kagome needs help, immediately”
“There’s no use child, her wounds are too great, it’s too late for her” a female responded as she emerged from behind the western lord. Her golden eyes stared at the dying woman with sympathy. Long black hair flowed down, nearly touching the ground as she wore a red hime style kimono with gold trim. On her face were a single red stripe on each cheek and red eye shadow on her eyes.
The child sniffled as she stared at the female inu. Unlike her lord, who was a white haired inu, this woman was black haired. A special kind of black inu that her lord had introduced her to a few nights ago that was visiting him and his mother. A hellhound that could walk on earth. Lady Katsumi would know better than anyone if someone could be saved or not. Rin looked at the Miko. Her breathing was laboured and even if she managed to live it was clear she would be disfigured from the beating. The child choked back a sob that she was going to lose a woman who she felt was like a second mother to her “she’s going to die?”
Katsumi nodded “I’m afraid so child” hearing a twig snap she looked behind her to see her mate, Kazuhiko, and son, Kitaro, approaching.
Kazuhiko had similar facial features to Sesshomaru’s father. He had a jagged red stripe on each cheek and his hair tied up, making it fall just past his shoulders. His clothing was red and trimmed with gold along the edges, his armour, similar to the taiyoukai’s style, was black. Kitaro was 5 with short black hair, his shirt and pants black while his coat was red, everything trimmed in gold, no markings on his face. Both had gold eyes as was the great inu trait.
“Kagome, I’ll go get Inuyasha” Rin declared as she began to move towards the village. She hoped she could reach the hanyou in time for him to say goodbye to her, but she wondered why the Miko was so deep in the forest. She stopped when she heard the woman speak.
“No” Kagome managed to get out and wheezed as she tried to breathe “b-betrayed m-m-me….not s-spec…ial” she gasped as pain ripped through her whole body.
Sesshomaru stepped closer to the dying woman, “he is the reason you are so far from the village, what was he doing to make you go so far?”
“K-Kiyoko” she answered and then coughed, groaning as more pain riddled her body. It was getting harder to breath and she was starting to feel cold.
“He two-timed Kagome again!” Rin shouted in anger, “he’s horrible! Kagome doesn’t deserve this!” She cried. She looked at her lord “can you use tenseiga to bring her back?”
Kagome coughed and shook her head, “no, d-don’t”.
The child sobbed as she knelt down and took the miko’s hand, “but you can’t die. What about Shippo?”
“H-he’ll be f-fine” she assured, struggling to stay conscious “t-trav-vels…w-with other f-foxes now”.
Katsumi eyed the western lord, noticing that while he was silent, his eyes never left the dying Miko. It was clear to her by how he had run ahead of them to save her, he held affection for the female, but she also knew why he had not taken her. The woman was human. She turned to her husband and their eyes connected, smiling when he gave a nod of his head. She moved to kneel down next to the upset child and placed a hand on the woman’s forehead “you have a large soul from being reincarnated so many times and in each life you’ve had hardships and heart break. It’s been a continuous loop for you in every life and will be the same in your next life”.
Kagome glanced at the woman as a tear managed to fall. She was cold and she was tired. Was this woman right? Was she doomed in every life to have a failed relationship, to deal with such heartbreak over and over again. If that was the case, she did not want to be reincarnated.
“You are so strong and generous” the inu continued, “but everyone has a breaking point and I believe you’ve reached yours” the Miko gave a small nod and it was clear she was starting to fade “do you want to change your fate?”
“H-how?” She asked, tiredly.
“Be reborn as a youkai instead of a human” Katsumi answered “my son was human, same as you, I found him dying and took his soul. I carried him in my womb, gave birth to him and I can do the same for you. You’ll have no memories of your past life until you reach the age you died, an unfortunate must when being reborn as a hellhound, but you’ll be free of your heart breaking loop”.
Kagome was silent, “n-no o-one…w-w…wants me f-for me. A-al-w-ways…s-second p-place”.
Kazuhiko placed a hand on the silver inu’s shoulder, “tell her what she needs to hear”
The only sign the Taiyoukai heard the black inu was him approaching and kneeling down next the Miko, opposite of Rin. He took her other hand, noticing how cold it was and how she didn’t react to him holding it. Leaning over he quietly spoke in her ear, noticing the way she turned her head to look in his direction, but also noticing that she wasn’t focusing on him. Her breathing was slowing and he could hear her heart beat becoming quiet. Her time was almost out “what is your choice?” he asked after he had said his peace.
“T-true?” She asked and saw him nod “…ok”
Katsumi immediately summoned a soul stealer to her side as she gave Rin a compassionate smile “her body is done now. Let her know it’s okay to go”
Rin nodded and turned to the Miko “goodbye Kagome, I’ll miss you, but I know I’ll see you again soon and you’ll have a better life. One you deserve to have”
A smile appeared on Kagome’s face as her heart stopped beating and the final breath left her body. The soul stealer immediately hovered over the woman as her soul began to leave her body and grabbed the soul before it could pass on. Kazuhiko then helped his mate stand up and looked at the Taiyoukai “we will leave Kitaro in your care for awhile”.
Rin watched them leave, confused and worried “what’s going on? What are they going to do with Kagome’s soul?”
“Hellhounds are different from usual Youkai” Sesshomaru explained “the ones in hell can’t bare pups, but earth bound ones can. However, they need souls for their pups or they are born dead. Right now they are going somewhere private to breed and make a body to place the miko’s soul into” he then picked up the miko’s body as he stood and began walking to the village “come, we will bring her body to her village so she can be mourned”.
Rin said nothing, but took Kitaro’s hand and followed her lord back to the village. Many villagers stopped what they were doing as they entered, many noticing the miko’s limp and damaged body. The commotion alerted Kaede, Sango and Miroku to come out of the hut to see what was going on.
“Oh no!” Sango cried as she ran over the the Taiyoukai “Kagome!”
Miroku approached with more caution, noticing the new face with Sesshomaru and Rin “is she alright?” He asked concerned “what happened?”
Rin shook her head, her eyes tearing up again “an oni attacked her, Sesshomaru Sama killed the oni, but the damage was done and she died from her injuries”
Kaede let her tears fall “come, bring her into the hut” she looked to some of the villagers “we will have a gathering tonight so everyone can say their farewells to the woman who helped destroy Naraku. Can you please help get things ready?” At their nod she followed some into the hut so they could get things ready.
“Hey why do I smell Kagome’s blood?” Came the voice of Inuyasha as he walked casually into the village, Kiyoko by his side. He was slightly concerned by the amount of blood he could smell and he wondered what she did.
Sango saw this and knew immediately what must have happened “you two timer!” She screamed as she approached him and slapped him with all her strength “you betrayed her again!” She sobbed.
Inuyasha’s eyes widened as he then looked around. He noticed the mood of the villagers seemed down, some were even crying. He saw his brother and the blood on his clothes while Rin was crying beside him, holding the hand of some kid “where’s Kagome?” He asked quietly, dreading the answer.
“She’s in the hut with Kaede and a few villagers” Sesshomaru answered.
The hanyou gave a nod and entered Kaede’s hut, not paying any attention to Kiyoko, who stayed quiet and out of the way. His heart stopped when he saw the Miko. She was lifeless as Kaede was working to clean the blood off of her bruised and swollen face. The smell of death was spreading out in the hut, becoming almost too much for him to take. He could tell she had been beaten to death and he quickly exited the hut to stop before his brother “use your sword, bring her back”
“No”.
Inuyasha snarled and yelled, “why the hell not?”
“Because she didn’t want him to” Rin answered, glaring at him “she said she wasn’t special and she didn’t want to be betrayed again”.
Inuyasha frowned as he glanced at Kiyoko. He hadn’t meant to, he hadn’t meant to go to Kiyoko. However, he felt drawn to her because she looked so much like Kikyo. Still, she wasn’t Kikyo and she wasn’t Kagome. Now he didn’t have either of them. He lost Kikyo to the hands of Naraku and now he’d lost Kagome…by his own actions. He had driven away the only woman who ever really cared for him, was loyal to him, trusted him, and wanted him. Now she was dead. He glanced again at Kiyoko, she was nice for a fling, but not someone he could commit himself to.
“Bring her back” he demanded as he turned to his brother.
Sango stood between them as she glared at him “why? Hasn’t she been hurt enough? You knew how much she loved you and you continued to chase a corpse. Even after all the hurt you put her through she came to be with you permanently, leaving her family behind to be with you, and then you go and two time her again!”
“Kagome is the only one for me” he said solemnly, ”I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure she knows it, I’ll give her everything she wanted and more” he glanced at the Taiyoukai, “please bring her back”.
Miroku came forward and told his wife to tend to preparing Kagome. He glared at his hanyou friend “everything you are saying, Inuyasha, is something you should have been doing from the start!” He finished with a yell, “not waiting till she was dead!”
“Even if I was willing to bring her back, I cannot ” Sesshomaru responded, “her soul has already moved on”.
“What?” Inuyasha cried, panicked. No, he needed the chance to apologize, he needed to let her know how much she mattered to him. He didn’t want her last thoughts of being not special to anyone. She was special. The girl who travelled through a well to a different world and chose that world just to be with the one she loves, leaving her family behind. Sounded like a happily ever after, but he ruined it, giving her a tragic ending.
Rin sniffled “Kagome felt peace knowing she wasn’t going to be hurt and betrayed anymore”.
His lungs burned and his heart raced. He was too late. He dropped to his knees and placed his head in his hands. She had seen him with another woman, one who looked like Kikyo and again made her feel like she wasn’t good enough for him. He made her feel like she wasn’t important enough to be loved and she had ran from him only to be beaten to death. The pain and fear she must have felt, wishing for him to save her and he didn’t come. He didn’t save her. He didn’t protect her and he could only blame himself. It was all his fault. Miroku was right, he should have treated her right and now he’d never get the chance to make it up to her. He was a two timer, a good for nothing two timer, and he should have learned from his actions during the fight with Naraku when he chased a corpse over choosing the living.
Leaving the hanyou to his guilt, the group got to work preparing Kagome for her funeral. Sango took the time to thank Sesshomaru for trying to save their friend and returning her body to them. The Taiyoukai said nothing, but gave a nod of his head. Later the two black inu’s entered the village to retrieve their son. They thanked the silver inu and stated they would be staying at his mother’s place until after the birth of their new pup.
The funeral went smoothly with the entire village paying their respects to the Miko and many shedding tears over the loss of a wonderful person. It was decided her body would be cremated and many villagers expressed wanting to set something up in honour of Kagome and so any future generations could remember her and know her story. The monk and slayer loved the idea and Kaede agreed it would be a great way to the honour the woman who saved them from Naraku. Sesshomaru and Rin stayed for the funeral and left shortly after.
The Taiyoukai and child took the long, 6 day journey to the area Inukimi’s home was. Picking up Rin, Sesshomaru took to the skies and within moments they arrived at the palace in the sky. He used to avoid his ancestral home by traveling the lands, but his mother had summoned him home when she had gotten word some black dogs she knew were arriving and stated he needed to meet them should he encounter them in the future. Every earth bound hellhound lives in hell for a period of their life, learning to go between hell and earth. Their duties were simple, come across something dying, provide comfort and ease the passing so the soul could move on. If it was a corrupt soul then, depending on the level of corruption, they would either toss the soul into hell to be cleansed or devoured and never reincarnated. When they were in hell the duties were simple, prevent souls from escaping. As the Taiyoukai learned, his mother often housed them when they weren’t traveling, which was usually when they were expecting. They had a few children, but aside from Kitaro, all were grown and living their lives. Some preferred living in hell while a couple had assumed an earth bound role. Soon they would have one more child to raise. Since the soul had been female when she passed, she would be reincarnated as a female inu.
“Sesshoumaru” his mother called out as she approached, “Katsumi and Kazuhiko told me what happened while you were showing them our territory” she noticed the child that followed her son, clutching his pant leg and trying to hide her tears. She gave the child a sympathetic smile, “I’m sorry for the loss of your friend. Jaken told me about her and I thought she sounded very kind and courageous”.
Rin gave a nod, “she was”.
Inukimi then glared at her son “speaking of the toad, do something about him. He’s close to losing his life with his constant squawking about you and now this female”.
“Then he loses his life” Sesshoumaru stated as he walked off. As he walked down the hall he passed Katsumi and took a sniff. The smell of pregnancy was very subtle, but for those paying attention they could smell it. In 3 months the miko would be reborn as a youkai and then her life would be changed forever…for the best.
3 Months Later
“Lord Sesshoumaru!” Rin yelled as she ran into the taiyoukai’s office “lady Katsumi had the pup!”
Sesshoumaru looked up from his documents and set his pen down “is that so?”
She nodded excitedly, “and she’s decided to keep Kagome’s name because she liked it so much” she watched has her lord stood up and approached her, placing a hand on her head “will you go see her?” His only response was to follow the child down the hall and to the room where Katsumi was recovering.
Katsumi held a whimpering pup in her arms. The black pup was the size of the average baby, with ears flopped down and eyes closed. It would be a couple years before she would learn to take a human form and until then her canine body would grow quickly as she matured faster than a human child. The mother watched as the two entered the room and smiled, “you’re here Sesshoumaru, thank goodness”
“Is there a problem?” He questioned.
“She won’t settle” she answered, “she’s been fed and cleaned, but she seems to remain upset”.
Kazuhiko spoke up as he entered with their son “it’s possible the feelings Kagome felt when she died were quite strong and still remain”.
“Poor Kagome, what can be done to help her?” Rin asked with worry.
The black male inu took his new pup into his hands and approached the Taiyoukai “sometimes feeling an old presence can help settle the soul” he then offered his pup to the silver inu “since she seem to know and trust you, I think your presence will work”.
Sesshoumaru gave a nod and took the pup. The pup whimpered a moment and then quieted down into a peaceful sleep. He glanced to his side to see Rin and Kitaro staring at him intently. Bowing to one knee, he allowed the children to have a closer look at the pup and even gently touch her. He watched as both kids smiled before running off to play as he stood up and placed the pup back with her mother.
2 Years later
“Sess! Sess!”
Sesshoumaru paused and turned around to see a black canine running up to him. He gave her a stern look as she slowed to stop in front of him, her height now reaching his waist. The black inu family ended up having to extend their stay after they attempted leaving a few times only to have the young pup become distressed, forcing them to return so he could settle the pup. Usually the soul settled quickly, however Lord Kazuhiko believed that because she had a large soul and a traumatic death, it was taking longer to settle.
“Kagome!” Jaken came running from behind her “you haven’t finished your breakfast!”.
She growled “No!”
“You must eat” Sesshoumaru stated, “go”.
“No” she barked, stomping her feet.
“Go eat with Kitaro,” he ordered.
“NO!” She snarled, baring her fangs as she backed away from him. She stared him down in an attempt to show dominance over him.
The taiyoukai narrowed his eyes at her challenge and took to his true form. Baring his own fangs against her. He watched her tail go between her legs as she backed down with a whine. One thing hadn’t changed from her time as a human, she was still fearless and stubborn, but at least she knew when to back down. He hovered over her and picked her up by the scruff of her neck. He appreciated that his mother’s palace was so open and all rooms were large that transforming to their true forms was never an issue. He carried the pup to the courtyard where his mother and Lady Katsumi were visiting.
Katsumi sighed when she spotted them “I’m sorry Sesshoumaru, she’s always bothering you”.
“It is no bother” he said as he put her down and watched her run to her mother, tail between her legs. He took his human form as he walked up to them “Jaken was attempting to get her to eat when she escaped him”.
The black, adult inu gave her daughter a scratch behind the ears, “always causing problems for poor Jaken” she stood up and took to inu form, “come Kagome, we’ll go get Kitaro and practice some hunting”.
The pup yipped happily as she trailed after her mother.
A few weeks later and Sesshoumaru returned to his mother’s home after spending some time visiting Rin. She had met a young man who had actually been brave enough to approach him and ask permission to court her. He found no reason to deny the boy, seeing how much Rin seemed to like him, and gave his okay. Now, as he arrived at his ancestral home, he was surprised to find it in chaos. Servants were running all over the place in a panic, he could hear snarls and growls as he followed the sound. In the garden he witnessed his mother and Katsumi trying to calm down an angry hellhound pup. Even in their true form, the pup was proving to be a challenge as she snapped, teeth bared, at them while avoiding their jaws.
“Welcome back” Kazuhiko greeted as he approached.
“Hnn” Sesshoumaru responded “what is going on?”
He sighed “Katsumi and I figured we’ve imposed long enough. We are planning to take to kids to the underworld so they could meet some of their other siblings and learn a thing or two while we are there, however, Kagome doesn’t want to leave and she’s making that point very well known”.
The taiyoukai watched as the adult hellhound tried to get the scruff of the pup’s neck, but the pup dodged to turn around and snap at her mother “how long as this been happening?”
“Just for a short while” the lord answered “she’s quite stubborn and resourceful when she doesn’t want to do something“ he frowned, “we should have left as soon as her soul settled to avoid all this. While she has no memory of her previous life, she senses a connection with you and she’s become too attached that she disregards us as parents. We need to put some distance between the two of you so we can work on our bond with her and possibly erase her memory of being here”.
Sesshoumaru gave a nod as he took to his canine form and approached calmly. He gave out a bark to get their attention and watched as the pup ran to him and he gave a snarl, stopping her from coming any closer. Tail between her legs, she whined at him as he spoke “you need to do what you are told”.
She shook her head, “no! No leave Sess!”
“Obey” he growled, “It is only for a little while”
Kagome whined, but her tantrum seemed to be done. The wind whipped around her and a little, human looking, toddler stood where the pup had been. Her face was tear stained as she stared at him with blue eyes and her face seemed stuck in a pout while she stared at the large white inu in front of her.
Returning to human form, the taiyoukai returned her stare. He watched as she held her arms out and he picked her up, “be good and listen to your parents”
She sniffled, but nodded “okay” she wrapped her arms around his neck, “I miss you”
Katsumi approached in her human form, “come Kagome, it’s time to go”
“Okay” the child said, unhappily, but went into her mother’s arms and as she was being carried away “bye bye Sess!” She cried.
Inu Kimi approached her son in her human form as they watched the family leave, “It’ll be interesting to see her in a few years”
“Hnn” Sesshoumaru responded as he continued eye contact with the pup until she was out of sight.