Disclaimer: Sesshoumaru came to me in a dream and told me that I was his new owner because I owned InuYasha. Then I woke up, and found out it wasn’t true. I cried.
‘~,~’ ‘~,~’ ‘~,~’ ‘~,~’ ‘~,~’ ‘~,~’ ‘~,~’ ‘~,~’ ‘~,~’ ‘~,~’OLD LOVE‘~,~’ ‘~,~’ ‘~,~’ ‘~,~’ ‘~,~’ ‘~,~’ ‘~,~’ ‘~,~’‘~,~’ ‘~,~’
Kagome collapsed on a park bench, breathing heavily. She’d been on her final lap of ten around Tokyo Conservational Park, and she was exhausted. She had gotten into the habit of running in the morning in the Feudal Era, and now it was a part of her morning routine. She was home for a week, and kept herself in practice by running around Tokyo Conservational Park.
It took Kagome a moment to realize that there was someone beside her. An elderly woman with black hair and tan skin sat beside her, sweat covering her face. Judging from her outfit, she had also been running. Kagome had to admit, she was impressed that the woman could run. She looked as though she would break if you poked her too hard.
“Having a good run?” The elderly woman asked.
Kagome smiled. “Yes, actually. It’s a beautiful afternoon.”
The elderly woman smiled. “Yes, it is. It’s like the kamis are smiling down on us.” She wiped her forehead, and pulled out a cloth and handed it to Kagome. “You look like you could use a sweat cloth.”
Kagome smiled gratefully and hastily wiped her face. “Thank you.” Kagome sighed. “I normally run in the morning, and then take a bath. But I have school, and I don’t have the time I usually do.”
The elderly woman shook her head slowly. “Yes, I remember being young. Always rushing from place to place, trying to fit everything together.” She patted Kagome’s hand. “It’ll all work out in the end. Trust me.” She removed her hand and leaned back against the bench, her eyes closed.
Kagome smiled, but inwardly, she sighed. If only you knew how complicated my life is. I doubt you’d be so sure.
“Right now, you’re thinking I have no idea what’s going on in your life.” Kagome started as the woman turned to her, her eyes twinkling. “And that may be so. But all the same, I can promise you. What was meant to be will be.”
Kagome nodded slowly, somehow comforted by the words of a stranger. They sat in silence for a moment, watching as a couple walked by. Their hands were clasped and two smiles graced their faces as they walked passed the two women. No words were said between the couple, but their eyes told volumes, even to the two that sat on the sides. They passed, and Kagome sighed.
“Is there anything more beautiful?” Kagome asked. “A young couple walking together, their hands held as if nothing could ever hope to break them apart.”
“Yes, there is.” The elderly woman answered immediately, a smile on her face.
When she didn’t elaborate, Kagome felt the need to ask. “What do you think is more beautiful?”
“An elderly couple.” The elderly woman answered. “Their hands are not so young anymore, but they are still clasped. Their faces are wrinkled with age and hardships, but they still shine. Their hearts beat slowly as they approach their end, but they are still strong with love and devotion. Their eyesight is weak, but they still see only each other.” The elderly woman looked down at her hand with a smile, and Kagome recognized a wedding ring. “Old love is more beautiful than young love.”
Kagome stared at the elderly woman for a moment, and then slowly nodded. “When you put it that way, how can anyone disagree?” Kagome asked.
The elderly woman laughed and stood. “You would be surprised.” She bowed to Kagome. “It was very nice speaking to you, Kagome.”
“You as well.” Kagome answered, a smile spreading across her face.
Kagome watched as the elderly woman walked away, only to stop beside a man with long white hair leaning against a tree. She took his hand, and a smile spread across her face. Kagome gasped as the elderly woman, who had been rather pretty before, became beautiful as she walked away with her husband.
Kagome stared after them, when a sudden thought occurred to her. When did I tell her my name? Kagome thought about it, then shook her head. She had probably done it and forgotten. With a sigh, Kagome stood and started running again, her mind already forgetting the encounter.
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The elderly woman watched her leave, a knowing smile on her face. Beside her, her husband and mate held her hand, one eyebrow raised in question. The elderly woman laughed. “Just ask it, Sesshoumaru. Even after five hundred years, I can’t read your mind.”
“Was that necessary, Kagome?” Sesshoumaru asked. “What if she had recognized you?”
“No one ever thinks about what they will look like when they’re old, Sesshoumaru.” Kagome answered. “I was no exception. Besides, I was meant to remember this meeting. It’s what made me realize that InuYasha and I weren’t meant to be.” She removed her hand from Sesshoumaru’s and wrapped it around his waist. “It’s what got me thinking about what I truly wanted in a husband. It’s what made me think of you for the first time.”
Sesshoumaru stared down at her and shook his head. “I thought it was still a few years before I courted you.”
“Well I won’t pursue you yet.” Kagome answered. “Not until I get to know you better. But this will plant the idea in my head.”
Sesshoumaru stared at his hand. Once, he would have thought that growing old with a female to be disgusting and a frivolous sentimentality. But with Kagome, there was nothing more beautiful in the world. It was why he had bound their lives together, extending hers and shortening his own. He calculated that they would live about two hundred more years before they died. He bent down and nuzzled his mate’s neck, breathing in her heavenly scent. He didn’t know what he had done to deserve this woman, but whatever he had done, he would do it a hundred times if it meant he got to keep this perfect person.
“Sesshoumaru?” Sesshoumaru lifted his head and gazed down at the wrinkled face of his mate. “Are you ready? We have Keiji’s birthday party, remember?”
Sesshoumaru glared at her. “This Sesshoumaru has no memory problem.” He retorted. “I believe you are the one with the damaged brain.”
Kagome’s eyes narrowed as she sensed his playfulness. “There is nothing wrong with my brain.” She protested.
“Of course there is.” Sesshoumaru responded arrogantly. “It is a human brain after all.”
Kagome scoffed and poked his chest. “Let me remind you, mister, that you are stuck with this human.” Kagome reminded him.
She sneezed, and Sesshoumaru shook his head. “Yes, I am stuck with you. You, your human brain, and your human illnesses.” He kissed her on the forehead, smoothing away the angry wrinkles that were forming there and letting her know he was only playing with her. “Your personality is your only redeeming quality.”
Kagome batted away the arm that tried to pull her to him. “Why do you say human illnesses?” Kagome demanded. She wasn’t going to let him get away with his comments so easily. No, she wasn’t angry at him, but she was going to make him know she wasn’t happy with him.
“Demons do not fall ill, of course.” Sesshoumaru answered, a smirk on his face. That is, until he saw the light of victory in his mate’s eyes.
“Well, you know what they say.” Kagome retorted. “Fools can’t catch colds.”
Sesshoumaru stared at her for a moment, then chuckled. “I suppose you are right.” Sesshoumaru answered. “Since only a fool would quarrel with a beautiful woman.”
Kagome blushed, and Sesshoumaru reached forward to pull her into a hug. Kagome pulled back just far enough to kiss him, then broke away. “Come on. We don’t want to be late for our grandchild’s birthday party.”
Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes. “Yes, kami forbid we should be late to one of those bi-weekly birthday parties.”
Kagome laughed, and Sesshoumaru’s eyes softened at the sound as they reached the limo. “They are not that frequent.” Kagome chided. “And who is the one who told his ten children that they should ‘go forth and multiply?’”
“This Sesshoumaru was joking.” Sesshoumaru protested as his helped Kagome into the limo. “I had no idea they would take me seriously.”
“This is why you should joke with them more.” Kagome replied. “They can’t tell when you’re joking with them.”
Sesshoumaru sighed and leaned back into his seat. Almost unconsciously, Sesshoumaru removed the ring that concealed his demonic attributes. “I admit, I should have ensured they understood the joke.”
Kagome took his hand and leaned against him. “I love you.” She whispered into his now pointed ear.
Sesshoumaru smiled and pulled his mate into his side so he could kiss the top of her head. “I love you too.”
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The young Kagome ran passed a limo, where she saw the old woman leaning into her husband. With a sigh, she tried to imagine her and InuYasha sitting side by side in the far distant future. She shook her head as she watched the limo pull away. “She was right.” Kagome whispered. “There is nothing more beautiful than old love.”