The Prize [NC-17] by Quiet Storm

The Aftermath

The Prize [NC-17]

 Author’s Notes:

 If you saw that episode when Inuyasha picked Kikyo over Kagome, well I missed it. My DVD recorder broke down. Unfortunately, I had not done enough research about said episode to understand that Inuyasha had chosen Kikyo over Kagome out of obligation. Instead, I wrote this story under the mistaken premise that he had done so willingly. Someone pointed this out to me.

Now that Lauren has agreed to be the Beta for this story I dare to “tweak” the story. I will strive not to disrupt the story’s flow in the process.

By the way, Lauren has been reviewing InuGrrrl’s fan fiction work. InuGrrrl, thanks to you my story will now be polished by Lauren. Both of you have been very supportive. Thank you for guiding me during my first fan fic posting.

I had imagined this story and then I decided to put it in writing. It took months to get it done since motherhood and working full time kept me from it. It is complete with ten chapters.  I kept all the explicitly graphic scenes intact so as to be true to what I had imagined (blush). Therefore, I respectfully ask under age readers to please realize that I wrote this for adults only. To the rest of you, this is my first completed fan fic. It is also my first time posting one. I only ask that you be objective in your reviews and I welcome both the good and the bad. I must since I do enjoy writing and I would like to improve. So here it goes. Read and above all else, enjoy!

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Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and give thanks to its creator; it’s such a wonderful series.

1. The Aftermath.

It was a battle of hearts, souls, sweat and tears that transpired. The earth trembled with each blow, the forests nearby were uprooted from the clash of powers, and nothing but bare land was left behind. The smoke had dissipated, the debris had settled, the fires had stopped burning and the miasma along with Naraku had ceased to exist. Inuyasha, Miroku, Sango, Shippo were all dispersed in the scene, all bruised and bleeding with Inuyasha most hurt of all. Kikyo, Sesshomaru, Kouga along with Kaede, Rin, Jaken, Ayame and Kouga’s men were watching nearby. Kagome stood in the center of it all with the Shikon-No-Tama jewel glowing in her palms.

Nothing stirred, everything was silent and the jewel was whole again. But they all knew it; this was still the ever desired jewel by every human and Youkai in the Feudal Era.  It had to be destroyed.

Kikyo had once tried to turn Inuyasha into a human so as to end the jewel's power and thus release her as its guardian. But now, thanks to Kagome, Inuyasha was happy to be half human so that was no longer an option.  Kagome looked at each one of them. Sango and Miroku were holding hands. Miroku was finally freed from Naraku's curse. She then looked at Kikyo and glanced towards Inuyasha. His eyes looked the same way they had so many years ago...when he had made his decision to choose Kikyo over her. Granted, his decision was not made willingly but he had since learnt to accept it. In time he had learnt to embrace it while Kagome watched how he struggled yet succeeded to return his heart to her past life. Yes, she stood there, all emotions running high from the exhilaration of Naraku's defeat and Miroku's salvation; it also meant the end of her companionship with Inuyasha. He had avenged Kikyo's death and he was going to stay with her for the rest of their days...living dead or not.

With that in mind, she had made a decision. There were several wrongs that Naraku had done and she was going to use the Shikon jewel to right them. This included Kohaku's death. As she held the jewel its aura surrounded her and then a flash beamed into Kohaku's lifeless body. As his body glowed in the jewel's aura it started to float into the air up above everyone. After it reached its zenith Kohaku floated slowly back down to the ground.  The boy's pale skin was now flush with life, and his lungs pumped in oxygen to the entire system restarting its life. Sango ran to her brother and held him unable to say anything but cry. Kohaku sat there wide eyed in disbelief.  The words of thankfulness were evident but would have to be said later on.

As everyone watched this scene with elation they noticed Kagome walking towards Inuyasha. She looked at him and smiled. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and then walked towards Kikyo. Inuyasha stood there watching, unable to move. Kikyo remained still as she watched her reincarnation approach her. Just a foot away from Kikyo, Kagome looked at her intently and said, "Kikyo, you will finally forgive Inuyasha for what he has not done." And with that said the jewel's aura shot straight into Kikyo's heart. She arched her back from the impact and gasped fresh air into finally human lungs, finally human capillaries, and a finally human heart.

This unselfish act was the jewel’s undoing.  It was then that the Shikon-No-Tama lost its final glow; it cracked and pulverized right in Kagome's hands. The specks of dust were blown away from her hand by the wind.

By now, Sesshomaru and his group had left the scene. Kouga, Ayame and their men soon followed. They had witnessed and that was all.  Inuyasha and Kikyo held onto each other whispering soft words such as: "I'm so sorry for all that I've done," "It's all right koishii," and "I love you."  Miroku approached Sango and Kohaku. All three were shedding tears of happiness, tears that were finally allowed to flow from the depths of their hearts. Shippo hugged Kirara through it all. Kagome watched the scene around her and smiled with joy. Sango looked at her standing there in the middle, tall, beautiful and yes, she knew her friend well, heartbroken.

A month had passed since Naraku was defeated indefinitely and things didn't turn out as hoped. In the month that had passed Inuyasha and Kikyo had finally set up a home for themselves, as did Miroku and Sango. They were living happily as neighbors. Shippo had their homes and Kaede's to go to as he pleased.  As the days rolled by and everyone was nursing their wounds the question about Kagome's future in the past lingered in everyone's minds. Everyone found it difficult to imagine her alone and without Inuyasha, but that was how it was destined to be. 

Kagome had asked Inuyasha to walk with her one afternoon and in doing so she paused to say in simple yet profound words, "Inuyasha, you know that I love you and you know that I won’t come between you and Kikyo. However, I still need to be around you. That is, until I feel strong enough to accept that you are not in my life."

Inuyasha smiled at her and said in a rough voice, as if fighting the tears, "Kagome, I wish that things were different so the least that I can do is to let you know that I will always be in your life. That is, perhaps not as your mate but as your friend forever. You have saved my soul, Kikyo's and the world for that matter. You have been our salvation and you deserve much more than what I could ever offer to you." 

Kagome smiled at his words and it took her several minutes before she could reply, "Inuyasha, you are still my world no matter what. I just need to find my own world but I need time."

He smiled and gave her an unexpected and heartfelt hug saying, "You take all the time you need."

Kagome's tears finally let out; she didn't think that she was going to be held by him ever again. She drank in his smell, his warmth, his strength for one last time. It was then that she had promised herself that this would be the last time they were going to hold each other like that. She had to get over him.  And with that thought lingering in her mind, they looked at each other and smiled as friends, forever friends.

Author’s notes: This story and comments were written back in September 2005.