Walking back from getting herbs for medicine in the fields of the small village named Edo, Kagome lifted her eyes from the road to look upon the shining eyes of her beloved half-demon, InuYasha. A smile grew upon her lips.
He had been away the past few days with Miroku, for an exorcism in a near village to the north. Obviously, they had had trouble with that one seeing as usually, he never left more than a couple of days at the most.
InuYasha was standing there, as if he had waited all day for her return.
For the past year and a half, many events changed the life of her friends, her family, and herself. Her mother, brother, and grandfather were three people Kagome knew she would never see again. On her return to the past, though she had been reunited with InuYasha, she mourned their loss. Thankfully, InuYasha had understood the sacrifice she made just to spend a life with him. Their relationship grew slowly at first. After a month of having private discussions, courtesy of Miroku, they were both able to develop a sense of direction. InuYasha wanted to live freely without obligations, though meeting other women wasn’t an option, and Kagome wanted to finish her training as Kaede’s apprentice.
She also took responsibility of taking Rin under her care when Kaede started to lose her walking abilities. Her sight left a few weeks later, then her speech. None wanted to let her suffer, so a concoction was made to slow down the beating of her heart. That day, many tears were shed at the loss of the village priestess who gave so much for everyone. Kaede had been the village children’s grandmother.
As the weeks passed, Kagome had become a fully trained priestess. But unlike Kikyo, she let herself live and BE an ordinary woman as well as keeping her duties under priority.
Nothing much happened after that, other than messages coming and going from village to village by terrified messengers who travelled the country side. All were about village elders seeking help with one thing or another.
Her latest treasure though, was a small ring upon her marriage finger. InuYasha had given it to her a few months ago in promise to always be loyal and committed to their relationship. She had been a little disappointed at first that it had not been an engagement ring, but he explained that as a half-demon, he could not marry because of his demonic side.
As she fingered the ring in between her right index and thumb, she looked back at the reason why she had no worries about living in a strange land.
Upon reaching the small hut she and her love shared as a couple, she deposited the basket containing the herbs by the entrance, and welcomed home the love of her life. She reached on her tip-toes, wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a small kiss on the lips. It was long enough to make him understand that she missed his presence.
“You’re finally home,” she stated with relief.
“I am. It took longer than expected, but I did get some alone time to think,” InuYasha replied with a smirk while wrapping his arms around her delicate waist.
“What about?” Kagome asked curiously never drifting away from his golden pools, just as she let her hands gently slide from his neck, down to his chest.
“About something we discussed once, and I’ve made a decision,” he said hesitantly, “only if you aren’t opposed to the idea.”
“InuYasha…” she started worriedly, “I’ve never heard you talk like this. What’s going on? Tell me what’s wrong.”
Kagome didn’t know what to think. Coming home to a man who sounds like he wanted to leave everything behind including you, was worrying. She could feel her heart start to beat rapidly. Her worst fear was coming true: he was planning to leave her.
But just like any woman does sometimes, she came to the wrong conclusion. In fact, what he said surprised her even more than anything could have possibly done.
“I’m ready for a little addition to the family.”
Still as a statue, and eyes as big as saucers, she replayed the words inside her head. Did she really hear what she thought she did?
“I’m ready if you are, Kagome.”
He kept speaking as though she listened, but nothing other than the words that shocked her kept replaying. He did say what she thought he said, she realized. And before she knew it, her body spoke more words than her mouth could have.
She grabbed a fistful of his outer coat and pulled him for the most passionate kiss they had ever shared. The sensations coursed through them like fire. And nothing more was said as InuYasha lifted her up in his arms, and proceeded to walk inside their home.
He laid her upon their futon. Then, he gently made love to her until the sun once again rose in the east.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
As Kagome woke and lifted her head in the morning, not only her worst fear made her heart beat faster, but something much worse met her sight.
InuYasha’s eyes were red and lifeless.
She started hyperventilating when her gaze fell upon the weapon sticking out of his chest, piercing his heart. The one that caused her love’s end: Tokijin. Sesshoumaru’s sword that had been crafted from the fangs of Naraku’s third incarnation: Goshinki.
Tears slid down her cheeks at an alarming rate. What had happened as she lay peacefully in her dormant state? How could this have possibly occurred? It was her fault. There was no other explanation. Her holy powers never woke up; her senses never let her know someone with evil intent had been approaching. Even now, she noted that there was no one within range that could have possibly ended InuYasha’s life.