Over

Finally, it was done.

The battle field had quieted, all that was left was the heavy breathing of her comrades around her. She could feel her own chest rising and falling heavily. She opened her eyes, not having realized she had closed them when she had released that arrow. She had just been going on adrenaline; instinct even, maybe.

As she pulled back the arrow on her bow, she could hear her name being shouted, but she was looking dead in the eyes of Naraku. He was coming closer to her, and she found it an opening, a moment of weakness. So she had readied her bow, poured as much of her power into that arrow she could muster, causing it to glow brighter than ever before… and she let go.

There was a scream. A torture filled scream and part of her knew she had hit, but it wasn't until everything went silent around her, did she open her eyes and found herself in the spot she was.

Kagome Higurashi; eighteen, Miko and keeper of the Shikon Jewel; looked around. Barely feet in front of her was Naraku – no, Onigumo – barely alive. She had purified the demon within in, as told by the mark of the spider that was now burned into his back. She looked left, finding where InuYasha, Sesshomaru and Kagura had frozen in place, mid-battle. Kagura had a hand to her chest, gripping tightly and she locked eyes with Kagome. A silent conversation passed between them and Kagura crumpled to the ground as Kagome nodded.

On the other side, Sango and Miroku has also frozen in place, hiraikotsu still high in the air, blocking Kohaku's glaive. The arm holding the weapon fell as he and Sango looked at each other, a wary smile shared between the two. Kohaku was the first to break the silence. "Sis?"

Sango's arms fell, along with hiraikotsu, which make a loud crash as it hit the ground and she threw herself into her brother's arms.

Whole.

Kagome could feel it wash over the battle field. Everyone was whole again, including –

There was a groan, and her incarnation sat up from where Naraku has discarded her. Confused, Kikyo looked around and locked eyes with Kagome. Her brows furrowed slightly, as a silent conversation passed between them, before she pushed herself back up to her feet.

Kagome scanned the battle field once more, with the last of her heightened power. She checked over every single person in her vicinity. They were injured, but not gravely. Everyone was safe.

And she promptly blacked out.

What seemed like moments later, Kagome awoke. She looked around at her surroundings, finding herself lying on a bed roll. She could hear the crackle of a fire. They had make it back to Kaede's hut? When?

A shuffling was heard and her eyes moved to the door way where Kaede entered and smiled, "ah, ye have awakened then, child?"

Kagome sat up with a groan, and instantly regretted doing so as her head spun. She forced herself to remain upright however. Kaede chuckled, "still stubborn as ever."

"Kaede," she managed, but found her throat dry, painful.

Kaede moved quickly, pouring water into a cup and hanging it to Kagome, who drank it much too quickly and ended up in a coughing fit. Kaede patted her on the back chucking. "Ye need to be more careful."

Kagome grinned, rolling her eyes. The water had rejuvenated her, and she was now stretching. "How long have I been out?"

"Three days, child," Kaede replied. "Should I alert the others? Though I'm surprised –"

There was a clamoring at the door, and Inuyasha rushed in, followed by Rin and then Sesshomaru. "Is she okay?"

Kagome swore she saw Sesshomaru roll his eyes as Inuyasha knelt down in front of her, effectively blocking her view and investigating further. InuYasha began to sniff her, as if looking for anything else wrong, causing her to squirm. "Inuyasha!" A bubble of laughter escaped her as she squirmed. "Inu- stop- that tickles! Inuyasha! Sit!"

SMACK.

Inuyasha's face planted itself into the wooden flooring, hard. An eruption of joyous giggles came from Rin, who crawled into Kagome's lap. She looked up at Kagome, inspecting her. "Is Kagome lady ok?"

Kagome smiled at Rin, ignoring the string of obscenities coming from the floor. "Better than ever!"

Rin's eyes brightened, "oh! Kagome! Rin's got a secret for you~"

Kagome rose a brow, "oh? And what's that?"

"Rin thinks…"

"Rin."

Rin's clamped her mouth shut, as Sesshomaru walked over, effectively trodding on Inuyasha's hand as he lowered himself to the floor. A string of obscenities came from the floor once again, and Kagome rolled her eyes. "InuYasha, sit."

A loud groan emitted from InuYasha's whose face returned to making friends with the floor. Rin giggled again, and looked to Sesshomaru. Kagome followed Rin's gaze, locking eyes with Sesshomaru, her mouth opened to speak, but found her words caught in her throat. His eyes, which were once cold pools of stone, were now of warm liquid honey. A pile of emotions swirled within them. Thanks, relief, concern. Kagome blinked and it was gone, but his eyes were not so cold… only steeled.

"This… Sesshomaru hopes you are faring better?"

Kagome didn't notice Rin roll her eyes and sigh. Still slightly in shock, Kagome nodded, "y-yeah. Fine."

A moment passed, as they stared at each other again. "And you, Lord Sesshomaru?"

Kagome noticed a twitch, a slight change in his face, like he was holding back an expression. Upon closer inspection,she saw a slight wrinkling in his nose. "I'm sorry – I –"

"No need for apologies. Please, just Sesshomaru. We are equals."

From his place on the floor, Inuyasha 'keh'd' loudly, and in a muffled grunt, retorted, "always was, you bastard!"

Before Kagome could issue the 'sit' command again, Sesshomaru planted Inuyasha's face back into the floor with a great push on his head. Kagome smiled brightly and laughed mirthfully as InuYasha cussed. Sesshomaru's eyes turned back to Kagome and softened again. 'Maybe it's as Rin says. This won't be that hard after all… But I must see where she stands with my brother…'

He turned his eyes back to InuYasha, still glued to the floor and smirked. He took his brother by the collar and lifted him from the floor as he stood. "Rin, stay here."

Rin grinned, "kay~"

Kagome looked on at them confused as Sesshomaru literally dragged a struggling and cussing InuYasha out of the hut.

"Rin?"

"Hm~?"

"What were you saying before?"

Rin's eyes got a mischievous glint in them, "Rin's got a secret, but she mustn't tell!"

"About what?"

"Nuh-uh! Secret!"

Kagome wrinkled her nose as the girl, knowing full well she was teasing her. Rin giggled, "don't worry Kagome, I'm sure you'll learn quite soon!"

 

INUYASHA © Rumiko Takahashi/Shogakukan • Yomiuri TV • Sunrise 2000
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