Title: A Memory of Autumn
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Numb. Out of everything she could have possibly felt in the freezing weather was numbness. It was not, however, due to the cold that this feeling crept within her. Kagome was kneeling upon the earth, the rain falling hard as if it knew her pain. Her blouse was soaked, yet the crimson stains remained. The torn remnants of her clothing did little to keep her body's heat within her as she gave way to shivers. A hand finally moved, reaching out to the heap of red that lay before her. White strands marred by red, garments torn and stained, skin parted in wounds that gave reason to her grim feelings.
"Inuyasha..." As she whispered the name tenderly, fearful tears began to fall once more. His body lay upon a the earth, half covered in leaves that had fallen when he had been thrown against the trunk. The autumn air was crisp and cold enough to see ones breath, but she could not see his. As he hand descended upon his shoulder, she shook him lightly. When he made no move to respond, she shook him harder.
"Inuyasha!" She cried abruptly, shaking him for all she was worth. Still he did not respond. Kagome collapsed atop his body, her sobs seemed to fill the clearing. Miroku looked on in sadness, his own eyes wet with unshed tears. The battle with Naraku had been brutal and swift, their small group unprepared for the intensity of the evil hanyou. Miroku felt a hand grab his, and he dropped his eyes to Sango, who limped from the wound in her side.
"Is he gone?" She asked, her voice quivering in grief. Miroku nodded, knowing that their dear friend and gruff leader had passed before he had even hit the tree. Sango bowed her head and let her tears fall. The sounds of her friend's sobs shook her to the core. Miroku turned away from Sango, and away from Kagome. Instead, his eyes sought their unlikely savior. He had come from the clouds, his massive body in its truest form. Poisonous teeth had sunk into the flesh of Narkau, as his barrier had been destroyed by Inuyasha. Sesshomaru did not stop there. He proceeded to rip the hanyou to pieces before they could even regenerate. As the large dog stood above the pieces of Naraku that were still attempting to reassemble, Sesshomaru's body began to pulse with blue light. Roaring with power, the dog's aura burned away the pieces of his foe. Crimson eyes lifted and sought Kagome.
"Miko." His voice reached her and her alone. She had ran then, ran to his side. Miroku had thought for sure that Kagome would have died at the youkai Sesshomaru was giving off, but she had run through as if it were as harmless as light. Her body began to glow a brilliant pink as she reached for the completed jewel. The black pearl flashed a vibrant white before settling to its healthy pure pink. The battle had ended then. For the amount of time they had spent traveling, the battle had been entirely to quick and brutal. Yet here they were, in a world free of Naraku. Miroku flexed his curse free hand as if to prove it. Miroku watched Sesshomaru, who stood in the same spot he had killed Naraku. He had not moved. His eyes, however, were locked on Inuyasha and Kagome. Miroku watched as his hand lifted, grasping the hilt of a sword he had only heard rumors of. Tensaiga. Miroku felt a breath of hope fill his lungs. Would he do it?
In the years to come, many would ask Sesshomaru about this day, including Sesshomaru himself. He did not know why the overwhelming instinct had spurred him towards that clearing, or why his beast had taken over. He did not know why the rage filled his body when he had seen the state of his brother and that of his pack, for Sesshomaru prided himself on his tight control of his emotions. Yet despite his control, Sesshomaru had gone to their aide. It was the sight of the miko that had upset his beast the most. Her skin had been marred by wounds and blood. He could smell illness and fatigue on her. Even as he could smell the death that clung to his brother, his beast still focused on the miko. His beast had sought revenge and torn Naraku apart. Even in his battle hardened mind he had been surprised by the brutality. He had then called to the miko, invited her purification to eliminate the threat of Naraku all together. His beast had nearly purred when she had stood below him glowing pink with her powers. Her scent appeased the thirst for blood. His beast had not been happy at the sound of her tears, and Sesshomaru had used its distraction to wrestle control back from his more primal half. Now he stood for the first time in many years unsure of what his next actions would be. He could feel the pulsing of Tensaiga at his hip. Grasping it within his only hand, Sesshomaru gave it a look over. His feet were moving before he even realized his approach. Within a moment he reached the distraught miko's side, and the side of his brother. She had not noticed his presence. Giving her an impatient glare, Sesshomaru nudged her away. She did not even look up, but instead curled up and rested her head against the ground as she cried. Her arms encircled herself and she began to rock. Sesshomaru eyes his brother's corpse, awaiting the minions of the underworld to appear. As their deathly bodies emerged to claim the soul of Inuyasha Sesshomaru struck.
Air filled his lungs. His eyes fluttered open, only to close as the rain poured down. He was suddenly overwhelmed with his senses as his body became filled with life. The scent of his brother, of blood, of Kagome, the sound of the rain, and of someone crying. These were the things that struck him most. He noticed the sword in his brother's hands and knew what must have occurred. Unsure of what to say to him, Inuyasha chose to instead focus upon Kagome. Gently, he placed his hand upon her shoulder.
"Kagome," He whispered, a tenderness on his voice that even he did not recognize. Her head snapped up, and her tearful eyes widened in disbelief.
"Inuyasha?" She croaked out, her voice raw from sobbing. He smiled at her, unable to express his thoughts. Before he knew it, he was thrown backwards as she launched herself into his arms. Her words were unrecognizable as she broke down. He simply held her, rocking her back and forth as she poured out her thoughts in one jumbled mess.
"I have no idea what you said wench, but I am glad you are ok." He said lightly, smiling at her tearful "jerk". Miroku and Sango approached, with Kiarra and Shippou trailing behind unscathed. The friends fell to their knees beside their newly revived leader in praise. Miroku turned his gaze to Sesshomaru who had begun to walk away.
"Sesshomaru-sama, though I know my words mean nothing to a lord of your standing, but you have my most sincere gratitude." Miroku bowed his head. As if the mention of the demon lord had reminded Kagome of who she should be thankful to for Inuyasha's return, she pulled away. Standing she jogged lightly to catch up to him.
"Sesshomaru please! Wait!" She called to him. She was shocked when he stopped, turning slightly to face her. She came to a stop in front of him, her head down and her bangs covering her eyes.
"Sesshomaru-sama," She whispered, her hands clasped in front of her. After a moment of silence, Kagome gathered the courage to raise her eyes to him. Blue clashed with gold. To everyone's amazement, Kagome launched herself at the demon lord. Sesshomaru's own eyes widened as the ningen woman wrapped her arms tightly about his waist, her face buried in his armor.
"Thank you! Thank you Sesshomaru-sama!" She choked out through her tears. Sesshomaru was too shocked to push her away, unsure of what the sudden eruption of emotion within him meant. Kagome looked up, her teary eyes staring into his wide eyes. Smiling beautifully She leaned up and placed her lips to the underside of his jaw. He knew not if she knew what she did, but that act alone sent his beast into a frenzy of joy. She had chosen him, though he knew she had no idea, but she had chosen him as her Alpha. Once again he was stunned into immobility and she pulled away. She bowed respectfully before turning and rushing back to her friend's side. None spoke of her actions towards the demon lord, but Inuyasha turned his gaze to his brother and gave an all knowing smirk. It would appear that the ice around his brother's heart was beginning to thaw, thanks to a certain Miko.
As Sesshomaru walked away from the battlefield, he carried with him a memory of great importance. It was not the memory of defeating his great foe, for that was hardly worth remembering for a taiyoukai such as he. No, his memory was a memory of a warm body embracing him on that cold, rainy autumn day.
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Love,
Caleesci