To Begin Again by kaoruhana
To Begin Again
A/N: The prompts in order are: Second chance, Beaming smile, Unwavering spirit, A welcoming hand, Unconditional loyalty, Happy toes, Endless chatter, Green, brown and orange, Black hair, and Gazillion Flowers
* * * * *
Sesshomaru clenched his fist as Kagome lay in the hospital bed. Another mission, another bullet wound, another near death encounter. He couldn’t take this anymore; his heart couldn’t take this anymore. She was his partner, his confidante, and she was also so much more.
“Sess.” Normally the use of the nickname irritated him but he let it slide and used his unbroken arm to reach for her.
“I can’t do this anymore.” She rasped. “I want a future.” Speaking had made her exhausted, and she closed her eyes to rest some more.
Sesshomaru though knew who he was meeting tomorrow.
* * * * *
“Sesshomaru!” Miroku greeted with a beaming smile. “It’s nice to see you here. The last mission was a success as always.”
Sesshomaru inclined his head. “It was our last.”
Miroku’s smile faltered. “You two are the best agents that S.I.P. has.” Sesshomaru frowned.
“We may be the best but we are human beings.”
Miroku sighed, and placed his arms on his desk to rest his head on them. Agents 39 and 11 had been in more brushes with death for the two of them recently.
He gestured to a seat. “Sit down 39, I think we have much to discuss.”
* * * * *
Mrs. Higurashi was a strong woman. She had an unwavering spirit that wasn’t broken even when her daughter would disappear for months on end doing some covert operation and suddenly show up in a hospital. Not much fazed her these days.
Still, it wasn’t like her daughter to go for so long without giving her a call. The doorbell rang and she moved away from her thoughts on Kagome to see to her guest. When she opened the door she realized it was her daughter’s employer.
“Mrs. Higurashi.” He stated his eyes solemn. “I’m afraid I have some bad news.”
* * * * *
Miroku knew he had to play a hand in the plan he and Sesshomaru had concocted but that didn’t mean he liked it. As he sat in the living room of the Higurashi house, Sesshomaru was informing Kagome of the part they would play.
“We’re dead?” Kagome asked looking at the passport given to her.
It had been two days since she made her request, and Sesshomaru had worked hard on making it possible. She’d always known that her career ended in her death but it still hurt to think of it.
Sesshomaru sighed and nodded. “Yes, Mrs. Rin Takamori.”
* * * * *
“You know,” Kagome hissed as they sat on the plane to Sapporo two days later, “you didn’t have to marry us.”
Sesshomaru smirked at her. “And what, did you think I’d let you get away so easily Kagome?” She huffed and turned to look out the window in defiance.
“This plan is unconditional. And it was the best.” He spoke in low tones so as not to be overheard and took her hand in his.
It was an hour later as they began their descent into Sapporo that Kagome gave their still joined hands a squeeze.
“I’m glad it’s you.”
* * * * *
The house they were to live in was small but quaint. As Kagome toed her shoes off, she suddenly felt a wave of happiness creep over her. Home--not the home she was used to—but, a home nonetheless. A home that she and Sesshomaru would build together and one that wouldn’t crumble or fall.
“Welcome home.” She whispered to the silent house. She felt Sesshomaru come in behind her and place a hand on her shoulder.
“We’re home Rin.”
Kagome, now Rin, stepped into the house and looked around. It was perfect to start a family in-their family in.
* * * * *
The neighbors, Kagome found out, were endlessly nosy. It had been only three hours since she and Sesshomaru moved in and already they had visits from Mrs. Watanabe, Mrs. Takahashi, and Mrs. Morita and her son Shippo.
While the families were nice, she wasn’t accustomed to such a suburban environment. It was full of housewives and families while her life was packed with flights and missions. It grated at her and she wanted nothing more than to tell them to just leave her alone.
As Mrs. Morita left she let out a relieved sigh.
“We’ll be fine.” Sesshomaru assured her.
* * * * *
It had been a long week. Sesshomaru had started his new job as a math teacher at a local high school while Kagome continued to apply to random jobs. It was Friday and as she grabbed the material to make her daily rounds, she noticed Sesshomaru’s bento on the counter.
It didn’t take long to find his school and the teacher’s offices. When she walked in though, she found herself green with envy at the women fawning over her husband.
“Hajime.” She called out catching everyone’s attention. “You left your lunch at home.”
Takamori-sensei smiled in relief. “Thank you Rin.”
* * * * *
It had been a month since their lives had been turned upside down and she wanted to celebrate their freedom. One day, when he came home, he found her greeting him. Hesitantly, she reached up and put her hand on his face showing through her expression and action what she couldn’t say.
“Kagome." His lips met hers and he threaded his fingers in her thick black hair doing what he had only dreamed of doing for years. For so long he had waited- waited for her to quit, waited for her acceptance of his suit. Now he finally had it.
* * * * *
Miroku came home to find an odd envelope on his front stoop. It was covered in drawings of what looked to be childishly drawn flowers. Curious, he opened the envelope and pulled out the picture inside.
Looking back at him were faces of people he knew were considered dead- Agents 39 and 11. A new being was in their midst however, a little girl no older than three.
Turning the picture over, he read the words there: Her name is Kagome.
With a grin on his face, he pulled out his lighter and set the picture and envelope on fire.