In the tottering wreck that had once been her home, Kagome stripped off her miko attire and cast it aside. Donning a simple traveling kimono instead, she gathered up all the possessions she considered of any worth to her. For so wealthy and prestigious a person as she had become, the number was surprisingly few: just Tessaiga, bundled up in the Robe of the Fire-Rat at her back, Kikyou’s bow and quiver tossed over her shoulder, and a plain little satchel of supplies slung across her chest.
On her way out of town, she added yet one more small burden to this number: the bloodied dagger she’d nearly run herself through with, which some swindler had been trying to pawn off as a relic. In a cheap leather sheath, the knife now rested clean beneath the sash at her hip—
A reminder.
Without any real destination in mind, other than to put as much space between Kohaku and herself as possible, Kagome’s feet wandered that old, almost forgotten path. The brush had grown up so thick and wild around it that the only the earliness of the season allowed her to pick her way through the jumbled overgrowth. But at last, plucking sticks and brambles from her skirt, she arrived at the Bone-Eater’s Well.
Trailing her fingers along the weathered ledge, Kagome felt no stirrings of magic. No pull to the present, even leaning over and peering down. Her portal home to the Modern Era remained as dead and dormant as it had these five years past.
Some intuition told Kagome her transcendence was the reason. But the timing was off. The act that had returned her unbounded soul to her flesh had not yet occurred. Kikyou hadn’t died until later, and by then, the way had already been shut.
Frowning, Kagome forced herself, yet again, to accept that she might never know the cause. And that, without knowing it, she could never hope to return.
Lost in her ruminations, she noticed only lately how the wind in the meadow had changed. A subtle darkening of the air, which only her spiritual senses could detect.
Retreating into the newfound comfort of her indifference, Kagome straightened and turned. “Long time no see,” she said, slanting her gaze toward the shadow of the wood, “Sesshoumaru.”
His shining eyes she saw first, as he phased through the gloom, which drew back like an inky curtain around his approaching form. He seemed to materialize from that darkness, and maybe he had. As adept as he was at concealing his presence, there was no way for Kagome to know for certain.
But here now before her he stood. Against the muddled green-grey backdrop of early spring, he was like a memory of winter’s chill. Silver hair cascaded down his back, snowy fur drifted from his shoulder to mound against the budding earth. Cold and sharp in the morning light, his armor gleamed, riddled with more spikes than Kagome remembered, and the expression in his eyes was so icy it burned.
Tilting her head, she considered him. More or less, he looked the same as he always had.
But somehow, he was changed.
“Kagome,” he said, and to hear her name rumbled out in that deep familiar intonation sent a prickle down her spine.
Letting her hand fall from the ledge, she took a few steps toward him. “If you’ve come for Rin-chan’s wedding, I’d reconsider. People around here aren’t too fond of youkai like you these days. Your attendance is bound to cause a scene.”
…To put it mildly, Kagome added darkly to herself. Infusing a bit of steel in her voice, she stopped before him.
“…Assuming you haven’t come here with that very intention.”
Sesshoumaru’s eyes flickered in a way Kagome couldn’t readily divine. “Rin has always been free to do as she pleases. Good choices from her are what I expect.”
Kagome crossed her arms. So, he approved of this match then—well, that was a relief. It occurred to her with a pang that had she never felt the need to take matters into her own hands, this happy occasion might have come about on its own in due course. Perhaps Kohaku had been right when he’d said she meddled too much.
But then again, who could say? The threads of fate were a tangled mess, to be sure.
“You are leaving,” Sesshoumaru said, his golden eyes flicking over her lightly laden form. It wasn’t a question; it was an observation spoken with an air of subtle, intuited finality. “Where will you go?”
“I haven’t decided yet,” Kagome answered frankly. Looking steadily at him, a thought came to mind. “But since you’re here, there is somewhere I’ve been meaning to revisit, if you’ll take me.”
The points of Sesshoumaru’s claws glinted as he extended her a hand. “Let us be on our way.”
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
ooohhhh shit, here we go!!!
😉
<3
She’s putting Tessaiga back in his father’s grave, isn’t she?
I like this idea. Tessaiga will be safe there from those who might seek to abuse its power, and she would be free of the burden of defending it.
😉
<3
How long exactly has it been since she’s seen him? Can’t wait to see where they go!
Good question – i think a few months? <3
🥺🥺🥺 Sesshoumaru… he came back when she got close to the well. Interesting. Was he hanging around the Bone Eaters well? Doubt it but ironic how he’s there immediately when she is. Or he’s been tracking her to this destination the entire time. Plottin’ bastard. How dare he be absent for as long as he had? He MUST be trying to hide his excitement at her leaving Edo. I almost want some other male to put Sesshoumaru in his place for not keeping up with his bitch better. Thank you for bringing Sesshoumaru back. I missed him dearly! ☺️
So glad you’re happy he’s back!! Thanks, Blackberry 🙂 <3
So glad to have my man back 🙌 For some reason, I have a feeling they will go back to the meadow–where it all began for them. I don’t know if Kagome remembers it, but it seems her efforts to repress her trauma aren’t always successful these days. If she remembers how she first died and transcended, will she then be able to return home through the well again? I’m not sure if I follow the logic there. Though Sesshoumaru’s statement–“you are leaving”–reminded me eerily of his final question to Kagura when he found her dying.
It’s interesting to see the transformation that has taken hold of their relationship. She observes that he looks different, changed, but perhaps she is instead seeing him through new eyes–no longer in a frenzy of fury and fucking. Kagome has definitely changed and matured since last they met. Before he left, she likely would have greeted him with bitter accusations and cruelty. She likely would have thrown Ren and her sacrifices in his face–try to torment him with what could have been. Then she would’ve been frustrated when it didn’t spark a reaction from him. When she is in control, they are able to communicate a lot more effectively. It would be hilarious if she wanted to go back to being just friends now 😂.
I may be in the minority here, but I for one hope that this universe is in no way connected to the Blue Flame sequence. After all this time and pain, it would be devastating if Kagome left Sesshoumaru and her children after finally coming together. And I couldn’t forgive her for sleeping with Kohaku again after how he treated her and Rin. It seems very childish and regressive–at least for Control’s Kagome. Blue Flame etc is a fascinating sequence, but I hope it stays its own uniquely dysfunctional universe. Of course, it’s your choice–I am just talking to hear my own rattle 🙃
For what it’s worth, in the Blue Flame universe, Kagome explicitly says something like “oh, I’ll go back to him one day,” and so unless old girl is lying through her teeth, it promises future reunification.
On the other hand, that universe also establishes that Kagome has a daughter with suspicious parentage. (Eugh.) So I feel you.
We’ll see! ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
” She observes that he looks different, changed, but perhaps she is instead seeing him through new eyes” – I like this idea! <3
"Though Sesshoumaru’s statement–“you are leaving”–reminded me eerily of his final question to Kagura when he found her dying." - very interesting! This never occurred to me - now I'll have to go back and check out that scene. One of my absolute favorites btw 😭
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, Alex!! <3
I might have gotten that wrong! My memory is very permeable these days lol. But I believe (at least in the Japanase sub), when she starts to fade away he asks something like, “are you leaving now?” At the time it struck me as a very lovely and gentle euphemism.
Sesshomaru’s back. Whew I can release the breath I’ve been holding!
Yep!! <3
Sweet relief!!!! I want to slap Sesshomaru and then kiss him like a cheesy romance movie. His timing is impeccable as usual. I definitely think they’re headed to that meadow where it all began. Things seem pretty calm for now but I have a feeling once Kagome begins to remember what happened, things will get complicated all over again.
On another note, I’ve been wondering what happened in the west? Clearly Sesshomaru was experiencing something life changing in tandem with Kagome’s life altering experience in Edo. Both of them seem more mature and in control of themselves in this chapter. I guess they had to lose control completely before they could realize that it was time to do some serious self-reflection.
I love the world you’re building Char. Every aspect is so intricate and well thought out 💙
” I want to slap Sesshomaru and then kiss him like a cheesy romance movie. ” XD love it
Thanks so much, Lee! So glad you’re enjoying the Control-verse <3