He was kneeling at Rin’s bedside when she entered, the same as when she’d left him. And the time before that, and the time before that…
He was haggard and forlorn and quietly furious in a way Kagome had never seen before—had never imagined he could seem, for all his cold alien stoicism and adamant pride. He looked humbled to her, human to her. Rin’s mortal illness had transmitted to him, in spirit. The shadow of death was on his ageless features as he looked down at her, willing it not to be so.
“I feel powerless,” Sesshoumaru said to Kagome, out of nowhere, balling his clawed fist in vain. “It is the worst thing I have ever felt. Were it an enemy, this illness, I could strike it down. I could burn it away into nothing. But like a coward it hides inside her flesh, and there is naught I can do to kill it, without killing her as well.”
Eyes pricking, Kagome stood behind him, her trembling hand pressed to her lips. She said nothing back to this. What could she say?
“Twice she’s escaped death,” he went on to say. “Once, with Tenseiga. Then, with my mother’s meidou stone. But if there is anything else which can revive her, it is unknown to me.” He grit his fangs as he regarded the little girl’s unconscious, fevered form. “After all this…after all this, why must this child be taken from me?”
He wasn’t asking her—he was asking the gods themselves. But Kagome stepped toward him anyway. She made a silent vow to him in her heart as she placed her hand to his shoulder. And when he turned and looked up at her and placed his hand atop hers, nothing in all the world had ever mattered to her so much.
Then and now, Kagome breathed in sharply. Her knees went weak.
That was it—
That was the moment when everything changed.
Slowly, she sank to the floor, on her knees. “All this time…” she whispered, staring at the wooden planks as her eyes began to blur. “All this time…”
Scenting her tears, Shin leapt down from his crib and bunny-hopped toward her. Kagome lifted her blue eyes to his green ones.
Placing his little clawed hands to her teary cheeks, he said, “Kaa-san,” and then, distinctly—”no.”
Kagome laughed through her tears, hugging him to her. She returned him to his crib, and then she began to pack.
She spent the rest of that day making her arrangements and bidding her farewells. Of course with Sango this was difficult, but the hardest goodbye was yet to come. With Shin in arms, she waited in the meadow before the Bone-Eater’s Well for Inuyasha to return.
When he did, he took one long frowning look at her, with her bow over her shoulder and her yellow backpack and quiver sitting at her heels, and said, “You’re leaving.”
With the shade of Goshinboku dappling over her, Kagome turned to him and said, “I am.” Donning her backpack and shouldering her quiver as well, she added, “Take care of Sango-chan, won’t you?”
“Of course I will,” Inuyasha snapped out automatically, striding toward her then halting abruptly. “You’re really leaving. You’re striking out like this alone.”
Kagome smiled. “I’m not alone.”
She whistled, and Shin bounded through the trees, his forked tongue lolling. Seeing Inuyasha, he transformed and put up his arms. Inuyasha bent and gathered him up and hugged him so tight that tears pricked in Kagome’s eyes.
When he set Shin back down, Inuyasha turned away and said gruffly, “At least tell me where you’re going.”
“West,” Kagome said, smiling to him tearfully in farewell as she started off toward the edge of Inuyasha’s Forest, with Shin slinking along in her wake.
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
SCREECH
GET YOUR MANS, GIRL!!!!! 😍😍😍😍
I can’t believe this is happening omg finally
Damn it Kagome, it took you this long for you to realize but I’m so glad you did.
I desperately hope Sesshoumaru doesn’t turn her away, he did say he loved her like a man and had suffered for it.
As always, your writing is lovely Char
The pact is my favorite work of yours
I don’t want to hope, but I am anyways! Crossing fingers and toes! Sess had always wanted a child!
Kagome is going after her demon lord yaaassss!!! He better not have any demoness side-ass already wherever he is lol I hope they make amends. This is a HUGE turning point in this story. Amazing job Char 🥰
YASSSS!!!
THIS TIME DON’T LOOK BACK, KAGOME
Well I’ve read everything and even went back and reread, did I miss something, cause is she going on a vision, dream or a thought that Sesshoumaru is with Rin? I’m confused!
Flashback!!
Rin was saved for the third time to live a happy, fulfilling human life it’s okay Sess 😭😭
I’m so excited! We’re finally striking out! Okay now I’m kinda hoping Myouga’s still spying on them because at least he could call backup if anything happens. I hope we don’t have to depend on the wittle babu for protection. I doubt his milk fangs could do much against an adult youkai’s hide but they’ll at least be safe from more bandits 🤣
GO GET YOUR MANS BABYYYYY
Forget my prev commint. I’m so happy with this development 😭🩷❤️
We’re at a point in the story where the princess sets off to claim her warrior. agdyevdukrvek YES!!!
OHHH HELL YEAH. LET’S GO. LET’S GO TO THE WEST, BABE.
Fateful meetings are beyond. Kagome might finally meet the Lady of the West too.
So much catharsis in the these last two chapters–and that inu-hug at the end. 😥
So painfully lovely.
Thank you, Char! 💜
snifffff
just got back from crying over lord charming’s happily ever after and now i see this
yesss babyyy 😭 go forth and find your happiness! may your eternity echo with the same abiding love you felt when you looked into sesshoumaru’s eyes in that winter castle 😭😭😭💕
Sometimes you just gotta CHASE after the man
Like how my mom chased after Lee Min-ho at the mall last week. Powerwalking won’t get you that autograph.
Get ready to bring out your Seduction Arrow, Kagome! Break out the bouquets, the serenades, the poetry!!! WHO CARES IF YOU LOOK CRINGE AND DESPERATE IT’S TIME TO WIN BACK YOUR BABY DADDY
Prayin that this will be a short journey and they’ll reunite with Papamaru soon 🥹
Kagome could summon him to her if she really wants to 😂
If she causes a ruckus in the Western lands I think there’s no way he wouldn’t know
I completely MELTED when Sess appeared in this update, even in a sad flashback….. 🫠💕
Sesshy, I love you~~😘
Oh wowww, I loved that monologue of Sesshomaru at the start of this chapter. It’s so *him*.
Now I see how the future came to be… Inuyasha setting off with Sango, Kagome off to be with Sesshomaru. I’m loving this ending sm 😭🥹
So many complicated feelings for Inuyasha… 🥲
I almost forget that his whole reason to become a full demon initially was to be accepted and loved by his big brother. But then ironically Sesshoumaru sired a half-demon son…. there’s probably many layers to his feelings for Shin. Separating for a time may be the best thing for both of them 🥲🥲
Despite all these complicated adult matters, I’m really glad that Shin is mostly unaffected. To him it’s just adventure after adventure, scarfing down delicious food, meeting new family members, then getting his very own Jakken (the frog toy)! 🤣 What fun it is to be this little pup! He’s thriving!
Aw, does this mean she’s been in love with Sess for a long time? Ever since she saved Rin? 🥹💕
–
Scenting her tears, Shin leapt down from his crib and bunny-hopped toward her. Kagome lifted her blue eyes to his green ones.
Placing his little clawed hands to her teary cheeks, he said, “Kaa-san,” and then, distinctly—”no.”
–
Shin you handsome little bunny-puppy you!! Why are you always so perfect???
This would be a great time for Shin to learn to fly if papa’s holed himself up in his sky palace. I’m imagining it all gloomy and stormy with green lightning, because Sess is just THAT dramatic and I’ll bet ya these few months still weren’t enough for him to calm down 😅