With the tinny sound of breaking crystal, the portal closed behind them, Kagome and the others descending toward the village square. At once a cheering crowd swarmed around the returning heroes as cries of “Kagome-sama–Kagome-sama is back!” rang out through the fields and streets. Swept off Ah-Un’s saddle, the weary miko found herself half-escorted, half-carried toward Kaede’s hut–even her normally gruff and unflappable mentor dashing tears from her visible eye as she gathered her protégée up in a warm, motherly embrace.

“…Kagome child,” the elderly priestess said thickly, running a soothing hand over the younger miko’s unruly tresses.

Tightening her hold around Kaede’s shoulders, Kagome couldn’t help but let a few more tears fall herself. “Baa-chan…”

By now the rest of her friends had managed to wade through the crowd. With an ecstatic cry, Shippou leapt from Kirara’s neck into Kagome’s waiting arms, Rin relinquishing her her hold on a blushing Kohaku and an utterly resigned Jakken to throw her arms around Kagome as well. Hugging her young friends back with a watery laugh, the young miko smiled toward Miroku and Sango.

“It’s good to be home,” she said.

“Indeed it is,” Miroku agreed with a sigh. Slipping his arm around the taijiya gazing up at him, his smooth voice pitched down another octave. “Now that Naraku is vanquished, I believe a second honeymoon is in order.”

“Honeymoon?” Kagome blinked between the beaming pair. “Wait–when did you two get married?!”

Red dusted Sango’s cheeks as she opened her mouth to answer–when a familiar shadow slanted over Kagome from above. Landing just before her with her yellow schoolbag, longbow and quiver clenched faithfully in his flat teeth, the horse youkai neighed at her in muffled greeting.

“Entei-san!” the young miko cried, wrapping her arms around her long-lost companion’s fiery-maned neck.

Of one mind, they turned together toward the setting sun. Quickly divesting Entei of her belongings, she slung her bow and arrows gingerly over her shoulder and mounted him at once.

“Kagome-chan!” Sango addressed her in sudden concern. “Where are you going?–you’re still wounded.”

“Sesshoumaru,” the miko replied with an anxious frown. “I have to find him.”

“But, Kagome-chan—”

Already turning away in single-minded resolve, Kagome glanced down when she felt Kaede’s gnarled fingers rest atop her own.

“Look, child.”

Following the direction of the elder miko’s stare, Kagome looked out past the edge of the village, where a pale, solemn figure stood alone atop a gently sloping hill. Flying over to him in a heartbeat, she slipped numbly down from Entei’s back, her bare feet touching lightly to the new spring grass.

His features were drawn, his armor busted. His beautiful hair, beautiful face, beautiful form all stained and streaked with dark, ashy soot. Only his golden eyes were untarnished as he gazed at her in perfect stillness—as though not quite yet daring to believe that she was actually there.

In the same mesemerized way, Kagome gazed back.

“Sesshoumaru…” she ventured at last.

When he remained standing before her, her fingers twitched at her side.

“…Kagome,” he rumbled out, “I—”

Sesshoumaru cut off with a grunt, his face slanting sharply to one side as Kagome’s palm met his cheek in a righteous, echoing slap. Flushed and slightly panting, she lowered her red stinging hand.

Now that that’s out of my system…

As Sesshoumaru sank to a crouch, Kagome’s face abruptly fell. At the pained expression that lined his features, she followed him down in a flutter of concern.

“Sesshoumaru,” she said urgently, digging her fingers into his sleeve. “What’s wrong?”

His jaw clenched, his claws clutching near the base of his throat. Kagome’s brow furrowed as she looked beyond his hand, to the fragment of the Shikon no Tama glowing brightly beneath it.

“Sesshoumaru…why do have that Jewel shard in your chest?”

“Magatsuhi,” the daiyoukai answered tersely, tightening his grip. “I had to ensure…that he would not take possession of me.”

The young miko’s mind reeled. Magatsuhi had wanted to take over Sesshoumaru’s body? But, why would placing the Jewel shard there have prevented that?

“What…” Kagome demanded shakily, struggling to keep the rising panic out of her voice as she steered him toward her by both of his sleeves. “…What are you saying?”

Heavily, Sesshoumaru met her gaze.

“When the shard is removed from my heart,” he said, his lashes lowering in grim acceptance, “I will die.”

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi