Endgame by Leloi “We did it, Inuyasha!” Shippou crowed victoriously and danced around as he watched the last of the swirling miasma dissipate.  It hung in the air a moment before disappearing completely, without leaving a trace of the monster it had once been a part of.  That monster was gone, defeated by the small band of friends that dared to defy his rise to power. Standing a short distance from the fox child, Miroku looked to his right hand, lightly touching the newly formed palm with his other hand before planting it firmly on Sango’s rump. The demon slayer promptly turned a few lovely shades of bright red before whacking the monk upside the head for his fondle. “Is that any way for the future mother of my children to react?” Miroku sighed, pretending to be hurt as he crossed his arms in his sleeves.  A large welt in the shape of a handprint slowly appeared on his pale cheek. “Sorry, sorry I forgot!”  Sango replied, waving her hand at him. The young miko, Kagome, stood staring at the completed Shikon no Tama in her hand.  Carefully she rolled it between her fingers, testing the weight and the purity.  It troubled her to see it completed.  It meant that their quest was over.  Keeping his distance from the rest of them, Inuyasha watched her closely. ^.~ Late that night a small hut in the local village was filled with life.  Naraku was defeated and the whole world seemed to celebrate.  Amidst all the late night revelries, a lone figure stole away from the rest and went off, seeking the solitude of the rice paddy.  Moonlight guided her way to a spot overlooking the starlit water as she stood as if waiting for something or someone. Kagome sighed.  Now that the quest was done, what were the supposed to do?  Did she return home as if nothing had ever happened?  Did she have any right to stay?  Her eyes took in all the faint details around her.  Soon she would have to bid this world goodbye and return to her own.  The quiet serenity of country life would soon be a distant memory to her city life.  How she would miss it.  Stiffening, she felt his presence before she could see him and silently she turned to look back at him in the darkness. “Your senses are getting keener.”  Inuyasha spoke softly, coming out of the shadows to stand beside her.  “You’ll become a great miko of the jewel.”  His golden eyes watched her carefully in the darkness. Kagome looked away, blushing.  That had been Kikyou’s job… but Kikyou wasn’t there anymore.  “I should think about going back… to my time.” “You would leave us?”  Inuyasha asked, looking out on the rice paddy.  For a moment he seemed to be seeking a hidden answer out there amongst the tiny rice shoots in the starlit water. “Do I have a choice?  My place is in my time… with my family.” Kagome answered, not daring to look at him.  It troubled her that he had never gotten over Kikyou.  Often she thought on the great miko’s affect on Inuyasha.  In her heart she knew he still longed for her.  And why not?  She had been his first love. “Oh… I had hoped…” The hanyou’s words were soft. “What had you hoped, Inuyasha?” Finally she looked back at him.  His eyes were on her. “That you would stay.”  Looking away again, she shook her head.  “I can’t… Besides I… What would keep me here?”  His breath caught, making her look back to him.  “Shippou, Kaede, Miroku and Sango… Me…”  He spoke of himself in a hushed tone.  “You have many friends here, Kagome.  I know they would be heartbroken if you left and never came back.” “Do you want me to stay, Inuyasha?” “Why wouldn’t I?” “I know you still love her…”  Kagome whispered, shivering with an unfelt breeze that seemed to blow through her heart. With a soft sigh, he hung his head, unwilling to meet her critical gaze.  “The woman I knew as Kikyou died a long time ago… The body she reclaimed gave life to her hatred and anger over her wrongful death.  But you…”  His eyes flickered on her.  “You came back to me.  You gave me back life and helped make right what terrible evil had befallen us.  You taught me to trust… and care.  And I’m grateful.”  Staring dully at the starlight on the water, she said nothing.  His hand took hers.  “Kagome… you came back and healed me…” Kagome was afraid to look at him.  “But can you love me, Inuyasha?” His hand tightened on hers a moment, but he said nothing. Slowly she turned to him, placing a small, glowing jewel in his hand.  “Before I go, I want you to have this.” “I don’t want it.”  Inuyasha replied, pushing it back into her hand.  “But I thought you wanted to become full demon.” His eyes regarded hers sadly.  “That’s something else you taught me… I don’t have to be demon or human… I can be both.”  Shaking his head, he looked away from her.  “I won’t take the jewel, Kagome.  You are the miko of the jewel.  It must be purified by your own hands as Kikyou meant to do.” “Yes… Kikyou meant to purify the jewel…”  Tears slid down her cheeks.  Would she always be a shadow of Kikyou in his eyes?  “I’ll go now.  Tell the others goodbye for me.” “Wait, you’re going NOW?”  Inuyasha gave her a panicked look. “It’s better this way.”  Kagome replied, turning to start back towards the well. “Will you come back?”  Something in his voice was hurt, forcing her to look back at him.  “My world is there…” “Without me…” Kagome pouted.  “What do you want from me, Inuyasha?  I helped defeat Naraku and put the jewel back together… you don’t want to use it to become demon or human.  What more do you want from me?” His footsteps brought him the short distance between them.  Catching her in his arms, he held her close.  “I need you, Kagome.  I want to be with you.  Please, let me protect you.  Where you go, I’ll follow and make sure you’re safe.” “Why?”  Tears slid down her cheeks as she stared at him in the darkness, feeling his warm arms around her body, holding her close. “Because I love you.”  His arms tightened around her.  “For a long time now… I just never had the chance to tell you.  And I wanted Kikyou to be laid to rest for good before I said it.  So you’d know I meant it… that I could love you like you deserve, without thoughts of her.”  Bowing his head down, his lips took hers. Around them a soft wind blew, making the grasses hiss and the water ripple.  --End Back to the Gallery