She fell.  He watched her fall.  In one horrible moment the youkai they had been fighting released its power and he had been unable to stop it.  He reached out for her to protect her, but it was like one of those horrible nightmares where no matter how fast one runs, they never get anywhere.

The blast made contact with her.  Her eyes flew open in shock and then they dimmed.  Her knees buckled and she landed hard on the unforgiving ground, dropping the completed jewel.  He watched as her head bounced.  It seemed as if it was himself falling instead of her.  He could feel the pain as if it were his own.

“Kagome!” 

His cry seemed to come from some hidden place within himself, torn from his soul.  His fingers tingled and he changed his grip on Tetsusaiga, raising it to fell the youkai.

“How dare you!” echoed through his mind as he swung the heavy weapon with all his might.  It cleaved the youkai in two and showered him in steaming, purple guts.

Inu Yasha shuddered and dropped his sword.  It suddenly seemed to be made of lead.  His muscles melted and he collapsed to his knees.

His mind was too numb from shock and horror to think coherently.  His eyes settled on her still form.  He clumsily crawled to her side, his muscles aching in protest.

He sat down beside her, staring down at her peaceful face.  “Kagome?” he whispered.  He reached out to push a stray lock of hair from her pale cheek.  He beat back his worst fears with a rusty blade.  They had survived worse than this and she had always opened her eyes afterwards.  Any moment now she would open her eyes and stare at him.  Any moment now… Any moment… Any…

A weight pressed on his chest making it difficult to breathe.  “Kagome?” he murmured, carefully placing his hand on her chest.  He shook her.  “Wake up.”  He pressed the palm of his hand against her unmoving chest.  No heart beat.  The rusty blade shattered into a million pieces and his chest hurt.  His eyes stung and he used his other hand to wipe away the hot tears that glided unbidden down his cheeks.  “Kagome…” he moaned, rubbing his eyes with both hands.  So much water, it wouldn’t stop.

“Damn you,” he whispered, covering his mouth to hold back the sobs.  He took a deep breath.  “DAMN YOU!!!”  He reached for her, pulling her limp body against his own.  He knotted his fingers in her hair, supporting her head on its delicate neck.  “Damn you…” he moaned against her shoulder.  He hugged her tightly, not wanting to let go.

His tears wetted her shoulder as his sobs shook them both.  He sniffled and kissed her neck.  “I love you,” he groaned.  He gently cradled her limp form in his arms.  “I love you,” he sighed.  He leaned forward and pressed his lips to hers.  After a long moment he broke off the kiss and rested his cheek against her lips.  He sighed, feeling everything he had slip away.

A cold hand touched his cheek.

He opened his eyes with a start and found Kikyou’s eyes staring into his own.

“You loved her.”  It was neither a question nor statement.  “As much as you loved me.”

Inu Yasha bowed his head.  “To me you were both one and the same.”  He wiped away one of his tears that had fallen on Kagome’s cheek.  “Your shared soul completes mine.  And now…” he broke off as his fingers traced the lifeless lips.  “This part it lost to me… again.”

He watched as Kikyou’s hand touched Kagome’s forehead.  A powerful wind blew around them.  He closed his eyes and hugged the other tightly.  If he was going to die, it would have to be with her in his arms.

He became aware that something was warm on his cheek.  He glanced down to the girl he held and was surprised to see her eyes open.  “Kagome?” he whispered tenderly.

The girl in his arms frowned slightly.  “We have become one, Inu Yasha.  This body will house us now.”

“But who are you?”

“We are both the priestess Kikyou and your companion Kagome… Born and reborn to be your soul’s mate.”

He shook his head in confusion.  “Who speaks to me now?”

“We speak,” the girl responded. 

He touched her cheek.  “Kikyou?”

Her eyes seemed to grow older.  “I am here.”

He looked up.  The shell of bones and dirt lay some distance from them, disintegrating in the breeze.  He shivered and looked back to the girl.  He smiled at her tenderly.  “Have you forgiven me?”

She frowned wearily.  “Kagome won’t have it any other way.”

“Kagome?” he whispered.

Her eyes opened wider, filling with joy and wonder.  “Yes, Inu Yasha?”

He caressed her cheek.  “So many things I never got to tell you… Why I pushed you away…”

She smiled.  “I know now.  I understand… and I love you too.”

Inu Yasha smiled, uncaring about the hot tears that ran down his cheeks.  He pulled her to him.  “Then you’ll understand… become, one again, my love.  Share body and spirit… and I’ll love you… forever.  Let me find a home with you.”

A powerful wind blew up and around them.  He closed his eyes and waited for it to end.

*               *              *

A young man woke with sunlight on his face.  He yawned and stretched each muscle, taking pleasure in each snap, crackle and pop.

“Are you awake yet, husband?” a gentle voice called from near the cooking fire.

He rubbed the sleep from his face and sat up on his side of the futon.  “Yeah, I’m awake.”

“Your bath is ready.”

He smiled and rose, flicking back his long, black hair.  He stumbled to his wife who was busy preparing breakfast.  He knelt behind her and wrapped his arms around her, resting his hands on her swollen belly.  He kissed the back of her head.  “What?  No ramen?” he growled playfully in her ear.

“You animal,” she laughed.  “Go take your bath before the water gets cold.”

He nuzzled her ear.

“Inu Yasha…” she began with mock annoyance, using his old name.

He squeezed her tenderly; careful not to put pressure on the child she carried.  “I’m going, I’m going… If you care to follow.”

She turned her head to the side so he could kiss her cheek.  He stood and made his way across the hut to the door, outside which his bath waited.

He stopped and turned to stare at the young woman who carefully prepared the traditional miso soup and rice.  “I love you,” he smiled.

She smiled back, her smoky blue eyes filled with joy and wonder.

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