Inuyasha-Oniisama, Aishiteru (COMPLETED! BONUS!!!)

“Kagome! Kagome, child, we are ye?”



Kaede willed her elderly body over the hills and towards the sound of the rushing waters. Kaede could see from the top of the cliff she stood upon that Kagome had immersed herself beneath the waterfall, standing beneath its rushing waters. Kagome’s eyes were closed and the white kimono she wore was soaked through, but despite the harshness or the coldness of the water falling upon her, she didn’t move. Just stood there, stoic and stiff. Kaede chuckled to herself before descending the cliff with a small sigh.



“Child, how long do ye plan on standing beneath the waters? Tis Sunday! You will be late for your own ceremony.”



Kagome slowly opened her eyes, which were a startling, ghostly pale blue color. As if in a trance, Kagome began walking forward, until she was literally walking on water. Kaede’s eyes widened at such a feat; something she’d accomplished in just two days, nonetheless. When her feet touched land, Kagome fell to her knees, gasping for air. She closed her eyes and shook her head. When she opened her eyes, they were their normal, beautiful brown color once more. She looked up at Kaede with a small smile.



“Sorry, I guess I lost track of time.”



”How do ye feel, child?”



“Well…dizzy. I suppose I overdid it, trying to harness all of my spiritual energy.”



”That ye did well, child; never before have I see someone place their feet upon unstable waters and walk them as if they were solid.”



Kagome gave a sheepish smile before standing up. Kaede escorted them to the secluded dojo in the beautiful Kyoto Mountains. The cherry blossoms coated the ground like a soft, pink snow and there wasn’t another person for miles. The grass was green and lush and sometimes, wild animals would come to the dojo and interact with Kagome. To Kagome, it was a beautiful place for a sacred training ground.



“Now, child, ye should bath once more before you leave.”



”Won’t you be coming with me, Kaede-Sama?”



“Nay, child. I’ll come to the ceremony, but not until much later. After all, I am the one who shall pass on the shrine to you. Tis something I have been doing in ye’re family since before ye mother was born.”



Kagome took Kaede’s word for it and didn’t dare ask how old Kaede was; usually asking her resulted in some painful form of punishment. Kagome was quick, yet calm with her bathing. She dressed in a light blue mini dress and white platform sandals. Her hair, having grown back out to its normal length, was combed and brushed until it shone. Kagome grabbed the small duffle bag she’d brought with her and looked at Kaede who was standing by the door.



“Thank you for everything, Kaede-Sama.” Kagome bowed.



“Aye, tis my pleasure, child. Now, I shall see you later on this evening. And Kagome,”



Kagome turned around before starting down the mountainous path.



“Yes?”



”Remember, you are two parts of the same being. The part of you that symbolizes a woman and the part of you that symbolizes a priestess. A woman’s heart can be clouded from time to time, but a miko’s heart is free of any fog and her mind is always clear with proper judgments. Remember when to utilize the part of you that is both a woman and priestess and your journey will become easier.”



Kagome looked at Kaede before bowing and thanking her for her words of wisdom. Kagome continued on down the rocky path that would eventually lead her into the city and to her destination; the train station. Kagome only hoped Inuyasha and Kikyou, and even Kouga were prepared for the final change within her.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*



Kikyou was very nervous. The large shrine had filled up with several people, all here to see her step down as the head priestess and give the shrine fully over to Kagome. The only problem was not only had the ceremony began three hours ago, Kagome had yet to return from wherever she was! Everyone had showed up in their finest kimono; even Koura, who was wearing a very handsome emerald-green kimono that set his eyes off perfectly. Kouga’s younger brothers Ginta and Hakkaku had even shown up, as a way of showing their appreciation to Kagome for when she healed Ginta. Kagome’s friends from her class were there as well, one girl, Ayumi, bringing her boyfriend Hojo with her. Hojo had presented Kikyou with a few remedies from his family’s shop for her pregnancy, of which Kikyou accepted with much honor. People who had been treated under Kikyou or Kagome, whether child or adult, was there ready to pay their respects. Inuyasha found Kikyou sitting on the steps that led upstairs to Kagome’s room, looking very pensive.



“You okay?”



“Inuyasha, I’m concerned…Maybe this all too much for Kagome to handle.”



Inuyasha sighed for a minute, turning his head away from her. It’d been a little over a week since that whole incident with Kagome in the bathroom and so far, Inuyasha had done well on his promise to her to never bother her like that again. Then again, that’s only because Kagome was nowhere to be found.



“Lady Kikyou…! Kagome-Chan is here!” Yuka called out.



Kikyou and Inuyasha quickly got up and followed the shorthaired girl out of the shrine house and towards the shrine steps. Kagome was ascending the steps as the sun behind her was slowly descending on the horizon. She approached Kikyou with a smile. Bowing, once she stood before her sister, Kikyou knew that the girl that had left them over a week ago was not the same young woman who stood before them.



“Kikyou-oneechan, please for give my sudden departure and my even longer absence. If you still see it fit to pass the shrine on to me, I am ready to accept the responsibility of it and make well of the Higurashi name.”



Kagome’s eyes opened when she felt Kikyou’s hand on her shoulders. Abruptly, Kagome found herself pulled into Kikyou’s warm and loving embrace.



“Kagome, I’ve missed you so! Please, forgive me if there was something I wasn’t understanding or…”



Kagome hugged Kikyou back, shaking her head back and forth against her sister’s bosom.



“No, sister, it’s nothing of your fault.”



Kagome looked over Kikyou’s shoulder and directly at Inuyasha, but continued to smile.



“It was just mine. I’ve journeyed and I have learned much in two days, but I feel like a stronger person now.”



Kikyou looked at Kagome, a smile crossing her gentle features. True, Kagome was indeed a stronger person now.



“Well, let’s get you prepared for the ceremony, then.”



“Yes, I’ll be in shortly, but…Inuyasha?”



Inuyasha seem startled when Kagome looked at him once more.



“Y…yeah?”



”Let’s take a walk for a minute. Do you mind, Kikyou?”



”Not at all, I’ll prepare everything inside. Kaede-Sama arrived an hour ago, anyhow.”



Kikyou departed with a smile, leaving Inuyasha and Kagome to talk. Inuyasha scratched the back of his head nervously, while Kagome just stared out onto the horizon from the very top of the shrine steps.



“Well? What did you wanna talk about?”



”Inuyasha, I’m stronger now. I’m wise enough to understand that no matter how I wish it weren’t so, you are the father of Kikyou’s unborn child. That child is a bond between you two I’ll never be able to break, nor, do I want to. Inuyasha,”



Kagome turned, her longer, jet-black hair blowing in the gentle breeze of the evening. With a smile, she took his hands and sighed.



“Please, be happy.”



“K…Kagome…”



Kagome’s eyes widened when she found herself pulled into Inuyasha’s arms. He wrapped his arms tightly around her and released a deep, deep sigh.



“I love with Kikyou, and I’ll love my pup until they put me in my grave and even after, but I can’t be happy. I just can’t be happy. What can I do…? I want you, I want you as a woman, I want you to be the one to carry my pup, but…”



“Inuyasha…” Kagome began.



“I can’t stand it…! Purify my heart or something, dammit! That way, I wouldn’t give a damn about you!”



Kagome settled her head against his shoulder with a sigh of her own. His emotions came through loud and clear; he was confused, he was hurting, he was in pain. Kagome gave a wistful smile that Inuyasha could hear in her voice.



“Even if I purify your heart, Inuyasha, what will that do for me?”



Inuyasha looked at her and Kagome looked up at him, meeting his beautiful gaze.



”Even if I purify your heart and you forget all about ever loving me, I’ll never forget that there was a time where you truly loved me, Inuyasha. I’ll never forget.”



Kagome pulled away from his embrace and turned to face the shrine.



“We mustn’t forget what brought us happiness in the first place. We can’t forget the memories that made us happy, or the memories that bring us sorrow. Inuyasha, I cannot return your feelings. I’m sorry.”



Kagome almost thought Inuyasha was going to cry, but he just sighed, standing in the dying rays of the sun and said nothing. Kagome headed towards the shrine, willing every part of her that was miko to hold back the tears she felt that was going to spill down her cheeks any moment. Who knew closure hurt so much and if she’d truly had closure, why did she feel as if she was still so torn. Kagome closed her eyes for a moment, listening to the inner voice tell her that to Kagome, Inuyasha would always be her childhood hero; her playmate…her Oniichan. But that was all he could be to her; nothing more, nothing less.



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~



Kagome breathed a sigh of relief when the destined arrow hit its mark. Everyone cheered loudly. Now, officially, the shrine was hers. After an hour of prayer and mediation and Kagome promising to up uphold the true teachings of what it meant to be a miko. Kagome’s final rite of passage was to take an arrow, one passed down for many, many generations in her family, cover the tip of it in her blood and embed it into the old Goshinboku: the tree of ages. Everyone cheered as the arrow hit it’s mark directly in the center; signifying that it was indeed her turn to take care of the shrine and now, her blood was added to the generational tree that stood watch for so many years. Everyone cheered and proclaimed how proud they were of her. The shrine, and the responsibility that came with it, all belonged to her now. Kagome released a small sigh of happiness. Kikyou then pronounced the festivities to commence. Several vendors, all who’d been helped by Kikyou in some way, set up their shops and lit up the Higurashi shrine like a little mini festival. Kagome was only to enjoy the festivities for a few moments before Kikyou handed Kagome a large box and ushered her up to her room. Inside, was a beautiful, black kimono with red roses imprinted on it. Kagome pulled her hair into a bun, tying it tightly with a red ribbon. She tucked her fan in her red obi and headed back downstairs to enjoy the festivities. The younger children were enjoying games or trying to catch goldfish, whereas the younger and older adults enjoyed talking and walking around the festival grounds.



“Hey, Kagome…” a familiar voice behind her said.



Kagome turned and saw Kouga, handsome dressed in his own emerald-green kimono.



“Kouga-sensei…!” Kagome smiled.



”Good to have you back. Missed ya.” He admitted with a small blush.



“I missed you too.”



“Hey, it’s Kagome…!”



Kouga and Kagome turned their heads only to see Ginta and Hakkaku approaching them. Both bowed their heads in high respect.



“Congratulations, Kagome-Sama!”



”We’re very happy for you, Kagome-Sama!”



“Ginta-san, Hakkaku-san! You both look very well.”



“Yeah, Ginta here’s been doing much better after you tended to him a while ago!”



”I really can’t thank you enough, Kagome-Sama.” Ginta bowed.



Kagome could only smile. Ginta and Hakkaku were Kouga’s only two brothers who helped run the family business; a part-time moving company and a part-time food stand. The foursome talked for a little while longer before Kagome asked if any of them had seen Kikyou.



“Kikyou-Sama…let’s see…oh, she was getting ready to dance, I believe!”



”Dance…?” Kagome asked, eyes wide.



In the distance, they could hear a loud drum being played. Kagome hurried over to the center of the shrine where a large drum had been set up on a playing stand. Inuyasha was at the very top, pounding on the drum in a rhythmic matter, actually appearing to enjoy himself. Hojo was at the bottom, playing a different set of small, metallic drums and bells that when combined with Inuyasha’s playing, produced a pleasant song for dancing. Kagome pushed her way through the small crowd of people surrounding the circle where Kikyou was dancing. Kagome eyes widened and she broken into a smile. Kagome had never seen her older sister in an actual kimono, but there she was, wearing a vibrant, pink kimono with a special cherry blossom patter on it. The obi was green and the instead of the white ribbon that usually held her long, black hair together, Kikyo’s hair was braided down her back, held with a beautiful green ribbon. She was dancing rhythmically to the sounds being played for her and people clapped in unison to the music, cheering for her. Kikyo looked at Kagome standing there and clapping with everyone else.



“Kagome! Come and dance!”



Kagome blushed and held up her hands, shaking her head back and forth.



“No! No way!”



“Go ahead, Kagome-Chan!” her friends cheered.



Everyone clapped and cheered for her and reluctantly, she headed into the middle of the circle and found herself dancing in rhythm with Kikyo. Kikyo and Kagome looked at one another, breaking out into joyful smiles. Kikyo distanced herself always from Kagome, her left hand glowing beautiful. Kikyo threw her hand up, a beautiful display of fire in the form of the phoenix; Suzaku appearing in the sky. Everyone cheered loudly and Kikyo looked at Kagome, winking at her. Kagome spun around gracefully before centering her power in her right hand. A beautiful blue light came from Kagome’s hand and shot into the sky, taking the form of Byakko; the white tiger. Everyone continued to cheer loudly as the girls danced and used their spiritual abilities to decorate the sky in beautiful patterns. By the time they were done, both girls were panting heavily, but happy. As they sat down at a nearby table, Kikyo smiled at Kagome.



“Your powers have improved, I see. So, Byakko has chosen you, has it?”



“Hai. But sister Kikyo, what will become of Suzaku?”



”I no longer have a need for Suzaku to guard me, but maybe…I’ll keep it around just in case.”



Kagome nodded and Kikyou took her hand.



“Kagome, I am happy that you too have a guardian constellation watching over you. Byakko, the white tiger, is a kind and gentle soul who will watch over you without a second thought. The fact that you have acquired a guardian in such a short time tells me that you have indeed matured into a lovely young woman.”



Kagome blushed under her sister’s words, but she was glad to hear them nonetheless. Kikyo fiddled around in the sleeve of her kimono before pulling out a small scroll.



“What’s this?”



”Kagome-Chan, I want you to have this. But, do not open it until the time is right.”



Kagome took the scroll and looked at it.



“When will I know the right time to open it then?”



Kikyo sighed wistfully, looking at the crowd of people still enjoying themselves. Surprisingly enough, Kouga had taken over for Inuyasha on the large drum. Inuyasha, on the other hand, was busy enjoying the many foods that their time had to offer.



“Kikyo…?” Kagome asked.



“Years and years from now, hopefully.”



Kagome looked at the scroll in her hand and nodded.



“Alright.”



”Good. Now, what do you say we continue having a grand time?”



“But aren’t you pregnant? Is all of this excitement good for the baby?”



“I’m only three months along, Kagome-Chan. As long as I don’t overdo it, I’ll be fine. Now, come.”



Kikyo extended her hand out to Kagome’s who took it with a smile. Kagome placed the scroll in the sleeve of her kimono and went on to enjoy herself. Kagome shouldered another person by accident, quickly turning around and apologizing.



“I’m sorry! Are you okay?”



Kagome’s eyes widened at the young woman standing before her; beautiful, fiery red hair hanging down her back, stunning emerald eyes and wearing a light purple kimono decorated with irises. She smiled and giggled.



“Oh, yes! I’m fine! Actually, I was hoping to bump into you, Kagome-Sama.”



”Um…me?” Kagome asked.



“Ah, Ayame-Chan. How have you been?” Kikyo asked, stepping in for a minute.



“I am well, Kikyou-Sama. I’d like to thank you once more for the medicines you gave to my father. His ailments are doing much better.” Ayame bowed.



Kagome looked at Kikyou, a bit confused. Kikyo smiled and nodded her head in the direction of Ayame.



“Kagome-Chan, this Ayame Kaibaku. She used to be a student-teacher at your own school, believe it or not.”



Kagome’s eyes quickly widened.



“K…Kaibaku…? Are you related to…?”



”Yes, Asahiro Kaibaku was my younger half-brother. After his death, I transferred to another school. I couldn’t stand the thought of not being able to help him. But, I just wanted to thank you so much for putting him at rest, Kagome-Sama.” She bowed.



Kagome shook her head, smiling at Ayame.



“I’m happy I could.”



Ayame raised her head and smiled. She’d turned to leave before backtracking a bit and looking at Kagome.



“Um…I…I feel silly asking this, but…do you know…um…”



Ayame hinted in the direction of where Kouga was energetically playing the drums. He looked like he was enjoying himself greatly.



“Oh, that’s right. You used to student-teach under Kouga-san, didn’t you?” Kikyo said, remembering that Ayame was only a year older than herself.



Ayame nodded, her face turning a slight, red color. Kagome couldn’t help but smile.



“Well, Kouga-sensei still teaches there if that’s what you’re asking, but he has been mentioning needing a new teacher’s aid. Ayame-Chan, why don’t you ask him about it?”



”Oh, I could never…”



”Nee, Kouga-San!” Kagome called.



Even over the drumming, Kouga heard sweet Kagome calling to him. He climbed down from the drum and headed over to where he could see Kikyo, Kagome and a familiar red-head standing there.



“No way…Ayame?”



”H…hello, K…Kouga-sensei. How have you been?”



”Pretty good. It’s good to see you again.”



Kagome put her hands on Ayame’s shoulders and smiled at Koga.



“Ayame was just telling me how much fun she had student-teaching under you and if you still had the position open, she’d be willing to pick up where she left off.”



“Really?” Kouga smiled.



Ayame’s eyes were wide with embarrassment as Kouga gave a her a pat on the shoulder.



“Well, as long as she’s comfortable, I suppose I could help ease her into her old position.”



”That’s great! Thank you, Kouga!” Kagome smiled.



“Th…thank you, Kouga.” Ayame smiled.



There was a silence between everyone for a minute before Kouga offered to show Ayame around the festival. Ayame, with much chagrin, accepted his offer. Kikyo stood next to Kagome, who was smiling.



“That was interesting…I could have sworn you were in love with Kouga-san, Kagome.”



“No, not like Ayame-Chan is.”



“You scanned her emotions, didn’t you?” Kikyo smiled.



Kagome shook her head and giggled.



”I didn’t need to. I could just tell by the look in Ayame’s eyes. She really likes Kouga, doesn’t she?”



“Well, Ayame is just a year older than me and she and Kouga have actually known each other since they were both in high school. When Kouga decided to stay behind and take the job offering, Ayame, who is only a few years younger, decided to stay behind with him and take the job as his student-teacher.”



Kagome smiled and made a mental note to pray for their happiness.



“We never did finish our ‘ten days’…” Kagome muttered to herself.



“What was that?” Kikyo asked.



“Nothing at all. Anyway, don’t you think you should go and find Inuyasha? The fireworks will be starting soon.”



Kikyo blushed a little and went off to find Inuyasha. Kagome took a seat beneath the large Goshinboku and sighed a little bit. Everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves greatly and couples walked around…acting like, well, couples. Kagome had to admit, it made her a little envious, but she reasoned with herself that it’d be alright.



“Yeah…everything is going to be alright.”



“You sure?”



Kagome looked up, seeing Inuyasha standing over her. He sat beside Kagome and looked up at the stars. Kagome sighed and gave him a small nod. Inuyasha allowed himself a small smile. Kagome smiled at him.



“Yeah. We’ll be alright.”



~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~



A/N: Here’s your update!!! Thanks again, everyone for all of the reviews! Sorry I can’t do more personalized reviews, but I’m strapped for time; in otherwords, I have to go to work soon T_T. Anyway, thanks for the reviews and lemme know what you think! There’s gonna be a few more chapters after this one!!!!! No, it’s not over!!!