Tender Love

Disclaimer-I do not own any of the characters from Inuyasha.

A/N-well, there is only the epiloge left and that will mark the end of 'Tender Love.' i would like to thank everyone for all the lovely and sweet reviews. without them i am not sure if i could have completed it but i have reached the end. i hope everyone has enjoyed reading 'Tender Love' as much as i have enjoyed writing it. so until next time. i'll be seein' ya.

Chapter 31


Upon the release of the wind scar and the disappearance of Nishimura’s demonic energy the battle came to an abrupt halt as everyone turned to the figure dressed in red. In one hand she held the Tetsusaiga still in its fang form and in the other, she held the broken black sword Yami no Ryuu. The eastern demons gasped in shock to see their lord's sword broken and no sign of the demon lord himself. They could not believe what their eyes and senses were telling them. The hanyou had defeated their mighty lord.

"Drop your weapons," ordered Sesshomaru. "This fight is over."

The enemy army began to lay down their weapons as they stared in awe at the young hanyou standing tall, proud and victorious.

Sesshomaru made his way over to his mate standing behind her. "Inuyasha," he said softly smiling. Expecting her to turn around wearing a cocky smirk on her face telling him that she told him she could beat the old fart, he frowned when she remained not moving. The wind picked up blowing her long silver braid to the side. Something was wrong. He walked around her to stand in front of her. What he saw made his heart stop. She stood there with a gentle smile on her face and her beautiful golden eyes stared at him lifelessly. His heart shattered into a million pieces when he saw the bloody gaping wound in her stomach. "Inuyasha!" He yelled as he took her into his arms falling to his knees.

The others rushed to his side. Sango gasped in horror and buried her face into her husband shoulder as tears fell from her eyes. Miroku turned away burying his face into his wife's hair as tears of sorrow fell from his eyes into Sango's hair. Koga turned away trying to hold back his tears but it was just too much. He felt so sorry for his friend. After searching for so long and getting her back, and then to lose her in some senseless war. His tears fell like rain down his cheeks as he listened to his friend beg his mate to wake up.

"Yasha! Wake up. Please. You can't leave us. Keitano, Keitaro and Shippo need you. I need you." He brushed her bang out of her face. But still, she would not move. Those empty lifeless eyes just stared up at nothing. There was still a chance to bring her back. Clutching the hilt of Tenseiga, he drew the sword from its sheath and waited for the tale tell pulse of the sword that would indicate it would save this life. But there was nothing. Not even a twinge from the sword. He tightened his grip but still there was nothing. "NOOOO!" he cried out in misery burying his face in her hair as tears fell from his eyes.

He raised his head to the sky and released a heart wrenching howl that was filled with so much sadness until the very sound tore through the soul. Sango sobbed helplessly against her husband's shoulder at the sound of the heartbroken howl. The sound was so awful until the warriors from the eastern land felt the pain and suffering of the young demon lord.

Inutaisho was making his way to his son when the sound of the soul-destroying howl rung in his ears. He knew what that awful sound meant. He had made the same sound when his beloved Sakura had died. 'Sesshomaru.' Tears of sorrow and pain fell from his dark golden eyes. 'My poor boy.'

Up on the hill overlooking the battlefield, Shippo and Mina held the crying Keitano and Keitaro closely to their chest. Although they were only infants, even they could feel the pain and heartbreak of their father's howl.

Back on the battlefield Sesshomaru's throat had become raw, and he ceased his agonizing howl. Although there was no life in her eyes, he still thought she had the prettiest eyes in all of Japan. He raised one clawed hand and closed the lids over those soulless eyes. Then he kissed her on the forehead. "Come my Yasha, let's go home." Standing to his feet, he carried his beloved mate through the crowd as a path opened to let him pass. He took her back to the castle and to their bedchamber.

xxxxx

It has been almost eight days since the battle and Sesshomaru still remained locked within his room. When he first walked into the palace, he ordered the servants to bring towels and rose water. Then he called for the healer, Mizuka. The only people Sesshomaru allowed in the room was the healer and servants. After the servants brought the water and towels, he ordered them all out. After the servants left Mizuka walked into the room. Upon seeing her Lady, the healer felt her heart break. So, it was true. She was not present during the final battle. She had turned the eastern wing of the palace into a medical ward where she and her assistants took care of the wounded. It was from the newly arrived wounded that she heard about the Lady Inuyasha. She had died fighting her grandfather and won but in the end, she lost her own life.

Mizuka didn't want to believe but now as she stands in the couple’s bedchamber looking down at the lifeless form of the Lady of West. She knew that this would mean the west will die as well. She watched as Sesshomaru removed the blooded haori from Inuyasha's body and Mizuka had to bite her bottom lip to stop the scream that wanted to burst from her throat as she stared in horror at the hole in Inuyasha's stomach. Pieces of flesh were missing and some of her organs were visible. Tears of horror fell from her eyes as she fought back the bile that was threaten to erupt from her stomach.

Sesshomaru turned empty eyes upon the healer and then looked down at the hole in his mate's stomach. "You will . . . You will heal this wound. I want nothing to remain of this battle."

Mizuka fought back her tears and she said in a shaky voice. "I'm sorry my lord, but . . . but a healer can only heal the flesh of the living."

Sesshomaru raised one clawed hand and comb back the bang on her forehead. "But I . . . I," he choked out but could not finish.

"The best I could do, my lord is bandage the wound," said Mizuka in a craggy voice.

"Then do it."

"Of course my lord, I will only be gone a few seconds." Mizuka turned and rushed out of the room and went to her chamber to get the bandages. She hurried back to the master bedroom clutching the bandages.

While she was gone, Sesshomaru had removed Inuyasha's hakama and continued to bathe her with the rose scented water.

"I have the bandages."

Sesshomaru only nodded his head and Mizuka went about bandaging the awful wound while he continued to lovingly bathe her body. Once he was through bathing her and Mizuka had finished bandaging the wound, he went to the closet and took out a dark blue kimono with a silver crescent moon stitched in the back. With Mizuka's help they dressed her in the kimono.

He asked Mizuka to bring a fresh sheet to place on the bed. He did not want blood to stained Inuyasha's clean clothes. Once again, the healer hurried out of the room and told one of the servants to bring a clean sheet. The young demoness hurried to do as she was ordered and returned a few minutes later with a clean white sheet.

Taking the sheet, she went back inside. Sesshomaru was still cradling his mate's body in his arms as he sat in a chair near the large bed. After Mizuka had ripped the bloody sheet off the bed and replaced it with the clean sheet, Sesshomaru laid Inuyasha's body back on the bed. Straightening the kimono, he stared down into the lovely face of his love. She looked so peaceful. It was almost as though she was only asleep. Raising his clawed hand, he traced her bottom lip. 'Remember what I told you the day you gave birth to our sons. That not even death will separate you from me.' Tears welled up in his eyes to spill down his cheeks. 'Well, it seems like death has decided to put me to the test. I will join you soon, my beloved. Please, wait for me, Yasha.' Then he told the healer what he wanted her to do.

Two hours had passed from the time the healer had entered the chamber and when she finally left. Everyone either stood leaning against the wall or sat on the floor waiting to find out what Sesshomaru was doing. Mizuka sighed and told them that Sesshomaru had wanted a spell of preservation placed upon Inuyasha's body to keep it from decaying. No one knew exactly what they could do for the demon lord. Inutaisho tried talking to him but Sesshomaru would not let the elder demon into the room. The same went for Inuyasha's father. The demon lord had, upon receiving a message from Captain Shilin, came two days later after receiving word that his daughter was dead. Sesshomaru did not want to listen to anything they had to say. All he wanted was to stay in his room with his beloved and die with her.

The others remained at the castle not wanting to leave their friend in such a state. Once Ayame heard what had happened to her friend, she immediately made her way to the castle to be with her mate and the heartbroken demon lord.

It was night time when Akemi went outside and entered the chamber by way of the balcony. He opened the doors and went inside. He saw Sesshomaru kneeling beside the bed with his head laying on Inuyasha's breast.

"Sesshomaru," he whispered softly.

Sesshomaru said noting. Akemi sighed and was about to say something else when Sesshomaru decided to speak.

"I'm sorry Lord Akemi. It seems I have failed you completely," he said sadly.


"Don't blame yourself for this," said Akemi. "Inuyasha wouldn't want you to mourn."

"I know but I can't help it." He raised his head to stare into the serene face of his love and raked his claws through her hair. "She meant everything to me. She was that ray of light that brighten my cold, empty world. Now, I feel so cold and empty inside. I feel like part of my soul has died.”

"I know exactly how you are feeling." Akemi stood at the foot of the bed and stared at his beautiful daughter. He saw Tenseiga resting beside his daughter's body. Akemi could only guess that the young demon has been trying for days to get the sword to bring Inuyasha back, but the sword would not answer his plea. Tears of sorrow fell from his eyes. "I felt the same way when my precious Izayoi died. It was like someone had forced a hand into my chest and pulled out my heart. Sometimes late at night the pain was so bad until I thought I would die. But you want to know something Sesshomaru. The pain that I felt was nothing compared to how my little Inu felt because she had to watch as her mother died before her eyes. And my mistake was not being there for her."

Sesshomaru looked up at his father-in-law with sad blank eyes. "I promised myself that if Inuyasha was to die that I would follow her into death." He picked up the dagger and stared as though in a trance at the polished blade.

"It would be so easy to die but dying is not an option for you."

"Why?" Sesshomaru asked hoarsely as his throat felt constricted. "There is nothing left for me without my Yasha to stand by my side."

"Nothing left to live for." Akemi arched a silver brow and stared directly into Sesshomaru eyes. "You have three beautiful children who need you. Don’t make the mistake I did. Don’t let your children grow up alone, thinking you hate them. You have to be there for them as well. They are suffering too."

His tears began to blur his vision as he looked into Inuyasha's peaceful face. He knew what Akemi said was true. The children needed him now. He must live for their sake. It is what Inuyasha would want. 'Besides, if I showed up dead you would probably strangle me within an inch of my afterlife for leaving the children alone, wouldn't you?' He smiled sadly.

"It’s time to bury the dead and move on,” said Akemi hoarsely as his voice began to crack from the tears that fell from his eyes. "But you must remember, Yasha will never be dead as long as you remember her and keep her in your heart. That way, she will live forever."

Sesshomaru sat beside the bed for a while thinking about what the elder demon said. Akemi was right, again. It was time to lay his beloved to rest. He placed the dagger on the small bedside table and let his eyes fall upon her serene face. Then he stood up brushing his finger through the bang across her forehead. "Sleep peacefully, my beloved and know that I shall love you long after this world has come to its end." He pressed his lips to her forehead in a gentle, loving kiss and then turn to walk away.

"Good bye my sweet daughter," whispered Akemi as he turned and walked out of the room.

xxxxx

Dawn was only an hour away when a gentle breeze blew in through the opened balcony door ruffling the curtains. Suddenly appearing in the room was a beautiful woman dressed in a white kimono with two large snow white wings on her back. She had long black hair and soft lavender colored eyes. She said not a word as she smiled down at the young demoness. Lying beside Inuyasha was the sword of life, Tenseiga. Picking up the sword, the woman said in a gentle pleading voice. "Oh great Tenseiga, please restore the life to this young one. It was not her destiny to die. For the children she will bring forth shall be the guiding light to demons all over the world."

Suddenly the sword began to vibrate in her delicate hands. Then she held the sword high above her head. "Please great Tenseiga, hear and feel the pain, sadness and suffering of all who will miss her." Suddenly like a breeze the sword began to listen to the cries of every one of the western lands that knew the Lady of West.
The heart retching sobs rung through the sword. The wails of the children she would play with had the sword shuttering in sadness. The sobs and cries of those inside the palace tore through the heart of the sword. The infants were awake and refused to sleep. Shippo was sitting in Sesshomaru's lap crying his emerald eyes out. The heart of the young demon lord was shattering into a million pieces. The humans were crying as their heart broke at the loss of their friend. The wolf demoness, Ayame cried herself asleep in her mate's arms as Koga, himself, felt like crying also but he knew that tears would not bring back their friend's mate. In the study Akemi and Inutaisho sat silently drinking sake as Akemi broke into tears. Inutaisho went to his friend and tried to comfort him. 'Curse you, Nishimura, for destroying the lives of our children,' thought Inutaisho angrily.

But what truly ripped through the very core of the sword were the children as they sobbed wretchedly into their parents arms. They did not want to believe that their beloved lady was gone. The younger children pleaded with their parents to tell them it was not true that come the morning when they arrive to play with Shippo and see the twins that Inuyasha will be there to greet them. It's a lie! The children would cry out all their pain and heartache into the bosom of their weeping parents. The sword absorbed all of the heartache, pain and suffering of everyone that loved Inuyasha.

Suddenly the sword pulsed in her hand. She smiled. The sword had answered her plea. “Thank you Tenseiga.” She saw the horrible little green imps of the underworld chaining the soul of the demoness. "You shall not have this one." Swinging the blade she sliced through the minions of the underworld vanquishing them. Suddenly Inuyasha's eyes snapped opened, and she bit her lips to hold back the scream of pain. Her back arched off the bed as she felt nothing but searing pain coursing through her body. She gasped and whimpered as the burning hole in her stomach began to slowly heal. It took the stomach wound longer than the other wounds to heal because of all that had to be reconnected in order for her body to work perfectly. Once her organs were working normally, the hole itself began to heal up. Inuyasha sighed in relief once it was over. Her eyes slowly closed as she took a deep breath and then another until she was breathing normally. Then Inuyasha fell into a deep restful sleep.

The ethereal figure placed the sword on the bed beside the sleeping demoness and brushed the hair away from Inuyasha's face. She leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her forehead. When she stood up there was a silver star in the center of Inuyasha's forehead. "Your children shall be the light that demons will look to in their hour of need." Her smile widened. "May you have a peaceful, wonderful life, little one and know that I shall always love you, my daughter." Suddenly she began to fade away.

xxxxx

The day started after breakfast as Mina and some of the other servants went to their lord's chamber to prepare the lady of west's body for burial. Mina did not want to be doing this but she knew she could not leave it to any of the younger servants. She could hear the young girls behind her crying and sniveling at what they have to do. They were all so young and had never had to do this before. Mina had hoped to never have to be doing this again but it seems that fate was cruel as well as unfair. She lowered her head as she thought about the last time she had done this. Sesshomaru's mother had died and although he was only an infant, he knew his mother was gone. It was such a painful sight to see the infant crying. Now, she has to go through this all again. Tears fell from her eyes as she reached the chamber. Drying her eyes, she opened the door and look toward the bed. It was empty. Mina began to panic. Did someone come in and take Inuyasha's body while they slept? Who would do such a disgraceful, cowardly thing? Mina saw something move out of the corner of her eye and turned to the opened balcony doors. Suddenly her eyes widened in shock as she released a piercing scream that echoed throughout the castle.

Sesshomaru was in the nursery watching his sons sleep when he heard Mina scream. Leaping to his feet he rushed out of the nursery into the hallway and stared in shock. Mina and the servants were sitting on the floor huddled close together staring in wide eyed horror at the person standing in front of them. It was . . .

"Inu-yasha?" he said hesitantly.

Turning when she heard his voice, she smiled lovingly at him. "Hello, beloved."

"Inuyasha . . . Inuyasha!" He ran toward her and lift her into his arms swinging her around laughing and smiling. He pressed his lips against hers in a passionate kiss. "You're alive!" He held her in a tight embrace.

Suddenly Inutaisho, Akemi and all the others ran from around the corner to stop and stare in utter shock. "Inuyasha," said Akemi not believing his eyes.

Both Inuyasha and Sesshomaru turned at the sound of her name being called. She smiled at her father and her friends. "I hope I haven't made all of you worry."

"Yasha!" They rushed toward the half demoness and hugged and kissed her. After getting over their shock, Mina and the others joined in the celebration also.

Meanwhile, inside the nursery Keitaro and Keitano were awake. Izayoi stared down at her grandchildren and smiled. The twins giggled and laughed as their grandmother tickled their tummies. "You two are such good and cute babies. I am so happy I got to meet you both, Keitaro and Keitano." She placed a kiss on each of the infants’ forehead. "Take care of your mother, little ones and know that your grandmother will always be watching over you." Then she slowly faded away.

And so it was, on that day that word spread far and near that the Lady of West, Inuyasha was alive.