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Kagome stared into the flames, her
gaze unwavering. Inuyasha had been so angry. "He hates me now." She whispered, deeply wishing she could change what had happened.
"No he doesn't." A soft, gruff voice comforted. Kagome turned, her eyes resting on Inuyasha. He stood
in the doorway, not angry and without any sign of hatred in his face. Instead, his eyes were warm, liquid amber, filling her
to the core with relief and joy.
"Inuyasha!"
she cried, launching forward and wrapping her arms around him, a stream of tears flowing from her eyes.
Inuyasha cupped her chin in his hand, tilting her face so she looked up at him. He sighed softly and
caught her mouth with his own, pulling her tightly against him and losing his hands in her hair. "Kagome. . . will you come
with me. . ." he whispered when he pulled away.
Kagome
nodded, and he led her through the door. The night air was cool, and Inuyasha shivered, a tiny, tiny voice telling him he
should have gotten his shirt instead of wandering around half-naked. He ignored the voice. It was completely irrelevant at
the moment. Who cared how cold it was?
They
walked for several moments, their trail leading into the forest. Soon, Kagome found that they were before the ancient tree
where Inuyasha was sealed. "One year ago. . ." Inuyasha began, touching the old bark with a mix of sadness and longing, "We
met here." Kagome nodded. Somehow she knew Inuyasha wanted to talk, that he didn't want her to interrupt. "I was different
then, Kagome. You changed me." He informed her, half accusingly and half wonderingly. "I have never loved anyone as much as
I love you, and I doubt I ever will." He told her, his golden eyes seeming to draw her in, to hold her captive in their gaze.
"Do you love me Kagome?"
"Yes." Kagome replied, gently lacing her fingers through his.
"Would," he said nervously, "Would you love me however I came to you?" Inuyasha questioned, "Would
you love me if I were human? If I were youkai?" he insisted urgently.
Kagome touched his face tenderly, "I love you no matter what."
Inuyasha pulled her against him roughly. "Would you be with me always? Will you be mine forever?" he
croaked, his voice breaking with emotion.
"Are
you asking me to marry you?" Kagome gasped, eyes searching his face.
"No." he said, shaking his head, "I'm asking for more than that. I'm asking you to be my soul mate.
I'm asking you to be with me until the end of time. I'm asking you to love no man more than me. I'm asking for your heart
forever."
Kagome stared at him for a moment, unsure of what to say. But somehow, the words came to her. "You
want to be with me forever?" she asked softly.
Inuyasha
didn't answer, but studied her face desperately, "There is nothing else I have ever wanted this much."
"Me either." Kagome replied, lacing her fingers through his hair. Their lips touched, and they kissed
wildly, passionately, and they broke apart, clinging to one another, as their bodies seemed to be filled with unseen flames.
"Inuyasha! What's happening?" Kagome exclaimed in fear and agony.
Inuyasha shuddered as the pain subsided, "It's okay. . ." he told her, "It's supposed to be like that.
. ."
"What is?" Kagome questioned, her body freed of the burning pain, though a wide line down her back
still emanated extreme heat.
"The joining of souls." He whispered. "Look. . ." he slowly turned, and pulled his hair over his shoulder,
revealing his back to her. Down his spine, a line of intricate swirls and twists stretched from his hairline down his back
to where it disappeared into the back of his pants. The lines were a faint brown, the same color as freckles, and Kagome stared
at it surprised.
"What is that?" She wondered, "It's so beautiful. . ."
"You have the same mark now. There's not another soul in all of time that will ever have this mark,
and our souls always will." He explained, letting his hair fall back over his shoulder and turning to face her once more.
"Do you understand? This will let you find me, no matter what, and I to find you."
Kagome smiled, "This is forever."
Inuyasha
nodded, "Forever. My life will always be with yours."
Kagome
laughed, the sound echoing brilliantly through the dark woods. "Forever!"
"But Kagome. . ." he whispered, "Listen to me." He pulled her back to him, his hand against his chest
between them. "I cannot live a life when I am meant to be dead, Kagome." He kissed her again, lips lingering a long time.
"I love you always."
"Inuyasha?" Kagome cried when he pulled away from her, forcing his hand into his chest. "Stop!"
"I can't. This is my choice, Kagome. We'll meet again." And a brilliant pink glow erupted from the
gaping wound in his chest. Inuyasha collapsed, laying still and silent on the grass, his long white hair fanning out around
him on the dew-covered grass.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome shrieked, shaking his still body. He didn't wake, and his peaceful face didn't change.
He was gone, and there was nothing she could do about it, there was nothing anyone could. "Noooo!" her scream wailed through
the forest. Reaching across the land, it's anguish untold.
Kaede
woke from her light slumber with a start. She knew what had happened, she had known from the start that it would. Inuyasha
was dead, and Kagome was alone. Kaede lay back down, a tear sliding from her single eye down her grizzled cheek.
Alone in the night, Kagome wept, holding the body of the one she would always love.
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