The never-ending bond
The room was crowded. Inside, hundreds of men and women, mainly youkais, were talking, dancing or eating. The gathering was hosted by the Lord of the South, to celebrate the coming of age of his daughter. Fancy kimonos and haircuts could be seen everywhere as the young ladies took advantage of the gathering to try and seduce young handsome males. The old youkais were talking together, watching and commenting the behaviors of the youth with disapproving eyes.
There were a few humans, close friends of the Lord of the South and some hanyous, but they weren't what intrigued the most the people in the room. No, what many were watching from the corner of their eyes with questions in their minds was the couple sitting close to the Lord of the South. This peculiar couple hadn't danced at all, and hadn't moved much from its spot. But the Lord seemed to enjoy their company greatly and talked a lot with them along with his mate.
The old youkais and middle-aged ones weren't surprised at all by the sight of this couple. However, the young and ignorant ladies couldn't help but wonder with indignation: "why is the mighty and handsome Lord of the West, Sesshoumaru, acting so affectionately with such an old and wrinkled human woman?" There were many who were glaring at said old woman, not understanding what the Lord found her when the room was full of young beauties.
"It seems that once again, I have outraged the young women in this room." Commented the old woman with amusement, her blue eyes twinkling.
"Leave them be." Sesshoumaru said, a scowl showing briefly on his face. "They just can't understand."
"I know. But sometimes I can't help but think that they are right."
He looked at her as if she was insane.
"Woman, what in the hell are you talking about?" He asked, raising a disapproving eyebrow.
"We just don't fit." The woman said as if she was stating the obvious. "Look at you, you look like a god who is just too handsome for his own good. And look at me. I'm just an old human woman, all wrinkled, weak and ugly."
The look he gave her was incredulous and furious at the same time.
"We already went over this!" He growled lowly. "I forbid you to say such things."
"But it is the truth, nonetheless."
"Kagome!" He growled warningly.
"Yes, sorry my dear. I won't talk about it again." The ghost of a pout was showing on her thin and cracked lips.
Sesshoumaru took her hand and caressed it tenderly, bringing it to his lips to kiss it. Kagome gave him a small, loving smile. Their tender moment was interrupted by two young women, one grinning happily and the other making a serious face. They had long white hair and sparkling blue eyes, their resemblance to the Lord of the West striking.
"Finally found you!" One of them explained. "Really, you shouldn't hide in the back of the room like this! It's already hard to cross the place with so many people present!"
"Why, hello to you too Tsuki." Sesshoumaru said, a bit annoyed at her antics.
"Ah of course, where are my manners?" The woman blushed. "Please forgive me my dear father! How are you feeling mother?" She then asked softly to the old woman.
"Quite fine." Kagome answered with a smile. "But my back keeps reminding me that I am not young anymore."
"Aw, come on! You're not that old!" Tsuki pouted, looking very much like her mother by doing that.
The woman next to her cleared her throat while throwing a severe look at Tsuki.
"May I remind you dear sister, that mother is approaching her one hundred and sixth year? In human years, this is considered exceptionally old."
Tsuki looked at her in annoyance.
"Yeah I know that Yume, thank you very much! Why do you always put things so bluntly? You have no tact!"
Yume send her a condescending glare, which made her look just like her father. Kagome couldn't help but laugh at her daughters' antics.
"It's alright." She said. "I am glad you came. Are your brothers and sisters here too?"
"Not everyone I think." Tsuki replied. "Let's see, we are about forty... about twenty seven of us are here. The rest should arrive shortly though."
"They better do." Yume said in a disapproving tone. "They should know better than to make mother wait."
Tsuki sat next to her mother, still grinning.
"I heard some interesting things on my way here." She said. "There are quite a lot of jealous females over here with their eyes set on father."
Sesshoumaru groaned, both in annoyance and dismay. Kagome patted his head with an affectionate smile.
"We are used to it." She said. "They always react like that. We were precisely talking about it when you arrived."
"Those brainless women are stupid." Stated Yume in a cold voice. "They just can't understand that you are father's mate. They can't understand why one of the handsomest males in Japan would be so lovey-dovey with an old human woman."
"They just don't know." Tsuki shrugged. "Hell, they don't even know we are their children. See how they look at us? They think we're some pimps who want to get close to father."
Just as she finished saying that, a young and handsome male arrived before them. He looked exactly like Sesshoumaru, apart from his blue eyes and the fact that he was younger.
"Haru." Kagome greeted happily.
"Mother, father." He nodded.
"And us?" Tsuki pouted. "You don't greet your sisters anymore?"
Haru threw her an annoyed glance but didn't say anything. Instead he looked at Kagome with concern in his eyes.
"Mother, are you well? Those gatherings aren't good for your health." He said.
"Don't worry." Kagome replied with a smile. "Your father is taking care of me, so everything will be fine."
Sesshoumaru nuzzled her to prove her point. Haru nodded with a small smile.
"It is good to see you like this." He said. "Your bond is very strong."
"Of course it is!" Tsuki scoffed, rolling her eyes.
"Well, I do tend to think that sometimes I am quite a burden." Kagome said sadly. "I can't move around on my own and I can't do anything by myself. Being old is hard. I do wonder how you cope with me Sesshoumaru."
Said male looked at her with annoyance.
"Why must you always depreciate yourself like this?" He said. "You are troublesome, woman. I wouldn't have mated you in the first place if my love for you hadn't been deep enough. The others may see an old human woman, but to me, you are still the young and beautiful woman whose smile and personality won me over. I don't care about your appearance. You are still Kagome."
The old woman smiled and kissed his forehead.
"You're right. I must be going senile to say such things." She said tenderly.
He hn-ed and brought her closer to him in a protective embrace.
..........................................................................
When the evening came, Sesshoumaru brought Kagome back to their guest chamber in the Lord of the South's palace. He supported her carefully, as if she was some glass object that would break at the slightest movement. Some of their children accompanied them to their room, before biding them a good night. Then Sesshoumaru helped Kagome out of her kimono and into her sleeping attire before laying her on the bed.
"Thanks for your help my dear." She said with a smile.
"Anytime." He replied, placing a light and tender kiss on her lips.
The night went by without any incident, and breakfast was a peaceful event. Sesshoumaru and his mate found themselves in the garden with the Lord of the South and his mate, talking about old times. The Lord of the South had known Kagome ever since she came into Sesshoumaru's life, and the four of them got along perfectly well. The Lord had a deep admiration for Sesshoumaru and Kagome's bond, which was why he was watching them sadly.
"I will miss having you here." He said. "The time is near when we will have to part."
No one denied.
"But we will always be by your side, as long as you remember us." Kagome replied, smiling.
He nodded.
"Indeed. And how could we ever forget you two? Your story alone has become a legend in the youkai society."
The old woman laughed, much to her mate's delight.
"Indeed." She said. "And thanks to Sesshoumaru, we have also insured that our bloodline will be perpetuated. Making me bear forty children, really!"
"I would have made you have some more," Sesshoumaru said playfully, "but you had already passed the age."
"You're such a silly dog!" She smiled. "But I feel bad about leaving our children behind so soon."
"Don't worry about it. They know it is coming and they can fend for themselves."
She nodded sadly. Of course, all of them knew and that was why they were all here. They could tell she was going to leave them very soon, just by her scent. She didn't know how they managed to keep smiling and acting like nothing was wrong, but she admired their strength.
"Sesshoumaru dear," she said, "can you bring me back to our room? I'd like to have a rest. I have been more and more tired lately."
They excused themselves to the Southern Lord and Sesshoumaru helped his mate to go back inside.
.................................................................
At precisely two o'clock in the afternoon, all of the Western children tensed and paled. All as one, no matter where they were at that moment, they all converged towards their parents' room, as fast as they could. They could smell it in the air and feel it in their souls.
They didn't even bother to knock. None of them spoke as they watched theirs parents. Kagome was lying on the bed, her breathing very shallow and uneven. Sesshoumaru was at her side, holding her hand, his gaze very soft.
"So, it's time." Tsuki whispered at the edge of the bed.
Sesshoumaru nodded wordlessly. Kagome's old fingers briefly tightened around his as the woman smiled weakly.
"I am sorry." She said, her voice barely a whisper. "I can't seem to hold on anymore."
"Hush." Sesshoumaru commended softly. "Do not waste your energy by speaking."
"But this is... the last time I'll get." She protested weakly. "I am glad that all of you are here. Really glad. I love you all, and always will."
She got sad smiles in return.
"Don't be sad." She said. "We all knew this would happen someday. Humans like me do not possess a very long life. I am happy that I got to stay with you for this long, and my life has been a good one. I don't regret anything. I will miss you my dear children."
Her body was agitated by a spasm and Sesshoumaru's grip tightened. Kagome looked at him with a cracked smile.
"I'm scared." She confessed.
"Do not worry." He said tenderly. "I will be right behind you."
"You shouldn't come. You don't have to."
"I can't go on without you. This is my choice Kagome."
Her gaze softened and he kissed the tip of her fingers. Kagome closed her eyes.
"Farewell, my beloved children." She said softly. "I will watch over you from wherever I will be."
"Farewell, mother." They answered as one in a whisper.
A few seconds passed, silently. Then Kagome's breathing ceased completely and her body relaxed. Sesshoumaru kept her hand in his and bent down, putting his forehead against hers.
"Wait for me." He said.
He looked briefly at his children, who nodded, understanding. A small smile appeared in his lips.
"I am not a very good father." He said. "I am sorry for imposing this on you, Haru, but watch over the West for me."
His eldest son nodded silently. They all knew what he was doing and all understood him.
"Good bye." Sesshoumaru said simply, closing his own eyes.
As Kagome's soul left her body in the form of the young woman she had once been, a chain appeared from the heart of her white form, linking her to Sesshoumaru's soul, which left its owner's body in turn. Both souls lingered a few seconds to take a last look at their offspring, then resumed their new journey to an unknown place where eternal peace awaited them.
The end
...................................................................................
I had this idea in mind since a long time already, with Kagome not gaining a lifespan equal to Sesshoumaru's, getting old, and dying while he remained young and chose to follow her in death. I am quite satisfied at the way it turned out, though I had imagined it a bit differently. But well, it's quite difficult to put it on paper.
Anyway, like always, I would like to remind you that English isn't my first language and that as such, there may be mistakes. Don't hesitate to report them to me if they bother the understanding of the story.
Thank you for reading this one-shot!