6All right my dears, this is the end. The very last chapter of this wonderful story. I do sincerely hope that you all enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
And as for the two whom it was dedicated to, may you always be happy, and may this story be something you both cherish. I do hope you enjoyed it Mikomi and Inu-chan.
3 Mom
Disclaimer: No matter how hard I wish before I go to sleep, when I wake up I'm still nought more than myself. Tom Felton isn't my husband, and Inuyasha doesn't belong to me. Perhaps tonight...
A Year to the Day
"Why did you do that Mikomi?" he said staring down at her.
"To save…to save you." She said in a strangled whisper.
"Damn it Mikomi. You didn't have to." he said sounding defeated. His eyes were slowly filling with unshed tears.
The moon was slipping away. The stars were going into hiding once more. The sun would be approaching soon, burning away the mist that lingered around the bases of trees. The water that was forming on the grass would dissipate leaving nothing but a beautiful morning. He could almost smell the warmth that would fast be approaching. He looked up at the sky, looking to the moon for answers.
Her eyes followed his gaze. She wondered if this would be her last night on Earth, her last night with him. Her tears slid out of the corner of her eyes and fell into her hair. She gripped his hand as best she could though her body was steadily growing weaker. No one there was sufficient enough in healing methods to save her.
"Inu…yasha. I just want-"
"No. Stop right there. You aren't going to say your goodbyes." He said releasing her hand and standing so that the fading moonlight drenched his front.
"It's…hopeless." She said closing her eyes.
"No. Don't give up Mikomi. I won't let you." He said his face taking on a defiant look.
She heard the sound of many feet moving and opened her eyes to see her men backing away from him as he walked slowly toward the forest. She reached out a hand toward him but before she could even speak he turned and faced her once more. The soldiers all stood in the clearing staring at this hanyou curious as to what he was about to do.
"Watch over her. Keep her alive until I return. I shouldn't be too long, back by sunrise." He said before turning and running into the forest.
Mikomi watched him go her heart slowly breaking. Did he really think that she had that long? She could already feel herself slipping. Her body was weak, all the blood feeling drained right from her. The men did as he said however and tended to her every need. They brought her water, towels, kept her comfortable.
"My Lady we're so sorry. The confidant told us we had to follow his orders, that you weren't yet in charge." One vassal said as he dabbed her forehead with a wet cloth.
"He deceived you. He was following my father's order though I wished not to." Mikomi muttered slowly, pausing when the pain made it to hard to speak.
"When you are well enough my Lady we will continue our journey?" a vassal asked hesitantly.
"No. I have no intention of marrying someone I don't love."
"Then that demon shall be Lord."
"Perhaps. If he'll still have me." She said closing her eyes to the pain once more.
As Mikomi lay fighting for her life Inuyasha ran. He put everything he had into his feet, praying that he was swift enough that night. He was heading back to the village to retrieve a medic of some sort. Anyone with the knowledge of healing and herbs to save her life. He'd waited five years to see her once more; he wasn't about to lose her forever.
The moon did it's best to guide his way. She lit the path with her fading light as the stars twinkled their encouragement. Inuyasha felt the cold air pushing at his back, making his jumps go just a little further. The elements were on their side, on the side of love. She would live, she would be saved, and then he'd make her his mate for all eternity. The thought of having her by his side was exhilarating. It lifted his heart and made his feet that much lighter.
After a few minutes the village loomed into view, the huts shadowed and silent. He landed on the main street looking around for anything that would aid him. The village elder might know, or perhaps the village priest. He rushed from hut to hut banging on doors and waking occupants until most of the village was standing rubbing their weary eyes at their doors.
"I need the medic of this village."
"What for demon?" asked an elderly man about half Inuyasha's height. He approached leaning heavily on a thick stick his eyes mere slits his baldhead gleaming in the moonlight.
"Someone's been injured in the forest. She might die." He said the last word coming out in a whisper.
"What sort of injury?"
"Look just come and see her yourself. We don't have time to stand around jabberin old man!" Inuyasha roared.
"See here demon I'll not fall for any tricks. Tell me the situation or I'll not come."
"The Lady of the Northern Lands has been stuck by an arrow." Inuyasha growled.
"The Lady you say. Her traveling party passed here yesterday. They should be in the next village by now. It is pure fabrication." The man said starting to turn back toward his hut.
"Her group stopped on the other side of the forest. She was stopping to visit with me." Inuyasha said quickly. "Please."
The old man halted his movements and glanced at Inuyasha over his shoulder. He studied the hanyou carefully. Then he turned and looked at the woman that had been walking a step behind him the entire time. He whispered something to her and she nodded rushing off in the direction that they'd both come. Inuyasha watched the old man as he turned once more to face him, staring up an indifferent look on his face.
Night passed into day, rising with the sun all the villagers that lived in villages all about the land. Life went on as if nothing had happened. The moon rose every night in her various stages and relinquished her place in the sky every morning. Flowers bloomed and died away only to be replaced by new ones. The weather changed even more rapidly, the sun sometimes obscured by clouds, or rain falling from the heavens to rejuvenate the lakes ponds and rivers that were scattered through the land.
And almost in a blink of an eye another year passed. The forest was just as he'd remembered it from that night. The grass was cool beneath his feet as he entered the clearing under the pale moon's light. The pond sparkled like a giant looking glass reflecting in it all the beauty of the sky above. There stationed, as guard forevermore was the same strong faithful tree. It's branches reached out swaying with the usual breeze that tugged at them. He closed his gleaming amber eyes as he stood before the tree, listening to the sounds of the night around him.
His clawed hand reached out and gently touched the rough bark of the tree. The feel, the contrast, was delightful. The memories of years past fluttered around his head, as they had every year since the day they'd met. And six years now to the day it was. Six years to the day since they'd met and one year to the day since it happened. Bowing his head he remembered that night, the terrible things that had transpired in their sacred place. If he opened his eyes he believed that he would be able to see the scene just as it had been. The men scattered about, the confidant lying dead by the forests edge, and her lying paler than the moon herself right in the center of it all.
He shut his eyes tighter pushing those images back. They were memories he didn't want anymore and would have done anything to rid from his mind. But they would be there forever, haunting his memory like a spirit. He lifted his head and opened his eyes to stare up at the tree. He wasn't the only one that carried these images. This tree, sacred to him, it held all these moments within its rings. Every fallen leaf kept the secret to it's grave. The stars above held these memories, whispering them to one another every year. He perked his ears up just a bit, for perhaps he'd hear them.
The wind picked up rustling the leaves of the trees that surrounded the clearing. The scent of the oncoming rain filled his nose but another scent lingered there, so faint. Sniffing almost imperceptibly he knew it could be no other. Tiger lilies. Turning around he saw her approaching from the forest walking slowly her robes fluttering lightly in the wind.
"Visiting again I see." She said softly standing in the same place where she'd lain dying one year before.
"Of course. I'll always visit this place."
"Why Inuyasha?" she asked not moving. Her pale features were lit by the glow of the moon that hung above.
"If it hadn't been for this place I'd never have met you. If it hadn't been for this place I'd never have seen you again. And if it hadn't been for this place I never would have-"
"That's in the past now." She whispered her words carried to him by the wind.
"It's special to me." He said turning his eyes back to the tree. "Just as you will always be."
"Inuyasha please."
"The past will always affect us, that's something I've learned. So much good happened here. Why not commemorate it?"
"Bad happened here as well Inuyasha." She said not straying from her spot.
"That's no matter." He said turning back to her and slowly making his way to stand before her.
Her image was beautiful, much like it had been the night they met. He smiled softly down at her. Her eyes were turned up and staring right back into his. He lifted a hand moving it toward her cheek but she stepped back. Her eyes shimmering silver stared up at his. Slowly a wonderful smile appeared on her face.
"Return to camp soon please." Mikomi said turning and heading back toward the forest.
Inuyasha however didn't let her get far. Rushing after her slowly retreating form he wrapped his arms about her in a loving and tender embrace. One hand snaked about her waist pulling her against him. His other hand came up under her left arm and lay across her chest lightly gripping her right shoulder. His mouth was mere inches from her sensitive ear and she could feel his warm breaths tickling it.
She reached down with her right hand and placed it over his own, his flesh warm beneath her fingers. Tingles shot through her at his touch. His clawed fingers dug gently into her shoulder releasing ripples of pleasure through her very skin. Her eyelids slipped over her silver orbs as she fought to keep her head from falling back against his waiting shoulder. The feel of his fingers, the sound of him breathing and the atmosphere of the clearing were clouding her brain. It was so intoxicating.
"I love you." He whispered against her ear.
His hold tightened on her engulfing her in his warmth and strength. Her body shivered against his own. She didn't even notice his lips against her neck for head was spinning. This was what he did to her. The sensations were overpowering. His scent filled her nose pushing all else away. She was lost in him. The feel of his kisses on her skin his fingers rubbing tiny circles against her clothe covered flesh; the silence that surrounded them it was all so glorious.
"I love you too." She sighed her head finally falling back as she gave in to all that was Inuyasha.
Hearing those three tiny words Inuyasha's heart leapt. He was content with his life. He didn't care about the title he now possessed, he didn't care about the riches or the respect. All he cared for was the demon standing in his embrace, so entranced by him as he was by her. With that thought flitting through his mind he bared his demon fangs and repierced the mark he'd made one year ago to the day, standing in the very spot they'd been. The clearing was empty all save for the lovers brought together by a promised rendezvous.
Such a precious story. Leave a review please and tell me what you think. This is Starry signing off...
Starry