Epilogue: Undying Legacy
Author: Nefertili
Fandom: Inuyasha
Rating: PG13
Pairing(s): Sesshoumaru/Kikyou
Genre(s): Romance, Angst, AU, Action
Warning(s): More battle scenes, some violence, fluff... What more can I say?
Disclaimer: None of the characters, except perhaps some, are mine. They are owned by Rumiko Takahashi.
Summary: Two years after ImotC, Sess is challenged to surpass an enemy in recovering a mysterious relic left behind by his mother. But can he protect Kikyou, who now carries his child, at the same time?
A/N: Ah, the last chapter, finally! This will be shorter than the previous ones, but who cares? The ending will be the ending...only this is set five months later.
...o0o...
The maple trees looked glorious in their autumn foliage, and with every gust of wind a fresh spray of the brightly-colored leaves scattered themselves around the place. Some fell on the stream, where they joined their fellow autumn debris in a journey further down the current. Most found their resting place among the well-kept grass, where they became unwanted litter and would have to be picked up later.
But a single momiji leaf, bright-yellow veined and glowing scarlet, somehow found its way into a room of the fortress, finding rest on the soft folds of a blanket swathed over Kikyou's form. Sesshoumaru's clawed fingers plucked the leaf from the blanket and laid it aside. Kikyou appeared to be asleep, but at her husband's gesture she opened her eyes, revealing alert mahogany oculars.
"Is it painful, darling?" Sesshoumaru asked quietly, gently wiping away the sweat that formed on Kikyou's forehead.
"Oh, there is pain," Kikyou whispered, shifting uncomfortably on the futon. But amidst her growing discomfort, she smiled more to herself than anything. "But it is nothing that I cannot endure..."
Sesshoumaru's exterior was calm as always, but his hand was trembling as he clutched at Kikyou's pale fingers which stuck out from beneath the white coverlet. Her eyes flitted to her husband's face in a loving gesture, and she affectionately squeezed his hand.
"I am all right, really," she said softly, trying to reassure him.
Sesshoumaru didn't answer, but he gave a terse nod with his lips pursed slightly, his amber eyes gazing at the showy lump on Kikyou's belly. It had been several hours now that he sat loyally by her side, giving her whatever support he can. She had been extremely restless all morning, and by noon it became clear that her labor had started.
A flurry of excitement had at once overwhelmed the Demon Lord's household, and Sesshoumaru seemed to be even more worried than Kikyou was. She was smiling throughout the time, a look of utter serenity in her face, whilst he, the Lord of the Western Lands, was caught up with nervousness and was constantly hovering near her like an ever-vigilant guard dog.
He was clueless as to what steps to take for his mate on the verge of delivering a child. What should they do? Was it wise for Kikyou to do this and that? Is there anything he can give Kikyou to make her feel better? His concern was touching; Kikyou told him that she had requested the help of Queen Umegae of the Shikayoukai in this matter, and had said that she must come now.
Obedient to his wife's wishes, Sesshoumaru sent Jaken off at once to the Realm of the Deer Demons to summon Umegae, just as he had summoned Isamu five months earlier.
Now that the long-awaited day had come, Sesshoumaru knew he ought to be rejoicing, but he can hardly shake off the sense of dread that something equally terrible might happen. Even though her wisdom was far beyond her years, Kikyou's body was just like that of any young woman, and it was her first time to experience labor and birth.
Neither she nor Sesshoumaru was sure of what the outcome will be. Coupled with the joy of expecting their first baby, Sesshoumaru knew he could lose her or his child, maybe even both. He knew he must be prepared for all the possible outcomes.
Kikyou's labor progressed steadily. By the time the young Queen herself finally arrived, along with her husband and their five-month old daughter, the pain had increased so much that Kikyou can hardly keep from screaming.
"Sesshoumaru-sama, is Kikyou-sama doing okay?" Rin entered the room, rubbing her hands together with worry.
But before Sesshoumaru can say a word, the gentle tapping on the screens revealed that their visitors had arrived. Led by Jaken, Umegae, wearing a subdued yet otherwise beautiful kimono of pastels, briskly entered the room and bowed to Sesshoumaru. Kikyou's eyes fluttered open as she gave a weak greeting to her friend whom she hadn't seen in a long time.
"It's really nice to see you all again," Umegae said with a smile. But the healer in her already told her to go into action, and she promptly began to arrange the healer's materials she had brought with her on the mats. Sesshoumaru asked her if she was going to need anything else.
"Rest assured, Sesshoumaru-sama," she replied. "I have brought the essentials, but just in case Kikyou needs something, I will immediately tell you." Then, she said her next words in a more humble tone, lest she incur his temper. "If you wouldn't mind, milord, I would ask you all to leave the room. She might become more stressed if she is surrounded by many people."
Sesshoumaru was more relieved about this than he admitted. Though he would very much like to stay with Kikyou throughout her ordeal, he had to admit that he might further lose control of his emotions to see her crying. Besides, he wouldn't want Kikyou to lose her strength of will to see her husband so worried about her.
Leaning his head close against hers, Sesshoumaru spared a few loving words for Kikyou before he stood up to leave, and he was temporarily eased by the smile that she gave him.
"I will see you later, okay?" she called out, and he nodded in assurance. But as far as she tried to hide her pained screams, her strength finally gave way; Sesshoumaru's ears twitched at the heart-wrenching sound as he shut the screens behind him.
Kikyou, I know you'll survive this; you have to...
"Isamu-sama!" Rin called out happily, embracing the legs of the silent figure on the verandah. Sesshoumaru found himself looking at the coal-black eyes of the other taiyoukai as he stepped out of the shadows.
"Hi there, Rin-chan," Isamu said congenially. He smiled down at the little girl, but he couldn't hug her back because he was holding a cooing Yanagi in his arms. The Demon Princess, whom they now understood to be the reincarnation of the Flower of the Deer Clan, had grown much in the course of the months.
Her parents had allowed her fawn hair to grow as long as her shoulders and she had grown quite chubby even if her teeth were not fully developed yet. She had quite an aptitude for words, for even if she had a hard time pronouncing names, she could identify many objects if she saw them. When her curious emerald eyes caught sight of Sesshoumaru, she lisped a word which sounded like 'pretty,' pointing a stubby finger at the silver-haired taiyoukai.
"What did she say?" Sesshoumaru asked in spite of himself, stepping near Isamu and gazing intently at the baby.
"She says you are handsome, Sesshoumaru-sama," Isamu said, barely suppressing an amused grin. "Would you like to carry her, milord?"
Sesshoumaru could not help but think, that's Kikumo, indeed. But as to carrying a baby...alas, it seems wielding a sword is much easier.
"How do you do it?" he asked in a whisper, as though he was afraid others will take it against him. But he had to know at least something about raising a baby to prepare for the coming of his firstborn. Luckily, Isamu was very helpful and didn't snigger at his former ally as he uncertainly held Yanagi, feeling clumsy indeed.
"Don't worry, she's not as fragile as she looks," Isamu said.
Yanagi was clearly more than a delicate bundle; she was an active one too! Sesshoumaru was afraid that he might drop her because her tiny hands eagerly touched his face and curiously felt his nose, his ears and his hair. And when Yanagi began to pull at his silvery locks, Isamu finally interceded and gently pried the small fingers open.
"Why Yanagi-chan, you naughty girl!" Isamu said with jest, taking his daughter from Sesshoumaru with a look of apology. "No pulling of Sesshoumaru-sama's hair!"
"She's just a child," Sesshoumaru found himself saying. Why he was being so unusually kind at a time like this, he didn't know. But as he gazed at the lovely burst of color in his maple trees, he knew that it was a perfect time for his firstborn to come to the world. "Are the Borderlands doing fine?"
"As fine as they can be," Isamu replied. "We have rebuilt our fortress, and perhaps you might want to visit us sometime. Maybe your child can be playmates with Yanagi here."
Sesshoumaru glanced at the little demoness in Isamu's arms. He knew he couldn't keep his own children and Kikyou from the eyes of others forever. They would need some socializing as well, and they are welcome to shikayoukai as long as the memory of Kikumo lives on.
It was quite an uneasy and impatient wait for the child to be born. Sesshoumaru peeked in on his wife many times, and he was assured by Umegae that things are going fine. She had given Kikyou some sort of drug to dull the pain, and the young maiden's previously erratic breathing began to be more relaxed. Jaken, Isamu and Rin tried to offer words of encouragement to the Demon Lord that Kikyou will be all right, but nothing could probably ease his nerves until he can hold his own child in his arms and see that his mate still drew breath at the same time.
Kikyou's labor must have begun early in the morning, but she had only fully realized it by midday. Finally by midafternoon, the cries of a newborn began to echo around the corridors. There was an immediate rush to enter Kikyou's quarters, but Umegae got out first, carrying a tiny screaming baby swaddled in blankets. The Shikayoukai Queen's face was sweaty, but she had a wide smile on her face.
"You have a little boy, Sesshoumaru-sama," Umegae said brightly, holding out the little hanyou for his father.
Sesshoumaru gratefully took the boy child in his arms. His son was still glistening with amniotic fluid, crying fit to summon the dead from hell. The newly born half-demon still had his eyes tightly shut, but beneath the thin layer of blood Sesshoumaru can make out a crescent moon identical to his own mark on the forehead of his child.
The baby's cheeks also had markings, but unlike Sesshoumaru's there was only one jagged stripe on each cheek, much like that of the late Inu no Taishou's only they were magenta. The few strands of hair growing on his head were silvery, but his ears were the proof of his part human heritage: they were not pointy like his father's. Not that it mattered at any case; Sesshoumaru could only look at his child with pride and adoration, thankful that such a precious gift had been granted to him.
"Can Rin see him, Sesshoumaru-sama?" Rin begged, standing on her tiptoes to take a look at her stepbrother. Sesshoumaru knelt down slightly and allowed his adopted daughter and their toady retainer to exclaim over the baby, their reactions mirroring his delight. Isamu congratulated Sesshoumaru, at the same time sparing his wife a look of contentment. Clearly, they understood how it felt to hold one's firstborn.
Finally, after the first wave of excitement had died down, Sesshoumaru stood up once more, still carrying his child.
"And Kikyou?" he asked, clutching the now quieting bundle close to his chest.
"The Lady Kikyou is all right, Sesshoumaru-sama," Umegae said. "She is now sleeping, recovering her strength."
Sesshoumaru let out a sigh of relief. It was a miracle, indeed. Mother and child were both alive. It was too good to be true. Afterwards, Umegae took the newborn once again so she can wash the baby and wrap him in clean blankets to protect him from the cold of autumn. A trace of a smile was on Sesshoumaru's lips all the time, for he never felt so happy in weeks.
Finally, once all the primary tasks of washing and warming the baby were done, Umeage once more handed the child to his father. Shortly afterwards, she, Isamu and Yanagi told Sesshoumaru that they would take their leave now. Rin tried to dissuade them, saying that they ought to stay until Kikyou-sama wakens, but the Royal family was needed among the shikayoukai and they couldn't stay long.
"We will visit you some time soon, little Rin-chan," Isamu said. Turning to his own little Yanagi, he said, "Say bye-bye to them, Yanagi-chan." Yanagi made a cross of a sweeping movement with her arm and a close-open gesture of fingers as her form of farewell, and Rin laughed.
"We left something for Kikyou beside the futon," Umegae said, hugging her baby close. "She will be happy to have it back. Farewell for now, Sesshoumaru-sama!" Having said their final greetings, they departed in a whoosh of the wind.
...o0o...
Sesshoumaru sat beside his sleeping mate, cradling their son in his arms. By now, night had fallen and a full moon shone clearly in the sky. The previously blood-stained sheets of the futon were now replaced by crisp white sheets which beautifully reflected the light of the lamp nearby. The newly born hanyou began to suck at its thumb, and his father moved quickly to gently ease the finger out of the baby's mouth.
Let's wait until your mother wakes, he thought, tenderly rubbing his fingers against his child's hands. Sesshoumaru was thinking of what to name him, but he would like to know Kikyou's opinion for that matter. The baby then let out a cute yawn and snuggled up to his father to sleep.
Sesshoumaru smiled and stroked the young one's cheek with the back of his hand. Then, his eyes fell on the packet wrapped with paper and bound with twine sitting beside Kikyou's head. It was the little something Umegae had left for Kikyou, but he wouldn't dare open it without his wife's consent.
At that moment, Kikyou stirred, her mahogany eyes blinking once before coming fully awake. She was relieved to see her mate close by, and she soon turned ecstatic when her eyes fell on the bundle he was carrying.
"Oh darling, can I take him?" she said, sitting up and smiling at Sesshoumaru. He immediately gave in to her, and carefully handed over the tiny baby to its mother. Kikyou hugged their son close, kissing the moon on his forehead in a motherly fashion. Sesshoumaru had to admit that it was a very beautiful sight to behold, his human mate carrying their hanyou child.
Sesshoumaru moved beside Kikyou, placing his arm around her. She leaned against her beloved, thankful for his warmth.
"They have left you something, Kikyou," Sesshoumaru said, pointing to the paper-wrapped package on the mats.
"Will you please open it for me, Sesshy?" Kikyou replied with a smile. "My hands are kind of full now..."
Sesshoumaru nodded and he took the object from the floor. It was soft to the touch, and once he untied the strings and opened the paper wrappings, they stared in amazement at the blue robe folded neatly inside. It was the bellflower-patterned one, Kikyou's favorite that had been in the keeping of Umegae since they fled Karatake's minions months earlier.
"How did this get into their hands?" Sesshoumaru asked, fingering the beautiful fabric. He had given Kikyou the robe when they first settled in the Western Lands.
"I lent it to Umegae because we had nothing to wrap Yanagi when we fled their fortress," Kikyou explained, happy that her lost clothing had been returned to her. "That's really thoughtful of them."
Sesshoumaru then explained that the robe was originally made for his mother. But she had only worn it for a short time before she died. Kikyou was surprised that she had been wearing something that once belonged to her beautiful mother-in-law, and she fingered the doubly precious cloth in her hands with renewed reverence. Their son gave a little sneeze, diverting the two young parents' attention.
"What shall we name him, koi?"Sesshoumaru whispered, his eyes never leaving his sleeping son.
"Hmm..." Kikyou said, as she thought deeply. "Do you have a suggestion, anata?"
In no time at all, they were playing around with plenty of possible names. But they could not find a proper name, or at least one that they both agreed upon. Finally, Kikyou combined the word for star with the next word that appeared in Sesshoumaru's mind. The Japanese graph hoshi means star; affixed with the other word kane which could literally mean money. But a more romantic interpretation signifies wealth; thus, a rough translation of Hoshikane is 'star-wealth' or 'wealth from the stars.'
"Hoshikane...quite a mouthful for our child," Kikyou said, but as she went over the name in her mind she decided that she liked it. "But I think it's quite lovely. Do you approve, Sesshoumaru?"
Sesshoumaru was also pleased with the choice. "A fitting name for our son, indeed."
Kikyou sighed contentedly, gently rocking their baby back and forth. "Little Hoshi-kun..." Hoshikane had already gone through so much action in his mother's womb...running after enemies, being with Kikyou as she ventured into the once-lost Tsukisawa...he was one lucky boy to be still alive. "If only Okaa-sama stayed for a little longer so she can at least gaze upon her grandson..."
"Hahagimi doesn't need to be here for us to feel her presence," Sesshoumaru replied softly, kissing his wife gently. "She lives in us...in our child...we are her undying legacy."
Kikyou understood. From the slightly open screens, a ray of moonlight stole in.
"We could visit the Tsukisawa some time, Sesshoumaru. There is a wonderful land out there that Mother left behind for us..."
In the distance, a single shinidamachuu flew across the moon, its violet eyes glistening as it floated out of sight.
...o0o...
Hoshikane grew up to be a great leader, well-respected far and wide, adored by his father and mother. Under the guidance of Sesshoumaru and Kikyou, his skill with the sword, combined with the bow and arrow, grew unmatched in the Western Lands. It has been said that he hardly looked like a hanyou at all; many didn't know that he had a human for a mother, because he had a good hold of the powers of his lineage and was able to master them well.
Many attribute his skills to the Mitsuseki which used to belong to his grandmother Suien, and afterwards his father and mother. Though it is clear that the jewel kept his youkai blood at bay, it was never clear how he managed to become so powerful.
Hoshikane found love in the Princess Yanagi of the Deer Clan, who grew up in the image of the person she was reincarnated from. Thus, they were finally able to fuse together the inuyoukai and shikayoukai: a long-time wish of Inu no Taishou and Suien which Sesshoumaru and Kikumo in her first life were not able to fulfill. But more importantly, Kikumo's lonely soul finally found its match and was granted lasting happiness with the inu hanyou.
Thus ends the Arc of Satsukibare: A Clear Day in the Rainy Season.
...o0o...
Behind the scenes:
(1) Here's a list of the following characters and the persons they were based upon:
Hanazuki/Suien - Midoriko, Tomoe Yukishiro (Rurouni Kenshin) and Tomoe Gozen (a real Japanese semi-mythical, semi-historical figure; she's one of the few ever recorded female samurai)
Umegae - Sayo Amakusa (Rurouni Kenshin)
Isamu - reverse Sesshoumaru ;P
Mizutori - a mixture of Jaken (O.o) and Kirara
Karatake - (more on looks only) Hikitsu (a Genbu star warrior from Fushigi Yuugi)
(2) I based the Lands of the Shikayoukai on the Huang Shan mountain range of the Anhui province of China. If you want to see my illustrations, please visit my website, Satsukibare (link is in profile).
(3) FYI, Hoshikane has amber eyes. If you want me to write a one-shot about him and Yanagi, please let me know. ;P
(4) I have a planned one-shot in mind under the title You Will Find Him. It is SessxOC, specifically SessxKiku and reverse IMotC. Would things have been different between the inuyoukai and the shikayoukai fifty years ago if Sesshy wasn't that cold-hearted towards Kikumo? But don't expect any story uploads soon, as here goes school for me... -.-
Gosh, this is the end, right? I'll oh so miss this story, this fanfic arc in particular. The Satsukibare arc marked my Inuyasha ficwriting debut, and it has become a part of my life. It's like letting go of an old friend, but sometimes we just have to let go... TT To all those who read this story: thank you for being with me from the very start to the epilogue.
The East Wind Melts the Ice: Kiky taking care of Sesshy is nice, right? ;P
Gossamer Wind: Karatake's dead, FINALLY!
WingedChunsa: Ask and you shall receive. ;P Plenty SesshKik moments before the ending, ne?
Azn kawaii kikyo the devil: I wish I can write more about Sesshy's childhood, but my schedule tells me NO!
Cold Kikyo: It's done, finally...after all those days of endless waiting. ;.;
This story is dedicated to the person who gave the chrysanthemum a second life and opened a window to the unseen side of the moon:
Aldebaran, though a chasm now lies between us, thank you very much.