Make a Wish

Even now it was difficult to comprehend. The jewel- the one item Kagome wished so desperately to disappear-had returned, and with its return brought a string of curses that pursued the Inu-gang. Demon attacks became more anticipated; it was expected that a demon would attack at least once a day, sending the village into a state of turmoil and fear. Only Inuyasha and Miroku could defend the village sufficiently, and Shippo had gone to live with Koga to learn how to fight months ago; Sango was told to keep out of the way because of her pregnancy, and Kagome was warned to stay inside the hut at all times, no exceptions, no arguments. And Kagome didn’t argue against Inuyasha’s command for reasons she could not name aloud.

Perhaps it was the child that was growing within her, or perhaps it was the fact that Inuyasha had issued a command that sent the breath rushing out of her lungs afterward. The sincerity in his eyes as he warned her…it was unsettling, and she couldn’t help but obey. He had used words like “what if” and “maybe,” and had even mentioned her and the pup’s safety at least twice. She had become a responsible mate, wife, and mother overnight; the change was bewildering, yet needed at this point in time. She rarely argued anymore, and went into the pup’s room to think when she was in one of her moods. Inuyasha, of course, was out most of the time, forcing his time and strength into the conquering the demons that craved the jewel. She knew that he hated to leave her; he had told her so on many different occasions. But, he couldn’t let anyone else get hurt and die in his life, her included. And she completely understood.

Her nighttime visits to Kaede’s gravesite were restricted; she was not allowed to stick one foot out of the hut without Inuyasha or Sango or Miroku breathing down her neck. At first she had been angry with this, but the more varied the demon attacks became, the more her anger ceased. She hated it; she hated what the jewel was doing to her life, and to her friends and family. Sometimes, when Inuyasha would leave at night to guard the village, she would cry herself to sleep, her thoughts trapped in nightmares of the outcome of the jewel’s evil. The Shikon no Tama, the one word that brought bitter thoughts to her head and was hated for its cruelty. No happiness came out of it; only evil and destruction. And Kagome wanted it thrown out her life for good, no exceptions, no arguments.

She wanted her life back.

She wanted safety for her unborn child, and for her beloved mate. Was it so wrong to ask the kamis for some peace of mind, or a peaceful life? Kagome shook her head, dismissing the thought. No, we will keep being tortured until we die, she decided, staring up at the starry night through the window in the pup’s room. She rubbed her stomach, pondering deep thoughts. I don’t want this life for our pup; I don’t want her to grow up amongst this pandemonium. Is this truly the fate that will befall upon us, and our children? How long must we suffer until that jewel is satisfied?

The stars offered some comfort to her troubled mind. They sparkled like small fires in the sky, unaware of the destructive events that grasped hold of the world below. It seemed like they were blind to the world’s pain, but simply kept on shining as if to offer a miniscule amount of hope. No hope entered Kagome’s heart, only fear for the evil that would plague her life until death took her. She prayed desperately for Inuyasha’s safety, as well as the safety of her friends and the villagers, and for the pup that was growing inside her as each day came and went. But the stars were pretty, and she couldn’t help but gape at their innocence.

“Kagome?”

She turned at the fatigue that laced the voice that addressed her, eyes soft with unshed tears. Inuyasha stood at the doorway to the pup’s room, a clawed hand extended as if to grab her and cushion her against his chest. He resisted the urge, however, and simply moved to be at her side, his face aglow with conflicting emotions. Even with his hanyou strength he was exhausted; it was easy to see by the thin sheen of sweat that clung to his forehead. Never before had he witnessed countless attacks on the jewel like this, and he was both physically and emotionally exhausted. Kagome smiled as if to offer him clarity, and his insides melted; her smile could dissipate any exhaustion that plagued his body, or send away the negative emotions that taunted his mind. She truly is my savior, he thought as he wrapped a possessive arm around her waist, pulling her to him. He marveled in her warmth. She is the light in my life amongst this darkness; I don’t know what I’d do without her. Is there another word that shows how I feel about her besides love?

“Aren’t the stars beautiful tonight?” she inquired of him quietly, her voice a whisper. “They shine as if nothing is wrong; I admire that about them.”

“You’re right,” he agreed solemnly. The volume of his voice matched hers.

“Inuyasha? What will happen to us now that the jewel has returned?”

“I don’t know, koi, but I’m not enjoying the outcome so far. Miroku has decided to talk about what we do from here tomorrow, if there isn’t another demon attack to interrupt us.

”“That’s good; we could use a little discussion on that subject. I really hate what this jewel is doing to our lives, Inuyasha.

”“So do I.”

She sighed and rested her head on his shoulder, suddenly overcome with exhaustion; worrying certainly drained her. “I worry about you and Miroku battling the demons; I fear that one of you won’t come back.”

“Feh. Have some faith in us, Kagome; we know what we’re doing. I think it’s the exhaustion, though, that will defeat us, not the demons.” He paused, noting the worry that radiated off of her in waves. He hated the sensation. “I know you can’t help but worry for our safety, Kagome, but at least try to be optimistic about the outcome of every battle; I won’t leave you, ever; that pup will not grow up without a father.”

She graced him with a small smile. “You never give up, do you?”

“I’m stubborn like that.”

“And that’s a good thing; I never want you to give up on anything.”

When she yawned, his forehead creased. “You haven’t been sleeping well, have you?” She shook her head, and he added, “Well, you better get some rest, then; I promise I’ll stay by your side all night. Deal?”

“Deal,” she agreed drowsily.

He whisked her off her feet and carried her into their bedroom. Then he proceeded to lay her on the futon, kiss her forehead, and lie down beside her, pulling her against his chest. He wrapped the blanket around them to insulate heat during the cold night.

“Inuyasha?” she asked quietly.

“I’m here.”

“Why do you want the pup to be a girl?”

He paused at the innocence she placed in the question, thinking it over before answering, “I wanted a little you running around, not a little me; I hoped that the girl would be like you in beauty and attitude, and that she wouldn’t reflect me at all. I…guess that’s why I wanted a girl.”

“I hope she has your ears,” she mumbled. “And…I want a little you running around; I don’t want to be the only one contributing genes to the pups.”

“You mean…you want more?

”“Who said I didn’t?”

Inuyasha was rendered into shocked silence, basking in the angel that was Kagome. She was actually willing to birth a hanyou’s child; and not just one, but many more.

He couldn’t describe the joy he felt at the moment. He pulled Kagome closer to his chest and gazed at her mating mark on the base of her neck, the one thing that bound her to him, and showed the world the proof of their love. He could never express just how much joy he found in her becoming his wife in both senses of the word; words seemed to escape him whenever he thought about it. Kagome was his, and she always would be.He was about to respond, but her even breathing silenced him; she was asleep.

“Thank you, Kagome,” he whispered, despite the fact that she could not hear him.

..::OO::..

Miroku and Sango arrived at the hut near noon, their faces both drawn and serious.

 Kagome offered them cups of tea as they took their seats to discuss the jewel, a smile on her face despite the foreboding topic. Miroku accepted the tea, thanking her for her generosity and earning a snicker from his hanyou friend. Sango also took the cup and smiled faintly, showing some insight into the demon slayer’s mind; she seemed almost as anxious and nervous Kagome whenever her husband was away. The atmosphere of the room was chilling and unsettling as Miroku addressed the topic at hand.

“I have a theory about the jewel that I would like to share.”

“Anything sounds good at this point,” Inuyasha muttered grimly.

Kagome’s eyebrows furrowed. “What’s your theory?”

“I think that the jewel is restless; it has not been used in such a long time, and purification will not work on it anymore. But, perhaps the use of the jewel’s true purpose will destroy the jewel, and bring peace back into our lives.”

“What do you mean, Miroku?” Sango asked, perplexed.

“Maybe one of us should wish on the jewel.”

A chorus of protests broke out, silencing the calm monk from explaining his theory further.

Inuyasha growled softly at the monk’s idea. The jewel brings nothing but evil, he told himself. A pure wish will still be no good; nothing good comes out of the jewel’s influence. Nothing!

“I say we do it,” Kagome said quietly.

Wide eyes turned in her direction.

“Why?” Sango asked, shocked at her friend’s statement.

Inuyasha simply arched an eyebrow.

“Maybe Miroku’s right, and the jewel will disappear,” the miko explained. “I mean, this might be our only chance to get rid of that thing; don’t you guys at least want to try to get it out of our lives? I don’t know about you, but I don’t want that thing to destroy the happiness we worked so hard to build. Already it has brought mass destruction into our lives in just a matter of days; just image future events. I already can…”

Inuyasha turned to Miroku and Sango, determination in his gaze. “I agree.”

“Inuyasha, be reasonable,” Sango immediately argued.

“I am being reasonable. We have to at least try, Sango; this is the future we’re talking about.”

Sango was pensive for a moment before nodding her approval, sighing heavily at what she had just agreed to. Mentally, she smirked; when had Inuyasha become so mature?

“So, who will make the wish, then?” Miroku asked reluctantly.

“Kagome,” Sango answered.

“Definitely Kagome,” Inuyasha agreed with a nod.

Miroku smiled. “She was my choice, as well.”

All eyes turned to the distressed miko.

“Guys…I don’t know what to wish for,” she said nervously, eyes wide. “I already have what I need; I just want our happiness back, that’s all.”

“Grant us liberation, Kagome,” Miroku told her, his calm tone masking his plea. “Any wish you make will be fine with us.”

She desperately turned to her mate. “What do you want, Inuyasha?”

“Oh, no; this is your wish, not mine,” he argued. “This is your choice, not mine.”

Sango gave Kagome an encouraging smile. “Wish for something that makes your happiness complete, Kagome; think about it.”

Miroku handed Kagome the complete jewel as the miko pondered her wish. Holding it in the palm of her hand, she blanched, not even the shadows encasing the brilliancy of the Shikon no Tama. Wrapping the jewel in her hands and closing her eyes, she whispered her wish. Inuyasha had to strain his ears to listen, but still could not catch wind of his mate’s plea.

The jewel, however, disappeared from her grasp, empty air left in its wake. Kagome opened her eyes and smiled. “It’s done.”

“What did you wish for?” three voices asked in unison.

“Instead of wishing for something selfish, like I was expected to do, I wished for the jewel to disappear from the world forever,” she explained. She grew nervous, though, after a moment and added, almost as if to console herself, “I just hope it remains that way.”

..::OO::..

That night, as the miko slept, her hanyou lover relished in the depth of her heart. Never had he seen a woman with such compassion as Kagome; never had he seen a woman with such selfless thoughts and actions as Kagome. Even now she baffled him, even though he was the one who was supposed to know her most.

“Instead of wishing for something selfish, like I was expected to do, I wished for the jewel to disappear from the world forever.”

She was right; both he, Miroku, and Sango had anticipated a selfish wish to be uttered. They had all been extremely shocked, and ashamed, to learn that she had simply wished for the destruction of the Shikon no Tama. He should’ve know better; he, the one who should know Kagome like the back of his hand. He, too, felt ashamed for harboring such a thought.

Even now she never ceased to amaze him.

Without waking her, he planted a chaste kiss on her lips, murmuring, “I love you, my Kagome.”

Then he, too, fell into the depths of his subconscious.