Reminisce by Sereia

Hope

Kagome had seen the hope in their eyes, shoulders all slumping in relief as the stench of miasma died down.

They'd won.

They'd finally won.

The taint of Naraku had been vanquished, and those affected could finally go on with their lives—or at least what was left of them.

They could at least start to rebuild.

Inuyasha straightened, knuckles bloody as he rested Tessaiga on one shoulder. "That's it, right? I don't sense anything."

Miroku leaned against his staff, a tired smile lighting his face as he held up his hand, his palm abnormally blank. "It is done." Sango and Kagome let out warbled laughter, pulling the monk into a fierce hug, making sure to keep his arms caught so he wouldn't ruin the moment.

"Where is the jewel?"

Kagome turned, still surprised Sesshoumaru had joined them in the end. Not as surprised as finding him defending her unconscious body inside Naraku, but the fact he'd stuck around said something about his change in character.

She unfurled her hand, the pink gem gleaming as sunlight cut through the fog. "It's in one piece. Now we can—" She felt a breeze behind her a moment before Inuyasha's eyes widened in horror, one hand reaching for her.

She barely had the chance to breathe before she was sucked into the meidou, the cries of her friends muted as darkness enveloped her. She thought she heard her name but couldn't be sure, ice cutting through her clothes.

Dread, cold and bitter, pooled in her stomach as the jewel slipped from her fingers, crackling with power as it bobbed and swayed.

Understanding dawned, fear giving way to acceptance as it pulled her deeper into the void.

There was always a sacrifice. If her friends had a future to look forward to, she could live with this—it was her fate after all. She knew it was a possibility, especially with the look on Magatsuhi's face after his seal had been broken.

As long as everyone else was safe, she had no regrets.

This was fine.