Chapter Twenty Four – His Milestone

Tall skyscrapers reflected warm rays of sunshine upon the city of Tokyo. The scent of gas filled the air as the sound of cars driving by rumbled. The busy streets filled with pedestrians each walking in their own pace and direction, busily focused on their own tasks. Still, humans, hanyou and youkai mixed amongst the crowd in perfect unity.

His tall figure wore an expensive suit as he stuck out from the rest of the crowd. With magenta stripes graced along his cheeks contrasting against his pale skin, his short strands of silver hair rustled in the warm breeze of spring. His stride was slow, yet the focus in his eyes showed that he was headed for a certain destination.

His steps came to a halt as he arrived at the bottom of the shrine. Golden eyes scanned the familiar yet unfamiliar area. A slight tremor in his hand went unnoticed to others as he ran a claw through his hair before ascending the hill of steps.

"...you see kids, in the past, humans and youkais were divided. There was some who hated the other race and looked down on hanyous." The sound of gasping children was heard.

"What happened to make us live in harmony?" A child like voice asked curiously.

The voice of an old man explained, "Well, history tells that World War Two was the cause for humans and youkais to live in peace."

There was a pause before he confessed, "But some people believe that it was a beautiful Miko who made the wish upon the Shikon no Tama."

"Ooohhhh," the sound of excitement was heard in the children's voices.

"For her wish for peace to be pure, the Shikon Miko was given a choice. The Miko was a traveller from the future where only humans existed and youkais were extinct. The Miko needed to sacrifice her own life and rid the alternate universe she came from..."

At the top of the shrine, Sesshomaru watched a group of toddlers scurrying back to their teachers as the old man in a priest's outfit continued to sweep the floors.

The sound of sweeping ceased as the old man noticed a presence. "Ah, Sesshomaru-sama!"

Lowering his head in a slight nod, he asked, "Mrs. Higurashi usually tends to the shrine. Is she doing well?"

Sesshomaru watched as the old man's expression saddened before sharing, "She is still a bit ill after... losing the child."

He shook his head and mumbled with a hollow voice, "Miscarriages are a horrifying thing, Sesshomaru-sama."

Golden eyes grew dull.

"We were so excited for the baby girl."

The old man's words stung.

"Her name was going to be Kagome."

He clenched his fist to endure the stabs of pain.

"We are still all trying to recover the loss," the old man finally finished.

A silent pause filled the grounds of the shrine.

It was a struggle to breathe.

"Please send my regards to Mrs. Higurashi," the pain in his voice went unnoticed.

With a bow, the old man left Sesshomaru alone in the clearing.

Closing his eyes, he stood there in a loss.

He didn't understand. Wide eyes stared at the spot she once stood before being engulfed by lights. What remained were soft glows of light. What did this means? Where was she?

Replaying the last look in her eyes, dread began to fill his chest.

He could not feel her presence anymore.

He refused to believe she was gone.

Perhaps the well sent her away again.

Perhaps...

No, his heart knew the truth and was overwhelmed with a wave of unspeakable grief.

His chest lurched in pain. A clawed hand clenched over his chest to try and ease the ache. The tightness around his heart only increased causing him the will to claw out his own heart.

He did not think anyone could find him. He had disappeared after World War Two causing everyone to believe he had died. Yet, Inuyasha stood in front of him wanting answers.

"What do you want, Inuyasha?" He said with brokenness still evident in his voice.

"I knew you were still alive. What the hell happened to you!?"

He had thought Inuyasha would at least understand why, yet his brother looked at him with pure confusion. No grief, no loss portrayed in his brothers eyes at all. Sesshomaru wondered if Inuyasha did not know of the truth yet.

"She's gone, Inuyasha."

"Who is?"

He paused, not having said her name in years. "...Kagome."

"Who is that? Do I know her?"

Like a mad man, he searched out everyone who knew her. It took him years to finally understand that her existence was erased from everyone's memory.

Gone. Just like that.

As if she was never born.

The Shikon Miko who brought peace between Humans and Youkais never to be written down on paper. The battles and bravery she endured never to be remembered.

Why?

Why was he the only one to remember her?

His footsteps slowly stood in front of the ancient well. Clawed hands ran across familiar wood. The musky scent lingered near his nose. Golden eyes stared into the abyss of the well, perhaps hoping a flash of blue light would once again illuminate and return her to him.

A silent scoff escaped his lips.

His brows slightly furrowed.

He wouldn't forget.

Midnight curls floated past her face, revealing her beautiful eyes. A smile curled upon her lips as her voice tenderly whispered his name.

"Sesshomaru..."

He couldn't forget her.

She was his milestone.

The End.

Author's Note: Thank you for reading this story to the very end.