Mistaken Wish by Moonlight

The Wish

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha and co. I do own the plot and original characters.

Chapter 1- Naraku's Death

"Inuyasha!" screeched a young woman, her blue eyes widened in terror. Wavy black tresses settled around her pale, heart-shaped face. "...No, don't go..." she whimpered, kneeling beside the red kimono-clad figure lying in a pool of blood.

"Ka...go...me." Dull golden eyes bored into panicked blue. Inuyasha lifted a tanned, clawed hand to Kagome's cheek. A tear tracked down the side of his face, landing in his snowy hair, a mere inch from the puppy ears she loved so much.

"Inu...yasha! Please... stay! You... you promised!" Kagome sobbed, burying her face in his fire-rat haori. A man in monk's robes tentatively approached the hysterical miko. Kneeling, he gently wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"Kagome-sama... he is gone. There is no more that we can do, other than pray to the gods that his journey to the afterlife is a peaceful one." The monk jerked back slightly in shock, as Kagome turned in his arms. Whimpering again, she attempted to quiet her sobs.

"Miroku... Houshi-sama. May I...? It would be better for females to grieve together." Miroku looked up at the taijiya standing anxiously at his side. 'Bullshit.' He thought, 'but maybe it is Sango who needs Kagome-sama, rather than Kagome-sama needing Sango.' He nodded, his violet eyes staring into Sango's teary brown. Brushing a stray strand of her chocolate hair out of her line of vision, Miroku stood, and allowed the two most important females in his life to grieve over the loss of their friend, leader, and protector.

"Houshi."

Miroku spun around. Great- that was one voice whose owner they didn't need around right now. He sighed patiently. "Sesshoumaru-sama," he said coolly, taking in the semi-familiar crescent moon on the huge inu lord's forehead, nearly covered by silver bangs. Strangely, the normally emotionless taiyoukai had pain-filled golden eyes fixed directly on the human holy man in front of him. Even the usually vibrant magenta stripes- on his eyelids, and a pair on each cheek- seemed dulled.

"The half-breed...is dead?" The Lord of the Western Land's eyes begged Miroku to tell him his hated half-brother was alive. The monk bit his bottom lip, and fingered the golden ring-topped staff he carried. Eyeing Sesshoumaru carefully, Miroku spoke.

"He is not youkai; he is hanyou, half-youkai." Sesshoumaru glared at Miroku.

"Out with it human." Miroku shrugged, and was interrupted by Kagome.

"The miasma killed Inuyasha. But, he killed Naraku. I killed Kanna; Kohaku took his own life." Images of battle flashed through their minds: An all white-save for her black eyes- child, Kanna; her soul-sucking mirror. A brown-haired boy, taijiya-in-training, swinging a sickle-and-chain.

Sesshoumaru broke their collective reverie. "The hanyou- Inuyasha's body will reside at the Palace of the Moon."

(Y)

(^.^)

c(")(")

~3 days later~

Thud. The remains of Inuyasha's pack and his half-brother turned from the freshly sealed grave. Sesshoumaru guided them to the guest wing. "You will stay here until you wish to leave. Otherwise, you will integrate yourselves into my staff."

"What about me?" piped up a redheaded green-eyed Kitsune kit.

"The kit will stay with its mother."

"Shippou's mother is dead." Kagome murmured. "He will stay with me."

"Very well." Sesshoumaru's eyes narrowed. "He will be educated." Kagome nodded her consent. Sesshoumaru made a dismissive gesture, and everyone wandered off to their respective rooms. Sighing, Kagome flopped onto her plush futon.

"Shippou," she said airily, "Sometimes I just wish things had happened differently." The completed Shikon no Tama, upon hearing Kagome's wish, began glowing. She gasped, and Shippou's eyes bugged. With a rather dramatic flash, the jewel disappeared.

Shrugging, and deciding to deal with it later, Kagome curled up on her bed and took a nap.

Hours later, the pair followed an impassive youkai servant to the dining hall. Kagome sat to Sesshoumaru's right- not knowing the seat was reserved for the Lady of the West. Shippou climbed into her lap.

"Eat," Sesshoumaru commanded, discreetly hiding his twitch from Kagome sitting in his late mother's seat. Instantly, servants ladled, spooned, and sliced, serving the dinner with expert movements.

Dinner passed without any 'events' and the motley crew went to their bedchambers for the night.

A/N: ...next chapter up in a week or so. suggestions welcome (what, like I know what i'm doing? ;P) so.... bye for now!

~Moonlight