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paynesgrey_ficsTitle: The Unquiet Winds
Chapter Title: The Goodbye Kiss
Characters: Sesshoumaru, Kagura's reincarnation (inevitable Kagura/Sesshoumaru), Shippou
Genre: Romance/Supernatural/Suspense
Rating: PG-13 (overall)
Universe: Canon AU/divergence, Modern
Notes: This serial has been completed for
wipbigbang 2020. You can find all the previous chapters HERE and HERE. I recommend you look for the previous chapters at AO3 and FFnet, as those chapters have also been updated with fixes for typos and grammar.Additional Notes: Thank you to
Story Summary: Natsumi dreams of another woman's past, a woman who desperately wants to reunite with the man she loves, even if Natsumi has to suffer in the end.
Links: (RECOMMENDED) FFNet | AO3
“This is where I died. Sesshoumaru stayed with me,” Kagura said, telling her story even though Natsumi already knew it. Natsumi turned toward the youkai’s voice, and she was sitting next to her in the field of flowers and purple miasma was destroying her body. She looked happy. “I was finally free and my heart had returned. When I felt my heart in my chest and I looked at Sesshoumaru, I had this feeling that I’d never known before. I loved him.”
“I think… he loved you too. At least over the years he learned to love you,” Natsumi said. “I believe more than anything, Kagura-sama, Sesshoumaru wants to do right by you. He regrets not being with you and not admitting his feelings at the time. But he has always cared about you and regarded your life with love.”
“Hearing you say that… I know it’s true,” Kagura said, turning to meet Natsumi’s eyes. “It brings me joy to be loved.”
Natsumi moved toward her drawing Kagura in a sisterly embrace as miasma swirled around them.
“Promise me, Natsumi. Take care of him. Be with him and make sure he does not die. That is my debt repaid to him,” Kagura said.
“Please count on me,” Natsumi said. “I will honor your request.”
“And one more thing…” she said, and Natsumi could feel Kagura begin to fade away into the breeze. She gave Natsumi the kindest smile. “Please, when you wake, let me live in your body for a moment so I can tell him goodbye.”
Natsumi nodded. She could feel the honesty in Kagura’s intentions. The woman had no desire to take over Natsumi’s body permanently anymore. In her bones, Natsumi felt Kagura’s desire and peace resonate with her.
“Of course,” Natsumi said. “Before you fade away, I will wake and you can say goodbye. He should be waiting for you.”
Kagura smiled at her, and suddenly the miasma began to erase her completely and she became transparent before Natsumi’s eyes. The darkness around them began to dissipate and a cool, peaceful breeze surrounded her like an embrace before Natsumi opened her eyes.
She was back in the room where Achika left her. The fire that had been blazing before her trance had settled to a glowing smolder. The strong incense that had helped Natsumi meditate was nothing more than a light residue in the air. Achika was still in front of her, her eyes opening to meet Natsumi’s.
Natsumi’s eyes widened when she realized Kagura’s request. She could still feel Kagura’s spirit with her, but there wasn’t much time left before the youkai completely faded. She stood up and began toward the door of the room.
“Sesshoumaru!” she cried, frantically calling his name as she searched for him. Within a few breaths, he came out from the shrine and hurried toward her with concern.
“Natsumi!” he said, and she noticed he’d dropped the honorific. He looked worried as they came toward one another and Natsumi jumped into his open arms.
“Please, hurry…” Natsumi begged him, and Sesshoumaru looked down at her, confused by the appearance of tears running down her cheeks. She arched toward his face and closed her eyes. He took her message and captured her lips, and then Natsumi let Kagura take over, receding to the background as the demoness took control of her body.
“Sesshoumaru,” she said, looking up at him, and his eyes widened as he could sense her.
“Kagura,” he said.
She smiled at him and quickly said, “Don’t worry. I’m not going to hurt Natsumi. I just had to see you one last time.”
He stared at her, but he nodded as he understood.
“Please… before I go, just hold me,” she asked.
He drew her in a tight embrace and kissed her again, his tongue opening the seam of her lips and delving inside to chase her taste. Their mouths fused together, and Sesshoumaru truly felt like the spirit of Kagura was there, delighting in the frenetic kiss. The kiss invigorated him too, and he felt some of his lifeforce rush back like a tidal wave, feeling more alive than he had in years. He tasted her, licked her lips, and teased her tongue as long as he could, giving her this last bit of him, destroying all his regrets, and holding her until she finally faded away.
When they pulled apart, he was looking into Natsumi’s eyes again. She smiled at him, a light blush on her cheeks and her lips rosy red from the kiss.
“I remember everything from Kagura’s life as if I lived it and never reincarnated,” Natsumi said. “That was her gift to me. She wanted me to know her life. She wanted me to live it so she could have a part of herself be with you while I lived.”
“I’m so glad she was able to find peace,” Sesshoumaru said.
“Me too, and I promised her that I would be with you. I wouldn’t let you die,” Natsumi said. “I will do everything I can to make sure that you live, Sesshoumaru.”
He lurched forward and scooped her up into his arms again for a tight embrace. They held each other for a while, letting the wind glide through them, listening to each other’s heartbeats, and delighting in the feeling of their closeness.
“We’ll never be alone again,” Natsumi said, and Sesshoumaru exhaled a breath of relief. For years he could always see his impending death, but now, thanks to Natsumi and Kagura, all he could feel was the hope and joy in his potential to live.
