I finished weaving the flower crown and placed it onto Rin's head. She giggled and placed hers on mine. InuYasha was with us as we did, relaxing with his eyes closed in a tree. After three years, I'd returned and was suprised that Rin was in Kaede's care. We had grown close since then and I've helped Kaede in raising her.
"Kagome, can I ask you something," Rin asked while making another crown.
"What is it?"
"When did you first know you loved InuYasha?"
The question threw me off and I blushed. I saw InuYasha's ear twitch from the corner of my eye but he kept his eyes closed.
"What's brought this on," I asked, thinking of when I first loved the half demon above us.
"I was just wondering because, well..." she paused and looked away from me blushing. Things clicked right then and there and I couldn't help but smile slyly at her.
"So whats his name," I teased.
"W- what?"
"You heard me. Who's the boy? Is he from the village?"
"Uh...I er..." I laughed at her bashfulness, which made her pout. She then gave me a sly smile of her own.
"Why didn't you answer my question about InuYasha?" I stopped laughing and froze. She smirked at me before continuing.
"When did you first realize you loved him, Kagome? Surely you have some answers?"
"Well," I said nervously scratching my head, "thats sorta difficult to answer. You see," the nervousness left me and I smiled down and continued making my flower crown, "the thing with love is that you don't know when it happens; you just know that it happened along the way. Before I thought that InuYasha was just an egotistical, self centered, rude, jerk." I heard him grunt before he turned his back to us.
"But when I got to know him I realized he was much more. It's not easy being by his side," InuYasha scoffed and I chuckled, "but good things never come so easily." Rin was about to reply but was interrupted by the twins and Sango.
"Aunt Kagoma," the twins said as they tackled me into a hug.
"Mind if we join you two," Sango asked sitting next to Kagome. Rin abandoned her crown and went to play with the twins. Sango held her youngest son, Kohanu, as he slept peacefully.
"So what were you two talking about that had you so flustered," Sango asked.
"Nothing really. Just silly girl talk, if you know what I mean." The young women chuckled knowingly and InuYasha scoffed once more before jumping down to leave. I watched him walk away jntil he was out of sight and then finished the next crown.
"So, Kagome, how have you been?"
"Huh?"
"I know that Inuyasha asked you to marry him and I know you said yes. I just haven't had a chance to talk with you about it alone." I sat in silence for a moment before laying on my back.
"Honestly, I'm scared."
"Huh?"
"It's just, what if InuYasha only sees me as her replacement? I know I'll never be as good as she was but I can't help that."
"Kagome-" I snapped out of it and sat up quickly.
"What am I thinking! Of course thats not the case! I really need to get a grip." I chuckled at myself but new that Sango caught on to what I was doing.
"Anyways, I'm not going to dwell on that nonsense. I know InuYasha sees me and not her. I'm just being silly."
"Kagome it's-"
"Moma, moma! Uncle Kohaku is here," the kids exclaimed. We look over and see Kohaku flying down on the two tailed cat, Kirara. I took note of Rin's expression as well and nudged Sango. She followed my gaze and smirked at Rin.
"Sango, Kagome, it'sbeen a while," Kohanku said jumping from Kirara's back.
"Kohaku, I'm happy to see you," Sango said. The twins hugged their uncle and he chuckled before seeing Rin. The smile left from his face as he looked at her in awe.
"H- hi, Kohaku," she said looking down adorably. Me and Sango watched closely as they interacted with each other awkwardly.
"Do you think they like each other," Sango asked me.
"I don't think they do, I know they do. Its obvious enough, right?"
Kohanu started crying out of no where, gaining our attention. I picked him up, seeing Sango's tired expression, and rocked him gently.
"Thanks," she said, "he's been like this since Miroku left this morning."
"Really? He's never done that before."
"Yeah, its strange."
"I'm sure he's just missing his papa, right Kohanu?" The baby smiled at me as I made more funny faces.
"Faces like that suit you well."
That voice!
I looked back and saw Sesshomaru standing over me with his cold eyes.
"Sesshomaru!"
He looked down at the baby who looked at him curiously before smiling.
"Hmm," was all he said before looking over to the other children.
"Has Rin caused you any trouble," he asked.
"Sesshomaru you ask the same question everytime you visit and everytime the answer is the same," I told him while playing with the baby.
"Hmm."
"Besides, if she did cause me trouble I could handle it, I wouldn't run to you either. She's a good kid though." I had given Kohano back to Sango and continued to make flower crowns. I finished one for Sango and made two for the twins. Sango had left and that just left me with Sesshomaru. Rin asked me to finish hers while she and Kohanku went for a walk together so when I finished that I placed the crown on Sesshomaru's head.
"What is the meaning of this," he asked calmly. The question wasn't hostile at all which suprised me.
"It was Rin's. I guess she made it for herself or you. It looks cute on you either way," I told him with a smile. I saw a slight blush on him face before he faced the open flower field where the twins played. He didn't try to take the crown off or get angry with me for sitting next to him. I looked in my bag and pulled out two apples before giving them to him.
"Here, want one," I asked. He looked at it then to me.
"No, I don't-" I left no more room for argument when I just sat the apple down on his lap.
"Rin and I grew these apples. Mines the green ones and hers are yellow. They taste pretty good." I stood and brushed myself off before packing things up.
"Girls, lets start heading back okay," I called out. The twins ran to me and walked behind me as I left. I looked back at Sesshomaru and saw him eating the green apple first.
Later that evening, I was helping Kaede with dinner when we heard a voice call for me. We rushed out and saw Shippo flying towards us in his pink balloon form.
"Shippo? Why are you here early?"
"Kagome!" With a pop he was back to normal and jumped into my arms.
"Where's InuYasha!"
"Huh? Why do you need him?"
"Is he anywhere near by?"
"He's with Sesshomaru by the Bone Eaters Well," Kaede spoke up, "what ails ye child?"
"Good, then he won't do something stupid. Kagome I have something important to tell you!"
"Come, let us go inside. The stew should be ready soon," Kaede said walking away. I followed her with Shippo in my arms. When we were all seated and comfortable, I gave Shippo a cup of tea and a snack I'd made from the apples we harvested.
"So, what is it you had to tell us, Shippo," Kaede questioned.
"Yeah, whats so important that you had to leave school," I scowled while pulling on his ear.
"Ow ow! I promise I had a good reason, Kagome!"
"It better be important!" I let him go and he pouted before eating the apples.
"I was out training with one of my friends when I saw a woman walkingby. My friend told me that she has been wondering around the school for a while now and they call her to evil beauty of the forest."
"How is this important?"
"Well, the thing is... that woman was-"
"Kikyo." I looked back and saw Sesshomaru, Kohaku, and InuYasha in the doorway. InuYasha looked conflicted and wouldn't look at me while Sesshomaru looked bored. Kohaku was carrying a sleeping Rin on his back so I pointed to her sleeping quarters.
"Kikyo? Are ye sure about this," Kaede asked.
"Yeah! I followed her and saw the soul collecters surrounding her. It was her!" InuYasha turned and was about to leave when I stopped him.
"InuYasha?"
"I'm going for a walk," was all he said before walking away. Sadness swept over me and I couldn't bare to sit here. I got up and rushed out passed Sesshomaru and went to my favorite spot, the tree where I had first met InuYasha. I sat there at the tree and felt closer to home. I wiped the tears away and tried to get a grip.
"Stop worrying so much." Suddenly, InuYasha was in front of me. He pulled me to my feet and hugged me.
"I'm not going to go looking for her when I have you with me," He said. Right then I felt stupid.
Of course your stupid! He's not going to go after her! He loves you! He chose you to marry! Get a grip! I told myself. I looked at him and kissed him passionately and he returned it with more passion. This is all he's allowed us to do together, making out. The kiss would get heated, like it is now, but when I put my hand inside his fire rat robe he backs off; which is exactly what just happened.
"Sorry, I forgot again," I said. Before turning away.
I began walking back to Kaede's but InuYasha stopped me pulled me against him before kissing me. I tried to turn around but he wouldn't let me. He held me firmly in place. He grabbed my chest and I couldn't help the wimper of pleasure I let out. I squirmed in his grip and he nipped my lips.
"InuYasha," I sighed out continuously. What had ended it for me was when he moaned out. My heart was crushed when he said Kikyo's name in between kisses with me. I slapped him and pushed him away from me, fixing my shirt.
"What the hell was that for," He yelled up but got quiet when he saw tears falling from my eyes.
"Your a jerk," I screamed out before running back to Kaede's.