Kagome walked up the stairs to her small run-down apartment. As she approached the door, she heard the laughter of a small little boy behind the door."Again San-San, again," the little boy yelled.
"Come now Yasha, not right now. Mommy is going to be home any minute and she is going to have both of our tails if we don't get these toys picked up," Sango said to the child.
Kagome smiled a little to herself and put her forehead on the door. Yasha was only 3 years old, and he had no clue who his daddy was. When Kagome found out she was pregnant, she ran away; the only people who knew where she was, was Sango and Miroku. She smiled because she knew that her son was happy, and she was happy to have Sango and Miroku in her life. But she cried because she was upset that she did not stick it out; to do what was right for Yasha.
Kagome shook off herself pity and pulled her coat more secure around herself.
A blizzard was supposed to blow in tonight, so she remembered that she better turn the heat up. Kagome pulled her keys out of her purse and began unlocking her door. When the door swung open, Kagome stepped in and placed her coat, scarf and toboggan hat on the coat rack. She placed her keys and gloves on the table beside the door.
"Yasha, baby, mommy's home," Kagome called out to her child.
"Mommy!" Her child screeched back. A silver haired boy with triangle shaped puppy ears, came running down the small hallway completely naked and covered in bubbles.
"Kagome-chan...," said an irritated and soaking wet Sango as she ran down the hall after the young child. He jumped and Kagome caught him in mid-air.
"Mommy... I gave San-San a bath," the child giggled in his mother's arms.
"Yasha, mommy loves you but you need to go and get your little butt in the tub. Come now, Yasha, let mommy have a word with Aunt San-San."
Yasha did not like the idea of that but listened anyways. Kagome smiled at her son and kissed him on the tip of one of his ears.
When Yasha was no longer in sight, kagome dug through her purse and scrounged up as much money as she could to pay Sango for babysitting again for her. She pulled out a wad of money and handed Sango a 20 dollar bill.
"Kagome-chan, I'm not taking your money. I have already told you this. You're a waitress at Kouga's bar. You need all the money you earn to take care of you and Yasha."
She placed the money back in Kagome's hands. Kagome looked her best friend and Sango smiled at her. Kagome burst into tears. She knew she needed the money but felt obligated to give it to Sango.
"Sango, thank you for being such a good friend to me, I don't know what I would do without you," said Kagome as she hugged her best friend.
"Kagome-chan, you know I don't like to get in your business about this but you should really tell him. I know he is an ass but I know he will take care of you two and you won't have to sacrifice half as much as you are right now. I know you're doing it for Yasha, but for God's sakes Kagome, you need to eat too. You don't have to buy Yasha every toy and snack he lays his little fingers on."
Kagome looked down.
"Sango, what happened between me and his father had was a fling. He never loved me. He made that quite clear and he never even wanted children. He made that very clear as well. It's been 3 years, Sango, how am I supposed to do that? Just walk up to him and say, 'Hey dude... remember me, the girl you slept with back in high school... Well, guess what dude, you knocked me up and we have a 3 year-old son together.' No Sango. I can't just do that Sango-chan. I'm in this alone."
Kagome walked to her kitchen and poured her a cup of hot coffee.
Sango stayed sitting on the couch and watched the frail mother. Kagome was always happy, always smiling when Yasha was there to see. She was the true heart of a single mother. Sango knew she was working herself to death. Kagome was pushing maybe, 110 pounds, from not eating much and her face was tired and she knew it showed.
"Kagome-chan, I just want to make sure you are taking care of yourself as well as Yasha."
Kagome looked at her friend and smiled. "I will be ok Sango-chan. No one ever died of a little hard work." Kagome smiled her weak smile and walked down the small hall.
"Yasha, come say good-bye to Auntie San-San," Sango yelled.
"NOOOOOOOOO! SAN-SAN STAY," the boy screamed as he ran down the hallway towards Sango.
She caught him.
"Auntie San-San has to go home to Uncle Roku. But I will be back tomorrow and maybe we can go for a picnic... does that sound nice Yasha," she asked.
He nodded and kissed Sango's cheek.
She put him down and he ran to his mother.
Sango hugged Kagome and walked out.
Later that night, after Kagome had put Yasha to bed, she sat in her room on her bed and watched an old familiar home movie that she knew all too well. It was the movie from her 16th birthday party, when Inuyasha had been there.
It was the first day Inuyasha had kissed her. And Sango had caught it on camera.
*movie*
"Happy birthday Kags, now blow out your candles," Sango said from behind the camera.
Kagome took a huge breath and blew out with all her might. The candles went out and then lit back up.
"What the...," Kagome said looking confused.
Everyone laughed.
"Sango, get a glass of water, hurry before they burn down my cake," Kagome said half-laughing and half-panic.
"Stop laughing at me," Kagome screeched.
That just made them laugh more. After the candles were put out and the cake was cut and ate, the door swung open and Inuyasha rushed in.
"Oh shit, Kagome, I'm so sorry that I'm late," he said as he walked up behind kagome and gave her a hug.
She smiled.
"It's ok Inuyasha, you're here now...ummm...," she said as she fiddled with her fingers. "Do you want some cake," she asked.
He shook his head.
"Come talk to me, Sweety," he replied as he grabbed her hand and let her out the back door.
Sango sneaked around the counter with the camera. "Omg, what are they going to do...," Sango inquired as she watched them talk about something she couldn't hear.
She knew it must be good because she saw that Kagome was blushing. Then, Inuyasha leaned in and pressed his lips to hers. She stood there for a second, but then wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back.
When it was finished Kagome looked around, and looked straight at the camera poking out of the curtain.
"SANGO-CHAN," screamed a humiliated Kagome.
"Uh- oh. . . It's time to skedaddle," Sango said before the screen went black.
*end movie*
Kagome got up and walked down the hall.
She made her way to Yasha's room and opened the door a bit. She sauntered over to his bed and brushed his bangs from his face.
'My baby boy' she thought as she kissed his forehead and made her way to her own bed before falling into a deep sleep.