A/N: Hey all, this is just an idea for a Fanfic I had after reading the last manga chapter of InuYasha. I'm sure it's been done before, but I've made a POINT not to read any fanfics similar to this one because I didn't want to be outwardly influenced by another person's work, so if the story idea/plot seems familiar I guarantee it's completely coincidental :-)
Like some people I felt that the chapter just left us hanging on a lot of details about InuYasha and Kagome's relationship, among other things. But I'm not too bent up over it… I feel that Rumiko Takahashi in all of her wisdom decided to blur the edges of the story line to allow fans (and certain Fanfic writers/readers like us) to draw (or write in this case) their own conclusion of InuYasha and Kagome's love story.
I would expect this to be a long fanfiction, around the same length as my NaruSaku fanfiction, maybe possibly more. I feel that this story can be taken in so many directions thanks to the way Rumiko Takahashi ended it, with no real "set-in-stone" confessions of undying love, despite whether it's there or not.
So anyways, this is the continuation of the love story between InuYasha and Kagome. I hope everyone enjoys reading this, I know I'm looking forward to writing it. Just to clarify, I've only watched the InuYasha episodes in English, so even though I've been known in former fanfics to use Japanese honorifics, I'm not going to in this one because I'm not completely sure who calls who what. Also when it comes to the Manga, I've only read the ending chapters, starting with Kikyo's death (sorry, does that makes me sound morbid?). But I'm still a new fan, but well educated on the history of InuYasha and of their world.
Oh, and if you could possibly search your heart and add a sweet/critical review at the end, I'd highly appreciate it!
Chapter 1 – Reunions and Renewed Emotions
"Kagome! Ye are stirring the medicinal herbs too roughly!!" Lady Kaede scolded, looming over Kagome as the petite girl frantically stirred the boiling pot, "Ye are going to mellow the pine root!"
Kagome bit her bottom lip, concentrating on stirring the bubbling pot. She had been working as Lady Kaede's apprentice for about a week now since she had finally come home, home from the other world that is, the modern world. Lady Kaede had taken it upon herself to teach Kagome the correct way to make medicines and purify evil spirits. Lady Kaede hoped that if she could teach Kagome the ways of the priestess, then Kagome would soon take over most of her responsibilities, allowing the old woman to finally rest.
Kagome scowled when she heard Rin giggling from the other side of the small room. The little girl was wearing a new Kimono that Sesshoumaru had just recently given her. Kagome turned to the little girl and stuck out her tongue, which the girl hastily returned with the same gesture.
"Kagome, don't take ye eyes away from the pot!" Lady Kaede yelled poking Kagome in the back, hard, making her turn around just as the pot exploded. Reacting as quickly as her legs would allow her; Kagome quickly pushed Lady Kaede out of the way of the boiling potion explosion. But unfortunately couldn't get out of the way herself. Thankfully only a tiny bit of the potion had actually touched her skin, due to the protective kimono she was wearing, a special potion-making kimono that Lady Kaede had instructed her to wear.
"Kagome!" Rin panicked, running towards them, she quickly covered the pot to keep the potion from sputtering everywhere.
"Thanks Rin…" Kagome gasped, grabbing her burnt hand and holding it painfully to her chest. Kagome opened her kimono to reveal where the hot liquid had burnt her; on her stomach was an angry red blister.
"Ow…"
"Kagome, are ye alright?" Lady Kaede worried, inspecting Kagome's burn closer. She took a deep sigh, "I suppose we are finished for your teaching today…" she said.
Kagome nodded, her hand and abdomen was stinging badly. Kagome's ears perked when she heard heavy footsteps entering the hut.
"Damn it, I'm beat…" A familiar voice said exhaustedly.
"Inuyasha!" Rin joyfully said, running up to give the half-demon a hug.
"Lay off Rin," Inuyasha said, pushing Rin away, "I told you I-" His voice fell silent when he saw Kagome and Kaede. Kagome had part of her kimono open wide, showing the top half of her body.
Inuyasha gasped and whirled around, turning a bright red, "Eh….I…I had no idea! I… I… I'll just leave…"
"Inuyasha, Kagome's been burned." Kaede explained and Inuyasha spun back around, this time only Kagome's burn on her stomach was visible.
"What the hell happened?" he asked, looking over the human girl with concern.
"She burned the potion, and it exploded!" Rin commented dryly, covering her smile with her hand.
"Inuyasha, take Kagome to the hot springs behind the hut, the trees will provide privacy." Kaede said, handing him a bottle of an unknown green substance, "Pour this into the hot spring, it will soothe her burns." She instructed.
Inuyasha nodded and motioned for Kagome to follow him. The girl stood and followed him out.
"So, you burned the potion again?" Inuyasha started as Kagome walked beside him. Kagome turned to him, her eyes wide.
"I'll have you know that neither of those times were my fault, I was distracted by Rin!" Kagome yelled.
Inuyasha raised his hands up and rested them behind his head, shrugging, "That seems like a pretty lame excuse to me…"
"Lame?" Kagome asked, shocked that he would say that, "Sit, boy!" she yelled.
The subjugation beads around Inuyasha's neck glowed brightly and then sent him to the ground in a heap. Kagome grabbed the bottle of medicine out of his outstretched hand and stormed off.
"Oww! Stop Kagome! Where are you going?" he asked, standing up.
"I'm going to bathe; I don't see why Kaede sent you to come with me in the first place!" Kagome shouted, stomping ahead, "Especially if all you're going to do is make fun of me!"
Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "Well, obviously I'm supposed to protect you; you know it's not safe to bathe by yourself without protection!"
"The only person who needs protection around here is you Inuyasha, and that's from me." She scowled, and Inuyasha backed away.
"Fine, go get yourself captured or hurt, see if I care!" he said, walking off in the other direction.
Kagome snorted and turned, walking towards the hot springs. The sun was rapidly setting and the moon could already be seen from the opening where the hot spring was.
"He thinks he's so smart, I'd like to see him spend his entire day chopping herbs and standing over a boiling pot, stirring until his arm falls off." Kagome grumbled, "And the entire time, Rin would be right beside his ear, annoying him…"
"Kagome…"
When Kagome heard her named called she turned and saw Inuyasha standing behind her. Her mind completely blanked when she saw his expression, his face showed something it didn't often show, remorse.
"Inuyasha?" she asked, but he didn't respond, "Why'd you come back?"
His expression immediately changed from that of remorse to that of stubborn persistence, "You know that if I come back without you then that old hag will kill me!" He muttered.
Kagome had thought that for once, he would finally apologize. But the three years that they had been apart hadn't changed him at all; he was still a stubborn mule.
"Fine…" she snapped, "You can sit there." Kagome said, pointing to a tree that was near the pool. She carefully dumped the entire bottle of medicine into the water. Inuyasha sat down, cross-legged, his Tessaiga resting against his body as he closed his eyes.
"Don't peek…" Kagome warned, slowly untying her kimono.
Inuyasha snorted, "You don't have to worry about that…"
"Ow, this really hurts…" Kagome winced, slowly sliding into hot water, "It burns my skin…"
"It's supposed to make it heal quicker though." Inuyasha said, as Kagome sat against one of the boulders in the pool.
"So what did you do today, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, rubbing her skin with her palms, cleaning her body, careful to not touch the burn.
Inuyasha growled, "Miroku and I had to travel to a village towards the east, to kill a demon that's been bothering their town."
"I take it that it went okay?" Kagome said, rubbing her legs down with the warm water. She had to get the smell of pine root off her skin somehow.
Inuyasha grunted, "Yeah, except that for that monk cheating the villagers out of the job, he's way too pricy, it's such a rip-off!"
Kagome swirled the cloudy water with her fingertips, "When I become strong enough, I want to go with you." She said quietly.
Silence fell among them as a blush colored both of their cheeks. If Inuyasha took an unbiased approach to the issue, he knew that Kagome would be a definite asset to their team. But he knew that more was written in between the lines of Kagome's statement. She didn't want to just help Inuyasha, she wanted to be with him.
"I'd like that…" he whispered finally.
After a moment of silence he heard a gasp and then a splash, "Kagome?"
Kagome giggled, calming his now racing heart, "The medicine is tickling me…" she said, touching her stomach.
"I guess that means its working." Inuyasha said, relief washing over him.
"You know, sometimes I wonder if I'm wasting my time growing herbs and making potions, I could be so much more useful going out with you and purifying souls."
Inuyasha smiled warmly at himself, "You won't always be making potions, just for now. Trust me; it won't take as long as you think."
Kagome sighed deeply, "I'm just not that good at it…"
"I'm sure you'll get the hang of it." He assured her, "You were always a quick learner."
Kagome smiled and touched her abdomen, "I think I'm going to get out now." She announced, "It doesn't hurt anymore."
Inuyasha stood throwing her a clean white kimono. Kagome quickly changed, walking towards him, her black hair was dripping wet and he watched her as she dried the strands in the thick cloth she had brought. She covered her entire head with the cloth, collecting it at her chin so that it looked like a hood on her.
Suddenly Inuyasha looked up, his face showed obvious worry.
"What's going on?" Kagome asked, looking at him confusingly.
"I sense a demon, and he's closing in on us fast." Inuyasha warned, turning towards Kagome.
"A demon!?" Kagome panicked, her mouth gaping. It had been three years since she had even seen a demon! "A demon's coming here, why!?"
"How do you expect me to know that, Kagome!?" Inuyasha snapped, his head turning in every direction, before gasping, "He's right behind you!"
Time seemed to slow to a crawl as the demon sprung out from some bushes behind Kagome; it was a purple and green snake demon. Inuyasha reached out and grabbed Kagome by her kimono, pulling her backwards just before the snake reached her, his fangs dripping with venom, the fairly large serpent demon towered over both Inuyasha and Kagome, who was now safely behind Inuyasha. Inuyasha unsheathed Tessaiga, holding it over his head.
"This is why you don't bathe by yourself!" Inuyasha yelled, running towards the snake. He jumped and sliced easily through the serpent, dispelling the demon easily.
Inuyasha turned back around and Kagome breathed in relief, "Thank-you, Inuyasha."
Inuyasha snorted, sheathing his sword. "You don't have to thank me, Tessaiga doesn't get a lot of action, so it was convenient that demon came along when he did…" Inuyasha muttered, unemotionally.
Kagome smiled despite herself and walked pass Inuyasha, heading towards the house. She knew him well, better than anyone. She knew that compliments and thank-you's only made him nervous, but she said them anyways.
He caught up with her and they walked back towards the hut, where Kaede and Rin were already asleep. Kagome smiled when she saw two servings of soup on the table, one for each of them. Kaede had obviously left it out for them.
Kagome handed one of the bowls to Inuyasha, who had planted himself beside the fire, sitting Indian-style. She sat by the fire as well, slowly eating as the room fell into silence.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, turning her head to look at him. He looked up from his bowl of soup. Inuyasha frowned when he looked into Kagome's eyes and saw so many memories reflected in her eyes of the past, before they had been separated, before the Bone-Eater's Well had sealed itself off, when they had fallen in love... Inuyasha knew that it wouldn't have taken long for the wounds of separation to heal itself. He knew that he couldn't force himself to stay away from her forever. He had once taken her presence for granted, he wasn't about to do it again. He was in love with Kagome, and she was in love with him, yet for unknown reasons, they had both held off for the past week from letting their feelings be known.
"Inuyasha… I…"
"This isn't the place to talk about that, Kagome…" Inuyasha cut her off, gesturing to where Rin was watching them, she was laying on her stomach and her head rested on her arm as her brown eyes watched them intently.
Kagome turned and gave Rin a look of annoyance, "Oi Rin, how about you go to sleep and quit eavesdropping!?" Kagome spat, throwing her empty bowl at Rin.
The girl ducked out of the way of the flying projectile giggling, turning her head facing the other direction.
"I'm going to bed…" Kagome murmured, crawling over to her mat by the fire. She laid flat on it and closed her eyes tightly, covering herself with a simple blanket. Kagome could feel Inuyasha's stare on her back, she fought the urge to look up at him, knowing that if she did, she would break down and confess to him the feelings she had for him, the feelings she had always had for him.
She concentrated on falling asleep; she knew she'd have a crazy day tomorrow. Filled with farming, boiling, and stirring…
"Kagome…" A voice called, gently shaking her awake. It was Lady Kaede, her body loomed over Kagome, casting a shadow on the fire.
"Is it morning already?" Kagome groaned, sitting up slowly. The noise had roused Inuyasha as well. Standing, Inuyasha began to gather his belongings.
"Wait, Inuyasha." Lady Kaede called before he could reach for his Hakama to slip it on.
"What is it? I don't have time to be hanging around here…" he muttered in annoyance.
"I have an assignment for ye and Kagome to take care of today." Kaede said, as Kagome slipped on her priestess outfit over her white kimono.
Kagome looked up at Lady Kaede, "What kind of assignment?"
"What makes you think I have the time to run some sort of errand for an old hag like you, Kaede?" Inuyasha spat, crossing his arms.
"Well then, I suppose I'll just have to send Kagome to the other side of the village all by herself." Lady Kaede said wisely, before resting her fingertip on her chin. "I heard there was a demon sighting there this morning… Supposedly it's very powerful, but I'm sure that Kagome can take care of it with her bow, right Kagome?" she asked.
Inuyasha's eyebrow twitched annoyingly, "You think you can bait me into going by sending Kagome on a dangerous mission like that, Kaede?"
"But then again, Kagome seems to be slightly out of practice with her bow, since she hasn't used it for three years…" Kaede continued.
Inuyasha growled, "Fine… What kind of assignment do you have for us?" He asked, lifting his Tessaiga over his head.
Lady Kaede smiled over her victory, she had baited him well, "Take this bottle of medicine to Sango…" she said, holding out the bottle.
"THAT'S IT?!" Inuyasha yelled. "ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! I'M NOT PUTTING MY PLANS ON HOLD TO GO TAKE A BOTTLE OF MEDICINE TO SANGO!!" he roared.
"Why does she need this medicine, Lady Kaede?" Kagome asked, concerned about her old friend, and cutting off Inuyasha's tirade. "Is Sango alright?"
"She's fine; it's medicine for the newborn, to help him keep his strength up." Lady Kaede explained.
"I'll take it immediately, are you coming Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, turning to him. He was leaning against the wall of the hut, his arms crossed angrily. Eventually he sat up and followed her out.
"Ye both feel free to stay a couple of days! I'm going to begin Rin's training, so Kagome, ye can have a few days rest!" Kaede yelled as Kagome climbed onto Inuyasha's back. He held her against him tightly.
"Thanks Lady Kaede!" Kagome hollered as Inuyasha sped to the other side of the village.
"Inuyasha! Slow down!" Kagome screeched, her arms tightening around him. It had been three years since she had ridden on Inuyasha's back, and she felt nervousness bubbling up inside of her as if she had never had done it before.
"Kagome! Since you've known me, how many times have I dropped you?!" Inuyasha asked, irritated.
Kagome took a deep, calming breath, "You're right." She said, a smile forming on her lips. Kagome slowly released her firm grip on Inuyasha's Hakama, lifting her arms out to her sides. She closed her eyes tightly.
"I feel like I'm flying!" she said as Inuyasha jumped from hut to hut, the wind caught her hair and she took a deep breath, breathing in the fresh scent. It had been so long since she had been this free, she felt years of pressure melt off of her. A few tears rolled down her cheek, hitting Inuyasha's shoulder.
"Whoa…" Inuyasha said, looking over his shoulder at her. "Are you crying?" he asked, confusion evident in his voice. "Was it something I said?"
She smiled brightly, her white teeth sparkling in the sunlight. "I'm just so glad to be home!" she cried.
He turned back to looking at the direction they were traveling, hiding his smile from her. Kagome leaned forward and wrapped her arms around him tightly, pulling him into a reverse hug. Her head rested beside his, on his shoulder.
"What's gotten into you?" Inuyasha asked, playfully nudging her with his forehead.
"I'm just happy, that's all…" she exclaimed, as he came to a halt in front of a small hut.
"Inuyasha!" Miroku called, he was outside of the hut in the garden. "Are we leaving already?" he asked.
"We will in a minute," Inuyasha said as Sango came out, carrying a tiny child in her arms. He turned to her. "I've brought you a surprise." He told her.
"It's not a surprise; Lady Kaede told me already that she was going to send you to bring some medicine for the baby."
"That's not the surprise, Sango." Inuyasha chuckled, before turning, showing Kagome's smiling face behind him.
"Kagome!" Sango exclaimed, shocked. Kagome ran to her and hugged her tightly.
"Sango, I'm so glad to see you!" Kagome smiled, embracing her friend warmly. Inuyasha threw the bottle of medicine to Miroku.
"It's been so long since I've seen you, Sango!!" Kagome cried.
"I know!" Sango replied, hugging the girl tightly.
Inuyasha and Miroku stood side-by-side. Both with an eyebrow raised, questionably. "Didn't they see each other a week ago?" Miroku whispered in Inuyasha's ear. The half-demon nodded, rolling his eyes.
"KAGOME!!" A young voice shouted, from the hut. He pushed past the cloth door.
"Shippo!!" Kagome squealed, scooping the tiny fox-demon into her arms, hugging him tightly.
"Foxy!" a little girl squeaked, and suddenly two little girls came waddling out of the hut. But when they saw all the people they immediately made a bee-line for their mother, hiding behind her skirt.
"Hello there, Suki and Sumi!" Kagome said, leaning down to the twins' height. They hid farther behind Sango's skirt.
"Don't worry about them Kagome, they'll get used to you soon enough." Sango laughed, as Kagome stood.
"DOGGY!!" The girls squealed and Inuyasha made a fearful face as jumped and hid behind Miroku.
"What are you talking about?" Inuyasha asked as the little girls corralled around him, "I'm a demon! A scary demon!" Inuyasha said, holding his claws over his head.
"Doggy!" they said again, clinging to his legs. The twins eventually brought him down, causing him to land on his backside.
"Girls! Not so rough!" Miroku said, picking them up by their mini-sized kimonos, "Let's leave the doggy alone, alright?"
"Miroku, I'm a dog demon, try and teach them that!" Inuyasha grumbled, looking over at Kagome. She was smiling at the baby in Sango's arms.
"Do you want to hold him, Kagome?" Sango asked, "I'm sure Taro is getting tired of being held by me." She said.
"Can I?" Kagome asked, taking the tiny baby into her arms. She held him securely in her arms, the child was wrapped in a thin cloth so only his tiny face and a tuff of dark hair was visible. Kagome smiled brightly, cuddling the fragile human close to her chest. Inuyasha felt all the oxygen leave his lungs when his eyes landed on Kagome holding the newborn gently. To Inuyasha she looked like an angel in her priestess robe with the tiny baby in her arms. Inuyasha shook his head after a moment of watching Kagome to clear the foreign thoughts.
Miroku leaned over to him, "The estrogen is stifling isn't it?" he asked and Inuyasha nodded dumbly, still taken aback by the image of Kagome holding the little baby.
"Let's go then." Miroku announced, pulling Inuyasha towards the road.
"Wait!" Kagome yelled, rushing over to Inuyasha, the baby was still sleeping in her arms, "Where are you going?" she asked.
Inuyasha looked down at her, a harsh noise vibrating from his lips, "We're going out exorcize a demon in the western village…" he said, trying his best to sound annoyed.
Kagome looked up at him with her big brown eyes, "Will you be back tonight?" she asked.
He flinched. The domestic environment around him felt strange, it seemed so alien and foreign to him.
"We'll be back before sundown, Kagome." Miroku assured, dragging Inuyasha away from her.
"You two be careful!!" Sango yelled, waving her arm as they disappeared out of sight.
"Now what do we do?" Kagome asked, turning to Sango.
"I've got tea on the fire," Sango said, putting her arm around the priestess in training and lead her through the cloth door.
Inuyasha and Miroku were running at full speed towards the western village. Inuyasha took a deep breath as they headed down the dusty path.
"So what was that all about?" Miroku asked, running beside Inuyasha.
"What are you babbling about?" Inuyasha asked, defensively.
"You had a weird look in your eyes when Kagome was holding Taro." Miroku commented, his staff held out in front of him.
Inuyasha snorted, "I have no idea what you're getting at…"
Miroku raised an eyebrow, "It looked to me like you were ready to give Kagome her own little bundle-of-joy."
"What? Kagome be a mother? Yeah right…" Inuyasha mumbled, turning a bright red.
"Listen Inuyasha, I've been one of your closest companions for a long time now, I know you very well. If you want to talk, then you can trust me to keep quiet about what we talk about." Miroku said, taking a deep breath, "I know that after the relief of having Kagome back wore off, you seemed to return to your old, reserved self around her. But today was the first time I saw the spark between the two of you that I saw the day she left three years ago."
Inuyasha grunted. Miroku had managed to pinpoint his feelings perfectly, "It's just… I'm beginning to care for her again, but it's just…" he paused, mulling over in order to find the right word, "It's just a lot of feelings to have rushing back so quickly, you know? I forced myself to move on, thinking that Kagome would stay in her world forever… But I never really could completely move on, which is why I kept on trying to go through the well when she had left."
Miroku nodded, "Well then, just take it slow with Kagome, she isn't going anywhere, you have the rest of your life to live with her."
"Saying that makes it seem, so… permanent." Inuyasha grumbled.
"My friend, you are facing the problem that every man faces in their life concerning women."
Inuyasha turned to him, confused, "And what's that?"
"Commitment issues…" Miroku revealed.
"Commitment issues?"
"Yeah, like not being able to see yourself forever with someone, it's a natural reaction; I remember feeling the same way about Sango when we first threw the idea around about getting married."
"That's just because you didn't want to give up your lechery…" Inuyasha accused, a skeptical gleam in his eyes, "But there isn't another woman in this equation here, Miroku."
"Well then, it might be that after all the hardships you've endured with the Shikon Jewel, Naraku, and Kikyo's death, that you're just not comfortable being content."
Inuyasha bit his bottom lip, "But, I want to be with Kagome, if she was to leave again, or if something was to happen to her, I don't know whether I could live."
"Well then you need to sort out your priorities and marry the poor girl before she bursts."
"Marry her?" Inuyasha stammered, stopping suddenly in the middle of the road.
Miroku stopped as well, facing him, "Yeah, m-a-r-r-y… It's a thing people do when-"
"I know what it means, Miroku." Inuyasha snapped, before turning away, "Can we just drop it for now?"
"Fine, we're almost there anyways." Miroku sighed, walking away from him.
"It's just, I know he still has feelings for me, he just doesn't show them as strongly as he did before I left." Kagome muttered, she was sitting cross-legged on a mat by the fire, a cup of hot tea in her hands. The baby rested in a tiny crib over by the window as the two little girls played with two wooden carved dolls. Sango sat across from her, sipping her tea pensively, Shippo sat on Kagome's lap, listening intently.
"Well, there is a bit of good news concerning that." Sango said, resting the cup on the ground, "I saw his paternal instincts kick in when you were holding Taro." Sango said, an all-knowing smile forming on her lips.
"Paternal instincts?" Shippo and Kagome asked in unison.
"Yeah, like when you held the tiny baby in your arms, I saw his face light up, almost like a proud father would. Not unlike Miroku does when he sees the children"
Shippo gasped eyes wide.
"Proud father!" Kagome said, her tea spurting out of her mouth. The two twins giggled in the corner at her, "But I'm not… we're not… how!!" she stammered, her mind floundering in confusion while at the same time trying to figure out why Inuyasha was acting so strange.
"Maybe it was just my imagination." Sango muttered.
"I sure hope so! I'm not ready for any of that just yet, I just got back!"
Sango looked out of the window, the sun was setting slowly. "I was hoping for the two of them to be back by now…" she said, standing so that she could light a candle, to place in the window, and another one to light up the hut.
Suddenly in the silence was broken by a sinister wail, causing Kagome to jump, "What was that??" Shippo asked in fright, looking at Sango who's face had tightened.
"I sense a demon approaching…" Sango muttered. She moved quickly, lifting up the animal rug in the middle of the room.
"A hidden door!" Kagome said, pointing to the wooden door that led underground.
"C'mon Suki, Sumi, it's time for you to play hide and seek." Sango said, obviously flustered. The little girls, without hesitation, went into the hidden chamber underground. Sango turned to Shippo, "Shippo, you go underground as well, so you can watch over them." She ordered.
Kagome carefully wrapped tiny baby Taro in a cloth and carried him over to Sango, who gave him to Shippo, "Take care of them, and do not come out until we come and get you, understand?" Sango asked, firmly. Shippo nodded.
The two twins looked quite scared as Sango closed the heavy wooden door and threw the heavy rug over the opening.
Another howl could be heard, the demon was approaching at a very fast speed. "Let's hurry!" Sango yelled frantically, she pulled out her Hiraikotsu out of the corner of the room, throwing it over her back, "Damn it Miroku, where are you!!" Sango asked.
"Inuyasha… hurry back…" Kagome muttered, grabbing her bow and her quiver which was thankfully filled with arrows.
They walked out of the hut; people from the village were running like scared rabbits for shelter. Sango gasped.
"I sense him, he's getting closer…" Sango warned, "We haven't seen demons around here since the Shikon jewel had been destroyed!"
"Why are there so many demons?" Kagome cried, but Sango just shook her head, not knowing the reason. Suddenly the demon appeared; it towered over the entire village.
"That's a really big demon…" Kagome muttered, raising her bow.
"Save us priestess!" An elderly lady called out as she ran by Kagome, "Save us from this evil!"
"But what can I do?" Kagome asked. She lifted her bow and shot an arrow towards the giant monster, though it was short on distance and barely brushed its foot.
The demon growled, his interest turned to Kagome and Sango, speed quickly towards them.
"Oh no, I think I got his attention!" Kagome said, grabbing another arrow out of her quiver.
"Stand back!" Sango yelled, lifting her weapon over her head, "Hiraikotsu!" she screamed, throwing the bone boomerang towards her foe with all her might, unfortunately, the aim was off, and it missed the target completely.
"I guess we're both out of practice!" Sango yelled, missing her Hiraikotsu when it came back.
Kagome dived for the dirt as the evil demon's tail whipped towards them; they just barely missed the deathly swing of the demon's spine-covered tail.
Kagome stood again and shot another arrow, this time it connected with the side of the demons face, but it simply bounced off, not able to pierce its hardened skin.
"What happened?" Kagome asked, shocked, "It didn't even hurt him!"
The demon ran towards Kagome, who was now backed against the tree line of the forest. There wasn't anywhere to run to.
"KAGOME!!" She heard a voice yell, and just as the demon lifted its claws to kill her, a familiar sword cut through its entire body, from head to toe.
"Inuyasha!?" Kagome called recognizing his voice immediately. The demon dissipated before her very eyes, leaving no evidence of his attack.
Kagome's gaze wandered around the dark village; from what she could see there was no serious damage done to the village. Sango and Miroku were holding each other as they watched Kagome worriedly. Apparently, Inuyasha and Miroku had made it back just in time to save her. She looked up to the serious expression of Inuyasha as he looked down at her. He sheathed Tessaiga and looked over her for wounds.
"Are you alright?" he asked, helping her up.
She couldn't respond, she simply looked up at him, shocked speechless.
"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, looking at her worriedly.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried, running into his warm chest gripping the front of his Hakama in a firm embrace. Inuyasha's arms were out wide as she nuzzled her head deeper into his torso. He watched her, a concerned expression on his face.
"What's gotten into you?!" he asked, wrapping his arms around her, enveloping her in his warm embrace.
"I… I don't know…" she whimpered.
"I guess Kagome has to get used to the threat of demons again." Miroku said, "She hasn't been outwardly attacked by one in a long time."
"She was yesterday!" Inuyasha said, holding Kagome tightly, he rested his chin on the top of her head.
"But… you were there, and I wasn't afraid… But today… I thought I was going to die…"
Inuyasha grunted, "Idiot, like I'd let you get killed so easily… I'd think you'd have more confidence in my ability to protect you"
She looked up at him, their eyes met; her eyes were wet with tears.
"Oh god… Don't cry now, your safe, okay?" he said, awkwardly patting her head, he turned to look for Miroku's assistance, but both him and Sango had escaped inside the hut.
Those cowards… Inuyasha thought bitterly, looking at Miroku and Shippo, who were eyeing them through the window, Miroku gave him the thumbs up, watching intently.
"Thank-you for saving me, Inuyasha…" Kagome muttered, and Inuyasha looked down at her.
He snorted, "Yeah, you're welcome…" he said, not able to think of anything except for the fact that Miroku and Shippo were watching them, "Let's go inside, okay?" he asked and she nodded.
"Well that was more exciting than that little weasel demon we exorcized today…" Miroku muttered, holding Suki in his arm, who was wailing.
"Kagome, take Taro," Sango said, handing the little newborn to her. Sango then turned to comfort Sumi, who was crying as well.
"Is everyone okay?" Sango asked, inspecting her children for injuries.
"I think little Taro slept though it all." Shippo said with a laugh.
Inuyasha sat beside Kagome, leaning against the wall of the hut. His presence calmed her immensely.
"Here," Sango said, handing Kagome a warmed baby bottle, "Shippo gave us the bottles you had given him as a baby gift, and they've really come in handy."
Kagome smiled warmly at Shippo as she fed the little baby. She felt so comfortable right now, with the tiny baby in her arms and Inuyasha sitting beside her, surrounded by her best friends.
Sango served the others dinner while Kagome continued to feed little Taro. Shippo had dozed off after eating his portion and Miroku absentmindedly fed Suki some of his porridge while eating himself. The twins soon calmed, returning to normal. By the time dinner was done, the little girls were fast asleep. Miroku and Sango left the room to put the two to bed, leaving Kagome and Inuyasha in awkward silence.
"I think Taro is finally done with this bottle." Kagome said, standing. She placed the little boy in the wooden crib, covering him up for the night, "He sure does sleep a lot." She said, with a smile.
Inuyasha just watched her as he spooned another serving of porridge into an empty bowl.
"Get over here and eat." He snapped. He knew he sounded irritated and even a bit harsh, but it was the only reaction he could give without looking like a complete idiot.
Kagome turned and walked over to him, grabbing the bowl of food that he had in his outstretched hand, "Thanks." She said, sitting close to him.
"Yeah…" he muttered.
They sat in silence as Kagome quickly ate, after a moment Inuyasha snorted in annoyance.
"Geez, Miroku and Sango are definitely taking their time…" Inuyasha muttered.
Kagome set down her bowl of half-eaten food, and set her chopsticks on top of the bowl, pushing it away from her.
"Inuyasha, are you uncomfortable around me?" Kagome asked suddenly, moving away from him.
"Why are you not eating? You barely touched your food." Inuyasha said, pointing to the bowl of food.
"Why are you avoiding my question?" Kagome asked, putting distance between them.
Inuyasha fell silent as he looked away from her and to the smoldering fire, red hot coals burned in the pit, warming the room.
"I'm not uncomfortable around you Kagome, I'm just… wary…" he muttered, searching for the best way to explain his feelings.
"Wary of what?" Kagome pleaded, her brown eyes looking into the golden hues of his own. She watched the reflection of the flames in them; they made his eyes glow, with flicks of red on a yellow background.
"Of falling too quickly." He said, looking up at her, "It will come, I swear it will, but you have to understand how much I'm feeling right now…" he said.
"You think you're the only one, Inuyasha?" Kagome cried, looking hurt as tears threatened to leak from her eyes, "I had to be away from the person who meant the most to me for three whole years!"
"Kagome…" He said, looking deeply in her eyes.
"I'm trying to take it slow," she said, pulling her knees to her chest, "I tell myself we have forever now."
Kagome looked up at him then, her eyes filled with seriousness. "But I thought that too, before that well sealed this world away from me for so long." She looked down sadly, "You're afraid of falling in love with me again too quickly, but I'm afraid of losing you again before you realize that you love me."
"Kagome, you're not going to lose me." Inuyasha promised her.
"How do you know that? Death could be looming around the next corner, Inuyasha, for any of us. What are you going to do if I get attacked tomorrow and die?"
"I'm not going to let you get hurt, I'm going to protect you!" he assured her.
"At what price? Your own life?" she yelled, before remembering where they were and immediately her voice grew quiet without losing its gravity, "Don't you see? We don't know how many chances we have to make this work." Kagome continued, "We've wasted one chance already, are we going to waste the second one too?"
"Kagome…"
"Is this a bad time?" Miroku asked, peeking his head out from his and Sango's room, "I suppose Sango and I could find something to do for a while, if you need some time alone."
"No it's fine." Kagome said, as both Sango and Miroku watched her intently, they had obviously overheard the entire conversation.
Sango put her arm around Kagome as she stood, "How bout' a nice long soak in the hot springs out back?" Sango asked.
Kagome nodded, nudging Shippo gently with her foot until he woke up, "C'mon Shippo."
The tiny fox demon rubbed his eyes and followed Kagome slowly as she walked off sadly, she could feel Inuyasha's stare as she grabbed a change of clothes and headed outside.
"What are you giving me that look for?" Inuyasha grunted, glaring at Miroku, who sat across from him, arms crossed.
"No reason…" he muttered, before propping his hands on his knees, "Except that you broke Kagome's heart, again…"
"What's that supposed to mean? I didn't mean to break her heart, I was just being honest of what I was feeling right then!" Inuyasha said, defensively.
"Really," Miroku said, leaning back, "Well how do you feel now?"
Inuyasha sighed, biting his lip frustratingly, "Like a complete fool."
"Listen, talk to her once they get back, Sango and I will go to bed early and give you two some privacy, I'll even grab Shippo."
Inuyasha nodded, even though he didn't know what he was going to say to her…
Kagome and Sango came back into the dark room; their hair had been pinned up so the dark tresses wouldn't get wet. Kagome seemed happier, which meant that Sango's attempt to cheer her up had succeeded.
"Sango, I'm really tired, what says you and me turn in for the night?" Miroku asked, pulling her towards their bedroom, which was separate from the main room.
"Miroku, if this is some ploy to get me to have another one of your children, then I'm going to have to ask you to at least give me a small break!"
Miroku looked at her confused, "Now when, in the many years you've known me, have I ever came off as just being interested in that?"
Kagome giggled as Sango glared at him accusatorily.
"What?" he asked, holding his hands over his head defensively, "My intentions are pure!"
"They'd better be, monk." Sango warned, walking towards the bedroom. Before Miroku closed the door he turned to Shippo.
"Let's go Shippo." He said, gesturing for the tiny fox demon to follow him.
"Aww, but I'm not even sleepy…" he said, but when Miroku gave him the death glare, he trudged inside the room. Miroku looked back once more at Inuyasha as the door shut, giving him a look that told Inuyasha that he owed him, big time.
"How was the hot spring?" Inuyasha asked Kagome as she unpinned her hair and smoothed her dark, long, silky tresses.
"It was relaxing, I've done a lot of thinking, and Sango and I had a nice talk." She said, kneeling down to where he sat.
"I've decided to give you some time to get used to having me back again, and I'll wait, for however long it takes for you to be comfortable enough to pick up where we left off."
"Kagome…"
Kagome grabbed a blanket and wrapped it around her shoulders, but before she turned to leave he grabbed her arms and pulled her to his chest. She gasped as he pulled her into an embrace. Inuyasha's legs were on each side of her and his arms were tightly wound around her, her head rested on his chest, right underneath his chin.
"Inuyasha…?"
"I'm sorry for being so difficult." He whispered, and she tightened her hands in his Hakama, holding onto him.
Kagome smiled warmly; she could hear his heartbeat drumming gently against her ear. "Inuyasha…"
She looked into her eyes, and his golden eyes lit as he looked into hers. "Go to bed, I'm going to stay up for a while." He said, and she pulled away, climbing into bed.
Kagome's mind flooded with many different thoughts as she fought to clear her mind. She stayed up until she could hear Inuyasha breathing softly, signaling that he was asleep. Without making a noise she turned and watched him, he was sleeping closer to her than he normally did, and she decided that was because it was warmer where she was sleeping, not that he merely wanted to be closer to her. He looked so peaceful as he dozed, it calmed her soul and she closed her eyes, allowing the sweet embrace of sleep to overcome her.
A/N: Whew, that was a LONG chapter :-), so please review and tell me what you think! I also want to say that I didn't write this fic by myself, (well, i did the writing and the planning, but my friend looked over it) so since I'm usually REALLY sarcastic and evil to him 90 percent of the time, i'm going to be nice and tell you to check out his stories, he a really good writer, and so check him out (well, his profile heh) his name is Darkide, but you can find a link to his under my favorite authors on my profile page.
Don't forget to review, this is actually my first Inuyasha fic, so I'd really like feedback!!