*Heya Peoples! This is Adi here for a quick shout-up! This is my first ever InuYasha fanfic like, ever. So please don't be too critical kayzers! Anyway, this is a post manga series, and I don't own any of the characters created by Takahashi-sensei whatsoever! Well, I hope you enjoy "Our Future Together"!*
Our Future Together: Chapter Two
InuYasha sat quietly watching with his arms folded as Kagome repeatedly picked up plants, studied them, and sat them in her basket. She examined each one, making sure she didn't pick up the wrong type of herb or accidentally picked off the essential part of it. Kaede told her all about different tonics and antidotes that certain herbs could make, and how to prepare them for teas and broths. But all that was really on her mind wasn't the healings and purifications, but rather the patient-looking hanyou who was intently keeping his eyes on her. They hadn't said many words to each other since Kagome started her studying, but she knew it was probably because InuYasha didn't want to distract her from finishing quickly.
After what seemed like forever, she finally stood up and motioned for him to follow. He stood up quickly and stretched out his arms, then folded them again and walked along her side.
"Things are going to start changing around here, aren't they?" Kagome asked brightly.
"You can count on that for sure," InuYasha said while he gave her a toothy grin.
"InuYasha, what was it like when I wasn't here?" She said looking down.
He looked around the path for a few seconds, looked down, then looked straight forward again. "Lonesome. I didn't really have anyone to talk to."
Kagome looked at him thoughtfully, "You had Miroku-sama and Sango-chan didn't you?"
He shook his head, "Not really. It wasn't long after you disappeared that Sango was expecting. From that point on, all they've really done is care for their family. I can understand that of course, and Miroku and I have gone on our own exterminating missions and such, so you can say we became closer. But really the only time I hung around with them was when I needed something to eat, or was just feeling alone."
Kagome had a saddened glint in her eyes. "InuYasha…"
She pulled his left arm out of his sleeve and grasped his large calloused hand within her soft delicate fingers. He looked down at their hands and was smiling when he pulled his head back up.
"You have me now though, right?" She said happily.
He wrapped his arm around her waist as they kept walking forward, "Of course woman, and I wouldn't have it any other way. You don't know how much I wished you were here. I'm just glad you're back."
She leaned into his embrace while still holding her basket, "I am too. You don't wanna know how many times I thought about you each day."
He chuckled. "Well, I might not know, but I'm sure it was close to a million."
She giggled and smiled up at him, "Uh-uh, not even close."
InuYasha gave her a questioning look, "A billion?"
She laughed once more, "Try again."
He lifted his free hand and scratched his head, "Uh, I dunno, a trillion?"
She then quickly kissed his chin, "Try infinity."
He gave a heartfelt smile at her and kissed her cheek, "Alright fine, infinity times?"
"Ding ding! We have a winner!" She said while trying to hold back a laughing fit.
He nuzzled her head and grabbed onto her hand once more, "Alright, if I'm the winner, what do I receive?" He said in a husky tone.
She lowered her eyelids and gave a promising grin, "You'll just have to wait until we get back from Sango-chan's to get it."
He groaned and sighed, "Oh yah, I forgot we were having dinner with them."
"Well, we've done nothing but sit all day and look at plants, so I figured we could enjoy some company." She said while pulling a strand of hair behind her ear.
InuYasha moved closer to her, "Ay, the only company I want is you koibito."
She giggled, "Of course, but I want to catch up with Sango-chan too, InuYasha. After all, it gave me a heart attack enough to see them with three kids already."
He rolled his eyes, "Trust me, it wears off. The first time they pull your hair is when you throw in the towel."
She laughed again.
Later that evening, they were all sitting around the small fire pit within the house's walls. The twins were sleeping soundly along with their tiny brother on a mat not too far from where the adults sat, and through the heavy air, the four friends reconciled their memories from where they had left off.
"So, you say you were going to offer taking over your shrine?" Miroku said with a thoughtful look.
Kagome gave a slight nod. "Yup, but I was still hesitant. I didn't know if that was really what I wanted in life. Besides, I was still waiting for the well to reopen."
Sango sat her bowl of rice she was working on down in front of her, "Well, we're happy that you're back Kagome-chan. We all missed you; it felt as if there was an empty gap in our lives."
"A gap that even five hundred years couldn't fill." InuYasha said solemnly.
Kagome leaned into his shoulder and smiled. "Has that gap finally been refilled?"
He looked down at her with a ghost of a smile touching his lips, "Of course."
She looked back up to Sango and Miroku, who were smiling uncontrollably. "Sango-chan, do you think that you might be able to teach me how to cook? I'm not very good over an open fire. Rather, I'm not very good over anything." She said with a sarcastic grin.
Sango nodded, "Of course, Kagome-chan. I can teach you during lunch tomorrow, if that's okay."
"Yes, that's perfect," Kagome said with a nod. "So Sango-chan, what is it like to be a mother? I'm sure you have your hands and feet full."
Sango laughed and pulled her hair back. "Yes, I agree it has its complications, but all together, it's absolutely perfect. Waking up every morning and having them ask you for something, you feel like you're the ruler of your land. And when they're sad and crying, you comfort them with sweets and treats. It's wonderful, I assure you. Why just a week ago, Akemi made me a mud pie just because she was thankful. It made me about as happy as a cicada bug in summertime."
Kagome looked over to where the young children slept soundly. "Which one is Akemi again?" She asked.
"The one on the right, she's always dressed in blue, while Chouko is always in red. That's how we mainly can tell them apart." Sango said while she chuckled.
"And Naoki is our son. Although for some reason he hasn't taken a liking to me much yet. Not like my girls did anyway when they were first born." Miroku said with a sigh.
Sango nudged him in the shoulder, "Possibly because he knew you were a flirt from the start and didn't want to take after you."
Miroku shrugged. "Well, I guess the family traditions will be carried on by the twins from how they act."
Sango got a flustered look in her eyes. "You haven't been teaching them about being a pervert I hope, there's no way I'd let them act like that."
Miroku waved his hand about. "Now, now, my dear Sango, I was just stating that in every generation of my family, there is a flirt to be found. In our case, I suppose there are two."
Sango didn't look very pleased about that theory. Kagome grinned and nudged InuYasha. He looked at her tiredly and yawned. She got the hint and got the attention back from Sango.
"I think we ought to leave now, Sango-chan. It's been a long day for us. Thank you for the wonderful dinner." She stated while she and InuYasha stood up.
Sango nodded and walked over to hug her friend. "You're very welcome, Kagome-chan. Remember, be here for your lesson tomorrow at lunch, okay?"
Kagome agreed happily. Then she and InuYasha started to head outside.
"Wait, Kagome-sama." Miroku said from behind.
Kagome turned around to see the monk urging her back inside.
"We would like to talk with you privately for a minute or so." He said with a smile.
Kagome looked to InuYasha, who nodded his head forward as to say, "Go ahead." She then walked back into the house, and Miroku closed the mat that covered the door. Sango was still standing up, and quietly began to talk.
"Please be kind with InuYasha, Kagome-chan. I know things are different with you two now, but I still remember all the times you two fought with each other. He missed you deeply though he probably won't admit to it much. He hardly slept, hardly talked, and hardly ate at all. Most of the time we caught him staring into space or kneeling by the well. In fact, Shippou-chan told us he visited it every three days to see if you would return. Sometimes he would be standing next to Goshinboku as well, just murmuring your name over and over. We felt so sorry for him, and tried to invite him into our home, but he resisted. I think it was because without you, he didn't feel worthy or completed enough."
Kagome hadn't noticed it, but tears were streaming down her cheeks. She caught sight of them, and gently wiped them off with her sleeve. All this time, She thought, he was in more pain than I? He needed me all along. Without me, he was lost. Just like, he was before Kikyou.
"Kagome-chan? Are you alright?" Sango asked while holding out her arms.
Kagome walked into Sango's embrace. "All this time, I thought I was hurting more. I thought I missed him more. But I was dead wrong. I promise to always be by his side, no matter what." She said while her lip quivered.
"It's alright Kagome-sama, you're here now, and that's all that matters." Miroku said with a comforting grin.
Kagome gave a re-assuring nod. "Yes, it is all that matters." She opened her face to a gleaming grin. "I'll see you guys tomorrow."
With that, she skipped out the door.
InuYasha was waiting by a tree outside, his arms folded as usual. He looked up as soon as he saw her, and joined her side as they began to walk home.
"InuYasha?" Kagome said quietly as she stopped suddenly.
"Yeah?" InuYasha looked down to her.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a gentle kiss on his lips. He then wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her closer, intensifying the embrace. They stood that way for a moment, until they finally broke for air. InuYasha then picked her up in his arms bridal-style, and began to walk towards the old house on the hill.
"Remember that prize I was offering to you earlier today?" Kagome said as she twirled a piece of his shimmering silver hair.
"Uh-huh" He said while he nuzzled her neck.
"Do you think it's time I awarded it to you?" She said in a wanting voice.
InuYasha began to quicken his pace. "Well, referee, I'd say I'm more than ready to accept."
And with a slight giggle from Kagome, he led them inside the house.
End of Chapter Two