A/N: Yay, I've spent 48 hrs without sleeping, but here it is! 20 pages of... well, give it a look yourselves! This is, I promise, the chapter where things get interesting :3 Try not to kill me towards the end.
A small warning: things get a little spicy in this chapter, although I'm not sure it can even count as limes ^^
Broken
Sango held Kagome in a tight embrace with happy tears in her eyes. When she pulled back she gave her a warm look. "I knew you'd come back… Here, I'd like you to meet someone."
The taijiya walked towards the twins that fidgeted in her husband's arms. "This is Momoko," she announced, caressing the head of a pink-cladded girl. "And this is Nashiko," the second girl wore green and was identical to her sister, but she wrinkled her nose with a smile when her mom patted her hair. "Girls, this is your auntie Kagome-chan, remember her from the stories?"
Both toddlers practically threw themselves at her with giggles, and Kagome struggled to catch them both. Shippo, who was still on her shoulder, helped to prevent one of the twins from slipping away. "And this here," Sango announced turning around to introduce her adoptive sister to the baby that was tucked in her back. "Is Hisashi. He's new around, so we are still getting to know him."
"He sleeps all day long!" announced Shippo with a frustrated expression.
"Would you rather he cries all day long like his sisters?" retorted the monk.
Inuyasha visibly shuddered and Kagome chuckled at the thought of the hanyou struggling to tune out the babies and failing.
They headed back to the village, where Kaede gave her sister's reincarnation a warm welcome back. At least as warm as could be expected from her. Rin, on the other hand, was skipping around her, celebrating the return of her "big sis" out loud; blushing when commented she was growing up to be a beautiful young lady, showing Kagome all the new flowers she had planted around Kaede's hut.
Shippo took his turn to tell her all the things he had learnt in the past three years, how he was smashing ranks in the Kitsune Academy, about his new toys, and even a little about how much he had missed her.
She got to know the twins as she taught them a game that included all the children in the village. There were several new ones, to her surprise.
And she felt hopelessly in love with Sango and Miroku's youngest child when she got to carry him and he offered her a toothless sleepy smile. She didn't let go of him for hours after that.
Inuyasha shadowed her moves around and once a minute or so she would turn to him and they would look at each other with a smile and flushed cheeks.
I have not forgotten about you, she thought every time.
As dusk tainted the skies with orange and pink, both of them found a moment to be alone.
They ended up next to a tree Kagome remembered well. After their battle with Yura Sakasagami she had tried to heal his wounds and he had refused. She sat him down from his spot and they had ended up fighting in that same place.
He scooped her up and landed on the very same branch. She suspected he remembered too.
He rested against the trunk and she lent her body against his. With his arms wrapped around her, they spent a few hours in silence.
Kagome knew little about inu-youkai, but she knew this: they spoke better without words.
Finally, once the skies were only lit by the stars and the dimming light of the waning moon, he announced, "I don't want to take you back."
"Eh?"
"Let's camp out."
"Erm… sure…"
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He refused to leave her alone, and he hunted with her body tightly held against his back.
Soon there was rabbit meat roasting in a fire they set next to a large tree in the forest. Kagome took a look around and realized they were quite close to the village, but far enough to have real privacy.
As she turned back to ask the hanyou about something, she found him staring at her with intense, golden eyes that flickered in the firelight. She blushed and forgot the question.
"You stayin'?" The inquire came in a low voice, almost fearful, and she started as she faced him again.
After a second, she nodded and her face took a gloomy quality.
He rose to his feet and sat by her side, hugging her again. "I'm sorry 'bout that…"
"Are you sorry I'm… staying?" She asked, suddenly disoriented.
Inuyasha shook his head. "I'm sorry the Well's closed and that you can't come and go."
"Oh…" Her temple rested against his shoulder. "I'm sure I'll get used to staying."
Inuyasha wanted to ask if she would regret the decision someday, if she would wish she never came. How could she not? He was just a hanyou, and life had made it very damn clear a hanyou was nothing but a half, never enough.
But he was too afraid to make the question. He knew that a 'yes' would kill him and that he would not believe a 'no'.
During those three years he had time to think of the future, and he had decided he would live for five hundred years more if he had to, but still would check on the Well every three days… But now Kagome was back, and there were more important doubts creeping their way into him, all of them kept taking him to the same.
A hanyou is never enough.
Fuck, he thought to himself, for the thousandth time.
"I love you."
Inuyasha almost jumped when Kagome's voice tore him out of his thoughts. He stared blankly at her.
"How silly, right? I almost keep on waiting to tell you, as if so many years wasn't enough… But you already know, so saying it is so silly…"
Inuyasha could not remember if he had ever been told those words. A part of his brain skimmed through his memories of his mother and Kikyou. Maybe he was being too hard on himself, but really, if he had, he forgot.
Kagome was blushing furiously, and she extricated herself from his embrace. "The meat's ready, which one do you wa…"
Inuyasha's lips on hers achieved silence. She almost jumped back in surprise, but his hands on her waist and shoulder kept her in place. In the same second she opened her mouth to say something, but realized that she had not only forgotten how to breathe, but also how to talk.
God, she had missed him.
When the hanyou's tongue carefully brushed hers she felt a jolt across her body like never before. A heat stirred her muscles and she threw her arms around his neck, making them both fall to the ground, still kissing deeply. Her knees straddled him and his palms caressed her bare legs, leading careful strokes with his claws against her skin.
Her scent revolved around him in delicious ways he never imagined could exist, rousing instincts he didn't even know he had, sending sensations across his body he had never felt.
He sat up straight and looked at her in the eye, suddenly breaking the kiss.
Damn, he knew he desired Kagome, but he never imagined his blood could boil like that.
"What is it?" Asked a self-conscious, blushed and confused miko.
"Me too."
Before she could even answer with a look in her eyes, Inuyasha took charge of the situation again, holding her against the tree trunk and kissing her with instinctual intensity, nipping her lips, taking her scent in deep breaths, exploring her tongue with his own.
When Kagome moaned breathlessly against his mouth he almost lost it. It took every bit of his self-control to not take her as his mate right there and then. But, fuck it, why not?
A hanyou is never enough.
The thought felt like a stab. Yeah… that was why. How could he even consider he deserved Kagome?
He rested his forehead against hers and kept his eyes closed, still inhaling her deliciously ripe scent. Then, thinking of nothing, he moved and nuzzled at the right of her neck, fitting next to her shoulder.
To his delight, she reacted even further, leaning against him, shifting in her place, sighing, wanting more.
It was good to know he could do things to her concentration too. He didn't really get why, but, hell, it was there.
Maybe not tonight, but someday he could wrap his mind around the idea that having Kagome as his mate could be a reality.
The smell of burnt meat brought them both back to earth. "Shoosh! Right!" Kagome darted towards the rabbit and pulled it from the fire, burning a little with the hot wood. She blew at the slightly black meat and giggled, causing Inuyasha to smile.
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After dinner, she realized he still didn't want to take her back to the village, and blushed when she realized he intended for her to sleep cuddling with him against the tree.
She bit her lip as he was making himself comfortable against the bark, but she started when saw him take off his haori. "What are you doin'?"
"Blanket," he replied blandly.
"Oh…" Her face was so red she could see it in the tip of her nose. She found her place against his chest and pillowed her head under his chin. He covered them both with his red robe and closed his eyes.
Kagome found it difficult to sleep to the sound of both their thundering hearts.
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The next morning, after expertly avoiding gazes and questions, Kagome asked Kaede to provide her with suitable attire for a permanent stay. She could not hide her scowl when the old woman handed her miko garments, as much as she could not keep her gratitude from showing when she realized they were not second hand from her sister.
As soon as Sango saw her folding the cotton fabric, she gave her a sly smile. "Kagome-chan, we are going to take a bath, join us?"
"Erm…" the little girls looked at her with bright, expectant eyes. "Sure?"
After some toddler cheering and organization, Kagome realized two things. For starters she would not have the luxury of shampoo and conditioner anymore, and Sango provided her ancient beauty tips while taking some pity on her. The immediate second thing she found was that, ever since the beginning of his formal training as a kitsune, Shippo was considered 'one of the men', and so he was not allowed either to sleep with Kagome nor bath with the women.
Although saddened in the face of the change that she had missed to witness, she could not hide the pride that swelled her heart.
Once in the lagoon, strategic positions were set to handle the wild girls. Rin was entrusted with taking care of one twin as Sango washed the other, both ready for further and swift exchange of energetic toddlers. In the meanwhile, Kagome's responsibility laid entirely on the newborn, not only commended with his cleanliness, but also that he would not grow cold in the water. The miko took her responsibility tremendously seriously, which bemused her adoptive sisters.
While they splashed in the warm lake under the summer sun, the taijiya didn't seem to bother to hide her scrutinizing eyes on her friend's nude frame. She was eyeing her so badly Kagome gave her a guarded gaze while Hisashi held her finger in his little grasp. "Wh-what are you looking for, Sango-chan?"
"Bite marks," she answered matter-of-factly once she made sure Rin was patting her daughter dry on the shore and out of earshot.
"Eh!?"
"Mh, nothing. How disappointing."
"What are you even talking about!?"
Sango giggled as she soaped her daughter's head. Kagome was a bit mortified that she could not differentiate the twins without their signature clothing. The demon slayer explained further, not once losing the light tone in her voice. "Before inu-youkai mate, they mark their intended female. I'm pretty sure it's more of an instinct than a tradition, so I am guessing Inuyasha would cling to that impulse. Call it… a doggish engagement. They bite their bitch, of course if she lets them, and the scar bears the male's scent, telling everyone she's taken and soon to be mated. After your disappearance last night, I was hoping to find some bruises and teeth scratches on your shoulder, Kagome-chan."
While Rin and Momoko played with the little girl's obi while skipping on the sun-warmed river stones, Kagome's face had manage to go from red to purple, adding the blue undertone when she held her breath, still trapped in Hisashi's hand. After quite the long while, she managed to stutter an answer. "Wh-wh-what gave you that idea?"
Sango shrugged, starting to rinse Nashiko's bangs. "Maybe the fact that Inuyasha was very curious about how humans carried off their marriage… or that he has not moved more than a couple days away from the Well in three years… or that he checked on it, like, all the time."
Kagome gasped. "Did he?"
"We practically had to drag him to get him to eat, and the first while we couldn't even achieve that."
The miko's eyes lowered with guilt. "I knew he would be affected, but… I wished I didn't keep him waiting for so long."
"Mh… I'm actually surprised he hasn't got you all betrothed as soon as you arrived… Actually he's been quite civil about giving you up to be around the others."
"Now that you mention it…"
"Wanna know what I think?" The toddler splashed in waist-tall water between them, while her mother's eyes drifted protectively towards all of her children. "He's scared senseless. If he did not make it clear that he wanted to mate you last night, I'm fearing he never will. I think you should take measures, to let him know that he's not annoying you and that you both want the same thing… Kagome-chan, if you don't make a move yourself, it's like you are politely refusing him… I think he needs to make sure you are not doing with him what you used to do with Kouga-sama."
Kagome wondered what had been of the wolf, but managed to save her questions for later. And although she was still blushing furiously, her friend and her were past the denial part. She mused the situation under her breath, and with as much dignity as she could gather, she cleared her throat and confessed, "There was some… excitement last night."
Sango elbowed her with a chiding but bemused expression while they made their way back to the shore. "Bite marks first, Kagome-chan. Excitement later."
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Over the day Kagome pondered youkai romantic relationships, human courting traditions and how Inuyasha was placed right between both. Eventually, she sighed hopelessly. She was at loss of a tactical approach on how to even bring up the topic without sending Inuyasha into a panic-induced fled. I get why it's so hard to communicate with him. I can't go full human on him and he can't go full youkai on me… He's as restrained as I am…
Finally, she huffed in frustration. She had waited three years to see him again, and she would not allow things to take the awkwardness road.
"If we can't talk in words, we'll talk in instinct."
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Kagome had grown more determined, courageous and understanding during those years. She had actually grown up, and it showed when she remembered some of her previous actions and embarrassed over how silly she had been.
She was determined to, at least just this once, take over the situation. She would not allow Inuyasha to act as if they were still tiptoeing around the topic of them.
"Let's go hunting?" she casually inquired.
Immediately Sango noticed she was needed and made an offer too good to be refused. "I'm going to get started on Momoko and Nashiko's first swords, dear." Turning to big eyes that shone in green and brown, she gave a warm smile. "Would you like some swords too, Shippo-chan and Rin-chan? I'll need your help so that they will be truly yours."
Like a spell. It was as if the kids had never even heard that the couple was leaving or even acknowledged their presence at all. They started rambling about what types of powers they required for their very first very own katana.
Miroku's proud eyes followed the taijiya's frame as she managed so much childish energy with swift grace. If she would not have scolded him for it, he would have adored the very dirt her wife's feet touched.
But right now, other matters had to be taken care of. Holding his newborn's sleeping body against his chest, he gave the other two a knowing smile and left murmuring a lullaby.
Kagome was marveled and proud at the same time. She had never imagined the houshi could be set straight in such a way. He was not only in love with the demon slayer; he also respected and admired his wife. The miko smiled knowing that the sentiment was mutual, and since the foundation of their relationship was so adamant, they would do just fine against anything.
No matter what.
A bright red movement in the cornered of her eye brought her back to business.
Although they could still not look at each other without color rising on their cheeks, Inuyasha nodded once and offered his back to Kagome. Soon they faded in the afternoon lighted forest.
After a while, Kagome asked Inuyasha to teach her how to track and different little pieces of advice, following diligently the one that the taijiya had given her before leaving. 'Let him protect you in a new way. Teaching you to take care of yourself will do nice things to his instincts, you'll see'.
And so far, things were going beautifully smooth. If Kagome had known she could get so excited looks and pleased smiles from Inuyasha just by asking how to interpret footprints, she would have done it much sooner.
But still there was something there that kept the hanyou to drawing closer, from showing how much he wanted her as the night before, from even looking at her.
Unacceptable. Measurements had to be taken.
"Let's stop for a while," she coaxed. At his obvious displeasure, she giggled. "We can keep on going later, don't give me that look!"
Claiming a place under a peach tree, Kagome carelessly commented on the fact that the twins names had been given regarding Sango's pregnant carvings, which promptly demanded pear and peach. Inuyasha was still giving her the 'cold' treatment, so she chose a more direct approach, leaning against his shoulder and brushing her cheek against him.
The change, despite little, was definitely there. His ears twitched ever so slightly in nervousness she had learnt to detect, but he remained stoically indifferent… in his own non-indifferent way.
Why do you keep fighting me?
Suddenly a rapid succession of thoughts came to her… What if she had had him waiting for too long? What if he didn't really want her as his mate? What if Sango had misinterpreted his behavior? What if he wanted to break up and last night had just been a sort of goodbye?
Could they even break up? Had they ever been together? Were kisses the same for humans, youkai and hanyou?
She knew Inuyasha better than that, but doubt crept into her heart. She had imagined their reunion a billion times, and it had never been like this… Besides he had said he loved her last night… Well, sorta…
The shift of emotions in Kagome's scent made Inuyasha dizzy as he tried to follow one, failing miserably as it swung into several others. He felt disoriented, and his brows knit together. "What's it?" he inquired, utterly confused for her even-more-unusual behavior. He gestured franticly when he smelled the salty water and heard a sniff. "Oi! What did I do?!"
Kagome moved away from him and hugged her knees, turning her back on a suddenly very confused half-breed.
"If you want out just say it," she suddenly spat. "You don't have to pretend just because we kissed after we took Naraku down."
"Woah, WHAT!?" Kagome flared deadly eyes his way and a shiver shook Inuyasha's frame. "I'm really not following whatever the fuck you're rambling about," he hissed.
"Then what is it with you? Last night you were… different. It's like you picked right up where we ended, and today, it's like when we just met… It's like you hate me."
Fuck, he thought, for the one thousand and first time.
"I don't hate you, you stupid! I just… I…"
"What? You WHAT?"
He lowered his gaze, completely muted; and she realized she was nagging. She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "I would just like you to tell me what's wrong… I'd expect after all this time we could at least talk…" She sighed. "It's ok, tho'. If you have second thoughts. Don't feel pressed. I take back all I said." She gave him a bright smile and gathered her bow and quiver to resume the hunting. Just as she was about to rise to her feet, his firm hand held her elbow in place.
"I'm not…" he cursed under his breath, still not meeting her gaze, his face pale and his breath held. "I'm just waiting to see if you get second thoughts."
Kagome stared at him blankly, as if she was not following; then cocked her head to a side as the statement filter in her mind.
Suddenly there was a massive burst of emotions in her scent, and Inuyasha was startled again. Surprise faded into sadness, which disappeared under joy, which led to utter confusion, which made way to a very growing, very menacing fury.
"You… you IDIOT!" her tone pierced into his sensitive ears, which flattened against his head for shelter. Then immediately snapped back up as she noticed Kagome was tugging his robes. He forgot everything and held her wrists, trying to formulate a protest, a question, something. "STAY STILL," roared the miko with such a wrath in her tone he almost whimpered; then obediently, yet self-consciously, let her do whatever the hell she was doing.
Finally she managed to undress his right shoulder and locked his eyes with hers with a fierce determination, although she was as red-faced as him. Then, out of fucking nowhere, the girl bit him.
It was a fraction of a second, but Inuyasha's mind had never, even in the most drastic battle scenarios, raced faster.
First, he was extremely confused. Then, he was pissed; although that wore off once he admitted it didn't really hurt, even if she was biting hard down into his skin. The immediate next line of thought was stirred when a jolt of something even stronger than the night before shook his whole being. He had no idea of what Kagome had done, but he was very aware of its effect.
Something ancient and intuitive took hold of him and although he could not entirely grasp the meaning behind her actions, but he felt pointed in the right direction.
When she backed away she was blushing furiously, but her determination did not flicker one bit. "There, happy?" She blurted.
Inuyasha's mouth was tightly closed, and his eyes slowly drifted from the red-turning-purple set of bruises on his tanned skin to her reddened face. He was holding his breath and his instincts were on the verge, but he remained still, one ear crooked and one stiff, waiting for an explanation.
She stared from under her bangs, huffed and threw her hands in the air. "I claim you! Now you can stop being such a jerk!"
"You… what?"
Kagome was certain she was the living impersonation of a tomato, but she still managed to fold her arms over her chest and lift her chin proudly. "Sango-chan says inu-youkai mark their fe… ehem, soon-to-be mates as some sort of engagement. So, it's official. I claim you to be my mate soon, and since you let me bit you, it means you agree. There, now you can't keep on blabbing about second thoughts…" She stood up, still aflame, and strode with pride and her head held high in the direction of the village. "Idiot," she muttered as she drew away.
Inuyasha was not sure of what just had happened and understanding slowly filled his mind. His ears twitched and he managed to scramble up behind her, his mouth open, but at a complete, utter, extreme loss of words. So he followed.
Kagome's bright red hakama was impossible to lose sight from, and he walked dumbstruck behind her for several minutes, and came back to earth when he felt something taking over her scent. She was… he could not really place it. It was not regret, yet similar. Not sadness, not fear… When he finally understood the feeling he smirked.
Mortified.
She was biting hard on her lower lip, her eyes flickering nervously as she replayed what had happened a little while ago. Did she just propose to Inuyasha…?
She started when she collided against the chest of a scowling hanyou. She offered a forced smile and felt her palms growing sweaty, but she decided she would not avoid the matter. This would be talked through.
As always, not relying in words, Inuyasha chose actions.
In a flash of red and silver she was cradled on his lap, in a branch a little too high for her not to mind. His frown had not gone away as she eyed him.
Kagome froze as she felt Inuyasha sniff her, even longer than usual, as if investigating something new. He carefully nuzzled her hair, neck, shoulders and hands, never losing his scrutinizing expression. After quite the while of sniffing, he declared "You smell like me." Kagome, who had been paying close attention to Inuyasha's exploration, offered a confused 'eh?' before he shrugged and gave the matter little more clarification. "It's barely there but I can feel it, tho' I can't really point where it's coming from."
"Well, you were carrying me earlier," she offered.
The hanyou shook his head. "No, I can't smell myself in you. I said you smell like me. And I'm guessing maybe it goes both ways."
"Oh?" she breathed.
"Well, only one way to make sure."
She stood very still when he tugged her collar and she held her breath as his nose inspected her right shoulder over and over again. When his brushing lips turned into tiny, soft kisses, she was pretty sure humans could have a liquid form and melt if given cause. His lips made way to his tongue and the tip slowly grazed her goose-bumping skin, unhurriedly turning into velvety and enticing licks that destroyed her concentration and almost shattered his too with her overwhelming feminine scent all around him. But he withstood the roar that clamored inside of him, and continued lending wet strokes to her niveous skin.
After a while that had Kagome's mind twirling, he murmured against her skin. "Hold still."
His fangs nipped and she bit her own lip as she felt him marking her back, accepting her offer and making one of his own. He would be hers, but she would also be his.
It didn't hurt, it was mostly pressure. Maybe it had to do with the fact that her mind was subjugated to the ocean of emotions that rumbled inside her whenever her, now she could say it, soon-to-be-mate was involved.
Once he liberate his hold, she craned her head to admire her own mark. It was a funny and almost elegant succession of tiny circular bruises, while hers was more like… well, a mark of a clamp. She giggled to the thought that for this once, she was wild and Inuyasha was delicate.
She lost her focus when she found herself kissing his lips with a hunger only her, wow, fiancé could suffice. Several deep kisses and maybe hours later they took a moment to look into each other for a little.
Marked. Betrothed. Engaged. Promised.
Two days into this time were already paying off.
Holding hands they slowly walked towards the village in comfortable silence. Kagome's aura and scent radiated with contempt. He had seen her and felt her happy before, but never this much.
Thinking that he was the source of such emotion made him feel self-satisfied, even if for only a moment.
When the huts came in sight, bathed by sunset golden light, a dark haired monk carrying his baby met them on the road. "I foresaw you would forget that you went on a hunting trip, so I had the audacity to have some vegetables soup waiting for you."
With a genial smile, he offered a way out, approaching the red-faced girl to ask for her assistance holding Hisashi, who greeted her with a yawn that showed tiny pink gums and a tiny pink tongue.
Kagome's heart melt a little, maybe a lot, and she gave a side look to Inuyasha with an expression that clearly, and wordlessly, said "I hope you understand how much I like the little ones and that I expect many."
He snorted, but as she whirled to follow the houshi with the newborn protectively held in her arms, the hanyou's eyes darkened considerably.
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Life had been nice during the last month. Inuyasha didn't seem to be in a hurry to hurry her and she was savoring every step of the process.
Upon Sango, Miroku, and rarely Shippo's advice, Inuyasha was in the middle of a full-fledged courting process. Occasionally he relayed on his own knowledge, remembering the time when Souta had asked help courting a girl.
He made a mental list of all the things that each counselor, including himself, said were required to definitely get Kagome.
For Sango, it was patience and delicacy.
For Miroku, protectiveness and self-confidence.
For Shippo, sweets and tickles.
As far as he could remember Souta's romantic ordeal, straightforwardness and flowers. And maybe a bowtie.
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It didn't take long for the miko to notice the little gestures from the hanyou. Rough around the edges as he was, the day that he presented her with a handful of wildflowers she knew this was the epitome of sweetness.
When he realized she was about to cry, he immediately apologized and drew the blend of weeds and blossoms back, but she darted ahead and took it from him, holding it tight against her chest, inhaling deeply although the bouquet only smelled of grass.
She kissed him on the cheek and said they were the most beautiful flowers ever. He blushed and called her stupid for making such a fuss, but ever since that day, he came to her with whatever flower he could encounter. And every time, she favored one in specific to the highlighted location of adorning the spot behind her left ear.
Inuyasha loved that. He would deprive every single piece of vegetation of their flowers if only to see Kagome pull her hair behind her ear and compliment her look with a colorful spot that contrasted with her raven black locks.
And she would not have traded a single one of her flowers for the most precious jewelry in the world.
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Although she, of course, did not mind it, she did voice her doubts about Inuyasha's increasing attentions to her best friend's husband. Looking for the right words, she mumbled "Is it because of the engagement? Or…?" The houshi tilted his head, beckoning for her to continue, while he diapered his son, still managing to look wise and sagacious while doing something so mundane. "He could not possibly think he still has to conquer me… I don't mind it, of course, but that was pretty much the very reason…" She trailed off, indignant.
Miroku's low chuckle returned her attention to him. "It is not Inuyasha-sama's fault, believe me. It is customary in most youkai species that the choicest females' favor is insistently pursued. Until…"he struggled to find a proper term. "Until the question is settled and the mating is official, the female could reject the suitor and choose any other interested male."
"And what does it take the mating to make it official?" Miroku grinned and her hand snapped up to hold him back. "Besides the obvious."
"Well, in most youkai species that take the marking rite it is necessary for the mated couple to be acknowledged by a superior or bear a pup. Until then, any other suitor can fight literally and figuratively for the female's favor."
"But… the mark! Do they really shrug that off?"
"Think again, Kagome-sama. No creature is foolish enough to take such symbols lightly. It is a way to keep the male's attention on his future mate and not take her for granted, as you would so wisely say." She remembered the many times she had used that phrase to reproach the monk for neglecting Sango. "After all, youkai that mark their intended mates are usually the kind that couples for life. In some species rejection of their denoted one after such choice is made could literally kill them."
Seeing Kagome's big eyes shine, he smiled and offered one last comment, placing his newborn in his protective embrace. "After all, it is a decision bared on one's skin."
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Cicadas chirred and cool breezes made the last weeks of summer perfect.
Kagome smiled up at Jinenji, who blushed and continued with his lesson. The miko thought it was nice that he had decided to move in with them after his mother's death.
Her eyes drifted lazily across the clouds and she spotted Sesshomaru's form floating slowly towards the children's location. Before landing he remained expectantly silent, almost defying, and more close to her than she could remember she had seen him since her return. Kagome tilted her head trying to figure out what had gotten into him when realization struck and made her giggle.
The last time she had seen him she had the audacity, the indecency, the nerve to call him 'onii-chan'. Although she was not yet officially mated with Inuyasha, it was tempting to address the taiyoukai as her Big Brother. The thought died when he flared golden eyes directly into her and she got the message in her own translation. 'Go ahead; see if you survive your imprudence a second time.'
She gulped and realized that was no way of starting an in-laws relationship, and for peace's sake she decided she would not tease him… yet.
Besides, Jinenji was shivering next to her, and she didn't want to get him even more scared.
Graciously she bowed her head with an elegant smile and murmured "Good morning, Sesshomaru-sama."
His nose flared in contempt as he returned the courtesy with a solemn bob, yet, to her surprise, and Jinenji's agony, he strolled her way, yet again providing a gracious salutation before going right into the heart of the matter. "Miko, I understand you are to mate my half-brother," he said in an impersonal tone.
Still, once she grasped his words, an unintentional flare of purification exuded from her slender frame. The taiyoukai, of course, did not even flinch, but did not let the impoliteness go unnoticed. His lids barely narrowed in a warning way, but the girl did not even seem to notice. She was grinning madly, and she smelled of overwhelming joy. He felt momentarily confused, but she was already talking. "Yes, I am. The event shall be celebrated soon. There will be a small human ritual to follow our customs, and we would be most honored if you graced us with your presence."
His façade was made of steel, but inwardly, the taiyoukai felt at lost. From addressing him with unjustifiable informality to being almost lady-like. He quickly came to a conclusion. The miko is educated but her ways are still carefree. She could behave properly if she just wished to do so.
"I have been informed," she continued in a serene and almost business-like voice, "that your approval is required for the union to be official in the eyes of your kin. I look forward for your permission."
Clever. She has politely made it clear that even if I refuse to accept her as my little brother's mate, in the eyes of her people and even Inuyasha himself formalities would be met, and the only ones refusing it would be youkai. Coming from someone who thinks herself in equality, this is courteously upmost insulting.
A gracious, diplomatic nod served as a confirmation, yet his eyes flashed red for a moment too brief to be caught by the human eye and locked with hers in a dangerous way. "After human regulations and customs are met, your union shall be acknowledged."
She did not lower her eyes. Either ignorant of inu-youkai ways or adamant beyond reason, Sesshomaru was bemused. If he could think of one female that fitted his thick-skulled brother, it was this strange miko.
He silently loitered in the delight that it was to know this temperamental human would put his brother's patience through hell during their lifetime together.
Once again, he offered a salutation and took off, leaving behind an ecstatic Kagome and an about-to-faint Jinenji.
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It was a surprise to find out her soon-to-be brother in law would stay for the night in the village.
It was worrying to see him almost unnoticeably on edge, only for those who knew where to look.
Kaede eyed the tall taiyoukai with carefully measured scrutiny; then simply voiced every adult's question once the children were soundly asleep. "What troubles thee, Sesshomaru-sama?"
"A threat."
Inuyasha's ears stiffed. "Whaddaya mean?"
Sesshomaru's eyes betrayed nothing, but the hanyou understood his half-brother was not overly fan of repeating himself.
While tucking his daughters, Miroku re-approached Inuyasha's inquiry. "Could you tell us what kind of threat you can sense hovering its way onto us?"
The taiyoukai remained unusually quiet for a moment, and then resignedly let out his answer. "A death threat."
Unconsciously, Sango's arms curled around the little boy she was breastfeeding with her back turned to them, but still fully alert. At her feet, Rin's sleeping silhouette tugged closer the fabric of her yukata while her other hand allowed a little thumb to be sucked in the slumber.
"Do you know what causes it?" interjected Kagome, and, to his frustration, Sesshomaru had to answer with an honest negative.
"I can only sense death lingering near. Remain alert." He exited the hut and took guard at its front.
Still, something inside of him susurrated it would be pointless.
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The next day Sesshomaru could still not shake the feeling something bad was going to happen and that nothing he could do would stop it. He immediately collected Rin and Jaken and ordered them to leave towards the west, to high grounds.
"Oi, bastard," the taiyoukai's lazy eyes did not even flutter in his half-brother's direction. "You running away?"
"I am not bound to explain myself to you."
"No, you don't get it, asshole… I mean… is it that bad?"
Sesshomaru could smell the uneasy shifts in his brother's scent. He almost took pity in the poor creature whose senses were almost as dull as those of the humans he insisted to protect.
"Something terrible is bound to happen. The las time my intuition noted me of such danger, the earth rambled open and portions of the map where swallowed whole. Despite I cannot assure it will be the case once again. However, I can confide the repercussions could be equally dreadful."
Inuyasha nodded, not mentioning Sesshomaru's sudden loosen tongue. "Would you suggest us to evacuate the village?"
Sesshomaru's jaw lifted ever so slightly. Ever since Naraku's demise the hanyou and the taiyoukai had reached a truce and even treated each other with their own rough version of respect. But Inuyasha confiding him with strategy, even seeking advice, was something new.
"This Sesshomaru considers such measurements an exercise in futility. The threat does not linger in the place, but on its people."
"Like a curse?"
"Hnn… Moreover the night of the new moon will be tomorrow. Taking this amount of humans out into the open would be proven foolish."
"Whatever it is, it's got a bad timing."
"Or a very good one," the eldest offered.
Inuyasha nodded and made his way back to the others. It still bothered him that the bastard knew his precious secret, but he had learnt to trust his honor would not allow him to take advantage of such a weakness.
He shook his head and the thought as he arrived next to his packmates. "He thinks the same, it'll be a waste of time and someone's sure to get screwed up."
"So, the best approach is to remain calm and take whatever comes at us in known ground."
Kaede nodded. "Preparations shall be made," she assured.
"Let's get ready, then," Kagome invited. As Inuyasha remained in place, she called back, "you coming?"
The hanyou had been thinking that, if given some courtesy the bastard would set his tongue loose, maybe he could have stayed around and help given he had even acknowledged his counsel. Ungrateful son of a bitch.
He walked by Kagome with concerned eyes, passing to more important matters.
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Inuyasha was not sure if he was getting paranoid or if he actually feel it too, even though he was moments away to assume his human form.
As the las ray of sun was swept away from the landscape a soft pulsation initiated the transformation. He confidently strode back to the rest. "It all smelled ok," he granted, resigning to be useless until the sun decided to bring its ass back.
"Ok, runts, Kade-baba and Kagome, to the hut. Miroku, to the village's entrance. Sango, watch from above. There are some patrols. If anyone catches something odd, call for help."
They nodded when reminded their spots.
Inuyasha sat on the hut's door, Tessaiga propped against his shoulder, carefully concentrating on his dulled senses.
Before entering, the miko's eyes send a reassuring look towards her best friend, who was mounting the fire cat wearing her taijiya uniform and holding Hiraikotsu firmly in her grasp. Kagome showed a playful scowl. "Two months after giving birth and you already fit in that tight leather bodice. It's not fair for any mother anywhere… for any woman ever!"
Kagome managed her magic and Sango's worried sick eyes showed a tiny spark of pride.
Inside the miko did her best to keep the children occupied from missing their parents or from worrying too much. Shippo's tail twitched frenetically, and that meant he had a bad feeling.
She had long learnt to trust the kit's tale.
As the twins played with her hair and made a mess of it, Kagome carefully eyed the kitsune while holding a sleepy baby in her arms. "Shippo-chan, can you tell what's wrong?"
He gravely shook his head.
"Can you explain what it feels like?" she stared at the boy's ever twisting tail. Not a good sign.
"It's… like you are falling. You know you are falling, and you are not hurt yet, but you know the floor is coming and there ain't nothing you can do about it."
He had given her a perfect explanation. Impotence, fury, weariness, helplessness… maybe even fear.
To make things worse, his nose would not stop twitching. Smells like death, but nothing's dead yet.
"Could we break your 'no cuddling rule' tonight? I think I need it…"
Shippo nodded solemnly to his mother in distress. After she put the three human children to sleep, they secluded themselves in the hut's corner.
The miko eyed her friends' children with protectiveness. Her purifying aura curled in the air of the hut, warning any demon fool enough to enter, but not once letting her power even close enough to hurt Shippo.
On the other hand, the kitsune was having it hard. Every part of his instinct was telling him to be ready for action, but having his mother so close set him considerably at ease.
His childish priorities sparred in his young mind. But as the hour grew late, his lids betrayed him and his eye slowly drifted shut.
Kagome did not allow herself to feel flattered by the kit's utter trust; instead she chose to honor it, remaining alert, her eyes fixing on the human children, the kit and the door; checking on them once in a while, surveying the surroundings for any offensive aura, moving from a corner of the room to another.
But sunshine tinted the sky with light and birds chirped their welcomes to the warmth. With mute gratitude Inuyasha took a sharp breath in the middle of the transformation, take pleasure in how his perceptions grew keener by the moment.
Peace reigned at last.
Kirara strode back to the ground, a trail of fire lingering behind her. Sango stepped down and rejoined her husband and the hanyou, as Kagome exited the hut, with a very awaken kit on her shoulder.
Inuyasha's eyes persisted pinned to the horizon and remained indifferent to Sango's voice. "Seems it's all clear."
"I do not believe it is safe to assume such things, my dearest Sango."
A sudden, brusque movement made all eyes drift to Kagome, or more specifically, Kagome's shoulder.
Inuyasha eyed him gravely. "What's it with the tail, runt?"
"Is it telling you something?" Inquired the miko.
Shippo's bright eyes met directly into Inuyasha. "There's no menace," a new shudder made the fluffy tuft twirl.
A growl rumbled deep within the hanyou's chest. "But there is something wrong…"
Kagome found that her heart was running and she felt it too. You are falling, you know the floor is coming, and you can do nothing about it.
Cautiously, the miko eyed the group. Something definitely was off.
"But I can't fucking tell what it is…", swore the hanyou under his breath.
Sango was suddenly panting and a soft chiming betrayed the houshi's temper, giving his shudder away.
Her eyes lowered to Kirara and noticed she knew. Following her gaze, the taijiya immediately knelt next to the youkai kitten. She had turned into her smaller form so silently she had not even noticed. The feline jump into her arms and started licking her face and hands almost frenetically. "What!? What is it!?"
Suddenly Inuyasha's ears snapped forward and he left out a breathless "No…" He remained frozen, his ears and nose working madly to locate something. "No, please, no, not again…"
Miroku felt he was about to throw up and Kagome could not breathe. The taijiya was the first one to realize Inuyasha's ears were scrutinizing the hut.
Kagome could not see her, partially given the speed with which she had moved, partially because of the immense amount of tears she was shredding knowing and not knowing why.
The miko's eyes followed Miroku's careful and trembling steps towards the place and noticed he was crying too. She gasped and turned to Inuyasha, who looked pained beyond words, and almost holding back his own tears.
"What is it?" Demanded the kit, crying too out of nervousness, his tail brushing his mother's neck.
It was a mere moment, but some sort of whimper came from inside the hut, and Miroku found his strength to move further.
"Mama?" the murmur stabbed at Kagome's side.
"…Mama?" another voice quite similar called, urging more pleading.
Sango firmly left the hut, and the monk's voice came in hushed tones from the inside.
"Now, do you remember what to do if there is any danger…? Very well, I will stay here with you, but you must promise you will not leave the hut until I tell you to do so."
"No…" Kagome finally found her voice seeing the small bundle in her friend's arms. "I checked on him before leaving the hut… He… He…"
With a blank expression, the taijiya's combat experience took hold. She undressed her son's newborn's chest and pressed a focused ear against it. Then slowly she patted the boy, blew softly into his little toothless mouth, turned him around and patted again. Another ear to his skin. Nothing.
Again and again, over and over again.
"He was fine…" the miko muttered, voiceless, holding the kitsune tightly against herself with ice cold fingers.
Brown eyes went their way and Kagome found she could not breathe, think or talk. Why? Of all people, why them? Why her? Hasn't she suffered enough?
"I can't hear you, Sango, you need to speak up." Only then the priestess realized her friend was rhythmically mouthing.
"Sesshomaru-sama."
The wind by her side weaved and Kagome realized Inuyasha was gone.
It took her a second to react, but she let Shippo on the ground and took trembling steps towards the demon slayer. She knew a bit about first aids and she had hoped to never need such a valuable knowledge.
She did pretty much the same as her friend, telling herself there was no way she was going to let the newborn die.
No more than twenty minutes later a flash of light towered over their heads and they barely noticed him, although Kagome had to wipe her tears away to see him.
Tenseiga was already unsheathed in his right hand and his golden eyes skimmed the tiny corpse for an eternal second.
Then, a metallic whisper joined the blade while finding its way into the scabbard again.
Sango stood up, with a blank stare; then let out a few words barely above a whisper that Kagome couldn't grasp, but she managed to pull Shippo closer with glacial fingertips.
"It cannot be done. Not through my methods."
"Why…" the inquiry was detached of any tone, as if of polite interest.
"A soul too young that cannot hold onto his wish to live, so small it could be scavenged in a matter of seconds. You did well requesting my assistance, but this Sesshomaru suspects it would have been too late even a moment after his breathing stopped."
The taijiya knelt again, holding the boy's limp body under her chin. "Can you smell what caused his death?"
Sesshomaru's eyes grew darker, and while she was at loss of words or actions, even she realized he regretted Sango and Miroku's loss deeply. "I can," he answered a moment later.
"Would you mind telling me? A decease could still affect other children," she exposed with flawless logic.
"There has been no cause. His heart simply stopped. Perhaps your son's purpose in this world had already been accomplished."
Sesshomaru blinked lazily as he expected the taijiya's next move. Putting a sword to his throat was stupid, for she was now in reach distance from him. Still, he inwardly congratulated her for her bravado.
"My son was not a tool of destiny. His only purpose was to have a happy life, a life at all."
There was some warmth behind his golden piercing eyes. "Humans… so fearful of time. A brief life is not equal to an unsatisfactory one. I respect this formidable pup of yours, he has earned his rest after only a matter of months, while other creatures are doomed to roam aimlessly for millennia until they are offered the opportunity to be taken in the harmony of the night."
Inside the hut, Miroku held tightly his twins against his chest.
Outside, Shippo's tail had finally stopped, but his tears had not.
Sango lowered her sword and looked at him with empty eyes. "Did he suffer?"
How could it matter? The newborn's body was already half cold. Still, he flared his nose and took a deep, scrutinizing breath, then slowly shook his head. "Hardly. He was peacefully dreaming."
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A/N: SIDS is not a joke people, I've lost family to that shit. It makes you wonder 'where did I fuck up?'
Phew, that was a lot of writing for very little time... I hope you dn't find this chapter too messy. In any case I could divide it in two ^^U Review please!
