Kagome
Lady of the West
By Advi
Chapter 3
Rejection
Throughout the night, nurses checked on Kagome as she slept. Asami watched as they woke her daughter up and took her temperature and her blood pressure. When dawn came, Asami left Kagome, promising to return with her grandfather and Souta. Kagome did not mind her mother leaving, and dozed off soon after her mother left. An hour later, Kagome woke up. She saw that a nurse had come to her bed and parted the curtains. "How are you Kagome-san?" the nurse asked.
Kagome blinked in surprise. "How did you know my name? Oh, I remember you… your name is Miyu, right?"
"Yes," Miyu answered. "I came up here to see how you were."
Kagome was surprised. "You are such a kind person Miyu-san."
"Oh, thank you," Miyu replied kindly. She then smiled at Kagome, "You look much better… now you have your color back. Yesterday, you were as pale as a ghost. I think you'll be fine in a day or two."
Kagome beamed at Miyu. "That sure sounds good. Thank you Miyu-san."
Before leaving, Miyu said, "Breakfast is about to be served, I hope you'll enjoy it."
"Mmn, I will," Kagome answered and watched Miyu go. Then, she turned her gaze at the window. Here, in her time, Kaede's village was now the metropolitan city of Tokyo. Tall buildings filled Kagome's view instead of trees and emerald hills.
Kagome was glad to be back in her time, but she could not truly be happy.
You're not like Kikyou… When Kikyou and I mated it was like being in heaven. It filled me, not leave me empty like the way you do!
Inuyasha's words were still echoing in Kagome's mind. She shut her eyes in pain. His words were like a knife that was thrown into her heart. She wanted to get his words out of her mind, she wanted to forget all that he had said and done, but the more she tried to forget, the worst the pain was in her heart.
"My happy dream… my happiness at being his wife… its all gone now" said Kagome, softly, to herself.
- - - O - - -
Kagome stayed two days in the hospital. She was released when Doctor Takahiro was happy with her progress. Her infection was caught before it could get any worst. She was given a bunch of medications to take and special washes before Kagome finally came home.
She still had difficulty in walking and the good looking Doctor warned Kagome before she left not to over do things and go shopping till she dropped.
Kagome actually burst out laughing when he said that to her.
Her grandfather was happy to have her back and said that he would put some super special ofuda charms on the well to seal it, so that it would not work. But Kagome, who had learn how to make ofudas from both Kaede and Miroku offered to do it instead.
Jii-chan became very disappointed at first, but perked up when Kagome assured him that she learnt to make ofudas from the legendary Buddhist monk, Tenkai. Jii-chan was so delighted that he even asked Kagome to teach him what she learnt from the legendary monk.
Kagome paled at the request.
Within a week, Kagome found that she could walk around with ease. Asami was glad to see that her daughter was recovering smoothly. Another week later, when she was back to her normal self, Kagome went out and secured a part-time job at a Bakery nearby. This of course made Jii-chan unhappy. He wanted Kagome to become the Miko of the Higurashi Shrine.
Kagome couldn't bring herself to become a Miko again. To her, being one brought back memories of the man who broke her heart, and of the woman she will never be.
One day after work, Kagome walked back home with a small box of cakes that she bought with the money her mother had given her. Being back in her time, Kagome developed quite a bit of an appetite, as she found herself longing for so many types of food that were not available in the Sengoku Jidai. For example, Strawberry flans, burgers, Coke Cola, Black Forest Cake, Chocolates, Pizza, Hot-dogs, her mother's udon casserole, Spaghetti, Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki, pancakes and everything unavailable in 1500s Japan. Kagome knew she had to get over all these cravings or she would put on weight.
"Honestly… why do I get so hungry these days?" Kagome asked herself.
When she arrived home, she found her mother watching a cooking show on TV. Kagome went straight to the kitchen and placed the box of cakes into the fridge. "Mama, do you know where Jii-chan is?" Kagome called out.
Asami walked into the kitchen and answered, "He went out to visit a patron. Why do you ask?"
Kagome looked at her mother and then down at the floor. "I want to seal the well today. As long as I know that it is still unsealed, I can't sleep peacefully at night."
"Kagome… it is almost two weeks since you returned… till now you have not told me how exactly Inuyasha hurt you." Kagome looked up at her mother. She bit on her lip and answered, "I'm not ready to speak about it yet, Mama."
"You have been saying that since the day after you were admitted into the hospital." Asami replied.
Kagome turned her back on her mother. "I… I just can't." Then, she ran out of the house. Without realizing, her feet took her straight to the well house. Kagome stopped abruptly when she found herself at the door of the well house.
Hearing a set of hurried footsteps coming towards her, Kagome turned around and saw her mother running after her. "Kagome, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have tried to make you speak about-"
"No," said Kagome interrupting her mother, "I should be the one apologizing." Kagome looked up at the door of the well house and said, "No matter how many times you ask me what happened between Inuyasha and myself… all I ever answer is… I'm not ready yet. Mama… the truth is… I'm scared. Thinking about what happened hurts so much."
Asami remained silent.
Kagome looked down. "I want to talk about it, but, I'm so afraid."
Asami walked up to her daughter and hugged her. "It is all right, you don't have to be afraid, mama's here. I will not allow anyone to hurt you anymore."
"Thank you mama," said Kagome, feeling safe in her mother's arms.
Asami stepped away from Kagome and walked up to the well house and slid its doors open. "Come on, I think it's time for a girl to girl talk." She stepped inside and beckoned for Kagome to do the same as well.
For a moment, the young woman was reluctant to. But, seeing the smile on her mother's face and her hand stretched out to her made Kagome feel safe; and so, she reached out for her mother's hand and stepped into the well house. Then, together, mother and daughter sat on the top of the steps that led down to the well at the bottom. Surprising Kagome, Asami wrapped her arms over her daughter's shoulders and brought her closer.
Asami then leaned backwards and rested against the balustrade. "Ne… Kagome… what happened between you and Inuyasha? I did think he was rough around the edges, but what made him hurt you? The last time you and I were inside here, I was bidding you goodbye. I thought that I was giving up my daughter to the man who would protect her because I knew he did so on countless occasions. What happened, Kagome?"
"I don't know…" Kagome answered. "Two weeks ago… well a little more than that… actually to be precise, on my eighteen birthday, Inuyasha took me as his wife … I was so happy, but, I never knew that he was suffering."
"Suffering?" Asami asked.
"Yes… Inuyasha wasn't happy… because I wasn't good enough… because I wasn't Kikyou." Kagome replied. Her fragile heart that was beginning to mend, felt on the verge of breaking again.
"Kikyou?" Asami asked. Kagome then realized that her mother did not know who Kikyou was, and so though it pained her, Kagome told her mother all about Kikyou, just leaving out the fact that she, Kagome, was Kikyou's reincarnation. "I think… that… they mated too… that's why he said that making love to me left him empty… and that when he had Kikyou, he was in heaven…" Kagome's voice trailed sorrowfully away.
Asami was stunned. To be compared to a former lover should never be done. "Oh Kagome…" said Asami, understanding the pain in her daughter's heart.
"I wasn't a good wife… I'm such a horrible person." Kagome lamented. Asami sat up straight. Kagome sat away from her mother and wondered if she was going to lecture her on how to be a better wife.
"What do you mean you were not a good wife?" Asami scolded her daughter. Kagome stared at her mother, taken-aback. That was not what she thought her mother would say.
"Did you treat Inuyasha badly while you were married to him? Did you starve him? Did you cheat purposely on him?"
Kagome shook her head. "No,"
"Then what makes you think you were a bad wife?"
"I made him feel empty and I never realized it…" Kagome answered, gazing down at the wooden floor. She could not bear to see the look on her mother's face.
"Kagome, I want to ask you one simple question. When Inuyasha came to you to quench his needs, did you once turn him away?"
Kagome bit on her lower lip. "Yes… the last time… on the day I came back. I told him no, that I was still angry with him."
"And why were you angry with him, Kagome?"
Kagome looked up at her mother and answered, "Because he skipped breakfast."
"Why did he skip breakfast?"
"I don't know… it's not like we lived together…though we were married." Kagome suddenly realized what sort of married life she had with Inuyasha.
"Why did you two not live together? The both of you were husband and wife after all." Asami stated.
Kagome appeared depressed and answered, "Because Inuyasha said he was fine sleeping on a tree branch… that's what he answered after I asked when he was going to build us a house."
"The day when you came home… did you refuse to give yourself to him that whole day? Is that why he hurt you?" Asami asked, calmly. It was odd, thought Kagome, how her mother appeared composed, as she asked all these questions.
"No… I gave myself to him," Kagome answered, her head beginning to hurt. All her painful and sad emotions were starting to overwhelm her.
"Why?" Asami asked.
"Because…" Kagome started on the verge of tears, "Inuyasha said he loved me… that I was his wife." Asami held Kagome as she began to weep.
"Now… one last question Kagome," said her mother, in that oddly calm fashion. "How did he hurt you?"
Kagome wiped the tears out of her eyes. Remembering the last painful time she and Inuyasha made love, hurt deeply. "He hurt me while we made love… he was rough… I told him to be gentle… he said he would, but as he went on… he wasn't gentle at all… he lied." said Kagome. It was then that she realized why her mother asked so many questions so calmly. It was so she, Kagome, would admit to what had taken place.
Kagome began to cry uncontrollably.
Asami held her sobbing daughter and said, "Kagome… you were a very good wife to Inuyasha. It was he who was the bad spouse, not you. What happened to you isn't your fault. You must never think that way my daughter. Inuyasha is a fool to have treated such a marvelous wife like you so badly. So right now… cry all you want, I'm here."
- - - O - - -
In the Sengoku Jidai, it was night and the end of summer. Balmy and warm summer nights were starting to turn cold, but it was still not cold enough to produce the thick fog that suddenly rolled into a village on the borders of the kingdom of Musashi. Those who witnessed this sudden fog approaching stayed in doors, knowing it was not normal fog.
How right they were.
Within this dense and cold fog, walked a tall and handsome man. He wore rich clothes that signified he was of nobility. Though he was young-looking, his hair was the color of a silver moon. It was long too, hanging down to the back of his knees. He carried two swords with him and on his right shoulder he wore a large furry stole, or what many people guessed to be a large furry stole. It too was very long. Hanging down from the top of his right shoulder to his ankles, its tip trailed a feet behind him, magically floating above the ground. Behind him, his servant, a small frog-like creature, walked, holding a tall staff that was topped with the head of an old man and a young woman. This small creature was also leading a two headed dragon steed that carried a sleeping child on its back.
No one dared to venture into this eerie fog, nor to disturb those, whom the villagers could hear, walked within it. The villagers knew they were not human.
Sesshoumaru; a young youkai lord, who was proud and aristocratic and the elder brother of Inuyasha, never ventured into human villages. Usually, he avoided such places as if they were places of extreme filth. But, something that night brought Sesshoumaru to such an irksome place. Rin, his human charge, was fast asleep on Ah-Un, the two headed dragon. She was used to sleeping on the dragon as it moved and nothing, short of being attacked by a band of bandits, would wake her up.
"Sesshoumaru-sama? Why have we come to this… human village? Do you wish to leave Rin at this village?" Jaken inquired.
"No," Sesshoumaru answered, speaking elegantly. "This Sesshoumaru has no desire to execute such a deed. I have come here following a particular scent."
"A scent?" Jaken repeated. "Whose is it, my lord?" he asked, curiously. However, his master did not answer and continued to walk gracefully in front.
This scent… Sesshoumaru mused silently, it is Inuyasha's… but… he smells of liquor and many women… I should have thought that he would have taken that annoying miko as his mate by now.
They walked deeper into the human village, Sesshoumaru following the trail of his brother's scent, which he could differentiate out of all the other smells that polluted the village. Inuyasha's scent soon led him to the other end of the village and to a small clearing just before the forest. In the near distance, Sesshoumaru could hear a pair of lovers in the midst of blissful passion. The handsome Taiyoukai twisted his lips in disdain. "Humph, how disgusting."
He stopped. "Jaken."
"Yes," Jaken answered politely, standing bowed behind his master.
"Take Ah-Un into the forest… we have no business here," said Sesshoumaru, the tone of his voice capped with frost.
"Yes, my lord," Jaken replied. The short, frog-like youkai obediently led the two-headed dragon steed into the forest. However, Sesshoumaru stood silently where he had stopped. Staring with eyes narrowed at the place where his drunken brother was, inside a small makeshift hut with a woman that Sesshoumaru suspected was a prostitute. "Such an existence seems suited to you, Inuyasha. Rutting ignorantly with loose women… drunken binges… You are filth and that's how you should live your life." He turned and entered the pitch-black forest. Humans would not be able to see where they were going in such darkness, but the young Taiyoukai had the ability, like most youkai, to see in the dark.
Perhaps it was a good thing that he left that annoying miko, Kagome. She exhibited some very good traits… such a female is far too worthy for that worthless bumpkin. She made the wise decision in not taking my insignificant half-brother as a mate. Sesshoumaru reflected, as he strode to where his servant and his sleeping charge were waiting.
- - - O - - -
It has now been a month since Kagome returned to her world, the modern era. It has also been a couple of weeks since she sealed the Bone-Eaters Well with ofudas that she created. However, something has been troubling Kagome a month now. Her period was late… very late. She told her mother about it, and was now waiting in the living room of her house, waiting nervously, for her mother to return with a home pregnancy test kit.
"What if I am?" Kagome asked herself, pacing the room. "I would have to go back there and find Inuyasha… will he even want it?" Kagome stopped. She heard the front door open. "I'm back," her mother called out.
Kagome dashed out of the room immediately.
"Did you get it?" Kagome asked, as she ran towards her mother. Asami walked to her anxious daughter and held up a small plastic bag. Inside was a white and blue box with bold words that read, 'Home Pregnancy Test Kit. An easy way to…' Kagome did not read the rest and took out the box and opened it. She pulled out the direction booklet and began to read.
After reading it, Kagome did the test. Leaving the pregcolor card on the table in her room, Kagome programmed her cell-phone to beep after five minutes in which, she would know the results. She sat down beside her mother on her bed and sighed.
"This is the worst part, the waiting," said Asami.
"Yes… I'm so worried, mama," said Kagome playing anxiously with the material of her skirt.
The two women waited in silence. After a while, Kagome's cell phone beeped, telling her that five minutes had passed. The two women rushed to the table, Asami with the instruction booklet in her hands. Kagome who reached the table first saw the results and gasped. Asami took a look at the pregcolor card and then glanced at the instructions. "Let's see two colored bands came out… so that means…po-sitive." Asami turned to her daughter. "Kagome…"
Kagome's knees buckled and she fell to the floor. "Kagome!" her mother exclaimed and knelt down to her daughter. "Kagome, dear…are you-"
"I'm pregnant with Inuyasha's child…" said Kagome, her voice nothing but a whisper.
Later, Asami called the family doctor and made an appointment to see her the next day. The rest of the day, Kagome hardly spoke a word to her mother, brother, or grandfather. She did not even have the appetite for dinner and ate very little. That night, she went up to bed early. Through she had changed into her pajamas and had turned her bedroom lights off, Kagome was still wide awake. She opened her window and climbed onto its sill and sat on it. Silently, Kagome gazed at Tokyo's colorful and glittering nightscape.
"I'm pregnant," said she to herself.
"Will Inuyasha even want this child?" She placed her hand on her stomach and looked down at it. "I wonder what you will be…a human… or a hanyou?" She looked up at the night sky. "It took me two weeks to seal the well and during that time… Inuyasha did not come for me."
- - - O - - -
The next morning, Asami and Kagome went to see the family doctor. There, Kagome's pregnancy was confirmed once again after a simple test. She then told Kagome what to expect during the course of her pregnancy, how to deal with morning sickness and preparing for the delivery. After advising Kagome, she recommended her to an Obstetrician. However, Kagome did not choose to see that doctor on the same day, instead she returned to the shrine.
"Kagome, are you sure you don't want to meet the Obstetrician today?" Asami asked her daughter once they were home.
"Yes," Kagome answered. "There is something that I have to go and do now, Mama… I have to inform the father."
Asami stared at her daughter. "Are you sure you are strong enough to see him?"
"Yes," Kagome answered. "I am not afraid of Inuyasha… and he has to know. Mama, are you going to stop me?"
Asami shook her head, "No. Go and do you what you have to and come home once it is done."
Kagome bowed to her mother, "Thank you Mama."
Asami then sobbed loudly and said, "Oh, I'm going to be a grandmother… I think I'm a little too young." Kagome couldn't help laughing at her mother. That night, Kagome and Asami prepared a feast. Jii-chan and Souta were surprised at the amount of food the two women cooked and ate till they were puffed up. But after the scrumptious dinner, Kagome revealed to her grandfather and brother that she was pregnant.
They were both stunned, Souta so much so that he fainted.
The next morning, with Jii-chan and her mother's help, Kagome took off the cover she had nailed onto the well and peeled off all the ofudas she had placed on and around the well. Once that was done, Kagome, dressed in pair of jeans and a long sleeve blouse, climbed onto the lip of the well; she was also carrying a small backpack.
She was unsure if Inuyasha still lingered at Keade's village and had a feeling that she had to travel around before she could get to see him. "See you," said Kagome with a bright smile to her mother and grandfather. Then, she jumped into the well and disappeared in a flash of bluish light.
As Kagome floated down a blue tunnel of light, the smile she had paid her mother and grandfather, melted away. Kagome closed her eyes and spoke darkly, "I should be punished for lying to Jii-chan and Mama."
Inside Kagome's backpack, hidden inside a secret compartment, was something that she stolen from the kitchen. It was her backup plan if Inuyasha said he did not want the child.
"I'm sorry Mama… I may not return." said Kagome, as the light died away. Her feet gently touched the bottom of the dry well and when she gazed upwards, she found a blue sky above instead of a roof. She climbed out of the well and trekked down to the village. When she arrived, Kagome went straight to Miroku's house. Sango was outside hanging her laundry out to dry.
"Sango-chan!" Kagome called out.
Sango turned around and cried, "KAGOME-CHAN!"
Kagome ran to her best-friend and hugged her. Sango embraced Kagome tightly and said, "Kagome-chan, I thought that I would never see you again." Kagome pulled away from her friend and replied, "Well, I'm back for now. Where is Miroku?" Kagome then bent down and handed her friend a kimono to hang up.
Sango was grateful for her help. "Since you went back to your world and Inuyasha disappeared…"
"Inuyasha disappeared?" Kagome asked.
"Yes. Right now Miroku is traveling to a far away town to perform an exorcism. You see, Kagome-chan, Inuyasha never returned."
"What… no wonder he never came," said Kagome softly.
"Kagome-chan, if you'll be patient enough, I'll tell you everything I know once I'm done hanging the laundry." Together with Kagome's help, Sango hung her washing quickly. Then, together, the two ladies went to Kaede's house. The elderly one-eyed Miko was glad to see Kagome once again and to celebrate her return, Kaede made soup.
"Now, Sango, I believe you should inform Kagome what we have come to learn of Inuyasha," said the elderly Miko, after she took a sip out of her bowl.
Sango placed her bowl of hot soup on the floor and looked at Kagome. "Two weeks ago when Shippou came to visit, he said that he met Inuyasha on his way here."
Kagome nodded her head for Sango to continue.
"Well… you should prepare yourself Kagome, but Shippou said that he saw Inuyasha patronizing a whorehouse."
Kagome shut her eyes. "I see… go on, Sango-chan."
"Shippou said that he followed Inuyasha, but he said that Inuyasha came at him with Tessaiga drawn."
Kagome's eyes flew open.
Sango smiled and shook her head, "Don't worry, Inuyasha did not use any of his moves, he just swung wildly at Shippou."
Kagome sighed in relief.
"As you can see, Kagome," said Kaede, "your husband has become quite wild. But it is not your fault. I still remember that as a child, when I first met Inuyasha, he was very wild and quite dangerous. I guess you could say that has returned to his old ways."
Kagome took a sip of her hot soup. But Kikyou tamed him.
"Now child, why did you return?" Kaede asked.
Kagome placed her bowl down. Then, appearing solemn, she said, "Sango-chan, Keade-baa-chan… I'm pregnant."
Kaede and Sango gasped.
Sango stared at Kagome. She did not know how to react. She was not certain if she should rejoice or feel sad. "Kagome-chan… please forgive me for asking, but… did you return to reconcile with Inuyasha?"
Kagome placed her hands on her stomach. "Now that it is confirmed that I am carrying his baby… I have to… he has to know."
"Child, neither of us knows where Inuyasha is… it would take a lot of time to find him."
"Maybe," said Kagome confidently, "but what Sango-chan just told me about Inuyasha will help me to find him. Since Inuyasha has taken to visiting whorehouses, he needs money. So he must be working."
"Child you are as bright as ever," the elderly miko commented.
"But, Miroku has not come across any rumors of another exorcist in this country. There are many monks, but nothing of a half-youkai exorcist." said Sango. Kagome raised her eyebrows questioningly at her best-friend. Sango's cheeks flushed. "Miroku has been looking for Inuyasha. We have been worried about him."
Kagome smiled tenderly at Sango. "All of us have gone through a lot together through the years. It is natural to worry about each other. But, I think you and Miroku have been going about this the wrong way."
Sango blinked at Kagome. "How so Kagome-chan?"
"Well, I doubt that Inuyasha would ever choose for himself to work as an exorcist. A person like him is more suited to being a guard or a bounty hunter."
"Kagome is correct," said Kaede.
Kagome appeared confident as she said, "But, I doubt that any of the minor lords in the area would want to hire a man that frequents whorehouses. No one, however, would complain about a bounty hunter who does so."
"Well, that is true," Sango agreed. "No one would be bothered by what a bounty hunter does in his spare time."
After finishing off Kaede's soup, Kagome made to leave. But, before she could, Kaede lent her horse to Kagome, and Sango gave her friend a spare bow and a quiver full of arrows. After bidding them farewell, Kagome left the village in search of Inuyasha.
- - - O - - -
For two weeks, Kagome searched for Inuyasha. At times she would come across a town he had visited. But, it pained her to learn that he stayed mainly at brothels. At one village, Kagome had to endure the insults of an angry father, saying that Inuyasha had made his daughter his wife, but the day after, he vanished. Kagome had to apologize profusely to the furious father. When Kagome told him that she was Inuyasha's former wife, the man's daughter, Sadako, began yelling at Kagome, accusing her of chasing Inuyasha away. Kagome then had to flee that village because the rest of the villagers ganged up on her and threatened to burn her for being an immoral woman.
It was a long two weeks, with Kagome having to camp out in the forest. The weather was becoming colder and unfortunately, Kagome had brought along the wrong type of clothing with her. In her time, the weather was still very warm, but here in the 1500s, the weather was much cooler and it was growing colder by the day. Even the leaves were turning golden in color.
Kagome also had to hunt for herself, and she also had to learn how to clean and skin her kills. It disgusted her at first, but hunger and knowing she had to eat for two, willed her on.
Sleeping under the stars, Kagome wondered if she would ever find Inuyasha. The campfire nearby provided extra warmth, but it wasn't enough. "If I don't find Inuyasha tomorrow, I have to return home and get thicker clothing. I'll catch pneumonia if I continue further in these clothes."
The next morning, after cleaning up camp, Kagome rode on in search of the next town and she came across a castle on a hill and a large town beneath its shadow. Looking at the town from a far, Kagome hoped that she would be able to hear any news about a young man in red with long silver hair. She was riding Kaede's horse slowly to the town when she passed what looked like a comfortable looking tea-house. She wasn't really thirsty and rode on, but she stopped upon hearing a familiar voice.
"Eeh, you girls are my favorites." It was Inuyasha's voice. Kagome got off the horse, and taking her backpack with her, she walked to the teahouse she had just passed. The front flaps were pushed away, as two women of the night walked out, giggling. "Inuyasha-sama," said one lady in a high pitched tone, "you really are too cruel, we thought Kikoyakko was your favorite."
Inuyasha jumped out of the teahouse, and held both women in his arms. "Heeeh… you kidding? Both of you together are nothing to her… Kikoyakko's good on her own, but both of you make me complete." The two women giggled.
Kagome closed her eyes. Hearing such talk pained her because no matter what had happened between them, Kagome still loved Inuyasha. Taking a deep breath, Kagome walked up to the hanyou and called out. "Inuyasha!"
The two women turned around, Inuyasha too spun around, appearing surprised. "Kagome? What are you doing here?" Kagome looked uncomfortable to see both women, each of them clinging on to one of Inuyasha's arms. "I… came to find you… Inuyasha… what are you doing going to such places and being with, with women like them!" she pointed at the two prostitutes. Kagome could not hold back her anger and disappointment any longer.
Inuyasha shook himself free from his two favorite girls and took a step towards Kagome, "Hey, Michiru, Suzume, meet Kagome, my former wife."
"EH! You're that wench that abandoned poor Inuyasha-sama?" asked Suzume, a young round-faced girl. She had a lot of make up applied on her face, making her look stunning.
"What do you want woman?" asked Michiru, the older looking girl, sternly. "Inuyasha-sama is ours, go away and leave him alone. Inuyasha-sama has suffered much. But we are helping to heal him."
Kagome could not believe what they were saying. Inuyasha suffered? I think I suffered a whole lot more! But suddenly, she felt her stomach give a lurch and Kagome ran to the bushes and threw up. Is my morning sickness starting? She wondered, once she had stopped vomiting.
Behind her, Kagome heard, "Hey girls, I think you better leave us alone for a while."
"Ehhhhhh?" the two ladies protested.
"I'll be alright," Inuyasha reassured Suzume and Michiru. "I just want to know what the former wife wants." The girls giggled at him and then returned to the teahouse.
Kagome stood up and faced Inuyasha. He walked up to her and asked, "So, what are you doing here, Kagome? Don't tell me you've come to apologize and that you want to be my wife again?"
Kagome's anger flared again. "I don't know about that Inuyasha, seems like you already have two, or is it three, maybe it's four?"
"Keh! Wench, just freaking tell me why you're here?"
Kagome gritted her teeth and balled her fists. She wanted so much to launch into a series of sits, but knew she could not for she had long ago removed the magical rosary that subdued him. "Inuyasha, I think you should know… I'm pregnant!" There… I have said it… not in the manner I had planned, but… at least I have said it.
Inuyasha appeared shocked. "What?" he managed to utter.
"I said I am pregnant… and you are the father." Kagome repeated.
"That can't be true," said Inuyasha, horrified. "There must be some mistake… are you sure I am the father?"
"OF COURSE YOU ARE THE FATHER! You are the ONLY man I have given myself to!" Kagome shouted. She could not believe that he would even ask her such a thing.
"QUIT SHOUTING AT ME WENCH!" Inuyasha yelled back. "You've been gone pretty long. How do I know you didn't fuck someone else and now you're saying its mine?"
Kagome was shocked. "I have never cheated on you… not even when we were apart… Inuyasha how could you say something like that?"
"Keh!" said Inuyasha angrily, "What about Koga, eh? What about him?"
"I was never in love with Koga!" Kagome shouted. She could feel her eyes welling with tears.
"Yeah right and Shippou isn't a Kitsune!" said Inuyasha spitefully.
"Inuyasha! Please, stop being this way. You are the only man I love, you are my baby's father… please, Inuyasha, please come back to me… please." Kagome fell on her knees, begging.
"I am not sure that I am the father," said Inuyasha. "I don't want a child to hold me back, not when I just got rid of that pest Shippou." Kagome stared at him, tears rolling down her cheeks.
"You know, without you I have been living. I have been doing things that I want to do. I just got my freedom. I'm not going to let you force a baby on me. I don't want it! After all I'm not the father!"
"W-what are you saying Inuyasha?" said Kagome, tearfully, trying with all her might to understand what was happening.
"Keh, if you want the baby then keep it, I have nothing to do with it. I don't want it. I'm just living my life and I enjoy it! I don't want a baby to trap me and tie me down, not when I'm having so much fun!"
Kagome stared at Inuyasha. She did not know what to think.
"Oi? Kagome… you understand what I am saying?" Inuyasha asked, bending down to her.
"You… don't want the baby?" Kagome asked, staring tearfully at Inuyasha.
"Yeah," he answered. "I don't want the baby… not like its mine. Keh, if you want it so much, you can have it. Just don't expect me to be its father. If you don't want the baby, you can just throw it away after you give birth. I don't mind."
Kagome slapped Inuyasha. He saw stars.
Michiru and Suzume came out running from the teashop screaming, "You vile woman!" "How dare you harm Inuyasha-sama!"
Suzume picked up a stone nearby and threw it at Kagome, hitting her on her thigh. Kagome cried out in pain. Michiru also did the same and hit Kagome on her arm.
Kagome began to weep, her tears coming down like rain. Holding her arms out to shield herself, Kagome turned and fled into the forest. A few more stones flew at her, but they hit the trees instead.
"I can't believe this!" Kagome cried, her tears rolling down her face and falling to the forest floor. She continued to run, not knowing in which direction she was going. "I knew it," said Kagome, "I knew it… he didn't want it… he didn't want the baby."
She continued to run, and without knowing she ran past three people.
Sesshoumaru, Rin, and Jaken stared at Kagome as she ran past them, leaving tears behind in her wake. Rin and Jaken were beside a small burn out campfire, trying to find the sweet potatoes they had buried in the ashes, while Sesshoumaru was sitting by the trunk of an old tree.
"Ne, Jaken-sama wasn't that Kagome-sama?" Rin asked, as she turned to Jaken knelt beside her.
"Yes, that was… it's been a long time since we last saw her," Jaken replied.
Sesshoumaru stood up and followed the crying Kagome, surprising Rin and Jaken.
"Um… is Sesshoumaru-sama going after Kagome-sama?" Rin asked.
"Foolish child," Jaken replied, "Why would Sesshoumaru-sama, a powerful taiyoukai go after a crying human?" Rin blinked at Jaken and answered, "But Sesshoumaru-sama walked in the same direction that Kagome-sama ran in."
"Don't be a smart-alec," said Jaken.
Following the scent of Kagome's tears, Sesshoumaru followed the crying miko, sparked by curiosity. Her scent… it has changed. It is now much deeper. The scent she carries is reminiscent to that of an expecting female.
Could she and my worthless brother had…
But that fellow is rutting wildly with whores… why did she?
Kagome ran as far as her legs would take her. When she finally stopped, she fell to the ground, exhausted. Breathing deeply, Kagome finally took notice of where she was. To her surprise, she was sitting on the ledge of a cliff. "How did… I… get… here?" Kagome asked, out of breath. But how she came to be there did not truly matter to her.
Kagome threw her backpack off her shoulders and rummaged though its contents. She found the secret compartment and took out the item that she had taken from her mother's kitchen, a sharp knife. Kagome placed the blade down in front of her and looked at it.
"Even back then… I knew what Inuyasha's answer would be." Kagome held her head down, "I'm such a fool to have believed that my suspicions were wrong."
Kagome reached down for the knife and gripped its rough plastic hilt and held the knife up. Looking sadly at its blade shining in the morning sun, Kagome closed her eyes sadly. "I don't want to bring this child into the world knowing its father hates it… I don't want this child to never know the love of a father… the way I never knew mine."
Kagome held the knife high up. "I can't go back… I will bring disgrace to Mama… what would others say of me? An eighteen year-old that got pregnant… the shame I would bring to mama and jii-chan…" She closed her eyes, "I can't tell my child… you don't have a father because he did not want you..."
"I'm sorry mama… for lying," Kagome took a deep breath and plunged the knife down.
But, a large hand caught her hands. Her eyes flew open. She saw the hand that stopped her. It looked human, but it had claws instead of rounded human nails. "Inuya-" Kagome turned to the side and, immediately, her eyes widened. "Sesshoumaru?"
Kagome stared up at the handsome taiyoukai, stunned, while Sesshoumaru gazed down at the sorrowful Miko. His hand was still held over hers, stopping the knife from plunging down any further. The morning sun silhouetted the couple, its rays breaking through them as the gallant youkai lord stood bent towards her, while she sat motionlessly on the ground.
If anyone deep in this lush forest were to have spied on them at that very moment, it would seem that Sesshoumaru was an angel, crowned with the rays of the sun, who appeared just in time to save the distraught maiden.
End of chapter
Yes, my dear readers, tis the end of another chapter. I do hope you have enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
My dear readers, from now on, I shall update a chapter of this story once a week. So the next chapter shall be posted next week.
Oh my goodness, what is going to happen to Kagome? And, what will Sesshoumaru do once he finds out what has happened to her? Find out next week!
Advi: Umm… Sesshoumaru-sama… I know you didn't really appear much in this chapter… but-but are you still going to kill me?
Sesshoumaru: (glances at the chapter) True… I played a rather small role in this chapter, but what you have written of me is adequate to spare your life.
Advi: Wheew… Sesshoumaru-sama, thank you so much for sparing my life.
Sesshoumaru: This Sesshoumaru knows when to kill and when not to. Now, I command you to write the next chapter.
Advi: Yes, my lord.
Oh, and please, to the readers out there. If you don't like this story please don't flame me. I would be very happy not to get anymore flames.
Sesshoumaru: The next person who flames Advi will feel what it is like to be melted by my toxic claws.