Inuyasha: Sweet Dreams and a Happy Life

Chapter 11: The pain of returning

After saying goodbye to her friends later that day, well after telling them who she really was, and well after they had readily accepted her for who she was, Kagome leapt through the Bone Eater's well with Inuyasha and her children in their hanyou forms. Inuyasha had changed back into his fire rat's clothing, putting the hated, but the quite useful clothes of Kagome's time in the bag, with his Tetsusaiga sheathed at his hip once more.

"See you soon!" Eri called out a second before she watched as her friend lunged down the well, wondering all the while why Inuyasha carried around a ratty old sword at his side.

Climbing out of the bone eater's well on the other side of the time portal, Kagome waited patiently in the gently falling snow while Inuyasha jumped out of the well, holding his bag and one of the children in his arms. "Come on, I want to see how every one is doing at the village," she said, and took off at a brisk pace, her mate following a few steps behind her.

When they arrived at the village a few minutes later, she could sense the obvious change in the air. It was quiet, almost deathly still. Some one had died, and only a day ago. Slowly making her way to Kaede's hut, she was encountered by Shippou's tear streaked face.

"Shippou, what happened?" Kagome asked, worry flashing across her face for an instant.

"Kaede's dead," the fox youkai whispered.

"When did it happen?"

"It happened yesterday," came the answer in a very soft, broken voice full of pain, unable to say it as it was too fresh. "She wanted you to be there; she knew that she was dying. But she left you a note in the hut instead when she realized that you wouldn't be there when she left this world."

Solemnly making her way to Kaede's now newly vacant hut, Kagome picked up the parchment lying in the middle of the room, probably where Kaede breathed in her last breath before she died. "Kami," she exclaimed in a whisper as she read the document that would become her legacy.

"I allow for my adopted daughter, Kagome, descendant of Midoriko, to become head miko of the village that was under my care, without any argument from the fact that she is the only hanyou miko. I know, as does the rest of the village, that she is more than capable to care for the village."

Tears streaming down her face, Kagome ran out of the hut, holding Kyashii close to her. She ignored every one as they called out to her to stop or to slow down, including that of her mate. She ran like a she-devil, passing through the wolf youkai territory, her ears closing off the sound of their every day life. She stopped at a waterfall gazing at the beauty of it.

Throwing her head back, Kagome cried out, letting her pain and loss out, howling out in a beautiful song of despair. As she sat down on the ground, she wrapped herself in her past memories of the old woman whom she had considered as her ba-chan, pulling Kyashii in close to her body as the nightly winter chill approached. Her dark eyes sparkled in the thin waning moonlight, which was a sliver of silver that night. Tomorrow was the day of the new moon, and she would have to craft a carrier for Kyashii, for she would not be able to carry her child home in her youkai form. Quietly working on the device, which she started to construct out of the vines of the forest nearby, she sang Kyashii to sleep as she worked. She knew Inuyasha would ask her where she went when she got back to the village the next day.

'I really hope that he doesn't start a huge fuss about it when I get back tomorrow,' Kagome thought to herself, curling her body gently around Kyashii's silently sleeping form, protecting the baby from the cold elements that was falling from the dark sky above them.

Morning came, and Kagome awoke in her youkai body. Unfortunately, the snow had really come down during the night. The cold, white powder nearly rose to her stomach as she stood. Placing Kyashii in the carrier that she had constructed last night, the miko slowly made her way back to the village, going as fast as the snow allowed her to. She dared not jump for she wouldn't be able to do anything if she accidentally ended up at the bottom of a hole that the snow covered, either dead or unconscious. Sighing, she started walking to Kaede's village, no, wait, it was now her village to take care of, Kagome repeatedly told herself. She would have to go back to her time of birth and tell her mother and her friends that they wouldn't be seeing her for long periods of time with her new responsibility.

Entering the wolf youkai territory, Kagome shook the snow from her eyes and body again when she smelt Ayame nearby, including the stench of a boar demon, and then she caught a whiff of wolf blood. Following her nose, Kagome attacked the boar demon, leaving Kyashii in her carrier at Ayame's side. Powerful forelegs batted the demon aside as it turned to attack her, an intruder that was causing a disturbance before it could kill the wolf demon, its lunch. Snarling savagely, she clamped her jaws around the demon's neck and yanked as hard as she could, coming away with the demon's head in her mouth, its spine hanging down and flopping around.

"Is that you, Kagome?" Ayame asked in disbelief, remembering the rumors of the miko's youkai form which she took on the day of the new moon. It was one thing to hear about it, but another to see or be saved by her. She thought that Kagome's youkai form was beautiful, her black fur and electric blue stripes to match with her hanyou hair, and her golden eyes piercing all to the heart.

Nodding, Kagome went to Kyashii's side and told the ookami youkai that she had to go, for that night was the night of the new moon, the night when Inuyasha became human, and to say hello to Koga for her. Picking up the carrier, Kagome headed off in the direction of the village, her pace quickening for the snow wasn't as deep as it was in the morning at the waterfall side.

Fortunately, she did not receive and further distractions and was able to get to her village just a few minutes before the sun set. She felt her change happen, and watched with silent eyes as Inuyasha walked out of their hut, his hair black, eyes violet, claws and ears gone.

"About time you got here. Kaliya was upset since you left so fast after reading that note," the inu hanyou said. "Hai, I know what it said. I read it last night while I waited for you to show up."

"Arigatou, Inuyasha. I needed some time to myself," Kagome replied, bringing Kyashii in the hut and checking on Kaliya before putting both children to sleep in their beds. "I have to go across the well tomorrow. I have no clue on how to prepare for a burial ceremony for a priestess. I have to hit the books and tell my family about my becoming the miko of the village and that they will not see me as often as they wished they would."

"I understand. Go, I'll keep an eye on things here while you're gone to do your research," Inuyasha said, hugging his mate to him, kissing her on the lips, one hand tangled in her hair. Together, they headed to their bed, hoping for a night of peace and love.

The next morning, Kagome woke up extra early to get ready and head back to her time to find out more about how mikos were buried when they died in the Feudal Era, if it was ever natural. With all the demons wandering around in this day and time, she knew that it was hard, if nearly impossible, for some one to live well into their old age and die of natural causes. She knew that Inuyasha knew where she was going, but she left him a note all the same, not wanting him to wake up and not be able to remember what she had planned for the day, which occurred every now and again. As she hiked to the well, it started to rain. Cursing the falling elements, she noticed that the temperature was somewhat warmer than it had been yesterday, and she wasn't sure if that was a good sign or not.

Changing into dry clothes, Kagome called Eri and told the mortal to meet her outside the library in twenty minutes. Time was of no importance when one was a hanyou, but she still walked down to the building and made it there with five minutes to spare.

"Kagome, why did you ask me to meet you here at this hour in the morning?" Eri asked when she spotted the hanyou miko in disguise.

"I need some help. The old priestess of the village where I'm staying at died three days ago, and I need help to research about the burial rituals that were imposed back then," Kagome explained.

"Ah, I see now. Come on; let's go to the history section. I think I know just where to go," Eri said.

They had their books within ten minutes since they started looking for them, and they settled down at one of the tables near the back of the library to read. They found one which outlined the ritual, but didn't do them much justice, so they continued on to another book.

Kagome gasped when she read through her fourth book. It was a diary, a rewritten version from the original. It told of a great flood after the priestess of a village had died. The hanyou miko recognized the date and the village. "Kuso. The village, my village is going to be flooded tomorrow. Come, I need your help to evacuate the people," Kagome told Eri.

"I found what you want. Let me check this book out and you can put the rest of them on the trolley over there, and then we can leave," Eri exclaimed in a whisper. She made her way to the book checkout counter, and met Kagome outside. "Now, what's this about you needing my help to evacuate your village?"

"It is exactly what it sounds like. Since Kaede died, I have inherited the role of the village miko. It was what she wanted. And since I just read in a book that my village is going to experience a flood tomorrow, I need your help to warn the villagers, and to help get the elderly and the young situated in a protected area," Kagome answered, pulling Eri with her as she ran to the shrine, and the well, grabbing her ancestor's sword as she passed it.

"Jumping down that rickety old well won't hurt me, right?" Eri asked, eyeing the portal of time hidden by the old thing.

"No. And besides, I'll be there to keep you from hurting yourself," Kagome assured the girl, and jumped down, Eri following right behind her with a little shriek of fear from the sudden jump.

When Eri opened her eyes, she noticed that she was standing in the well, but when she looked up, she noticed a clear blue sky broken by scattered clouds. Climbing out with Kagome following behind her, she stared in awe at the forest that surrounded her. "This is amazing. So that's how it goes. I never thought that time travel would be so invigorating," the girl exclaimed.

"Yeah, I know. Come on, we need to get to the village. It isn't all that far away from here," Kagome said. "It'll be faster if I carry you there, and that way, you won't be attacked by any demons on the way." Changing into her youkai form, Kagome patiently waited while Eri tentatively got on her back, the mortal's hands finding purchase in the rough, yet silky smooth fur of the hanyou miko. Then she took off, keeping her speed well under that of what she was capable of obtaining. They arrived at the edge of the village within five minutes, compared to the original fifteen it took to walk there from the well.

Inuyasha, having reverted to his hanyou form, watched as Kagome walked into the village. He could tell by the look on her face that there was something wrong. She must have found out what she needed, and found out that while she read those history books, there was something that they would have to face.

"Miko. The priest and the taijiya have arrived with their children and the cat demon," a villager informed her as she passed by him in the fields.

Allowing Eri to get off, Kagome reverted back to her hanyou state and spoke quietly to him. He nodded and promised to pass the word about the meeting she would hold as the sun set.

Sango sighed as she kept her two young sons apart from each other. These two were the most trouble she had to contend with, other than the fact that she had to contend with Miroku's wandering hand when they were on their travels to collect the rest of the Shikon no Tama shards. Hefting her hiraikotsu, Sango picked up the elder of the young boys and sat him on Kilala, telling the cat demon to keep him out of trouble when she saw Kagome, and a girl who wore the clothing of Kagome's time across the well, walk towards them, away from the village's fields. "Kagome, I came as soon as I heard that Kaede died and that you had been appointed the new miko of the village. I came to say I'm sorry," the taijiya said.

"It's all right, Sango. I need your help anyway. I just went across the well to find out how they buried the dead who died of old age instead of being slaughtered by demons, when I found out that this area will become flooded tomorrow," Kagome told her friend.

"Kilala and I will be glad to help, and so will Miroku," Sango replied. "When will you tell every one?"

"I will tell them as soon as the sun sets. There will be enough time to get every one out of here during the night, with all of us working together, and that includes every one getting their live stock in order," Kagome answered. "I need you to help get some of the essentials to your village, for that's where we will be going to stay until the flooding is gone. Oh, and this is one of my friends from across the well, Eri. She knows who I really am, so at least she won't be too surprised."

"It is good to meet one of Kagome's friends who have readily accepted her for who she really is," Sango said, holding out a hand to the younger girl, dressed in casual clothing consisting of pants and a strange top with writing on in that read 'No money. No car. No chance'. "My name is Sango."

Eri was surprised at the strength this woman had in her hand as she shook it. It must come from hauling that huge bone boomerang that Sango had to carry around all the time, which must have weighed a ton, much less to throw it.

"While I'm still thinking about it, how's Kohaku?" Kagome asked, black ears flicking lazily in the sun.

"He's well. He has stayed behind to finish work on one of the huts. Some how, he knew that one of these days the rest would be used for one reason or another," Sango answered, turning to head to the village, fully intended on helping the village that her friend had full responsibility for.

People started to notice when Kagome and her friends started to clear out some of the supply huts, loading them on Kilala so the cat demon could bring them to Sango's village. They sent Shippou and Rin with her to pass word onto Kohaku, incase the boy became perplexed at the fact that Kilala was bringing in food. As the sun started to set, Kagome called the villagers together, and told them what was happening. Realizing the danger, the villagers packed up what they could and followed Inuyasha on horseback as he led the way to the taijiya village. Kagome and Eri went through the huts, checking to see if there was anything that was left behind. They found nothing and left by foot, ignoring the rain that fell to the ground as it poured buckets. The village would be completely flooded by morning, and there would probably be nothing left to salvage or to return to.

"Good bye, Kaede," Kagome whispered as she left the village that was under her care without a second glance backwards. She would have to become the priestess of the taijiya village, and care for more than there were in Kaede's village.

"Kagome, is there something you need to talk about?" Eri asked when she noticed that her friend was unusually quiet.

"It is nothing. I'm just thinking about the villagers, and if I'll be able to protect them all. I am, after all, the first hanyou miko that these people have seen, and I know that some of them aren't too sure if I can protect them when there is a youkai raid, or that some still just don't trust me because of my nature," Kagome answered, a hand fidgeting with her hair. "I can fight, and I can heal. What do they expect of me? What do they want me to do? Can I live up to their expectations?"

"You're asking the wrong person, but let me say this. I know that you can protect them all, fight for them and heal them, but do you think that you are ready for this responsibility that is on your shoulders?" Eri answered.

"Since when did you become so wise?" Kagome asked, feigning suspicion. "Who are you, and what have you done to the real Eri?"

"Nothing. I'm the one and only, and no one can try and be me if I'm me," Eri said, giggling.

The next morning, after sleeping in a strange village under a new roof, that had once been host to a ghost town, but was now mostly rebuilt, Kagome awoke to a strange sense of peace. She relaxed for a bit, before getting up. Inuyasha had all ready left, she noticed as she dressed in comfortable robes. She could hear a confrontation outside, with the familiar voice of Koga, the leader of the ookami youkai tribe that lived not all too far away from here.

"Mutt, get the hell out of my face," the wolf demon snarled.

"I don't think so, wolf-boy. I am not going to let you in to the village," Inuyasha roared back.

"Koga, I told you nearly a year ago to get the hell out of my face, but I told you more politely than Inuyasha is doing right now. Now, either get out of this village of I will castrate you myself, and then purify you after a week of pain and suffering," Kagome said as she exited the hut that she and Inuyasha had taken for the night. A small dagger appeared out of thin air, and it glowed with her miko powers. "I'm ready to start whenever you are."

Gulping, Koga took off. If he had a tail, it would have been between his legs as he ran in fear from the dangerous hanyou miko that he had once loved. Finally accepting her answer, the wolf leader couldn't wait to see his Ayame, his beautiful Ayame.

Hanyou—half demon

Youkai—demon

Kami—God

Miko—priestess

Ba-chan—mother

Ookami—wolf

Inu—dog

Hai—yes

Arigatou—thank you

Kuso—shit, damn, fuck. In this case, it's the last one.

Taijiya—demon slayer

Hiraikotsu—Sango's weapon, you know, the big boomerang one.

Hey people. I'm sorry for the previous chapter. It isn't kyashii who loves violence, it is Kaliya. Just thought I'd point that out to you.