I apologize... kind of. I was out of town for the weekend. Took my best friend back to school and man was it hard to say goodbye. We won't see each other again until this summer. tear Anyway, thanks all of you that sent me stuff on Ayame, I was close but I guess her eyes were off. My bad, but I don't feel like changing it. Thank you so much for all your reviews. Here is another installment. Enjoy.
Disclaimer: Much to my dismay and disappointment I do not own Inuyasha. He's off chasing my dogs around the house. Hopefully he'll tire himself out and I won't have to listen to him whine about being bored.
Now on her own, Kagome was in a slight state of shock. Kouga had come to try to win her back but had found his mate instead. Kagome gently touched the mark on her exposed neck, still warm to the touch. She wondered if it would always be like that and rather hoped it would. When she got back to her office she was greeted with a giant vase of flowers. She smiled and took the card off the desk that had been placed there. Her smile grew wider as she read the note.
Kagome,
I just thought I would send you something to make your day a little... smellier? I knew you were stressed over the kid and that you could use the lift. See you later tonight after you get off work. I have a surprise for you so come straight to my place.
Inuyasha
Kagome's heart warmed at the thought. Inuyasha wasn't one for small romantic gestures so the fact that one had been made was proof of two things. One, Sango or Miroku had a hand in this and two, she was really going to enjoy tonight.
It had been a week since the incident with Kouga and the night she had mated with Inuyasha. She had buried herself in her work so she could get off as early as possible. Inuyasha preferred that she not take the train but she had no choice if she went home. More often than not she went to the dojo instead which was really only a couple of blocks away from her office. Inuyasha was always waiting for her out front, sitting on the steps in a relaxed yet expectant pose. The sight of him lounging on the steps, languidly awaiting her arrival always made her heart beat a little faster.
Kagome blushed slightly at the thought as she made her way down the sidewalk, turning instead to her feelings of relief to push away the heat in her cheeks. Knowing Kouga was no longer a threat to her and Inuyasha was a great weight off her mind. She felt her heart was lighter knowing she was no longer putting her mate and friends in danger because of her past association with the wolf demon.
Inuyasha watched his mate walk up the street slowly, her mind obviously on other things. He picked up the way her scent was less... tense than it had been. Maybe things had worked out with the kid. No matter the reason he was glad to know she was feeling a lot better. He chose not to get up as she approached him, remaining on the step propped on his elbows and his legs stretched out in front of him, ankles crossed. She finally looked up at him and gave him an intensely warm smile that made his heart do somersaults and his stomach get butterflies.
"You look like a cat, all stretched out there." Kagome squeaked as he leapt up, grabbing her arms roughly but not painfully.
"You're lucky you're my mate or I would hurt you for saying that," he growled in her ear. She froze as his whispered threat reached her but relaxed when she realized his voice held no real anger and his aura was filled with playfulness. He returned quickly to his previous position on the steps.
"Oh I fell over!" Kagome joked as she fell on top of Inuyasha, placing her hands on either side of his chest so as not to hurt him. He smiled up at her before capturing her lips in a gentle kiss. The couple did not go unnoticed as a few neighbors walked by whispering. Inuyasha, of course, heard them and smirked. Jealous old biddies. He wrapped his arms around Kagome and hauled them both to their feet.
"Away from prying eyes My Lady." Kagome grinned up at him and took his hand as he led her into the living portion of the dojo. The dining room, to the left of the living room, shared the front portion of the dojo with the kitchen behind it. Inuyasha took Kagome into the simply elegant room that she'd never spent much time in and she gasped lightly. The drapes in the room were drawn and candles lit the room with a flickeringly soft glow. Rose petals lay scattered upon the table with exotic flowers placed strategically on its surface. Kagome looked over at her smirking mate and pushed him.
"Don't go getting all full of yourself. Though I do have to admit it's beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as you," he said, taking her chin between thumb and forefinger, placing a light kiss on her lips. Kagome couldn't help but giggle, not a Kagome-like thing to do. Inuyasha pulled back and smiled at her. He could tell she really was happier and that made him happy. He took her farther into the romantically decorated room and they sat to eat the modest meal Inuyasha had made. Not one for cooking, it wasn't fantastic but Kagome loved it simply because he had tried.
"Had a good day?" She looked up at the handsome hanyou sitting beside her, his head leaning on his palm as he watched her.
"I did. How could you tell?" He shrugged and she left it up to being one of the strange "mate connection" things. "I ran into Kouga today..."
"What? Did he try to..." Inuyasha started and rose from his seat.
"Inuyasha, calm down and let me finish." The panic on his face had startled her but she smiled reassuringly at him. He lowered to a sitting position and forced himself to take a few deep breaths. Kagome took his hand in hers, rubbing her thumb across his knuckles in order to pacify him. "I was with one of the interns after my meeting with the child I told you about. We were walking to my office when I saw him on the street corner." Here she paused, knowing that hearing Kouga had even talked to her, let alone touched her would infuriate her mate.
"Well what happened?" Inuyasha snapped. Kagome gave him a warning look then continued.
"He had apparently searched me out to apologize and try to get me to take him back," she felt the man beside her bristle, "But he noticed I was mated... then he saw Ayame, my intern, and he was instantly enraptured. It seems they're mates... or soon will be."
Inuyasha stared at her in open amazement. No wonder she was so happy. Kouga was no longer going to come after her and it seemed that the girl he'd found was going to make him happy. Happy ending for all it seemed. He puzzled a moment on the nature of fate that would make youkai so fortunate in finding their soul mates then brushed the thought aside as unimportant. Instead he smiled at Kagome, something he'd begun doing much more often. With the addition of Kagome to his world he wasn't alone anymore. He was more comfortable with himself, not feeling like the reject he had previously thought he was, thus making him an over all more pleasant person. Not to say he had lost his sharp tongue and quick temper, but he wasn't always in a foul mood like in the past.
"Wait... She's youkai isn't she?" Kagome raised an eyebrow at Inuyasha.
"Yes. How did you know that?"
"I can smell her on you and... and another one." He sniffed near her chest and she pushed him back playfully.
"That would be Shippo, the child. Apparently he felt very comfortable with me and threw himself into my arms. Ayame mentioned she thinks he sees me as a mother figure." At this her eyes got a far off look and Inuyasha had to snap to get her attention. She blushed slightly when she realized she'd been daydreaming on the spot.
"You make me feel boring when you do that." Inuyasha groused. Kagome tweaked his ear playfully and gave him a bright smile.
"You're not boring. It's just..."
"You want to help the kid." She nodded.
"He's a sweet little boy who is really too smart for his age which makes him get into mischief. He gets bored and taunts the household pets. I need to find a placement where he can run about, not break anything and has someone who can keep up with his antics." Inuyasha thought about this for a moment while he watched the expressions on his mate's face and the body language she was clearly displaying. His contemplation was interrupted by a knock on the door. He growled at the disruption and rose to go to the door. Kagome followed a few steps behind, curious as to whom it was.
"That better not be Miroku, he knew not to come here tonight," Inuyasha was grumbling. Kagome smiled and stood to the side of the door as Inuyasha flung it open. A flush of surprise filled Kagome and she knew it had to be coming from her mate. She slid from behind the door to stand at his side. She was confronted with the sight of a tall, silver haired man with eyes a familiar shade of molten gold. Despite the similarities, this man was very different from the man standing next to her.
"What do you want?" Inuyasha snarled.
"Nice to see you as well Inuyasha." The man's voice was cold but there was the slightest edge of sarcasm to his tone.
"Look Sesshomaru, unless you have something important to say, I suggest you leave," the hanyou said in a barely suppressed growl.
"My dear brother, if I could avoid this, you know I would. However it is my distinctly unpleasant duty to inform you of your inheritance." Inuyasha and Kagome stared at him in mild confusion. "Could you at least allow for the courtesy to invite me in?" Sesshomaru sighed out. Inuyasha gave him a wary look but stepped back, keeping Kagome behind him. Sesshomaru glided into the living room in his state suit but did not sit. Kagome shut the door as Inuyasha marched over to stand across from him.
"You must be the lucky lady," Sesshomaru said, the mockery hardly evident in his voice. Kagome frowned a moment before nodding. Inuyasha growled protectively before advancing slightly on his half-brother. "Calm yourself brother. Do have a seat so I may dispense this information quickly."
Receiving a huff in response he pulled an envelope from his jacket pocket and gave it to the glaring hanyou in front of him. Inuyasha glanced at his half-brother before opening the envelope with a claw and pulling the letter folded within. He carefully unfolded the aging paper and began to read.
Inuyasha,
My dear son. I apologize that neither your mother nor I could be there for you to grow up. To say we did not expect to die would be an understatement. I wish that I could have grieved and moved on after your mother's death but I could not. You deserved to have at least one parent and I failed. I am truly sorry. I hope that Sesshomaru will overcome his problems and become the brother he is supposed to be to you. Although you would not know it, he is hurting inside like you. (Inuyasha glanced at said brother and snorted lightly.) Please take the inheritance that your mother and I have left for you as some consolation and hopefully a helping hand in your life. There are terms in your inheritance, however, and they must be obeyed or nothing will come to you.
1) You must be of age. Meaning, you must be at least eighteen in human years.
2) You must have at least partially established yourself on your own.
3) You must be mated. Do not make the mistake to think you may find any woman and mate. It will not be True and all will know.
Now on to your inheritance. As for actual money, that is in a trust fund under your name at the Tokyo Central Bank. You may retrieve it from there when your requirements are complete and not before. They will know. The Tetsusaiga is yours so that you may protect your mate as I failed to protect mine. There is a house in the west countryside outside of Kyoto in your name. You may do with it as you please though I hope you will raise a family there.
I hope that your life goes well despite the hardship I know you will face. Be strong my boy and please... try to keep that temper of yours under control.
Your Father,
Inutaisho
Inuyasha stared blankly at the official looking seal that followed his father's neat handwriting, running his finger over it absently. He was trying very hard to let all this sink in as he was interrupted but someone clearing his or her throat. Inuyasha looked up to glare at his half-brother. His rage was barely suppressed until he felt a calming hand on his shoulder. He looked over at Kagome and handed the letter to her before rounding on Sesshomaru.
"You couldn't bring this to my attention before?" the hanyou nearly roared. Sesshomaru gave him a not quite surprised look. He fought down the urge to roll his eyes at his brother's blind anger. He looked on his half-brother with barely contained dislike and suppressed his own anger.
"I would apologize... but I do not care. I knew you had completed your prerequisites as mine are the same as your own. Do not think for a moment, brother, that I lost sight of your whereabouts. The last, however, I had to check for myself." At this he glanced at Kagome's shoulder. Nearly unnoticed by the couple, he moved closer to her and placed a hand over her mark before removing it as though burned. He hissed in pain but that was the only indication of his discomfort. Both Inuyasha and Kagome bristled at the contact, further enforcing Sesshomaru's conviction.
"Don't touch her," Inuyasha growled, pulling Kagome flush against his back.
"Do not believe that I would lower myself to take advantage of your mate, brother. I simply had to see if the mating was complete and if so, if it was True." Kagome shifted uneasily under the intense gaze of the youkai. He seemed to make up his mind about her with the short nod of his head. "My business is complete here. When you have the time please come to retrieve that which Father has left to you." Sesshomaru turned to leave.
"How am I supposed to know where to go?" Inuyasha asked, his tone a bit more relaxed now that his half-brother was leaving. Sesshomaru went into his jacket pocket and produced a card. He handed it to Inuyasha who snatched it from his fingers then stuffed it in his pocket. Sesshomaru bowed mockingly then let himself out.
"Wow. Great relationship you two have." Inuyasha couldn't help but laugh at his mate's sarcasm. He spun around and caught her in his arms before giving her a fierce kiss. Kagome gasped in surprise allowing him to have access to her mouth. He took the opportunity to taste her before pulling away and landing a soft kiss on the end of her nose. He thought back to their previous discussion. Right, the kid. He looked into Kagome's eyes.
"You remember what we were talking about before we were so rudely interrupted?" Kagome searched her memory a moment then nodded.
"Shippo, the child I'm trying to place."
"You want to take him, don't you?" Kagome's eyes widened at the verbalization of her thoughts. She had barely expected to voice them to Sango let alone to the hanyou. She wasn't going to lie to him, knowing full well she couldn't anyway. The thought had crossed her mind several times since she'd met the adorable fuzz ball but she had tried to deny her hopes for the child. She nodded gently at Inuyasha and he gave a triumphant nod.
"But there's no way I could keep him in my apartment. I only have the one bedroom and I wouldn't be home to care for him." Inuyasha responded in a near silent murmur. "What?"
"Bring him here." Kagome gaped openly at him. "I'm home all day. I'm sure the kid can't be that much trouble. I can easily keep him occupied around here even when I'm teaching classes and whatnot. And now I have all this money from my parents so I can even hire another instructor so I won't be nearly as busy." Kagome threw her arms around his neck, knocking him over in her excitement. He buried his nose in her hair and chuckled. He could feel the pure joy ebbing off of her and he relished that it was him who gave her that.
"Really Inuyasha? You have to know raising a child is a huge job. A child is no light responsibility," she said, going into full lecture mode. He placed a finger on her lips to stop her verbal rampage.
"I realize Kagome. Don't worry. I'll be able to handle it. I promise." The seriousness in his tone confirmed to Kagome that he understood how important this was to her. The fact that the immature man she had met had become so... grown up amazed her. Inuyasha had obviously taken responsibility for a lot of things in his life when he'd had no choice, but this was one thing she had never expected him to do willingly.
He was possibly trying to prove himself to her, that he loved her and that he was willing to be a father. Inuyasha a father? Kagome realized this would make her the child's mother. She hadn't planned on becoming a mother ever, satisfied to live life without children, much to her mother's dismay and disappointment. Her heart fluttered at the thought of her, Kagome, becoming a mother. She wondered if it was possible that her aversion to actually giving birth to a child would diminish along with her distaste towards motherhood in general. She was beginning to hope so as she stared into the eyes of her mate.
"Thank you."
"You owe me."
"Shut up."
Yea, so that's that chapter. In the next chapter more will be discussed about Sesshomaru's sudden appearance and Shippo's fate will be more resolutely decided. Uh, thanks again for the reviews and please keep it up. Yay Readers! Ok. bye
Disclaimer: Much to my dismay and disappointment I do not own Inuyasha. He's off chasing my dogs around the house. Hopefully he'll tire himself out and I won't have to listen to him whine about being bored.
Now on her own, Kagome was in a slight state of shock. Kouga had come to try to win her back but had found his mate instead. Kagome gently touched the mark on her exposed neck, still warm to the touch. She wondered if it would always be like that and rather hoped it would. When she got back to her office she was greeted with a giant vase of flowers. She smiled and took the card off the desk that had been placed there. Her smile grew wider as she read the note.
Kagome,
I just thought I would send you something to make your day a little... smellier? I knew you were stressed over the kid and that you could use the lift. See you later tonight after you get off work. I have a surprise for you so come straight to my place.
Inuyasha
Kagome's heart warmed at the thought. Inuyasha wasn't one for small romantic gestures so the fact that one had been made was proof of two things. One, Sango or Miroku had a hand in this and two, she was really going to enjoy tonight.
It had been a week since the incident with Kouga and the night she had mated with Inuyasha. She had buried herself in her work so she could get off as early as possible. Inuyasha preferred that she not take the train but she had no choice if she went home. More often than not she went to the dojo instead which was really only a couple of blocks away from her office. Inuyasha was always waiting for her out front, sitting on the steps in a relaxed yet expectant pose. The sight of him lounging on the steps, languidly awaiting her arrival always made her heart beat a little faster.
Kagome blushed slightly at the thought as she made her way down the sidewalk, turning instead to her feelings of relief to push away the heat in her cheeks. Knowing Kouga was no longer a threat to her and Inuyasha was a great weight off her mind. She felt her heart was lighter knowing she was no longer putting her mate and friends in danger because of her past association with the wolf demon.
Inuyasha watched his mate walk up the street slowly, her mind obviously on other things. He picked up the way her scent was less... tense than it had been. Maybe things had worked out with the kid. No matter the reason he was glad to know she was feeling a lot better. He chose not to get up as she approached him, remaining on the step propped on his elbows and his legs stretched out in front of him, ankles crossed. She finally looked up at him and gave him an intensely warm smile that made his heart do somersaults and his stomach get butterflies.
"You look like a cat, all stretched out there." Kagome squeaked as he leapt up, grabbing her arms roughly but not painfully.
"You're lucky you're my mate or I would hurt you for saying that," he growled in her ear. She froze as his whispered threat reached her but relaxed when she realized his voice held no real anger and his aura was filled with playfulness. He returned quickly to his previous position on the steps.
"Oh I fell over!" Kagome joked as she fell on top of Inuyasha, placing her hands on either side of his chest so as not to hurt him. He smiled up at her before capturing her lips in a gentle kiss. The couple did not go unnoticed as a few neighbors walked by whispering. Inuyasha, of course, heard them and smirked. Jealous old biddies. He wrapped his arms around Kagome and hauled them both to their feet.
"Away from prying eyes My Lady." Kagome grinned up at him and took his hand as he led her into the living portion of the dojo. The dining room, to the left of the living room, shared the front portion of the dojo with the kitchen behind it. Inuyasha took Kagome into the simply elegant room that she'd never spent much time in and she gasped lightly. The drapes in the room were drawn and candles lit the room with a flickeringly soft glow. Rose petals lay scattered upon the table with exotic flowers placed strategically on its surface. Kagome looked over at her smirking mate and pushed him.
"Don't go getting all full of yourself. Though I do have to admit it's beautiful."
"Not as beautiful as you," he said, taking her chin between thumb and forefinger, placing a light kiss on her lips. Kagome couldn't help but giggle, not a Kagome-like thing to do. Inuyasha pulled back and smiled at her. He could tell she really was happier and that made him happy. He took her farther into the romantically decorated room and they sat to eat the modest meal Inuyasha had made. Not one for cooking, it wasn't fantastic but Kagome loved it simply because he had tried.
"Had a good day?" She looked up at the handsome hanyou sitting beside her, his head leaning on his palm as he watched her.
"I did. How could you tell?" He shrugged and she left it up to being one of the strange "mate connection" things. "I ran into Kouga today..."
"What? Did he try to..." Inuyasha started and rose from his seat.
"Inuyasha, calm down and let me finish." The panic on his face had startled her but she smiled reassuringly at him. He lowered to a sitting position and forced himself to take a few deep breaths. Kagome took his hand in hers, rubbing her thumb across his knuckles in order to pacify him. "I was with one of the interns after my meeting with the child I told you about. We were walking to my office when I saw him on the street corner." Here she paused, knowing that hearing Kouga had even talked to her, let alone touched her would infuriate her mate.
"Well what happened?" Inuyasha snapped. Kagome gave him a warning look then continued.
"He had apparently searched me out to apologize and try to get me to take him back," she felt the man beside her bristle, "But he noticed I was mated... then he saw Ayame, my intern, and he was instantly enraptured. It seems they're mates... or soon will be."
Inuyasha stared at her in open amazement. No wonder she was so happy. Kouga was no longer going to come after her and it seemed that the girl he'd found was going to make him happy. Happy ending for all it seemed. He puzzled a moment on the nature of fate that would make youkai so fortunate in finding their soul mates then brushed the thought aside as unimportant. Instead he smiled at Kagome, something he'd begun doing much more often. With the addition of Kagome to his world he wasn't alone anymore. He was more comfortable with himself, not feeling like the reject he had previously thought he was, thus making him an over all more pleasant person. Not to say he had lost his sharp tongue and quick temper, but he wasn't always in a foul mood like in the past.
"Wait... She's youkai isn't she?" Kagome raised an eyebrow at Inuyasha.
"Yes. How did you know that?"
"I can smell her on you and... and another one." He sniffed near her chest and she pushed him back playfully.
"That would be Shippo, the child. Apparently he felt very comfortable with me and threw himself into my arms. Ayame mentioned she thinks he sees me as a mother figure." At this her eyes got a far off look and Inuyasha had to snap to get her attention. She blushed slightly when she realized she'd been daydreaming on the spot.
"You make me feel boring when you do that." Inuyasha groused. Kagome tweaked his ear playfully and gave him a bright smile.
"You're not boring. It's just..."
"You want to help the kid." She nodded.
"He's a sweet little boy who is really too smart for his age which makes him get into mischief. He gets bored and taunts the household pets. I need to find a placement where he can run about, not break anything and has someone who can keep up with his antics." Inuyasha thought about this for a moment while he watched the expressions on his mate's face and the body language she was clearly displaying. His contemplation was interrupted by a knock on the door. He growled at the disruption and rose to go to the door. Kagome followed a few steps behind, curious as to whom it was.
"That better not be Miroku, he knew not to come here tonight," Inuyasha was grumbling. Kagome smiled and stood to the side of the door as Inuyasha flung it open. A flush of surprise filled Kagome and she knew it had to be coming from her mate. She slid from behind the door to stand at his side. She was confronted with the sight of a tall, silver haired man with eyes a familiar shade of molten gold. Despite the similarities, this man was very different from the man standing next to her.
"What do you want?" Inuyasha snarled.
"Nice to see you as well Inuyasha." The man's voice was cold but there was the slightest edge of sarcasm to his tone.
"Look Sesshomaru, unless you have something important to say, I suggest you leave," the hanyou said in a barely suppressed growl.
"My dear brother, if I could avoid this, you know I would. However it is my distinctly unpleasant duty to inform you of your inheritance." Inuyasha and Kagome stared at him in mild confusion. "Could you at least allow for the courtesy to invite me in?" Sesshomaru sighed out. Inuyasha gave him a wary look but stepped back, keeping Kagome behind him. Sesshomaru glided into the living room in his state suit but did not sit. Kagome shut the door as Inuyasha marched over to stand across from him.
"You must be the lucky lady," Sesshomaru said, the mockery hardly evident in his voice. Kagome frowned a moment before nodding. Inuyasha growled protectively before advancing slightly on his half-brother. "Calm yourself brother. Do have a seat so I may dispense this information quickly."
Receiving a huff in response he pulled an envelope from his jacket pocket and gave it to the glaring hanyou in front of him. Inuyasha glanced at his half-brother before opening the envelope with a claw and pulling the letter folded within. He carefully unfolded the aging paper and began to read.
Inuyasha,
My dear son. I apologize that neither your mother nor I could be there for you to grow up. To say we did not expect to die would be an understatement. I wish that I could have grieved and moved on after your mother's death but I could not. You deserved to have at least one parent and I failed. I am truly sorry. I hope that Sesshomaru will overcome his problems and become the brother he is supposed to be to you. Although you would not know it, he is hurting inside like you. (Inuyasha glanced at said brother and snorted lightly.) Please take the inheritance that your mother and I have left for you as some consolation and hopefully a helping hand in your life. There are terms in your inheritance, however, and they must be obeyed or nothing will come to you.
1) You must be of age. Meaning, you must be at least eighteen in human years.
2) You must have at least partially established yourself on your own.
3) You must be mated. Do not make the mistake to think you may find any woman and mate. It will not be True and all will know.
Now on to your inheritance. As for actual money, that is in a trust fund under your name at the Tokyo Central Bank. You may retrieve it from there when your requirements are complete and not before. They will know. The Tetsusaiga is yours so that you may protect your mate as I failed to protect mine. There is a house in the west countryside outside of Kyoto in your name. You may do with it as you please though I hope you will raise a family there.
I hope that your life goes well despite the hardship I know you will face. Be strong my boy and please... try to keep that temper of yours under control.
Your Father,
Inutaisho
Inuyasha stared blankly at the official looking seal that followed his father's neat handwriting, running his finger over it absently. He was trying very hard to let all this sink in as he was interrupted but someone clearing his or her throat. Inuyasha looked up to glare at his half-brother. His rage was barely suppressed until he felt a calming hand on his shoulder. He looked over at Kagome and handed the letter to her before rounding on Sesshomaru.
"You couldn't bring this to my attention before?" the hanyou nearly roared. Sesshomaru gave him a not quite surprised look. He fought down the urge to roll his eyes at his brother's blind anger. He looked on his half-brother with barely contained dislike and suppressed his own anger.
"I would apologize... but I do not care. I knew you had completed your prerequisites as mine are the same as your own. Do not think for a moment, brother, that I lost sight of your whereabouts. The last, however, I had to check for myself." At this he glanced at Kagome's shoulder. Nearly unnoticed by the couple, he moved closer to her and placed a hand over her mark before removing it as though burned. He hissed in pain but that was the only indication of his discomfort. Both Inuyasha and Kagome bristled at the contact, further enforcing Sesshomaru's conviction.
"Don't touch her," Inuyasha growled, pulling Kagome flush against his back.
"Do not believe that I would lower myself to take advantage of your mate, brother. I simply had to see if the mating was complete and if so, if it was True." Kagome shifted uneasily under the intense gaze of the youkai. He seemed to make up his mind about her with the short nod of his head. "My business is complete here. When you have the time please come to retrieve that which Father has left to you." Sesshomaru turned to leave.
"How am I supposed to know where to go?" Inuyasha asked, his tone a bit more relaxed now that his half-brother was leaving. Sesshomaru went into his jacket pocket and produced a card. He handed it to Inuyasha who snatched it from his fingers then stuffed it in his pocket. Sesshomaru bowed mockingly then let himself out.
"Wow. Great relationship you two have." Inuyasha couldn't help but laugh at his mate's sarcasm. He spun around and caught her in his arms before giving her a fierce kiss. Kagome gasped in surprise allowing him to have access to her mouth. He took the opportunity to taste her before pulling away and landing a soft kiss on the end of her nose. He thought back to their previous discussion. Right, the kid. He looked into Kagome's eyes.
"You remember what we were talking about before we were so rudely interrupted?" Kagome searched her memory a moment then nodded.
"Shippo, the child I'm trying to place."
"You want to take him, don't you?" Kagome's eyes widened at the verbalization of her thoughts. She had barely expected to voice them to Sango let alone to the hanyou. She wasn't going to lie to him, knowing full well she couldn't anyway. The thought had crossed her mind several times since she'd met the adorable fuzz ball but she had tried to deny her hopes for the child. She nodded gently at Inuyasha and he gave a triumphant nod.
"But there's no way I could keep him in my apartment. I only have the one bedroom and I wouldn't be home to care for him." Inuyasha responded in a near silent murmur. "What?"
"Bring him here." Kagome gaped openly at him. "I'm home all day. I'm sure the kid can't be that much trouble. I can easily keep him occupied around here even when I'm teaching classes and whatnot. And now I have all this money from my parents so I can even hire another instructor so I won't be nearly as busy." Kagome threw her arms around his neck, knocking him over in her excitement. He buried his nose in her hair and chuckled. He could feel the pure joy ebbing off of her and he relished that it was him who gave her that.
"Really Inuyasha? You have to know raising a child is a huge job. A child is no light responsibility," she said, going into full lecture mode. He placed a finger on her lips to stop her verbal rampage.
"I realize Kagome. Don't worry. I'll be able to handle it. I promise." The seriousness in his tone confirmed to Kagome that he understood how important this was to her. The fact that the immature man she had met had become so... grown up amazed her. Inuyasha had obviously taken responsibility for a lot of things in his life when he'd had no choice, but this was one thing she had never expected him to do willingly.
He was possibly trying to prove himself to her, that he loved her and that he was willing to be a father. Inuyasha a father? Kagome realized this would make her the child's mother. She hadn't planned on becoming a mother ever, satisfied to live life without children, much to her mother's dismay and disappointment. Her heart fluttered at the thought of her, Kagome, becoming a mother. She wondered if it was possible that her aversion to actually giving birth to a child would diminish along with her distaste towards motherhood in general. She was beginning to hope so as she stared into the eyes of her mate.
"Thank you."
"You owe me."
"Shut up."
Yea, so that's that chapter. In the next chapter more will be discussed about Sesshomaru's sudden appearance and Shippo's fate will be more resolutely decided. Uh, thanks again for the reviews and please keep it up. Yay Readers! Ok. bye
