I've had a vision, and I think I can continue this story for a little while longer! I repeat, this will not be the last chapter! Now...I do want to say thank you to all you lovely multi-reviewers!
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Thanks so much for staying with me! I also thank those who reviewed just once, you's are cool too. Here it goes, the NEXT chapter of Dreaming of You.
P.S. To punkchickykagome: It says 13th while its the 12th chapter because chapter 3 had two separate parts.
Disclaimer: I don't OWN Inu-Yasha!
Chapter 13-Consequences
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The group left early the next morning, after a tear-filled good-bye between Kagome and Kaede and a promise to visit often. No one was in a rush to get back to the kingdom, especially Kagome. They stopped often to allow the triplets to stretch and play, then continued on their trek back to Inu-Yasha's castle. The closer they drew, the more tense and skittish Kagome grew.
Inu-Yasha finally got fed up with it and drew her away from the children and the rest of the group.
"What is wrong, Kag? I already told you everything was going to be fine. What is making you act like a terrified mare?" Kagome looked to him with fear, anger, and anxiety fighting within her chocolate depths.
"I don't know if I can do this, Yasha. I don't think I can face going back there. What if your father forces you to marry Kikyo? What if your brother does something rash? What if you decide to change your mind as soon as we arrive? I'll not be your whore."
Inu-Yasha pulled Kagome into the warmth of his embrace, stroking her hair gently as he pressed soft kisses onto her neck.
"You are to be my wife, not my whore. I love you, and no matter what my father or brother says, I'll be staying with you. I won't make the same mistake twice. We'll leave this place forever if they do not like it, and it will be their own loss. Now, no more tears. I can not stand to see you cry." Kagome nodded feebly and wiped away the tears that coursed down her cheeks. Hand in hand, they returned to the group and continued their trip.
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Finally, months later, the group of weary travelers arrived in the kingdom. They were greeted with a mixture of excited welcomers and disgusted greeters. There were those who did not like, nor did they encourage the match between Kagome and Inu-Yasha, due to their different stations in life. Others knew the love they shared and were, quite frankly, glad it was Kagome instead of Kikyo that was to marry Inu-Yasha.
Both groups, happy welcomers and grumpy greeters, were drawn to the three one year old children napping peacefully in their strollers. They knew right away whose children they were, and while the discouraging people frowned, knowing how children were made, they seemed resigned to the fact that Kagome and Inu-Yasha were to be together.
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There was no time for settling into his room, for as soon as Inu-Yasha entered the doors of the castle, a servant was upon him with orders from his father to meet him in his study. Inu-Yasha sighed and sent an apologetic look to Kagome before striding away to find out what couldn't wait for a few hours.
Kagome watched him go, curiosity, concern, and anxiety fighting tor the dominance emotion playing in her eyes. A touch from the hand of Sango to her shoulder reminded Kagome of all the things that needed to be done. With one last look to the door Inu-Yasha went through, Kagome moved to get organized.
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Inu-Yasha stood before the large oak doors that loomed ahead of him which would take him to his father. As much as he admired and respected his father, Inu-Yasha wasn't sure he wanted to hear what Inutaisho had to say.
Taking a large gulp of air, Inu-Yasha entered the study, his golden gaze focusing first on his father, then on his brother sitting in one of the winged back chairs in front of his father's study.
Both demons gazes, identical to his own, rested upon him as he entered, making him feel mightily uncomfortable. Inutaisho gestured to the chair beside Sesshomaru.
"Sit, we have much to discuss, my son. It has been a year since we last spoke and much has happened." Inutaisho waited until Inu-Yasha was firmly seated in the comfort of the winged-back chair before relaying the news.
"Four months after you left, the Princess Kikyo was found dead within her chamber. She hung herself from the canopy above her bed with her stockings. The physician that was sent in to examine her concluded that she was pregnant at the time of her death. I must say, I am glad you left when you did, or you might well have married a soiled woman, lad." Inutaisho frowned at the expression on Inu-Yasha's face.
Inu-Yasha's ears were pressed flat against the sides of his head, golden eyes downcast. Trembling hands were easily spotted gripping the arms of the chair. Realization dawned on Inutaisho.
"No, Inu-Yasha... please tell me it was not you that impregnated Kikyo." There was no response from the hanyou sitting across from him, confirming the statement in almost painful clarity.
"You should have married her if you slept with her, dammit!" Inu-Yasha looked up at his father fiercely.
"If you haven't noticed, I spent the last year finding the woman I befriended when we were small children and impregnated when we got older. She was a higher priority, even more so since I love her."
Inutaisho snorted in disbelief.
"Love? What do you know of love, boy? Not much, by the looks of it. You had two women pregnant! How can you say you love one, while you mate with the other?"
Inu-Yasha stood angrily.
"Kikyo deceived me while I was inebriated, to advantage of my situation in hopes I would marry her after seeing what happened. She was no virgin when I took her, that much I do remember. I love Kagome, and I will marry her. If you make me choose again, don't waste your breath. You know my answer." With that, Inu-Yasha turned and stormed out of the study.
Inutaisho looked to the amused face of Sesshomaru.
"What is so blasted funny?" Sesshomaru shook his head and stood.
"Nothing, Father. Now, if you'll excuse me, Rin is waiting for me to take her for a ride around the land." He bowed expertly and walked out of the study, leaving his father watching after him.
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Inu-Yasha walked toward his room, his head swarming with terrible thoughts. How could he have done that to Kikyo? How was he to know that she was carrying his kid? The child could have been someone else's. She wasn't the virginal princess he had thought she was before he had been with her. He hadn't even purposely slept with her. He was drunk and thought she was Kagome.
He came to his room and entered, finding a peacefully sleeping Kagome on his bed with the three pups curled against her, also sleeping. Inu-Yasha grinned at the vision, and slowly crept to Kagome's side. He laid down behind her, wrapping a protective arm around her waist. His eyes shut before his head even hit the pillow.
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The silence of the morning was shattered by a blood curdling scream, torn from the throat of Kagome. Inu-Yasha sprang from the bed, looking wildly about. When he realized it was Kagome going into hysterics, he went to her.
"What's wrong? Calm down, love, and tell me what is going on?"
As Inu-Yasha attempted to calm down a very distraught Kagome; Inutaisho, Sesshomaru, Sango, Miroku, and Shippo raced into the room.
"What's going on?"
"Why did you yell like that?"
"Can't you shut her up, half-breed?"
"What happened?"
"Where's Myoko?"
The last question, stated by Shippo shut everyone up, except for Kagome. Three pairs of identical golden eyes, a violet blue set, and a chocolate brown set all glanced to where the three children were to be sleeping. Mitsu and Matsu were looking about confused, as if trying to figure out where Myoko was themselves.
A tearful Kagome answered.
"She's been taken."
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Sorry, but I had to end it there. Too much temptation. As I said, I had this little idea pop into my head, and so I'm going with it. I hope everyone likes it. R&R, you know i;m an addict!
TK