Don't own Inuyasha. Rumiko Takahashi does. 'Nough said.
I read over all the reviews I've received so far for PTBH... and boy, did it get me enthusiastic! I'm pumped, guys! XD Hopefully I won't be on this high for only fifteen minutes and then get distracted by something XD I love you all and your amazing reviews; they really do keep me going~
Piecing Together Broken Hearts
Chapter 21
Dreams and Determination
After being driven home by Inuyasha, a lengthy, passionate kiss exchanged in the doorway, and changing, Kagome fell back into the soft comfort of her bed. She relived all of the night; the thrilling movie, the tender exchange with Inuyasha, her childish embarrassment at the concession stand. Everything logged in the back of her mind, etching themselves into her memory. She placed a hand over her left breast, feeling the uneven thumping there as she thought back to the exchange of passion they had shared just before he left her for the night. Her eyes fluttered closed as she swam in the memories of the many sensual, joyous, and tender moments she had shared with her dear half-demon in the time they'd been together.
Against her own will, Kagome's mind slipped past the realm of consciousness and into the world of dreams, hopes, fantasies.
The first thing she heard was the soft voice calling to her.
"Mama... Mama..."
Her eyes fluttered open slowly and a vision of a hard-wood porch and green-carpeted lawn registered in her conscious. She felt a gentle rocking, and realized she was sitting on a long swing; a swing connected to the overhanging of the porch. She turned her head slowly towards the voice she had heard. To her surprise, a little girl was leaning towards her on all fours, a curious and attention-seeking look in her eyes... such pure, amber eyes...
A smile suddenly spread across the girl's face, "Mama, you're awake now!"
A giggle burst forth from her mouth, and it made Kagome's stomach feel all bubbly inside.
It took her a moment to register what the child had said. "Wait... Ma... ma...?"
The girl grinned wide, and this time, Kagome noticed how her canines were elongated and more pointy than a normal human's.
"It can't be..." she began to think, only to be interrupted by the opening of the front door of the house, which was near the swing on which she was sitting on.
A muscular male figure stepped out, cascade of silver hair hanging long over his shoulders, triangular little puppy ears at the top of his head.
"I-Inuyasha?"
"Miyako," The man said, "You're not bothering your mother again, are you? You know she needs to rest more because of the baby."
"Baby?" Kagome thought, a hand moving to cup he belly. Surely enough, there was a visible bulge in her lower abdomen.
The girl, Miyako's, face turned to a pout and her hands crossed over her chest. "But I wanna play with Mama."
His face softened and he petted Miyako's hair gently as he asked, "How about I play with you today, and when Mama feels better, she'll play with you, okay?"
The girl took a moment to think about it. "Hmm... Fine, but Mama, you have to pinkie promise."
Kagome smiled at Miyako's childish request, forgetting for a moment the title the girl still gave her as she encircled the child's pinkie with her own. "I promise."
She ran down the two steps to the porch, into the driveway and called back, "Papa! Come on!"
"I'll be there in a minute!" He called back.
He sat down next to Kagome, causing the swing to rock back and forth a bit more vigorously. In a moment of pure maternal instinct, her hands flung to her stomach, not helping but tense around the bundle of life she carried.
He smiled a bit apologetically at her. "Sorry about that. I know how you feel about the baby."
He proceeded to place a caring hand to her belly, rubbing soothingly. He lifted her left hand to his lips, kissing each finger, lingering a bit longer on her ring finger, kissing her wedding band.
His hand then migrated to her neck, where he lifted an oval ruby pendant off her lovely neck. "It never fails to look stunning on you." He said, setting it back and grinning at her. His face turned tender an instant later.
"I love you so very much, Kagome, more than you can imagine." He stated, every word meaningful. He leaned in, closing the gap between their lips, cupping her cheek with the hand that had rested on her pregnant abdomen.
Kagome felt herself ebbing away, fully accepting everything about this new reality. If this was going to be her life, she embraced it fully. She felt the words her husband spoke resonate in her heart. She felt herself melting, melting away from the happiness of this moment, this eternity she would share with him...
Inuyasha woke at half past six. He had set his alarm so he would be able to get ready by the time his favorite jeweler opened his shop. He wanted to get there as early as possible so there was no possibility it would sell before he got there to buy it.
It was a pendant. The pendant was an oval; a ruby center lined with small diamonds, all set in pure silver. He had spotted it in the catalog, which showed items all ready being sold, as well as items that would be sold in the future, a few months ago, thinking he would buy it for Kikyo. He had saved up for it over the past months, waiting for it to be available. The pendant had just been placed in the window of the shop in the past week.
He had planned to buy it for Kikyo. For Kikyo, the necklace might have been a pleasant surprise, but not much more than that; yet another valuable trinket to add to her collection. Before, he realized, the effort he had put in to obtain it wouldn't have been appreciated. But for Kagome, he felt all the time he had spent working up the money for the beautiful piece of jewelry would be worthwhile. He imagined the light in her eyes and she unwrapped it, how radiant she would be with it resting against her neck, the affection she would feel every time she wore it.
These thoughts only hastened him. He wouldn't have all his plans ruined because he had come only seconds late to buy what was rightfully his.
Each piece of jewelry was hand-crafted, one of a kind. No other could replace another. This pendant was the only kind of its sort made by this jeweler, and probably one of the few perfect ones he would ever make. Inuyasha would make sure to get it for Kagome, no matter what.
After fastening his belt, placing his wallet in his pocket, and grabbing his car keys, he was off, driving quickly to catch his worm.
He made it just as the old man was opening the door. His expression grew slightly smug as he saw the pendant, still there, still on display. As soon as the owner was in, he strode in, and smacked the exact amount in cash onto the glass counter.
"I'd like to purchase the ruby pendant on display. That should be the correct amount, sir. I'd like this done as quickly as possible, if you don't mind, sir." He stated, his tone very serious. So serious, it sounded almost threatening.
The man got straight to work, plucking the beauty off its pedestal and placing it in a silver-colored box. He wrapped it carefully in the paper Inuyasha had chosen, hands shaking slightly from his old age. He finished it off by placing a gold bow on the top, handing it to the half-demon with an inkling of a proud flourish, bowing slightly in gratitude at the purchase. The elderly man calculated the sum of money and nodded his head, acknowledging he paid the proper amount.
"Thank you, sir!" Inuyasha called over his shoulder as he exited the shop.
He drove home, excitement and secretiveness coursing through his veins.
He couldn't wait to see Kagome again.
Author's note: Hope you liked this one too! I couldn't help it; I needed to post again! I couldn't keep it in XD You see what you do to me? Haha, well I wish you all well, and it's time for me to go to bed~