NEWS: I have noted and decided this will be the last chapter, followed by an epilogue. I will be closing the poll on my profile page by the end of this month. To see what story I should do next. The top three most voted selections will be put in another poll to see what story I should write first.
More NEWS: I participated in Livejournal's: Challenge Destiny Summer Challenge. Under my pen-name, arf_1990 I was the runner up after the winner InuHanyouNikkie! It was a lot of fun coming up wiht prompts and everything since it was my first time writing prompts in a contest!
And now for Chapter 24's reviewers:
Coka Cookie Cola - I know! Anyway I hope you hang on for the last few updates of this story! It's almost over!
Miko of Hope - Your comment is much appreciated! Thank you so much! I hope you enjoy them!
Dene - Glad you liked the chapter! Hope you keep reading until the end!
DiscipleOfAnime - Thanks! You have been nothing but supportive and encouraging through this story! Much appreciated!
SweetHunniiBunnii - I know, right? Hope you're not disappointed with this! It's coming to end soon! Just the epilogue left!
InuKag4eva - It just wouldn't be right! I hope this chapter was worst the wait!
S0me18skittles - Happy late Birthday! No problem with the review thing! Hope you like and enjoy!
Disclaimer: The hot-headed yet sexy hanyou solely belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, as does all characters. Only Akio and the plot are my ideas...
"The most powerful possession that ever comes to a man in this world is a woman's heart" -Josiah G. Holland
Chapter 25
From clear and cloudless winter days to harrowing storms that forced them to camp for a few days, Kagome and Inuyasha sat atop the capable demon Kirara across the Japanese landscape. Their supplies were good but with the hanyou still weakened, the miko decided to not push the fire feline and often asked for a break. Though able to make small conversation, Kagome had her hanyou take medicine and sleep many hours a day to regain his strength.
It took many days for them to reach their destination and catching the first glimpse of the wide open ocean. Though the land was barren and colorless, the ocean remained a pristine blue that reflected the winter sun. The day was calm and clear but the air was cold and brutal.
Passing over a bustling village that seemed to be readying themselves for the winter season, Kagome embraced InuYasha closer as a lone hut atop a cliff came into view. Kirara starting descending down, and in no time came to a walk on solid ground before stopping feet from the hut's entrance.
InuYasha, although still weary was able to look up, catching the unfamiliar settings but able to take in the mild salty smell of the ocean, hearing its gentle waves on shore and the faint crackling of a fire. He immediately sought the comforting aura of his female who held him closely to her.
"Kagome?"
Hearing his voice was a great relief to her already frazzled nerves. He's been so out of it since their escapade started. She made him sleep so he could concentrate on recovering and letting her feed him and making sure he recieved plenty of water. But knowing that he was conscious and not wheezing or vomiting due to his injuries and was acutally talking let Kagome know he was getting better, albeit slowly.
"We're here. On a cliff facing the ocean, the place Miroku and Sango told us about. Hopefully we won't meet resistance and they'll let us stay. You really need to rest in one place." Letting him fall back so he was fully leaning against her body, the man sighed at the thought of being able to stay in one place for a while. It was taxing on his body and Kagome knew it.
"You need sleep too, Kagome." He searched for her hand and held it. "I can feel how tired you are."
"Well, let's see if they'll let us stay first."
Before too long, a little girl, no older than seven or eight came out, startled by the noises. She stopped at seeing the odd trio, confusion and a tint of fear in her crystal violet eyes and immediately rushed back in, calling for her mother. Seconds later, an older woman walked out, wearing the same expression as her daughter, who was standing silently behind her.
"Pardon us for intruding, ma'am." Kagome spoke softly.
"What is it you want?" The woman asked, eyeing the strange girl and the boy atop the feline looking demon. She hugged her daughter closer to her, ready to defend her in a second.
"I apologize for startling you, but we only come to you to ask for a roof over our heads, a place to sleep and recuperate, as my husband here is weak and needs to rest. Will you please help us?" She pleaded, hoping to convince the adult female that they weren't a threat. She sensed the same aura as InuYasha coming from the child. She too was a hanyou, easily with her unique and crystal-like demonic lavender orbs full of innocence and curiosity and the pale shimmering head of white surrounding her small face. The miko noticed the same terrifying yet puzzling look in her eyes as Inuyasha did when they first met. It seemed obvious that all hanyou, no matter who they were, were hated and treated poorly.
The woman assessed the newcomers and looking for any hidden motives. She was by now used to the many and familiar tricks villagers used. She hardened herself after her daughter was born, vowing to protect and cherish her, keep her away from anything and everything remotely threatening. This mother was smart, quick to act and knew if people were there to make fun of her and her child.
But the longer she gazed at the weary travelers atop the seemingly harmless demon, the more she calmed. They had no weapons and no plans in their body language. Plus the boy held close to the young woman was different as well. Plus his canine ears indicated that he had some demon blood.
"What is you name?"
Kagome then introduced herself, her husband and mate InuYasha, and the fire cat they were on Kirara. It was after she pulled out the valuable scroll that she noticed the child titling her head, sniffing a bit as if trying to figure something out.
"Mama, that boy is hanyou. I can sense it." She said in such a soft voice, tugging her mother's skirt.
The woman, who introduced herself as Shizu, looked at the inu that was trying hard to stay awake. "It it true?"
Kagome was hesitant at first but she had a feeling deep down that this woman wouldn't be so quick to judge since her own daughter was similar. "Yes, he's an inu hanyou."
"See? I was right?" Shiori smiled triumphantly, showing off her tiny fangs.
"Yes you were." She patted her daughter's head before returning to the trio. "Please, come inside. You must be freezing and I'm sure you'd all like a hot meal? I can arrange a futon for the two of you. I apologize for keeping you out in the cold. Shiori, please prepare a futon and blanket." The tiny child nodded and quickly ran into the hut without another word as the mother helped the semi-conscious hanyou off Kirara, who then shrunk to her tiny kitten form and followed the two women who carefully helped the hanyou into the hut.
As a new futon was made and InuYasha was finally settled in, after Kagome made some medicine for his shrinking wounds and applying a cold press for another fever, the miko let out a breath and handed the scroll to their hostess and settled her mate's head on her lap, softly and slowly caressing his face to help him sleep.
The hut grew warmer as the winter wind howled outside. The small neko youkai, who refused to leave her companions so soon, wanting and needing to relax after a long, taxing journey, interacted with the cute and friendly bat hanyou child. Shiori was fascinated with her, cooing at how adorable she is. As the two bonded, with a cup of warm herbal tea Kagome was sharing her story with Shizu by the fire. While the stew cooked, the miko talked about how she and InuYasha met, their friendship growing into something deeper until they became bonded for eternity, to the circumstances of how and why brought her and InuYasha here seeking refuge and a safe place for recovery.
After listening intently and reading the crucial scroll written by the monk Miroku, Shizu once again apologized for her cold behavior, to which Kagome understood and wasn't offended at all. She explained that as a former apprentice to her old hometown's only priestess, she was taught not to be prejudiced and to listen to her gut instinct when it came to demons, despite her village's ingrained fear and hatred of demons. That she fell in love with Inuyasha not because of what he looked like or his inu youkai half. It was because they shared a connection, they had a deeper bond more powerful than she could explain. The mother who continued to stir their dinner did indeed realize what she meant.
When the stew was simmering, after serving her daughter and guests, Shizu waited to tell her story while watching how the miko called Kagome fed the hanyou InuYasha so tenderly, whispering soothingly and asking him to eat so he'd get better. The inu weakly struggled, probably uncomfortable because he was in a new environment but eventually settled when Kagome's aura and scent surrounded him, reassuring him that he was okay. Shizu watched how Kagome spread her love through her soft spoken words, her tender caresses to the inu hanyou. It was such a wonder to see two different beings come together and love unconditionally. She fed her mate before feeding herself. What a sight they were, true love as plain as day, something the older woman lost some years before.
The story of how Shiori came to be was one that was sweet yet very tragic. Kagome listened as her hands stroked her husband's hand and his head still cushioned on her lap as Shizu told how she met the charming bat prince. How they fell in love, wanted to marry against the wishes of the bat clan. She watched the pale woman's tears as she recalled how Shiori's father was killed because of his wanting to stay with a human. But she was blessed when she discovered she was with child and gave birth to a child that looked similar to her father, calling Shiori "a cherished piece of him that I'll always carry". With the birth of her daughter came the expulsion from her family and village, and the endless and cruel teasing on an almost daily basis. She vowed to raise, love, and care for her daughter, and protect her at any cost. The miko nodded, knowing what pain and misery came with loving someone different.
The first night passed with little incident. Kagome slept beside her husband, who was starting to become aware again. He woke his mate up accidentally, who smiling eyes greeted him with so much happiness and relief. They whispered so wouldn't disturb Shiori and her mom , and Kirara who slept with her tail curled around her at the foot of the couple's bed. Kagome, after kissing him of out sheer joy, told him where they were and that they were welcomed here as long as they wished. The inu nodded, the foreign scents suddenly making sense. After reaching for a ladle with water and helping him drink, the young woman gently snuggled into his side and for the first time in a long time, slept without nightmare nor doubt. InuYasha was awake, beside her and recovering and talking. She couldn't ask for more.
As the days passed by, InuYasha slowly recovered and was able to sit up and feed himself. As Kagome repeatedly tended to him, the hanyou observed the younger one who sat beside him, looking at him with unlimited curiosity, asking questions. For she has never seen another being like her before and was interested in learning everything she could from the older and wiser inu hanyou. Fortunately Shizu knew when Inuyasha was becoming overwhelmed and pulled her daughter away so he could rest. Other than that he most often laid in the comfort of his mate's arms, and kept her close as they slept at night.
When it was time for Kirara to return after six days, Kagome wrote a scroll for Sango telling that they arrived safely and are in good hands and InuYasha was recovering nicely. She would miss the feline but knew that she would soon return with another note. On the seventh day, when the sky was clear and the bitter chill of winter wasn't harsh, the hanyou wanted to get up and see the outside. Knowing how proud and tough her mate was, Kagome was hesitant but she wrapped a blanket around him just to be safe. Sighing but understanding her cautious behavior, the two slowly walked out and breathing in the fresh wintry air combined with the salty brine smell of the ocean down below. The demon, although still wobbly from not having moved his legs in about a week, didn't hinder the amazement and relief of being outdoors again.
"Do you miss them?"
The two rested at a lone tree not far from the highest cliff some yards from the hut. Cuddled in the blanket together. As Inuyasha nuzzled his mate's neck while she gazed at the ocean from his lap, she pondered the question regarding her family and friends.
Her eyes slowly closed in bliss at the familiar tingling from her silvery-haired husband. She would rather be embraced, be kissed and nuzzled, hear him talking to her in that familiar rough and gentle tone than seeing him all battered and beaten. It was hard enough to get through, doing what she could making sure he was comfortable as possible and not in any agony.
"At night, I almost see myself at home, watching the woods from my window knowing you're out there. I can picture my cousin coming in and waiting for me to do her hair, Souta-kun relying on me to keep his secrets, I can even imagine Sango with Miroku-kun, together." The wife of the hanyou sighed, this time in sweet yet bitter remembrance. "I do. I do miss them, terribly." Taking in the breeze and the youki of her demon husband, she looked up into his eyes. "But I don't regret leaving because that would have meant leaving you to die."
A clawed thumb went to caress the cool, silken skin of her cheek. "I just hate not letting you be with your family; having to run away and possibly never seeing them again…Kagome that's a pretty harsh price to pay."
"I knew what I was doing."
"I'm not doubting that, but I would give anything to be with my mother again. I wished I could've…done something to stop it, prevent her from being killed…I'd give anything to have her back." His forehead gently bent to rest against her temple, letting loose his emotions that only his wife and mate could understand and cure.
"I know, InuYasha. I know." She kissed his cheek before embracing his chest. Inuyasha didn't express or speak of his mother very often, knowing how deeply wounded he was inside because of how she died and that he witnessed it being only a small child. He was traumatized by it and preferred not to bring it up. When he did, he spoke of her so highly. He was still a little boy inside, crying for his long-deceased mother. She could feel his regret, burning within him. The miko didn't speak, knowing no words were needed. All she did, and all she could do, was be there and let him vent out the anger and pain through his rare tears. Never did he lash out on her. Instead he leaned into her, seeking her loving warmth and scent.
Kagome replayed what he told her. He would do anything to have his mother back. He was silently telling her that she should be with her own family, instead of being here with him. That she should cherish her time with the people she grew up with. And she did. Her family was dear to her, always has always will be.
But right now he was her only family. Her husband, best friend, her soul mate. She had him, and that was all she could ask for.
As the hanyou's strength returned and the marks on his body mended until they no longer required bandages and left nothing but faint and permanent scars, Kagome was starting to come to terms with living with strangers who quickly became friends and doing things on her own, caring for herself and her mate. She could build another life. She's always dreamed of such. But now she had someone to build it with her.
I know it was short but adding anymore would have ruined it. The epilogue will be longer. I hope you have enjoyed this as much as I have and are looking forward to hearing from you in the future. Tell me what you think and don't forget the poll if you haven't already!
Until next time...
Sayonara!