~~OO~~II~~OO~~
((Firefly))
~~OO~~II~~OO~~
His eyes gleamed with amusement as Kagome gasped, jerking up and twisting to face him with wide blue eyes. "Hey, wench," he said softly in greeting, gentle as he rumbled. His demon side stirred and he grimaced at the reminder. Damn that Fenikkusu. "Miss me?"
"Inu!" Kagome cried, throwing herself at him, tackling him in a hug. She burst into happy tears, relieved to see him and he rumbled in response, careful not to hurt her as he crushed her to his chest. "You back!"
He grinned, nuzzling her head gently. "For now, I'll have to leave again soon," he murmured as Miroku came tiredly walking out, looking exhausted, but was startled to see him. He flashed him a grin, his fangs gleaming. "Hey, monk, see you've been busy."
Miroku broke into a grin, crossing his arms. "Took you a while. She was starting to forget about you," he teased.
Inuyasha flattened his ears, burying his face in the still sobbing Kagome's hair, saying simply, "She can try to forget me. I won't let her."
Sango yawned as she walked out, scrubbing at her eyes tiredly to wake herself up as her feet slapped against the ground. "Alright, what's- oh. Inuyasha, you're back." She smiled kindly. "Good to see you. Is Fenikkusu here, too?"
He shook his head. "Had somethin' to do. He's gonna come back in a day or two."
Sango opened her mouth to ask another question, but Kagome pulled back at that moment, reaching up to happily tug on one of his ears. "Inu," she said eagerly, "See Moeru?"
He smirked. "Already have, I helped send him back. Still can't believe I was talking to a horse…"
Shippo crawled out irritably from where he'd been sleeping with Kagome, cracking out a massive yawn. "Inuyasha, what took you so long?"
Inuyasha paused, then said gruffly, "None of your business, you damn runt." He glared at the fox kit until he squeaked and hid behind Kirara, who gave Inuyasha a look of upmost indifference and rolled her eyes. Kagome frowned, looking at her Inu in disapproval. "Not nice, Inu," she scolded.
His eyes softened. "She's getting better."
"She's had a bit of help since you were away," Miroku said warily, careful not to say just who was helping her. "She still has a bit of trouble when she's talking and we still have a lot to teach her, but she's getting better slowly."
"She's missed you," Sango added softly, watching as Kagome slipped away, babbling nonsense about grabbing something to show him. "I think she almost began to forget you though. That worries me. She stopped asking about you all together a while ago. If the Shikon no Tama blocks her memories, maybe…"
Inuyasha's eyes flashed briefly. His hands clenched into fists. "She'd never forget me."
"She already did once, Inuyasha," Miroku pointed out, quietly. "I don't think you should stay away for so long again, not until she can really talk and understand when we explain to her what's happening."
Inuyasha nodded with grudging agreement, but before he could answer, Kagome suddenly returned, throwing herself into his lap. He grunted in shock and surprise, but she merely giggled and shoved a jar in his face, her eyes gleaming excitedly. "Look, Inu! Firefly!" She beamed in excitement. "Moeru an' me…" she paused, frowning. Miroku's eyes gleamed knowingly. "Moeru an' me caught firefly!"
He blinked, taking the jar from her, careful not to break it. The look Miroku sent him told him that they'd found it from before Kagome had forgotten everything, before the final battle with Naraku. He examined the contents of the jar, a single firefly that glowered brightly. His eyes softened. "Good job, Kagome," he praised, pride lighting his gaze. He handed it back to her, watching as she lit up. She giggled, turning to look at her captured firefly.
"You catch firefly?" Kagome asked hopefully out of nowhere, her hands lightly tugging on his hair until he met her gaze.
"Tomorrow," he murmured in response, carefully drawing her closer to him and wrapping his arms around her so that his haori sleeves draped over her lap. She hummed in response, no longer seeming uncomfortable at all anymore. Something that semi-bothered him. He rested his chin on her head, a sigh escaping him. Miroku snickered and he shot the monk an irritated look. "Shut it, monk."
Sango elbowed her husband in the ribs, resting her hand on her belly. "Come on, Shippo, Miroku. Let's go get some sleep, both me and the baby are tired."
Miroku was immediately distracted and gently led her in the direction of their futon. "Come on, then, you should have said something…"
Kagome, no longer the least bit tired, happily snuggled back against Inuyasha, examining the firefly in the jar. She giggled at something he didn't see or hear, humming quietly under her breath. Inuyasha rumbled happily in response, tightening his grip around her until she patted his arm to motion that he was gripping her too tight. He loosened his grip so she could breathe, closing his eyes and leaning back against the wall as he gently ran his claws through her hair.
His demon side swelled for a moment before settling down happily, finally willing to disappear.
Kami help the first demon to come across him when Kagome wasn't around.
~~OO~~II~~OO~~
Inuyasha cocked an eyebrow as he watched Kagome expertly lead Moeru over, her eyes gleaming despite the irritation Moeru showed by flattening his ears. He hated the horse, but Kagome had insisted they take the stallion with them when they went on their walk. Miroku, who had gone with her to make sure she didn't do something wrong, grinned at the look on the half-demon's face.
"Hey, you were gone. She made friends with the gift you sent her in a day, what else do you expect to happen?" Miroku asked, patting Moeru's neck. Moeru snorted angrily, swishing his tail and side stepping.
Inuyasha growled at the flame-eyed demon. "Kagome, just leave him, I'll carry you!"
He wasn't sure if she ignored him or if she truly didn't know what he meant. Because she merely hauled herself onto Moeru's back and twisted the reins to circle him. She nudged him forward until he stood beside Inuyasha, who snarled angrily under his breath. He had to leave in the morning, and she was dragging the damn horse along. His ears twitched. Of course, he should've known better.
She wasn't his and his alone to drag around and command her to do things. She didn't have to listen to him. She was quickly returning to how she had once been- not that he minded. He wanted her back to normal. But on this occasion... "We should be back around the time the sun's half way through the sky," he told Miroku, who gave a curt nod. Soon enough, he and Kagome were off, Inuyasha easily keeping up with Moeru, who galloped along into the trees, Kagome laughing happily.
He shook his head in amusement and disappeared back inside.
~~OO~~II~~OO~~
The sun rose and began to sink towards the horizon again, and Kagome and Inuyasha hadn't returned just yet. Miroku finally sighed, and glanced at Sango, who was busy preparing dinner for everyone. "I'll be back, I'm going to go drag those two home."
"Alright," Sango agreed softly, glancing up with a smile before saying, "No, Shippo, wrong one…"
Miroku made his way outside and then started for the forest. After a while of searching, he came across the one scene he thought he'd never see beneath the Goshinboku, the Sacred Tree.
Kagome was settled comfortably in Inuyasha's lap, and the half-demon looked slightly irritated. "Inu-ya-sha," he was repeating, his eyes flashing as he struggled to be patient and teach Kagome his full name. She frowned, repeating it but stumbling in the process. He sighed. "Try again, wench."
Miroku settled down, leaning against a tree to watch until she finally, after a few dozen tries, succeeded. "Inu-ya-sha," she said confidently, her eyes lighting up when Inuyasha grinned, bursting into a happy rumbling and burying his face in her hair. She giggled. "Inuyasha."
Miroku watched for a few more moments, then stepped forward, calling softly, "I hate to interrupt, but Sango's almost done with dinner."
Inuyasha glanced up with a grin. "Alright. Did you hear her? She said it!"
Miroku chuckled. "She did well. Now come on, you idiot. You need some food before you head out tomorrow. Come on, Sango's expecting you."
Kagome glanced up at Sango's name and beamed. "Miroku!" she greeted cheerfully. "Inu-ya-sha helping."
He chuckled. "I can see that."
It had been a long time since he'd seen Inuyasha nearly cry. Almost a year and a half now.
But he could've sworn that he saw happy tears in the half-demon's eyes as Inuyasha glanced up before nuzzling Kagome's head with his nose. He turned away, helping Kagome up.
Nobody but Kagome noticed as he gave her a watery smile.
And she didn't say a single word, merely smiled brightly at him and turned to fetch Moeru.
~~OO~~II~~OO~~
A/N: Sorry for the wait! Hope you enjoyed, thanks to all reviewers! :3