I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA!

Chapter 49

Miroku waved when he saw Kagome approaching the village. He crossed his arms and waited for her to reach him. She stopped in front of him and pulled her scarf tighter. "It's freezing."

"It's been a harsh winter." Miroku walked with her to Kaede's hut. "How have you been?"

"Restless. I can't just sit around anymore. I need to be doing something." She looked up at the monk. "How is Inuyasha?"

"Happier than I've ever seen him."

"And the baby? How old is it now?"

"A girl. They've named her Tsukiko. She's five weeks now. Will be six weeks when we reach the castle. She's the sweetest little thing. We've all fallen in love with her. And you haven't seen two prouder parents. They dote on her. Shippo, too."

"They dote on Shippo or Shippo dotes on the baby?"

Miroku laughed. "Both. Shippo loves having a baby sister. And Sesshomaru has been a really great mom to Shippo, Kagome. He's also happier than I've ever seen him. He's grown at least an inch. He's got a really good friend in the son of the castle midwife and nanny. He's got a tutor and he's learning to read really well. He's also doing combat training. Sesshomaru said that as the son of a Lord, Shippo needs to know how to defend their lands. He's really enjoying it. And the servant and guards at the castle love him."

"Sounds like they are all doing well."

"They really are." Miroku stopped and faced the girl. "I think Inuyasha misses you, though. Your friendship. It's meant a lot to him and has helped shape him into the man he is today."

"I miss him, too." She shrugged and leaned her bicycle against the wall of Kaede's hut. "I'm not angry anymore. I did some research while I was home. You're all right. Sibling mating's are common among the higher demons. I talked to a scholar who said that the sibling mating's actually made the bloodlines stronger." She shrugged and sat beside the fire in the old woman's hut. She was currently out and she and the monk were alone. "I also saw a therapist who helped me see that what I feel for Inuyasha isn't really love. He helped me see that what I felt was possession. He belonged to me for so long that I didn't want to give him up. It was unhealthy. I'm over it now that I see it for what it is. And I really am happy that he is happy."

Miroku smiled. "I'm proud of you. That you got some help and that you can admit that. You've grown a lot, Kagome."

"I just hope that Inuyasha can forgive me. Sesshomaru, too."

"He will. He said that you're welcome at the castle. As long as you aren't poisonous anymore."

Kagome winced. "He's right. I was poisonous. If I were him I wouldn't want me around his baby with the way I acted."

"The presentation ceremony is in two weeks. I know that Inuyasha would like to spend some time with you before that. And have you attend."

"I'd like to be there. And I want to spend some time with him, too."

Kaede entered the hut and smiled at Kagome. "Come to see the little one?"

"Yes. I hear she's stolen everyone's hearts."

"Seems like it. I'll be going with you for a short visit. I won't be able to stay long enough to attend the presentation. I can't be away from the village for that long. But the villagers want me to bring gifts."

"That's nice of them."

"Inuyasha has done a lot to help the people of this village. They want to show their appreciation by celebrating the birth of his daughter." Kaede sat and warmed her hands.

"I can't picture Inuyasha as a daddy." Kagome shook her head with a small smile. "He's so brash and loud."

"He's changed. He is taking his role as Lord very seriously. And he is so good to Sesshomaru. He's like a different person sometimes. He's grown up." Miroku poured the tea he had been brewed, passing cups to the women. "I think you'll be proud of him."

"I'm sure I will be." Kagome silently sipped the tea and wondered just how much her friend had changed.

Kagome couldn't believe her eyes. He looked so different. Gone was the bright red fire rat clothing. Instead, he was wearing silk in shades of blue with a yellow obi. His hair was a silky cascade down his back. And his eyes. His eyes were fiercely protective as he stood in the garden with Sesshomaru sitting against a tree behind him, a tightly wrapped bundle in his arms.

"Hello, Kagome." Inuyasha crossed his arms, looking the girl over. She was wearing warm clothing in place of her usual short skirt that bared her legs.

Kagome smiled. "Hello, Inuyasha. You look wonderful."

Shippo giggled from his place on Sesshomaru's knee. "He hates wearing that stuff. He only does because Sesshomaru makes him."

Inuyasha turned a frown on the boy. "Hush, Shippo. He makes you wear it, too."

Shippo grinned and ran his hands over the yellow silk he wore. "Yeh but I like it. It's soft."

Inuyasha shrugged, uncomfortable. "I'm getting used to it."

"Well I think you look very handsome. And very much like the Lord you are." Kagome held out a small box. "I brought gifts for the baby. But this I had made special." She flushed slightly. "I had something made for a girl, and something for a boy. But I really hopped it was a girl. I'm happy it is. Because I put a lot of thought into this."

Inuyasha took and box and handed it to Sesshomaru. Sesshomaru opened it and pulled out an ornate gold hair comb. A cluster of sakura blossoms made with pink stones decorated the comb. "This is lovely, Kagome." Sesshomaru turned it over to find an inscription on the inside. The kanji for friendship.

"I'm glad you like it. I know she won't be able to wear it just yet."

"It's perfect. I'm sure that she will love it. I think we'll save it for a birthday when she's old enough to wear it and understand the meaning." Sesshomaru set the comb back into the bed of silk inside the box. "I hope you will be able to be here to see her wear it."

Kagome smiled. "I'd like that."

"Inuyasha." Sesshomaru handed the baby up to him. "Why don't you two take the baby for a walk while I help Shippo with his reading assignment?"

Inuyasha took the little girl, who was wide awake and smiled up at him when she saw his face. She cooed at him and Kagome saw his face light up like a kid on Christmas morning. "Did you hear that?" Inuyasha knelt down in front of Sesshomaru. "She talked to me. Did you hear?"

Sesshomaru smiled and touched the little girl's cheek. His face was that of a mother witnessing something special their child did for the first time. "She knows you're her daddy."

"Yeh, but she's never talked to me before." Inuyasha bent and kissed her forehead, making her coo again. Inuyasha laughed brightly. "I love you, too, my little moon." He tucked the baby in his arm and stood again, giving her one of his fingers to play with.

He walked to Kagome and she leaned in to look at her. "Oh, she's beautiful." She touched the baby's head. "She has curls."

Inuyasha smiled again. "That's the first think everyone says. Sesshomaru says I had curls when I was a baby, too."

Sesshomaru watched the two of them make their way across the garden. It lifted his spirits to know that Inuyasha had his friend back. Mention of the girl had been causing Inuyasha a painful jolt for weeks. But now something in him was relaxed and he was happy through every part of him. It was a good day.