Hauntober:

Stars

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

Story and OCs © Me

"Mommy?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

Kagome casually hummed to herself as she peeled some apples at the counter while her mother-in-law fed the twins. Sanka stood beside her while Inuyasha was outside raking the leaves with Toga, Shippo, and Ichiro...which was easier said than done since Yamako kept jumping into them with the dog.

"Is it true that we turn into stars when we die?" Sanka asked, and almost instantly, Kagome paused in removing the peel from the apple she had in her hand, and Izayoi glanced over her shoulder, surprised at the abruptness of the question.

"San, honey...what brought this up?" asked Kagome.

"Well...one of my friends in class, Kiku," Sanka said. "Well...her grandma died last week and she said that her grandma will be a star." She then looked up at her mother. "Mommy, is it true? Do we turn into stars when we die?"

Kagome tightened her lip before she took in a deep inhale, then sighed as she bent down to pick up her 5-and-3-quarter-year-old daughter, who giggled as she held onto her and was carried to the table, where her mother sat down.

"San, sweetie," Kagome said, "I had this exact same conversation with Grandma Atsuko when I was your age...it was when my dad and my grandma died."

"What'd she say?" Sanka asked.

"She said that when the people we love die, they become stars so they can watch over us at night," said Kagome with a warm, wistful smile, "and to this day, I've always believed that." She gently stroked her daughter's hair and she rubbed her floppy ears, causing her to giggle. "I think my Dad and my Grandma and my Grandpa are watching over me, right now...and they're all watching and your brothers and your sisters, too."

Sanka smiled up at her mother...but then that smile fell before she rested her head against her bosom.

"...Mommy?" she asked. "You and Daddy aren't gonna die...right?"

"Well, Sanka," Kagome began, "your daddy and I are hopefully gonna be around for a long time...but one day, we will die, eventually."

Sanka sat on her mother's lap while her paternal grandmother watched in concern, waiting for a reaction.

"...Mommy?" Sanka asked. "I hope that when you and Daddy die, you turn into big and bright stars...that way, I can still see you."

Kagome smiled lovingly and she dropped a kiss on her precious daughter's head, right between her ears, which made her giggle while Izayoi smiled, warmly.

"Now," Kagome began, "why don't you go and wash your hands? I'm about to call your brothers in so they can have some apple slices."

"Okay!" Sanka chirped as she hopped down from her mother's lap and hurried up the stairs.

"...I can tell that wasn't easy to say, Kagome," Izayoi said. "I remember when I had that talk with Inuyasha back when he was her age."

"...It's never easy, being a mom," Kagome said.

"No, dear, it's not," Izayoi replied before she reached over and put a hand around her daughter-in-law's shoulder, "but it's certainly worth it, isn't it?"

"...It sure is, Mom," Kagome smiled, causing Izayoi to laugh as she hugged her and kissed her cheek.

Mama Kagome and Mama Izayoi. What could be better? ^^

Review, please!