CHAPTER 32: HOME

Two days after taking Menomaru's commanders were captured, they were half way home. It was slow because of how many men that made up Sesshomaru's army. Kai had offered for Sesshomaru to orb home and he would see his men got home safely, but Sesshomaru refused. Not that he didn't want to be home, or that he didn't miss his family. He did. He missed them so much it made his body physically ache, but he would not leave his men behind. Kai respected that and said nothing more.

With only about two more days until they reached the western stronghold, everyone was getting excited, happy to be almost home.

"It's going to be weird to see my son when we get home. When we left, he was still so little." Kai was excited, just like everyone else. He hoped that he wouldn't have to be away from home for so long for a long time to come. "I know what you mean. Sumiye was just a few months old. Now, she's probably crawling and my boys are probably talking." It scared him a bit to know that he had missed so much. Especially at such a crucial part of their lives. He also wondered if his daughter would remember him. It saddened him to think that she might not.

"Let us try to not think about such things, Sesshomaru. It will only succeed in making us both depressed." Sesshomaru inclined his head in agreement. "Come. Let us continue. I wish to get home as soon as possible." Sesshomaru's voice was tight. "Agreed." Was all Kai said as they continued on the road home.

"Mama?" Tomoe's sweet voice called out to Kagome as she fed Sumiye at her breast. Turning her head toward him, she smiled. "Hello sweetheart. Where's your brother?" "Here, Mama!" Katsuro came running into the nursery with a smile on his face. Both of them looked so much like Sesshomaru that Kagome had to sometimes take a double glance at them.

"Mama? When father come home?" Kagome could hear the sadness laced in Tomoe's voice and her eyes filled with tears. "Soon, My Little Love's." Setting Sumiye down, she gathered the twins in her arms and hugged them tight.

"Miss father..." Katsuro whispered. "I know. Mama misses him too." Her tears finally fell from her eyes and she held them tighter. "Come, My Love's. Time for bed." They went to protest but Kagome's motherly look told them not to argue.

Once tucked into bed, Kagome told the three of them a story. A story of a time traveling miko. One who faced evil almost every day and fought for those she loved. That she destroyed the ultimate evil and earned the respect of a certain demon lord. One that was stoic, standoffish, and aloof. That he was tall and handsome and that he fell deeply in love with the time traveling miko. Through that love came three beautiful children.

Kagome noticed that they had fallen asleep and with a smile, she kiss all of them before leaving their room and making her way into hers for bed.

Once the shiro came into Sesshomaru's view, his heart started to pound wildly in his chest with every step he took. "You're staking with excitement." Kai said with a chuckle. Sesshomaru hadn't even noticed but it was true. His body really was shaking due to being so excited. "In all the years that I have served you, I have never seen you like this." And it was true. Kai knew why Sesshomaru was so excited. He shared that excitement as well. He was finally going to be able to go home to his son, Reo, and his daughters. He couldn't wait until Sesshomaru gave the order to dismiss his army.

"Can you blame me?" Sesshomaru questioned and Kai shook his head in the negative with a smile. They looked onto the shiro, growing closer with each step.

Once outside the village that now resided outside the shiro walls, the villagers cheered, welcoming their lord home. Flowers were tossed at his feet, others tried to rush toward him in order to give them their flowers personally. Of course they were stopped by his soldiers and were told that no one aside from his generals were aloud to go near him. Sesshomaru would still incline his head toward them, letting them know that he acknowledged them as he kept his stride toward his home.

Passing through the village took longer than he remembered. Was it because he was coming from being away at war for so long? Whatever the reason, it irritated him. Pushing his legs into longer strides, he sped up his pace. He just wanted to hold his family in his arms again.

A flash of black hair and a petite woman leaping towards him was all he saw before he was on his back, his arms wrapped tightly around said woman. Looking down, he saw his mate's face as she cried happy tears and clung to him as if he was her lifeline. In truth, he was.

Kai's chuckling form had them both looking up at him. Kagome's happy sob had Kai smiling down at her and he helped her up so Sesshomaru could as well. She hugged and thanked him for bring Sesshomaru back to her before she returned to his side. Facing his army, Sesshomaru called his men to attention. "I thank you all for your loyalty. For your courage and strength in battle. I am honored to call you all brethren and to have fought with you. Let all of us continue to rely on each other in all future endeavors. Let me be the first to welcome you all home. You are all dismissed. Go. Go home and be with your families." A roar of cheers was heard for miles.

Kagome laced her fingers through his and he squeezed her hand gently as he looked down at her, his eyes full of love. She saw what he felt in his amber eyes and her answering smile had his breath seizing in his chest.

Lifting his free hand, he cupped her cheek and she leaned into his touch as her free hand gripped his wrist gently. Leaning his forehead against hers, he spoke first in quiet tones, only for her ears. "I kept my promise." Her sob made his brows furrow as he bared his fangs. He wasn't angry. His body hurt. Ached from being neglected of her touch. Now that she was, it was like sensory overload. "Don't leave me again..." The anguish in her voice had him wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her as close as his armor would allow.

Kai cleared his throat to get Sesshomaru's attention. Keeping his eyes on his mate, he spoke. "What is it?" Kai bowed as he spoke. "I will take my leave, My Lord. I am weary from our lengthy adventure and will be returning home. As always, if you should ever need me, just send Toshiro." Sesshomaru waved his hand dismissively and Kai took to the skies, vanishing from sight in only a few seconds.

"Father!" Katsuro and Tomoe screeched as they ran as fast as they could toward him. His head snapped up and his eyes grew large, mouth parted slightly in surprise. Just before they reached him, he tore his armor off and crouched down to catch them both. With his sons in his arms, he held them tight as they snuggled into each side of his neck, purring as they did.

Sesshomaru couldn't believe how much they had grown. Looking up to Kagome's smiling face, he stood, keeping the twins in his arms as he did. "Come, My Love. I'm sure Sumiye would love to see you."