The next week felt like the longest week Inuyasha ever been trough. The work on Miroku's and Sango's house helped him a little to not go crazy.
The couple was happy that he stopped avoiding them, even if he didn't talk much about his feelings or what he was thinking about their trip to the mausoleum. Miroku and Sango decided to not push him and just be there for him. The monk started to pursue the half demon to join his business after they retrieved the bow and Inuyasha eventually gave in.
„It would be just like in the old days. Traveling to villages in need, fighting demons. And of course you will get your fair share of profit.", Miroku and Inuyasha were sitting on the porch of the house.
The monk was sipping some sake while he looked at the stars. Sango was preparing her weapons inside the house, Kohaku could be back tomorrow and she wanted to depart a day after he returned.
Inuyasha placed Tessaiga against his shoulder and looked to the sky.
„Fair share my ass. I will be the one who does all the dirty work in the end."
The monk laughed and took another sip. His friend looked through his schemes pretty fast.
„Say Inuyasha, what will you do when our plan works?", he looked at the young man.
„What do you mean?"
„When the well is open again, what will you do? Will you ask Kagome-sama to live together with you? Will you go to her era?"
The hanyou stayed silent. He never thought about it. Would he ask Kagome to stay with him or would he go to live with her. Her era was strange. It was loud there, the sky was always bright even at night. People wore strange clothes and spoke strange. But it was her home, he could never ask her to leave all that behind and live with him. It would be selfish, and he did enough selfish things in the past. Always pushing her aside.
„I will cross that bridge when I come to it. There is still no guarantee it will even work. Even if we get that stupid bow."
Miroku chuckled and turned back to face the starry sky. He knew that his friend wasn't the best when it came to voicing his feelings, more so if it involved Kagome.
„Don't be so pessimistic. We can at least try. Kagome-sama sure is waiting for you."
„Maybe.", the half demon looked on the ground.
The monks head snapped around.
„You told her how you feel before she disappeared, right?"
The half demon sighed. He didn't. But she knew how he felt about her, right? Kagome saw such stuff.
„Why didn't you tell her? After all you two been trough? Your such an idiot."
„There never was a chance! After Kikyou died the next thing I knew we were in Naraku's body and then the well closed.", he mumbled.
He knew he was an idiot. Kagome always told him that she wanted to stay at his side and he just took it for granted.
„I'm not the only one who loves and needs Kagome. I could never force her to stay with me. So when the well really will open again all I can do is hope that she still wants to be with me."
Miroku smiled. Inuyasha became so mature. He wasn't the same bratty boy he was when they first met.
„My Inuyasha, you finally became an adult! I'm so proud of you!", the monk faked wiping away a tear and patted his friend's shoulder.
„Shut it you stupid monk. Go and help your wife! Kohaku could be back tomorrow then we can already go.", he stood up, jumped of the porch and disappeared in the forest.
Miroku looked after him with a little grin on his face.
„He really is an idiot.", he said while he drank his sake.
It would take another three days for Kohaku to return. Inuyasha noticed that the boy became a little taller. They told him about their plan to go to Mount Azusa to retrieve the bow and that they needed Kirara . Kohaku was alright with that since he could use a little break.
„Thank you, Kohaku. We won't take long only two maybe three days. You can stay at our place.", Sango already changed in her demon slayer armor and was shouldering Hiraikotsu.
Miroku looked a little bit troubled. His pregnant wife looked like she was going to war, but there was no way in changing her mind. He tried a whole week to do so. Even tough her pregnancy symptoms were getting worse.
„Sure thing Ane-ue. I hope you can get the bow to bring Kagome-sama back.", said the young boy as he petted Kirara's head.
Kaede looked at the trio and felt nostalgic, the last months sure were quiet like the days of the jewel hunt never happened.
„Be careful, you three. The spirit of the mausoleum will test you. It can cast powerful illusions."
Inuyasha grunted.
„I know. Kagome told me about it after she was there the first time.", he said while adjusting Tessaiga at his hip.
If something happens he would just fight his way trough, like he always did.
„We're off! Take a good rest, Kohaku!", Sango was getting on the demon cat together with Miroku.
They took of and Inuyasha followed them on foot.
„Be careful, Ane-ue!", Kohaku waved after them.
The journey was rather quiet. No one talked. They headed east to a formation of mountains in the distance where Mount Azusa was located. If they would hold they pace they could reach it tomorrow at noon, including an overnight rest. Inuyasha looked at his companions. It was like the old days. The only thing that was missing was the weight of a young woman on his back. He looked ahead again. He only could hope.
The sun was setting when they arrived at a small forest between some rice fields. A good place to camp during the night. Sango and Miroku climbed from Kirara's back. The demon cat de-transformed in a flash of fire and jumpend in Sango's arms.
„Thank you, Kirara.", she said.
„We should reach the mountain tomorrow at noon if we don't meet any complications.", said the monk as he stretched his back „Just like the good old days. This sure brings back memories.", he slid an arm over his wife's shoulder.
„If you want it to be like in the good old days I can find a mountain monkey and a nest of bees to chase you around.", joked the half demon while he gathered some sticks for a fire in the undergrowth.
Sango chuckled at her husband's dumbfounded face.
When the fire was started Sango put a kettle above it and prepared a simple stew with the few wild roots and herbs she could find. As they sat around the fire and enjoyed their meal Inuyasha raised his voice:
„You know that you didn't have to come with me. You're finally living a peaceful life and are awaiting a child. I could never forgive myself if something happens."
„Inuyasha, you're not the only one who misses Kagome-chan. We couldn't even say goodbye to her. So it's only natural for us to help you.", Sango scolded him.
„Talking about missing. Wasn't Shippo supposed to come back around this week? He will be quite angry that we left without him.", the monk laughed trying to lift the mood.
„He wouldn't be helpful anyway, that little pipsqueak.", Inuyasha laughed a little thinking about how the little fox would always cower behind Kagome in fear during a fight.
„So what exactly is our plan. The last time we were there the spirit only let Kagome-chan enter the mausoleum. Will we force our way in? Can we even do that?".
„Keh, I will use Tessaiga and stick it up that spirits ass till it gives us the bow. Works every time.", the half demon grinned sure of his victory.
Getting the bow was not the problem for him. He feared the moment Kaede would use the bow to shoot in the well and it wouldn't work. Miroku sighed.
„Inuyasha, my friend, not all problems can be resolved with a sword. Kagome-sama has a very strong will and even she barley escaped the illusion of the spirit. Don't take it lightly. We should at first try to get to the mausoleum, then we can negotiate with the spirit and if that doesn't work, then you can use force."
„Or we just use force. Come on this isn't the first spirit I fought.", he waved it of.
„If you say so..."
They group soon laid down to rest. Inuyasha sat up in a tree watching Mount Azusa in the distance.
The next morning Inuyasha learned first hand that being pregnant wasn't so easy as he thought. Sango was leaning over a bush and vomited for the last ten minutes while her husband rubbed her back trying to comfort her. He felt kind of guilty, since technically he was the one who did this to her.
„Are you really alright? When you take Kirara and turn around you can be in the village by the afternoon.", Miroku handed her a piece of cloth to wipe her mouth.
„Don't be ridiculous. We talked about this, I'm pregnant and not sick. My mother was fighting demons while she was 6 months pregnant with me. I think I can handle a nice walk up a mountain.", she wiped her mouth and shouldered her weapon.
„That would explain a lot...", the monk simply gave up by now.
Inuyasha didn't dared to disturb them, if he did so and Sango's pregnancy hormones kicked in he might lose an ear. Like she read his mind the demon slayer suddenly looked sharply at the half demon.
„Let's go!", she declared. Kirara transformed in her bigger form and they took of.
Without any disturbances they arrived at the foot of the mountain a little bit earlier than they thought. In front of them was the seemingly endless stairs which led up to the mausoleum. The forest covering the mountain was shrouded in thick mist.
„Okay, here we are. Inuyasha, can you smell anything out of the ordinary?", Miroku was looking around, he wasn't feeling anything weird or demonic. Which was good.
The half demon sticked is nose in the air trying to catch any sentences. But all he could smell were his friends and the scent of the woods and mist.
„Nothing funny around. It should be safe going up."
Now it was getting real. They really would get the bow and bring Kagome back. Inuyasha furrowed his brows, he would see her again, he didn't have to wait anymore. They walked up the stairs. They ran and ran. But the end of the stairs never got any closer. Also Inuyasha could shake of the feeling of being watched.
„Just like last time! The spirit really doesn't want anyone near the mausoleum!", Sango's hold around Hirakotsu's handle got stronger as they stopped to analyze the situation.
Last time they were here Kagome would vanish from Koga's back and the rest would find themselves back at the bottom of the stairs. It was futile, how could they get to the top of the mountain?
„Maybe we should lure the spirit out? Then we could talk to it. Sango try throwing Hiraikotsu!", the monk got behind his wife as she threw the monstrous boomerang as it was nothing towards the top of the stairs.
With a booming sound it flew towards the end of the stairs, only to vanish in thin air.
„What the hell?", yelled the woman as her weapon disappeared.
Not many seconds after the boomerangs disappearance the group heard a familiar sound emerging from below them. Hiraikotsu was breaking trough the mist below them. Miroku got out of the way as quick as he could, Sango jumped up to catch the boomerang.
„Well that was weird.", she mumbled to herself.
„Seems like the spirit doesn't want to talk!", Inuyasha unsheathed his sword and getting ready to defend himself and his friends.
Miroku looked around. He couldn't see anything but stairs and the foggy forest. He turned to Inuysaha:
„Don't be hasty. We can still lure it out somehow, it might already watch us", he turned back to the forest.
As he blinked he found himself back at the foot of the mountain. After a second of confusion pure panic shook him.
„Sang-".
„I'm here, Houshi-sama!", he heard his wife right next to him.
He turned to her, she was unharmed, but also confused. After feeling relieved that she was alright he looked for Inuyasha. The half demon wasn't with them. It was just like last time, but now the spirit was testing Inuyasha.
„Seems like this mountain doesn't like us very much.", Sango said putting Kirara on her shoulder.
„Yeah, seems like it. But I'm worried about Inuyasha. Impatient as he may be he might tear down this whole mountain.", the monk said gripping his staff tighter.
„Well the stairs were no good and flying to the top of the mountain might not be a good idea either, but we can try.", Sango suggested.
Miroku shook his head: „The spirit chose to test Inuyasha. Interfering might be a bad idea. We should wait. When he is not back in an hour we will try."
„Miroku! Sango! Where are you?", the half demon shouted in the depths of the foggy woods.
He only looked away for a second and they were gone. What is the meaning of this? Was this a trick of the spirit or maybe a trap? He gripped the handle of his sword tighter. He couldn't smell anything either. Only the mist, which he could swear was getting thicker. Suddenly he heard footsteps descending from the top of of the stairs. He turned around. He almost let go of his sword when he saw the person standing only a few meters away from him. There she stood.
„Kagome..."
She wore white robes wich highly contrasted her black hair. Expect her clothes she just looked like the last time he saw her. She came closer, smiling at him with the smile he missed so much.
He shook his head. This must be an illusion. He couldn't even smell her, it was like she wasn't there. Even when she stood only a few steps away from him he couldn't catch any scent.
„You are not her. How dare you take that form!", he yelled.
The figure only smiled putting a hand on his cheek. He was unable to move. How much he had yearned for her to touch him again.
„It's okay, Inuyasha.", her voice also sounded exactly like he remembered.
He looked in to her eyes.
„It's okay. You can stop waiting and can finally be with the one you love the most.", her other hand touched his chest.
Yeah that was right, he was with her. He could finally be happy and settle down with the one who loved him like he was.
„You can finally die.", that took him off guard. What was she talking about?
„You can finally be with Kikyou."