A/N: Hello, just a nice little PSA from your local weeb healthcare worker! You can catch covid more than once. You can catch covid after being vaccinated. SO YOU STILL NEED TO WEAR A MASK.
In other news, I've started watching Naruto for the first time ever and I'm in love with Naruto Uzumaki. You can't tell me he isn't real. I will fight you.
Stay safe, in both public and private (oooh ahhh wink wink!)
Love, Sploosh
"There you are." Inuyasha physically relaxed when he saw Kagome and Rin walking arm in arm together. He caught their attention, and both waved his way. "I was about to go after you." Kagome wrinkled her nose at him, displeased with his overprotectiveness. His stomach did a flip against his will. More to redirect his attention away from Kagome, he addressed Rin, "Where you been, kid?"
"Lord Sesshomaru let me stay at the fortress for a few days. It was nice to be home," Rin released Kagome and latched onto Inuyasha's arm. "But it's even nicer to be home here."
"Yeah, yeah," Inuyasha blushed at her affectionate behavior. He'd babied Rin plenty in Kagome's absence. It was like filling a void. He needed to protect his vulnerable pack mates in order to feel fulfilled. "Go unpack, you twerp." Who better to baby than his unofficial niece?
Rin ran ahead towards Ah-Un parked outside Kaede's home. Kagome eyed Inuyasha with warmth, and he pretended not to notice.
"You're a good uncle." Kagome rested a hand on his shoulder. The tension in his crossed arms relaxed as he glanced at her from the corner of his eyes. "You'll be a great one with this one, too."
He wasn't sure why he sensed sadness within her, but Inuyasha didn't plan on letting her dwell on her own cynical thoughts.
"You wanted to go to the hot springs tonight, right?" Inuyasha knew how much she liked to bathe. It was almost guaranteed to work.
"Mm," She hummed, "I also need to talk to you about something."
Inuyasha could easily smell Sesshomaru on her. They'd been in hugging range, definitely. He tried not to let that affect him. It was a good sign if they grew close, and Kagome stayed. Then he'd always get to see her, protect her, and be there for her child, and any that come after this one.
"Sure." Her hand slid down to his bicep as he led her towards the growing crowd. Miroku and Kaede had joined Rin in unpacking.
Sesshomaru was never far away whenever he came to see Rin. He often stayed in her eyesight so long as she remained outside the human dwellings. This time he stayed within sniffing range. Rin wouldn't be able to see him, but he could track her location and wellbeing just fine with his nose.
Unfortunately, this also meant being able to detect the futuristic priestess as well. He reaffirmed that he held no hatred for the woman, but the situation was still uncomfortable. As of tomorrow, they'd be off together to begin another long adventure. Sesshomaru wasn't sure how long a pregnant woman would be able to travel into war zones. He hoped she held more answers that would allow him to move on without her slowing him down.
"Kagome, you're just gonna have to deal with it." Inuyasha pinched the bridge of his nose as he sat with his back to the springs. He knew she was going to be fussy about him sitting so close, but he wasn't willing to risk anything. It wasn't like Sango could accompany her without the kids, and focus solely on protecting Kagome. The slayer was knocked up too, and much further along.
"You better not peek!" Kagome threatened him for the billionth time. She sank down until her nose was just above the water. She knew he wouldn't purposely look, but under certain circumstances he was prone to throwing caution to the wind if it meant he thought danger was afoot.
"Not necessary," He argued over his shoulder, "You know I'm no Miroku." She didn't dignify that with a retort. The spring water was too relaxing to ruin with a sour mood. "You said you wanted to talk to me about something." He reminded her.
"Mm," Kagome sat upright, resurfacing enough to say, "It's about Sesshomaru."
"I figured as much."
"He and I are leaving tomorrow morning to go East." She knew there was no way around it, so she might as well rip it off like a bandaid.
"I'm coming with you." He visibly flinched, fighting the urge to turn and give her stubborn ass a stern glare.
"No," Kagome was firm. She knew what happened if he got caught up in the front lines. He died on the battlefield. So she had to keep him as far from the Eastern front as possible. "We need you here, for Edo."
"We, huh?" He scoffed.
"I'm serious, Inuyasha." Kagome scowled at the back of his head. "Who is going to protect our friends? I know what kind of evil is coming and I know how to stop it. You need to be here just in case." She knew he wouldn't be able to ignore the needs of their friends. That, and it was unlikely Sesshomaru would leave Rin behind without Inuyasha to protect her. Taking a pregnant woman into battle was already pushing it, but at least Kagome held power and could wield a weapon. Rin on the other hand, was entirely vulnerable.
"What about you?" Inuyasha's shoulders sank, knowing she was right about one thing: their friends were doomed without him. "And the baby?"
"Sesshomaru will take care of me." She said it with more confidence than she felt. He said he wouldn't go out of his way to protect her, but maybe that was different now that they were taking off to pursue active danger together.
"Kagome, I-" His voice was shaking. Looking up from the steaming spring, she saw his shoulders were shaking too. Was he crying? "I can't stop you, can I?"
"No," His aura was charcoal and lavender, but she didn't need to read further to understand his pain. He was heartbroken. "You can't. I'm sorry." Tears were forming in her eyes, too. "This is something that I have to do." For you.
"Promise me something?" Inuyasha looked to the starry sky. He didn't wait for her to respond. There was a chance she wouldn't promise him this anyway. "Promise me you'll live, Kagome. No matter what."
"I don't plan on dying." She almost wanted to laugh at his request. "I have something to live for."
"Is it really worth risking, though, just to change the past?" He knew her motives, but not quite down to specifics.
"You know," She decided to be honest with him, looking to the stars with him, "I'm not sure if my world will be better once I change yours. All I know is that I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I didn't try."
Inuyasha could respect that. There were many times he'd been faced with death itself and known he wouldn't have chosen any different. Some paths must be traveled. This time, Kagome's path led her away from him. He only wondered if they'd ever be a pack again.
"I'm coming out." Kagome warned, climbing out of the hot spring and graciously took the waiting towel from Inuyasha's hands. She knew getting out was going to be miserable and had avoided getting her hair wet. She dressed quickly in the heavy priestess clothing leftover from Kikyo. "Okay, all set." She signaled to her companion once dressed.
"Come on, let's get you to bed early." Inuyasha held his arms open for her. She readily entered his embrace. "You've got a long journey ahead of you starting bright and early."
"Thank you, Inuyasha." Kagome nuzzled his chin once he'd lifted her bridal style.
"Anytime." Though his voice was forlorn, his promise was genuine. He would always be there for her, for as long he lived. Kagome only hoped she would succeed in prolonging his life.
It took some time, but after fussing over her all evening, Inuyasha finally posted up inside Sango and Miroku's main room. Kagome had wanted to stay beside him, savoring the last night they'd be in each other's company, but Inuyasha had declined. So she laid in the bundle of kids, sharing body warmth, and sneaking glances at the snoring husband and wife who had borne the three space heaters Kagome had come to cherish when the temperature dropped to a biting degree.
Kagome chided her nervousness. She'd snuck out of a fully guarded, secret celestial shrine and historical slayer academy without raising alarm. She could easily not wake a sweetly sleeping family. However, it was the literal watchdog outside the door that gave her pause. If only she could see auras beyond barriers.
That's it, she thought, growing impatient. Kagome caved and finally finagled her way out from under the covers. Tip-toeing gently, she made it past the huddled family and ever so gently slid the shoji door open about an inch. The shushing of the door halted her from going further.
"You might as well come on out." Inuyasha whispered just loud enough for her to hear. "You know I can hear your heart racing even from out here."
Kagome sighed in defeat, and came through the door, closing it gently behind her. Of course he'd be monitoring her breath and heart rate for sleep.
"Wanna tell me why you're tryin'a sneak out?" He didn't even open his eyes from where he sat against the wall furthest from the front entry. His father's fang rested against his shoulder. Seeing it, with the hilt pressed into his cheek, only reminded her of his grave site. Had his soul sat in waiting, just as he was now, curled around the immortal blade with hopes of reaching her one last time? "Cat got your tongue?" Inuyasha teased, peeking a glance her way.
She didn't trust herself to utter a single word, and darted out into the night. Inuyasha was hot on her heels and came to an abrupt stop the moment his feet hit snow. He instantly recognized the burning in his nose as bile.
Coughing and sputtering, Kagome choked on the uncontrollable gag reflex that pitted her stomach clean. She tried desperately to stop, even after the remains of her dinner had been upchucked. She hated throwing up. Sinus infections, fevers, and bodily pain she would take any day over this. The sound of footsteps crunching in the snow behind her reminded her that Inuyasha had witnessed that. She wiped hastily at her mouth and buried her vomit with snow.
"Please," Kagome was too embarrassed to face him, "Inuyasha, go. I can handle this." Her whole body shook violently, from both the surge of adrenaline from throwing up and the seeping cold that numbed her bare feet. When he didn't retreat, she added, "It's just morning sickness, okay? I can handle it." Despite her words, she began to cry. Just the thought of him dead in the ground had induced morning sickness. She couldn't bear the thought.
"It is not morning yet." Kagome stiffened. That wasn't Inuyasha.
When she turned to see him, Sesshomaru was already gone. Inuyasha, however, was exiting their friends' doorway with a cup of water and a rag in hand. He noticed the booted footprints, but ignored them.
"Inuyasha," Kagome wilted with the breath of saying his name. "Please, I'm okay." She tried to keep him from coming any closer, but he ignored her protests. He didn't even make a face as he approached, squatting down to hand her the cup. She accepted it, taking a sip under the pressure of his insistent stare. Tasting spice, she eyed the contents of the clay cup.
"It's ginger," He told her, "To help with the nausea."
"Thank you."
"Sango keeps it ready whenever she's pregnant." Inuyasha stood, and reached to help Kagome up. "Let's get you cleaned up."
He'd taken her back to the springs. It was too late at night to boil water for bathing, and he refused to submit her to the river. When he deposited her at the bank of the spring, he readily turned away, expecting her to sink right into the water. Only, she didn't.
"Inuyasha, I-"
"Save it," He refused to hear her guilty worries. She had nothing to be sorry for. "Get warm before you get sick. You have to be well before going off tomorrow."
When he heard her strip down without further complaint, he sat himself in the grass, close enough to feel the heat of the water.
Sesshomaru made himself scarce as soon as he felt Inuyasha leaving the slayer household. He wouldn't have known what to do with a sick woman anyway. She was disgusting.
He'd been closeby, as usual, for Rin. However, when the woman holding his progeny had run out into the muddied dirt path and sank into a bank of snow across the way, his interest had been piqued. That is, until she began to vomit.
How repulsive, and weak. She was a feeble human, succumbing to what, an upset stomach? He didn't expect her to last long on this journey together.
And yet, he still approached her.
And still, he had followed.
Inuyasha would be a fool to not recognize his proximity to the spring, so he assumed the half-breed was choosing to ignore him. That, or deferring his claim passively.
What a fool.
Sesshomaru could guess by her behavior alone that Kagome, like most human women, was modest. He would not watch her undress, but once she stepped into the spring, water splashing with each step inward, he would look, if only to catch a glimpse of her abdomen.
Peering over a thick branch, he watched her submerge herself entirely, and resurface a moment later, her head just breaking water. He sat back against the tree, losing sight of her entirely. She hadn't developed enough to show yet. That bode well for them. The sooner they could end this mission together, the better.
Once Shinkai Shi knew she was pregnant with his child, a target would be placed on their backs. Right now they had the advantage of surprise and foresight. Sesshomaru planned to end this war before he ever realized they held a vulnerability as great as this.