Author's Note: Hey everyone! Another long chapter for you. I have a lot of time to think about what I'm gonna write about next in 3rd period Physics, lol. I've also been getting great feedback in the reviews. Thanks so much! You guys are awesome! But that still doesn't let you off the hook. Don't forget the rule: you stop reviewing; I stop writing. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: …
Wretched
Chapter 10: Child, Oh Child
Kaede looked up to see InuYasha standing at the doorway. He stood there for a moment, with a peculiar look on his face. She watched as his face then changed to a gaze of awareness, and understanding. She knew in a moment what he had figured out, and glanced at Sango, who continued to eat.
"InuYasha, would ye close that door? There is a chill coming in," She spoke to him, bringing the hanyou back to reality.
"Oh, yeah." He said, coming to his senses quickly. Turning around, InuYasha closed the door gently behind him. He then proceeded to walk over, and sit by the fire next to Sango. "Sango, can I talk to you, um, outside?" The hanyou said, unsure of himself.
She looked up at him quizzically. After a moment, she turned back to her food, took a few more hasty bites, and then nodded to him. Both walked quietly to the door, and strolled out into the night air. It was slightly chilly, with a small breeze that played with the ends of InuYasha's hair. He tucked his hands inside the sleeves of his robes, and walked along with Sango into the forest.
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Sango couldn't help but feel a tad nervous. The last time that InuYasha had talked to her alone, it was to tell her the news that she was with child. As they walked amid the forest, she turned her head upwards and looked as the moonshine glazed along the waxy, green leaves of the treetops. It was a beautiful site.
She lowered her head back to the hanyou. His eyes were half closed, and he walked with a calculation, staring only at the ground. His white hair reflected the light of the moon, and framed his face. His mouth was set in a grim line as he sighed deeply.
They continued to walk in silence. Sango began to feel her eyelids grow heavy, and yawn after yawn overtook her as she felt the claim of sleep try to take her. She didn't want to say anything though, for fear of interrupting this perfect silence on this beautiful night.
"Sango," InuYasha stopped, and turned towards her. They were deep in the forest now, with tall trees, bushes, and logs all around them. The scent of the greenery wafted to both of their noses in the damp, night air.
"I know something that I have to tell you," He continued, avoiding her eyes, "Something that may upset you," He seemed to be gazing at the moon now, "And I'm not really sure how to put it in a better way, So I'll just say it…
The baby is still alive."
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Kagome walked down the forest path, completely at ease. She felt safe in 'InuYasha's Forest' more than most places that they had been. Perhaps because she knew the paths so well, it caused her to feel secure with the environment. Or perhaps it was the knowledge that InuYasha was sitting in a tree somewhere, ready to protect her at a moment's notice.
"There it is," She whispered to herself as she saw the herb that she was looking for growing at the edge of the path. Carefully, she bent down to pick the green plant, placing a few into her rucksack.
In the distance, the sound of a soft, whimpered, crying could be heard. The night brought the sound faintly to the girl's ears, and she stood from her crouched position on the side of the path. Was that a crying girl?
Then the sound stopped, and all that could be heard was the soft, comforting sound of the night's creatures. Kagome listened for a moment more, then shrugged her shoulders and walked down the path towards the hut. It was just the wind.
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InuYasha was simply thankful that she wasn't screeching again, as he had expected. She had simply stared at him for a moment, and then looked at her stomach. With a slight sigh, a single tear fell from her eye, traveled down her cheek, and then landed to the ground.
Now she was crying softy to herself. He watched sympathetically, as she placed a hopeless hand onto her stomach, and smiled through her tears. Wait a minute; she was smiling?
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Miroku sat in the cold water of the stream until his skin began to wrinkle up. It hadn't taken long for the blood to wash away, but he was content to simply sit on a rock and muse. His mind sluggishly pushed the actions of the day through over and over again. He could still feel the sensations of Sango kissing him, and leaning on him.
Oh, how he loved her.
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Sango smiled as she cried softly with joy. Her eyes were blurry with tears of happiness, but she knew that InuYasha was watching her, baffled beyond his own wits.
As she slowly calmed down the rush of emotions, she wiped her eyes, and looked up at the hanyou with a joyful smile.
"Thank you, InuYasha. Oh, thank you!" She felt tears falling down her face again, "InuYasha," she tried to explain to the bewildered hanyou, smiling at him once again, "just because I didn't consent to have this baby," She put her hands gently, and lovingly onto her stomach, "doesn't mean that it isn't mine, and that I won't love it."
The hanyou looked from her stomach to her face. Now she was happy about it? But she had been depressed and listless only a day ago. What was going on?
"Okay," InuYasha said, still not quite sure about it, "I'm… going to go back now." And with that, he began to walk away, no more in touch with female feelings than he was before.
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As Sango walked back through the forest, alone, she pondered what she had said before. She had realized that she loved this unknown child the second that InuYasha had told her that it was still alive. Emotions had come racing in. Joy, happiness, and she was grateful beyond compare.
The moon was even higher now, allowing more light to penetrate through the branches of the trees. She could see the village through the leaves, and let out a soft sigh. She wondered were Miroku was.
Suddenly a sharp pain struck her in the abdomen. She could feel the sharp throb go throughout her, and then slowly ebb away.
Groaning, Sango took a few more steps in vain towards the village. The baby was coming now, but how could it be so soon?
Extra Author's Note: Hope that this isn't too weird, but you'll find out later. Go review!
