~Chapter Four~ ~My Delicate charm, you are like my glass china doll~
~6 Month's Later~
"Kagome? Kagome? Are you awake?"
A voice whispered into Kagome's dreams and her eyes opened with hesitation.
Her eyes met Inu-Yasha's and her hesitation was gone though.
She smiled. "Where am I? What happened?"
Inu-Yasha laughed happily. "I found you! You fell asleep under the God Tree, which is where we're both at right now! You know how worried I've been!?" He exclaimed.
Kagome's grin widened as she sat up with the help of Inu-Yasha.
"What time is it?" She wondered aloud after a moment of silence.
He smiled. "Who cares! It's the afternoon! The suns out! It's a perfect day. I'm giving this day to you." He stated as he leaned against her shoulder with affection.
She let her blushing stop after a second, and fell back against the God Tree named Goshinboku with a sigh.
"How are you feeling today?" Inu-Yasha questioned as he looked up to her face.
She turned to him and smiled. "I'm good. Never better! I'm actually up to doing stuff today! It's so nice and all."
He beamed tenderly.
"How much longer will we have to wait?" He asked some more.
Kagome looked to the tree branches above her head.
"Soon. That's all I know."
Inu-Yasha sat up finally. "Well! Since it's not gonna be today, why don't I take yah somewhere! I want to show you something!" He exclaimed.
Kagome ginned with joy. "REALLY?? Thank god! I'm so sick and tired of sitting around all day! And for once I'm actually feeling up to doing something! Let's go now!"
Inu-Yasha laughed again at Kagome's excitement.
He reached down and helped her to her feet.
Because her middle was as swollen as it could get, it was harder for her to move about, but it didn't matter.
Inu-Yasha was always there to help her. He had been for the 6 months they had spent together.
It had really changed their way of life though!
Miroku and Shippo went out to collect jewel shards, and Sango stayed behind and lived with Kaede to help out with Kagome, and learn a few things about medicine, which she had always wanted to do.
Ever since Miroku left, she had acted funny, and Inu-Yasha and Kagome both knew that it was because she loved and missed the monk more then anything.
Kagome missed little Shippo as well, but even though she was pregnant, didn't mean that they all had to stop searching for their goal!
Inu-Yasha and Kagome now lived about the village, which they called now their permanent home.
Kaede had been so kind, and had acted like a grandmother to Kagome, and had the village men build her and Inu-Yasha a hut for them to live in and name their own, and a place for their child to grow up in when it arrived.
Kagome got to choose where it was built, and even Inu-Yasha had to agree that it was one of the most beautiful places in the whole village!
Now the days went by in slow, peaceful rhythm.
Every second was perfect to Kagome, and she adored her new home, her new life, and her new friends she had made while meeting all the village women, whom had treated her as if she had grown up there in the first place!
She always smiled, and was always joyful, even on the days she felt sick and had not the strength to get out of bed.
Inu-Yasha cherished every lived moment of it, and finally felt that he belonged, He fit in. He had a life now, and he had found his way home. Kagome was his home.
Kikyo was no longer an alternative to follow in thought in his mind.
He was free.
He was so happy.
He laughed more then anyone had ever heard him before, and he was always filled with pleasure.
This was how he had always wanted it.
He wished he had known what it was like to be like this before, but he recalled being a child in that very village, and he remembered feeling wanted because his mother was there.
Kagome was there now too though. She was there forever.
She was his best friend, his soul mate, and his family.
They were always together….and it felt so wonderful.
"I got yah! Come on!" Inu-Yasha stated as he helped Kagome get her balance on the ground, then held her hand, and began to walk through the woods.
"And just where do you think you two are going?" Questioned Sango as she stepped out from the bushes beside them.
Inu-Yasha jumped back.
"S….Sango!! Um….Uh…..I was taking Kagome….um….to….yeah…..uh………."
"He's taking me somewhere! It's okay that I go, right?" Kagome finished Inu-Yasha's stuttering to add her own words.
Sango glared. "Kagome? What about the baby!!!??? It could be here any day now, and you STILL act as if you aren't even pregnant at all!!!??? What's wrong with you!!!!??? All the expecting woman I've seen sulk around their huts all day and do nothing!!!! You…actually……..what's the word?"
"She lives." Inu-Yasha butted in.
Sango nodded.
"Don't worry so much, Sango! I know it'll be soon, but not today!" Kagome explained.
"But……WHAT IF YOU HAVE IT WHILE YOU'RE OUT OR SOMETHING!!!???" Sango shouted in horror.
"I'll help give birth to it, obviously! It's only natural!" Inu-Yasha stated.
Kagome stared at him.
He turned to her and winked quickly.
She got the message and smiled, turning back to Sango.
Another plan of Inu-Yasha's to get the worrying Sango to hush down a bit.
"Uh…..yeah! Inu-Yasha will help me! It's no big deal!" She nodded.
Sango sighed. "……….fine……..just be back soon!! If you make one mistake Inu-Yasha……I SWEAR I'LL……….Well….I'll let you think about that for yourself."
And with that, Sango walked away huffing mad.
Inu-Yasha was hiding behind Kagome's back until the testy demon slayer was out of sight.
"God! She treats me like I'm a hostage and I HAVE to do what she tells me!! It sucks!!" Kagome complained.
Inu-Yasha took her hand again. "She's just trying to be a good some what of an older sister, but I think when she's away from Miroku, it gets to her mind, and she takes things a little too seriously." He explained.
"A little??? That's hardly the word for it!!" Kagome giggled.
Inu-Yasha turned to her and smiled as he began to lead her into the woods.
"Inu-Yasha?" Kagome questioned the silence after about a minute or so.
"Yeah?"
"Do you think……you would really help give birth to the baby if it were to come today while we're out?" She asked.
Inu-Yasha's hand gripped Kagome's a bit harder.
"Of course I would. I would never just leave you. That would be stupid and unloving!!!! But, somehow I can sense when the baby will come, and I know it won't be today, so I'm not worried about anything." He explained.
Kagome nodded. "Oh! I get it now!"
The two walked again without speaking.
It was good to be quiet for a little.
The sun shown brightly down over them, and birds sung their melodies in the tree branches above them.
The far off river's water could be heard rushing, and the warm summer air was refreshing and soft.
Kagome leaned closer to Inu-Yasha, her hand not ever daring to leave his.
She took in his wonderful smell, and let him slowly take her up onto his back, for a ride because she was becoming tired of walking.
It didn't bother him much at all to carry her. It was his job, and he loved it. Taking care of her. He swore he would, and that was precisely what he was going to do.
Another 10 minutes past, and Kagome stared up at the tree branches, letting the sun's beams fall over her face.
Such beauty she thought about, she never noticed at all that Inu-Yasha stared directly at her, enchanted by HER beauty.
He smiled and looked ahead of them.
"Ah! Look! We're here!" He stated.
Kagome looked up in front of them and saw a cave.
She blinked. "So…..this is it?" She questioned, a little confused, but not wanting to sound too discouraged.
"NO!!! Stupid girl! I'll show you! We're going inside!" He stated with a snort.
"Alright! Sorry……did….I make you……mad?" Kagome stuttered, but just as she was beginning to worry that she had, he pulled her off his back and twirled her around, with care of her to be out of harms way.
"I'm not mad. Come with me inside! There is where the surprise is!" He explained.
Kagome smiled and took his hand as they both walked inside.
It was rather dark, but not dark enough that they couldn't see.
They traveled about 80 feet in, then stopped.
Inu-Yasha pointed ahead of them.
Kagome smiled brightly.
"Wow!! It's so lovely!!!" She exclaimed.
A waterfall ran down from the top of the cave, down to a pool of water.
Kagome walked up to it and stared with admiration.
"It's so beautiful. Look! Tiny jewels of some kind are in the pool of water!!! What are they really?" She questioned as she knelt, or tried to knelt down beside the pool of water.
Inu-Yasha reached down and picked one of the tiny shards of jewel up.
"These are as you say! They are jewels. Stones. They are created here through a natural source, yet it's magical. This water fall is what makes them, then they collect in the pool! Many people don't know about this place, because long ago this cave was said to be cursed, but I sort of did away with that, and came here a few weeks ago to check things out. Sure enough, there was something in here that a person years ago didn't want anybody to find! I call it the nothing cave, because there are so many somethings inside of it!" He explained.
Kagome nodded and gazed upon the fragments in awe.
"I wish I could take just one….but they're so delicate I'm afraid to even touch one!!" She stated.
Inu-Yasha smiled and stood up.
He looked up to the cave ceiling, too far up and dark to actually see with eyes, and watched as something fell from the top.
It gleamed in the dim light, and fell into the pool of water that Kagome was still stared into.
She jumped back a bit, and Inu-Yasha helped her up.
"What was that?!" She exclaimed.
Inu-Yasha laughed a bit, and reached into the pool of water.'
He pulled it out and held it behind his back.
Kagome stared. "Inu-Yasha!!! This isn't funny!! What is it?" She asked.
He smiled ever brighter as he stepped closer to her, so near soon that their foreheads touched.
She blushed.
"What?" She asked again.
He took her hand and placed something wet into it.
She looked down and saw a green gem glittering back at her.
She could see her face in it's reflection even, and the texture was so perfect, you would think it was handcrafted just for her!!
Attached to the gem was a gold chain, hanging perfecting like sand through her fingers.
"It's for you………." Inu-Yasha whispered.
Kagome stared at it wish fascination.
"F….for me? B…..But why? I don't deserve anything." She stated.
Inu-Yasha shook his head and took her into his arms.
"That night months ago….under the moon's rainbow…..I swore to myself that I would somehow get you something that you could always have and remember me with…..if I ever somehow was separated from you one day. I knew that you would love these jewels, and I found a jade one…..because jade reminds me of you for some reason. You are trying so hard……hang in there just a little more. I swear I'll protect you and adore you forever. You were the greatest thing to ever happen to me. I was always left behind, or betrayed, but you were always by my side. Thank you….Kagome. I love you so much."
His whispers were gentle and his grasp as well.
"Inu-Yasha……You didn't have to get me anything. I know we never will, but if we were separated again through time and fate, I wouldn't need a gem to be reminded of you. You're memory is an image locked away forever in my heart. I could never lose that, because my heart is what no one can touch or reach except you." She explained in a tender and wise voice.
Inu-Yasha beamed. "Keep it all the same. I want you to have it."
Kagome looked down to it and smiled.
"I have a better idea."
She then took her pointing finger and thumb, and broke the jewel in two.
She opened up Inu-Yasha's hand and placed one piece into his palm, then the other into her own.
"This way we can both know that this gift was for both of us. Sorry I broke it though." She confessed.
Inu-Yasha shook his head.
"No biggy! That's alright. I agree with you on this one."
Kagome nodded and the two of them put the pieces into the pockets of their kimonos.
For a moment, all was silent.
The running water fall calmed both their hearts, so they stood and listened.
Kagome let everything soak in around her, then looked up to Inu-Yasha.
"Here." She said softly as she took his hand and placed it over her swollen middle.
They stood again for a moment, then he smiled.
"It's kicking." He whispered.
Kagome nodded.
"I think it'll be any day now. I need to get some rest. Let's head home. I want to tie this gem around my neck anyway!" She explained with a beam.
Inu-Yasha took the chain, tied her gem around her neck and placed his hand over her cheek.
"You don't have to wait until we get home. You can where it now. You look so beautiful in it. Like an angel." He stated.
Kagome blushed as he took her up onto his back and out into the bright sunlight.
Kagome rested her head on Inu-Yasha's shoulder as he walked in soft steps back to the village, the two gems near one another, their holders heart in heart.
~Hurray! This is so much fun! HeHe! Go on and read more more more!!! It's getting better by the second!!!~
~chibikagome1@yahoo.com~
