Unexpected

An Inu Yasha Fan Fiction by Caitlin M.

moogleheadgirl@cs.com

Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha or anything associated with it. So don't sic any lawyers on me.

Chapter 8: A Little Stranger

Almost as if waiting in the bushes for their cue (knowing Miroku, they probably were), the errant couple emerged into the clearing, wearing identical bewildered expressions and a few leaves in their hair, but otherwise fine. Miroku made a show of brushing himself off and turned to the fire. Spotting me, his face took on a look of calculated surprise, and he spread his arms wide in a dramatic gesture obviously meant to show how shocked he was to see me.

"Kagome! Thank goodness! We were so worried about you! What are you doing here? How on earth did you manage to—'

At this point Sango elbowed him enthusiastically in the ribs, and as a result we all had to hear his complaints of extensive bruising for several days. For the moment, however, it did shut him up.

"After you failed to come back, we figured we'd just find Inu Yasha and convince him to track you down. I'm glad to see he already has," she said, succinctly communicating something that would have taken Miroku three times as long to get out.

"Yes! We feared the worst when you failed to return to our waiting arms, and so desperate were we to have you restored to us that we— "

Sango calmly placed her hand over Miroku's mouth.

"I don't know about you, dearest, but I'm so tired I could drop off right now and sleep all night without ever once interrupting Kagome and Inu Yasha."

It wasn't a particularly subtle hint, but we had all long since learned that subtlety was the last thing Miroku responded to. And Inu Yasha. And, come to think of it, Shippo. Sango and I were surrounded.

She took her hand off his mouth while he feigned a dawning understanding. I will forever be impressed with the sheer height that man's eyebrows are capable of.

"Ah…I see…" He turned and took Sango's arm on his own. "Come, Moon of my Heart, we shall retire together." Half leading and half dragging one another, the two made their way to the other side of the clearing, presumably to make their beds. At least, I hope to make their beds. I don't think I want to know what else they'd be doing…

A thought occurred to me. "Are they married?" I asked, turning to the moon of my heart. Although I'll be damned if I would ever actually say that aloud.

"They're mated. Isn't that enough?" he snorted, rather defensively, leaning against a nearby tree. I was a bit hurt; after all, I had left even though we were mated…

Actually, that's probably why he said it.

"By that logic, Inu Yasha, Miroku probably has obligations to several women."

There was a moment of silence. I was amazed; I have never before heard so little from him, including the times he's been in a snit and refused to talk to anyone. He had a rather unorthodox version of the silent treatment, mostly because it was actually louder than when you were on speaking terms. Just because he wasn't talking to you didn't mean he wasn't going to shout at you.

"Good point." And now he was admitting I was right! Good lord. Will wonders never cease? I should have abandoned him with a child a long time ago.

OK, I'm sorry. That was an awful thing to say, even in an inner monologue. I promise you, I'll never say it again.

"I'm really tired…um…" I trailed off. Awkward situation, really. Where on earth was I expected to sleep?

He spread his arms wide, Tetsusaiga resting against his shoulder, and raised his eyebrows in a way that suggested he had been taking cues from Miroku. I, however, was not having any of that.

"I am not sleeping against a tree."

"You won't be sleeping against a tree."

"Then I'm not sleeping against you against a tree. I want the closest approximation to a real bed as I can get."

He rolled his eyes, but stood and produced from somewhere or another a large pack, not entirely unlike the one he had always scolded me for carrying. From it he removed a bedroll; not a sleeping bad as such, but a feudal predecessor and more than good enough, considering the alternative. I climbed in immediately, felt Inu Yasha slide in behind me. An arm found its way around my waist and a hand took mine. I closed my eyes, felt his breath on my neck, and was asleep.

* * *

I awoke the next morning to find two sets of inquisitive eyes entirely too close to my face.

"Are they dead?" asked one set of eyes.

"'Course not. Why would they be?" chided the other.

"They haven't moved in forever. Why aren't they up yet?"

"Well, you know how when Sango and Miroku were still trying to have a baby, and sometimes when we went to wake them up— "

"Okay, kids! That's enough," interceded another voice. I opened my eyes a little wider to confirm that Sango had saved me. "I know! Who's up for breakfast?" She bent and deftly scooped Ame up with one arm and captured Shippo's hand with her unoccupied one, and led them away from our bed.

I was entirely prepared to stay in bed until the end of time, but Inu Yasha was starting to disentangle himself from the blanket, with more violence than most people would do, but with considerably less than I would consider typical of him. All the while, he was muttering something under his breath. I managed to make out "Damn kids," but he was grinning from ear to ear.

So very surreal.

He helped me out of the bedding next, and from across the clearing I heard Ame shout, "Hey! It is not like when Sango and Miroku were trying to have a baby! Look, they still have their clothes on—!"

It was up to Miroku to distract her this time; Sango had turned brilliant pink and seemed to have forgotten how to breathe normally. Inu Yasha was laughing hysterically, and was joined by a not-at-all chagrined Miroku. Shippo's laughter was less audible, but his madly shaking shoulders gave him away.

Once the laughter died down a bit, Miroku turned a dazzling smile to his inamorata, obviously hoping he'd win her forgiveness. "You seem somewhat tense, my dear. Perhaps a long soak in a hot spring will help you relax? Inu Yasha tells me there's one near by…."

Sango eyed him skeptically, as if she suspected him of something. She flashed a quick look to Inu Yasha and—apparently picking up a signal from it—he nodded.

"Ame, Shippo, bad news. It's bath time."

This was met with protests far too loud and numerous to have been produced by two such tiny beings. I wondered if the trees created echoes.

"Are they always this…vocal?" I asked as Inu Yasha picked up a heavily struggling Ame and held her tightly to prevent escape. Miroku and Sango had already made short work of capturing Shippo.

"Trust me, they're on their best behavior right now."

I didn't quite believe him until I heard Sango sigh wistfully to Miroku: "Don't you wish it was this easy everyday?"

Although I felt I should be grateful I was getting the least of their terrors, it was still a disappointment that not even Shippo was comfortable enough around me to bring out the really big guns.

While Sango and Inu Yasha held their captives, Miroku and I packed up the rest of camp, and together we made the trek to the spring.

The walk was silent but for the children's occasional muffled protests, and while at first I took up the rear, Sango and Miroku soon started lagging behind, and I eventually found myself keeping pace with Inu Yasha.

I attempted to start a conversation, just to see what would happen…. "What was that thing with you and Sango?"

"Hmm?" he asked, apparently distracted by Ame biting his had in an escape attempt.

"She gave you a look, and you gave her a look, an then…"

"Oh, that. You remember what it was like when it was just you, me, and Miroku, right? It's just keeping one step ahead of the f—um." He glanced down that the bundle attempting to extract itself from his grip. "Staying ahead of the…er…scamp."

"You and Sango learned to communicate non-verbally in order to keep Miroku under control?"

"Er…kinda."

"I've been out of the loop too long," I sighed.

"Well, you know whose fault that is," he said reassuringly. I considered being insulted, but it was the truth. At the very least, I could take comfort in the fact that somewhere deep down inside, underneath all the maturity and responsibility and paternity, there was still the sulking childish jerk I had fallen in love with, however inexplicably. Not that I wasn't learning to appreciate the new stuff.

Finally we reached the spring, and Inu Yasha and Sango knelt to prepare their respective hostages for their bath. Ame, however, halted the proceedings when she declared that she wanted to take a bath with her daddy. Then Shippo got into the act and announced that he wanted to take a bath with me like we used to. Sango said she didn't want a bath with anyone, she just wanted to soak for a while because it helped her aching back, and by then Miroku decided that if everyone else was going to, he might as well, too.

"Together?"

"Yes."

"All six of us?"

"Yes."

"And this won't be the most awkward event of our lives because…?"

"It'll be a family thing!"

"How?"

"Well, Kagome can get to know her daughter and rebuild the bonds she already has with her mate and her son."

"And how do you fit in here?"

"You can't tell me that two kids eager to avoid a bath won't create more than enough work for four people. And we want to catch up with you, too, Kagome."

"In a bath."

"Yes."

"In a bath."

"Look, I'm a one-woman man, if that's what you're saying. Eyes only for Sango, that sort of thing."

"And any psychological damage Ame might incur from bathing in the presence of a complete stranger claiming to be her mother?"

"Oh, come on, now!"

To my surprise, Ame tugged on the bottom of my shirt, and looked up at me with great big, guilt-inducing eyes.

"Please, Miss Mommy? It'll be fun. I'll be extra good. Please?"

I dropped to one knee so I could interact with her at her level.

"You really want to?" Can you blame me for being somewhat incredulous?

She nodded. "Yes, Miss Mommy."

I turned and looked at the entourage standing behind me, each wearing expressions of extreme embarrassment. Except for Miroku, who just looked like he was suppressing what was no doubt loud, obnoxious laughter.

"Pleeeeease?" Ame appealed once more.

Inu Yasha looked and Sango. Sango looked at Miroku. Miroku looked rapidly between Sango and me several times until he caught Inu Yasha's eye. Then his attention focused squarely on Sango. Shippo just grinned and hopped into my arms.

"Let's do it!"

And that's how I ended up naked with my two best friends, my mate, my son, and a little stranger.

Author's note:

Hi! Sorry it's been so long, but like I said, I've got school (which I'm enjoying vastly, in case you cared). I'd just like to say thank you to everyone who sent me a review. I loved them all; the compliments, the entreaties, and even the criticism. Keep them coming! Without your advice, I can't grow as a writer…and then what would you do? Also remember that I am open to suggestions; if there's an interesting direction you think this story could go, let me know. If you'd like me to email you to let you know when I actually do get off my butt and update, just send me an email telling me as much. We'll see if I remember to it out.

Fun fact: the word "inamorata" is a synonym for "lover" that basically means "the woman that I love." The masculine version is "inamorato." It's one of my favorite words. Go out into the world and spread the love.

One more thing: have you all read my Chobits story? If you haven't, please give it a shot (unless you're not a Chobits fan, of course). I've also got a few Fruits Basket fics in mind…hopefully you'll see them soon!