All Fanfics created by Chiruken (me) were written for the
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Inuyasha Fanfic To Lose the One I Love
By: Chiruken
Chapter 30
She shrugged with a soft smile. "For being you, I guess." She didn't know how to say that she was glad that he hadn't protested when she'd said she wanted the party to be in the village, that she'd been so afraid that he'd try to pick a fight with Kouga again, and that she was immensely happy that everything seemed to be turning out like a dream come true. Even Sesshoumaru is being nicer…I couldn't be happier!
In no time the distance disappeared, and soon they were back at the clearing where they'd left their companions that morning. As soon as Inuyasha stopped Kagome was rushing across the camp, her smile wide and filled with joy. "Sango-chan!" She hugged her friend tightly.
"Kagome-chan!" Sango returned the embrace, expression revealing her confusion. "I thought you'd returned to your time." She pulled back and looked at her closely, seeing the flush in her cheeks and the sparkle in her eyes. "Has something happened?" When the younger woman's cheeks flushed even more she turned her inquisitive gaze to the hanyou standing silently at the edge of the encampment. Even he looked inordinately pleased with himself. She had a strange feeling in the pit of her stomach. If she didn't know better, she'd swear it was dread.
"What's going on?" Shippou hopped into his favorite person's arms and scowled, sniffing her curiously. "Why do you smell like Inuyasha, Kagome?" Suddenly he squeaked in surprise, green eyes going round as he pulled away from her and scampered across the clearing to the still silent hanyou. "What did you do to Kagome?" The little kitsune youkai planted his fists on his hips and glared with not so silent accusation up at the taller man. "Why does her scent seem so different?"
"Keh." Inuyasha ignored the little youkai and stalked across the short distance to his mate's side. He didn't like being so far away from her. He wasn't sure if it had been the mating ritual that caused this or something else entirely, but he decided that it didn't matter. He wanted to be close to her and nothing was going to stop him. It was his right as her mate…and husband…to be by her side.
Miroku, who'd up 'til now remained silent, slowly approached his friends, eyes narrowed. "Inuyasha…" He began only to stop when Kagome shook her head, her smile widening. "I see there is something you need to tell us." He halted beside the youkai taijiya and regarded his friends steadily, waiting for them to impart their news. He wondered if it had anything to do with Naraku. He hoped so. They were getting closer to defeating the evil being who'd ruined so many lives, yet not close enough for his own peace of mind. The kazaana weighed heavily on his mind of late and he had begun to wonder if he would even live to see Naraku and his evilness destroyed. His only regret was that he hadn't managed to find someone to bear his child, someone to continue the legacy of revenge his grandfather had begun. He sighed inwardly, casting a quick look towards Sango. If the truth were to be known, he wanted nothing more than to ask her, but only for something much more permanent. He smiled a little before shrugging the thought away. Until the curse was lifted, he couldn't condemn her to the fate of certain widowhood.
"Well…" Kagome moved a little closer to her husband, uncertain where to begin.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "We're mated and Kagome's expecting a pup." He saw no reason to beat around the bush. It wasn't as if they'd done anything wrong. He'd even gone through the puzzling human mating ceremony.
"What?!" Three incredulous voices shouted in unison, followed immediately by stunned silence.
Ironically it was Shippou who recovered first. "So that's why Kagome smells like you, Inuyasha." He nodded sagely, small arms crossed over his chest. Suddenly he scowled, green eyes troubled. "So…what happens now?"
Kagome knelt beside the small kitsune, pulling him close for a reassuring hug. "Shippou-chan, you're like a son to me, my kit. If you want, you can still be…"
"Really?" A smile spread across his face and he looked up at Inuyasha quickly, as if to judge how he was taking the declaration. "Does that mean you're my mother now, Kagome?" He watched the hanyou's expression intently and when anger didn't roll across his face like a thundercloud his little heart swelled with happiness.
"Of course! And Inuyasha's…" She broke off uncertainly, glancing up at her husband for support.
"Keh." He snorted but in the next instant he'd lifted the kitsune youkai up by his scruff. "Ee. You're our brat now, so you better listen to what I tell you, or else." He held his fist up in a threatening gesture.
Rather than feeling threatened in the least, Shippou felt happiness flooding him, nearly overwhelming him. Tears filled his eyes and he smiled the first truly happy smile since they'd met him. "Not on your life." He grinned and with a quick gesture and a healthy dose of kitsune magic, hopped away from the sputtering hanyou, laughing in glee at the effects his magic had caused.
Miroku, finally overcoming his shock, moved closer to the happily smiling young woman. "Kagome-sama…" He murmured softly, lightly touching her arm to gain her full attention. When she looked up at him curiously he sighed. "Is this what you truly wanted?" He searched her gaze intently, looking for the truth. He released the pent up breath he hadn't been aware of holding when she nodded firmly.
"Yes, it's exactly what I wanted."
"A baby…" Sango's eyes were shining with happiness for her friend. She quickly pulled her into a tight hug. "I'm so happy for you, Kagome-chan!" She did some quick mental calculations based on her extensive knowledge of youkai and pulled away with a slight frown tugging her lips down. "Hmm…four months…" She turned to the hanyou standing just to the side watching them curiously. "Right, Inuyasha? It'll be four months until the baby is born." He nodded slowly and she smiled. "Well, we have to make plans." She turned her attention back to the other young woman. "We can't have you traveling in your…ano…delicate condition. It wouldn't be good for you or the baby. So, we'll have to find a safe place for you to stay until…"
"Wait a minute." Inuyasha stepped forward, scowling irritably, not liking how he was being left out of the planning of his mate's immediate future. He was ignored, of course.
"I was thinking I could stay in Kaede-baachan's village. That way I'm with people I know and feel comfortable with." She grinned. "But first, we're going to have a party to celebrate the wedding there. We want you all to come, too. Kouga and his tribe will be there." She frowned and turned to her silently fuming husband, puzzled by the way he was suddenly pouting. She decided to ask later. "Do you think Sesshoumaru will come, Inuyasha?"
"Sesshoumaru?!" Her friends stared at her, aghast by the suggestion.
She waved her hand dismissively. "It's okay. He's being a lot nicer and even helped us…a little."
"Helped?!" Sango shook her head sharply. "Never mind. You can tell me later. When is this party? And what's this about Kouga?"
"We've already invited him and he agreed to attend. The party is…" She pursed her lips thoughtfully. "Well, I think it's as soon as we get there." She shrugged, her happy smile returning. "If we hurry, we should get there before night."
There were just too many surprises to process all at once. Sango shook her head to clear it. "Well, then we should break camp immediately." She turned away and quickly set about gathering her things together, as meager as they were it didn't take long. "Houshi-sama, you can ride Kirara with me. You too, Shippou-chan." Still overwhelmed, the monk could only nod, moving through the camp as if in a daze. She shook her head and followed after him, the little kitsune youkai close behind.
"Inuyasha, what's wrong?" Kagome looked up at him, concerned by the way he was still scowling.
"Nothin'." He shrugged and knelt, waiting for her to climb onto his back. "I guess I just wanted to talk to you about where you would live 'til the pup is born alone."
"I'm sorry. I was just so excited." She rested her head against his shoulder, arms circling his neck automatically.
"Keh. Never mind. It's all right, I guess." Without warning he took off, running easily through over the rough, though familiar, terrain back the way they'd come earlier, the other's close behind on the transformed neko youkai.
~~*~~
**To Be Continued…**
Definitions:
-Chan: "little" or "cute"; a diminutive name suffix used to address children, female relative and close friends; also used as an endearment
Hanyou: Half human, half youkai
Youkai: Demon
Kitsune: Fox
Taijiya: Demon Exterminator
Ee: Yes; yeah
-Sama: Very respectful form of address; equivalent to Sir, Lady, Lord, etc.
-(O)baachan: Grandmother; Old Woman; Grandma
Houshi-sama: Honorable Monk; Sir Monk (title of respect)
Neko: Cat