AN: Okay, there is only one more chapter after this.
Chapter 59- In the Sun
Inuyasha's knees collapsed from beneath him and he fell to the ground with a small grunt. Tetsusaiga transformed back into its rusted form and with that transformation, Inuyasha felt his demon blood subside and his hanyou blood resurface.
Kagome took off in a run to get to Inuyasha. The youkai that had gathered around him parted before her and allowed Kagome the room to reach her Mate. Kagome let her legs give way when she reached Inuyasha, her arms reaching out to embrace him.
Inuyasha welcomed Kagome's embrace, holding her tightly and burying his nose in her hair. Kagome inhaled an unsteady breath before pulling away just slightly to look him in the eye. "Are you hurt?" she asked quietly.
The Inuhanyou smiled slightly before shaking his head. "Not too much. And you, how is your arm, Kagome?"
"My arm?" Kagome looked down to see her earlier wound crusted with dried blood. "Oh, I forgot about that."
Inuyasha snorted and gently pulled her into his lap, positioning her so that he could examine her arm. "What part of stay out of trouble didn't you understand, bitch?"
Kagome stuck her nose in the air and mimicked his snort. "What part of don't get hurt didn't you understand, Mate?" Kagome replied just as critically.
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at her tone before smiling softly and pressing a soft kiss to her lips. The tension in Kagome's body dissipated at the soft touch on her lips and she relaxed into Inuyasha's embrace.
"Why don't you two find a room?" Miroku called.
Kagome and Inuyasha broke apart and glared at Miroku.
"What did I say?"
Sango stepped beside him and placed her hands on her hips. "Really, Miroku. Couldn't you give them a moment's peace? If it's not one thing, it's another. Why don't-"
Sango was cut off when Miroku captured her mouth in a passionate kiss, earning a few catcalls from the surrounding youkai.
"Fucking hypocrite," muttered Inuyasha, standing up with Kagome in his arms.
"I can walk, Inuyasha," the young miko growled; though she did not fight his grip.
"You shouldn't be walking Kagome. You're hurt."
"So are you!"
"Yes, but you gave birth not even a day ago."
"But I'm hanyou. I heal quickly."
"Yes, but-" Inuyasha was cut off when Kagome lightly swatted him over the head.
"Just shut up and let's go find somewhere to rest after we've found our pups."
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at her tone, but nodded, smiling lightly. "Hai Mate. Whatever you want."
Shippou paced the small length of the cave where he patiently waited for Inuyasha and Kagome to come find him. Kaemon had gown fussy, hungry and upset to find his mother gone.
The kitsune growled under his breath before pausing. "Alright, I'll give them five more minutes. After that, I'm gonna go find them."
Kaede looked over at him, amused, before sighing and rocking Kaemon gently in her arms to try and quiet the weeping babe. Reiha slept through her brother's weeping, her white doggy ears twitching periodically.
Aiko sighed and glanced at the cave opening before leaning against the damp stone. She looked questionably at Shippou when the kitsune attempted to leave. "Where ya going Shippou-chan?"
"Their five-minutes are up. I'm gonna go see what is taking so long."
Aiko glanced over at Kaede whose full attention was on the weeping pup. "Alright, let's go, but quietly."
Shippou had expected to hear her try to convince him to stay, but didn't argue when insisted on accompanying him. They had not gone far when a familiar scent flooded their senses. Aiko didn't hesitate to throw herself at Kouga, wrapping her arms firmly around the surprised ookami's neck. Shippou gingerly climbed to Inuyasha's uninjured shoulder and leaned over to look at Kagome. "Everyone okay?"
"Everyone is fine," Kagome assured him, reaching her arm out and pulling him down so that she could hug the little kitsune.
"Where's the old hag?" Inuyasha asked gruffly. "I thought she was suppose to keep an eye on you, runt."
"Uh . . . well you see what happened was . . ." Shippou began to explain, only to be interrupted by Aiko.
"We sneaked out," piped the little ookami happily, oblivious to the glare Shippou received from Inuyasha.
Kagome laughed lightly before nudging Inuyasha slightly so that he would set her down. "Well, than, we better go reassure Kaede-sama that you are fine."
"Then we'll discuss how long you're gonna be grounded, pup," Inuyasha added.
"Grounded?" whined Shippou.
Kouga laughed at the scene but didn't interrupt Inuyasha when he continued. "You're grounded for as long as Aiko is grounded."
Shippou blinked before looking over to Aiko. "How long are you grounded for?"
Aiko frowned and kicked a nearby rock. "It's added up to five years."
"Five YEARS!"
Kagome's ears flattened down on top of her head at Shippou shout of disbelief. Inuyasha shook his head, highly amused, before continuing down the tunnel. The others followed and soon enough they found a very stressed out Kaede and two screaming babies.
The other children in the cave had their hands placed firmly on their ears, attempting to block out the sound. "Well," muttered Kaede when Kagome had finally gotten Reiha and Kaemon to quiet down, "Remind me not to volunteer as a baby-sitter."
Kagome smiled lightly and rolled the remains of the Shikon no Tama in her hand. After the battle, the color that seemed to be alive within the jewel had disappeared, leaving a black sphere rendered powerless. No more chasing jewel shards, no more Naraku and best of all I'm not just a helpless shard detector anymore.
Inuyasha shifted in his sleep beside her and growled lightly. Kagome looked down at him and gave a small sigh of irritation before lying down. Inuyasha would wake soon if Kagome was not beside him. Despite the weariness of the past day, the miko found she could not sleep. Her mind was too busy wondering about the future. Is this the end of our adventures?
Hedo was the last of the Pack leaders to depart. It was exactly one week after Shuri had attacked, and in that week no trace of Machiko or Chiyo had surfaced. Ten of the Inu Clan had been killed in the battle, though later revived by Sesshomaru. The wolf clan faced no casualties and Kouga had left three days later, promising Miroku and Inuyasha he would visit in a few weeks so that they could finish their 'debate'. Sesshomaru left before Hedo, looking worn though refreshed at the same time. The Demon Lord of the Western Lands declared while leaving that Inuyasha would be required to attend Clan meetings from this moment on.
Inuyasha waited until his Pack was the last remaining before announcing that they would return to the village at dawn. Presently, Inuyasha was leaning against a tree near the campfire, Kagome asleep in his lap and holding his pups.
Miroku and Sango sat across from him, staring at the fire and enjoying the silence. Everything had finally settled down. For the first time in over seven months, Inuyasha could take a deep breath and exhale all the stress and tension that had steadily built up since he cast The Sharing of Blood.
Miroku couldn't contain his glee as he and Sango collected the money that had amassed due to the bet on the birth of Inuyasha's first born. Macho, the village elder, grudgingly handed Miroku the last coin before folding his arms over his chest and pouting crossly. "There you go, that's all of it. Now go away."
Sango displayed mocked hurt before smiling at the old man. "Come on, Macho- sama. You know there is nothing to be upset about. You know there is always a chance of loosing your money when you gamble."
"Besides," continued Miroku. "You're about to receive it all back, on one condition."
Macho raised an eyebrow before unfolding his arms and narrowing his eyes. "What condition?"
Chapter 59- In the Sun
Inuyasha's knees collapsed from beneath him and he fell to the ground with a small grunt. Tetsusaiga transformed back into its rusted form and with that transformation, Inuyasha felt his demon blood subside and his hanyou blood resurface.
Kagome took off in a run to get to Inuyasha. The youkai that had gathered around him parted before her and allowed Kagome the room to reach her Mate. Kagome let her legs give way when she reached Inuyasha, her arms reaching out to embrace him.
Inuyasha welcomed Kagome's embrace, holding her tightly and burying his nose in her hair. Kagome inhaled an unsteady breath before pulling away just slightly to look him in the eye. "Are you hurt?" she asked quietly.
The Inuhanyou smiled slightly before shaking his head. "Not too much. And you, how is your arm, Kagome?"
"My arm?" Kagome looked down to see her earlier wound crusted with dried blood. "Oh, I forgot about that."
Inuyasha snorted and gently pulled her into his lap, positioning her so that he could examine her arm. "What part of stay out of trouble didn't you understand, bitch?"
Kagome stuck her nose in the air and mimicked his snort. "What part of don't get hurt didn't you understand, Mate?" Kagome replied just as critically.
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at her tone before smiling softly and pressing a soft kiss to her lips. The tension in Kagome's body dissipated at the soft touch on her lips and she relaxed into Inuyasha's embrace.
"Why don't you two find a room?" Miroku called.
Kagome and Inuyasha broke apart and glared at Miroku.
"What did I say?"
Sango stepped beside him and placed her hands on her hips. "Really, Miroku. Couldn't you give them a moment's peace? If it's not one thing, it's another. Why don't-"
Sango was cut off when Miroku captured her mouth in a passionate kiss, earning a few catcalls from the surrounding youkai.
"Fucking hypocrite," muttered Inuyasha, standing up with Kagome in his arms.
"I can walk, Inuyasha," the young miko growled; though she did not fight his grip.
"You shouldn't be walking Kagome. You're hurt."
"So are you!"
"Yes, but you gave birth not even a day ago."
"But I'm hanyou. I heal quickly."
"Yes, but-" Inuyasha was cut off when Kagome lightly swatted him over the head.
"Just shut up and let's go find somewhere to rest after we've found our pups."
Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at her tone, but nodded, smiling lightly. "Hai Mate. Whatever you want."
Shippou paced the small length of the cave where he patiently waited for Inuyasha and Kagome to come find him. Kaemon had gown fussy, hungry and upset to find his mother gone.
The kitsune growled under his breath before pausing. "Alright, I'll give them five more minutes. After that, I'm gonna go find them."
Kaede looked over at him, amused, before sighing and rocking Kaemon gently in her arms to try and quiet the weeping babe. Reiha slept through her brother's weeping, her white doggy ears twitching periodically.
Aiko sighed and glanced at the cave opening before leaning against the damp stone. She looked questionably at Shippou when the kitsune attempted to leave. "Where ya going Shippou-chan?"
"Their five-minutes are up. I'm gonna go see what is taking so long."
Aiko glanced over at Kaede whose full attention was on the weeping pup. "Alright, let's go, but quietly."
Shippou had expected to hear her try to convince him to stay, but didn't argue when insisted on accompanying him. They had not gone far when a familiar scent flooded their senses. Aiko didn't hesitate to throw herself at Kouga, wrapping her arms firmly around the surprised ookami's neck. Shippou gingerly climbed to Inuyasha's uninjured shoulder and leaned over to look at Kagome. "Everyone okay?"
"Everyone is fine," Kagome assured him, reaching her arm out and pulling him down so that she could hug the little kitsune.
"Where's the old hag?" Inuyasha asked gruffly. "I thought she was suppose to keep an eye on you, runt."
"Uh . . . well you see what happened was . . ." Shippou began to explain, only to be interrupted by Aiko.
"We sneaked out," piped the little ookami happily, oblivious to the glare Shippou received from Inuyasha.
Kagome laughed lightly before nudging Inuyasha slightly so that he would set her down. "Well, than, we better go reassure Kaede-sama that you are fine."
"Then we'll discuss how long you're gonna be grounded, pup," Inuyasha added.
"Grounded?" whined Shippou.
Kouga laughed at the scene but didn't interrupt Inuyasha when he continued. "You're grounded for as long as Aiko is grounded."
Shippou blinked before looking over to Aiko. "How long are you grounded for?"
Aiko frowned and kicked a nearby rock. "It's added up to five years."
"Five YEARS!"
Kagome's ears flattened down on top of her head at Shippou shout of disbelief. Inuyasha shook his head, highly amused, before continuing down the tunnel. The others followed and soon enough they found a very stressed out Kaede and two screaming babies.
The other children in the cave had their hands placed firmly on their ears, attempting to block out the sound. "Well," muttered Kaede when Kagome had finally gotten Reiha and Kaemon to quiet down, "Remind me not to volunteer as a baby-sitter."
Kagome smiled lightly and rolled the remains of the Shikon no Tama in her hand. After the battle, the color that seemed to be alive within the jewel had disappeared, leaving a black sphere rendered powerless. No more chasing jewel shards, no more Naraku and best of all I'm not just a helpless shard detector anymore.
Inuyasha shifted in his sleep beside her and growled lightly. Kagome looked down at him and gave a small sigh of irritation before lying down. Inuyasha would wake soon if Kagome was not beside him. Despite the weariness of the past day, the miko found she could not sleep. Her mind was too busy wondering about the future. Is this the end of our adventures?
Hedo was the last of the Pack leaders to depart. It was exactly one week after Shuri had attacked, and in that week no trace of Machiko or Chiyo had surfaced. Ten of the Inu Clan had been killed in the battle, though later revived by Sesshomaru. The wolf clan faced no casualties and Kouga had left three days later, promising Miroku and Inuyasha he would visit in a few weeks so that they could finish their 'debate'. Sesshomaru left before Hedo, looking worn though refreshed at the same time. The Demon Lord of the Western Lands declared while leaving that Inuyasha would be required to attend Clan meetings from this moment on.
Inuyasha waited until his Pack was the last remaining before announcing that they would return to the village at dawn. Presently, Inuyasha was leaning against a tree near the campfire, Kagome asleep in his lap and holding his pups.
Miroku and Sango sat across from him, staring at the fire and enjoying the silence. Everything had finally settled down. For the first time in over seven months, Inuyasha could take a deep breath and exhale all the stress and tension that had steadily built up since he cast The Sharing of Blood.
Miroku couldn't contain his glee as he and Sango collected the money that had amassed due to the bet on the birth of Inuyasha's first born. Macho, the village elder, grudgingly handed Miroku the last coin before folding his arms over his chest and pouting crossly. "There you go, that's all of it. Now go away."
Sango displayed mocked hurt before smiling at the old man. "Come on, Macho- sama. You know there is nothing to be upset about. You know there is always a chance of loosing your money when you gamble."
"Besides," continued Miroku. "You're about to receive it all back, on one condition."
Macho raised an eyebrow before unfolding his arms and narrowing his eyes. "What condition?"