Thanks to reviewers: loozer-09 (thank you for reminding me about the lemon banning thing. This story won't be a lemon, but I'll still have to watch out) lil-demon-nightmare (thanks for the compliments Cyclops and I know if it was you who wrote the rant it would have been much…uh…yeah…^_^), xiao-sakura (you're new! Hello and welcome), Hanamaru285, Moonlight Shadow4 (yeah, that's about as far as I'll go on the citrus scale. I WON'T do lemons.), Guardian Angel of ALL Anime, (thanks for the compliments. And about the lime…I have no idea how I pulled off a decent one *tee hee*)
Disclaimer: I do not own the anime/manga Inuyasha; nor do I own the quote below. It is borrowed form
Some family trees
bear an enormous crop of nuts.
--Wayne H
Kagome sniffed at the fresh air outside of the carriage and marveled at the change of sky color from the last time she looked outside. Most of the carriage ride had been under rain threatening gray skies, but now the sky was blue. Looking forward, Kagome started when she saw an enormous manor about fifty yards away; she honestly expected the home to be set back more on the property. Kagome decided the manor was quite elegant when the pumping of her heart slowed considerably. There had to be at least six stories to the aged-gray stone manor, and countless numbers of rooms. The top story had two observatories on either side of the house that were glass domes and a servant in black and white stood in one of them glancing curiously at the party down below.
Shifting her gaze, Kagome smiled when the second carriage wheeled right behind the one there and halted. The driver hurriedly got down from his seat and opened the door. Out jumped a little girl with raven hair pulled into a bright pink bow that matched her dress. The girl appeared about four, but her eyes conveyed wisdom beyond her youth deep within amber irises even though her happy-go-lucky gait suggested otherwise. Behind the girl emerged a fox demon girl around fifteen who was bouncing a baby of near one on her hip. Clearly this second child was a boy –the clothing gave that away- and he had wisps of silver hair, tiny dog ears perched attentively upon his head, and large coffee eyes. And next emerged Shippou, the designated playmate of the two children.
"Hi Mamma!" the young girl cheered and ran as fast as her legs could carry her. "Hi Daddy!"
Inuyasha, who had been staring reflectively at the manor turned with the call of his daughter, a playful grin gracing his lips. The little girl scampered to him and he eagerly scooped her up, planting a kiss on her cheek. "How was the ride, Fiore? Did you sleep at all?"
"No," Fiore shook her head, black locks tossing about, "but Shippou, Dyla, and Krieger did."
"Did they?" Kagome inquired as she took baby Krieger from Dyla.
"Uh-uh. And I looked out the window the whole time," Fiore extended her arms to show the length of time.
"Wow. That's a long time," Kagome said and kissed Fiore on the cheek, causing the girl to giggle.
Kagome held back momentarily with her gurgling baby son, watching the retreating back of her husband and mate carrying their daughter. Blushing, she beamed at the dream she had woken from just minutes previously, and recalled that being the end of their loneliness and the beginning of their marriage and family. Even though they were officially married by youkai standards Kagome had insisted they have a wedding ceremony, just to make sure they were covered in all aspects of marriage. And it was just in the nick of time too, for a few weeks after that blissfully wonderful evening Kagome found herself to be pregnant; Kagome and Inuyasha embraced parenthood nine months later with the arrival of a little girl: their Fiore. Kreiger, their son of fiery disposition and love of exploration, was born just one year and three months ago, and with just discovering walking he was giving his parents hell. Something they had not quite experienced the rambunctious child with Fiore because she had a very mild personality and a strange need for being happy and making people happy.
"Are you coming?" Inuyasha called over his shoulder, startling Kagome from her reverie. What was not pulled back of her raven locks in a loose bun of curls was being chewed and slobbered on by Kreiger.
"No, no," Kagome lightly whispered and pulled her hair out of Kreiger's pudgy hands. Then she raced to catch up with Inuyasha who was smiling oddly to himself and shooting amused stares her way every few seconds. Finally she could take his self-contented silence, "What!"
"Absolutely nothing," he laughed shortly as they mounted the manor's steps, "I just think it's funny that he still chews on your hair, that's all."
Kagome opened her mouth to respond wittily but the cherry wood door flew open so fast she could have sworn that a vortex appeared, but was greeted with the ecstatic face of Rin. The younger woman looked much the same as she had the last time Kagome saw her: bright and loving brown eyes, chocolate brown hair, and dressed finely –courtesy of her husband. The one thing Kagome found to be different with Rin this time is that her stomach was swollen with a child Kagome thought had to be at least five months along –hey, she had some experience judging since she bore two children already.
"Inuyasha, Kagome, and children," Rin squealed and embraced Inuyasha than Kagome. "It is so great to see you. I have not had the pleasure of being in person with either of you since your wedding, and you were hardly showing this little one during the ceremony," Rin lightly giggled and softly squeezed Fiore's arm. "But enough about that! Come in, come in. Fluffy dearest is out on business Inuyasha, and will not be here today at all, I am afraid," Rin chatted happily as she ushered in the foursome.
"Where are Yiloku, Shippou, and Dyla?" Kagome asked while looking around the completely marble entrance hall.
"They are upstairs settling in," Rin waved cheerily. "And that boy Shippou! Oh, the last time I saw him he looked so young. Four years has really changed that boy, he has gotten quite cute."
"He would hate to hear that," Inuyasha snickered sinisterly, and Kagome rolled her eyes. On more that one instance Kagome had to be an adult for Inuyasha who stooped down to Shippou's maturity level in arguments.
************************************************************************
She sat up abruptly, heart beating at a rapid pace and her breath came in short, uneven pants. Quickly she yanked off all blankets to stand and look out her apartment window. The mighty ex-assassin Keysha had spent the last four years in the dark, molding alleys back routes of cities and forests to keep out of Naraku's clutches. Four long years of nothing.
But at the moment her low circumstance was not at the front of her mind, though it was not too far out. It was the dream again; a horrible dream that always ended the same way and began the same way. First she would be in an alley –much like the decadent alley below. The buildings would be partially dilapidated –droopy roofs, peeling outside walls, and the stomach wrenching stench of bodily waste- and the scum of the world resided in each of the tiny, rundown homes. She would be walking down that, her prideful gait now a cautious tiptoe, her luxurious black cape tatters, her dark silver hair a tangled web. And she walked, and walked continuously down this alley. It seemed she stepped, foot after foot endlessly until she came to a tavern at the very end of the street, causing the alley to be a dead end. The tavern's windows were lit with the soft flickering of candle light and jovial laughter escaped through the slightly cracked door. Each time, each and every time, her quivering, clawed hand would stupidly reach forward and push the door open. The laughter inside would stop, and Naraku, with a blood lusting smirk would gesticulate her forth. He every time is the only occupant in the room.
They would take of various things: once they conversed about hunting, another time sewing, but this time the subject was more chilling. Naraku and Keysha talked of death. And this time he pulled the same silver rifle out from under the table –the same disgusting shiny weapon that murdered that dog youkai woman four years ago. A crack would sound and she would wake with a sheen of sweat coating her body.
Her heart stopped suddenly. She smelled the blood and spice scent that attached itself to him and could feel the presence of someone outside her window, lurking in the shadows and watching her form. Slowly Keysha backed away from the window. She knew it within her tortured soul that Naraku finally found her. Ever since she failed to assassinate King Inuyasha he followed her closely, biding his time in shadows until he could take her down.
"I have to leave," she whispered urgently to herself.
Without any thought, Keysha fled from her room and dashed to the end of the hallway illuminated by the bone colored moonshine. A banister appeared in the sight and she grabbed in, flinging down the stairs. Once she reached the bottom she crashed against and wall and began crying. Tears of fear ran down her cheeks as her heart thudded powerfully within her breast; she was scared. All around her the walls seemed to close in, the shadows creep closer, and every noise intensified even more than her demon ears allowed. On shaky legs Keysha stood and could sense him waiting for her patiently and pulling her closer like a lover. Keysha knew exactly why he was there and her mind yelled in panic with the mere thought of what awaited her in the damp street no more than fifty steps beyond that outside door. Using the wall to steady herself and her will, Keysha decided to run no more. Running and hiding like a mouse was for just that: the meek. She was a fighter, fearless and strong and she would not let Naraku take his anger of failure out on her.
Mustering as much bravado as possible she walked to the door and flung it open. Instantly her nostrils were assaulted with the smell of body waste and garbage, but she took no notice of it and closed the door behind her. She strutted out into the alley way and could feel eyes watching her every move and breathing her in through invisible nostrils. It did not matter to her.
"I know you are there, Naraku," Keysha shouted and was surprised with how confident she sounded. "Come out. I will not run from you any longer, for I am not a coward. I have never been a coward, trembling on the sideline, and so I come out here to face you and my end. Come out!"
A cool, sinister laugh echoed off buildings and the cobblestone street, filling her ears with its chilliness, yet she stood strong. Soon the laugher was joined by the slight giggles of a delighted little girl.
"It has been a long time, Keysha, and I am glad you are making this easy for me," Naraku chuckled again. "But I am happy to see you again even if it is the last time."
Keysha nodded and closed her eyes, breathing in the putrid air of the slum and felt at peace with her life for the first and last time. She felt the ground around her feet grow warm and soon her whole body was engulfed in a bright green fire. Keysha was in intense pain and it seemed her skin was being fried off, but she would not grimace, she would not scream, she would not open her eyes and give Naraku the satisfaction of knowing her demise was painful. And then she thought no more and her conscious soul drifted off to the stars…
… to home.
********************************************************************
Well that's that people! I'm sorry, Guardian Angel of ALL Anime, for killing off Keysha but I needed to tie loose ends up with her and that's the only way I could do that. Sorry! But I hope you all enjoyed the chapter, despite its shortness. I just needed to establish settings for the rest of the fic. Things are going to be moving along now 'cause this story has about five more chapters and then I'm done with it. Yeah, I'm sad; five chapters and then its over! Oh well, it happens.
Anyway, sorry for the chapter's shortness and I promise the next will be longer!
Thanks for reading!!!!!!!!!!!!!