Chapter One
"Why do you still hang around us?! We found all the shards of the Shikon jewel and Naraku was defeated years ago so why are you still with us?!"
The smaller creature stuck out his tongue at the half demon that for reasons he did not understand, was his friend. "For your information dog-boy I'm here cause I like to be near Kagome. So don't flatter yourself thinking I actually care about you!"
"Would you two quit it. Tristis is trying to take a nap but with all this stupid bickering he can't possibly try!"
"Feh, yeah and I'm sure he's getting plenty of sleep with you yelling like that."
Kagome covered her mouth and then glared at her mate Inuyasha. "Just stop picking on Shippo and be quiet. If Tristis doesn't take his nap he'll be cranky all day then I'll be cranky later tonight. Got it?"
While the half demon glared the teenage fox demon erupted in peals of laughter. "Looks like Inuyasha won't be getting any tonight."
Of course this type of comment was followed by several lumps on the head courtesy of Inuyasha himself. "You hang around that lecherous bastard too much."
"Owww, in case you haven't noticed Inuyasha I'm not a little kid anymore. You can't just hit me on the head just because I speak the truth. Anyway Miroku isn't like that anymore. He settled downed a lot after he and Sango got married."
"I'm for one glad about that. How are they doing Shippo? I haven't heard from them since their wedding."
The adolescent fox demon rolled his eyes, "They're being as silly as you and Inuyasha were when you two first got married. I only visited them for a day before they made me sick."
"You'll see Shippo. When you met your special girl you'll be acting just as silly as Inuyasha and I did as well as Miroku and Sango," remarked the woman as she hugged her mate tightly.
He in turn blushed but didn't remove her arms as he would have done years ago. Instead he wrapped an arm around her and rested his chin on top of her head. Twelve summers had passed since he had met his mate Kagome and yet it didn't seem that long ago when she released him from the spell his first love had placed him under.
A snort nearly left him as he thought back to Kikyo. She claimed to still love him but her attempts to kill him and Kagome proved otherwise. Yet he couldn't see that until he had to chose. Naraku kidnaped Kagome and tried to use her and Kikyo against him.
~*Flashback*~
When he had arrived at the castle Inuyasha saw Kagome's bow and arrow lying on the ground, along with pieces of her shirt. He growled at the sight and sniffed the air. Once he had picked up her frightened scent he ran towards it, already vowing to finish off Naraku once and for all.
Kagome stood in a small room, shaking for her clothes were barely there and her arms were painfully chained above her head. Next to her stood an emotionless Kikyo in the same manner but she was left with her dignity. The two kept their eyes from looking at one another.
"Kagome, is your offer still valid?"
She glanced up to see Naraku entering the room in his Kagewaki form. She nodded and then looked away, feeling ashamed that his eyes were being allowed to see her in such a state.
"Your power is far greater than the dead maiden standing next to you. But you haven't even tried to tap into it yet. I wouldn't have known about it if you hadn't attacked me with your arrows before. But now, now you will serve I, Naraku, for all eternity. Just remember what you have to tell that cursed dog that follows you."
She said nothing at this but merely shook with emotion. While taking her he declared that he was going to use her as bait to kill Inuyasha and the others. However he would also torture both her and Kikyo in front of them first before he let them die. Not wanting this she did the only thing that came to mind. She offered her soul to him so that the others, as well as her competition could live and continue to fight.
Of course Naraku had been surprised by this. Though in true fashion he gave the impression that it didn't shock him at all. He agreed to it but she would have to be the one who would break the news.
"Kagome!"
All three looked up and saw the half-breed tear into the room with utter rage flashing in his golden eyes. "Naraku let Ka…. Kikyo…"
The younger girl almost yelled at him for forgetting about her once again but lost her voice when their enemy spoke up. "Well this won't be as difficult for him as I thought Kagome."
He released her from her chains and wrapped an arm around her bare stomach. The other half breed growled at this. "Take your filthy hand off her!"
"I think she likes it. Tell him your news Kagome."
The girl from the future voice shook as she spoke, "I'm staying with Naraku. Take Kikyo and get out of here while you can."
"What? What the hell are you talking about?! I'm not leaving you here with this bastard!"
Naraku laughed at his anger. "Now why shouldn't you? You haven't done a very good job of protecting her lately now have you? After all you let her come into my hands. If that wasn't enough, how many times did you run to Kikyo and forget all about the girl who would do anything to protect you. Even now she's giving you permission to break her heart so you can have your precious priestess and all she has to do is give her body and soul to me."
The half breed's eyes grew red and soon bared his fangs. "Get your hands off my bitch!"
With that he charged with utter madness dancing in his eyes. In a blur and perhaps with sheer luck he killed the other half breed as if he was nothing. In horror he realized that even with the sword from his father in his hand, he still tapped into his demon blood. His eyes continued to glow while his claws itched for blood to stain them.
Letting his instinct set in he turned to his fallen enemy and clawed at it. He shredded everything of Naraku as if he didn't want a single ash to remind him of his existence. This continued until Kikyo slipped out of her chains.
She glared at the pale Kagome before she walked toward her only love and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Inuyasha...."
He growled and snapped at her. Drawing closer to his victim he continued to growl and made a move to charge at her.
Not wanting to fight him at the moment she turned to the terrified girl on the ground. "You little fool. You'd give your life and let your soul be damned for all eternity just so you can save that stupid half breed."
A step closer couldn't be taken for Inuyasha blocked her path. As he growled at the priestess Kagome found her voice. "Inuyasha you did it. You avenged Kikyo, Sango's family and Miroku's. It's all over."
He looked down at her and quickly took her in his arms. Despite his red eyes he spoke as if there was no change. "I paid my debt to you Kikyo. You have no hold over me any longer. Go back to the earth or stay in some village but never come near me or Kagome again. If I see you anywhere near my bitch I'll send you back to hell myself."
He left the stunned priestess with an equally stunned Kagome in his arms. They stopped at a stream where Inuyasha took off his outer robe and then tore off a small piece of her already tattered shirt.
"Inuyasha!" A deep blush rose to her face as she realized that the piece he took was really what kept her covered. She placed her arms in front of her, in a vain attempt to cover herself.
With his now golden eyes he snorted, "Take off that rag and let me clean you up. We have to go find the others."
Quietly she did as she was told. A small gasp escaped her when the cold water touched her open wounds. Yet the shivers she produced came when she felt Inuyasha's warm hands touch her bare skin. They had been traveling for almost three years now but this was the closest they had ever been to each other.
"Kagome could you finish your schooling here in my time?"
After their first year together she had decided that home schooling would better suit her extra activities. That and she found she didn't have much in common with her friends anymore. "I could but I'm almost done. I just need to take a few more tests and that's it."
"What are you going to do after that?"
"I hadn't really thought about it."
He wrapped his kimono around her and pulled her close. "I meant what I said. I will kill Kikyo if she comes near you again. I swear..."
"Inuyasha I...."
She trailed off and buried her face in his chest and sobbed. There the two sat, holding on to each other and let the sun beat on their backs. Inuyasha gently pulled away and took her tear stained face into his clawed hands.
"Kagome stay here with me. I can protect you, and shelter you, and..."
She smiled and pulled his mouth to hers. Unlike the kiss with Kikyo he responded back. The young woman moaned in his mouth and pulled him closer together.
"Kagome! Kagome where are you?! Inuyasha!"
They broke apart in time to see Shippo running towards them. The little fox jumped into her arms and wailed into her waiting shoulder.
Miroku, Sango, and Kirara soon joined afterwards. The annoyed half breed noticed with a smile that the monk's right arm was now bare. He turned to bop the child for hurting his ears with all his screeching but the dread "S" word was heard.
While Inuyasha laid face first on the floor Kagome held Shippo close and smoothed his hair down. "It's ok Shippo. We're all ok."
"I-I-I know b-b-but... now that Naraku is dead and the jewel is complete.... You're going to leave forever!"
The now very annoyed dog demon grabbed the fox demon and brought him close to his face. "Stop crying! Kagome's not going anywhere! After she finishes her tests then she's coming back."
"Really?!"
"Is this true Lady Kagome," asked the somewhat skeptical monk.
She grinned, "Well Kaede's village is going to need a new priestess soon and I have been wanting to learn more about my powers. Also I mean... I do come from a long line of priests."
The little fox matched her grin. "Yea!! Kagome is staying here forever!"
~*End Flashback*~
Everything neatly came to a close once Naraku was defeated. He hadn't heard from Kikyo since then but Kaede said she felt that her sister was finally in peace. Miroku was no longer cursed with the hole in his hand and needn't worry about passing on that trait to his children. Had the defeat of Naraku stopped his wandering eye then he and Sango would have married years ago instead of only being married for half a year.
He and Kagome lived just outside the village where her future home would be in later on. Soon after she made the feudal era her home they married and had a son a few years after that. Despite her age, Kaede was still healthy and didn't show any signs of slowing down. It was decided that once she died Kagome would take over with her refined powers.
Yes everything was fine between everyone. Well if you didn't count the half demon's relationship with his older half brother Sesshoumaru, then yes everything worked out. The brothers still despised each other for reasons unknown but to themselves. Each had a reason but stubbornness forced them to give a cold hateful glare when asked for it. The last he had heard of the Lord of the Western Lands was that he settled in their father's palace with his lackey and human companion Rin.
Why that child followed his arrogant brother was beyond him. Though she wasn't exactly a child anymore, Inuyasha thought. The last he had saw her was when she was only about six or seven years old, a year or two older than Shippo. A very bright sweet little girl that had somehow wormed her way into the cold lord's circle. Despite all the rumors he had heard concerning her, for her sake the wiser half breed prayed that she had left her beloved Lord Sesshoumaru's side and tried to live a normal human life without the company of demons.
A familiar whine from Shippo brought Inuyasha back from his day dreaming. "Eww you guys are still gross. I think I'll stay with Kaede instead."
"No way Shippo, you're staying with us."
Kagome's mate gave the fox a teasing grin, "Let him go Kagome. He's right he'd be better off staying with that old bat."
"Well since you put it that way I'd be happy to stay with you Kagome. Being near you and Tristis makes up having look at Inuyasha's ugly face."
"Ugly face?! Get over here you little twerp!"
A scene that had happened long ago repeated itself once again. Shippo took off running with Inuyasha at his heels threatening him with bloody murder. Kagome sighed and wondered why she put up with them until she felt something cling to her leg.
She glanced down to see a pup that looked eerily like his Uncle Sesshoumaru, expect he had three marks on each side of his face, look up at her with watery eyes. "Mommy why is Daddy and Uncle Shippo fighting again? I had a bad dream with all their yelling!"
With that the little pup burst into tears and buried his face into his mother's leg. She sighed and picked him up trying to dry his tears. Tristis was only like this when he hadn't got enough sleep and his father was making sure he didn't get any. She held his small chin between her slender fingers and forced him to look in her eyes. "Do you wanna see Daddy do his trick again?"
The little boy's face light up as he eagerly nodded his answer. She smiled at the child's honest answer and narrowed her eyes as she turned to face her husband. "Sit boy!"
Luck had been smiling on Inuyasha until that moment. He had grabbed the young fox demon's tail and was about to pound the living hell out of the twerp when he heard the words that he dreaded for over a decade. He fell to the floor in pain, forcing him to let go of the once victorious hold he had on Shippo.
A growl worked it's way up as well as the word "bitch" but it caught in this throat once he saw his son's smiling innocent face pressed against wife's annoyed one. He forced a smile and helped the other demon up. The two gave a sheepish grin while the little boy sprang from his mother's arms and into Shippo's.
"Hi Uncle Shippo! Why did you stay away for so long?"
The sneaky teenager hugged the boy before answering, "I was out traveling like me and your parents used to. Then I went and visited the place where I used to live with my parents and after that I visited your Uncle Miroku and Aunt Sango. I was thinking of staying here but I don't think your daddy wants me here."
The pup's golden eyes grew wide as he stared at his father in shock. "Why can't Uncle Shippo stay here Daddy? I haven't seen him in a long time and I wanted to show him all the neat tricks you taught me!"
Inuyasha held his sensitive ears before answering his son's screeching request. "Sure why not. I fought several demons and had a whole in my stomach. I should be able to handle a night with that annoying little brat."
"A night? Get serious Inuyasha! Shippo is staying with as long as he likes, I insist."
Kagome and Shippo grinned at each other while the half demon ran up to them yelling. "No way Kagome! We got him out of our hair when he decided to live with Kaede and he's not about to move back in."
In a flash his fiery mate screamed back at him. "Oh yes he is! He's our friend and don't you dare argue with me!"
They argued about Shippo's fate while he and their son Tristis went inside to start dinner. It continued that way for a good hour until Kagome could be heard screaming, "sit," and Inuyasha could be heard groaning in pain. The former walked in with a big smile on her face. "Well it looks like you'll be staying in Tristis' room tonight since your usual room is such a mess. You will stay for a long visit this time won't you Shippo?"
"As long as I get on Inuyasha nerves I'm here to stay," answered the grinning fox demon.
Supper was eaten without any incident, well if you don't count Tristis begging to stay up late to hear Shippo's tale and having his father tell him no. The boy gave a cold glare that remind Inuyasha too much of his older brother. He felt himself flinch but kept in mind that this was his son and despite his appearance Tristis acted more like Kagome than the Lord of the Western lands. A reprimand from his mother made the pup apologize and his cheerful disposition came back once their guest promised to fill him in the next morning while he showed off his new skills.
The three talked of the past adventures until Shippo felt his eyelids closing. He bid them goodnight and retired into Tristis' room. The young couple at that time also decided to get some sleep, seeing as their young son was going to be up bright and early to hear his dear Uncle Shippo's tales.
As Kagome ran her brush through her long hair she noticed her mate slowly getting undressed with a troubled expression. "Penny for your thoughts?"
The half demon stared at her confused as, "Huh," escaped his mouth.
She giggled, "Sorry, one of my expressions. What's wrong with you? You've been kind of out of it for a while now."
He sighed as he laid on their bed and turned his head to look at her. "Sesshoumaru has been on my mind a lot lately. I feel like he's watching me but every time I turn around to lash out at him, there's nothing there."
"Do you think he'll come back for the Tetsusaiga after all these years?"
"No, he decided to give up on that along time ago."
She stood and laid next to her husband, "What else could he want? Almost every time we ran into him he wanted your sword."
"It's almost time.... When our father died...."
She grasped his hand and pushed back a lock of silver hair out of his golden eyes. "Is that why you always get so melancholy around this time? But I thought you didn't have any memories of your father."
He looked down and sighed once again. "I have a few. Look the anniversary of my father's death isn't what really triggered thoughts of my asshole half brother. It's Tristis... It's just not his appearance anymore that reminds me of Sesshoumaru... The way he looks at us when he doesn't get his way, the way he talks, even the way he fights mirrors his damn uncle."
"Inuyasha, Tristis is nothing like your brother. He's a happy cheerful little boy who loves you with all his heart. He adores you and wants to be just like you when he get's older. Your brother is a selfish, arrogant, pampered, fem-boy."
"He wasn't always like that. He had a lot of duties because he was my father's heir and his mom died right before I was born. I don't think he was always so ruthless. I can remember my father telling my mother not to bear him any ill will because he wasn't always so cold. I think something really bad had happened to him before I was born."
"Like what," asked his now very interested wife. It wasn't often that Inuyasha opened up so freely about his family. His father was a fuzzy figure that he never really got to know while his mother was an untouchable person who in her son's mind was a saint. His half brother was never mentioned unless he was spoken in crude malicious words. And if he was spoken of the younger brother made sure the word "half" was always in front of the word "brother."
The now tired half demon sighed and turned to have his back face his mate. Talking of his half brother was never an enjoyable thing to do. Things hadn't always been so terrible between them he thought. There was a time when he found himself waiting for Sesshoumaru to return home from his long adventures so he could just be in the presence of his big brother. He had adored the full demon and craved his attention and acceptance. And hadn't Sesshoumaru let him cling to his leg and let him sleep in his room when he thought monsters stayed in his? Hadn't there been times when he had come to the defense of the younger pup and took blame for something he had done?
Kagome sighed and put out the light in their bedroom. She knew better to press her mate for information that night. Quietly she slid under the covers and held him as she tried to ignore the tremors he produced from the tears that put him to sleep.