Chapter 29

Three days later...

"You want to do what?!" Kagome had been listening to Inuyasha explaining his reasons.

"Listen Kagome it's not going to kill you or anything. I just think it would be best."

"BEST! You want to change me. How could that possibly be best?"

Inuyasha tried again. "Kagome you're human...."

"And just what is wrong with that? I like being human." Kagome wasn't going to make this easy.

"I don't know why I bother. You want to grow old and die. Fine! But I'm not going to and neither will your son. Both of us are going to have to stand by and watch you die. We will look the same, but you will probably look more like Ky-aite. You want that?" Inuyasha was yelling at Kagome. Both of them were very stubborn and both liked having things their own way.

"You do know what Ky-aite looks like don't you. You know, the old hag. She was just a kid..." He motioned to his waist. "This high, when I was pinned to that tree. Now look at her. Think about it Kagome, that's going to be you if I don't make this change. I'm going to have to bury your old and useless body while I still look like I do now. I can't do that Kagome I wont do that." He stormed off.

Kagome sat in the garden thinking. 'I never realized what he must be feeling. I can't even imagine Ky-aite as a kid. But he remembers her. How many people have he out lived? He looks like a young man in his late teens but he must be way older than that. I don't even know how old he really is.

Katame underwent the change. I don't see any difference in her. But then again it hasn't been that long.' She sat thinking like this for a while when Katame came up carrying some cups.

"I thought you might like to have something to drink. You've been out here a long time." She looked at the ground a moment. "Need to talk?"

"Inuyasha wants to do to me what Sesshoumaru had done to you. I don't understand. Why now all of a sudden, does he need to change me?"

"Kagome? How old is Inuyasha? Sesshoumaru said that he himself was over a hundred years old already. He doesn't look any more than thirty." She looked at her friend.

"Kagome, they see us humans differently than we do them. We come and go so quickly. That's probably why they don't value human life. It's too fragile compared to them. We must seem to them like a butterfly. Pretty, but short lived."

Kagome looked up at Katame.

Katame continued. "I always wondered why the demons always acted the way they do to humans. We are nothing to them. But Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha have chosen to mate with us.

They can replace us maybe even a thousand times in their long life times. But they don't want to do that. They want to keep us. Just the way we are. Just like them. I can understand that.

I don't think I would want to live on having to get a new mate every few years to replace the one that just died of old age. It must be a little scary for them. The only way they die that I know of is in battle. A skilled demon could go on, for who knows how long."

The two women sat thinking for a while.

"You really think Inuyasha feels that way?" Kagome asked.

"Why don't you ask him?"

Kagome got up and went to find her husband. He was sitting by himself under a tree. He had a frown on his face and he was thinking deeply.

"Hi Inuyasha. Mind if I join you?"

"Sure Kagome, knock yourself out." He was in a foul mood.

"Inuyasha, how old are you?" Kagome looked in his eyes. "I mean you've been around a long time right?"

"I'm not young if that's what you want to know." Inuyasha grumbled.

"You really want me to go though this change don't you?"

"I told you my reasons. I don't understand why you have to be so stubborn. Why can't you just do what I say?" He grabbed her arm. "I told you, I don't want to lose you. Can't you get that through your head? I don't want to watch you die the way I've had to watch so many other humans die."

He let her go and crossed his hands over his chest. "I have seen kids born and seen those same kids buried, old, sick and weak. I can't watch that happen to you Kagome. I can't."

He went to get up but she caught him by the sleeve and pulled him back down. She leaned forward and kissed him.

"If that's how you feel, then fine I'll do it. But if it hurts I'll sit you so hard...."

Inuyasha had her by the mouth. He pulled her into his lap and held her close. "Don't threaten be Kagome I can still spank..." He tapped her bottom.

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That afternoon....

"Unghaaaaah...." The hand of Sugumi-sama was plunging his powerful hand into her chest.

Inuyasha was holding on tightly to Kagome so she couldn't struggle.

"This one doesn't take pain well." The demon noted.

"No that's why I never let her get pregnant again. She doesn't give birth easily either." Inuyasha had discussed his wishes with his father and the great demon had agreed that he would affect the change in Kagome for him.

Kagome had passed out and was slumped over Inuyasha's arm.

"Thank you father." Inuyasha turned to leave.

"Wait my son." Sugumi-sama had more to say to his son. "I am pleased with you Inuyasha. You have done well in your battles. But if you wish to keep the wife you have chosen. I would offer you a piece of advice.

Do not be so quick to anger. Angry demons make poor fighters. The smarter you battle the longer you will live, and the longer you will be able to enjoy that pretty little girl you hold in your hands.

Don't do as I did my son. I died too soon." The great demon bid goodbye to his son and returned to his rest in death.

Outside the tomb Kagome had come to. "Inuyasha..." She grabbed her chest.

"It's ok, Kagome Its all over. Come on lets get you changed into some clean clothes." She was covered in blood.