Chapter 2: The Rise of the Hanyou

Disclaimer: If I owned Inuyasha, I would be his mate.

SSW

A tear fell and landed on the page before her. Wiping her eyes, she turned the page in her photo album. There was yet, another picture of Inuyasha. He was chasing Shippou around the bone eaters well while Miroku, Sango, and Kirara laid out on the grass in the background, laughing at Inuyasha's childness.

She smiled through her tears, remembering the good times. They never did get enough time to just sit back and relax. They were always being pushed by Inuyasha to search for the shards and Naraku.

Kagome slowly flipped through her album, taking in each picture. Of her and Sango, her and Shippou, Sango and Miroku. But the picture she treasured most was the snap shot Miroku had taken of her and Inuyasha.

It had been somewhere out on one of their adventures. They has just defeated a tough demon and were relaxing, taking care of some minor wounds. Inuyasha had a Band-Aid on his cheek (thanks to Kagome's persistence) and was blushing profusely. They were both sitting up, Kagome with her head on his shoulder. One of her hands was reaching up behind him to grab onto his ear. He had his eyes closed; hers wide open with a smile on her face. She was looking up at him, and not in the direction Miroku had walked in on them at.

Of course Miroku regretted taking it after it was said and done. Inuyasha had pummeled him good. Even as embarrassed as she was, Kagome was happy she had taught the monk how to use the camera. Now she had a picture to treasure.

With tears no longer flowing, Kagome closed the book and tucked it away under her bed. I was growing late, and she had to be up early to care for the shrine. She was still the miko in charge, even old as she was. Calling out her good nights to the house hold (in which only her son and daughter-in-law replied) Kagome took her leave to bed. It had been a long day. She was exhausted.

Miroku could only nod his head as Kagome tried to explain her plans.

It was early the next morning, moisture still hanging in the air from the night previous. Everyone was currently sitting around the fire in Kaede's hut. Shippou was yawning, Kirara at his side. Miroku had his arm around Sango's shoulder, Sango blushing at the contact. She made no move to push him away, however.

Kagome and Inuyasha sat the opposite side of the fire, side by side, while Kaede was busy making breakfast. Kagome had told them the idea that she and Inuyasha had thought of through the night, while sitting in Goshinboku. They all listened with open ears and open minds until Kagome finished telling them about their idea.

"Kaede," Miroku called to the old miko, obviously pondering what Kagome had just told them. "Do you think it's possible?"

Kaede continued to stir her pot as she spoke. "I think it might, if Kagome has the will power and courage to do so. But remember," she looked up at Kagome, "Kikyo was able to control her power. She knew how to shoot a sealing arrow. I doubt she meant only to put Inuyasha in a slumber. If ye are not careful, you might accidentally purify him instead."

Kagome swallowed the lump in her throat. "I… I never thought about that."

"Feh. If anyone can do it, Kagome can." Inuyasha crossed his arms into his haori.

"If Kagome thinks she can do it, she can do it," Shippou said, still half a sleep.

Everyone looked at the kit and nodded their agreement. Kagome gave them a small smile.

"And if this works, I'll be counting on you, monk, to make sure no one tries to molest me while I sleep." Inuyasha glared at the monk.

"But I will only live so long, Inuyasha." The monk had a sly smile on his face.

"Feh. You'll live long enough. And anyways, it'll be your family line that watches over me. Got it?" Inuyasha cracked his knuckles, almost threatening.

Sango placed a hand on Miroku's knee. "We owe them that much, Hoshi-sama." Miroku turned to face Sango, starring into her eyes, Sango not turning away.

Inuyasha growled, interrupting their moment. Both pulled away blushing, now avoiding one another.

"Thank you, Sango," Kagome said.

"Now, with that said and done," Miroku commented. "What REALLY happened last night to make you decide this?"

Both Kagome and Inuyasha turned a dark shade of red.

Inuyasha's eyebrow twitched in annoyance. "No… nonne of your damn business, Monk!" His stuttering only gave him away.

"Now, come on, Inuyasha. It's not nice to keep secrets from your friends."

"There's no damn secret to hide!" Inuyasha's anger was increasing. He stood up to glare at the monk, ready to pounce if need be.

"Come on, guys," Kagome interrupted. "This is my last day here. Can we please try to concentrate?"

"Feh." Inuyasha sat back down.

"Has you on a leash, no.," Miroku laughed.

Inuyasha growled low. Sango turned and punched the monk.

Kaede finished stirring the soup and started to dish out the bowls, giving everyone a share of the morning meal. After making sure everyone had some food, she took her place beside the fire, serving herself a bowl.

"Have ye decided what to do about this wish, Kagome?"

Kagome shook her head. "I'm still stumped. There's nothing that I really want."

Kaede nodded. "A selfless wish. That should be more then enough to purify the jewel."

"I… I was thinking, though," Kagome started, nervous about what she was about to say. "What… what if I used the wish to bring Kikyo back to life, for real."

Inuyasha looked at her in shocked silence. Everyone else remained quiet, except for Kaede, who was nodding her head slightly in approval.

"That would be an unselfish wish, indeed." She paused to take a bite of her soup. "How do ye feel about it, Inuyasha?"

Inuyasha remained quiet. He wasn't sure what to say.

Kagome sighed, looking down in her lap. "Even… even…" her voice wavered, "if you had not decided to wait for me," tears started to spring her in eyes, "I think I would still have made that wish. Kikyo deserves it, I think."

Miroku nodded his approval as well. "Do you think Kikyo would want that?"

"I… I don't know." Kagome raised her head to address Miroku.

"Maybe ye should ask her, Inuyasha." Kaede set her bowl down.

"Wa...What?" he shouted, jumping to his feet.

"I but saw her soul-snatches last night. She cannot be far."

Inuyasha glared at Kaede for a few seconds before turning to glare at Kagome. "Well, come on, wench. We don't have much time.

"M…me?" Kagome looked confused, hurt still evident on her face.

"Yah. It's your idea. So you get to be the one to ask her." Inuyasha grabbed Kagome's hand and pulled her up. "Get on." He offered her his back.

Kagome hesitantly climbed on. This would be her last ride. Dang it Kagome! Think more positively!

Taking off from the hut, it was all Kagome could do to hang on. It seemed that Inuyasha was in a hurry to get to Kikyo.

Even after the events of last night, Kagome willed herself only enjoy the feel of her body pressed so close to the man she loved. She tried to ignore the ache in her heart.

Inuyasha tightened his hold on her legs.

Kagome closed her eyes. There was still doubt lingering in her mind. She couldn't push the offending thoughts away, as much as she tried. It was these feelings that Hakudoushi used to find the darkness within her heart. And how she hated them.

Inuyasha didn't answer Kaede when she asked him his opinion. Was he… was he thinking the same thing I was? If I use the jewel to bring Kikyo back to life, would he rather stay with her instead? Kagome let out a small whimper, unaware that she had done so.

"Kagome," Inuyasha said lightly, jarring her from her thoughts. "I wouldn't you know." He paused. His voice grew softer. "We're mates now. You belong with me, forever,"

Kagome smiled sadly. He had read her thoughts. She laid her head back down on his back. "I know."

"Then stop worrying." A pause. "We're here."

It hadn't been but a few minutes since they had taken off, and they were already stopping. Inuyasha slowed down then eventually stopped, letting Kagome down.

Kikyo stood on the outskirts of Inuyasha's forest. She was starring up at the sky, her soul snatchers winding around her. She looked unearthal. Pale in the moon light, almost translucent.

"Kikyo…" Inuyasha whispered.

Kagome winced. She took a step to stand in front of Inuyasha, to address the dead miko, and maybe, just to protect Inuyasha like he always did for her. "Kikyo."

Kikyo slowly turned her head. "Inuyasha. Kagome." She nodded her hello to them.

Kagome took another hesitant step forward. "Kikyo… I wanted to ask you…" She paused, not sure of how to say it.

"If it is my blessing you seek, you will not have it." Cold. Very cold.

She knows. Kagome shivered at the thought. "That's not what I wanted. I… I'm ready to use the jewel, but I wasn't really sure what to wish for. I thought maybe, maybe I could use it to wish you alive, again."

Kikyo's eyebrow raised in surprise. "You would use the Shikon no Tama for my sake?"

Kagome nodded. "I thought about it last night. You, you were the one the lost the most because of Naraku. It's only right that you get the wish, that is, if you want it."

Kikyo grunted. "Do what you like with the jewel. It matters not to me." She turned her gaze on Inuyasha. "Inuyasha. Take care of her." With that, she took her leave, slowly walking in the opposite direction, disappearing in the early morning haze.

Kagome and Inuyasha just stood there and watched her go until they couldn't see her anymore.

"I think that was her way of saying 'yes'." Inuyasha picked Kagome up bridal style, getting a gasp out of his mate.

"Warn me before you do that next time." Kagome hit him on the arm.

"Feh." Without another word they took off, back to the village. The morning was fast approaching. They didn't have much time and they knew it.

Bounding from tree to ground, to tree again, Inuyasha made his way back toward the village. Goshinboku could be seen just up ahead.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome tugged on his forelock. "Stop, please." He looked at her. She was starring at the Goshinboku.

Inuyasha slowed to a walk, placing Kagome on her feet once they reached the tree. He watched her, eyes never leaving her.

Kagome pulled the Shikon no Tama from her blouse, holding it up to stare into it. She slowly closed her eyes.

"Kagome...?" Inuyasha looked at her, confusion written all over his face.

Midoriko, Kagome thought, talking to the jewel in her mind. I am ready to make that wish, if you would just grant an extra hour after it has been made.

The jewel took on a shin glow, the light brightening.

Miko, Kagome. Midoriko's thoughts came to her. I shall grant you the extra hour that you so need.

Thank You.

Suddenly, in her mind, Kagome stood in a white place, mist shrouded everything around her. Even the ground under her feet was hidden in the haze. Standing before her was Midoriko, the creator of the Shikon no Tama.

Your hard journey is about to end, Kagome. I am thankful to you, and to your friends, for finally putting an end to this ongoing war. I will finally be able to rest in piece.

Kagome nodded. I will never forget this place, all my adventures, my friends. It has become my home. I hate that I have to leave it.

Oh, how I know what you must feel. I, too, had to leave my home, and the one I loved. To fight the youki. It was my destiny, as this was yours. Midoriko only stood, motionless.

Kagome nodded again, a tear escaping her eye. I am ready to make my wish and purify the jewel now.

The miko did not move. She waited for Kagome to speak her wants.

I want Kikyo to be alive again. Please, Midoriko! Grant me this wish! Give Kikyo back the life that was stolen from her.

That, I can grant. Thank you, Kagome. For all that you have done. I will be watching over you. Midoriko smiled, the first and only emotion the spirit choose to show.

The white mist started to swirl around Kagome, Midoriko was growing distant, giving off a glowing pink light.

Kagome was suddenly standing back in front of Goshinboku. She opened her eyes and starred down at her hands. The Shikon no Tama was dissolving, creating a glitter affect as the wind swept up the dust and vanished into the sky.

"Kagome… what happened?"

Kagome turned with a smile. "I made my wish."

Inuyasha hesitated. "So… Kikyo is alive?"

"Yah." Kagome nodded, her smile never falling. She turned to look up at Goshinboku, her eyes straying over the spot where they had made love.

"Are… you okay with this?"

She turned to him, her smiled dimming. "Of course. I wouldn't have done it if I wasn't sure about it." She sighed and turned to face the stairs that led to the village. "Come on. We only have an hour."

"Wha..what?"

Kagome nodded, starting her climb. "I asked Midoriko for an hour, so we can do what we need to do. Otherwise, I would have gone home right then." She turned with a bright smile once again shinning on her face. "Well, come on! We have a future to make!" With that she darted up what would be her shrine steps, 500 years into her future.

Yumiko tossed and turned for what seemed like the 100th time that night. It was uncomfortable for her to sleep on her back. It was even harder to breath. She groaned and turned her head to look at her alarm clock.

11:00 p.m.

Sitting up and throwing her legs over the side of the bed, Yumiko stood and walked over to her open window. The moon was out, full overhead for the second night in a row.

Yumiko frowned, opening her window. A slight breeze tossed her curtains, leaves of the Goshinboku swirled in the wind.

"That's odd," Yumiko said, more to herself then anyone. Who would hear her anyway?

Looking over at Goshinboku, she spotted her grandfather Inuyasha, pinned to the tree as always. His face was too calm, too serene. It nagged her.

"500 years," she whispered.

Turning around, Yumiko grabbed her coat and left her room. She descended the stairs, being careful not to wake the household with the noisy creeks of the old stairwell. Pausing at the front door to make sure no one had head her, she opened the door and started down the walk barefoot, to Goshinboku.

With head down, and keeping a moderate pace, she jogged to her way to the giant tree. The shadow of the tree created by the moon drew her to the massive trunk. Stepping over the holy rope that was wrapped around the base, Yumiko slowly looked up into Inuyasha's face.

"Grandpa. It's me, Yumiko. I turned 15 today." Yumiko didn't smile. She tilted her head to the side, examining the grandfather that didn't look much older then herself.

The breeze in the hair ruffled the tiny hairs on her ears. Yumiko's ears twitched, and she watched in fascination, as Inuyasha's did the same.

Frowning, she reached up and grabbed her own ear, gently rubbing away the tingle the wind had caused. Without hesitation, Yumiko reached up and grabbed her grandfather's ear. Rubbing her own ear in a circular motion, she felt Inuyasha's ear.

The same as my own.

She continued to rub his ear, her other hand reaching out to grab the other. She smiled slightly as she continued to her ministrations. After a few moments she stopped. Looking into his face, Yumiko sighed. Her right hand left his ear, her left hand fell to her side. She traced the outline of his cheek bone, touched the forelocks of his hair. Everything was like her, except for their hair color.

Her hand continued down his face, going around the contour of chin, down to his neck. Yumiko's hands came across the rosary. She eyed the necklace, her fingers idly playing over the small beads. Then her attention was drawn to the arrow that lay plunged into his chest.

"Why…" Yumiko whispered to the sleeping hanyou. "Why won't you wake up?" Her fingers fell across the arrow embedded in Inuyasha's chest. Her fingers circled the outside of his haori, where the arrow met his body. She ran her hand down the arrow to the feathers, her hand finally falling away.

She took a step back, a heavy ache in her heart. She turned to leave.

Behind her, as Yumiko started to take her first few steps back toward the house, the arrow that sealed Inuyasha started to glow. The wind picked up again, blowing his hair to the side, his ears twitching. Slowly, Inuyasha opened his eyes.

The vision before him was blurry. The arrow still stuck in his chest, giving off a soft pink glow. Before him stood a young girl, with deep black hair. Her scent came to him. She smelled strangely of Kagome.

The girl half turned around in surprise as Inuyasha said his first words. "Kagome."

The girl turned in full view now.

With his vision still blurry, Inuyasha watched at the arrow dissolved in a holy light. A weight was being lifted off his chest. The arrow as suddenly gone, and with it no longer there to support him to the tree, Inuyasha fell the two feet to the ground.

He groaned. His ears perked up at the sound of footsteps. He slowly looked up, confused about his surroundings. About the girl in front him of him.

Is this… Kagome?

"Ka…gome?" he asked, his eyes trying to adjust after so long.

The girl before him kneeled in front him. She relaxed herself on her hunches, her arms crossing over his knees as she kept her balance.

"No," she said, her voice soft, yet rough at the same time. "My name is Yumiko. Yu- Mi- Ko, Grandafather."

Inuyasha's eyebrows knitted together in confusion. That's when he noticed the triangle ears atop her black locks.

"Hanyou?" he asked, still not understanding what was going on.

"Your granddaughter." Yumiko smiled then, reminding Inuyasha so much of Kagome.

"Ka…gome." Inuyasha's head started to spin in utter confusion. With the sudden affect of the spell now worn off, Inuyasha slumped down head first. Before he blacked out, he heard an unfamiliar male voice call the girl's name.

"Yumiko!"

Then all was quiet.

AN:

I want to dedicate this story to fanfiction author Sueric. All her stories (especially her angst) have given me the will to write this piece. I would advise you to read her work if you havn't already. She's one of the best Inuyasha fanfic writers on

Thanks Sueric!

Haori: The shirt that Inuyasha wears.