Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha . . .
ROCK ON!!!
----------------------------------
You never returned . . .
Brown eyes stared up at the midnight blue sky, thoughts scrambled and blurred as the sentence repeated over and over again . . .
You never returned . . . we never returned . . .
Flashback
"You mean, we didn't survive the last battle against Naraku?"
"It was a battle to the death."
End Flashback
How could've it come to that . . . I don't understand . . .
"Kagome?"
The young woman turned her head, her obsidian locks spilling over her sleeping bag as her pale skin glowed in the sunlight, giving her the illusion of a fallen angel.
Inuyasha held his breath, watching as she propped herself on her elbow, her brown eyes full of sadness as her black mane flowed down her back. Why didn't I ever notice how beautiful she was?
The hanyou closed his eyes momentarily, knowing that the way she looked at the present moment would be seared into his memory forever. Taking a step forward, he motioned her with a single finger to come to him.
Kagome gazed the young man before her, his silver hair a gleaming halo around his rugged face. The golden eyes she had known for so long burned into hers with such intensity she felt her skin flare up. As he beckoned her towards him, she could do no more than to follow in a dream-like trance, sliding out of her bag in an easy sweep and stumbling towards him, her eyes never leaving his.
As the miko fell into step with her late-night companion, they slowly walked into the forest, no words between them. Although she had no idea where he was taking her, Kagome didn't question him; she trusted him with her whole heart, he knew that.
She's so quiet . . . she's probably thinking the same thing I am . . . The hanyou grimaced, remembering the words Junichiro had told them earlier. They would die in the final battle with Naraku, no one living to tell the tale of victory.
Could the hunt for the jewel shards last that long?
Spotting the tree that he had been searching for, Inuyasha swept the miko in his arms and leapt into the tree, setting her down in the largest branch near the top.
Hearing the young woman gasp, the hanyou smiled, knowing that the dark trees below the cliff and the shining full moon had caught her attention.
The two sat side by side in silence, staring at the dark beauty of the Sengoku Jidai. The crickets below chirpped a happy tune, while an owl nearby hooted in response.
"How could've it ended that way?"
Inuyasha glanced at the young woman, her eyes still focused on the dark forest below as a breeze picked up, kissing her black hair. Taking a deep breath, he stared up at the bright moon. "I don't know . . . I just don't know."
"He wasn't even sure if we succeeded in collecting all the shards."
Although Junichiro's story was quite shakey, it was evident that they had not accomplished their mission by the fragment he held in his possession. Inuyasha slid his hands into his sleeves, nodding. "I know."
Kagome clasped her hands together in her lap, her arms shaking from fear more than the weather. Her sorrowful gaze turned on the hanyou beside her, her voice soft and quiet.
"I don't want it to end that way, Inuyasha."
The young man locked his golden-eyed stare with hers, his heart burning at her words. "Neither do I, but there's nothing we can do."
"Maybe if we do something diffe--"
"Its destiny, Kagome," Inuyasha sighed, turning back to the scenery. "Its destiny that we have Junichiro, and its destiny that we'll d--"
"No!"
The hanyou whipped around at her sudden outburst, nearly falling out of the tree. Her eyes were hidden beneath her hair, her hands clenched into tight fists in her lap.
"I won't let it happen that way," she whispered, a single gleaming tear falling down her face.
"Kagome--"
"Can't you see him?" She raised her head, her tearful eyes boring into his. "Junichiro's in pain, Inuyasha, because we left him. We died, we left him alone. Can't you see? Its our fau--"
"Don't even finish that sentence, wench," Inuyasha growled, grabbing one of her arms. "Its not our fault, alright? Stop blaming yourself for things that aren't in your control!"
Kagome stared at him for a moment before collapsing in his arms, tears flowing freely but silently. Inuyasha awkwardly smoothed her hair, his claws combing through the locks as she murmured barely comprehendable words.
"I can't bear to know that our son will turn out that way . . . "
Inuyasha's hand stilled, his eyes widening as he heard Kagome utter the words "our son" for the first time. Pulling her back gently, he tipped her head up, staring into her eyes.
"Wench, if you only listen to what you say," he grumbled, wiping away the paths of her tears.
Kagome's eyes widened at the hanyou's affectionate tone and soft words. "Nani?"
Shaking his head, the young man slightly smiled, revealing his white canines. "Like you said, wench, he's our son. If he's anything like us, he'll live."
The young woman was speechless, only able to nod her head dumbly. Inuyasha chuckled, pulling back and slipping his hands back into his sleeves.
"I still can't believe we're going to have a son," Kagome murmured, turning a faint red as she realized what she said. Nice job Kagome!!
Inuyasha glanced at her before slightly turning away, hoping that the miko wouldn't notice the bright red that splashed his face and the slight twinkle of joy in his eyes. "He looks alot like you," he grumbled, biting his lip as he heard his voice crack.
Kagome blinked, hearing his strange tone. Gazing closer, she noticed that his face was darker in the moonlight, apparent evidence that he was blushing.
Tugging on her skirt gently, she pretended to examine the creases. "Actually, he looks more like you," she mumbled. "The only difference is that his hair and ears are black."
"Don't forget the eyes," Inuyasha sat back, leaning against the young woman. "His are a few shades darker."
"Yeah . . ." Kagome trailed off, a smile creeping on her face. Ever since she was a little girl she always dreamed of having a family and children, and to actually meet one of them . . . well, it warmed her heart to the very core.
To think . . . me and Inuyasha . . . we're going to have a son . . .
"What do you think of him?"
"Nani?" Kagome looked up, her face in a confused frown.
"Junichiro." The hanyou cleared his voice slightly as he wiggled on the branch. "What do you think of him . . . as our son?"
The young woman stared up at the sky, watching the stars pulsate and twinkle. "He's really quiet . . . like he's always got something on his mind. He must get it from your side."
Inuyasha watched as a tree chewed on a nut nearby. "What do you mean?"
"Don't tell me you haven't noticed it. He prefers to keep his emotions to himself . . . he's always calm and passive, almost like Sesshoumaru."
"Keh," the hanyou snorted, "That kid has more personality than that baka ever will. Besides, I've seen his tempermental side. Kind of reminds me of myself; misunderstood and lonely.
"But you're not lonely anymore," Kagome pointed out, absentmindedly tugging on her sock. "You've changed alot since we first met."
"I know that," Inuyasha grunted.
Silence once again fell over the two, each deep in thought as they watched the moon slowly fade, noticing the first rays of light appearing in the distance. Kagome unconsciously leaned closer to her companion, her head resting on his shoulder. Inuyasha, a bit surprised at the young woman's act, smiled inwardly and wrapped an arm around her as they continued to gaze at the moonset.
"I hope that kid'll find someone of his own," he muttered, tightening the grip on the woman.
Kagome, who had fallen into a dream-like trance, slowly lifted her head and gazed into his golden pools. "What do you mean?"
"I mean that he'll find someone to change him," Inuyasha slowly explained, never taking his eyes away from her brown irisis. "Someone to show him that he's not alone in the world . . . someone who'll change him like you changed me."
The miko felt her blood speed up, her eyes beginning to moisten with tears once more. "Inuyasha . . ."
"Keh, I know." Inuyasha muttered, rolling his eyes. "All you women are the same; you want to keep your children as babies for as long as you can. Well, you can't stop them from growing up, wench. They got to lea--"
He was cut off as Kagome leaned up and kissed him softly on the corner of the mouth, her lips barely brushing his skin. She pulled back slowly, watching as the hanyou's expression turned from total surprise to utter delight.
"Now, if only that mangy wolf was here to see that," he whispered huskily, pulling her back into his embrace.
"Oh, Inuyasha."
The two sat there on the branch, watching as the sun began to rise and bath everything in its path with light. As Kagome took a deep breath, she smelled the masculine and fresh scent of Inuyasha, smiling to herself as she snuggled closer to his chest.
For once in her entire stay in the Sengoku Jidai, she had no doubts on who Inuyasha's heart belonged to.
-------------------------------------
AN: I know, there wasn't much on Junichiro in here, but I thought a nice filler of how Inuyasha and Kagome's relationship was developing would be nice.
thanks for the reviews guys! you're all the great!
stay tuned!