Act Twelve
'The weeks seem to be flying by,' thought Kagome as she sipped from the cup of tea. The March morning found herself enjoying the company of Sango and Shippo. Miroku and Inuyasha had taken the liberty of going of to have some 'male bonding' time as Miroku had put it.
Smiling softly at the memory, she could clearly see the look of pleading on Inuyasha's face as Miroku dragged him towards the forest. His aura was stressed and concerned, but Kagome had brushed it off as she followed Sango towards their hut.
Now, Kagome watched as Shippo played in the corner with his tops and various other toys. He had grown considerably from when Kagome had first met him several years ago. His hair was shaggier, his body ganglier and his attitude slightly more stubborn than his usually pleasing self.
"How's your tea, Kagome?"
Broken away from her thoughts, Kagome smiled warmly as she lifted up her cup. "Excellent, as usual." She commented before sipping again.
Sango tasted hers before setting it down beside her, looking towards Kagome.
"It's been so long since we had some time together. I mean, we hardly see you any more, and Inuyasha's always by your side."
Kagome nodded. "Well, I'm just happy he hasn't abandoned me yet, after everything that's been happening." She placed a self-conscious hand over her rapidly swelling stomach.
Sango didn't miss the discreet movement. Her expression changed to worry. "Why's that? Has he given any indication he's wanted to leave?"
Kagome gave her a frightened expression. "What? Oh, no…Its just…Everything that's been happening lately with that Shitsuren, I just wouldn't blame him for wanting to high-tail it outta here."
Sango shook her head. "That's not Inuyasha's style, to give up so easily. Especially on something he loves so much." Taking Kagome's hand, she squeezed it softly. "Everything will shape up soon enough. I mean, he loves you, and he'll do whatever it takes to make sure you're happy. He'd move the world for you, Kagome. He'd capture the stars and moon for you."
Kagome blushed as she looked into the cup of tea still caught in her right hand. "Yea, I know what you mean. He asked me to be his mate."
She watched humorously as Sango's jaw dropped. "Wh-what?"
Kagome nodded. Sango's eyes grew so wide that they threatened to pop out of her head. Finally, she looked back down at the floor, a frown on her face.
"There goes my bet, dammit."
"Pardon?"
Sango sighed. "Oh, Miroku and I had a bet going."
Kagome raised her eyebrows in questioning. "Excuse me?"
Giggling, Sango struggled for the right words. "Well, Miroku saw how close you two have been. So, he came up with the idea of making a bet. He said it would be about three weeks until he took you as his mate. I had slightly less faith in him and said about six weeks."
Kagome burst out laughing. "Well, that's one way to do it." She said between giggles. "But he's just asked me to be his mate. He hasn't actually 'taken' me yet." A small blush arose at her cheeks.
"Well, lets talk about you and Miroku, how's it workin' out?"
From the corner, Shippo snorted. "Well enough, they can't keep their hands off each other."
Sango blushed slightly as Kagome watched the boy, forgetting he had been there all along.
"Shippo, why don't you take Kirara out for some exercise? She's getting fat, having nothing to do all day long." Sango commented.
"Gladly," he commented. Standing up, he gave a small whistle. The tiny fire-cat demon chirped before standing and leaping after the teen youkai.
As he walked out, Kagome gave a sidelong glance at her flushed friend.
"Aw, that shade goes well with you, Sango." Kagome mocked. "I take it that answer as 'all is well' in the Sango-Miroku kingdom."
Sango nodded, a hint of red still touching her cheeks. "Yes, well…. He wants to have a baby, but I don't think I'm ready for one. I mean, it hasn't been that long since we got married."
Kagome nodded, recalling what Inuyasha had informed her of when she had returned from her side of the well.
She leaned forward to grab the teakettle, the small chain-clad Shikon No Tama falling out from under her white miko blouse.
Sango gasped as her eyes fell upon the jewel. "I thought that that demon had stolen it…"
Shaking her head, Kagome tucked it back under her shirt. "No. I hid it. And I don't think he has any interest in it. Just…me." She lowered her head, but cleared her mood suddenly. "I broke the chain when I hid it, but Inuyasha fixed it for me."
"So you haven't been able to figure out how to purify it yet?"
The miko sighed. "Actually, I haven't really tried. I wished it to bring me back here, and it did that, but it still didn't purify it. But it didn't taint it either." She touched the small ball through her shirt. "I haven't a clue of what to do with it. And the longer I have it, the more danger I'm subjected to. And that also increases the risk factor for the jewel being tainted."
Sango sighed. "I feel for you, Kagome. You haven't been back for long at all, and already there's been a ruckus created."
Kagome nodded in agreement. "Yea, I know."
"But at least I got Inuyasha."
Her exterminator friend giggled. "You must be insane to try to harm you, Kagome. After all, Inuyasha has a temper to rival the devil himself."
Both girls burst out laughing.
"Are we interrupting anything?"
The girls, still laughing, turned to look at the two men standing in the doorway.
"No, not at all."
Inuyasha and Miroku separated, each walking to his own woman. Miroku sat beside Sango, giving her a peck on the cheek as Inuyasha kissed Kagome before settling down behind her to rub her back.
"So what did you two go and do?" Asked Sango in a curious voice.
Inuyasha snorted. "Keh. We did nothin' but help the Old Maid around the village. I think I chopped about eight trees into firewood for her and stacked it in her hut. Dunno what Miroku was doing."
All eyes turned to stare at the monk who looked a little too comfortable sitting astride his wife. He cleared his voice before speaking.
"Kaede asked me to help her with the sick and injured. So please, do not accuse me of things I was not doing."
Kagome raised her eyebrows at Miroku. "He wasn't accusing you of anything, Miroku. Just saying he didn't know where you were. And now that you've said that, you sound almost guilty."
"Uh…" Miroku looked around at every face. Slowly his eyes wandered to Sango before meeting her gaze. Her expression was less that pleased.
Instantly the monk began to kiss ass, knowing that his wife wasn't happy. "My dearest Sango, what makes you think that I have gone back to my tainted ways? I need no other woman, as I now have you."
From behind her, Kagome could feel Inuyasha's anxiousness to leave. She turned to look at him, an annoyed expression on his face.
"Are you ready to leave?" She asked quietly.
He nodded yes before standing to help Kagome to her feet.
Sango turned away from her husband as she looked at her friend. "Are you leaving?"
Kagome nodded. "Yea, Inuyasha wants to get back. But thank you for the tea and great conversation, Sango. We should do it again some time."
Sango nodded. "Please, don't be a stranger. Come by whenever you feel you need to talk."
Kagome smiled and nodded as she followed Inuyasha out the door.
A/N: Ok, in less than a week, I've written three chapters straight through. Either I'm sick or I really want to get this fic done. Or I could just be really bored and ready for school to start. Or I could be really motivated. Those last two ideas really scare me. Sorry that chapter was so lame. But I felt I had to put in some 'Kagome-Sango' time and I used that chapter to kinda clear a few things up. Now, the next few chapters are gonna kinda be some mind bogglers, so keep yer wits about ya. And I'm gonna be putting a lot of foreshadowing in, so ready carefully! Anyways, it's the last day of Christmas/new year's break, and its sunny out. 30 degrees, but sunny. So, I'm gonna go out and ride my horses. See ya guys soon. Next chappies commin' in two weeks max, promise.
