Fantastical Queen Ebony Black – hello there… yes, it did seem a little quick, near the end right? Yeah I guess I was sort of rushing… but was it that confusing? Can you tell me where the confusing parts is so I can fix asap? I'd greatly appreciate that. Btw, thank you so much for reviewing and being such a loyal reader that you are. You're one of the people who I write for :)

Stary Angel1 – ahaha seeing that it was 'getting good', I decided to write another chapter! Thanks to you as well for staying with me and not leaving this slowly updating story. This one's for you ;)

chibiNeko192 – LOL, you find Kouga dying COOL? Ahahha well, sure if you say so then ;D I'm so touched that you've still been waiting for my update… how long has it been? A year? Ehh, iunno but thank you so much for reviewing! You're one of those people who keep me writing

catqueen13 – welcome… I haven't seen you around before so I'm guessing you're a new reader? I'm glad you think it's good cause personally I'm looking at it with a gruesome expression. Ahaha, hope you stick around… and thanks for reviewing!


"Inuyasha honey, I can't change you if you keep moving like that."

The little child scrunched up its adorable honey eyed; canine toothed face and made a gurgling noise which resembled something like 'NO!' – A toddler's favorite word. The young woman sighed as she impatiently rocked the tiny body back and forth, hoping to calm him down while resisting the urge to puke out her breakfast.

"Inuyasha baby, listen to mommy…" Kagome sighed wearily as she tried her best to tame the squirming child who would not allow his mother to change his mud caked clothes. But to no avail, he only squealed louder and slipped out Kagome's grasp, falling into the casket once more.

Kagome dropped her arms and tiredly rubbed her face as the child made a getaway by burying itself into the layers of blankets in the casket. It has been almost three years here but she still couldn't adjust to the environment of living in a shabby little broken down shack where her cabin was only so close. But she knew she couldn't go back for the risk of Sesshomaru and Inuyasha coming back to get her.

Inuyasha. The name still brought immense pain to her heart. What happened to him? All these years of hate and depression, she could only expect him to come after her with only a heavy heart that was set on revenge towards her. But it still hurt to watch the one she truly loved after all these years to attack her like that.

She looked at the bundles of blankets with an Inuyasha Jr. squirming underneath. Slowly, a smile appeared on her face. Her baby had grown beautifully and she could only say he resembled so much of his father. She even named her baby the same name as his birth father… she had missed Inuyasha that much. Her smile grew wider as she imagined his wild silver locks and honey eyes while he grinned foolishly at her, revealing two small canine teeth. His personality was wild, like his father, and whenever Kagome would break down and cry at night, he would curl up next to her and whisper soothing words to her… showing Kagome's side. She loved the little thing, but she still couldn't believe he was turning four years old this year… and still fatherless. Time has gone by so fast and Kagome could feel herself grow older and weaker day by day, physically and emotionally.

"Mommy?" a small voice quietly said from below.

Kagome blinked, snapping out of her trance and looking down. Her heart tickled when she saw Little Inuyasha peering at her with his big innocent eyes and a curious frown. She quickly wiped a stray tear that was slowly sliding down her cheek and gave a big smile for her kid. "Yes, honey?"

"What's wrong?"

Kagome laughed and reached over to pull him out of the casket. "Nothing honey. Only a little upset because somebody over here won't change out of his yucky clothes and is getting the blankies all dirty… HM!"

Little Inuyasha squealed as he flexibly slipped out of Kagome's grasp and darted around the house, laughing and drooling all the way. Kagome laughed at her child's silliness and tackled her little kid against the ground with him screaming in joy underneath her. "Mommy no! Yur squishin' Inu! Mommy, nooo!"

Kagome laughed and got off the tiny little body that immediately lunged into her stomach the moment she was sitting upright. That resulted into her falling back with her baby laughing and wriggling everywhere on her chest.

"Okay, okay common baby… you're getting mommy all dirty now. Let's go get you changed and a nice bath okay?" Kagome said after the giggles died down. She got up and looped her arms under Inuyasha's armpits and hulled him up.

"Mommy…"

"Yes hun?" Kagome replied distractedly as she walked over towards the basin and turned on the hot water tap.

"When's daddy gonna come home?"

Kagome froze midway turning the hot water tap, and little Inuyasha jumped when his bath started to get warm. Kagome blinked, realizing what she was doing and quickly turned it off, but she still couldn't stop trembling. She had dreaded from day one when little Inuyasha was born that he would someday ask this question. He had already asked it once, and she remembered breaking down and crying. Seeing that his mother could not provide an answer for him, little Inuyasha had concluded that his daddy was away on a business trip and when he returned, he would come back with tons and tons of toys bought just for him. Kagome smiled sadly at her son's naïve personality, but couldn't help but wish with him.

"Soon hun, soon… now take off those clothes! They're going to have to be washed tonight." Kagome playfully poked her son's ribcage, hoping to distract him from probing her any more questions. Fortunately, it had, and immediately he burst out in a fit of giggles.

Kagome laughed along with her child before knocking was heard from a distance. Both Kagome and little Inuyasha ceased their laughter and clamped their mouths shut, suddenly cautious and aware. Kagome quickly held onto her son's hands from splashing the water and Inuyasha obeyed. Kagome was now glad that she had repeatedly told little Inuyasha that if there was any sound whatsoever that did not come from neither of them, he had to stay still and be quiet. She concentrated hard to detect where the sound was coming from, and what it was.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Kagome's eyes widened.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

The… door?

Impossible! In all three years of her life living here, there was not one visitor that has come here. Who could it be? Kagome froze as a name randomly appeared in her mind.

Inuyasha.

"Inuyasha…"

"What?"

Kagome jolted at her son's voice and she looked at him as he peered up at her curiously and expectant. She hadn't realized she had whispered the older Inuyasha's name out and now as she looked at the door and her son, her heart started thumping louder and louder, faster and faster.

Could it be? Kagome thought, her emotions mixed. She didn't know whether to be excited or afraid… he could either be back to kill her, or come back with open arms and ready for a family. She hoped it was the latter.

But it couldn't be him. Kagome thought as she quietly instructed her son to stay still in the basin while she got up to investigate. He could've never discovered where she lived, he should still be hiding since she should be expected to call the cops and live at the academy.

She slowly crept around the single wall that separated the two rooms and peered behind the wall at the door. No mistake, the fragile door was moving slightly as each knock resounded into the house. Kagome swallowed, sweat running down the side of her temple. Maybe it was a visitor, here to explore or here to ask her for directions? There were endless possibilities of who could be at the door, but Kagome was afraid. Were they cops? Were they people Inuyasha had sent to look for her?

No matter what the outcome was, Kagome had a feeling he/she could come in anyway if she didn't answer. So after swallowing her fear and putting her training in work, Kagome bent down onto the floor and slowly made her way towards the door.

When she reached the door, the knocking suddenly stopped and so did she. She stopped in her tracks, her hand halfway reaching towards the doorknob. She pricked her ears attentively, hoping to hear something, someone, and anything! Had the person knocking heard her presence? Why was he/she stopping?

Kagome furrowed her eyebrows when she heard nothing but silence. Then, to her surprise, the sounds of footsteps turning away from the door and walking away could be heard. The person was leaving. Wait! Don't go!

Without thinking of the consequences or thinking over who it could be, Kagome got right up and swung open the door. She stepped out noisily, indicating that she had opened the door.

There was a person in front of her with their back turned towards her, as if he was ready to leave. Yes, it was a 'he' from his broad frame and muscular build. He had frozen in his place as well when he heard the door open, and slowly, he began to turn.

Kagome gasped when she realized who her visitor was. No, it couldn't be. It CAN'T be…

"Kouga."


Kagome tilted the cracked china teapot downwards, watching as the hot brown liquid pour over into the battered china teacup. Steam rose from the dispensed tea, and Kagome looked up at the man stiffly seated across from her. She placed the teapot back onto the small table and handed him the steaming hot tea and he accepted it with gratitude.

"Kagome, it's been so long." He finally spoke after a while of silence, his voice husky and low, just like before.

Kagome could only wearily smile back at him as she continued to stare at him. He hasn't changed. Tousled jet-black hair neatly pulled into a high ponytail, straight confident composure and hypnotizing blue eyes. He was different from the last time she saw him though. Last time, he had been a total wreck, hair amiss, clothing out of place and hands all trembling. But now that she looked at him, she could see that his old self was back… full of arrogance and confidence once more. He was also wearing an expensive looking navy suit, cleaned and pressed. She could guess what he was doing right now, and she was proud of him. But what truly confused her was… why was he back? Wasn't he dead? Didn't Sesshomaru's bullets pierce his heart and didn't he fall dead into her arms three years ago? How could he be alive?

As if reading her mind, he slowly placed the cup back onto the table and smiled at her, "You must be wondering why and how I could be back, huh?"

Kagome dumbly nodded, unable to find the right words to say at the moment. Her silence invited the man that she once loved to go on.

"You must be thinking; he's dead… why the hell's he back? And I was getting happy…" Kagome cracked a small smile at his attempt to make a joke, but she couldn't laugh. Maybe it was the shock that Kouga wasn't dead… maybe it was the disappointment it wasn't someone else.

"I was actually never dead, Kagome," Kouga matter-of-factly stated as he took another elegant sip of his tea and placed it back onto the table. "Great tea, by the way. Did you make it yourself?"

"Kouga," Kagome said with impatience tinged in her voice. "Tell me what happened."

He smiled at her and crossed his arms, "Never beating around the bush huh? Well okay. I was never dead in the first place. I had merely passed out from the pain and I knew you thought I was dead and had escaped. When gunfire had sounded, I knew for sure that you were dead. But then I heard muffled voices in the background… a sound of someone getting punched… I thought it was you. But then I heard two male voices and yeah… then somebody saved me."

Kagome unexpectedly grabbed his arm, startling him, "Did you hear what they said? Who saved you?"

"Whoa, calm down, and hands off the suit… just got it pressed." Kouga grinned as Kagome shyly retreated back. "Okay, did I hear what they said? Barely. I was still in a lot of pain and could barely stay awake. But I do remember hearing some words being exchanged. Stupid, why, asshole, shut up, won't understand, and… then I completely blacked out."

Kagome sagged in her seat, the hope climbing in her heart now gone. She had hoped Inuyasha had said something about her… maybe an explanation of why Sesshomaru had missed so badly when he fired at her. Why Inuyasha had blocked him. "That doesn't help much."

Kouga smiled at her and shrugged, "And who saved me? I honestly have no idea. I heard footsteps running away… then maybe a few minutes later… somebody lifted me up. Next thing I knew, I was in a hospital. I had asked the nurses who brought me here… they merely shrugged and told me: a friend."

Kagome furrowed her eyebrows at Kouga's tale, trying to figure out who had saved him. Whoever did, she would want to personally thank them. After all these years, guilt had haunted her that Kouga had died because of her. But seeing him alive and well in front of her, she was extremely grateful.

"Kouga, I'm so sorry for what happened."

Kouga put up a hand, silencing her and shook his head. "No, I'm sorry for what happened. Though I still don't understand why those two were attacking you in the first place, Kagome."

Kagome didn't answer. She couldn't answer. She couldn't tell Kouga that one of those men was the person that broke apart their relationship and was still out there finding her to kill her. No. She couldn't tell him. "I-I… don't know."

"Well…"

CLANK!

Both Kagome and Kouga quickly jerked their heads towards the source of noise which was coming from the other side of wall. Kagome abruptly got up onto her feet and Kouga followed subtly afterwards. On the other side of wall, was the bathroom.

Wait.

Bathroom… bath…

INUYASHA!

"Inuyasha!" Kagome cried as realization dawned upon her. She dashed out of the room and around the wall, panicked. If anything happened to him, she would never forgive herself. The only thing that had kept her alive all these years were her son, and she could not afford to lose him even if Kouga was back.

She burst through the room with heavy breaths, and relief immediately washed over her. In front of her, was a wet and frozen little Inuyasha halfway across the room with the water basin knocked over behind him. His eyes were big and afraid and was staring straight at Kagome as Kouga burst in after her, "What's wrong!" His eyes then slowly traveled towards the little boy frozen midway with a towel wrapped around his small, dripping body. Kagome slowly turned to look at Kouga, almost afraid of his reaction. Will he remember little Inuyasha? The little kid that wasn't his? One of the two reasons why they had separated?

To her surprise, Kouga's eyes simply softened and a friendly smile appeared on his face, "Hi there, little one."

Kagome watched silently as Kouga carefully made his way across the room and up to the unmoving Inuyasha and bent down to his level with the same comforting smile on his face. Little Inuyasha had shrunk away a bit and looked at Kagome with a questioning look on his face, but Kagome nodded to assure him that everything was okay. Judging by his stiff posture and reluctant reactions, it seemed that Inuyasha was still unconvinced.

But Kouga didn't give up and he stuck a hand out, "Don't be afraid, little guy. My name's Kouga… your name is Inuyasha right?" Kouga warmly said with his hand still in the air, awaiting Inuyasha's small ones. Kagome stiffened, but then relaxed when she realized that Kouga did not know Inuyasha's name before. He would probably be angry that she had named the child after the father, whom she slept with and cheated on Kouga.

Kagome watched as Inuyasha Jr. slowly extend a dripping hand and shook Kouga's large ones. "Hi." Inuyasha retreated back and cautiously peered at Kouga's face. "H-How did you know my name?"

"Well," Kouga said as he pretended to think, "Your mommy was just telling me what a great kid Inuyasha was… how he would always listen to her and help her whenever she needed. She also said he was a very handsome little boy. So when I looked at you, I knew right away you were Inuyasha."

"Really? Did she really say that?" Inuyasha Jr. quickly said with a bright smile, his eyes lighting up immediately at Kouga's statement. His suspicious demeanor had dropped and Kagome was glad that Inuyasha liked Kouga. It was probably hard for the boy to meet someone new since in the last three years, Kagome had never taken him out, afraid that they would see someone they knew.

"Of course," Kouga assured as he playfully ruffled the kid's wet hair.

Inuyasha Jr. laughed and reached a drenched arm over and ruffled Kouga's nice and brushed ones, earning a surprised gasp from the older man. "Hey! I just combed that! Ooh, you're gonna get it kid!"

Little Inuyasha squealed and ran away from Kouga's extending arms and hid behind his mother. "Mommy! Help! That man gonna attack me!"

Kagome laughed as the two began chasing each other around, one in a formal business suit, the other in only a towel and dripping wet. Her heart warmed when she realized Kouga would not turn away from Inuyasha Jr., even though he wasn't his son. She was grateful for that, knowing that Inuyasha could have someone else besides her.

"Kooga, Kooga," Inuyasha said when they stopped chasing each other around and collapsed onto the floor, panting.

"Yeah?" Kouga wearily replied and looked at the little kid currently inching himself closer to him.

"Are you my daddy?"

Both Kagome and Kouga froze when those four words slipped out of the little child's mouth. Kagome paled up, allowing the doubts of Kouga disliking Inuyasha Jr. to hit her like a tidal wave. Is he mad? Will he be?

Kagome watched in dread as the happy smile on Kouga's face faded, replaced by a disapproving frown. She stared at him, hoping he would sense her apologetic expression but he hadn't turned away from the expecting Inuyasha staring at him curiously, oblivious to both adults' sudden stiffness. "Are you, Kooga, are you?"

Suddenly, Kouga burst out laughing and Kagome couldn't only blink. When the man stopped his chuckling, he ruffled the kid's hair and pulled him extra close. He raised his index finger in front of him and Inuyasha Jr. followed it playfully with his eyes. "First off, my name's not 'Kooga', it's KOUGA. Second of all, I'm not your father, nope. But I could be your friend? How does that sound?" Inuyasha's eyes, who were following Kouga's finger the whole time suddenly bulged. He broke away from his finger and immediately turned his head up at the older man.

"Really, Kouga? You be my frwend?"

"I don't see why not." Kouga answered as he poked the little kid's noise.

Little Inuyasha didn't seem to mind that Kouga wasn't his father, but instead was ecstatic. "Yeeeah! Kouga-sama's my friend! I have a friend! I never had friends before! Yah! Kouga!"

Kouga smiled at the kid, but when he wasn't looking, slipped a questioning glance at Kagome. She could only smile sadly at him, knowing what he was trying to ask her. He was probably surprised that this adorable little kid could not have friends, but luckily, he decided to probe any further. Instead, he hulled up the tiny child and sat him on his arm. "So, we're friends now. Wanna go celebrate?"

"Yah! Let's go celeburate!" Inuyasha agreed enthusiastically as he bounced energetically on the man's arm.

"Whoa, whoa, hold your horses little man."

Kagome laughed at her son's hyperactive personality and shook her head. Kouga laughed with her and then cocked his head at the smiling boy. "How can we celebrate when you're wearing nothing but a dinky towel?"

Little Inuyasha somehow found it extremely funny, and he started laughing hysterically. Both adults laughed along with the happy little kid, and Kagome had never felt so happy in her three years of living here.

"Alright," Kouga said as he bounced little Inuyasha's on his arm. "Let's get you changed… then I'll take you out okay?"

"OKAY!"

Kouga turned to look at Kagome, who had a troubled expression on her face. "What do you think Kagome?"

"Well… I don't know…" she wasn't sure it would be safe to take little Inuyasha out in public. She was still hiding from everything that was happening and definitely did not want to risk her only son. Something in her gut was just simply telling her that it was a bad idea. "I don't think…"

"Oh puh-lease mommy! Pweeease! I promise I'll be extra good!" Little Inuyasha pleaded, Kouga agreeing along with him. "Yeah Kagome… what could happen?"

Kagome looked at the two in amazement. Inuyasha Jr. and Kouga had just met, and she's been with her son for his whole life. Still, he was going on Kouga's side instead of hers? She took another look at the two.

And then something hit her. It was then she couldn't help but think of how good the two looked as son and father, with their faces beaming and their clutches on each other protective and tight.

But why was she feeling this? Wasn't she still in love with Inuyasha and was patiently awaiting for his return? Why was something nagging her to tag along the two and have a nice happy dinner for once? Why was she longing to give up on the inconsistent hiding she had to endure all her life? Why couldn't she be free for once? Free with her son… free with Kouga.

Maybe… just maybe… it was time to let go. Time to start a new life, fresh and anew, and fly free from the past that had been haunting her every night for so long. Maybe it was time to erase all the worries and tears in her life and begin a fresh start… a new life… with her baby… with Kouga.

She looked at Kouga again, his handsome smiling face. Maybe she should give him another chance… if he would accept it. Three years have already passed by, and still no sign of the person whom she wanted to live the rest of her life with. Because now, something is telling her that he wasn't going to come back. Wasn't going to ride by and sweep her off her feet, telling her everything was going to be okay. No. Today, was the only chance that it could be him, but it wasn't. Instead, it was Kouga. Was it a sign? A wake-up call?

Kagome didn't know what to answer. But one thing's for sure:

She's going to that dinner.


Author's Note: Thanks to you guys' reviews and motivation, I really felt inspired to write another chapter! Hopefully, it's not as rushed as last time's. Anyways, here it is and I hoped you enjoyed it. This is for you guys out there )