Disclaimer: They belong to Rumiko Takahashi, except those from my own imagination.

Chapter 34

Grasping her last thread of coherent thought as he possessed her mind, spirit, and heart. Kagome's fleeting mind tried to recall just why she was protesting his assault on her senses. Unable to fathom a single reason for fighting against the onslaught of emotions that slowly seeped within her veins, she did the only thing her mind allowed her to experience. She returned his kiss with as much abandon and love as she was receiving. Grasping his haori within her hands she closed the small gap between them, placing her flush against him. The slight motion elicited a low growl from within his chest, pulsating through her as he managed to tighten his hold on her even more.

His body radiated heat around her; unable to do more than dream about kissing the hanyou when they had been in the past, Kagome broke the kiss gently. Not pleased with her actions, Inuyasha opened his eyes and growled softly at the girl within his arms. Giving him a sad smile in return, she ran a hand through a lock of his raven hair; the confusion written in his violet gaze was palpable.

Something about his human form bothered Kagome; it didn't seem right that he had to hide who he was in this time. It wasn't just Inuyasha though, it was all of them. Yuka and Shippo wore concealment spells; even Kirara had a spell on her most of the time. That she had gone so long without realizing youkai existed in her time unsettled her. Most of all she just missed the familiar golden gaze of his eyes on her.

Slowly releasing the lock of hair, she reached around to the concealing necklace locking him in human form. Lifting it over his head, she watched the transformation take place as she placed the necklace around her own neck for safe keeping. He may not mind wearing it and looking like a 'pathetic human', but she missed his real appearance when it was gone. Giving him a satisfied smile as she reached up to gently tug one of his appendages on top of his head before burying her hands deep in his silver hair and yanking his mouth back to hers, fangs and all.

A gentle chuckle rumbled through the hanyou as he redirected his attention to her neck. "Problem with me looking human, wench?"

She sighed soaking in the sensation of his mouth on the sensitive skin of her throat. "Only when you aren't supposed to look it." She reached up and rubbed one of his feathery soft ears, earning a gentle rumble in response for her actions. Reveling in the feel of him surrounding her every sense, the scrape of fangs against her neck sent shivers up her spine as she couldn't help but moan softly as he lavished attention on his mark.

"You know this is a large forest, Inuyasha. If you want to defile her I would at least get out of earshot of your companions. Not all of us have abysmal human hearing you know."

She felt Inuyasha tense at the words; in such a fog of emotions she hadn't been able to understand their exact meaning. If the snarl emitting from Inuyasha was any indicator, the hanyou was furious. Although the stupor was taking longer than it should to release her, with Inuyasha in such close proximity to her and refusing to release his grasp on her, Kagome fought to figure out what the voice was telling them.

The loss she felt when she suddenly found herself without the warmth of the hanyou wrapped around her came as a shock to her system. The sudden realization that that had been doing...well, what they were doing high in the tree less than ten feet away from where their companions sat eating their dinner. A sudden flush came to Kagome's cheeks, mortification at what they all probably saw her doing with Inuyasha. All she wanted to do was run away and hide, not facing them again.

Taking a quick glance around, she saw Inuyasha chasing Shippo as if he was determined to remove the kitsune's head with one swipe. Stuck in the tree alone with no way to get down on her own, she cursed the hanyou for not at least putting her on the ground before taking off after his prey. 'How could I have forgotten where we were at? That's not like me to not notice my surroundings. Of course, it's a little different with Inuyasha's hands and mouth all over me...' Her flush rose again at the thought, until the scent of dinner hit her nose.

Suddenly nothing else mattered but getting down from the tree and getting a bowl of whatever was for dinner. She hadn't eaten in what felt like forever and the smell wafting to her was enough to make her stomach growl in anticipation. Damning him for leaving her here with no way of escape, Kagome racked her brain for a way out of the tree. Scanning the ground, her eyes landed on Inuyasha and the purple kotodama rosary around his neck as he chased the kitsune. Hoping her efforts worked the way she wanted them to, she took a deep breath before unleashing an "Inuyasha, HEEL!" at the top of her lungs.

Hoping against hope that the spell reacted the way she thought it did; her relief at the sight of him in the air and coming towards her was enormous. Although he looked less than thrilled at the spells activation from the glare in his golden eyes as he forcefully dropped at her feet, in the tree. "Oi, wench! What did you do that for?"

She wrapped her arms around his neck as she claimed him in a kiss meant to pacify him, settle his soul. His response was immediate as he wrapped her in his embrace before she broke the kiss. His growl of annoyance made her grin, "I'm hungry. Can you put me down so I can eat before you kill Shippo?"

His golden eyes looked confused as he tried to grasp the situation. "Shippo? Food?" He shook his head as if trying to straighten the thoughts in his mind.

Kagome grinned, realizing her kiss had rendered him as useless as his last kiss had left her. "Yes, you left me alone here in the tree when you went chasing after Shippo. I am starved! Can you put me on the ground before you go off to kill him?"

Understanding finally lit in the hanyou's golden gaze as he tightened his hold on the miko and leapt from the tree to the ground. Placing her on an abandoned log next to the rest of their companions, Inuyasha stormed over to the food and dished out two bowls of the stew before walking back over to Kagome. Much to her surprise he brought one back to her and joined her on the log. Smiling at his uncharacteristic actions, she leaned against him and whispered "Thank you."

"Keh." Came the expected reply, complete with a slight flush. He turned his attention to the food in the bowl he was eating as he sat in embarrassed silence next to her.

Kagome grinned, but didn't move from his side as she began to eat her dinner.

After dinner, the group settled into their bedding getting ready to rise early in the morning. Kagome dug around looking for something in her backpack, she pulled out Miroku's book. "Too bad it's so dark we can't read it." She grumbled shoving it back into her bag.

Inuyasha reached over her, grabbing it back out. "Not everyone has human eyes, wench. I can see just fine."

Giving him a grateful grin, Kagome settled her back against him. "Is that what I think it is?" Yuka asked from a few yards away.

Her question brought the attention of the rest of the group to the pair. "It is! I would know that book anywhere." Shippo stated, moving closer to them. "I haven't seen it in a while, how far in it are you?"

"It's none of your business, bastard."

"Like I wouldn't know, baka! Unlike someone I know, I lived the damn thing, or did you forget?" Shippo countered, his green eyes burning holes into the hanyou.

"Keh! What did you care what I did for five hundred years anyway?"

"That's enough!" Kagome interrupted, placing a hand gently on the hanyou's chest in an attempt to stop the fight before it escalated further. "It's been a while since we read it, Shippo. The last entry we read was when Sango had her first baby."

Shippo grinned in response at her answer. "Really? Wow, you really have been putting up with an attention craved hanyou since you unsealed him, haven't you?"

"Oi! You little..."

Clamping a hand over the hanyou's mouth, Kagome was on the receiving end of an icy glare from him. She grinned in response, leaning into him closer before answering the kitsune. "You, better than anyone else, should know how much I love every second of it, Shippo. Besides, I don't think I would want an Inuyasha that had to live for five hundred years to get to me. So much can change in that time, look at you. You used to be a sweet little kid who adored me and enjoyed playing pranks and teasing Inuyasha."

Letting loose a snort behind her, Inuyasha cut in by commenting, "Oi, nothing has changed. He's just bigger and a spent too much time with Miroku!"

Kagome laughed, pressing a hand to her mouth. "You might be right, I guess as much hasn't changed as I thought it had."

Shippo stared between the pair in shock, as if having a difficult time believing what his eyes were showing him. The kitsune shook his head slightly as if to clear his muddled thoughts before he finally found a voice to speak. "A lot can stay the same after five hundred years, but it is surprising what can change in the span of just a couple of weeks."

"Oi!"

"So, that is the Monk and Demon Slayer's story?" Makato interrupted the hanyou's impending tirade. "I have heard bit's and pieces about it over the years, but was never allowed to read it. If I remember correctly, only a handful of people have been allowed to read it over the years. Supposedly someone has held it for safe keeping until they knew that Kagome had been born, before handing it over to her mom."

"Who would know when and where to give it to my..." Kagome stopped and stared at Shippo in surprise. "You? It was you, wasn't it? No one else had that information but you."

"Of course it was me! Why do you think your mom always sent you pocky and lollipops for me to eat? She already knew me and was grateful for what I had done for her. She was more than willing to help us out with supplies and food, wasn't she?"

"Just like she is now." Shinju added.

"Anyway, are you gonna read that? Cause I think most of us are curious to what they were like. I have heard a little about them but don't really know much else." Yuka approached the bedroll that Kagome and Inuyasha were snuggled together on. "Dad just told me that the monk was a pervert when he was younger and the taijiya was more powerful than most men and beat the snot out of the monk on a daily basis, even though she had fallen in love with him."

"That sum's it up about right."

"Inuyasha! It does not and you know it!" Kagome cried, jabbing in elbow in the hanyou's stomach.

"Really what else would you say about them?"

"More than he was a pervert and she beat the crap out of him for it!" Kagome shook her head in disbelief. "Miroku had very powerful spiritual powers and a knack for knowing just what to say to someone who was hurt or in pain. For someone who had so much to fear in his life, he always seemed to end up putting us, his friends, first."

"For someone who worried about his life being ended by his kazaana, he would go into battle without any fear of death." Shippo added.

"He always had a special place for Sango, even in the beginning. I think he intuitively knew that he needed to treat her differently. Unlike every woman he had met before, he never asked her to bear his child when they met." Kagome laughed at the memory of when Miroku had asked her to bear his child, Inuyasha had been so angry. "Sango had just lost everyone of any importance to her in her life, because of Naraku. He was a comforting ear for Sango, very understanding and helpful when Sango needed it. Granted, it didn't stop him from asking other women to bear his children or for him to keep his 'cursed' hand off of Sango."

"After a few hundred hits with Hiraikotsu the lecher learned his lesson, don't piss off Sango. Did you wanna hear this or not?" At everyone's affirmative nod, Inuyasha's gruff voice was all you could hear around the campsite as he began reading the monk's words.

It seems my entries keep getting further apart, forgive me. Life gets in the way. Our daughter, Kagome, is nearly a year old now. Having a child around us has changed our lives so much, you wouldn't believe it. Although still just an infant, every day she reminds us more of her namesake. Content to explore her world around her, she has a special connection with youkai that neither Sango nor I can quite understand yet. She had Shippo and Kirara tied around her fingers from day one. Even on the occasional visits from Sesshoumaru, she has no fear of the taiyoukai, constantly grabbing for his robes to pull herself up to stand. I don't think he quite knew what to think when that happened, it entertained me to remember it for a long time after he left.

We hadn't returned to the taijiya village since before Kagome had been born. I wondered if perhaps Sango had avoided it since our last visit there with Kohaku. That short trip had ended with the boy leaving us needing to atone for the 'sins' he believed he committed, we haven't seen him since. Just the other day Sango mentioned taking Kagome to visit the graves...

Two years ago it would have been a dream, traveling the roads with three women he was crazy about. In his wildest dreams, he never would have imagined this day would come to pass. In all of his dreams, it was never his daughter, the ward of the western lands and the woman he promised to spend the rest of his life with. Strangely, he had never been happier with his situation in life.

Sango turned around to wait for him, their daughter strapped to her back. Miroku grinned at the sight of his family; he fell in love with her more every day. There had been a time when he thought he would tire of her, as he seemed to tire of everything in life. He had never settled down when he was younger, the life of a traveling monk had suited him perfectly. It wasn't until he had met up with Inuyasha and Kagome when the idea of being alone began to scare him, strangely traveling with them seemed almost natural to him immediately.

Then Sango had joined their group and he knew he never could be alone again.

"Houshi-sama, are you alright? You are lagging behind everyone. Are you tired? Do you need to rest?"

Miroku looked up at the taijiya's questions, melting into her soft chocolate gaze as she looked back at him with concern. He sighed, rest...rest would be perfect right now. He wasn't tired in the least and had to somehow convince her to give the baby to Rin and have them go off alone for just a few moments without interruptions. He shook his head slightly, she would never agree to it. "I am fine, Sango dear. Just doing some thinking."

She slowed down, allowing him to catch up with the rest of them. "Thinking? About what?"

The look he gave her must have had the intended impression as surprise flamed to life in her gaze as her cheeks flushed with excitement. He could feel himself smirk at her instant reaction. "Thinking? Oh just about when we will get to rest next." Reaching her side he reacted instinctively by executing his signature move which would have earned him a firm rap with Hiraikotsu a year ago.

Her flush turned a brilliant shade of crimson, making him grin. Instead of Hiraikotsu on her back these days, Kagome was, of which Miroku was grateful. "Houshi-sama!" She chastised as she nudged him away with her shoulder, grinning. "Not in front of the children, besides we are almost to the village. We can 'rest' as much as you want when we get there."

Raising his brows in surprise, Miroku smirked, "Is that a promise, Sango?"

"If you behave..."

Content just to walk along with Sango and watch Rin pick flowers along the roadside with Kirara darting around her, the rest of the trip to the village passed quickly. As they approached the village Sango suddenly became quiet, an apprehensive look in her eye. "Sango? Is everything alright?"

Sighing, Sango pointed to the repairs done to the fence surrounding the village. "Someone's been here." The hurt and upset in her voice showed the concern for her abandoned village, Miroku prayed that bandits hadn't taken refuge there. Famous for its weaponry, the village was ripe for the taking with no one keeping watch over its safety.

Approaching the village with caution, they encountered no resistance as they approached the entryway. Slowly entering the village, Miroku supported Sango's back as she took a good look around. As they were able to see as they approached, the wall surrounding the village had been repaired or replaced in certain places. The only noticeable difference inside the village was the weaponry hut had been rebuilt as well as one house.

"It doesn't look like a group has moved in, there would be a lot more fixed if there had been." Miroku pulled her into his side as Kagome babbled from her place in the backpack.

Tears of frustration swelled in the taijiya's eyes, "That is MY house they rebuilt Miroku! MY house!" She removed the backpack and handed Kagome to Miroku before storming into the house.

Knowing she needed to be left alone for a few minutes, Miroku gave her the space she needed. If she needed help, which she rarely did, he would know. A few moments later, she stormed back outside, eyes flashing dark with fury. She stormed right past them, ignoring everything but her rage. "Sango? Sango!" Miroku called, following after her. He could feel her anguish radiating off her in waves, and wasn't quite sure how to calm her soul.

He reached her quickly, yanking her to him, careful not to crush Kagome in the process. "Someone is living in my house, houshi-sama! When I find out who is doing this I will kill them!" Her heartfelt words were muffled as she broke down in tears against his robes.

He had caught up to her at the gravesite of the villagers and to Miroku's surprise found that fresh flowers had been laid at each of the graves. A sudden suspicion overwhelmed the monk as he surveyed the village. "I don't think the visitor means us any harm, Sango."

Miroku turned the taijiya toward the gravesite, watching as her mouth dropped open in confused shock at the sight of fresh flowers covering the ground. "What? Who? Why?"

"Kohaku!" Rin screamed running off toward the village.

AN

My apologies on the timing between chapters to everyone. I made a goal to do something with my actual novel before making a new update with this one. Hopefully it won't take me a month to get what I want done next time. Thanks for your patience!!