Disclaimer- No, I don't own Inuyasha… I guess I wouldn't really be here if I did…
Suzu- Yah! SCHOOL IS OUT! (Actually, two more days…) Okay, so that's good and all, but I'm sure that you'll all like this chapter as a present in celebration of summer break. I'll be a freshman next year (ninth grade), so wish me luck!
Listening to a nice Japanese song as I write makes me in a very good mood. Maybe I'll practice fluff today. I've been reading some fluffy material to try and toughen up… People have been saying it needs more romance, so…
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Chapter 24
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Warm…
Everything was so warm…
She was so warm…
Inuyasha nuzzled her soft hair as her breathed in her intoxicating scent. His mind drifted in slow, lazy hazes. He couldn't really sort out anything at the moment except the heat, the heat all around him and the one building inside of himself. He growled possessively. Heat and need…his teeth were centimeters from her collarbone…
His mind clicked and sent him a flashing warning signal. No! Kagome wasn't his… their relationship was way too undeveloped. To do that to her now, as she was sleeping, wouldn't be right. He didn't want to rush into anything. Their relationship was so precious to him, like the delicate crystal of one of the statues in his mother's old house. The hanyou's eyes snapped open.
Groaning, he reluctantly pulled himself away from her. Another few moments together and he was a goner for sure. Dusting off his hoari as if to brush off any lingering wisp of that enticing scent, Inuyasha stood and stepped away from the sleeping form of Kagome. From a few feet away, Inuyasha traced the lines of her face with his piercing golden eyes, not allowing his gaze to linger any lower.
As if she sensed his attention, Kagome's eyes fluttered open sleepily. Her chocolate brown eyes softened as she saw Inuyasha a few feet away.
"Inuyasha, I love you." Kagome whispered shyly, as if testing the impact of those words in the air as well as speaking to him. Her face flushed over suddenly. Kami, she must have realized that they had been snuggling up to each other in their sleep.
Inuyasha couldn't stop staring at her every feature. Kagome was too perfect. He felt a flare from her. Ulgh, what bad timing for him to be thinking about mating…she was in heat too.
The beat of his heart was thumping in his ears as he opened his mouth to speak. "U…um…Kagome, th-there's a thing in the demon world. It's called…m…mating." A bright red shade came across both faces simultaneously. Inuyasha forced himself to continue, feeling the urgent pulsing of his heart as he spoke.
"When a male demon…er…likes a female demon—ah! It could be a human too!" Kagome's blush deepened as she realized he was talking about them…and their own love. "Okay, so when he likes her…he takes her as his mate, but first he…he marks her. A mark is to show other demons that she's his mate, not anyone…anyone else's. That's when he bites her…" Inuyasha pointed to his own collarbone. "…right here."
Inuyasha took a deep breath. This was a crucial point in their relationship. He would be so lost if she said 'no'. "Do you think we should…um…become ma--?"
He didn't get a chance to finish. The door swung open at that exact instant and a small shape hurled itself at Kagome, totally breaking the atmosphere. Kagome flinched in surprise, and then started laughing when she realized who it was.
"Oh, how I've missed you Shippo!" Kagome hugged his form to hers.
"Kagome! What took you and Inuyasha so long? I was so worried." Little tears eked their way down his cheeks. "I'm so glad you came back, though!" he squealed.
"Aye, child. We were all worried for ye and Inuyasha." The figure of Kaede, Sango, Rin and Miroku stood in the door way. Kirara was perched on Sango's shoulder, clearly indicating how they got here.
Light was streaming in through the window and open door. The sun was high up in the middle of the clean blue sky. Kagome and Inuyasha had had no idea it was already around noon.
Kagome giggled and looked at Shippo apologetically. "Sorry, Shippo, Kaede-baachan, but I was having some amnesia problems. It's okay now." Her face lit up all of the sudden.
"Oh! I just remembered!" Digging inside her skirt pocket, she retrieved a little wrapped bonbon. "This is for you, Shippo. I don't think I'll be getting anymore for you though. You see, the well closed off." Kagome glanced down sadly, and then looked at Shippo and towards Kaede, Sango, and Miroku.
"That's why I'll be staying here."
A moment of silence passed in the small room. Then, Kaede spoke up.
"Kagome, I might be selfish saying this, but I feel that thee has made a good choice."
"Yeah, Kagome! I'm so glad you decided to stay here with us!" Shippo happily wrapped his arms around Kagome's waist again, making Inuyasha eye him dangerously.
"Yes. That way, Inuyasha and Kagome can be together forever." Rin giggled girlishly as she chanted 'together forever' in a singsong voice, causing both Inuyasha and Kagome to blush furiously.
Sango sat down next to them with a grunt and patted Kagome's shoulder. "Kagome, I think everyone here is glad you decided to stay. We will all help you get settled in."
Miroku chuckled as he added, "…with Inuyasha."
And this time, no one argued with his perverted mind. Perhaps it was because he spoke some truth. Although Inuyasha and Kagome did both look at each other during the last comment; and the rest of the people there did notice both of the young couple flush after eye contact.
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"Nani! Festival, tonight?"
"Mm hm, it's about time we all did something to cheer ourselves up. After all, the festival is to honor you, the new protector of the village." Sango winked cheerfully, indicating there was more to it than that.
"Not only that, but there will be activities and games, like the flower picking contest for sweethearts!" Rin smiled sweetly. "I would join if I had a sweetheart…"
"But I'm not even prepared yet…I don't have a--" Kagome started to argue.
"Don't be silly, Kagome. If we rode on Kirara for the whole time we were away, it wouldn't have taken us from early dawn to noon. In fact we spent time telling the villagers to get ready for the festival and buying clothes for you…and Inuyasha." Sango added with a 'hint-hint' attitude.
Rin proceeded to skip to the corner of the house to retrieve a basket. Opening it, she gently pulled out a spring green, shimmering yukata with elegant silver brocade designs. It looked very expensive.
She held it in front of Kagome as Sango proceeded to the basket. "This is my favorite yukata! Sesshomaru-sama left some clothes for me at Sango's before we went to meet you and Inuyasha-kun."
"And this is mine." Sango pulled out a glossy kimono of a deep, majestic purple. The magenta lacing around it had a new sheen that gleamed in the sun and would look ravishing by moonlight. "I altered it myself since I wouldn't really fit into it anymore with the baby and all." Sango added, laughing. "Go find your kimono."
"Guys, you shouldn't have..." Kagome smiled widely as her spirit lifted even higher than before. "It would have been too much money…" even as she spoke, Kagome couldn't help but lift a kimono from the basket also. She gasped when she saw it.
It was a pale, delicate pink. Newly finished white borders decorated the edges. A cherry blossom design spread from the center like a maze made of lace. The touch of the cloth boasted that it was made of silk.
"You bet it cost a lot…but we all chipped in, and the villagers were more than happy to gather 'round its best seamstresses to make it for their new miko." Sango smiled happily at the look on Kagome's face. "By the way, I added the borders. Inuyasha better like it."
Kagome couldn't speak; she just hugged them both tightly.
After a minute, Rin piped up. "C'mon, it's getting late. We should get ready. No doubt Miroku-sama (A/N: remember, he's lord monk!) is helping Inu-kun."
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It was true. A certain lecherous monk was helping Inuyasha get ready. In the main village house where Kaede attended to the village meetings, fabric was the talk of the day.
"Inuyasha, please do wear this. I know you'd rather not go to the festival, but it will be great fun!" Miroku sighed as he thought of all the pretty girls in their kimonos, especially his dear Sango.
Inuyasha popped a vein. "Monk, you know I have no patience for PINK!" Fuming he tossed the robe away. One of the tailors quickly whisked it away.
"Very well," Miroku's calm composed face smiled happily. "I knew you would be difficult. And that is why I had the village make several robes for you. Luckily, they were more than happy to oblige."
Inuyasha couldn't believe his ears. "'More than happy'? I'm the hanyou that burned the village fifty-three years ago! I'm part youkai!"
Miroku continued smiling, but his eyes flashed and his face grew more serious. "Inuyasha, you're no longer an outcast in this village. You've saved the townspeople from several neighboring demons already. From the stories Lady Kaede tells the kids about you and Kagome, I would say they look up to you as a hero."
Inuyasha shut up at this remark. He didn't know what else to say, but his heart soared at the moment.
Grinning from ear to ear again, Miroku snapped his fingers. At his beckon, a seamstress and a male tailor both came out with a black and purple robe with a mountain and cloud design. They flipped it right side up and looked hopefully at the hanyou.
"Like, no like, my friend?" Miroku looked quizzically over at him. "Just say you want it and it shall be yours!" he added with a flourish as the two townspeople grinned again.
"I'm sorry, but I really don't think that robe would suit me." Inuyasha told the villagers, feeling a little sympathetic that he was turning their beautiful creation down. To Miroku, he added with a hiss, "You should know that isn't my color."
The houshi smiled brightly. "I know! In fact, that was the robe I wanted. It suits me, you know." To the two robe makers he added, "Please do put that in the third room by the hall. I believe I would like that robe." Nodding, the man and woman left happy.
"Feh, I should have known you would use this opportunity to help your greedy self." Inuyasha snorted.
Next came an orange robe built with puppy dog faces all over.
Inuyasha and Miroku both shook their heads profusely as soon as it was displayed.
The one after looked a lot like Sesshomaru's robe, except the green replaced the purple.
After a minute of shocked silence from Inuyasha (he didn't want anything to do with his half brother), Miroku told the two villagers to give it to Rin, so she could bring it to Sesshomaru when he returned.
The next robe had a deep blue sheen. It was made of silk. It would have made an okay choice for Inuyasha, but the maker would not let go of it and decided to keep it for himself in the end.
Finally, a robe caught Inuyasha's eye. A clerk brought it in simply and left, eyeing it enviously.
"Miroku, I want that one."
"Eh? My, my…It is a pretty one." His eyes widened when he felt the material with his hand. "But that's not any human made material. It's made from the thread of a venomous giant moth demon. (A/N: normal moths don't shoot thread, but since it's a demon, I guess it's alright. Remember Gatenmaru? ) But it would take ages for anyone to clean away all the poison and sticky residue to reveal the tough, silky thread underneath."
"All right Miroku. That's enough explaining. The thing is; who sent it?"
Both males looked at the exquisite golden, red, and white robe. While the red thread wove patterns over the white robe, the gold overlaid the regions where red threads crisscrossed. The moth demon thread was soft and delicate, but tough and thick enough for it to be worn even in battle.
"Hey, clerk!" Miroku waved a hand at the man who had delivered the robe. "Any idea who made this?"
The clergyman looked a little surprised he'd asked. "No Miroku-sama. But under the sleeve, I have found a crescent moon, the symbol that it was made by some high working people in the Western Lands."
Miroku looked at Inuyasha, surprise on his face. "You think it could be…?"
Inuyasha laughed lightly. "Guess Sesshomaru didn't want his little brother to be dressed like a peasant, huh Miroku."
Miroku's astonished face subsided. "Go figure." Both of them burst out laughing like maniacs.
The clerk walked away, thinking that a bunch of lunatics like them didn't deserve that robe.
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Kaede walked slowly into the room where the young ladies Sango, Rin, and Kagome were laughing, joking, and getting ready for the festival. Ah, the life of the young. Kaede would be lying if she said she didn't miss it. Life as head of the village was very time-consuming, as she would have to do things ranging from teaching kids about herbs to chasing demons away with sutras. Soon, Kagome would take over that job.
She eyed the young miko as she came in and nodded for her to step out into the hall so they could talk. Kaede couldn't help but notice how much Kagome looked like Kikyo, but how different the two were.
"Kagome, child, come out. We need to talk."
Obediently, the girl stepped out of the bustling room to join Kaede.
"Yes, Kaede-baachan?" Kagome tilted her head to one side, waiting for the reason she was called out.
"Tonight is the night that you will be announced as the miko and thus head of the village, Kagome. Are you ready?"
Kagome looked firmly into the older woman's eyes. "I would say yes, but the truth is, I'm not sure I'm ready to be head of the village. I'm only sure that I will do all I can to help this place and the people."
Kaede laughed softly and put a reassuring hand on Kagome's shoulder. "If you say an answer like that, I believe you are more than ready. Besides, you were chosen by Midoriko herself, no?"
Kagome's eyes widened. "How did you know?"
"I felt the aura of a powerful priestess much like my elder sister in the forest. I could only guess that it would be Midoriko, who is the like soul of my sister, coming to wish you well." Kaede gave her shoulder a squeeze.
"Child, since the time I saw you awaken from Urasue's ritual to steal your soul, I knew you were someone special. No, I knew it before that. I knew it ever since you told me that you had come from another time, another place. Things like that don't happen without a reason."
"But I hope to live a normal life…get married…" Kagome blushed. "…Have children of my own. Will I be able to do that when I'm head?"
Kaede thought for awhile. "I was thinking about that too. Actually, I believe that we should invite Sango and Miroku into the town council as well. Sango can take care of the raiding demons. Miroku can perform spiritual rituals you have not yet learned. I will be here for a while longer to help with medicine and herbs, which you will learn in time. All that is left for you to do is to continue to expand your purification skills so that demons will keep away, and keep the villagers happy. If one happens to get in, Inuyasha can take care of it."
Kagome smiled. "I guess you planned it all out, Kaede-baachan!"
"Everything including the festival games tonight! I'll be sure to remember all the details when Inuyasha goes flower picking tonight." Kaede's worn face crinkled in mirth.
"Nani?" Kagome's cheeks fumed.
Kaede started to walk back up the hall. "I must attend to some last minute festival matters. Go get yourself ready, Child. We need to do everything we can to make Inuyasha ask you to be his mate faster."
Since when did everyone worry about her and Inuyasha becoming mates?
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Suzu- I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Next update will be about the festival, Kagome's miko ceremony, and the flower picking contest! What's this? Will Inuyasha make his move to ask Kagome too?
Please review. It makes me sad when people who read it remain anonymous to the author.