Disclaimer: R-U-M-I-K-O! T-A-K-A-H-A-S-H-I! Now! What does that spell? RUMIKO TAKAHASHI!!!!!! And she owns the show Inuyasha…Not me…Arigatou.
Love Me as I Am
Chapter 53- Reunion
"I would leave them alone but I'm scared to move." Whispered Rin to Sesshomaru.
"Why is that?" wondered Sesshomaru, leaning closer.
"I don't want to disturb them."
Sesshomaru nodded and looked cautiously over at them before picking her up bridal style and slipping out the doorway.
Rin clutched the material of his robes as he dashed far enough to where the cabin was out of sight.
"Arigatou Sesshomaru. I suppose I'll have to get used to this wont I?" She said as they stopped in the middle of the large clearing where Ah and Un were.
"Only if you truly don't mind being carried like a sack of potatoes. I've always thought it would be rather degrading to you females."
"No. I think it's sweet."
Sesshomaru almost cringed at the word. Sweet? He was going soft. That's what was happening.
"Oh, come now. It's not like you're going to loose your high status just because you carry me this way."
"I'm just like my brother."
"Oh no you're not."
Sesshomaru's lips curled into a small smile as he fought with her.
"What exactly is so funny?"
"Hm? Nothing."
~*~*~
"Um…Kagome?"
"Y-yeah?"
"Can we leave?" wondered Inuyasha, an uneasy tone in his voice.
"S-Sure…let's go."
Inuyasha and Kagome left, Kuneau cuddled in Kagome's arms. Miroku and Sango followed behind, Trinity and Kanaye last to leave.
Suki and Yasuo were alone now. Slowly, Suki pulled away from him and stared him straight in the eyes.
"I missed you…"
After some silence was exchanged between the two, Yasuo wasted no more time as he took Suki into his arms and let her cry into his chest.
"I missed you too Suki. I love you."
~*~*~
Everyone was back at their own respective dwellings now including Inuyasha and Kagome who had not yet been able to sleep.
"Hey Inuyasha. I just realized something."
"Yeah? What?"
"The person that used mind control to make me hurt you is dead right? Well, that brings us one step closer to Naraku doesn't it?"
"You're right. He's got the final shards too. Did you notice Suki's necklace was bigger? The demon must have had shards that fused with the rest of the jewel and Suki didn't notice."
Kagome heaved a sigh.
"It's all so very complicated."
"Yep. But, after Yasuo is well, we can go get Naraku. We've got twice as many people as we did last time we tried to fight him."
"Our family sure has grown huh?"
"Uh huh. Oh yeah, and Trinity's pregnant by the way."
"WHAT?!"
"Don't get ahead of yourself Kagome. She doesn't know it yet so we might as well let Kanaye and her find out the good old fashioned way."
"Poor thing. I know how that works."
"Heh…" replied Inuyasha dryly, remembering all the billions of times Kagome had gotten sick all over him.
"So did I…and all I can say is…our son is gonna have an interesting 6 months."
~*~*~
"You smell different." Said Kanaye out of the blue as he lay back onto the futon.
"Huh? Well now. I don't know if I should take that as a compliment or not." Replied Trinity sweetly as she slipped her nightgown on.
"I don't know, your scent is just different. Oh well, maybe it's just cause we haven't been home all day."
Trinity nodded as she braided her long hair quickly to get it out of the way.
"Whatever you say love."
~*~*~
"When Sango?"
"When what?"
"When will the baby come?"
"Oh come ON Miroku. Don't while like you did last time. Another week or two maybe. Now would you come to bed now? If you haven't noticed, you've nearly paced a hole in the floor."
Miroku looked down and could almost see smoke rising from the wood. He blushed slightly.
"Aheh…gomen Sango.
"Ki ni-shinaide. Now come on. I could use some extra body warmth right about now."
Miroku couldn't resist what was so freely offered to him at her side before you could say 'shikon no tama', snuggling under the covers with her. Surprisingly, Sango didn't object as he wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer. His intentions were honorable, or at least, she hoped.
~*~*~
Suki looked up at Yasuo, her face tearstained as Yasuo rubbed her cheek with his thumb.
"I-I need to go get Asako and Kuno."
"No need dear." Came Menka's old crusty voice from the doorway.
She really was a nice old lady and she was very good with the kids. But she was just no daddy. Menka set down the two kids who had learned to crawl and smiled kindly at Suki, seeming to understand the situation completely.
"Arigatou."
Asako and Kuno took one look at Yasuo and within a split second they were snuggled up with him. Yasuo's wounds still hurt and his arms were both sore and weak so Suki lifted Asako, allowing her to plant a sloppy wet kiss on his cheek. Kuno was a little more passive and he seemed to be more in a state of shock than anything else, merely staring up at Yasuo, his soon-to-be father, eyes glowing.
"I hope you'll understand if I ask you to stay tonight." Said Yasuo quietly.
Suki nodded.
"I haven't left your side for the past four nights."
Yasuo smiled slightly.
"Alright you munchkins. Time for--" but he stopped and looked down to see the two already asleep in his lap.
"--bed."
Asako stirred only slightly, her tiny hands clenching together as she slept.
"Well wouldya look at that?"
Suki smiled.
"Okay mister. Now it's time for YOU to get to bed."
"Awww…but I dun wanna!" toyed Yasuo.
Suki kissed him playfully as he stared at her.
"Yes ma'am." He said immediately.
Suki giggled. Her fiancée was back and she truly hadn't lost him. After a short coughing fit she and Yasuo settled down for a nice sleep, Asako and Kuno curled up between them, their hopes and dreams finally back in place after the ordeal.
~*~*~
Morning came sooner than expected, Suki noted as she cracked her eyes open, nearly being blinded by the sun. She closed her eyes again, just to give herself time to 'wake up.' Yasuo woke up not long after and yawned, stretching his arms.
"How are you feeling?" Suki wondered as she looked up at him. She had slept against his chest the whole night.
"Alright. I guess. It still hurts though."
Suki looked a bit sad as she ran her hand gently over his chest.
"Gomen this had to happen to you, and of all people."
"It's not your fault."
Those words seemed to strike something deep within Suki. She had avoided talking to him about it but she couldn't be quiet forever.
"Yes it is! It's ALL my fault. I'm the one that hurt you! I just know it!"
"Suki…"
"Don't…just don't try and tell me I didn't do it. How else would you be hurt and not me? Huh?"
Yasuo shifted his body a bit so he could be free to hold her better.
"It wasn't you…it was--"
"I was controlled…I know…"
"But then…why--"
"I should have been able to stop it! I should have fought!"
"You did try. I saw it in your eyes before you passed out in my arms." Whispered Yasuo soothingly.
Suki was left momentarily speechless as she searched his honest eyes, looking for some trace of something to prove he was lying. But she found none. He never lied. Ever. It was one of his most honorable attributes.
Suki buried her face in his chest, trying not to hurt him by pressing too hard.
"I was scared."
"I know…I know…"
~*~*~
Sesshomaru and Rin were already up and eating breakfast, but there was an empty seat at the table.
"Sesshomaru…where is Kunara this morning?"
Sesshomaru shrugged as one of the maids walked in with the food."
"The poor dear. She cried herself to sleep last night. She seemed to think that someone was going to die. She was very upset. I couldn't get another word out of her." With that, the maid left.
Sesshomaru stared at Rin across the table.
"You don't think…she's talking about Naraku do you?" wondered Rin worriedly.
"I've no doubt. At the moment, he's our only enemy and she DOES happen to be his daughter."
Rin stared sadly at her plate, pushing her food around because she had suddenly lost her appetite.
"If you'd like…I can go talk to her…" volunteered Sesshomaru.
Rin lifted her head to meet his gaze.
"No…I'll go."
Sesshomaru nodded as his eyes watched her leave the room and head into Kunara's room. He sighed inwardly, knowing that he had brought it upon himself when he took Kunara in and that things could only get worse from here.
~*~*~ Thanks a billion for all your reviews. They really make my day. Man, I feel like I'm in the middle of a snowglobe right now cause it's been snowing almost nonstop since yesterday morning. The snow is stacked over 7 feet now and we're running out of places to put it. *sigh* What a perfectly good waste of a snowday cause we didn't have school on Thursday due to midterm grading day and we didn't have school yesterday cause it was superintendents day. Oh yeah, and I'll try and work up another chapter sometime within the next week. My 15th birthday is next Thursday (the 5th) and I'm planning on inviting a bunch of my friends over for an anime party (aka, we watch/draw/faun over all the hot anime guys for a whole day) Lol, only problem is one of my friends isn't into anime but I have to invite her. What do I do? Anybody got suggestions? Okay, well. I'll go take a nice warm shower now and then I'll get to writing some more. Man, I must really love you guys. You're so awesome. I love each and every one of you to death and I wish I could invite you all over to my house. Heh, I hate having a February b-day. *sigh* I'm a Florida girl at heart since I lived there. Why couldn't I have been born in the summer? Wow I whine a lot. And wow this was a long A/N. Heh, talk to you guys later! IM me sometime! ~*~*~ Miyu