A/N: Wow, I shocked myself with an update already.
And an oops, since I forgot last chapter: Inuyasha and all the characters in the series are not in any way mine. I have just taken them out of their natural habitat and created a temporary new home for them. In other words—only the plot is mine. Oh, and Ryo, the waiter at Sweet Sal's ice cream parlor, and Sweet Sal's itself are mine as well.
After their pleasant day in the park, Miroku came home and promptly fell asleep on the couch. He had worn himself out. Iyazoi unfolded a blanket and laid it over her son, tucking it in around his slim little shoulders. She brushed a lock of his hair out of his face and watched as a small smile curved the corners of his lips in his sleep.
"I love you, little man. And I'll never leave you, I promise," she whispered before turning off the lights and settling down in a nearby armchair, a mug of hot chocolate in her hand. She watched the flames dance in the old-fashioned wood fireplace. It had been one of the main reasons she had bought this house. Not many of the more 'modern' models came with them. Izayoi had always entertained the romantic idea of sitting in front of a warm fire on a chilly winter night, cuddling with the man she loved. Or, the more plausible and likely notion as of late: relaxing by herself with a good book and a warm drink in front of a cheerful fire.
She sipped her hot chocolate as her thoughts drifted to their afternoon in the park.
After Miroku had calmed a teary Sesshomaru, he had looked at her, smiling. He had wanted her to be proud of him. And she was, her son had made a wonderful new friend and she knew what a big step that was for both boys. The other shy little boy had slipped the lollipop into his pocket and carefully wiped away what was left of his tears. Then the two of them had run off to play a little more, reaching the top of a little hill that was close enough for them to keep an eye on their parents.
Izayoi and Toji had sat in silence for a while, enjoying watching their boys play together. Izayoi knew then that this was as new and important for Sesshomaru as it was for Miroku. Something had happened to their little family, but it wasn't her place to ask. After about half an hour, the boys tumbled down the hill, trying to see who could somersault to the bottom the fastest. Sesshomaru won by a few seconds, and waited for Miroku to catch up and regain his balance before tugging him over to where their parents were sitting.
"Papa, what time is it?" the little boy asked very politely.
"It's nearing 6:00pm, the sun should be setting soon. Why do you ask?" his father replied. Hearing the time out loud, Izayoi realized how late it was getting. She and Miroku had to be getting home soon because walking the streets in the dark was not a good idea, even in the relatively safe neighborhood they called home.
Miroku unintentionally answered for him when his stomach rumbled rather loudly. The boy giggled and blushed, crossing his arms over his tummy and looking at his mother. "We're hungry, Mommy." Toji chuckled quietly, and Sesshomaru smiled guiltily, trying hard to keep his own stomach from making its demands known, too.
"And I would be worried if you weren't, since it's past dinnertime for you. We'll head home and have some dinner after we say goodbye to Sesshomaru and his father, okay?" she said, lifting her son into her lap and patting his growling tummy. He pushed himself off her lap and grabbed her hand, yanking her impatiently to her feet when she didn't respond right away.
"Bye, Sesshomaru! Bye, Sesshomaru's daddy! We'll see you soon but I want dinner now!" Miroku called as he quite literally dragged her out of the park. Izayoi could only shrug at an amused Toji and wave quickly, calling, "We'll probably be back tomorrow." She saw Sesshomaru's frown lift as she said that, but then she was pulled out the gate and around the corner of the wall.
"Bye, Miroku! See you tomorrow!" Miroku paused, hearing Sesshomaru call from inside. He beamed up at his mother, only to see her eyes narrow slightly and a stern set come to her lips. He let his grip on her hand loosen, and she placed both hands on her hips, staring down at him. Shrinking back a little, he knew he had done something wrong and waited with his head bowed.
"That was very rude, Miroku. You can't drag Mommy around all the time just because you're hungry. You could have waited a minute or two more to say a proper goodbye to your new friend and his dad," she chastised. But then to lighten up her words, she poked his tummy. "It's not like you'd shrivel up that fast."
Miroku smiled, realizing he must not be in too much trouble if his mother was teasing him like this. And then, as if to defy her words, his stomach growled even louder than it had before. Even Miroku couldn't help looking down at his stomach in surprise at that.
"Well, maybe you are that hungry. We'd better hurry home before you waste away before my eyes!" Miroku heard the humor in his mother's words, startling when she suddenly caught him around the waist and tossed him to sit on her shoulders.
"Giddy-up, Mommy! My tummy needs food!" A shriek burst forth from his mouth as she began a brisk walk back to their cozy home a few streets up.
Coming back to herself, Izayoi relaxed in the weakening hold of a warm, happy memory. Today had been a wonderful day, and it got her thinking about what would happen tomorrow. She realized that she wanted to see Toji again. That was a surprise—was her heart so quickly healed by a pretty face and a few playful words?
She had thought Rori, her ex, had been the only one for her. But when she had caught him with a few of his naked female coworkers one night, she knew it just couldn't continue. Izayoi knew he had wandering eyes, and sometimes wandering hands, but she had steeled herself against the hurt. It was an unchangeable part of him. When they had gotten married, she had hoped he would restrain his roving hands to her body. And he had, for the first few years. After Miroku was born, it had all changed back to the way it was when they first met. And he didn't even have the decency to hold himself back in front of their infant son. Worrying herself was the worst part, but finding her worries were founded in truth hadn't made things any easier. Her son idolized this man, but it just wasn't healthy for either of them to stay a moment longer. At first, Rori had raged and sulked, refusing to listen to reason for hours or days at a time. Then he began to plead, actually getting on his knees and promising her it would be better again, that she just had to trust him. When he exhausted all possible ways of stopping her he could think up, he quietly accepted it, realizing he'd lost his hold on her heart. But he didn't want to let go of Miroku, his pride, his son, his heir. And so began the long and ruthless custody battle, which tore both of their reputations to shreds and left her a broken woman in the end. But she and Miroku had helped each other in the last few months. She was his sun, the light in his life; he was the center of her world, her main purpose.
Now another man was intruding in her little world. All she knew was his name and that he had a son, but that did nothing to stop his face from painting itself on the backs of her eyelids, his voice from ringing in her ears, her body from remember how soft and warm his lips were pressed to the back of her hand.
She shook her head, hoping to clear it for some dreamless sleep. Then she noticed the weight settled on her chest and the familiar black mop of hair tickling her chin. Miroku had wandered over a little while ago, dragging the blanket along behind him until he reached his mother. He curled up on her, taking the time to shift her cold mug from her slack hands and put it on the table next to them before covering them both up and falling back asleep.
Izayoi smiled down at her son's innocent, sleeping face, one hand fisted in the blanket resting close to his mouth. She had been trying to discourage him from sucking his thumbs for close to a year before he began to stop. She hugged her baby a little closer as her own eyes began to droop, sleep creeping in on her. Quickly rising, she made sure the fire was dead and then carried Miroku to her bed. She'd let the little monster sleep with her tonight, since it was easier than trying to pry his fingers from her nightgown. As she drifted off to sleep, her last thoughts were of what awaited her tomorrow.
A/N: Yeah, I know. Nothing really important in this one. But it wrote itself. A little history had to be put out there. And it seemed a good spot to end. Next chapter will be up really soon. Reviews are welcome!