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Ready to leave

Sango cautiously walked up to Kagome's home, which was gradually becoming a palace. She toyed the letter in her hands carefully. She and Yasuo had just found out she was pregnant, and after the immediate joy faded, she thought back to Miroku. She knew Kagome was constantly writing letters to him to put in that box and it felt wrong to not tell him about this. Kagome was the first person she had to tell, later, she and Yasuo would travel to Sesshoumaru's to inform Kohaku. Her first priority was paying respect to her friend. She looked down at the neatly folded parchment in her hand, the name Miroku scrawled across it, 'who else would read it?' She wondered to herself as she slid her fingers over his name. Had it really been two years, she remembered Inu Yasha criticizing Kagome at the twins 2nd birthday a month ago about wasting pictures and her heart had fallen when he mentioned Miroku. Yasuo understood, Miroku was the first man Sango had loved. Sango swallowed hard and finished walking the last steps up to the house. Kagome was standing with the girls in front of Goshinboku pointing at the tree telling them about how she met their father. A story they never tired of hearing after the land of the village had been extended and the shrine Kagome lived in, in the future, was in its beginning stages. Every time Kaiya and Kiyomi walked past the tree with Inu Yasha or Kagome they asked to hear the story. Kagome paused to smile and wave at Sango before finishing the story about how Inu Yasha used to be sat. The girls began giggling hysterically as they ran off to play.

"Don't go to far," Kagome said before they ran away.

"Where is everyone?" Sango asked, the letter hidden behind her back.

"Shippo is at Satoru's playing with Midori, and Inu Yasha is off patrolling the lands, he should be back soon, do you need something?" Kagome asked, 'her manner has matured so much from the young girl I met long ago' Sango thought to herself.

"I have a letter, for Miroku, and I would prefer if you didn't tell Miroku about what it says in the letter in your own"

"Of course, what is it?" Kagome questioned concerned.

"I'm pregnant, and I wanted Miroku to read it from me, Yasuo and I just discovered it this morning" Sango said happily. Kagome smiled and grabbed Sango into a huge hug.

"Oh this is so wonderful, I promise I wont tell anyone until you want me to." Kagome exclaimed. Sango smiled and handed Kagome the letter.

"I better be going, Yasuo and I are going to Sesshoumaru's to tell Kohaku." Sango said cheerfully.

"Send my love to Kohaku and Rin" Kagome shouted as Sango raced down the stairs to the shrine. Kagome walked over to Goshinboku and lifted the stone covering the door that hide the big wooden box built into the ground where she kept the boxes. She slowly pulled open the box and took out Miroku's box, and placed Sango's letter inside. Kagome glanced around to make sure no one had seen it and quickly covered the box. Kagome jumped and screamed when she heard someone say her name. Turning she looked straight into the eyes of Kaede. 'Why didn't I sense her, I can now...'

"Child, I wish to speak with you, lets sit"

Still slightly frazzled, Kagome muttered an agreement and sat down.

"It may be time, for you to take up your duties as village miko, permanently" Kaede said, her voice breaking slightly. Kagome looked at Kaede hoping she wasn't hearing what she was hearing.

"Kaede?" Kagome questioned nervously.

"I am old child, very old, ye know that, it is but a miracle I have lived up till your coming to us. This was my 63rd winter. My bones are tired, I can feel it coming. I wish to stay here, away from the villagers eyes, best not have them watch me go."

"Kaede..." Kagome managed to say, looking into the eye of a woman ready to leave the earth.

"Do not be troubled Kagome, I am not" Kaede said wisely.

"There's an extra room next to Shippo's, its yours as long as you need it, Inu Yasha and I will retrieve your belongings, what would you like me to tell the villagers?" Kagome asked.

"That an old miko is ready to retire" Kaede said as she walked towards the house. Kagome sighed and massaged her temple with her fingers. Kaede would not live to see Sango's baby, or watch her children grow up. She knew Kaede was old, but to be so prepared for death, and so early in life. She didn't care what Kaede said, 63 was young, to young for Kaede to be leaving them. How many people would she have to watch die so young in this time...Is this how Yasuo feels when he looks at Sango knowing that he will outlive her thousands of years. Kagome wondered if maybe there was a way to make Sango live longer, but leaving her human. She knew Yasuo had offered her to become like him when they mated, and Sango had said no, because changing her blood, would change her bonds to her heritage and family. While it would be an honor to live forever with him, if it meant changing who she was, she could not do it. Yasuo had accepted her decision and sworn to love no other after her passing. Sango had looked him in the eye and said, it would be a dishonor to her spirit and heart, if he stopped loving because of her death. She also swore to give him as many children as she could to keep her spirit alive with him once she was gone. Kagome wondered starting at such a young age, how many children Sango would have. Like Kagome, Sango would only be pregnant perhaps 4 months. Kagome doubted that Sango would have that many children, maybe 20... Kagome thought of her own three children, they had been so careful the past 2 years to not get pregnant again. Kagome knew that they could continue having children for at least 200 years, no reason to rush; she and Inu Yasha were practically immortal. Kagome smiled when she detected his scent coming closer. Kagome turned as he jumped down behind her.

"Miss me?" Inu Yasha said arrogantly, Kagome walked up to him, kissed his cheek and then turned back to the tree.

"No, just knew you were there" Kagome answered, still watching the sakura petals moving in the breeze. Inu Yasha stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around Kagome's waist.

"Kaede" Kagome mumbled.

"What about Kaede"

"She's dying, I told her she could stay here her last days"

Inu Yasha tightened his hold on Kagome, the baba was dying... he couldn't believe it; he always thought she was too stubborn to die.

"Inu Yasha?" Kagome whispered, her gaze returning to the tree. Her thoughts centered on Kaede and Sango. He wanted to say something to make her feel better, but words were not enough right now, he couldn't come up with anything to soothe his own heart about it, how could he help hers.

"How much time do you think she has left?" Inu Yasha asked.

"Well her scent wasn't heavy with death, it was very light, and I didn't want to know it was there, but, it's very light... She has more time then she thinks she does" Kagome sighed, her heart twisting. She was not allowed to cry, not yet. She had to be strong. She would not tell anyone unless they asked, then when Kaede passed they would have the burning ritual and ceremonies. Her heart clenched at the thought, bile rose in her throat. Kagome struggled to swallow the feeling, if she failed to stay strong, those who looked to her for strength would not find it. Inu Yasha could feel the sadness radiating off of Kagome, her body heated slightly in his arms. Her effort to suppress her sadness was going to make her sick. This wasn't his Kagome; his Kagome would be sad, happy, and angry. Inu Yasha spun Kagome around to face him and looked into her eyes.

"Why aren't you sad" Inu Yasha demanded shaking Kagome slightly.

"I am" Kagome replied struggling to keep control.

"No, your not! You hide everything, always afraid that someone will see you. You don't have to be like Kikyo, you don't have to be like Kaede. Your Kagome! Happy loving, Expressive, you don't have to be perfect for them" Inu Yasha said, his tone low but angry, his arm waving towards the village. Tears fought their way past Kagome's defenses and she melted into his arms.

"I have to be strong for them, if I am not their strength who will be?" Kagome sobbed.

"I will be, Sango will be, or Yasuo will be. Don't change for them. Be Kagome, cry, scream, laugh. Keep your emotions and give them that as your strength." Inu Yasha said softly.

"You know, your smarter than you let people think" Kagome said.

"You promise to stop with this perfection thing you've been stuck on" Inu Yasha threatened.

"I promise, we better go put them down for their nap, would you go get Shippo from Satoru's"

"Sure" Inu Yasha agreed and he made his way slowly towards the village.

"Inu Yasha...." Kagome growled.

"Ok, Ok, I'm going" Inu Yasha caved and he sped up.

'Why do I always have to do the hard part, I get to be the one that tells Shippo he cant play with Midori anymore because he needs a nap, and Kagome gets to sweet talk the twins' Inu Yasha grumbled to himself as he landed softly next to their hut.

"OTOU" Shippo squealed happily as he launched himself into Inu Yasha, he stumbled briefly as the energetic pup collided with his chest. 'I gotta get this to take a nap, stupid wench is crazy'

"C'mon Shippo, time for a nap" Inu Yasha said as he jumped up into the air. Shippo's golden eyes turned to saucers as he peered at Inu Yasha in shock.

"No nap" Shippo repeated over and over again as Inu Yasha ran back to the house. Inu Yasha landed outside the house and walked in, the sounds of Kagome singing to the girls brought a smile to his face, one of Shippo's claws snagging on his clothes and scratching his shoulder brought him back to reality. Inu Yasha sat down right there with Shippo turned the pup so he was facing him and Shippo knew he was in trouble. Inu Yasha lifted the offending hand into his own and stared at Shippo.

"Don't ever use these against your friends, these hurt people, you have to be careful, these are for protecting" Inu Yasha said, and though he hated doing it, repeated the lesson his father had taught him.

"Do you know how it feels when one of these scratches" Inu Yasha asked quietly. Shippo shook his head. Inu Yasha reluctantly took Shippo's other hand and allowed the claws to prick at his hand. Not enough to do real damage, just enough to hurt and draw a drop of blood. Shippo's eyes watered and he watched the blood form from the places his claws touched.

"Hurts" Shippo said assuming his Otou didn't know.

"Yes, and that was very light, imagine them scratching someone else, like Midori."

Shippo balled his hands and shook his head again.

"Not scratching Midori, not scratching friends," Shippo declared. Inu Yasha smiled and stood up cradling Shippo in his arms and continued walking to his room. Shippo wrinkled his nose when he caught the scent of Kaede.

"Baba?" Shippo asked, recognizing the scent, and that it was different.

"Yes, Kaede is here" Inu Yasha said, inwardly wincing at Shippo calling Kaede, baba, he would be in trouble for that. Inu Yasha cowered behind Shippo when Kagome abruptly stopped signed and heard her steps coming towards him. 'Thank kami she can't sit me anymore'

"Inu Yasha...." Kagome groaned as she peeked out through the door.

"What?" Inu Yasha said in pretend shock.

"Your going to wish I could still sit you" Kagome's saccharine voice declared as she disappeared back into the room. Shippo looked up at Inu Yasha, he could tell his Otou was in trouble.

"Okaa angry" Shippo asked.

"Okaa very angry" Inu Yasha replied.

"Otou make Okaa angry?"

"Otou should have stopped calling Kaede baba..."

"Baba!" Shippo squealed happily.

Inu Yasha sighed and went into Shippo's room. Kagome was really going to kill him now. After putting Shippo down for a nap Inu Yasha waited anxiously for Kagome's punishment. She couldn't take that long, he'd just relax while he waited.

Kagome walked into their room, expecting Inu Yasha prepared to be groveling after she went and disappeared for so long. Instead, she found him asleep, no matter how angry she was, he always looked so peaceful when he was asleep, and she could never stay mad. Kagome crept towards the bed and sat down next to him. She softly pushed the hair from his face, its softness sliding gently between her fingers. She stroked the side of his face gently with her claws. Inu Yasha growled lightly and opened his eyes to see Kagome's smiling face.

"I thought you were mad" Inu Yasha said as he propped himself up on his elbows.

"I was, but you haven't called Kaede that since he was barley one, its not your fault he remembers and likes to say it. Not only that, but you just look so peaceful when your sleeping, I didn't have the heart to yell at you"

"I should go to sleep when your mad more often, wish I had known that when you could still sit me," Inu Yasha teased. Kagome narrowed her eyes and him, and Inu Yasha quickly tweaked one of her ears apologetically. Kagome involuntarily purred from his touch. Inu Yasha smirked and pulled Kagome down to him and caught her lips in a gentle kiss. He loved the feeling of her hair cascading down onto him as she fell towards. Kagome playfully shoved him as he pulled back from the kiss. Inu Yasha grinned again and moved Kagome so that they were lying down, her head resting on his shoulder.

"I hate you" Kagome growled.

"I know" Inu Yasha replied, and he leaned over and kissed her forehead. Kagome rolled her eyes, and adjusted herself so she was more comfortable against him. In minutes she had fallen asleep, and Inu Yasha was content to lay there and hold her, listening to her soft breaths and enjoying the tranquility of being surrounded in her scent.

A/n, I could have kept going here, but I just didn't have the heart to go into what is coming next, so I left it happy. The next chapter is coming soon, and I'm so sorry for the long wait, but with senior year starting up and work, there just hasn't been time, I will also be posting another chapter of betrayal of the soul soon.