Well people, I had a pretty good birthday, my parents took me drinking,
and boy did I ever get a big head ache . . . so I don't think I'm cut out
to be a drinker. Anyways though, I want to thank you all for the reviews,
that make me feel so good inside. Oh and on a miner note, some of you
think I don't read my reviews, well of course I do! Every single one of
them! So please tell me what you think or what your opinion is, because I
love to hear it. Other than that, let's continues shall we?
Winter Wonderland
Chapter Fifty
Miroku stared out the darkened window, his feet slightly cold from not having any socks on, and from getting out of the nice warm bed. The monk smiled softly and kneeled beside the bed, watching his wife sleeping peacefully on her side. His hand moved up to cup her cheek, then moved down her neck, to her side, hips, and down to cup her abdmon, feeling the roundness of her belly. Miroku smiled and rested his head on the mattress. He didn't want to climb back into the bed, just in case the baby started to kick Sango again, then she would start tossing and turning in the bed. Running his hands through his hair, Miroku finally stood up and walked silently out of the room, heading downstairs. The house was still rather warm since Kagome had turned the heat up as he walked down the wooden stairs, and noticed a small glow coming from the living room. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Miroku peered into the living room to see Inu-Yasha sitting in one of the chairs, watching the evening news. The volume was down so low that the monk couldn't hear it, but knew the half-demon could hear it just fine.
"Hey there," whispered Miroku.
Inu-Yasha turned to the monk and nodded his head before returning his gaze back to the TV.
"Is Kagome tossing and turning too?"
"Yeah, the stress she got from helping Souta and the others, it got the pup upset too, so now it's kicking her,"
"That was almost a week ago," sighed Miroku, taking a seat beside Inu- Yasha, "But I guess Souta and Kohaku still have colds,"
"Their colds are almost gone though, they will be completely better in about two days,"
Mirokue nodded.
"It sure is getting closer,"
"You mean Christmas?"
"Yes . . . and I believe in less than two weeks you will be expecting your child to be born,"
"Yes I know . . ."
"You nervous?"
"No . . . not at all, but are you?"
Inu-Yasha was silent, his gaze returning to the television. Miroku stared at the half demon for a moment before turning his gaze to the television as well. He should have known better for Inu-Yasha to be open with him. The half demon would the odd time, but he was more open to Kagome than anyone else.
"I am . . ."
Miroku turned his eyes to Inu-Yasha, the demon was staring out the window instead of at the television now.
"You are?"
"Of course I am . . . unlike you monk my father was never really around . . . and I can barely remember him . . . how the hell do I know how to be a father? You had your father to guide you and to learn from . . . I however . . . I have no idea how to be a father . . . and I'm worried,"
"Worried?"
"Worried that my child will end up like me,"
"How do you mean?"
Inu-Yasha chuckled, "I guess I mean it in two ways. The first way is my attitude . . . I'm rude, let my run-away-mouth get the better of me, and I have a pretty bad temper . . . I don't want my daughter to be like that,"
The monk nodded.
"The second . . . I guess that really depends if the well closes or not like you said . . . what if the same thing happens to my daughter like it did to me . . . I'm killed by a demon who hates me for mating with a human, and Kagome is killed the same way . . ."
Miroku's eyes widened.
"I had to look after myself . . . I knew nothing . . . I had no idea how to take care of myself . . .I didn't know how to hunt . . . or what food's were good for me . . . and I was always running . . .running away from the demons who tried to kill me . . . and I didn't know how to defend myself . . . and when I did it was by accident,"
Miroku still remained silent.
"Did you know . . . the first time I used my claws of blood . . . it was a total fluke," sighed Inu-Yasha, staring at his claws.
"No I didn't" whispered the monk. The fact that Inu-Yasha was opening up to him, surprised the monk in more ways than one. It was amazing what Kagome had done to Inu-Yasha, the half demon was actually opening up to someone rather than his mate.
"It was a year after my mother died . . . I was taking a nap in one of the trees, but I was woken up when a demon grabbed my leg and pulled me from the tree. I some how managed to free myself and started running, but the demon was right behind me trying to kill me with it's claws. I tripped on a branch and tried to roll out of the way before the demons claws struck me, but a got a could wound on my arm. Everything was starting to get dizzy from the blood loss, and I could do nothing but dodge and hold my arm with my other hand. I slumped against a tree, tears rolling down my face and as the demon attacked my free hand game swinging out, covered in my own blood as I screamed 'Leave me alone!', and I waited to be killed, but it never came. I opened up my eyes to see the demon lying at my feet in peices . . . dead. I got very scare, but who wouldn't be if it was the first time you had killed someone. I soon figured out that I had an attack when I noticed that there was no longer blood on my hands. That is why . . . I fear for the well closing . . . Kagome might not worry as much since all she worries about is not seeing her family, but will eventually if we live through the past . . . and she'll have me. But me . .. with the well closed . . . if anything were to happen to me . . . Kagome and my daughter . . . they would have no where to go . . . they couldn't go back to this era where it would be safe . . ."
The monk opened his mouth to speak, but the half demon cut him off.
"I know you would take care of them monk . . . however if there was enough demons after them, you wouldn't be able to,"
The monk gave a soft smile and stared back at the TV, "I see . . . however your wrong to think if I ever learned anything from my father . . ."
Inu-Yasha glanced at the monk.
"Part of the curse was that my mother died the day I was born . . . and so I never met her . . . I have no idea what she looked liked . . . as for my father . . . he spent most of his time hunting after Naraku . . . Mushin is the only really father I'd ever known . . . after all . . . I was almost the same age as you when my father died,"
The half demon closed his eyes and then stared at his hands in his lap.
"So . . . I think I do know how you feel . . . when you say you think you'll be a bad father,"
The monk and half demon gazed at each other for a moment, before looking away in their own direction. Miroku stared back at Inu-Yasha, there was a sort of look in the half demons eyes that seemed to reflect on the pain of his past. The monk gave a soft smile and tried to lighten the mood, "You know . . . I think this is the first time I've ever heard you saying you could be defeated by some demon,"
Inu-Yasha came out of his daze and stared at the monk, "Yes . . . but . . . my father thought the same thing didn't he? Thought he was unstoppable and would always be there for my mother and me . . . but he was defeated . . . I at least . . . want to be careful,"
Miroku nodded, "True,"
Inu-Yasha smiled, "Although, I won't let some whimpy demon beat me, I'm made of tougher stuff than that,"
"Now that's the old Inu-Yasha I like to hear,"
"Keh, don't think I've gone soft monk,"
"However . . . I think you're wrong that you think you'll make an awful father . . . I think you'll make a great . . . yet over protective father,"
"Don't humor me monk,"
Miroku shrugged his shoulders and stared back at the TV since he wasn't in the mood to argue with the half demon.
"The weather should be better the next few days, so we can try ice skating if you guys want to,"
"I'm actually a little scared to try this ice skating . . . if it's harder than skiing I'm a dead man,"
Inu-Yasha chuckled," Don't worry, the wooden boards will stop you, and you don't have to worry about any tree's or cliffs,"
"And you told me falling would hurt more,"
"Well that depends how you land,"
"Just like skiing?"
"Well no, the ice is a lot harder, so it will hurt, but how much pain you'll be in depends on how you land,"
Miroku nodded, but Inu-Yasha could tell the monk was nervous.
"Don't worry about it, you'll do fine,"
The rest of the evening they spent watching the evening news, and fell asleep in their chairs to be found by their mates and friends in the next morning.
Shippo, Rin, and Sesshoumaru watched amusingly as Miroku and Inu-Yasha went back and forth across the ice rink as they shoveled the snow. Inu- Yasha was having no trouble, but the monk was since when his shovel got to full, the handle would always puch into his stomach whent hey hit a large pile of snow. Souta and Kohaku came walking out of the cabin while Kirara, Kagome, and Sango watched from the window.
"How are you two feeling?" asked Shippo, jumping onto Souta's shoulder when they were close enough.
"Much better, just a bit of a stuffy nose," said Souta.
Kohaku nodded in agreement, and laughed when Miroku got another gut punch from his shovel handle again.
"How long have those to been shoveling?" asked Souta.
"Not very long, but Inu-Yasha has to keep stopping since Miroku keeps getting gutted by his shovel," sighed Sesshoumaru.
"Well we could at least get your skates on, I'll show you guys how," offered Souta, heading into the skating shack.
Sesshoumaru glanced at Rin who followed after the young boy before following her with Kohaku right behind them.
"Damn it! Can't you do anything right monk?" hissed Inu-Yasha.
"I can't help it, this shovel is possesed by a demon,"
Inu-Yasha snorted, "Don't give me the same excuse you used with your hand, now keep shoveling, were almost done,"
Miroku sighed, "I'm going to be tired out and I haven't even put on my skates yet,"
"Just keep going!"
Souta sighed when he heard Inu-Yasha's yelling and went back to showing the others how to tie their skates. Kagome had already taught Rin earlier in the morning how to tie hers since they were different from the guys skates. Rin was the first ready to go and was putting on her mittens as she headed for the door. As Rin was walking out of the shack, Inu-Yasha and Miroku were coming in with the half demon grumbling under his breath.
Sesshoumaru and Kohaku managed to tie their skates, and so did Miroku once Inu-Yasha showed him how. Shippo kep his seat on Souta's shoulder since he was the most experienced skater. They all managed to walk out of the shack with out tripping over their blades, and when they came out, Rin was already skating gracefully on the ice.
"She's a quick learner," commented Shippo.
"I'll say, I didn't give her the basic lessons . . . I guess whatching that skating on TV really helped her," said Inu-Yasha.
Everyone nodded, and Inu-Yasha and Souta stepped onto the ice. Souta took off to join Rin, while Inu-Yasha did his best to explain to the others how to skate.
"It's a bit simpler that skiing really. To move you push with the side of your blade, to stop you can either do it in a triangle like skiing or how Rin is stopping right now with a swift move of the blades to the side. You use your arms for balance, and if you can't stop, the boards are there to help,"
The gang nodded and stepped onto the ice. Sesshoumaru was a fast learner by Rin, much to Inu-Yasha's dismay, and Kohaku seemed to be getting the hang of it as well, but as usual, Miroku fell on his first step on the ice.
"Go figure," sighed Inu-Yasha helping the monk back up to his feet.
Souta had taken Kohaku to teach him, while Rin and Sesshoumaru stuck together. They were even trying to do a pairs dance the two of them had seen on TV. Inu-Yasha was busy with the monk, but would have rather been trying to get his brother to fall.
Finally, after what seemed forever, Miroku was finally able to skate on his own, and had stopped crashing into the boards. By that time Sesshoumaru and Rin seemed like proffesional skaters which made the half demon even more pissed off then he already was. Souta suggested a game of hockey and went back to the shack to grab the hockey sticks. The teams were as the following, Inu-Yasha, Rin, and Souta, against Sesshoumaru, Kohaku, and Miroku. They managed to set the nets up, and Souta and Kohaku had volunteered to be the goalies for now, until later in the game when they would switch. Then the game was on . . .
Kagome carried the two steaming cups of hot chocolate into the living room and sat down beside Sango, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine Kagome . . . I already have Miroku worrying about me to death, I don't really need my best friend," sighed Sango, petting a sleeping Kirara on her lap.
"Sorry, I can't help it. It's about less than a week before you are expecting,"
Sango nodded, and turned her gaze to the television," Kagome . . ."
"Yes Sango?"
"I'm . . . I'm scared . . ."
"Well of course you should be scared! Every women who has their first child is scared,"
"That's not really what I mean . . ."
"Oh . . . then what did you mean?" asked Kagome.
"Well . . . there is a . . . sort of history in my family . . ."
"History?"
"When giving birth to children . . . my family seems to have problems . . . my mother had difficulties with me . . . but giving birth to Kohaku . . . that's what killed her,"
Kagome gasped, "What . . ."
"So . . . I'm scared . . . I don't want to die . . . and leave Miroku alone,"
"Well . . . Sango . . . you know that's why I brought you here . . . to my time . . . they have doctors and medicine that can help prevent that . . .so tried not to think about that okay?" said Kagome.
Sango tried to smile at her friend, and pushed her fears away for the moment.
"So . . .it's a pity we couldn't go skating with the others, I think Souta and them were going to try to play a game of hockey,"
"I wish I could have tried this skating," sighed Sango.
"It is rather fun . . . if you like, next winter Inu-Yasha could make a skating rink, and then we can try it,"
Sango nodded and took a sip of her chocolate, "That would be nice to try,"
Kagome placed her feet up on the foot stool and grabbed the blanket near by to wrap around herself, "So . . . how are things between you and Miroku?"
"Between me and Miroku? How do you mean?"
"Oh I don't know . . . my mother apparently had a little chat with them . . ."
"Oh you mean that!?"
"Well yes . . . so has Miroku been . . ."
"Kagome!"
"What? The men are outside and so are the children,"
Sango blushed and buried her face into the warm fuzzy blanket that she had, but Kagome could see the blush spreading on her cheeks.
"It's nothing to be embarressed about," sighed Kagome.
"But . . . but . . . it's . . . it's something private that Miroku and I do,"
"Well no not really, for some reason Inu-Yasha likes to inform me when you two are up to something since he can hear every little noise inside the house,"
Sango blushed even more and buried her face more into the pillow.
"You remind me so much of Inu-Yasha . . . he didn't really like talkng to me about our private times either, although he is getting better, at least after I showed him some books,"
"Books!? People actually write about this kind of thing?"
"Well yes they do, and I think Inu-Yasha was actually kind of glad he did read them. He learned quite a bit of . . ."
"I don't know if I want to hear it!" whimpered Sango.
Kagome started to laugh, she found her friends embarresement quite amusing, "Oh Sango,"
"Kagome . . . are you telling me that . . . men in this time . . . actually care were in pleasure or not?"
Kagome stopped laughing, "What do you mean?"
"Well back in the past, men usually find womenn just spawns for breeding more sons and something they get pleasure from, they don't care really about how the women feels,"
"Are you telling me this is how Miroku treats you?"
"No, no, no! I was actually surprised when he . . . you know . . . when we were together . . . and . . . if I told him it hurt he would stop . . . and . . . and . . ."
"Make it not hurt?" asked Kagome, trying to fill the gap.
Sango nodded her head.
"Well . . . in this time Sango women have their own rights and can speak their minds more clearly than they can in the past,"
"Does Inu-Yasha mind that?"
"Of course he doesn't . . . I told him right away that's how the women in this era were raised and he didn't have a problem with that . . .he thinks it's cruel that the men in his time don't really care if they please their woman or not,"
"Um . . . can we not talk about this anymore?"
Kagome sighed, "Sure . . . I guess you don't like talking about this kind of stuff do you?"
Sango shook her head.
"That's okay, we can talk about something else if you like,"
"Do you really think the well is going to close?" asked Sango.
Kagome almost choked on her hot chocolate, "Oh . . well . . . I don't know . . ."
"I thought I heard you and Inu-Yaha talking to Miroku about it yesterday, after he woke up from sleeping in the chair,"
Kagome nodded, "He did, he explained more about it to us,"
"So what did he say?"
"Well . . . he said after Inu-Yasha made his wish on the jewel for the well to stay open, that he did some research on the Jewel of Four Souls,"
"What did he find?"
"He told Inu-Yasha and I, that our wishes were pure . . . especially mine since I wished for the lives of my friends back . . . but Inu-Yasha's wish . . . it was selfish since the well only allows him and I to go through it, and no one else, unless were holding onto them. Miroku says that if the wish was tainted, the jewel would have turned black and done something awful to Inu-Yasha . . ."
"But it didn't,"
"Yes . . . so Miroku figures that the wish from the jewel will last for a while . . . I mean it's almost been a year . . . and Miroku thinks that the well will close eventually . . ."
"I see,"
"But . . ."
"But?"
"Miroku said the well will close eventually . . . if we stop using it . . ."
"Stop using it?"
"Miroku figures the well only stays open because I use it at least once a week to visit family, but if we stopped using it . . . say for about a month or two . . . then the well would close . . . do you understand?"
"It sounds quite simple . . . if you stop using the magic from the jewel . . . and since the wish wasn't really pure . . . then the power from the jewel would eventually fade and then stop completely,"
"That's what Miroku thinks will happen,"
Sango nodded, "Then . . . what will you do Kagome?"
Kagome shrugged, "I don't know . . . Inu-Yasha and I have to talk about it,"
"Oh?"
"You see, we talked to Sesshoumaru about it after we chatted with Miroku, and he told us that half demons could easily make it to a thousand years of age, and a couple of hundred years after that . . . it's not something for you and Miroku to worry about, but since Rin and Sesshoumaru are immortal, and Inu-Yasha and I are half immortal . . . we will live through time,"
"Go on,"
"You see . . . we figure that right now . . . our past selves are living in this era right now . . . do you understand what I'm saying?"
"I think so . . ."
"I guess it's kind of like a time traveling thing . . . but as I was saying . . . Sesshoumaru figures is not righ to mess with the past and future like we are passing back and forth like we are now,"
"I think I understand . . . if you guys do live through the past . . . and are alive now at the age of . . . of 400 something . . . then your living somewhere in the world knowing you can'g go see your family, since your seeing them right now,"
Kagome blinked and laughed, "I guess that does make sense, although I'm still confusing myself,"
Sango laughed as well, "Yes it is confusing . . . but your righ I guess . . . Miroku and I won't have to deal with it . . . since . . . we are long since dead in this era right now,"
Kagome nodded, "Yes . . . and so Inu-Yasha and I decided to talk about it tonight . . ."
"What's his opinion on the matter?"
"He hasn't really said anything, he's been quiet lately about the matter if I bring it up,"
Sango sighed and sipped on her hot chocolate, "Well whatever you decide Kagome, Miroku and I will be there to support you and Inu-Yasha,"
Kagome smiled and turned her gaze back to the TV, wondering if the others were having fun skating.
Rin and Kohaku glared at each other, waiting for Souta to drop the hockey puck between their sticks.
"Your going down demon . . ."
"We'll see about that human . . ."
Souta skated cautiously between the two and dropped the black puck between them. Rin wsa the first to get the puck and headed straight to the net towards to Sesshoumaru who was goalie for the moment. She skated easily around Miroku and pulled her stick back for the slap shot, but Kohakur some how stole the puck and started to skate full speed towards Inu- Yasha who was also in goal. Souta tried to stop the demon exterminator and also Shippo who had leaped off Souta's shoulder to get the puck back. Kohaku skated faster towards the half demon who looked ready than ever to stop him from scoring. As Kohaku pulledd his stick back, Rin pulled off the same move he did and stole the puck back, heading back down to the opponents end, and could hear Inu-Yasha's cheers. Souta managed to make sure Kohaku and Miroku didn't interfere with Rin's scoring as she slap shotted the puck at Sesshoumaru, but the demon easily caught the puck with his bare hands.
"You'll have to try much harder Rin," smirked Sesshoumaru as he tossed the puck to Miroku who passed it to Kohaku.
Rin growled at the lord before taking off after the demon exterminator. The score was tied at 5 to 5. Sesshoumaru had done most of the scoring on his team, but Miroku had actually got a goal, but it had been a total fluke when he had fallen, and Kohaku had gotten a goal as well. As for the other team, Rin had actually been the one getting most of the goals, and Inu- Yasha had made two, but Souta was rather more concentrating on the defense and left the scoring to his other team mates.
"Come on Kohaku bring it on!" hissed Inu-Yasha, getting himself ready to catch the puck.
Kohaku smirked as he got close to Inu-Yasha and screamed at the top of his lungs, which caused Rin and Sesshoumaru to cover their ears as well. Kohakur scored easily as Inu-Yasha clutched his ears, but the boy regretted it as Inu-Yasha tackled the boy, picked him up and threw him over the boards into a big snow pile.
"That's what you get for doing that you brat!" growled Inu-Yasha.
Souta couldn't help but laugh as Miroku tried to pull the poor boy out of the snow.
"I believe that brings the score 6 to 5," sneered Sesshoumaru, skating near his brother.
"That was a cheap trick and you know it!"
"Cheap or not, we still won? I don't suppose you call it cheap when you tripped me with your stick when I tried to score,"
Inu-Yasha rubbed the back of his head. When he had done that, Sesshoumaru had thrown him clear across the rink into a big snow pile and whacked him over and over again with his hockey stick.
"We won again!" chuckled Sesshoumaru.
Inu-Yasha growled and tackled his brother, "Stop acting like such a cocky bastard!"
Miroku sighed as he finally pulled Kohaku out of the snow, and found Inu- Yasha and Sesshoumaru rolling around on the ice.
"Do they ever stop?" asked Kohaku.
"I guess not . . . well it's getting late, so shall we head in and get some supper? I'm sure Kagome's made something good as usual,"
Kohaku nodded. They all headed back into the shack to remove their skates while Sesshoumaru and Inu-Yasha continued to role around on the ground.
Inu-Yasha sighed contently as he patted his full stomach, the roast Kagome had made them was delicious. He leaned against the bathroom door and waited for Kagome to be finished. When he heard the tap turn off, he watched the door open and the bathroom light turn off.
"You waited for me?"
"Of course I did!"
Kagome sighed and wobbled over to their bedroom with Inu-Yasha right behind her, his one hand on her shoulder, and the other on her lower back for support. When they reached the bed, Inu-Yasha pulled the covers back and helped Kagome lye down on her side before crawling into the bed himself.
"How are you feeling?" asked the half demon, wrapping his arms around his mate.
"I"m fine . . . just tired,"
"Then you should sleep,"
"No . . . we should talk about the well closing . . ."
Inu-Yasha sighed and nodded, "Alright,"
"What do you think we should do?"
"I don't know Kagome . . . I know we really shouldn't be messing with time . . . but I want you to be happy,"
Kagome sighed, "I know . . . but what if we really do live until this time, and can't visit my family since our past selves are here . . ."
"Kagome . . ."
"Inu-Yasha . . . I think . . . I think we should stop using the well,"
"But Kagome . . . you told me that you needed your family . . . with the well open you get to see them,"
"I know . . . I know I said that . . .but . . . if we are screwing up time because of the well . . . I want us to stop using the well . . . after all . . . I'll get to see my mother anyway in a couple hundred years," whispered Kagome.
Inu-Yasha sighed and pulled Kagome into a tight embrace.
"As long as I'm with you Inu-Yasha . . . I'll be fine . . . you're all I need,"
Inu-Yasha held his mate tighter.
"I . . . I at least want mom to see her grand daughter first . . . then we can close the well okay?"
The half demon nodded, "Kagome . . . I'll . . . I'll do the best to make you happy . . . "
Kagome held Inu-Yasha tighter, "I know you will Inu-Yasha,"
"I studied that boiler thing in your time . . . and if that hot spring by our house stops working, I'll get Totosai to make us a huge cauldren, and I'll draw you hot baths anytime you want one. I'll try to make the our house more like the one in your time . . ."
"Inu-Yasha . . ."
Inu-Yasha sighed and kissed Kagome's temple, "I'll make sure your very happy . . . even if you can't see your family for . . . for a while . . ."
Kagome nodded, "I know . . . I'll miss my mother . . . it will be hard with out her . . . after all . . . I'm still young and need more guidance from her . . . but as long as I'm with you . . . as long as were together . . . everything will be alright,"
Inu-Yasha started to rub Kagome's lower back, "And we'll mark the date down when the well stops working, so that when we plan to meet your mother again in the future, we'll knw what day to see her,"
Kagome smiled and kissed Inu-Yasha's chin, "Your the best . . ."
Inu-Yasha chuckled, "You know . . . I still haven't come up with a name for our daughter yet,"
"That's okay . . . I know you'll make a good choice . . ."
The half demon smiled and rubbed his head against Kagome's and her hands came up to rub and caress his ears.
"I love you Kagome,"
"I love you too Inu-Yasha,"
"Shall we get some sleep?"
Kagome gave half a nod before she was asleep in her husbands arms. Inu- Yasha chuckled to himself and closed his eyes. His ears twitched and a smirk spread on his face as he could hear the pups heart beat. Keeping one arm wrapped around his mate, he brought his other hand to cup his mates abdomen, and if the pup started to kick, he would know. Taking in a deep breath, and inhaling his mates sweet scent, Inu-yasha was lulled into a deep sleep.
TBC . . .
You guys might want to thank the weather for this chapter, otherwise it probably wouldn't have gotten done until next week. It's raining like crazy, and the golf course had to close for the since the weather so bad, and I got to work on my story. Thanks a lot! And until next time!
Lynns
Winter Wonderland
Chapter Fifty
Miroku stared out the darkened window, his feet slightly cold from not having any socks on, and from getting out of the nice warm bed. The monk smiled softly and kneeled beside the bed, watching his wife sleeping peacefully on her side. His hand moved up to cup her cheek, then moved down her neck, to her side, hips, and down to cup her abdmon, feeling the roundness of her belly. Miroku smiled and rested his head on the mattress. He didn't want to climb back into the bed, just in case the baby started to kick Sango again, then she would start tossing and turning in the bed. Running his hands through his hair, Miroku finally stood up and walked silently out of the room, heading downstairs. The house was still rather warm since Kagome had turned the heat up as he walked down the wooden stairs, and noticed a small glow coming from the living room. Rubbing the sleep from his eyes, Miroku peered into the living room to see Inu-Yasha sitting in one of the chairs, watching the evening news. The volume was down so low that the monk couldn't hear it, but knew the half-demon could hear it just fine.
"Hey there," whispered Miroku.
Inu-Yasha turned to the monk and nodded his head before returning his gaze back to the TV.
"Is Kagome tossing and turning too?"
"Yeah, the stress she got from helping Souta and the others, it got the pup upset too, so now it's kicking her,"
"That was almost a week ago," sighed Miroku, taking a seat beside Inu- Yasha, "But I guess Souta and Kohaku still have colds,"
"Their colds are almost gone though, they will be completely better in about two days,"
Mirokue nodded.
"It sure is getting closer,"
"You mean Christmas?"
"Yes . . . and I believe in less than two weeks you will be expecting your child to be born,"
"Yes I know . . ."
"You nervous?"
"No . . . not at all, but are you?"
Inu-Yasha was silent, his gaze returning to the television. Miroku stared at the half demon for a moment before turning his gaze to the television as well. He should have known better for Inu-Yasha to be open with him. The half demon would the odd time, but he was more open to Kagome than anyone else.
"I am . . ."
Miroku turned his eyes to Inu-Yasha, the demon was staring out the window instead of at the television now.
"You are?"
"Of course I am . . . unlike you monk my father was never really around . . . and I can barely remember him . . . how the hell do I know how to be a father? You had your father to guide you and to learn from . . . I however . . . I have no idea how to be a father . . . and I'm worried,"
"Worried?"
"Worried that my child will end up like me,"
"How do you mean?"
Inu-Yasha chuckled, "I guess I mean it in two ways. The first way is my attitude . . . I'm rude, let my run-away-mouth get the better of me, and I have a pretty bad temper . . . I don't want my daughter to be like that,"
The monk nodded.
"The second . . . I guess that really depends if the well closes or not like you said . . . what if the same thing happens to my daughter like it did to me . . . I'm killed by a demon who hates me for mating with a human, and Kagome is killed the same way . . ."
Miroku's eyes widened.
"I had to look after myself . . . I knew nothing . . . I had no idea how to take care of myself . . .I didn't know how to hunt . . . or what food's were good for me . . . and I was always running . . .running away from the demons who tried to kill me . . . and I didn't know how to defend myself . . . and when I did it was by accident,"
Miroku still remained silent.
"Did you know . . . the first time I used my claws of blood . . . it was a total fluke," sighed Inu-Yasha, staring at his claws.
"No I didn't" whispered the monk. The fact that Inu-Yasha was opening up to him, surprised the monk in more ways than one. It was amazing what Kagome had done to Inu-Yasha, the half demon was actually opening up to someone rather than his mate.
"It was a year after my mother died . . . I was taking a nap in one of the trees, but I was woken up when a demon grabbed my leg and pulled me from the tree. I some how managed to free myself and started running, but the demon was right behind me trying to kill me with it's claws. I tripped on a branch and tried to roll out of the way before the demons claws struck me, but a got a could wound on my arm. Everything was starting to get dizzy from the blood loss, and I could do nothing but dodge and hold my arm with my other hand. I slumped against a tree, tears rolling down my face and as the demon attacked my free hand game swinging out, covered in my own blood as I screamed 'Leave me alone!', and I waited to be killed, but it never came. I opened up my eyes to see the demon lying at my feet in peices . . . dead. I got very scare, but who wouldn't be if it was the first time you had killed someone. I soon figured out that I had an attack when I noticed that there was no longer blood on my hands. That is why . . . I fear for the well closing . . . Kagome might not worry as much since all she worries about is not seeing her family, but will eventually if we live through the past . . . and she'll have me. But me . .. with the well closed . . . if anything were to happen to me . . . Kagome and my daughter . . . they would have no where to go . . . they couldn't go back to this era where it would be safe . . ."
The monk opened his mouth to speak, but the half demon cut him off.
"I know you would take care of them monk . . . however if there was enough demons after them, you wouldn't be able to,"
The monk gave a soft smile and stared back at the TV, "I see . . . however your wrong to think if I ever learned anything from my father . . ."
Inu-Yasha glanced at the monk.
"Part of the curse was that my mother died the day I was born . . . and so I never met her . . . I have no idea what she looked liked . . . as for my father . . . he spent most of his time hunting after Naraku . . . Mushin is the only really father I'd ever known . . . after all . . . I was almost the same age as you when my father died,"
The half demon closed his eyes and then stared at his hands in his lap.
"So . . . I think I do know how you feel . . . when you say you think you'll be a bad father,"
The monk and half demon gazed at each other for a moment, before looking away in their own direction. Miroku stared back at Inu-Yasha, there was a sort of look in the half demons eyes that seemed to reflect on the pain of his past. The monk gave a soft smile and tried to lighten the mood, "You know . . . I think this is the first time I've ever heard you saying you could be defeated by some demon,"
Inu-Yasha came out of his daze and stared at the monk, "Yes . . . but . . . my father thought the same thing didn't he? Thought he was unstoppable and would always be there for my mother and me . . . but he was defeated . . . I at least . . . want to be careful,"
Miroku nodded, "True,"
Inu-Yasha smiled, "Although, I won't let some whimpy demon beat me, I'm made of tougher stuff than that,"
"Now that's the old Inu-Yasha I like to hear,"
"Keh, don't think I've gone soft monk,"
"However . . . I think you're wrong that you think you'll make an awful father . . . I think you'll make a great . . . yet over protective father,"
"Don't humor me monk,"
Miroku shrugged his shoulders and stared back at the TV since he wasn't in the mood to argue with the half demon.
"The weather should be better the next few days, so we can try ice skating if you guys want to,"
"I'm actually a little scared to try this ice skating . . . if it's harder than skiing I'm a dead man,"
Inu-Yasha chuckled," Don't worry, the wooden boards will stop you, and you don't have to worry about any tree's or cliffs,"
"And you told me falling would hurt more,"
"Well that depends how you land,"
"Just like skiing?"
"Well no, the ice is a lot harder, so it will hurt, but how much pain you'll be in depends on how you land,"
Miroku nodded, but Inu-Yasha could tell the monk was nervous.
"Don't worry about it, you'll do fine,"
The rest of the evening they spent watching the evening news, and fell asleep in their chairs to be found by their mates and friends in the next morning.
Shippo, Rin, and Sesshoumaru watched amusingly as Miroku and Inu-Yasha went back and forth across the ice rink as they shoveled the snow. Inu- Yasha was having no trouble, but the monk was since when his shovel got to full, the handle would always puch into his stomach whent hey hit a large pile of snow. Souta and Kohaku came walking out of the cabin while Kirara, Kagome, and Sango watched from the window.
"How are you two feeling?" asked Shippo, jumping onto Souta's shoulder when they were close enough.
"Much better, just a bit of a stuffy nose," said Souta.
Kohaku nodded in agreement, and laughed when Miroku got another gut punch from his shovel handle again.
"How long have those to been shoveling?" asked Souta.
"Not very long, but Inu-Yasha has to keep stopping since Miroku keeps getting gutted by his shovel," sighed Sesshoumaru.
"Well we could at least get your skates on, I'll show you guys how," offered Souta, heading into the skating shack.
Sesshoumaru glanced at Rin who followed after the young boy before following her with Kohaku right behind them.
"Damn it! Can't you do anything right monk?" hissed Inu-Yasha.
"I can't help it, this shovel is possesed by a demon,"
Inu-Yasha snorted, "Don't give me the same excuse you used with your hand, now keep shoveling, were almost done,"
Miroku sighed, "I'm going to be tired out and I haven't even put on my skates yet,"
"Just keep going!"
Souta sighed when he heard Inu-Yasha's yelling and went back to showing the others how to tie their skates. Kagome had already taught Rin earlier in the morning how to tie hers since they were different from the guys skates. Rin was the first ready to go and was putting on her mittens as she headed for the door. As Rin was walking out of the shack, Inu-Yasha and Miroku were coming in with the half demon grumbling under his breath.
Sesshoumaru and Kohaku managed to tie their skates, and so did Miroku once Inu-Yasha showed him how. Shippo kep his seat on Souta's shoulder since he was the most experienced skater. They all managed to walk out of the shack with out tripping over their blades, and when they came out, Rin was already skating gracefully on the ice.
"She's a quick learner," commented Shippo.
"I'll say, I didn't give her the basic lessons . . . I guess whatching that skating on TV really helped her," said Inu-Yasha.
Everyone nodded, and Inu-Yasha and Souta stepped onto the ice. Souta took off to join Rin, while Inu-Yasha did his best to explain to the others how to skate.
"It's a bit simpler that skiing really. To move you push with the side of your blade, to stop you can either do it in a triangle like skiing or how Rin is stopping right now with a swift move of the blades to the side. You use your arms for balance, and if you can't stop, the boards are there to help,"
The gang nodded and stepped onto the ice. Sesshoumaru was a fast learner by Rin, much to Inu-Yasha's dismay, and Kohaku seemed to be getting the hang of it as well, but as usual, Miroku fell on his first step on the ice.
"Go figure," sighed Inu-Yasha helping the monk back up to his feet.
Souta had taken Kohaku to teach him, while Rin and Sesshoumaru stuck together. They were even trying to do a pairs dance the two of them had seen on TV. Inu-Yasha was busy with the monk, but would have rather been trying to get his brother to fall.
Finally, after what seemed forever, Miroku was finally able to skate on his own, and had stopped crashing into the boards. By that time Sesshoumaru and Rin seemed like proffesional skaters which made the half demon even more pissed off then he already was. Souta suggested a game of hockey and went back to the shack to grab the hockey sticks. The teams were as the following, Inu-Yasha, Rin, and Souta, against Sesshoumaru, Kohaku, and Miroku. They managed to set the nets up, and Souta and Kohaku had volunteered to be the goalies for now, until later in the game when they would switch. Then the game was on . . .
Kagome carried the two steaming cups of hot chocolate into the living room and sat down beside Sango, "How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine Kagome . . . I already have Miroku worrying about me to death, I don't really need my best friend," sighed Sango, petting a sleeping Kirara on her lap.
"Sorry, I can't help it. It's about less than a week before you are expecting,"
Sango nodded, and turned her gaze to the television," Kagome . . ."
"Yes Sango?"
"I'm . . . I'm scared . . ."
"Well of course you should be scared! Every women who has their first child is scared,"
"That's not really what I mean . . ."
"Oh . . . then what did you mean?" asked Kagome.
"Well . . . there is a . . . sort of history in my family . . ."
"History?"
"When giving birth to children . . . my family seems to have problems . . . my mother had difficulties with me . . . but giving birth to Kohaku . . . that's what killed her,"
Kagome gasped, "What . . ."
"So . . . I'm scared . . . I don't want to die . . . and leave Miroku alone,"
"Well . . . Sango . . . you know that's why I brought you here . . . to my time . . . they have doctors and medicine that can help prevent that . . .so tried not to think about that okay?" said Kagome.
Sango tried to smile at her friend, and pushed her fears away for the moment.
"So . . .it's a pity we couldn't go skating with the others, I think Souta and them were going to try to play a game of hockey,"
"I wish I could have tried this skating," sighed Sango.
"It is rather fun . . . if you like, next winter Inu-Yasha could make a skating rink, and then we can try it,"
Sango nodded and took a sip of her chocolate, "That would be nice to try,"
Kagome placed her feet up on the foot stool and grabbed the blanket near by to wrap around herself, "So . . . how are things between you and Miroku?"
"Between me and Miroku? How do you mean?"
"Oh I don't know . . . my mother apparently had a little chat with them . . ."
"Oh you mean that!?"
"Well yes . . . so has Miroku been . . ."
"Kagome!"
"What? The men are outside and so are the children,"
Sango blushed and buried her face into the warm fuzzy blanket that she had, but Kagome could see the blush spreading on her cheeks.
"It's nothing to be embarressed about," sighed Kagome.
"But . . . but . . . it's . . . it's something private that Miroku and I do,"
"Well no not really, for some reason Inu-Yasha likes to inform me when you two are up to something since he can hear every little noise inside the house,"
Sango blushed even more and buried her face more into the pillow.
"You remind me so much of Inu-Yasha . . . he didn't really like talkng to me about our private times either, although he is getting better, at least after I showed him some books,"
"Books!? People actually write about this kind of thing?"
"Well yes they do, and I think Inu-Yasha was actually kind of glad he did read them. He learned quite a bit of . . ."
"I don't know if I want to hear it!" whimpered Sango.
Kagome started to laugh, she found her friends embarresement quite amusing, "Oh Sango,"
"Kagome . . . are you telling me that . . . men in this time . . . actually care were in pleasure or not?"
Kagome stopped laughing, "What do you mean?"
"Well back in the past, men usually find womenn just spawns for breeding more sons and something they get pleasure from, they don't care really about how the women feels,"
"Are you telling me this is how Miroku treats you?"
"No, no, no! I was actually surprised when he . . . you know . . . when we were together . . . and . . . if I told him it hurt he would stop . . . and . . . and . . ."
"Make it not hurt?" asked Kagome, trying to fill the gap.
Sango nodded her head.
"Well . . . in this time Sango women have their own rights and can speak their minds more clearly than they can in the past,"
"Does Inu-Yasha mind that?"
"Of course he doesn't . . . I told him right away that's how the women in this era were raised and he didn't have a problem with that . . .he thinks it's cruel that the men in his time don't really care if they please their woman or not,"
"Um . . . can we not talk about this anymore?"
Kagome sighed, "Sure . . . I guess you don't like talking about this kind of stuff do you?"
Sango shook her head.
"That's okay, we can talk about something else if you like,"
"Do you really think the well is going to close?" asked Sango.
Kagome almost choked on her hot chocolate, "Oh . . well . . . I don't know . . ."
"I thought I heard you and Inu-Yaha talking to Miroku about it yesterday, after he woke up from sleeping in the chair,"
Kagome nodded, "He did, he explained more about it to us,"
"So what did he say?"
"Well . . . he said after Inu-Yasha made his wish on the jewel for the well to stay open, that he did some research on the Jewel of Four Souls,"
"What did he find?"
"He told Inu-Yasha and I, that our wishes were pure . . . especially mine since I wished for the lives of my friends back . . . but Inu-Yasha's wish . . . it was selfish since the well only allows him and I to go through it, and no one else, unless were holding onto them. Miroku says that if the wish was tainted, the jewel would have turned black and done something awful to Inu-Yasha . . ."
"But it didn't,"
"Yes . . . so Miroku figures that the wish from the jewel will last for a while . . . I mean it's almost been a year . . . and Miroku thinks that the well will close eventually . . ."
"I see,"
"But . . ."
"But?"
"Miroku said the well will close eventually . . . if we stop using it . . ."
"Stop using it?"
"Miroku figures the well only stays open because I use it at least once a week to visit family, but if we stopped using it . . . say for about a month or two . . . then the well would close . . . do you understand?"
"It sounds quite simple . . . if you stop using the magic from the jewel . . . and since the wish wasn't really pure . . . then the power from the jewel would eventually fade and then stop completely,"
"That's what Miroku thinks will happen,"
Sango nodded, "Then . . . what will you do Kagome?"
Kagome shrugged, "I don't know . . . Inu-Yasha and I have to talk about it,"
"Oh?"
"You see, we talked to Sesshoumaru about it after we chatted with Miroku, and he told us that half demons could easily make it to a thousand years of age, and a couple of hundred years after that . . . it's not something for you and Miroku to worry about, but since Rin and Sesshoumaru are immortal, and Inu-Yasha and I are half immortal . . . we will live through time,"
"Go on,"
"You see . . . we figure that right now . . . our past selves are living in this era right now . . . do you understand what I'm saying?"
"I think so . . ."
"I guess it's kind of like a time traveling thing . . . but as I was saying . . . Sesshoumaru figures is not righ to mess with the past and future like we are passing back and forth like we are now,"
"I think I understand . . . if you guys do live through the past . . . and are alive now at the age of . . . of 400 something . . . then your living somewhere in the world knowing you can'g go see your family, since your seeing them right now,"
Kagome blinked and laughed, "I guess that does make sense, although I'm still confusing myself,"
Sango laughed as well, "Yes it is confusing . . . but your righ I guess . . . Miroku and I won't have to deal with it . . . since . . . we are long since dead in this era right now,"
Kagome nodded, "Yes . . . and so Inu-Yasha and I decided to talk about it tonight . . ."
"What's his opinion on the matter?"
"He hasn't really said anything, he's been quiet lately about the matter if I bring it up,"
Sango sighed and sipped on her hot chocolate, "Well whatever you decide Kagome, Miroku and I will be there to support you and Inu-Yasha,"
Kagome smiled and turned her gaze back to the TV, wondering if the others were having fun skating.
Rin and Kohaku glared at each other, waiting for Souta to drop the hockey puck between their sticks.
"Your going down demon . . ."
"We'll see about that human . . ."
Souta skated cautiously between the two and dropped the black puck between them. Rin wsa the first to get the puck and headed straight to the net towards to Sesshoumaru who was goalie for the moment. She skated easily around Miroku and pulled her stick back for the slap shot, but Kohakur some how stole the puck and started to skate full speed towards Inu- Yasha who was also in goal. Souta tried to stop the demon exterminator and also Shippo who had leaped off Souta's shoulder to get the puck back. Kohaku skated faster towards the half demon who looked ready than ever to stop him from scoring. As Kohaku pulledd his stick back, Rin pulled off the same move he did and stole the puck back, heading back down to the opponents end, and could hear Inu-Yasha's cheers. Souta managed to make sure Kohaku and Miroku didn't interfere with Rin's scoring as she slap shotted the puck at Sesshoumaru, but the demon easily caught the puck with his bare hands.
"You'll have to try much harder Rin," smirked Sesshoumaru as he tossed the puck to Miroku who passed it to Kohaku.
Rin growled at the lord before taking off after the demon exterminator. The score was tied at 5 to 5. Sesshoumaru had done most of the scoring on his team, but Miroku had actually got a goal, but it had been a total fluke when he had fallen, and Kohaku had gotten a goal as well. As for the other team, Rin had actually been the one getting most of the goals, and Inu- Yasha had made two, but Souta was rather more concentrating on the defense and left the scoring to his other team mates.
"Come on Kohaku bring it on!" hissed Inu-Yasha, getting himself ready to catch the puck.
Kohaku smirked as he got close to Inu-Yasha and screamed at the top of his lungs, which caused Rin and Sesshoumaru to cover their ears as well. Kohakur scored easily as Inu-Yasha clutched his ears, but the boy regretted it as Inu-Yasha tackled the boy, picked him up and threw him over the boards into a big snow pile.
"That's what you get for doing that you brat!" growled Inu-Yasha.
Souta couldn't help but laugh as Miroku tried to pull the poor boy out of the snow.
"I believe that brings the score 6 to 5," sneered Sesshoumaru, skating near his brother.
"That was a cheap trick and you know it!"
"Cheap or not, we still won? I don't suppose you call it cheap when you tripped me with your stick when I tried to score,"
Inu-Yasha rubbed the back of his head. When he had done that, Sesshoumaru had thrown him clear across the rink into a big snow pile and whacked him over and over again with his hockey stick.
"We won again!" chuckled Sesshoumaru.
Inu-Yasha growled and tackled his brother, "Stop acting like such a cocky bastard!"
Miroku sighed as he finally pulled Kohaku out of the snow, and found Inu- Yasha and Sesshoumaru rolling around on the ice.
"Do they ever stop?" asked Kohaku.
"I guess not . . . well it's getting late, so shall we head in and get some supper? I'm sure Kagome's made something good as usual,"
Kohaku nodded. They all headed back into the shack to remove their skates while Sesshoumaru and Inu-Yasha continued to role around on the ground.
Inu-Yasha sighed contently as he patted his full stomach, the roast Kagome had made them was delicious. He leaned against the bathroom door and waited for Kagome to be finished. When he heard the tap turn off, he watched the door open and the bathroom light turn off.
"You waited for me?"
"Of course I did!"
Kagome sighed and wobbled over to their bedroom with Inu-Yasha right behind her, his one hand on her shoulder, and the other on her lower back for support. When they reached the bed, Inu-Yasha pulled the covers back and helped Kagome lye down on her side before crawling into the bed himself.
"How are you feeling?" asked the half demon, wrapping his arms around his mate.
"I"m fine . . . just tired,"
"Then you should sleep,"
"No . . . we should talk about the well closing . . ."
Inu-Yasha sighed and nodded, "Alright,"
"What do you think we should do?"
"I don't know Kagome . . . I know we really shouldn't be messing with time . . . but I want you to be happy,"
Kagome sighed, "I know . . . but what if we really do live until this time, and can't visit my family since our past selves are here . . ."
"Kagome . . ."
"Inu-Yasha . . . I think . . . I think we should stop using the well,"
"But Kagome . . . you told me that you needed your family . . . with the well open you get to see them,"
"I know . . . I know I said that . . .but . . . if we are screwing up time because of the well . . . I want us to stop using the well . . . after all . . . I'll get to see my mother anyway in a couple hundred years," whispered Kagome.
Inu-Yasha sighed and pulled Kagome into a tight embrace.
"As long as I'm with you Inu-Yasha . . . I'll be fine . . . you're all I need,"
Inu-Yasha held his mate tighter.
"I . . . I at least want mom to see her grand daughter first . . . then we can close the well okay?"
The half demon nodded, "Kagome . . . I'll . . . I'll do the best to make you happy . . . "
Kagome held Inu-Yasha tighter, "I know you will Inu-Yasha,"
"I studied that boiler thing in your time . . . and if that hot spring by our house stops working, I'll get Totosai to make us a huge cauldren, and I'll draw you hot baths anytime you want one. I'll try to make the our house more like the one in your time . . ."
"Inu-Yasha . . ."
Inu-Yasha sighed and kissed Kagome's temple, "I'll make sure your very happy . . . even if you can't see your family for . . . for a while . . ."
Kagome nodded, "I know . . . I'll miss my mother . . . it will be hard with out her . . . after all . . . I'm still young and need more guidance from her . . . but as long as I'm with you . . . as long as were together . . . everything will be alright,"
Inu-Yasha started to rub Kagome's lower back, "And we'll mark the date down when the well stops working, so that when we plan to meet your mother again in the future, we'll knw what day to see her,"
Kagome smiled and kissed Inu-Yasha's chin, "Your the best . . ."
Inu-Yasha chuckled, "You know . . . I still haven't come up with a name for our daughter yet,"
"That's okay . . . I know you'll make a good choice . . ."
The half demon smiled and rubbed his head against Kagome's and her hands came up to rub and caress his ears.
"I love you Kagome,"
"I love you too Inu-Yasha,"
"Shall we get some sleep?"
Kagome gave half a nod before she was asleep in her husbands arms. Inu- Yasha chuckled to himself and closed his eyes. His ears twitched and a smirk spread on his face as he could hear the pups heart beat. Keeping one arm wrapped around his mate, he brought his other hand to cup his mates abdomen, and if the pup started to kick, he would know. Taking in a deep breath, and inhaling his mates sweet scent, Inu-yasha was lulled into a deep sleep.
TBC . . .
You guys might want to thank the weather for this chapter, otherwise it probably wouldn't have gotten done until next week. It's raining like crazy, and the golf course had to close for the since the weather so bad, and I got to work on my story. Thanks a lot! And until next time!
Lynns