Say Goodnight
a/n: I do not own Inuyasha. See end of chapter for more notes. Betaed by AngelaScarlet.
Chapter Eight – Family Reunion
Kagome was surprised to finally come to an ornately styled wooden gate after driving through forest-trimmed roads for what seemed like an eternity. The area was so quiet, so still, that Kagome could almost imagine she was back in the feudal era. The asphalt roads she was riding on and the convertible she was riding in were the only things that were out of place in this ancient forest.
Inuyasha approached the gate and pushed an intercom button.
"Name please," a bored male voice said.
"Shoon, it's Inuyasha"
"Nice to see you Inuyasha, your father has been expecting you," the voice sounded less bored as the gate slid open.
"This is where your father lives?" Kagome asked as they drove up a smoothly paved road. They were going uphill.
"This is what could be called the 'Family Seat'. We all have rooms here. There is the main house, and then there are several small huts. The man on the intercom is one of Sango and Miroku's descendents. Most of them have a place here too. Even the wolf and his family have a place here. Sesshomaru, Kagura, and their kids live in the main house with Father," Inuyasha explained.
"Why?" asked Kagome.
"We need a peaceful place we could all go to and not be disturbed. You know, in case things got rough. It is almost like a little village," Inuyasha smiled at the thought of it.
"Why don't you stay in the main house?" Kagome queried.
"I still get a little jumpy with Sesshomaru around," Inuyasha shrugged and went around a corner. Kagome gasped as the estate came into view. The main house was identical to a feudal era castle. Little huts were scattered here and there throughout the hilly and grassy area. Tall trees shut the place out from the rest of the world.
"That one is mine," Inuyasha pointed at a larger hut next to the main house. He removed the earring he had put on before their drive and Kagome reached up to rub the ears that appeared.
"I wish you did not have to wear that thing, " Kagome sighed as she unbuckled and got out of the car.
"Hey, I'm with you," Inuyasha chuckled as they walked up the stairs.
"Whatever happened to old Myoga?" Kagome asked.
"Died about a decade after Kaede," Inuyasha told her. The old flea had been alive even longer than his Father had been. Inuyasha was sure the flea demon had been glad to go.
The shoji screens at the top of the stairs slid open, and out stepped a man that could have been Miroku, except for having long hair and a serious look on his face. The blue eyes, those were Miroku's eyes. He looked just like him, and it had Kagome almost shedding a tear.
"Ah, Inuyasha. Is this the lovely Kagome we have all been waiting for?" Shoon asked charmingly.
"Oh yes, he is definitely descended from Miroku," Kagome laughed. Inuyasha let out a light laugh as well.
"Is my father available?" Inuyasha asked as he started to walk down the hall. Kagome shed her shoes and walked with them.
"He is reading in his study. And you should know, Lord Sesshomaru, Lady Kagura, and Ryuu are on their way. I think they are no more than thirty minutes behind you," Shoon told them as they walked the corridors.
Inuyasha sighed, "I suppose it couldn't be helped?"
"Your father called them as soon as he hung up with you," Shoon smiled. He slid a screen aside and revealed a tall man, with very long hair the same shade as his sons'. While Sesshomaru and Inuyasha wore their hair unbound and free, Inutaisho wore his in a high ponytail. His hakama was a dark blue, and the kimono he wore underneath was white. A dark blue haori was slung over a chair nearby. The demon stood and faced his son and the priestess that had given him life again. Kagome bowed, and Inuyasha made his way forward to shake his father's hand.
"Father, this is Higurashi Kagome. Kagome, this is my father, Inutaisho," Inuyasha had been waiting centuries to introduce these two people. And now they stood in the same room.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet you, Kagome. May I call you Kagome?" Inutaisho asked politely. Kagome nodded. He was so tall, and he looked so like Inuyasha. But Inuyasha had a shape around the eyes that must come from his mother.
"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Kimura," Kagome held out her hand and the demon took it in his own. He was warm, and Kagome felt an aura of fatherliness around him. She did not know what she expected. That he would be more like Sesshomaru, perhaps? Kagome smiled at the demon and he released her hand.
"Shoon, some tea perhaps?" Inutaisho asked his butler. Shoon nodded and turned to go down the hallway. Inutaisho gestured for them to sit, and they sat on some low cushions around an elegant mahogany table. The pillows were a deep red, with golden embroidery and tassels. Kagome sat with her legs to the side, bent in half. Inuyasha sat like he always had, and Kagome smiled gently, remembering the red haori he had always worn back in the feudal era.
"Inuyasha, do you still have the robe of the fire rat?" Kagome asked. He nodded, looking speculative.
"Why do you ask?" Inuyasha looked at Kagome with interest.
"Just wondering is all. Sheesh, do I have to have a reason for everything?" Kagome threw her hands into the air. Inutaisho was amused by their exchange.
"Well sheesh Kagome, just come out and say what you mean!" Inuyasha huffed.
"Your brother and his family will be here soon," Inutaisho reminded them.
"How is Sesshomaru?" Kagome asked, not wanting to ignore their host.
"Good. Business is good. He and Inuyasha make a good play of getting along for my sake," Inutaisho smiled, and Kagome could see that Inuyasha looked somewhat similar when he decided to give her a smile.
"Keh," Inuyasha crossed his arms and waited patiently.
"Inuyasha, tell me how you finally revealed yourself to Kagome," Inutaisho asked his son.
"Father, I would rather wait until everyone else gets here so I do not have to repeat the story, if you do not mind," Inuyasha bowed gently to his father.
"No, not at all. Okay then, when's the wedding?" Inutaisho asked. Kagome coughed spontaneously, and Inuyasha blushed to the roots of his pale hair.
"Wedding?" Kagome asked.
"Well, I just assumed, after five hundred years, he would have asked you the moment he saw you!" Inutaisho remarked.
"Father!" Inuyasha growled.
"Okay, okay. I guess not," Inutaisho grinned. Kagome continued to be surprised by how cordial Inutaisho was. The Great Dog Demon had not been known for humor, or for sensitivity. She did want to be with Inuyasha. She had always wanted that. When would he ask? Was he going to ask? Did he even want to be married?
Shoon entered the room once again, carrying a tray laden with all the makings for tea. Shortly after they were all seated with a small porcelain tea cup, there was a ring of the doorbell. Inuyasha sniffed the air and frowned slightly.
"Shoon, please go greet Sesshomaru and family," Inutaisho smiled sadly, and Shoon left the room with a bow.
If meeting Inutaisho was a shock to Kagome, she thought she would die when Sesshomaru, Kagura, and their son walked into the room. Sesshomaru was wearing a gray suit, and he still looked as cold as he had five hundred years ago. Kagura was wearing a purple business suit, and she was obviously wearing colored contacts over her red eyes. They were now a sultry brown, suiting her very well. Ryuu looked to be about the age Kagome was when she fell down the well. His hair was brown, like his mother's, with little brown dog ears that usually were hid by an earring like Inuyasha's. His eyes were the same golden color as his father's, and his claws were like Inuyasha's. He had no markings on his face, but nonetheless, Kagome could tell he was Sesshomaru's son. Those high cheekbones, and that tall frame. Ryuu was a suitable heir to the Western Lands. He bowed to his grandfather, his uncle, and to Kagome.
"Kagome," Sesshomaru greeted her curtly. Ah, so that was how it was going to be.
"Sesshomaru, nice to see you. Kagura," Kagome nodded to the sorceress who had tried to take all their lives so many times. Kagura nodded back, although not as coldly as Sesshomaru. The years had changed her somewhat.
Kagome stood to introduce herself to the offspring of the two old enemies. It would be right to start off on the right foot. She held out her hand to Ryuu.
"Hello Ryuu, I'm Kagome. It is nice to meet you," Kagome smiled, and the half demon looked at her suspiciously before shaking her hand. He was Sesshomaru's son all right.
"It is nice to meet you, Kagome," Ryuu said. Then he turned to his uncle, "Nice to see you also, Uncle, Grandfather"
A silence stretched out while their new guests were poured tea and they took a seat. Then, Inutaisho asked again how Inuyasha finally revealed himself to Kagome.
"Well, as you know, Mei has been working with Kagome. They went out, and Kagome had too much to drink to really walk home alone - ," Inuyasha was cut off by Kagome suddenly.
"I was fine! I was not all that drunk!" Kagome protested.
"Drunk enough to get mugged, wench!" Inuyasha yelled.
"I should have never removed the spell on that rosary! You need to be sat, and sat a lot!" Kagome yelled back, obviously forgetting the people around them. Ryuu looked pleasantly amused, while Sesshomaru showed signs of impatience.
"So, Kagome got intoxicated, got mugged, and you saved her?" Inutaisho filled in the blanks. Kagome and Inuyasha looked at him stupidly, before snapping back to attention.
"Yeah, that's what she did all right," Inuyasha mumbled.
Kagome silently seethed as the conversation resumed.
"Inuyasha, aren't you going to New York soon?" Kagura asked her brother-in-law.
"Yeah, sure," Inuyasha answered.
"I am sure you are going to take Kagome with you, aren't you?" Inutaisho asked, somewhat eagerly.
Inuyasha glared at his father before answering, "I was planning on asking her later"
Kagome smiled shyly at Inuyasha. He was still hopeless. She would go anywhere just to be with him.
Inuyasha stood up and dusted off his pants, "We need to be going now, Father. Kagome is moving in with Shippo, Mei and I. We still have a lot of things to do. Thank you for the tea. Sesshomaru, Kagura, Ryuu: It was nice to see you all"
"Thank you so much for your hospitality. It was nice to see all of you," Kagome bowed before leaving the room, with Inuyasha already ten steps ahead. She caught up to him easily, and linked her hand with his. It was warm and strong, like it always had been. They stepped out into the sunshine, and Kagome smiled a bright smile. Instead of heading to the car, Inuyasha veered towards his hut.
"I want to show you the hut," Inuyasha told her. Kagome nodded. They reached the screened door, and Inuyasha let go of her hand to slide it open.
It could have been a hut in Kaede's village. Nothing fancy, just something to sleep and eat in. The futon on the floor was green, and made of a soft microfiber. There was a small firepit, and Kagome was very pleased to see the only modern concession in this hut, a modern bathroom. She laughed at the sight of it, and Inuyasha smiled with her. He was rewarded with a radiant smile, directed straight at him, and her eyes softened at the edges, like they did when she was sensing something sweet or romantic.
"Inuyasha? I love you," Kagome told him, never stopping that smile.
"Keh, I should hope so, wench. Five hundred years is a long time to wait for someone!" Inuyasha huffed and turned around, so she could not see the elation on his face. But faster than usual, she was in front of him, tugging his face down by hair that framed his face.
"I love you," Kagome said confidently, and then she kissed him. He wanted to shout out loud in happiness. Instead, he just wrapped his arms around his love and held her there, right against him, kissing her like he would never get to kiss her again.
How long would it be before he would be able to taste her skin, taste all of her, to skim his claws over her naked body, to feel her inside and out? How long would kisses last them? He wanted to feel her under him, clawing his back and calling out his name. Before he could let these feelings take too hard of a hold, he unwrapped Kagome from his body and broke the kiss. Her skin was flushed, her eyes were sparkling, and her sweet lips were swollen. Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
"Love you too, wench," he muttered.
"Why did you stop?" Kagome asked.
"You don't want it this way. Not here, not now," Inuyasha shook his head.
"Now, Inuyasha. I am not to be coddled. How do you know how I want it, or where I want it? What if I have been wanting it since before I left the feudal era? What if I don't care where or when, as long as it is with you? I want you," Kagome placed a brazen kiss on his neck, "anywhere," a kiss on the other side of his neck, "anytime," a kiss on his cheek, "any way," she kissed him on his other cheek. Those kisses burned him.
"Kagome, I…," Inuyasha was speechless. Kagome had never been one to be so forward.
"Oh, forget it. Let's go," Kagome offered him a friendly smile and left the hut. Inuyasha followed like a lost puppy.
The ride home was uneventful, and mostly quiet.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked.
"Yeah?"
"Can we go back to your place? I want to go shopping with Mei"
"Why? Can't I take you shopping?" Inuyasha wanted to say he was surprised, but he wasn't. Kagome may need some girl time. If there was one thing he had learned about girls, it was that they needed other girls.
"I just need to talk to Mei for a while," Kagome told him.
"Keh. All right wench. But make it fast. We have things to do. Among them are dinner reservations," Inuyasha told her. Kagome smiled at him. It would probably be someplace that served ramen. But she could deal.
Mei was indeed home, but she was otherwise occupied when Inuyasha and Kagome walked in the door. They did not know it when they walked in, but Mei was currently busy trying to conceive a baby of her own.
"Mei! Shippo! We're back!" Inuyasha yelled. At that moment, Mei fell off of where she had been sitting, and moaned in dissapointment.
"Maybe if we stay quiet they will leave us alone," Shippo laughed lowly. Mei shushed him and started to gather up her robe. She stood and tied the sash.
"Kagome is with him. We can't stay up here all day," Mei told her husband.
"Yeah we can," Shippo tugged at his wife's robe. She smacked his hand away.
"No, we can't. Don't worry, I am not totally done with you yet," Mei smiled at Shippo and walked towards the door. She opened it and stepped into the hallway.
"Hey you guys, what's up?" Mei asked, a little too nonchalantly. Inuyasha narrowed his eyes at her half-dressed appearance, but said nothing.
"I need to go shopping. Will you go with me?" Kagome asked her, a plea in her eyes.
"Of course. Let me get dressed," Mei had no idea what was going on, but she was determined to find out.
"What's going on?" Shippo asked as Mei closed the door.
"Something is up between the two of them. Nothing to worry too much about, but it is enough for Kagome to invoke the shopping request," Mei told her husband.
"Shopping request?" Shippo asked, confused.
"When a girl needs to work something out, she takes a girlfriend shopping. It is almost a universal code. 'Go shopping with me' almost always means that something is up, and they need someone to talk to," Mei kissed her husband after she pulled on a long skirt and a tank top.
"Women!" Shippo rolled his eyes and collapsed back on their futon.
"What do you want to bet Inuyasha needs to talk too?" Mei queried as she headed out the door.
a/n: I know I said this story will be pretty long. But it won't. I have decided to cut a huge chunk out of the story. It was not working for me, and it was not fun. Writing needs to be fun for me to want to do it. I will complete this story, just not in the same way I was going to. Look forward to quite a few more chapters. I also will be changing the rating to M next chapter.