Chapter 25

Visiting Kaede the next day, Yasha was overjoyed to have another "grandma" and quickly hugged "grammy kady". As Inuyasha and Kagome sat outside Kaede's hut chatting with Kaede as she weeded her herb garden, Yasha went over to play with Aya and Cho. Sango came over with a young man and said to Kagome and Inuyasha,

"Hey, you remember by little brother Kohaku, don't you Kagome?"

"Kohaku? Wow, you're all grown up. How old are you now?", Kagome asked.

"I'm 19 now. I just got married last year and my wife is expecting a baby in a few months.", Kohaku said proudly.

"Congratulations!", Kagome said, "What's your wife's name?"

"Do you remember Rin? She traveled with Inuyasha's brother, Sesshoumaru?"

"You married young Rin? Wow! How wonderful!", Kagome exclaimed.

"Yes," Sango said, "They live in this village now. Isn't that wonderful?"

"I'm so happy for you Sango. Now you get to see your little brother all the time."

Inuyasha, getting bored with the "girl talk", walked lazily over near where Yasha, Cho, and Aya were playing. As he watched them at play, he noticed a little boy, about 5 years old, walk up and start talking to Yasha,

"Hi. My name is Yuri. What's yours?"

"I'm Yasha."

"Oh. You new here?

"Yea."

"Let's play, Yasha.", Yuri invited before and young man called,

"Yuri. Come here, son. Now."

Yuri ran over to his father, as the man and Inuyasha made eye contact. Not realizing Inuyasha (and Yasha) could hear him, the father whispered to his son,

"You have no need to be playing with a half-breed, son."

"A half-breed?", his son asked back.

"Yea, that kid should never have been born. He's not natural.", the father said, as he rushed his son inside.

Hearing this, Inuyasha's eyes lowered to his son, knowing that Yasha heard every word. Inuyasha's mind drifted back to so many years ago, when he was not much older than Yasha,

flashback

"Hi", Inuyasha said to the little boy, "Wanna play some kamadi ball?"

"I'm not allowed to play with you. My father says you don't belong in this world.", as the little boy ran over to play with his other friends and Inuyasha looked on sadly.

Later, little Inuyasha tried to get involved as the adults played kamadi ball. As the adults laughed at him, one of them through the ball over the bridge and said,

"Here, go fetch, half-breed."

After catching the ball, little Inuyasha looked back and wondered 'Why are they all leaving?' Seeing his mother, he dropped the ball and ran to her asking, "Mother, what's a ... half-breed?"

end flashback

As Inuyasha's mind came back to the present time, he saw that Yasha was happily playing with Miroku's girls and another little boy from the village that he didn't know. As he watched, Inuyasha thought to himself,

'I know exactly what your life will be like Yasha. Scorned by demons and hated by humans. But, I will never let you feel alone. No! Your life won't be as pitiful as mine.'

As his thoughts finished, he realized Kagome was now standing beside him, her arm around his waist.

"You know the villagers don't like open displays of affection between us, Kagome.", he said, the bitterness of his earlier thoughts creeping into his voice.

"I don't give a damn what the villagers like or don't like. I'm not living my life for them.", Kagome said adamantly, as she kissed him.

Kissing her back, Inuyasha couldn't help but think, 'I wish you had been here when I was younger, Kagome, but I'm glad that Yasha has you for a mother.'

Later that evening, back at their home, Yasha sat between his mother and father and asked, innocently,

"Mama, what's a half-breed?"

His query brought a concerned look from Kagome and a scoff from his father.

"Where did you hear that from, Yasha?"

"From the village today. Yuri's father called me a half-breed. What's a half-breed?"

Inuyasha replied angrily, "Face it son, it's what you are. Half demon and half human. You're neither one. Like me, you have no place in the world!"

"Inuyasha!", Kagome said to him sharply.

"It's the truth! Don't sugar-coat it Kagome! He's gonna be faced with this kind of scorn his whole life. He needs to realize what life will be like for him."

"That's not necessarily true! Yasha, sometimes, people, whether they be human or demon, are afraid of things they don't understand. And instead of overcoming that fear, they choose to hate instead. I don't like the term half-breed, it's so negative. But you are a half-demon and you are also half-human. And instead of fearing you or your father, they should get to know you. You have the best of both worlds and you are special."

"His papa said I wasn't natural. What does that mean?"

"He obviously thinks that humans and demons don't belong together as mates and as mamas and papas. But, I love your papa very, very much and he loves me. And we do belong together because we choose to be together. Do you understand, Yasha?"

"Yes mama. What's for dinner?", he said, quickly changing the subject as all kids do.

"Papa hunted a boar this morning so we are having boar kabobs and fish and rice and vegetables.", Kagome answered proudly.

"Mama?"

"Yes, sweetie?"

"Why do you cook on a fire like dat? Where da 'tove?

"We don't have stoves here. Or refrigerators, TV, video games, or anything else like that. It's hard for you to understand right now, but when you're older you will."

Satisfied with her answers, Yasha went off to get his crayons and color. Inuyasha started in,

"Why don't you tell him the truth. Like he's going to have friends. We're never going back to the village. If Sango and Miroku want to visit they can visit here.", he said gruffly.

"Inuyasha, I have no intention of Yasha being isolated for his life like you were. Shippou will be coming here to live with us and he'll have him to play with. And Miroku and Sango's daughters don't look at Yasha differently and I know Rin and Kohaku won't raise their children to dislike demons or half-demons. Heck, Rin traveled with Sesshoumaru for how long? And wasn't he playing with another village child today? Kaede said most of the villagers missed us and were sorry that they had treated us badly. You can't let a few bad apples ruin the whole barrel."

Inuyasha allowed what Kagome said to sink in. Maybe she was right. Maybe he was just letting his past tarnish his views of what could be a bright future for his son. At least he would be here for his son. His son would have a father. And maybe ...,

"Kagome?"

"Hmmm, what?", Kagome said as she tried a piece of boar to see if it was done.

"Do you think we might try for a second pup? I'd like to be there for your pregnancy and see my pup grow."

Looking surprised at Inuyasha, considering the topic of the previous conversation, Kagome smiled and said,

"I think that's a wonderful idea, Inuyasha. I would love to have another pup."

"You would?"

Snuggling close to Inuyasha, she whispered to him, "I'd give you a million pups if I could. I love the idea of carrying and raising another one of your pups."

Hugging Kagome, Inuyasha kept thanking the gods for giving him Kagome. And little Yasha. And, maybe soon, another pup.