A/N: Glitches, as usual, were the cause of my delay. Apparently, reviews and logging in decided to go down at the same time. Wonderful.

Anyway, here, at last, we come to the last chapter of LoaH, and thus ending the HoaY tale. Wow…things have changed a bit in the last five months, hadn't they? I think this is my longest time working on a single series.

Before I get started, I'd like to say, I'd never have gotten anywhere without the encouragement of my wonderful reviewers. I'd like to give you guys all a hand because without you, this wouldn't have been possible. I probably wouldn't have strived to be as on time or make the chapters as well if I hadn't the response I had from you guys.

These stories hit the top of my reviews list you know? The most reviews during the duration of the fic. (For some strange reason, I always get an influx of a ton after the fic is over.)Your laughs, cries, and sighs made me strive to make this the first project that I had really been passionate about.

(Located at the end are some more thank yous, the winners of my weird contests, and some information about my next Inuyasha fic.)

Now, enough of this lame thank you speech, here I present you with the LAST CHAPTER OF LOVE OF A HANYOU, and the last of its series!

Chapter 30: New Life Begins

Dear Mama,

I can't believe that it's been six months since I last wrote to you. It's seems like a long time, but since I know I'll keep writing for as long as I live, I suppose it isn't much…

So much has happened in those six months! Inuyasha's been treating me a lot nicer lately—well, much nicer then his usual level of niceness, anyway. He's also worrying all the time, for instance, he was worried that I might take a bad fall, or a youkai might attack or something on the way to Sango and Miroku's hut, and he instead picked me up and carried me, despite how much he jokes about my weight these days.

I guess being pregnant sure changes your views on things.

I told you six months ago, through my excited and scared hysteria, that I didn't think Inuyasha and I were ready for a baby. And maybe that was true then, considering we weren't going to think of them for a long time, but now…with Inuyasha's (and mine, every so often) new responsibility to my tummy, and with Little Yasha to raise, I think that with a little practice, we'll get the hang of it.

You know how Inuyasha is, Mama, so you know he won't outright say his feelings, but I can tell that now, after the shock's completely worn off, he's overjoyed. He never thought he could have a family of his own, as he constantly reminds me, and so to think of having his own children—he couldn't be happier.

Inuyasha's also getting more attached to Little Yasha as well. Though, as I said, he still gives me a glare about naming him that, he's starting to actually like him…possibly think of him as part of our growing family. Though, in words, Inuyasha will still claim he doesn't like Little Yasha, butI've caught Inuyasha playing with him when he thinks I'm asleep.

Little Yasha seems to listen to Inuyasha better. I think it's for the obvious reason, but he disagrees, once again claiming he doesn't care about him at all. But Little Yasha'll listen to me if I make him, and he's good company when Inuyasha goes out to fetch food or on another errand, since, in his mind, I am immovable.

Little Yasha's beginning to anticipate the baby as much as we are. He seems to follow Inuyasha around a lot, mimicking what he does, so when Inuyasha gets into his loving states (a lot more frequently, to my satisfaction), Yasha will watch as he not only kisses me goodnight, but my tummy as well. Then, Little Yasha has to jump on us and "kiss" the baby goodnight too.

Of course, Mama, I love being pregnant, but you never mentioned what a burden it is! I hated the morning sickness, and now it's gone only to be replaced with me looking like I stuffed a watermelon up my yukata. The food cravings aren't so bad, considering Inuyasha now keeps a stash of food in the hut just in case I get another middle of the night craving, and have to convince him to get up to get me something to eat. Also, I used to like it when the baby kicked, a reminder that it was there, alive and healthy, but because it's a hanyou, it kicks so frequently that sometimes it hurts and I get tired of it. On an occasion or two, Inuyasha told me that a baby kicking against my abdomen has been felt by him in the middle of the night, waking him up once again after not getting any sleep due to my cravings.

Nevertheless, he's still loving, and willing to help me with my needs. There have been complaints, but if it wasn't me bursting into tears due to my hormones, it was him reminding himself of what I was going through that stopped it instantly. He's worried about what will happen in three months when I have to give birth, since no one really knows what to expect with a hanyou birth. I'm not really worried, his mother survived, and she gave birth to a hanyou from a full blooded youkai.

I'm going to have to end this letter early, Mama, since Little Yasha wants some attention, but I guess I'll write back to you after the baby's born, so I can tell you all about your first grandchild!

With a smile, Kagome put down her pencil, one of the things that her mother had left in her backpack so she could keep in touch. She had pretty much covered everything that had happened in her life since she had last written right after they discovered she was pregnant, the morning sickness, the mood swings, the cravings, but there were a few other things she left unsaid.

Kagome smiled and looked down at her blue yukata, at the large, round curve of her swelling belly. She placed her hand against it, feeling the baby kick against her instantly. How could she say, in words, that she was still in awe about this? When she was young, she had once imagined what it would be like to be pregnant; to have another life within you. But nothing she had ever thought up could describe what it was like. If she could describe it, then she would say it was the reality that you loved someone so much, and they loved you back enough to want to have this with you. It was something that was a part of both of them, something that they had created through their love.

She felt another kick, and mentally added, It's definitely Inuyasha's baby, that's for sure.

As she was absent-mindedly rubbing her stomach, imagining what their child would look like once it was born, she noticed that her yukata had come slightly open, after having been stretched against her growing belly like that, and was revealing a bit of her navel, showing the stretched scars across her stomach from Inuyasha's claws during the time when he was a youkai.

It had been a year since she had wished upon the shikon no tama, and the curse had been lifted. Now, it became something that they didn't talk about much. Inuyasha was afraid that the memories would cause her to become depressed again, and she was afraid he would feel guilty over what he did as a youkai. They still had scars, mental and physical, but most of the time, they were put from her thoughts with the reality of the happiness that they had found.

As Kagome retied the yukata tight around her belly, making a note to somehow find a bigger one, a small, wet nose nudged against her side, demanding attention. Smiling, she reached down and petted the dog, making its whines fade in return.

A while before Kagome discovered she was pregnant, they had found some youkai in the woods, and had gone after them. Inuyasha didn't want Kagome in the fight, but she came anyway, and during the battle, while Inuyasha was fighting off a fierce bull-youkai, a snake youkai had come out of nowhere to attack her, Inuyasha too far away to help.

But instantly, a small, white dog had jumped out of the woods, instantly jumping up and wounding the youkai, giving Inuyasha enough time to get there. In the battle, the dog had been wounded, but it was alive. All it took was one of Kagome's pleading faces to get Inuyasha to agree to take it to Kaede, where it would get patched up.

Of course, after it was healed, she wanted to keep it, claiming since it was just a little puppy, and it looked a bit starved, she needed to thank it somehow for saving her. At first, Inuyasha flat out refused, knowing it would lead to many dog-related jokes in his direction, also having no desire to share Kagome with another, since it had taken a long time for her to be his anyway. The argument was finished with a sharp glare holding the threat of a sit from her.

Then there had been another fight over the name. The puppy was as white as Inuyasha's hair, and had the same ears that he did, so at first, Kagome wanted to name it Little Inu. Inuyasha gave her a warning look, showing her he would not back down, storming out of the hut telling her to name it anything but that. So, the dog was christened Little Yasha, to the hanyou's dismay.

Kagome gave Little Yasha an ear rub, like she did to Inuyasha on several occasions, getting his tail to begin thumping against the wooden floor of the hut, begging for more. Inuyasha said he didn't like Little Yasha, and he didn't at first. But soon, the puppy had slowly worn its way into his heart, making Inuyasha Little Yasha's favorite person, it seemed. Little Yasha would only have to be told to do something once by Inuyasha and he would do it, and Kagome suspected it had something to do with the "dog" hanyou thing.

Smiling to herself, Kagome remembered that Inuyasha didn't really start liking Little Yasha until they found out she was pregnant. Kagome, of course, had found out when she missed her monthly cycle for a month, and then confirmed it with a small test when she asked Kaede. She then panicked, asking Sango for advice on how to break the news to Inuyasha, afraid of what he would say. Her friend was happy for her, and kept telling Kagome to just tell him and get over it, and finally, after two days of him not knowing, she worked up the courage to let him know her little "news".

A giggle escaped her as she could still remember how, on that night after dinner, she had tried to break it to him gently, but when he just wasn't getting it, frustrated, she just blurted it out. His eyes were as wide as saucers, and it was several minutes of sputtering and bemused blinking before he said anything back. A whiff of her scent was all the proof he needed, and then he once again fell into silence as his thoughts fell into place, absent-mindedly petting Little Yasha while trying to think it over without freaking out.

Of course, after the shock wore off (several hours later) he was loving again, telling her he couldn't be happier that they were having this baby, even if it was a little early.

And so, here they were, six months later and only three more to go. At first they had both been scared, but now, it seemed like a breeze. Kagome couldn't wait to finally get rid of the weight on her belly, and have a cute newborn baby in her arms…with Inuyasha close by, loving them both…

Just then, Inuyasha walked into the hut, letting in the orange sky of sunset while he carried some fish for dinner. He smiled as he was greeted with his pregnant mate sitting up on their bed (he had practically put her on bed rest already, and Kagome usually avoided the argument, not really wanting to move much when the baby started kicking anyway) petting an excited Little Yasha.

As soon as Inuyasha walked in the door, Little Yasha got excited, wagging his poofy white tail and giving a happy yip, while trotting over to meet him as he set the fish down near the cooking pot. The dog immediately jumped up, his forepaws on Inuyasha's chest while licking his face.

"Hey! Get off me, you!" Inuyasha growled at the dog, shoving it off him, yet still giving it a little pat on the head. "I told you not to jump on me like that." He muttered, Little Yasha giving him a small yip in return.

"You're not supposed to be sitting around getting pets, you know." Inuyasha continued to lecture. "The only reason I keep you is to look after Kagome." He rolled his eyes—while still continuing to scratch the puppy behind its ears.

"Admit it, Inuyasha." Kagome said, watching him. "You like Little Yasha too."

The hanyou stopped petting Little Yasha and came over and sat next to her saying, "I do not." he asserted. "He always gets in our way when we're trying to be alone."

Smiling, Kagome told him, "He just wants attention, Inuyasha, just like you." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek, his face still one set in annoyance.

"I do not." He repeated, his expression sour despite having his mate in his arms. "And I don't see why you had to name him after me!"

Though he was trying to be mad at her, he couldn't stay angry long at such a loving face. After a while of Kagome hugging him, he finally dropped his façade, as she knew he would, and gave her a soft, but loving kiss. "How are you feeling?" he asked, pulling away and putting a hand on her growing tummy.

Kagome loved it when he was concerned about her. "Better today. She's not kicking so much today."

The hanyou raised his eyebrows. "She? With that strong of a kick, it's got to be a boy."

"Well, whatever it is, it is definitely your kid." She told him as he nuzzled his nose into her stomach. "But I still think its going to be a girl…unless we have twins and get one of both." added Kagome with a sly smile.

Inuyasha planted a small kiss on her tummy, feeling the baby kick in response. "It better not be. One screaming kid is enough."

As if on cue, Little Yasha bounded towards them, jumping in between the two and demanding to be petted, his amber eyes—the exact color of Inuyasha's—looked at them both pleadingly. "And with this one," Inuyasha muttered, petting Little Yasha anyway, "We're not going to have any time to ourselves."

Kagome laughed, "He's just a puppy, Inuyasha. He just wants some attention." She felt some stiffness in her back, and let out a grunt as she straightened the kinks out of it. Her back already caused her enough trouble when it flared up, though it didn't happen so much now. But being pregnant only made it ache all the time, and caused the few times her back did hurt worse to be almost unbearable. But Inuyasha was always there to help her, and he always made sure he had enough medicine at hand if it happened again.

"Kagome, are you alright?" he asked, stopping petting Yasha, to the dog's dismay, to worry over Kagome.

She shook it off. "Its fine, Inuyasha. My back's just a bit stiff, that's all."

"Are you sure, Kagome?" he asked. "I know how you always try to make it seem less than it really is."

She smiled at him, thankful for his concern. "No, Inuyasha, it really is alright." She glanced back over at the pile of fish near the cooking pot. "Now you better hurry up and cook that, Sango and Miroku invited us over for dinner and I don't want to be late!"


A half an hour later, Inuyasha and Kagome walked over to Sango and Miroku's hut, Little Yasha following in their wake. Inuyasha had wanted to leave the dog home, but one pleading look from Kagome made him let the white puppy tag along. When they came into the hut, they were met with an enthusiastic greeting from Sango, Miroku, and Shippou.

"Well, Kagome-sama, it is good to see you doing well." Miroku commented, smiling. "And you, Inuyasha, though you might look a little worse for wear then her."

The hanyou gave the monk his worst glare as he sat down, While Kagome and Sango greeted one another. "Kagome-chan! I haven't seen you all day! How's the baby?"

Smiling, Kagome put a hand on her belly. "It's all right, a little feisty. I guess it's just like Inuyasha, wanting to get out and explore the world instead of sitting in one place for too long.And how are you doing, Sango?" She winked while the youkai exterminator blushed.

Inuyasha told Kagome he had been able to tell that Sango was pregnant a while ago, and when Kagome asked, she confirmed it, but it had been weeks since then, and she still hadn't told Miroku. She had told Kagome to just blurt it out, but she seemed not to be following her own advice very well. It was a given that everyone in the hut knew that she was pregnant, except perhaps the monk.

Even if she didn't tell him, he'd know soon enough, since her morning sickness had just begun.

"Kagome!" a small fluff ball jumped for Kagome, landing in her arms in a hug. Shippou hadn't grown at all since the day she first met him, and she knew since he was a full youkai, he'd most likely stay that way for a long time. Inuyasha told her that he would appear the same age for about ten years at least, so it was only a guess how long until Shippou grew the equivalent of a human year. Ever since they had lived permanently in the village, Shippou had mostly lived around the village, alternating between Kagome and Inuyasha's, Miroku and Sango's, and Kaede's huts. He played with the village children so much, that the entire village was more like his family then they were. Since he was a full youkai, however, he liked sleeping outside, so he would usually nap in a tree, liking the sounds of nature around him.

In an instant, there was a growl as an angry hanyou tore the kitsune away from his mate. "Are you stupid!" he roared, holding Shippou by the furry tail. "You could have hurt her!"

"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled back. "He wasn't hurting me! He hardly weighs a thing, so I can't get hurt from him jumping on me! Put him down!" Her face was definitely holding the threat of sit and perhaps much more since he could never tell with her hormones the way they were.

Giving an annoyed growl,the hanyoudropped Shippou, who soon ran to the shelter of Kagome, hiding behind her large, pregnant belly for security.

Miroku who had been rolling his eyes during the short fight, bent down to pet the puppy demanding attention. "And how are you, Yasha?" The monk said with a smile. "KeepingInuyasha in line?"

Inuyasha gave a glare while Little Yasha panted enthusiastically and trotted over to say hi to Kirara. The neko youkai and the puppy seemed to get along well, sometimes even playing together when bored. Shippou joining them while the adults talked.

"Have you two picked a name for it yet?" Sango asked, while Inuyasha and Kagome just glanced at each other.

"Sort of." Kagome replied. "We obviously don't know if it's a boy or a girl, so I get to pick the girl name and he gets to pick the boy name. I like the name Kiri for a girl."

The hanyou admitted, "I can't really decide yet. I liked the name Kuro for a while, but we don't know what the runt'll look like, so I'm still choosing."

Smiling, Sango leaned closer to Miroku, as if giving him a subtle hint. "I like those names. If I were to have a girl, I think I'd name her Suki, after my mother. Don't you think that's a good name, Miroku?" She asked, glancing up at her husband, who wasn't picking up her hints.

He shrugged. "I guess so, my beautiful Sango, I'm not very good with girl's names."

"Well, what would you name him if we had a boy?" the youkai slayer asked, almost encouraging him to put the pieces together without her saying it, making Inuyasha and Kagome silently grin to themselves.

The monk scratched his head. "I don't know…What do you think of the name Kohaku?" he smiled at her.

She smiled back. "I like it." There was a silence as Sango and Miroku both gazed at each other, lost in the moment, forgetting about their two friends who were there as well.

The hanyou gave a loud cough, making the two break out of the moment. Blushing, Sango changed the subject. "So…are you ready for dinner?"

"Are you kidding? I'm starved!" Kagome said uncharacteristically, her stomach having felt empty for a long time.

Inuyasha rolled his eyes, used to her cravings. "There she goes again. Better feed her before she eats you out of house and home, monk."

Kagome turned to her mate, smiling. She suddenly reached up and scratched him on the head, saying in a cute voice, "Oh, Yasha? Go get me some food before I say 'it'! Aw, you're so cute! Who's a good boy?"

Inuyasha growled, "Stop treating me like that stupid dog!" While everyone else laughed, Little Yasha wagged his tail and came over to them, knowing he had just been addressed.

The rest of that evening was full of talking, mostly about Kagome's pregnancy and Inuyasha's handling of it, while Sango, like she did almost every night, tried to casually let slip her own condition, yet Miroku wasn't getting it. After dinner had been eaten, and Inuyasha had been made fun of because of Little Yasha a few more times, Kagome was starting to get tired, and so it was time to leave.

Shippou had left a little earlier because he was tired, and Inuyasha had picked up Kagome in his arms to carry her to their hut, Little Yasha following. They had just left when his swiveling silver ears picked up Sango and Miroku's conversation.

"What is it, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, noticing that he had paused.

"Shh." He ordered. "I think she's finally telling him!"

As the conversation grew louder, Kagome was able to hear parts of it with her human ears. Little Yasha had leaned by the doorway, almost undoubtedly listening as well. "That's not quite what I mean, Miroku." Sango sounded frustrated. "I mean in nine months, things are going to change. Really change."

Miroku replied something inaudible, and then Sango answered, louder than before, "No, I didn't mean I was leaving you!" there was more speech from Miroku, this time sounding amused, "Get that smirk off your face! I'm not that shameless!"

Kagome could clearly hear Miroku as he said this time, almost laughing, "Not shameless, are we, Sango dearest? I beg to differ. What about that night, two months ago? I don't think that behavior counts as not shameless, Sango my love. I haven't even seen such things from women at the brothel."

There was a loud clunk and a small cry of pain as Miroku got clobbered by Hiraikotsu. "Don't you bring that up now!" she roared. "Damnit, Miroku, how dare you think such things when I'm trying to beat it into your lecherous brain that I'm pregnant!"

There was silence and a small gasp, and Kagome had to keep herself from bursting out laughing as she imagined a stunned Miroku, and a bright red Sango, clearly having let that accidentally slip out. The silence lasted almost two minutes before, after a bit of stuttering, Miroku shouted at the top of his lungs, "You're what?"

"I'm…pregnant, Miroku." Sango sighed, with a small, slumping sound as she fell to her knees. "I've been pregnant for a while, and I've been working up the courage to tell you."

There was a pause, before, it seemed, Miroku brought himself together out of his shock, and he turned back to his sweet-talking self. Cloth swished, he had pulled her into his arms. "Oh Sango, my beautiful, wonderful, Sango, this is…this is the best news I have heard in my life!"

"I know." She replied, no longer angry. "Though, if I'm going to go through being pregnant, you, Miroku, are going to be handling the diapers."

The monk gave a small laugh. "Agreed."

Snickering, Kagome and Inuyasha decided to leave the couple alone. As they entered the hut, Kagome was yawning a bit more, clearly tired, and it seemed that even Little Yasha wanted to call it a day. As Inuyasha laid Kagome down on their bed, her large stomach seeming to get in the way a bit, she remembered, "Oh, wait Inuyasha! Tomorrow, I have a letter you need to put in the well for Mama."

He rolled his eyes as he lay down next to her. "Again? You wrote to her a little while ago!"

Smiling as she looked back on him, Kagome told him, "I think she'd want to know a little bit more about how I felt when I was pregnant, Inuyasha."

"Keh. You know it doesn't matter when I send em. She'll find them down in the well, perfectly preserved in those plastic things she left you anyway, so they're no point in rushing them."

Kagome gave another yawn. "I know she'd want to keep in touch with me anyway Inuyasha. And I still want to feel like I have a connection to her."

"Keh." was all the reply she got, and she knew not to expect much more. As she pulled the blanket over them, Inuyasha pulling her closer to his body, her back to his front, with his arm protectively around her waist and resting on her pregnant stomach, Little Yasha jumped on the bed to also be included. The hanyou growled, but the dog snuggled next to him anyway.

"Stupid dog." He muttered, while Kagome could only smile.

"Hey, Inuyasha?" she asked, wanting to say it before she fell asleep.

"What?"

She clasped her hand around his, holding it to her tummy so they both could feel the baby kick. "We've only got three more months."

"And?"

"Well, you know, a year ago, I would have never thought this possible." Kagome's smile faded as she reflected upon old, dark memories. "A year ago, I would have never thought that I might see this day with you…and now look where we are."

There was a pause from the hanyou as he thought it over. "Yeah. Yeah, that's something." She could never really talk to him about the time of the curse anyway, knowing he just wanted to forget. But it was something they never would forget, no matter how much happiness came in their way.

Inuyasha lifted his right hand up slightly, exposing the mating scar, while gently caressing her cheek. He leaned over her and gave her a small kiss, her smile returning as he did. "Let's get some sleep, Kagome." He told her, lowering his head to plant a small kiss on her abdomen. "I think the three—"

Little Yasha yipped in protest. "Four." Kagome corrected.

"—of us are pretty tired." He finished, returning to his spot, with his hand around her bulging waist. Nuzzling his nose into her hair, he said softly, "I love you, Kagome."

"I love you, Inuyasha." Kagome whispered back, slowly closing her eyes as sleep was beginning to overcome her.

After all of their suffering and sorrow, tragedy and despair, and hope and longing, things had finally come to an end. No matter what had stood in their way, their love had prevailed. The curse had finally been cast aside, all the sorrow had faded. Naraku was killed, and Inuyasha's youkai blood had been purified, making it submissive to his hanyou state.

Now, all four of them lay together, as a family, brought together in happiness through their tragedy.

Inuyasha held the sleeping woman in his arms, his breathing slowing as sleep started carrying him off as well. Before he fell asleep, he recalled that time a year ago, remembering something he had learned for himself…He was three, but he was one, Youkai, Human, and Hanyou…all equaling one soul.

That time…though it had been the time of great tragedy, it also had brought forth great joy. Because at that time, they had both learned something they had never thought possible. They learned that there was something even stronger then the heart of a youkai…the love of a hanyou.

Fin

A/N: WOO! DONE! FINALLY! It's taken me five months, and it's been a bumpy ride folks, but it now is over!

(For those who read We're Having a WHAT?, I hope you liked those little additions .)

Don't you just love Little Yasha? I'm thinking of giving him a cameo in another fic! He's based a bit off my dog, except mine isn't as cute, or as brave. She's a huge, fat, and lazy, but she's got the most adorable face, so I can't help but love her!

Anyway, now that it's over, I have to give out awards:

For the Hanyou, Youkai, and Human thing: ChocolateCheezcake - "a" in them. Nice:P

For the Definiton of Hanyou: orangepencils - LOL! Inuyasha Spork!

And the reviewer award is a tie! Between orangepencils and Kyoumi! who reviewed every chapter! Great job all of you!

Next Fic:

Lie To Me: Kagome/Inuyasha, duh! Inspired by episodes 147 and 148, and mostly about the Kikyou/Inuyasha/Kagome love triangle, but I think you guys should know by now which he's going to get in the end. Summary: Inuyasha finally starts loving Kagome…but he doesn't know that she's not what she seems. Should Kagome continue to let him love her, under the pretense of a lie, or should she do the right thing, and risk much more than her happiness…risk her own life?

Yes, vague as usual, but you'll get it in the end of the first chapter, since this fic is shorter than normal. Though Kikyou is brought up a lot, she's not really in it much, so you Kikyou haters should be able to tolerate it, at least. I hope I see you all there!

Arigatou, Sayonara, Mata ato-de!