Chapter Twelve
Minako Miharu: Thank you, I'm glad you liked it. Here is chapter twelve, let some answers spill forth! Thank you for your review.
lil-kag0m3: Well, thank you for being patient. Here is chapter twelve for you, hope you enjoy.
darkhanyou27: I know it was sad, but that is how it had to be in order for the story to continue. I'm glad you like my fic, here is chapter twelve up for you, enjoy.
Kalei: Yes, poor Kagome… I hope she gets her Inu-Yasha back too… Yes, I figured that KOGA AND Sessho-maru should be civil to each other, after all, they are both powerful youkai. (wink) Yes… all human…. (darting eyes) lol, well, I'm glad you're not mad at me, I was slightly worried you might not leave a review…… but I'm better now, thank you for your review, and enjoy chapter twelve.
stand alone complex: Well, we all have the right to like whatever we like, so yay all you want, (especially when it is in reviews to my fic. : P ) Here is your update.
EternalAffliction: Well, thank you. Here is an update, enjoy.
Angela: Here's an update, I'm glad you love my story.
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns all of Inu-Yasha and Co. The others belong to me, kays?
"It was just a few days after we had beaten the Band of Seven, or rather, he had beaten the leader, Bankotsu. We were wall trying to recover from the shock of finding out that Naraku was back and even stronger than before." She paused for a moment. "And Inu-Yasha was trying to punish himself for not saving Kikyo."
"Inu-Yasha? Kikyo?" Mayoka questioned at the Miko's pause. The two had moved apart, their backs against the wall as they sat next to each other, Hokori at their feet.
"Yes, I am Kikyo's reincarnation. The Kikyo that used to walk this Earth when I first came here was made of clay and bones. The once powerful Miko would use souls of the dead to sustain the fake body she inhabited. She was killed by Naraku moments after he was… rejuvenated I guess you could say.
"And Inu-Yasha," her eyes closed as she shook her head. "There is a very long story behind him and me, and an even longer one between him and Kikyo."
"Inu-Yasha and Kikyo! But I thought Kikyo was dead." The child questioned.
"Before I was here, she was alive. She and Inu-Yasha were together, were in love. She was his first love."
"But?" Mayoka prompted. Kagome sighed softly.
"But both were deceived, by Naraku. In the end, Kikyo sealed Inu-Yasha to a tree and she died from her wounds. Fifty years later, I arrived."
"What do you mean that you 'arrived'?"
The Miko smiled slightly and tapped the girl on the nose lightly. "That is a story for another day."
"Ok, well, if Inu-Yasha was sealed to the tree by Kikyo, how was the spell broken?"
"I truly don't know, but I know that I pulled the arrow out of his chest after he woke up, setting him free. Tell me, Mayoka, have you heard of the Shikon no Tama?" It was the woman's turn to ask a question.
"The Jewel of Four Souls? Yes, Okaasan used to tell me stories about how powerful only a single shard could be."
"That's right, and as much as I hate to admit it, I am the one who broke the whole Jewel into its fragments."
"So what did you do?" The child's eyes were wide with wonder.
"After Kaede-sama placed a necklace of subjugation on Inu-Yasha, he and I set off to collect all of the fragments and return it to its original full state. As we went we made many friends. Three of them, Shippo the young kitsune; Miroku, the Houshi with a Kazana in his right hand; and Sango, the Taijiya; decided to come along with us." Suddenly the necklace she wore under her armor felt very heavy.
"Is that when you became enemies with the 'Band of Seven'?" Mayoka put in, beginning to follow the story.
"Yes, after our group was complete, the Band of Seven attacked."
"So what happened after that? I mean, you said this Naraku was revived, and he killed Kikyo, but after that?"
Another little sigh left the Miko's lips. "Inu-Yasha blamed himself for Kikyo's death, and began to spend a lot of time alone, away from our group. He was tricked by Naraku, being drawn away by a rumor of someone seeing Kikyo alive again.
"While he was gone, Sango, Miroku and I were captured by another trick of Naraku's. If he had used youkai, we would have had no problem taking them down, but he used humans, backing us into a corner. Shippo got away and went to look for Inu-Yasha as I was separated and dragged into the human castle. There I was handed a baby, who attempted to control my body and eyes because I can See the Shikon no Tama fragments."
"A baby?" Mayoka's eyes held question.
"Yes, Naraku's tricks can do anything."
"So did Inu-Yasha come? Did he save you?"
"Yes, Inu-Yasha did come once he got Shippo's message. I don't know what happened to him, but as soon as I felt better, and we were alone, he asked me to be with him. He said he'd never let anyone hurt me again."
"Be with him?"
"Mate with him, marry him in human terms."
"Did you, Kagome-san?"
A smile danced across the Miko's face before she answered. "Yes, yes I did."
"So he loved you?"
"He said he did."
"But if you were married, why did he leave?"
Kagome's eyes closed again. "He lost control. You see, Mayoka, Inu-Yasha is a hanyou, and his sword, Tetsusaiga, keeps his youkai blood under control. When Tetsusaiga was shattered in a fight, the youkai blood in him took over, and he lost control."
Mayoka thought Kagome-san was pressing that her lover had lost control. "He attacked you…" The child breathed. The Miko slowly nodded.
"I haven't seen him since." There was a tight silence. "You can come in now, Koga." Kagome called lightly. The child alone turned to look at the door as the ouji entered.
"Hey," he moved to the futon and knelt in front of Kagome. "How are you? Did Sessho-maru hurt you?"
"I'm fine, Koga." She smiled genuinely. "Really."
((Across A Land))
"What?" Sango ran back to Kibou's side to look at the now crying bundle. A pair of dark green eyes blinked up at the Taijiya as the cries stilled. "Miroku..." Her eyes turned back to the Houshi. He was silent for a minute, thinking.
"Let's take of Kagura, and then we will talk of the child." He rushed into the hut, the other three children following.
"Let me have the baby, and you go help Miroku if he needs it." The woman held out her arms, a small smile on her lips.
"Yes, Sensei." Kibou handed the baby over and bowed before following the others into the hut.
The Taijiya looked down at the child again, her eyes confused. Why would Kagura have a baby with her? Her eyes softened as the baby yawned. "Come on, let's make sure you are alright." Sango bounced the child softly as she moved into the children's hut. If it had been with Kagura, there was no telling what wounds the baby might have.
"Everything's alright now." The Taijiya cradled the bundle close to her chest as she pushed her way into the hut.
((Across A Land))
"How is Kagura?" Sango asked as she entered her own hut.
"Sleeping, but the bleeding has stopped." Miroku replied, wiping his sleeve across his face. Night had finally fallen, and the Taijiya decided it was time to check on Miroku and the others.
"Where are the children?" She asked coming to sit next to her lover.
"They went to get extra wood." He answered, putting an arm around her shoulder and holding her close to him. "Are you alright?" He whispered. The Taijiya nodded.
"I'm fine, I just don't understand Kagura. Why would she come here for help? What about the baby? And what of her connection to Naraku?"
"Aijou is my baby." A rough voice interrupted. Both human's turned to look at the now awake shadow. She winced slightly as she moved to sit up. Sango held the sleeping baby closer to her chest.
"What do you mean, 'your baby'?" The Taijiya questioned. Kagura held her chest as she took a deep breath.
"My baby. I conceived and gave birth to him. He is my child."
"How—"
"I don't know. I didn't think I would ever be able to conceive a child, but my mate and I did." She stopped for a second. "But now Sei is gone, and I am going to die too, so I ask both of you with all that I am: Please take care for Aijou, raise him to be a strong youkai, a strong man."
"Kagura, you are not going to die, the bleeding from your wounds has stopped." Miroku put in. A grim smile touched the shadow's lips.
"Do you care, Houshi? Would it matter to you if I died? After all that I did since my creation, I believe not."
"Kagura..." His voice was quiet. Her face softened.
"My wounds are not my only injury. I am dying from the outside. No one knows what it is." She whispered.
"How long do you have?" Sango asked. This was not the Kagura she had known before Naraku had been killed. Time seemed to have taken effect on the shadow too.
"I don't know."
"Stay with us, stay here with your baby." The Taijiya's heart tore in two at the thought of Aijou all alone in the world.
"I—" Kagura started.
"It would be on honor, Kagura." Miroku cut in.
"Thank you, I would like that." She turned back to the Taijiya. "May I have him now, Sango-sama?" The shadow asked, giving respect to the head lady of the village.
"Sango is fine." She corrected, handing over the sleeping child.
"Thank you...Sango."
Author Notes: Hey everybody! Well, that's the end of chapter twelve. Thirteen shall be up on Friday…that sounds kinda bad Friday, thirteen, but anywho, I wanted to let you know that the next chapter will be long, almost twice as long, so be prepared! Ok, I'm going to update now, so please click the little button that makes me so happy,
Myst