Chapter Twenty Two
Kalei: Yes, my own poem, I'm glad you liked it. Poems usually aren't my thing, but I wrote that one up when I was working on this fic. I'm glad you like this, it makes me happy to read that. Yes, I do try to be dedicated, but sometimes work and school gets in the way… But anywho, I love getting novels from you, you make me happy when I get your reviews. Alright, it's getting late, so I'm going to wrap this up, and update. Please leave another review, love hearing from you, enjoy chapter twenty two. Thanks for your review.
Beth: Here is the next chapter for you enjoy, and thank you for your review.
Minako Miharu: Find out what goes down, it will all become clear for the characters. Enjoy chapter twenty two, and thanks for your review!
iNuQTpIe: Um… no Kagome's family in this fic, sorry. I do hope you like this chapter anyway… Please leave me another review and let me know! Thank you for the review.
Inuyasha7777777kit: You haven't realized that this is a darker fic? No beating up Koga, or Inu-Yasha, sorry. Thank you for your review, hope you enjoy chapter twenty two.
Shadw: I'm glad you love it. Lol, you liked my poem as well, that makes me feel good, cause usually my poems aren't very good. Here is your update, enjoy and thanks for your review!
Mangadreams: Thanks, enjoy chapter twenty two.
XxXSimpleandCleanXxX: Glad you love it, here is the next chapter, enjoy, and thank you for the review!
Punk Rock Miko2: Glad you liked it, here is your update, enjoy.
Jessica Lyn: of course I had to throw in a little Inu-Yasha Koga bickering. Glad it made you laugh. Glad you liked the chapter, enjoy chapter twenty two as well, and thanks for your review.
Angela: Here is your update, please enjoy. Let me know what you think!
Deludedfreak: Glad you liked the poem. Just keep working at your own, listen to what others have to say to make it better. ) I'm glad you liked it, please enjoy chapter twenty two as well.
Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns Inu-Yasha and the gang, anyone else is mine. No suing me.
The sun had begun to rise, and the Miko was wide awake. She turned to watch the sleeping hanyou next to her. There was almost no trace of wounds on his face or the arm wrapped around her waist, but she wasn't sure about the one in his chest. I'll check on it when he wakes up. She decided and silently slid from his embrace. Kagome watched the hanyou sleep on as she quickly dressed in her under kimono, deciding against putting her armor on. She moved to the door but stopped to look back at her mate. She smiled once before pushing out of the door and leaving him to rest.
Kagome was surprised at all of the activity this early in the morning as she moved through the village. She guessed it was a sort of guard change as one child took over for another on different stations on the outer wall. "Miko-sama." Two young men stopped to bow to her as they crossed her path.
"Good morning." She replied with her own bow. She watched the two disappear into a hut before someone called to her again.
"Kagome-sama." A chuckle came quickly after her name. Her eyes widened as she turned to the voice.
"Miroku…" She breathed. The Houshi smiled at her.
"In the flesh."
She dropped all thoughts of having her guard up and ran at her old friend, tackling him in a hug. "Oh Miroku, how have been?" She asked as she pulled back slightly, her arms still wrapped around his shoulders.
"There is nothing to complain about. Though, Kagome, you have grown so much. You're as tall as I am now." He replied with a grin. The Miko laughed and hugged him again. He returned the embrace for a second before looking away. Kagome looked up at her friend's change.
"What is it Miroku?" She didn't feel anything wrong. He turned back to her with a smile.
"Tori's up, I've got to go get him." The Houshi took the woman's hand and led her to a hut where she did hear crying. "Sh, Sango might still be sleeping." Miroku said, holding a quick finger to his lips. The Miko nodded in response.
She watched as the Houshi slipped into the hut and the crying stopped. The woman's eyes widened as he returned to her, now holding a small bundle of a child in his arms. "Miroku…" She breathed, reaching out one hand toward the smiling infant.
"Kagome, I'd like you to meet my son, Tori." He smiled as he handed the infant over to the Miko.
"He's beautiful, Miroku…" A strand of her loose hair fell over her shoulder and Tori quickly grabbed it in his tiny fist.
"When have you eaten last?" The man asked as he watched the two. Kagome shrugged slightly. "I'm sure you're hungry, you were unconscious for a little while. Come on, let's find some breakfast."
The woman nodded offhandedly, her focus on Tori in her arms, as she followed Miroku. Would she ever hold her own child in her arms?
((Across A Land))
Mayoka's eyes blinked open, becoming aware of the world again. "Otou?" She asked, lifting her head to look back into the ouji's watchful eyes.
"Good morning, Mayoka." His deep voice came. He rubbed a playful hand against the top of her head. She gave a short squeal and pulled away.
"Otousan!" The girl made a face at him. A true laugh left his lips as he stood up.
"How did you sleep?" The youkai asked, stretching his arms above his head.
"Fine, how long have you been up?"
"Not long." He lied. The ouji hadn't slept at all, instead keeping a vigilant watch, making sure the hanyou stayed under control.
"Do you think Kagome-san is up yet?" Mayoka asked excitedly, wanting to know, much like everyone else in the village, what had happened.
"I'm not sure, but probably." Koga assured her.
"Let's go see if she's alright!" The child laughed as she grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the hut. They were met with sunlight rising over the tops of the walls of the village. His nose twitched, picking up the scent of the Miko nearby.
"Let's go grab some breakfast." Koga said.
"I'm not hungry, besides—"
"You want breakfast." The ouji interrupted with a smile.
"Oh…" Mayoka's eyes lit up in understanding. "Oh! You're right, I am getting hungry."
"That's my pup." He grinned again as the two made their way toward the smell of breakfast.
((Across A Land))
Inu-Yasha was aware of the world around him, but he didn't want to open his eyes yet. It was so comfortable to be in a warm bed again with his mate by— Golden eyes snapped open. Kagome wasn't still sleeping next to him, and her scent was growing old around him. The hanyou jumped off the futon and quickly slid his hakama back on, before flashing out the door.
His nose began to work instantly, tracking the Miko down. He turned toward his left, racing forward. He slowed as she reached a hut, the scent of food mixing in with Kagome's. She just went to get breakfast…but without waking me? Inu-Yasha's ears drooped slightly in defeat. Then they perked again as they heard her laughter. A smile tugged at the hanyou's lips at the sound, then dropped into a frown as the scent of wolf filled his nose.
"He's my friend! ...Now you accuse the one who stayed by my side through it all of raping me…" The Miko's voice echoed in his head. Inu-Yasha again lowered his ears.
I should put up with him, for Kagome's sake… The hanyou nodded to himself as he pushed into the hut his mate was in, prepared for anything.
((Across A Land))
Sango slowly woke as the noise grew around her. It must be getting late. She got to her feet, sliding on her armor before leaving the hut and making her way toward the hut where breakfast was served. She passed by the graves of the early villagers, pausing at the freshest dug one. Kagura… The Taijiya bowed slightly at her friend's grave marker. I miss you already… Sango straightened again and walked on, quickly reaching the hut that held breakfast. The Taijiya ducked into the door. She stopped short at the scene before her.
Her child was not in his father's arms, but being fussed over by the Miko, who in turn was in the hanyou's lap. The ouji sat across from the three, his young girl next to him, as he stared intently at the hanyou. Sango's husband sat between the two groups, Hana and her new charge on his left. No one looked up as she entered.
"Good morning." Sango broke into the different universes. Then six pairs of eyes lifted to the woman.
"Sango…" Kagome breathed. The Miko carefully got to her feet, where Miroku met her. The man took Tori from her arms before she ran at her old friend. "Sango!" Kagome shouted again as she ran into the Taijiya. The two women gripped each other tightly.
"I've missed you…" Sango whispered, her voice thick with tears.
"As have I." Kagome replied. They held on another second before pulling back, holding each other at arms length.
"Alright, Kagome, ask her what's going on." Inu-Yasha interrupted.
"What?" The Taijiya asked, turning to the hanyou.
"We couldn't talk about anything until you got here, so let's get this over with." Inu-Yasha clarified. "Like why a whelp that smells like Naraku is in your village." His golden eyes snapped to Aijou. The young youkai trembled under the older male's stare. He clutched to Hana, who held him close.
"Take it easy, Inu-Yasha. Naraku is dead, and the child doesn't have Naraku's dark youki." Kagome pressed. A low growl emanated from his throat as he crossed his arms over his chest, backing off. "I think we all just need to sit down and talk this over." The Miko went on. Everyone except for the hanyou nodded in agreement.
"All right then, I'll answer your question first, Inu-Yasha." Sango said as she moved to her husband's side, taking Tori into her arms before they both sat down once again. Kagome moved back to sitting in her mate's lap. Sango took a deep breath, and began.
"It was after you and Kagome left, Miroku and I went off to look for you…"
((Across A Land))
The explanations went on all day. Sometimes it seemed that every question answered would open the way for five new ones. The sun had begun to go down before all of the people in the hut finally fell silent.
"Well, I guess we should have some dinner." Sango said, holding a sleeping Tori close to her chest.
"Yes, I am hungry." Kagome added to the point.
"I shall go get some food, Sensei." Hana said, jumping to her feet. The young Taijiya pulled Aijou with her out of the door.
"I can't believe how much has happened…" Miroku whispered in the teen's wake.
"You all are amazing." Mayoka spoke up. Five sets of eyes lowered to the girl.
"What do you mean?" Koga asked.
"Your stories, your lives, it's all just so amazing."
A soft smile danced across Kagome's lips as she answered the girl. "I guess you're right." The Miko turned to her mate. "But it just goes to show, everything works out as it's supposed to." Everyone smiled and nodded at her words.
They waited in calm silence until Hana returned.
((Across A Land))
Kagome lay awake that night, her head spinning, trying to wrap around all she had missed while she searched for Inu-Yasha. The Miko stopped turning and stared at the wood ceiling. "Everything alright, Kagome?" Inu-Yasha asked, his arm wrapping around her waist. His nose nuzzled against the crook of her neck.
"I'm fine." Her hand moved up to stroke his cheek. The hanyou slowly fell into sleep at her soft touch. She kept her steady movement until late into the night, once she was sure everyone in the huts around her was asleep too. She took a deep breath, making up her mind. The woman's hand stopped stroking the hanyou's cheek, and moved the shake his arm over her waist.
"Inu-Yasha, wake up." Kagome urged her mate. He jumped into a sitting position and turned to her.
"What is it? What's wrong?" He asked, his ears and nose working. She sat up next to him.
"Shh, nothing's wrong." The Miko laid a finger against his lips. He gave her a questioning look. "I can't stay here." She whispered, pulling back slightly.
"What do you mean?"
"Everyone's so happy…" Her head lowered. The hanyou stayed silent; he knew what she meant. The sounds of the night were the only break for a few minutes.
"I'm leaving, Inu-Yasha." The Miko broke in.
"Where will you go?" He whispered.
She shook her head. "I don't know."
"I'm coming with you, but you knew that."
"Yes," Her breath shook as she exhaled. The hanyou pulled his mate into a tight hug. She buried her face in his haori as she returned his affection.
"I understand, Kagome, and everything's alright." His clawed fingers pulled through her loose hair.
"I want to take Hokori with me." Kagome breathed. He only nodded in response. The Miko's head lifted and she pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "Let's go." She said as she pulled back. He nodded again.
The two got up, making their way out of the hut silently. The Miko stopped short as a pair of aqua eyes stared at her. "Hokori…" She breathed. The Neko purred at his master's voice. A small smile tugged at the woman's lips. "Ready to go then?" She whispered. The Neko nodded.
Kagome turned to Inu-Yasha again. She smiled as she took his hand. "You ready?" He nodded silently once more. She turned toward the gate of the village and walked off, releasing the hanyou's hand. His golden orbs watched the Neko walk at her side.
Inu-Yasha slowly looked around the village, his ears twitching slightly. This was what I wanted…A place where I was accepted…
"Inu-Yasha?" Kagome's voice trickled back to him. He turned his attention back to the Miko now standing in the gateway of the village. "Are you alright?"
He smiled softly and jogged to her side. "Yeah, everything's fine." He wrapped one arm around her waist and pulled her up into a kiss. "Let's go." The hanyou pulled the woman onto his back and took of at a run. What am I thinking? I have everything I need right here. Inu-Yasha grinned again as his mate wrapped her arms around his neck. "Kagome?"
"Hm?"
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For everything." Inu-Yasha held the Miko tighter as he jumped on toward the slowly lightening horizon.
Is
this a dream?
If it is
Please don't wake me from this high
I've
become comfortably numb
Until you opened up my eyes
To what
it's like
When everything's right
I can't believe
You
found me
When no one else was lookin'
How did you know just
where I would be?
Yeah, you broke through
All of my
confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave
I
guess that you saw what nobody could see
You found me
You found
me
So, here we are
That's pretty far
When you think of
where we've been
No going back
I'm fading out
All that has
faded me within
You're by my side
Now everything's fine
I
can't believe
You found me
When no one else was lookin'
How
did you know just where I would be?
Yeah, you broke through
All
of my confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't
leave
I guess that you saw what nobody could see
You found
me
You found me
And I was hiding
'Til you came along
And
showed me where I belong
You found me
You found me
When no
one else was lookin'
How did you know?
How did you know?
You
found me
When no one else was lookin'
How did you know just
where I would be?
Yeah, you broke through
All of my
confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave
I
guess that you saw what nobody could see
You found me
(You
found me)
(When no one else was lookin')
You found me
(How
did you know just where I would be?)
You broke through
All of
my confusion
The ups and the downs
And you still didn't leave
I
guess that you saw what nobody could see
The good and the bad
And
the things in between
You found me
You found me
Author Notes: I do believe this is the end. I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did. Please leave me one last review, and let me know if I should have one final epilogue. Ok, thank all of you for keeping with me through this all, I love you all and wish you well! Ja ne!
Myst.