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Tessadragon

And the next chapter will be the very last of this story!


Chapter 9

Kagome woke up to find young Inuyasha still sleeping curled up in her lap. He's more cosy as a kid than an adult, she thought sleepily. Unless he's poisoned. Then the little half-demon stirred and half-opened a tawny-golden eye at her. "Hello, Kagome."

"G'morning," she replied, and couldn't help but tousle his long silver hair. "Sleep well?"

"Yes." Then he uncurled daintily and sat down a few inches away, watching her inquisitively.

"What is it, Inuyasha?"

"What am I meant to be? If I'm under a spell? I am me, right?" Sitting there cross-legged, he looked helpless at his plight.

"Of course you're you!" Kagome hugged him close, seeing the upset tremble of his lower lip. "It's just that you…you grew up a long time ago. You're a guy now. Not just a kid, but a guy. And you're a really good nice guy."

"Me?" little Inuyasha said doubtfully. "But I'm seven."

"Inuyasha," Kagome said quietly, "You're over fifty years old, if we count how long you were in the enchanted sleep."

Young Inuyasha stared at her, petrified, then drew his arms over his face to hide that he was crying. "Kagome!" his voice was choked, "But Kagome!"

"Shh," Kagome hugged him again, "It's okay…you grew up, Inuyasha! You do really well…you're really brave—" And sometimes a suicidal idiot, she added silently, And sometimes an uncompromising jerk, and obsessed about ramen, and have a thing for dead girls…

"You're okay," she said finally. "I promise."

Inuyasha raised his tear-stained face to her. "I am? And…Kagome? When I'm bigger, are you there?"

"Yeah," Kagome said softly. "I always am."

"You promise?"

"I promise."

"Always?"

"Yes!"

Young Inuyasha gave her an unparalleled sweet smile and then a sleepy sigh. "Okay then."

His eyes fluttered shut and he fell against her lap. Kagome blinked, "Inuyasha? Are you okay?" She began to panic. Had Sango and Miroku managed to kill the demon? Was that the right thing to do? What if…

Inuyasha rolled out of her lap and shot her a fierce, humiliated look. He was suddenly taller than her, and wore that exact same scowl.

"Inuyasha," Kagome smiled, so relieved.

Inuyasha's cheeks went bright red. "What'd I do?" he demanded, looking around wildly.

"Huh?" Kagome stared, "What d'you mean?"

"Kagome! Was I…" Inuyasha's dog ears were twitching like crazy, "Was I, um…" he began twiddling his thumbs in awkwardness, "A brat?"

"You were nicer than you've ever been," Kagome assured him.

"Wha-at!" Inuyasha yelled, "What do you mean, nicer than I've ever been!"

"I mean, you were decent as a kid and grew up bad-tempered!" Kagome yelled back, more out of relief than anything.

Inuyasha was gaping at her like a goldfish and making helpless movements. Then he abruptly spun his back on her.

"And you offered your brother the Tetsusaiga," Kagome added mischievously.

"WHAT!"

Kagome lay on the floor in absolute laughter, clutching her sides and gasping in pain, she was laughing so hard.

Inuyasha watched her, uncertain whether to cry or shout. Finally he whimpered and fled the hut. Kagome forced herself to stop laughing, and went after him. He was sitting out cross-legged on the grass, his mouth a perplexed line and his eyes peeved.

Kagome knelt beside him and patted his shoulder. "It's okay, Inuyasha. I've always wondered what you were like as a child."

"Why?" Inuyasha answered grumpily.

Kagome went red, and waved off the question. "And you looked like you were having a really good time, anyway."

"Why'd you want to see what I was like as a kid?" Inuyasha repeated gruffly.

Kagome went even redder.

He scrutinised her, searching her eyes for an answer.

Kagome sighed and finally told the truth, "I suppose…so I could have a guess of what a half-demon kid is like." She'd said it as obliquely as possible, so he couldn't guess the deeper reason for the question.

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, having a feeling that she was trying to hoodwink him, "C'mon, 'fess up."

"No!"

"C'mon, Kagome!" he leaned closer, his eyes angry.

There are only two ways to get him to stop asking, Kagome thought wildly. Make him sit, or embarrass him into completely forgetting!

She squeezed her eyes shut, pushed away all reasoning and pressed her lips to his.

Inuyasha made a squeaking sound, his eyes opened wider; Kagome's eyes were shut. That kinda troubled him…he wanted her eyes to be open when she kissed him…But dammit, she was kissing him…

He returned the kiss, his hand brushing against hers, his heart beating faster…

He's kissing me back, Kagome thought, bewildered for some reason. Her eyes shot open, and Inuyasha's golden-tawny eyes were focused entirely on hers, his hand warm against hers. Her heart beat wildly, and then both of them drew away, both blushing profusely. Inuyasha mumbled something, Kagome asked him what he'd said, her eyes dazed.

"You're cold," Inuyasha repeated too loudly.

"What d'you mean, I'm cold?" Kagome demanded, thinking, Oh God! He thinks I'm cold? Like I don't love him? Or I don't kiss well?

He answered her by taking off the red kimono jacket of his outfit and draping it over her shoulders. "Like that," he said gruffly.

They were silent for many minutes, and Inuyasha's arm was around her shoulders.

I feel like I could be like this forever, Kagome thought.

Reluctantly, Inuyasha took his hand away, and Kagome swallowed a protesting sound, though Inuyasha's lips twitched into a near-smile at her.

"Will you ever tell me what you were like as a kid?" she asked, leaning her head against Inuyasha's shoulder. He went red and growled a word under his breath, "Why the Hell do you have to be so hung up on what I was like as a kid?"

"Well, excuse me!" Kagome jerked back from him, glaring at him. "What's so wrong with me knowing?"

Inuyasha blustered and tried to think of something, then turned his back on her and sat cross legged, hunched up, his dog ears flat against his silver hair.

"Oh fine," Kagome said in disgust and got up, pushing him away. "I'm going back to Sango and Miroku. At least they can talk straight with me."

Inuyasha growled. "What'd Shippo have to say about…the younger me?"

"He wanted to give you a wedgie," Kagome said scathingly.

"A what? What's a wedgie?"

"Never mind." Kagome flapped her hand. Inuyasha followed her sullenly.

"I miss people who actually know what I mean," Kagome said aloud, witheringly. "People who actually know stuff other than how to kill and fight, who are actually in the now."

"In the now?" Inuyasha echoed.

"Oh never mind!" Kagome yelled.

"Don't take it out on me!" Inuyasha yelled back at her, "Just cos you want—" Then he shut himself up, hoping he was in time to avoid her saying 'sit'.

"Want what?" Kagome shouted. "To know what you were like as a kid? So I can know what kind of kid we could ever have a chance—" she shut herself up and ran away, but Inuyasha easily overtook her, skidding to a halt in front of her. "Of having," he finished for her.

She was terrified.

"Would you ever want a family with me?" he forced himself to say it. He looked her straight in the eyes, and had nearly concealed all vulnerability from those tawny-gold irises. "Even knowing that any kid with my genes…would be bullied and ridiculed by ordinary humans?"

"That has never mattered to me," Kagome whispered. She shut her eyes and drew her strength up, opened her eyes again and met Inuyasha's gaze. "I could have dated ordinary humans. Or I could have gone with Koga. But I've always waited for you. Just in case."

"I wouldn't know how to be a good father," Inuyasha said bluntly.

"Who would?" Kagome demanded.

Then Inuyasha grabbed his head in both hands and made an aggravated sound, "Can we stop talking about kids? I'm a kid for two days and we end up talking about having a family!"

Kagome gave him a quick kiss, "And it's sweet." Then she began walking.

"Oh no, you don't!" Inuyasha yelled, grabbing her, then leapt into the sky, running as fast as he could back to Miroku and Sango.


"Do you think they're alright?" Sango asked worriedly, as she polished her slim katana.

"Of course," Miroku said smoothly. "Shippo, would you use your foxfire to make a quicker job of lighting this campfire?"

"The wood's all damp," Shippo said grumpily but obeyed, trying to set the heaped dead branches alight. "Ooh, I hope Kagome gets back soon…I miss her. I don't miss Inuyasha though."

Sango and Miroku exchanged amused glances.

"Don't miss me?" Inuyasha yelled, leaping down from the sky. "You ungrateful little—"

"Inuyasha! Not now!" Kagome yelled in his ear.

"Inuyasha! Kagome!" Sango said gladly. Miroku squeezed her hand, and then her butt, "See? I told you they were fine."

"Monk!" Sango yelled and flipped him over her shoulder, throwing him into the ground, "Cut it out!"

Kagome smiled.

"Damn, I'm glad to see you guys," Inuyasha said grudgingly. Sango and Miroku simultaneously gave him an astonished look: Inuyasha, glad to see them?

"Maybe you two can stop Kagome talking like such an idiot," Inuyasha continued, then leapt up into the tree branches.

"An idiot?" Kagome yelled. "Inuyasha, sit!"

The half-demon crashed into the ground and lay there twitching, she'd said it with such force.

"Why on earth would he tempt such a fate by outright insulting Kagome?" Miroku wondered aloud.

Inuyasha made a squeaky sound.

"Because he's a jerk!" Kagome yelled, rounding on the prone Inuyasha. "He has to prove he's all macho just because he got turned into a little boy!"

"Ah," Miroku said wisely and helped Inuyasha to his feet. "Sango, Kagome, who don't you two go and find the nearest hot springs?"

"That'll take ages," Sango commented.

"Take Kirara," Miroku smiled. "Inuyasha, Shippo and I will sort out dinner."

Shippo looked up from his valiant efforts to light the damp campfire. A light drizzle had started, like something was mocking him.

Inuyasha made a sound of protest, but Sango was already leading Kagome away and Kirara was waiting patiently for them.

"Now, Inuyasha," Miroku said as soon as Sango and Kagome, riding Kirara, were out of sight and hearing. "It's time you and I had a word about the facts of life."

"The what?" Inuyasha yelled.

"The facts of life," Miroku smiled patiently at him. "And Inuyasha, just be glad you've got me to guide you."

"No, stay away from me, you pervert!" Inuyasha clapped his hands over his madly-twitching dog ears and raising his eyes to the sky. Then his jaw dropped. "Monk, I think that facts of life stuff will have to wait."