A/N: So, unlike my earlier worries, Otakon was a blast! I dressed as Ed again, as for some reason I cosplay boys better than girls. Also, I was very much in character. (I get called short about 5 times a day by a few friends, so anytime some called me Shrimp, I lost it for real.) If anyone was there, I was the one that had duct tape around my wrist as "psudo-automail" inbetween the glove and the coat. But during the day, I took off my coat and gloves and slung the coat over my shoulder because I was getting heatstroke, so I just looked dumb with duct tape on my wrist. (which got very sweaty, I might add.)
As all my favorite panels were on friday, the only thing that I did besides the dealer's room and walk around was the Gaia Online social, in which I was one of the screaming mob that got thrown out of the building into the courtyard by security. But who cares! I won a shirt! And I got to hug the guy who made the site, who gets god-worship by many. (He doesn't hug very well though. I got to hug a Inu-Papa cosplayer, and when I did, I saw fangirlish-Heaven.)
Like all cons, I bought stuff. This time, I went on an Inuyasha high and bought some manga (Woot! Book 16 with my beloved Youkai Inuyasha!), a t-shirt, a cool looking Kikyou figure (I wanted Kagura, but Kikyou was on sale. Though I was slightly upset that it was a slight against a cool character, it was only $5) and I bought the Kikyou outfit. I bought the cheap one instead of the expensive one, and lo and behold! they mess up the hakama. It's not even a hakama, its just some red pants with a high waist. Good enough for now, but for the next con, I am so making my own as a hakama is basically two big rectangles.
To sum it up, was very very fun. Though next time, I will remember to put insoles in my boots so my feet won't kill me at the end of the day...
(P.S. Hugs to anyone who can name which movie I used a line from to make the title!)
Chapter 25: Deep Breath Before the Plunge
Kagome paused a moment in her story and sighed, remembering their "making up" after their fight. Sango, too, it seemed was caught up in memory, but what she was remembering was beyond Kagome. Inuko, however, looked up at his mother with questioning eyes. "Mama, why did the Miko love the Hanyou if he said those mean things anyway?"
A small smile came upon Kagome's face. "The Miko loved him, Inuko, even with all his flaws. Yes, the Hanyou did say some mean things to her, but he always apologized, and she loved him for it anyway."
"But I suppose the Miko could have done without it," Sango grinned.
"Yes, she could have," Kagome muttered, and despite how much she loved Inuyasha, could still remember all the cruel things he had said to her over the years, intentionally or unintentionally.
The exterminator managed to giggle a moment at Kagome's response, before the sound of a baby's cry pierced the air. Sango immediately forgot her laughter as her face turned to one of worry. "Oh no…"
"Kagome-sama? Are you in there?" Came the sound of a very disheveled monk amidst the baby's screams.
Coming out of the room with Inuko, Sango following. "Yes, Miroku-sama?" Kagome asked, being met with the sight of the monk with a crying baby in his arms. There were dark circles under his eyes, and by the ruffled state of his hair, it looked as if he had run his fingers through it more than once in frustration. A second later, Kirara peeked her head through the bamboo curtain, mewing softly.
Miroku didn't answer Kagome but looked straight at his pregnant wife. "Sango…this is where you disappeared off to? I've been trying to get her to calm down for nearly an hour!"
Sighing, the exterminator walked forward and took Sakura in her arms. The one year old stopped crying instantly. "See?" she smirked, "She just wanted her mother. I'm sorry Miroku. I lost track of the time."
The monk's eyebrows shot higher on his forehead. "Lost track of the time? What have you been doing?"
Before anyone could answer his question, a little voice shouted in glee, "Uncle Miroku-sama!" Inuko ran over to him, hugging his knee, while the monk ruffled his hair.
"I swear, you're getting bigger every day!" Miroku laughed. "Pretty soon you'll knock me over if you do that!"
"Mama says that too," Inuko told him, amber eyes sparkling. "She says that she wishes that I wouldn't get bigger though, so I could stay her little boy forever."
The monk laughed, while Sango piped up, "And with good reason, she doesn't want you turning out like Inuyasha, does she?"
Kagome gave a small smile at that, but it soon faded as she looked back at her son. "It doesn't really matter," she replied, kneeling next to Inuko. "If he does turn out like him, then he'll be just perfect…though I think I will make sure he learns more manners than Inuyasha…"
A gust of wind blew outdoors…Much like it did a day many years ago…Inuyasha held her to his chest, looking down at her with worried eyes, asking her over and over again if she needed anything. She shook her head in reply, while his hand caressed the ever-growing bulge of her belly…
"Kagome…?" Sango asked, pulling her out of her memories.
She blinked once to clear her mind. "I'm sorry Sango-chan, what were you saying?"
"I said I agree with you," she replied, holding Sakura to her chest while she slowly lowered herself to the floor, her pregnant stomach getting slightly in the way, making Kagome's eyes lower as she was reminded of that faint memory.
"So, may I ask, Kagome-sama, what have you been doing her that drew my dear wife away from home?" Miroku asked, seeming to notice Kagome's face.
Instead of Kagome answering, Inuko spoke up with an excited look on his face. "Mama was telling me a story, and Aunt Sango-san wanted to listen!"
"A story, huh?" the monk looked mildly interested. "Which story would this be?"
"The Tale of the Hanyou and Miko!" the little hanyou told him proudly.
To this the lecherous monk only grinned. "I see…Do you find the story…interesting?"
"Miroku!" Sango smacked her husband, while Inuko just nodded.
Kneeling down as well, Miroku said, "Well, by all means, continue on. I think I want to hear this story as well." His lecherous grin returned at the thought.
Narrowing her eyes at him, Kagome warned, "You better had not be expecting to hear what I think you are."
The monk sighed, "Why must you think of me so low, Kagome-sama?"
Inuko jumped into his mother's lap. "Come on, Mama! Tell the rest of the story!"
After smiling at her son's eagerness, Kagome dove into memory once again…
"Inuyasha? Inuyasha, what are you doing?" Kagome asked, as he had suddenly dragged her away from the others, towards the leafy green forest. Spring was finally upon them once again, all coldness of winter had left the air, and the buds had finally begun to bloom. Unfortunately, there was a sudden, unexpected heat wave that left a mark on their idea of a perfect Spring, but as Kagome had learned, nothing was ever perfect.
"Inuyasha, what do you want?" she asked again, getting annoyed with how her hanyou was keeping tight-lipped.
Finally, Inuyasha looked back at her, with a grin on his face. "We told Sango and Miroku we'd scout ahead for a place to set up camp for the night."
"So?" Her form of 'scouting ahead' didn't exactly include being dragged off without a word from a suddenly overeager hanyou.
His grin was one that no matter how she was feeling at the moment, could melt her heart all the same. "It's been a while since we've been flying, hasn't it?"
Kagome's eyes widened at that statement, before a smile lit her face as well. She climbed on to his back, and suddenly he took off, jumping off the treetops and heading towards the clouds. The wind rushed past her face just like she had remembered, sending her hair streaming behind her. And she couldn't help but let go and laugh without a care in the world once more.
Inuyasha felt his heart turn into a puddle of mush at hearing her laugh so carefree like that. No matter how old she became, her laughter was the same as it had been when he had first met her; able to make him feel all the love he had in his heart for her, even before when he didn't understand the feeling.
It was true, she had grown up now; it had been almost two years since they had met, and she herself was nearing seventeen. She had changed since when he had first met her, two years ago. Kagome had grown up from a naive girl into a stunning, confident woman. Her hair was now longer, falling farther down her back, and she had gotten taller, though she was still, besides Shippou, the shortest of the group. And, blushing at the thought, Inuyasha mused that he had noticed that…other things…had grown as well.
She was almost the same age as Kikyou when he first met her, but he didn't understand now how he could have loved Kikyou back then. He and Kagome had a history of life, laughter, and love. He had just met Kikyou, and had learned that like himself, she also had pain in his life. He had thought they were alike souls, both sharing their pain, but he and Kagome were alike in a totally different way; once they got past the pain, they both had a love for pure, simple laughter. To live life with a passion for it instead of because they had an obligation to.
Without her, he would have nothing, no laughter, no fun, and definitely, no love.
And now, hearing her laughter and knowing that he was the one who brought that smile to her face, he knew, more than ever, than he wanted them to be this way forever. To be by his side, always. And by the way she acted, he knew that she wanted that as well.
Maybe…he was ready for the next step after all.
He skidded to a halt, leaving them on the edge of the forest. "Inuyasha?" Kagome asked, as he let her off his back, wondering what the sudden problem was. "What is it?"
In an instant, the hanyou pulled her into his embrace as smashed his lips to hers. Kagome wasted no time in complying, her own arms pulling him closer. She didn't understand what had prompted the sudden display of affection from him, but she sure wasn't complaining.
Kagome responded by reaching up and rubbing Inuyasha's ears, making him deepen the kiss, her knees weakening as the feelings surged through her. Her body was on fire as he kissed down her neck, to the point on her shoulder that caused her body to tremble in his arms. She gasped as he ran his tongue over the pulse point in her neck. Never before had he been so bold.
"Inu…yasha…" she gasped as he pulled away. She looked into his eyes, which were like her own—hazy with desire.
"Kagome..." he murmured softly. She loved it when he said her name like that! He came down for a kiss once more, his strong arms holding her gently, as if she would break at the least little thing. Kagome understood, he was trying to tell her without words how he promised to protect and cherish her…and to love her.
Inuyasha pulled away slightly to sniff her wonderful scent that was currently intoxicating his senses…when another, more alarming scent filled his nose.
He suddenly pulled away, glancing towards the expanse of fields that lay before them. "What's going on?" Kagome asked, her breath still slight pants after their heated embrace.
"I smell human blood," he told her gravely, making both of them wish at that moment that he had never smelt it.
"We need to get Miroku-sama and Sango-chan," Kagome told him. "It's probably important.
He nodded. "Yeah."
As he pulled her back on to his back, they knew there would be no flying this time. As they set off for their companions, the scent of human blood was the last thing on their minds…they remembered their embrace minutes before, and both wondered where it could have gone if they had not been interrupted.
"That village up there," Inuyasha indicated, pointing towards the cluster of huts. "That's where the smell of human blood is coming from."
"Well, let us not waste any time," the monk replied, leading them into the village. They were met with a grave sight. Human blood was everywhere, as were human bodies. There were few alive left in the village, and those that were walked around like they expected the sky to fall at any moment.
Walking up to the first person he saw, Miroku asked, "Excuse me, can you tell me what is going on here?"
The man, who had a streak of blood on him, said, "We've been plagued by attacks from youkai birds for some time. But they seem to have increased lately. We were attacked again only a few hours ago."
"Youkai birds?" Kagome asked, recalling the ones they saw in the cave months ago.
Sango asked, "What exactly did these birds look like?"
Shuddering at the thought, the villager told them, "They always travel in a large pack, and fight like that as well. They look like ordinary vultures, but they are several times larger than any bird I have ever seen."
"What do you think, Inuyasha?" The monk asked, looking back at him.
Taking one last whiff of the air to confirm it, the hanyou said, "Yeah, it's those damn birds we saw before all right."
"Something's bothering me, though," Kagome said, gripping her bow tighter as she glanced at the dead man the few alive villagers were attempting to pick up. "I thought Naraku had made a deal with these birds. What would he gain from making them attack a single village repetitively?"
Shippou looked at all of them with wide eyes. "Then…is it possible Naraku's not joined with them?"
No body bothered to respond. They had been so sure that Naraku had been with those birds, if he wasn't, then why would they attack this same village? Usually youkai went from village to village killing all who lay in their path, not attack a single village, killing a few and then continuing to do so for a long period of time.
"No matter who's behind them, there is only one thing we can do in this situation," Miroku said, before turning to the villager glancing at them with a skeptical eye. "Sir, we shall exterminate these youkai for you."
The man's face instantly turned into an overwhelmed one. "Really? You shall do it?"
Hearing this, the other remaining villagers crowded around them. "But can they do it?" one whispered to another. "Those birds are strong."
"Yes, we shall," Miroku told them with a grin. "All we ask is that we are given shelter for the night."
In an instant, the villagers agreed to his demand. Sango and Kagome looked happy about it, being able to stay indoors for once, but Shippou rolled his eyes and muttered, "It looks like Miroku can make an honest deal for once."
The monk gave a nervous laugh while all his companions looked at him as they headed off towards the hut they would be staying in.
Hours later, Kagome and Inuyasha sat alone in the hut, while Miroku and Sango looked over one of the youkai the villagers had managed to kill. Shippou was taking a nap in the corner, while hanyou and human were sitting across from each other, trying to fight the desire to suddenly embrace passionately once more.
"Inuyasha…" Kagome asked, making the hanyou's ears suddenly perk up. "What are we?"
He stared at her. "Huh? What do you mean, Kagome?"
"I mean…" she paused for a moment, before looking away. "I know what we are…now…but…" All signs were pointing to her being nervous. "What are we going to be in the future?"
At her statement, Inuyasha blushed as well. Of course he knew what he wanted them to be in the future! I want us to be mates…bound to each other forever…Hell, I'd mate with you right now if I wasn't holding myself back. "K…Kagome…"
Before he could finish, a cry rang out through the village. "Youkai!"
Inuyasha and Kagome immediately turned. "Youkai?" the hanyou grabbed the hilt of Tessaiga, racing outside. The were met with the sight of a flock of giant black birds, diving towards innocent villagers.
"Stay back, Kagome!" Inuyasha warned, running towards them while unsheathing Tessaiga. Sango and Miroku had already begun to fight, Sango throwing Hiraikotsu while Miroku held them back with staff and ofuda.
Shippou jumped out of the hut and on to Kagome's shoulder. "There's so many!" he cried, watching bird after bird dive at their friends, only to be killed or knocked back in an instant.
Kagome felt a pang of fear. There's too many for them to handle. Grabbing her bow and arrows, she told the kitsune, "Shippou-chan, stay here!" while running towards her friends.
"Kagome! What are you doing here!" the hanyou roared, slicing clean through a squawking youkai.
"I'm here to help!" she shouted back, unleashing a pink purity arrow, which disintegrated three as it hit between them.
Turning away from the youkai, Inuyasha yelled, "You're going to get hurt! Go back!"
Kagome only glared at him before standing further away from him, yet still continuing to send arrow after arrow. Seeing that a powerful miko had joined the fight, the vulture youkai seemed to go after her, instead of everyone else. She was able to hold herself off for a while, but Inuyasha knew it wouldn't be for long.
Stupid woman! Is she trying to get herself killed! "Kaze no Kizu!" he roared, clearing a path through the mass of bird youkai.
There was a sour look on Kagome's face as she continued to fire her arrows. I don't care what he thinks. I can protect myself, whether he likes it or not! She sent up one more arrow, killing two this time, before hearing her hanyou running towards her, yelling, "Watch out!"
She turned to look at him—before two birds swooped up behind her and grabbed both her arms with their claws. Kagome screamed in shock as they lifted her up in the air, her bow and arrows dropping to the ground. "Inuyasha!" she cried, trying to fight her way out of their grip as they carried her off.
Without a second thought, the hanyou abandoned the fight and ran after her. "Kagome!"
