A/N: The reason why I am two days late is because I am an avid reader, and I got trapped within books. First, I had to finish Pride and Prejudice, because I had just gotten to the part where Mr. Darcy proposed, and I had to keep going until I finished the whole thing. THEN, my Dad decided to bring home The Da Vinci Code, so I decided to read that for the heck of it. And THEN, I found Memoirs of a Geisha again, and started reading it and...
It took me a while to pull myself away to right this chapter, as you can imagine.
October is not going to be good for fanfiction...FOUR books I want to read are coming out in that month, so thank goodness I'll be on a weekly schedule of updates so I can accomodate books, my school schedule, and fanfiction at the same time.
Anyway, I hope this wasn't too bad, but I suppose it kind of was, considering that there are now only seven chapters left.
Chapter 43: The First Loss
The journey to the was supposed to take us a week, but by the time we were out only a few days, it was clear that it would take us longer than usual. Inuyasha was insisting that we go at a slower pace because of me, something we had never done before. I don't think anyone minded, since usually traveling with Inuyasha meant going from sunup to sundown without stopping.
Those were some of the last happy days together I remember, without worry or sorrow. The time for the final battle with Naraku was approaching, and when it happened, we knew that either he or us wouldn't make it out alive. Even though I knew in the back of everyone's minds, we were worried that we would not make it, failure was not an option. Naraku had to be defeated, and each one of us was willing to give their lives to do it.
But we tried to enjoy our time together as traveling companions, and with the exception of Kouga, who seemed to be avoiding Inuyasha and me altogether, we seemed to enjoy it. It had been quite a while since our times of constant traveling, and it was like a reunion, sleeping together in camp, then waking the next day and continuing on our way.
It was almost like a merry camping trip until we had been a week out when we came to the village where Midoriko, the long dead miko whose soul created the Shikon no Tama was born…and there did we learn that sacrifice that had been paid for our tardiness, and the sacrifice that would be soon to come…
"I wonder what the baby's going to look like," Kagome smiled, rubbing a hand across her stomach. "I mean, there's so many possibilities…it might have silver or dark hair, it might have your or my eyes…who knows what it will be?"
"We already know its going to have my ears," Inuyasha held her against his chest, his hand over her large belly as well. "So that's something."
Sighing, she snuggled back against him, the sun warming them both. "And there's the other possibility of it being a boy or girl…"
The hanyou shrugged, "I don't know…what do you want?"
"Either would be fine with me," Kagome smiled. "As long as we get a girl someday…I've always dreamed of having a little girl."
"Keh." Was the only response the hanyou offered.
"What's that about, huh?" Kagome whirled around to glare at him.
Amber eyes rolled, "You pregnant once is enough, woman. I know how hard it is for you already; do you think my nerves could handle it if you got pregnant again?"
"So you're saying we're only going to have one?" she pouted turning away and folding her arms resting on her stomach. "I told you, I don't mind it at all. I'd actually like a lot of children."
Compromising, Inuyasha said, "Look, let's talk after the pup's born. After you have to go through the hardest part. Then see if you want another. We don't need to rush anything as if we were dying tomorrow, anyway."
She sighed in defeat, "All right," and leaned back against him once more. "But I suppose I'd like a girl…but I wouldn't mind a little boy if it looked just like you. I'd love any child we had just the same, regardless of what it is."
"I think I'd prefer a boy," the hanyou admitted. "I mean…I really don't know much about women anyway…so how the Hell am I supposed to raise one?"
"It would serve you right if we got one," Kagome smirked. "You'd never be able to stand it once she got older ad all the village boys were after her."
He was quick to dismiss her comment. "Keh. She'd be half-youkai. No village brats would be drooling after her. Besides, they ain't good enough."
"And what would you do if our daughter ran off with some youkai, like say…Kouga's son?" It was worth it to see the rage that sprouted on Inuyasha's face.
"What? No daughter of mine would ever run off with some spawn of that flea bitten wolf! Not while I'm alive!" He started snarling at the very thought, muttering some curses against Kouga while he was at it.
Kagome laughed, "Calm down Inuyasha, I meant that hypothetically. And besides, even if it is a girl, we have a long time to wait before we have to worry about that."
Inuyasha still muttered under his breath about how her joke was not funny, before she leaned back against him and sighed, closing her eyes. His anger subsided, and he took her in his arms again, feeling content with her scent floating around him. It was soon that he heard Kagome's breathing slow; she had fallen asleep. The hanyou tightened his arms around her, to hold her close while she napped.
She had never been this tired before, and he knew it had to be the travel combined with the pregnancy that was putting this strain on her. He resolved to tell their group to slow down once they got back to their camp, since Kagome was uncomfortable. And no one questioned his motives now that they all pertained to the care of Kagome.
His hands slowly rubbed circles on her stomach, feeling their child begin to calm as well, as if it had fallen asleep too. Now that Kagome was asleep, he felt like it was his chance to get father-future son or daughter time.
Keh, so you've been causing Kagome a lot of stress, huh? he silently asked it, a gentle smile appearing on his face. Once you're out of there, I'm going to have a little talk with you, runt. You should know better than to cause your mother stress.
Any movement the baby had ceased abruptly, like it was listening attentively to its father. Yeah, that's right pup, you'd better listen to me. If it weren't for me, you wouldn't even be here, you know.
Soon, with the warmth of the Spring afternoon, and Kagome's scent making him feel safe in her presence, he fell into a light slumber as well, since taking care of Kagome 24/7 had begun to wear him out.
That was how Miroku found them, Inuyasha and Kagome resting against the back of a tree, Kagome in Inuyasha's arms with his hands on her stomach, both asleep. He looked from one to the other, and then back to their camp. Deciding not to disturb them as they slept as a family, he marched back to the rest of their companions.
Perhaps the news could wait a little while, after all.
"There's a village up ahead?" Kagome yawned, having woken up sometime ago.
Sango nodded, "We found it a few hours ago, but we thought we'd let you both sleep awhile, since it's obvious you're both worn out. We need to try to get their before nightfall, since they have an inn that would be more comfortable then sleeping on the ground again." By her smile, Kagome knew that they were doing this for her. Every time they passed a village with an inn, they had to stay with it that night, since they wanted to make sure that she had every comfort possible as a pregnant woman.
"We should hurry up, then," Inuyasha said, glancing in the direction of the village. "It's going to be dark in a few hours."
The village only took them about an hour to reach, but instead of finding a normal village, where the villagers were too busy with their everyday chores to pay attention to their strange travelers, this one was quite different.
The instant they got in sight of the village, men surrounded them, wielding pitchforks and spears. The one who looked to be their leader had an old battle helmet on, and judging by its tarnished metal, he might have looted it from some battlefield. "Who are you?" he demanded, thrusting a spear in Inuyasha's face.
The hanyou began to growl, pushing the spear away from him, but Miroku spoke up to avoid any situation Inuyasha might create. "We're travelers," he explained.
"Travelers from where?"
"Musashi, in the south," the monk answered at once, hoping that would be enough to let them pass.
But it wasn't enough to quell the guardsman's curiosity. "And why would three humans travel with three, no four—" he added, once he saw Kirara around Sango's ankles. "youkai?"
Miroku rolled his eyes, it was the same thing in almost every village. "They're our friends."
"I'm not his friend," Inuyasha muttered, glaring at Kouga.
"Same here, Mutt," was Kouga's reply.
"Will you two shut up?" Sango hissed, as Miroku tried to smooth it over with the village guards.
"All we ask is that we are given the permission to buy a room at the inn for one night, and then we will be on our way."
The guard lowered his spear, and so did the others, but he did not let them into the village yet. "We are wary of travelers here. The last time a traveler came into our village, a terrible monster attacked and someone was killed."
Inuyasha couldn't stand it anymore, "Oh for the love of…" He grabbed Kagome and pushed her in front of him. "She's pregnant! Are you going to deny her a room for a night?"
The man, looking at Kagome's condition while she gave a glare at the hanyou, gave a sigh and said, "All right, we will allow you to stay this night, but only you have a woman in such a condition amongst your party."
They began marching into the village, and the hanyou couldn't help but grin, "That worked out better than I thought it would! Maybe we should try that one all the time…"
"Inuyasha…" Kagome glared, while he stiffened under her gaze.
Miroku leaned over and whispered in Sango's ear, "I think he's sleeping outside tonight." She giggled, and Inuyasha whirled around and cursed at them both.
As they passed into the village, Sango saw what appeared to be an old stone shrine on a hill, and next to it what appeared to be a smaller, newer grave, made of wood. "Excuse me," she asked the first village girl she saw, "But what is that shrine up there?"
The girl, glanced up at the shrine and then said, "That is the shrine of the miko that was born here, long ago. They say she was the most powerful miko that had ever lived, but died tragically in a battle against several youkai."
Their whole party stopped—they had heard this story before. "What was the miko's name?" Kagome asked.
The girl thought a moment, before admitting, "I can't remember…but I think it was 'M' something…"
Miroku's eyes went wider. "Midoriko?"
"Yeah, that was it," the village girl nodded. "A lot of people who know that name—mostly mikos and monks—come here often, but ever since that youkai attack that killed a boy and several of our villagers were injured, we haven't allowed many into our village."
"That explains their hostile manner," Miroku muttered, "Youkai attacks usually make villages wary of forigners."
"Or youkai," Inuyasha added, with Shippou nodding in agreement.
The village girl paused for a moment, glancing towards a dark forest at the other end of the small village. "Things haven't been the same around here ever since that evil youkai took residence up in the castle beyond the forest—"
"Wait," Inuyasha cut in, his eyes turned to a serious expression. "Did you say an evil youkai? What did it look like?"
The girl stared for a moment, frightened by the sudden urgency, but she replied, "This youkai was strange…I never saw it, but I was told by those who ventured there that it had a human shape…yet when it was fighting it transformed into having long tentacles…and there were many youkai bees floating around the village as well."
"Youkai bees?" Kagome gasped, exchanging glances with Inuyasha. There was no doubt that Naraku had been there.
"Is the youkai still there now?" Kouga asked, his hand curling into a fist. If Naraku was still there, then they were lucky…perhaps he hadn't noticed their presence as of yet.
The girl shook her head. "No, the youkai left after it attacked the village…but it was strange. Unlike other youkai that plagued us, it did not go on rampage, it was more like it killed for show. It seemed like the only one he wanted was that strange boy."
This time Sango gasped. "A boy…What was his name?"
The girl shook her head. "I'm sorry, I do not know," she answered, and went back to doing her chores.
Everyone's eyes were on Sango, knowing what she was thinking…the possibility that her brother had been thorough this village was high. "A boy…" she repeated. "I have to know his name!"
"Excuse me," an old man came up to them, making them all turn. "I... um, I couldn't help but overhear your conversation. And did you say you are wondering about a boy that passed through here recently?"
"Yes, did you know him?" the exterminator asked urgently.
The man thought a moment. "Was this boy dressed in armor? With his weapon as a chain-sickle?"
"Yes!" Sango replied, growing more and more anxious. "His name was Kohaku?"
The old man nodded. "I think that was it."
Sango's eyes went wild with a mixture of worry and relief. "What happened to him? Where is he now?"
At her question, the old man's features fell. "He came here after the youkai took residence up in the old castle. He paid for his stay at the inn by killing a bear youkai in the woods nearby that had been bothering us…He was a very polite boy, but…he seemed distracted, like something was nagging at him. And every night, he snuck out to go to the castle…as if watching over something."
Sango felt a twinge of fear in her heart. Miroku noticed it as well, and moved closer to her to offer her his support. "What happened then?"
Sighing, the man continued, "He ventured to the castle one day, but we didn't see him return for a while. I had gone to the forest picking fruit, when suddenly, I saw him running away, frightened. I asked him why he was running, and he said he had to warn his sister of something."
Kagome gasped, Kohaku-kun must have found something…something terrible that could hurt us…The curse of the Shikon no Tama?
"And where did he go?" Miroku asked this time, each person holding on to the man's every word.
The man looked away, having figured out that the girl in front of him was probably the sister that Kohaku had spoken of. It would be hard telling her the truth. "I was there when…when the youkai confronted him. I ran away, but I heard the youkai ask him if he would rejoin his service…and he said no. Then I do not know what happened, other than…"
"Than what?" Sango asked, tears forming in her eyes. With the way the man looked at her, and everything else...it looked like what she feared was coming true. "What happened to my little brother?" she demanded, a tear falling down her cheek, her heart feeling like it knew the answer.
The man said nothing, but glanced towards the hill, with the new wooden grave upon it. "I am sorry for your loss," he replied, walking away.
Sango had cried on account of her brother before. She cried when she first saw him die at Naraku's castle, three years ago. Tears had fallen again when she learned he had been resurrected and working for Naraku. Kohaku had made her shead tears several times, because he was the only family she had left, yet she was always far from him. But now…no tears were shed immediately. The exterminator, had seemed frozen, unable to take a breath as more tears formed in her eyes as reality hit her.
When she began to tremble, her friends tried to help her, "Sango-chan…" Kagome whispered.
"Sango," Miroku began, intending to say something to make it all right, but when he looked into that despairing face of hers, for once, he was out of ideas.
She stood there for only a moment, before she let out a sob and ran towards that hill, Kirara trailing after her. Kagome began to cry as she watched her friend feel so much pain. Inuyasha pulled Kagome close, while a few tears fell on to his haori. "Is Sango going to be okay?" Shippou asked. "I don't want her to be sad."
Inuyasha glanced at Miroku, who held a sad expression on his face as well. "Go, monk," he ordered. "Don't just sit around when you know she needs you."
"Yeah," Miroku nodded, before going in the direction of the hill, trying to figure out how he was going to cheer Sango up. For once in his life, he would have traded anything, even his own life, not to see her go through this moment.
Miroku found her in front of Kohaku's wooden grave. It was no doubt Kohaku's; a chain sickle was placed upon the mound. Sango was kneeling in front of it, her head bent low towards the ground while tears flowed from her eyes, directly on to the dirt.
He knew she probably heard the tinkle of his staff, and even Kirara ran up to him, begging him to help her. "Sango…" he began, not really knowing what to say.
She turned slowly, her tear filled eyes neither inviting him nor pushing him away. But that despairing look he couldn't ignore. "Houshi-sama…" she sobbed.
No words were spoken as Miroku dropped his staff, fell to his knees and instantly pulled Sango into his arms. She didn't protest at the sudden movement, burying her face into his chest and continuing to cry. The monk held her, rubbing her back slowly in a gentle, calming motion. "I'm sorry, Sango…I wish…I wish this had never happened."
"I couldn't protect him…" she cried, trembling in his embrace. "Just like the first time…and all those others…I wasn't there…I wasn't strong enough…I just couldn't protect him from this!"
"There was no way of knowing, Sango," he told her softly. "Don't blame this on yourself…there's no way we could have known this would have happened."
"But if I insisted he came with us…If I had done something to keep him there…then maybe he wouldn't have…"
"He died doing what he wanted, Sango. He was fighting Naraku, as he had wanted to. He died trying to protect you…Kohaku knew that he wouldn't be able to live once the Shikon no Tama was completed. He told me before that this is what he wanted…to repent for what he had done."
"He didn't deserve this…" she said, her tears beginning to fade, but her voice still wavered as the pain wore a hole into her heart.
Miroku murmured, "I know he didn't, Sango. But he's gone now, to a better place. I know nothing can make it better now…but at least know that he is now, finally at peace after so long of being in torment."
She nodded, but said nothing. Miroku felt her arms fist themselves in his purple robes, trying to keep him there. "Is there anything else I can do, Sango?" he asked.
Sango whispered, "Just hold me, Houshi-sama…I know I cannot mourn for long, but…"
"I understand," he replied, his arms tightening their hold around her. While Sango wavered through heartfelt crying and trying to calm herself down, Miroku looked upon Kohaku's grave with a sad look in his eyes as well. Naraku must be trying to complete the Shikon no Tama…he thought, before another one struck him.
But…Naraku, even though he wanted to defeat the Shikon no Tama, never killed Kohaku before…was it because of what he discovered? What did he learn that was so important that he had to tell his sister right away, and Naraku killed him for it?
There was a flash of memory as Miroku remembered those visions he saw in Midoriko's cave…and the one he saw of Kohaku meeting his death at the hands of Naraku. That one came true…does that mean if we don't do something now, the others will come true as well?
He gulped, this fearful thought registering on him. If that's the case, then we don't have much time!
