Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha or any of its characters.

Adult content in this chapter has been removed to conform to the site rules, if you want to read the unabridged version you can find it on AO3.

Chapter Forty-Five: Just Before We Leave

Inuyasha went to collect the special ingredients as soon as he had moved Kagome to their house and left her and the children with Kichiro, Osamu and Kaede that kept fretting over her. He tried to finish his task as soon as possible, even if it was already dark.

When he came back, he prepared almost immediately the concoction and brought it to her. The two guards that were in the same room hastily stepped back, their sense of smell crying in outrage at the stench; they realized why Kagome had been so reluctant to drink it. Apparently, she must have had it at least once before and, considering the not at all surprised faces of the children, they too had been put through the torture at least once.

"Why does something that is supposed to heal stink so much?" Osamu complained and Kagome glared at him since she was the one who was going to drink it. She held her nose and tried to drink it as soon as possible.

"Gah! It's almost more awful than what I remember," she exclaimed, shivering at the feeling.

"Stop complaining! Last time you were back in shape after one night." Inuyasha huffed. "It's your fault you overdid and fell ill," he scolded her, his eyes narrowing. She looked at him sheepishly and didn't say anything else; at least she could be as new by tomorrow.

"Are there secret ingredients in it, Inuyasha?" Kaede inquired. "If it is so miraculous it could be helpful. Your wife is a healer beside a priestess; you should share something like that."

"Keh," he replied. "It's not my fault I didn't tell her the ingredients last time I made it. It's something my mother taught me when I was a kid, but she used dried ingredients, I always used fresh ones."

"You already told me that last time. What's in it?"

"Hey, I remember that time Kagome fell ill during the shard hunt. Sango sent her home while Inuyasha went hunting, he came back with an array of dead animals and got angry because she had left without telling him," Shippo piped up.

"Dead animals?" Kagome raised her eyebrow and turned ashen.

"Well... I don't know if it's a good idea," Inuyasha admitted nervously, scratching the back of her head. "Your kid brother was adamant I shouldn't tell you the ingredients last time."

Kagome fixed him with beady eyes. "Inuyasha... What could be so disgusting Sota had to tell you not to tell me?"

"Spit it out, boy!"

He harrumphed. "Keh, ok then, but then don't say I didn't warn you, wench! I used different kinds of fresh livers; they always worked on me as a pup and, clearly, with you and our pups too."

Kagome became suddenly green and covered her mouth. "You made me drink liver soup?

He shrugged. "It worked, didn't it?" he told her, smirking. "Besides I don't think is worst than Myoga's medicine."

"Momma, you always tell us that we have to eat the vegetables even if we don't like them because it's good for us. You shouldn't complain because daddy's medicine is gonna make you feel better," Toga lectured her, waving his little finger at her. She turned to him, aghast, while the whole room burst out laughing.

"Well said, pup, well said," Inuyasha grinned, ruffling his hair.

The morning after Inuyasha woke up early to check on his mate who was currently sleeping curled against him; she wore a serene expression and her breathing was even. He hid his face in her hair and inhaled deeply, her scent didn't even hold a sour hint anymore. He smiled tenderly at the sight; she was sleeping so peaceful that it made it almost impossible to disturb her - almost.

Usually, when he woke up very early, he let her sleep and found peace watching her, savouring every detail and thinking about how damn lucky he was Kagome had chosen him, changed him, loved him without any doubt or reticence, just for who he was. At the beginning of their relationship, even if they had a lot to think about with the jewel still shattered in part, the unplanned pregnancy and the double life they led, he had wondered if it was even right she was stuck with him after all the pain he had caused her. His irrational fears had hurt her even after Kikyo's chapter had been closed and Inuyasha hadn't really had anything else to hold himself back. He wondered why fate had deemed necessary to grace him with such a goddess, and Kagome used to answer it was because of the life he had led before they met. Inuyasha had been alone, had been rejected by everyone, had wandered for decades alone, aimless and without a place where he truly belonged. For this very reason, Kagome had told him, he needed someone who was able to love him without restrains, someone who could show him he didn't need a place to belong, as long as he had someone to belong to. And if she could go back in time, she would choose to be his again and only his; her soul would always accept him, her place would always be with him.

A wicked grin graced his face as he gazed at her slightly parted rosy lips. No, this morning he would have his fun waking up her in the way he preferred. Both his human and demon side required him to take her, dominate her. Oh, how she huffed and glared at him every time he woke her up at a godly hour just because he suddenly needed her. But it didn't matter if her eyes shrank to slits or how much she pouted, Inuyasha knew what was the result of his ministrations. Kagome couldn't resist him and he loved to take advantage of that, loved to know his mate was as insatiable as he was deep down; she was simply better at hiding it.

Slowly, he cupped her cheek, her skin definitely colder than yesterday - he noticed with relief - and pressed firmly his lips on hers. His tongue darting out to stroke her bottom lip and savour her, waiting for her to come alive to the world.

"Mmm," a couple of seconds later she moaned in his mouth and pressed her lips back, in what Inuyasha knew was an instinctive reaction of her.

"Morning, koishii," Inuyasha greeted her, his tone husky, his breath warm on her face.

"Hmpf, Inuyasha?" her sleepy eyes gazed at him in confusion as his hand still cupped her cheek, "what time is it?"

"Early," he replied, stealing another kiss, this time demanding entrance and exploring her mouth with his tongue, sucking at hers and encouraging her involvement.

"Why did you wake me up then?" she asked again, starting to realize the reason she had been awoken early. Inuyasha really had great confidence in that special medicine or was so short of it he didn't care and needed it to fix his problem as soon as possible. She loved when Inuyasha was extremely amorous after he came back because usually his shows of affection led them to their bedroom and he didn't hold back most of the time. Being away from her made him want rougher and wild intercourses, he wanted to claim her again and reserved cuddling and sweet words later on. She loved every second of it.

"I wanted to check on you, koishii; I was worried about you," he murmured and pushed his hips into hers suggestively. Kagome took notice of how much he was awake as his lips started leaving feathery kisses on her chin, occasionally nibbling on her skin.

"Oh, what did you have in mind for this check-up, Koibito?" she feigned innocence, grinding back and enjoying the friction of his morning wood on her core. It would be easy to untie the knot of her thin night robe and expose herself to him.

"I thought it was a good idea to revise some of your modern knowledge, how do you call it? A-na-tomee?" he replied and then licked the shell of her ear.

She giggled, "Corny." He nipped harder on her lobe in reprimand.

[...]

Inuyasha fell on his back on the other side of the futon, arms going slack, completely spent. He brought her with him, curling her against his chest and caressing her. They both seemed unable to utter a word; Kagome was still trying to stop her trembling.

After a couple of minutes, Inuyasha cupped her face and kissed her tenderly. Then, he looked at her straight in her eyes, his twinkling with mirth, and said, "The check-up went perfectly fine: your healer suggests you an intense period of time divided between naps, food and a lot of wild sex to keep you in shape."

She burst out into laughter, then slapped him. "And would my healer offer himself to maintain this hard regime? Train me perhaps?" her finger trailed up and down his damp chest. "I'm in need of a sturdy, fiery and wild lover who can keep up with me," she whispered back, groaning at the hunger her words caused in his molten gold eyes.

"Don't worry, wench; this healer will fuck you 'til the end of the world, feral and savagely, just as you long for," he said, closing the distance between their lips again, giving her another taste of what he meant.

When they separated she spoke again. "As long as I want?"

"No, you can be damn sure it will be forever," Inuyasha corrected her.

That morning, at breakfast, it was Inuyasha who got everything ready, washed and dressed the children and prepared Kagome's bath, not wanting her to move even a finger. He carried her from the bedroom to the main room, propped her up on a couple of pillows near the fire pit and put Kichiro as her guard, intimating her not to move in the slightest. In the beginning, Kagome complained; she didn't want to be in idleness and wanted to help him. But he was intransigent: she needed to rest and she should enjoy his pampering because, as soon as they arrived at the castle, they will have a lot to do and couldn't certainly slack off. Kagome eagerly complied; after all, it had been a long time since she had been able to rest with her duties as head priestess and mother of two part-demon children. She could take advantage of the moment, but she refused to be spoon-fed by Inuyasha when he proposed that.

However, after the initial bickering, she allowed him to spoil her, and when they finally finished every morning task they decided to relax outside and relish the warm weather. Inuyasha spread a blanket on the grass, positioned himself behind her, legs spread wide, and she leaned back into his chest, loving the feeling of his warm strong arms encircling her and his claws trailing up and down her arms.

Inuyasha had declared that a free day, meaning he didn't want his pups to go training or study; they should enjoy the warm spring too. The couple stood outside, watching their children having their fun, trying to impress their father with some of the tricks they had learned while he was away or playing hide-and-seek with the guards. The sound of Kagome's light laughter reverberated in the clearing at the edge of Inuyasha's forest, and he sighed in contentment at having at least one day before they had to come back to the lion's den. He knew he had told his brother they would leave as soon as possible, but since Kagome had been over-stressed and ill, he reasoned it would have been better if she relaxed before they reached the chaos that had become Sesshomaru's court in those last days. It was in every way what they call a family day.

That was how Kaede and Rin found them when they reached the meadow. The old priestess smiled at seeing that display, knowing well they all deserved a peaceful day, especially Kagome, who she had seen withering away in the last week Inuyasha had been absent. Rin's situation had only stressed her more, and even if she didn't know the reason for her concern, she could imagine it wasn't something positive. Peering at the beaming face of the girl she had raised since the day Sesshomaru had brought her between humans, Kaede hoped the smile now gracing her lips could last even through the trials that were waiting for her.

"From your complexion and your relaxed expression — and that of your husband —, I dare say that ye are definitely looking better today, child. That special medicine of yours is indeed miraculous, Inuyasha," Kaede spoke as soon as they came in sight. "Who would have said that ye were an expert healer as well."

"Keh!" Inuyasha only offered, before he returned his gaze to his children who were now playing red light-green light.

Kagome giggled, seeing the red marring his cheeks, then greeted the newcomers. "Obaa-chan, Rin-chan, come sit next to us; we were enjoying the sunbeams." Inuyasha made space for them on the blanket to assure they didn't have to sit on the grass. Rin was soon called by the children, who insisted she played with them and soon the couple was alone with the old priestess.

"Well, if it isn't a sight to watch two grown youkai playing those strange children games of yours, Kagome," Kaede commented.

"You know them well, baba. They could convince anyone to do their bidding; no one can escape those puppy eyes," Inuyasha scoffed.

"Aye, he taught them well, didn't he, Kagome?"

The young priestess burst out laughing while the half-demon scoffed again. "You nailed him, Kaede-obaa-chan; Inuyasha's the first one using that technique on me. Of course, his children would learn it as well." She giggled.

"I am glad ye are feeling well this morning, child, both physically and mentally. That sweet face of yours shouldn't be marred by frowns or bad thoughts," she offered again.

"Uh? What are you referring to, baba? What's happened while I was away, Kagome?" Inuyasha inquired.

"Nothing you have to worry about, Koibito. I have just been stressed a little between dealing with an overemotional Toga, some ill villagers and Rin's newfound pregnancy," Kagome murmured wriggling her hands and avoiding his inquisitive gaze. Inuyasha immediately took her hands in his to make her stop and peered at her sternly, trying to understand if there was something else she was hiding from him.

"What about Rin? Has she been feeling not well too?"

Kaede shook her head. "Nothing, nothing, your wife is just too worried about her, it would appear. Maybe too much."

The half-demon narrowed his eyes at her. "Do not imply anything, baba, when you don't know the facts," he snarled, "and don't stick your nose in where it doesn't belong."

The elderly woman continued nonetheless. "Always so crude, Inuyasha. I raised the child, it's obvious I worry about her too. I merely want to make sure that the latest developments do not change his happy-go-lucky nature. You will agree with me that she will have to deal with more than one challenge in the coming weeks, and surely all the pressure she will be under is not good for a young girl in the first weeks of pregnancy."

Her eyes located her, she was giggling at some of the pups' antics. Inuyasha still deep in thought was observing her too.

They remained in silence for a couple of minutes before Inuyasha spoke again. "Rin will be fine, baba, as long as she has us with her. Why do you think I accepted Sesshomaru's offer in the first place years ago? It certainly wasn't because I was dying to help him," he revealed. The implied meaning of his words wasn't lost to Kaede.

Her eyes turned to him again, she observed the way he had tensed as Kagome tried to soothe him. Maybe they were right, maybe she was worrying too much; Rin would be fine as long as she had someone who loved her deeply and cared for her as they did. "Aye, ye are right, Inuyasha. She is lucky to have a big brother like ye who had always taken care of her." She patted his arm before she continued, "You've always been a good man, Inuyasha, even back then. But it warms my heart to have witnessed the depth of your change."

"Keh, no need to be all sentimental," he snorted. "I am always the same rude hanyou you knew as a child. You, rather, have slackened off with the old ages."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome hit him on his chest, "you are unbelievable. Kaede-obaa-chan was only complimenting you!"

"Keh!"

Kaede burst out in laughter. "Don't worry, child; we know well he won't ever change his attitude with me. When are ye leaving?"

"Tomorrow," Inuyasha replied. "We should have left today, actually, but since Kagome hadn't been feeling well I thought it was better if we all relaxed today. There's a lot to look forward to in the west; it's better to go with our minds and bodies ready. Besides, I won't be able to devote so much time to the pups, and since I've been missing a lot since the attack, I figured it was better to give them a free day."

She nodded. "Ye did well. It seems then I will have to cover for ye for a while, Kagome, isn't it? Luckily no one should be giving birth in the near future, nothing like two days ago should happen and I can take care of everything without problems. After all, I've been doing it all my life alone."

"Don't tire yourself too much, baba, you are not the same as ten years ago," Inuyasha told her sternly.

"He's right, Kaede-obaa-chan; we've always done everything together these past few years and your usual workload has decreased. Don't try to overdo it and let Honoka help you; she has learned a lot since she started her training as a healer and can help you with even the most difficult tasks now," Kagome interjected.

"Aye, ye don't have to worry," she chuckled, inwardly happy for those two who never ceased to fret over her.

Later that day, when Kaede had left, their bellies were full and the children had fallen asleep exhausted, Inuyasha decided it was time to explain to everyone what was the situation in the West and speak clearly with Rin, who was still in the dark.

The three of them were around the fire pit, the water for tea was boiling, and the guards had divided themselves between looking out for the pups and standing sentinel outside the house. Shippo had left in the morning to help Sango, who with five children and one on the way often required assistance with the housekeeping, more than Kagome.

"What do you want to talk about, Inuyasha?" Rin asked when Inuyasha passed her a cup of tea. Kagome was once again in his embrace, as he needed to feel her next to him and assure himself she was fine every other minute. Apparently, he had been earnest when he had said, the night before, that he would hover over her even more than during her two pregnancies. And she had naively thought he would calm down once Noboru's threat had been erased... had something else happened in the West?

"There is a lot of things you still don't know about life in the castle, Rin, lots Sesshomaru hadn't told you because obviously, he expected me to do it," he rolled his eyes.

"He trusts you," Rin offered, always thinking well of Sesshomaru, even more now that she was an adult if possible.

"Yeah, sure Rin, but I think you should be aware of everything that has happened in those last few weeks and what will be waiting for you as soon as we set foot in the castle," the half-demon told her sternly; she nodded eagerly.

"First of all, what do you know about what has happened here while the two of you were away?"

"Kaede-obaa-chan told me some demons attacked you, Kagome-chan and the pups," she replied, instinctively putting an arm on her stomach when thinking about the kids being threatened; Inuyasha and Kagome both noticed.

"Uh, well, there's more than that, Rin. The demons were sent to kill us because we have a connection with Sesshomaru; they wanted to annihilate everyone who was of my father's bloodline. The one who sent them had found out, somehow, when Sesshomaru would be away and had prepared an army to attack the valley. So when the last of my father's heirs would have been killed as well as all those who supported him, it would have been easier to take control of the valley and dethrone Sesshomaru when he returned, maybe even kill him if they could. But, obviously, they had underestimated us. We killed the ones who came here, and then, I reached the West to help Sesshomaru's army with the uprising. This last week, I've been away because I needed to help Sesshomaru deal with the reconstruction of the valley and the few traitors who were still alive. That's why you had to wait with Kagome here in the village," he summed up, watching an array of emotions cross her eyes while he was speaking

Rin gasped when he had finished and brought a hand to her mouth. "Why would someone want to take Sesshomaru's place and kill your father's bloodline? I thought your duty was to protect the western lands and you were doing it well."

Kagome leaned towards her and took her hands in his, locking her eyes with Rin's. "Rin-chan, the first thing you have to know is that not everything is perfect there, not in the slightest. When the late Inu-no-Taisho took Inuyasha's mother as his mate the majority of the demons living there opposed the union because Izayoi-hime was a human and they didn't want half-demons to be considered heirs of the West. It pains me to tell you, but we cannot let you go there thinking everything will be fine because it won't. Inuyasha and I had our share of opponents when we first were introduced at court and we still have, but we have learnt to deal with it. I want you to know that we will be next to you every moment and we will support you."

"Does this mean they will oppose our union and our child too?" Rin asked, tears welling up in her eyes.

"They will, Rin, but they cannot do anything about it. You and Sesshomaru are bonded, which means you are per right their lady now and any children born of your union will be considered an heir. It would have been the same for me and my mother if my father hadn't died the day I was born and that's why Sesshomaru was able to claim me as his heir because it was my right as a legitimate child. Do you understand me?" She nodded and he continued. "Now, lots of my father's followers are still alive and they have accepted my place, as well my mate's and my sons'. However, at the same time, back then many were outraged Sesshomaru had even considered strengthening his relationship with me since he had been the first back then to oppose my parents' union. But he has changed his opinion after he met you years ago, he doesn't think humans and half-demons aren't worthy of his consideration," well, at least in part, "and demons in the West didn't appreciate his change of heart."

"And they will appreciate even less the fact he has now taken a human as his mate, just as his father had done before him," Rin continued for him.

"Yes, that's why we are telling you. You can't be naive or trusting of everyone you will meet. Luckily, since we have been dealing with that court during the last seven years, we know well who you can trust and who you cannot. I will accompany you everywhere the first weeks and introduce you to some Ladies; they will be with you when I cannot, and I can assure you won't have problems befriending them. Besides, the guards who Sesshomaru appointed you will always be with you every time he won't be able to, just as Kichiro and Osamu had always done with us. You won't be taking any risk; Sesshomaru wouldn't allow it," Kagome explained encouragingly.

"At the introduction, some of them will try to belittle you, Rin. I must be sincere; they still do it with us. But I don't wanna you to heed them. Other females will be jealous of your new status because they wanted to be in your place... avoid them like the plague. At the end of the day, you will be the one in his bed, not them," Inuyasha boldly said. Rin immediately averted her gaze and became an interesting shade of red; Kagome turned to him and gave him the hairy eyeball. "What? What have I said?"

"What Rin and Sesshomaru do in their private time is not of your concern, Inuyasha," she scolded.

"Oi! I wasn't pointing out that, ew." He shuddered just thinking about his half-brother engaged in that kind of activity. "I was merely stating that she is the one Sesshomaru bonded with, not any of that harpies."

"You implied that!"

"What? I didn't say anything too indecent, I tell you worse when it's just you and me. If I wanted to refer to the two of them fu-" Kagome hastily covered his mouth while Rin was now red from head to toe.

"What's wrong with you? You can't say something like that in front of her or any of the village's women for the matter; even Sango would be embarrassed if you just hinted at that kind of activity."

"But you had never a problem with it, even with more brazen demoness at court, and you live in the village too."

"I can't believe that after all these years I still have to tell you something like that. I guess that Miroku and other lecherous villagers had been rubbing off you. I haven't grown up here, you know that is perceived differently where I came from." Inuyasha tried to speak again but she covered his mouth. "Now, can we go back to the initial topic of this discussion, please?" she pleaded, nodding towards Rin who was now bright red like a pepper.

"Keh, you women are too delicate for my liking," he snorted.

"Do you want me to say it so we can find out who is the delicate one?" Inuyasha hastily shook his head. "Very well, Rin, you can raise your head now, Inuyasha will avoid any sensitive topic."

"As I was saying before Kagome interrupted me," his mate shot him another glare, "there will be some fucker who won't be pleased with the new development, but you don't have to fear anyone or heed what they say. Can you do it, Rin?"

"I'll try, it won't be easy, but I love Sesshomaru-sama and I'll do everything to be with him," She answered full of confidence.

Inuyasha nodded. "Perfect, now, the worst part," he started. "There is something else that you don't know either, koishii." Kagome let Rin go and turned to him again. "The one who was behind the attacks, Sesshomaru's uncle, couldn't be dealt with."

"What?" Kagome shrieked, worry filling her eyes. "But we had the cat demon, he should have been enough to prove Noboru was the culprit!"

He shook his head grimacing and brought her back in his embrace. "We had him, and Katsuro had gone to bring him to the council so we could prove Noboru's guilty. But when he went into the dungeon the fucking cat was dead. A damn spider had poisoned him so our witness died. Even if they believed us, the elders couldn't do anything; with no direct proof, his followers have demanded him to be freed. The only positive thing is that he is currently under surveillance; he can't leave his sleeping quarters until Sesshomaru and I decide because he is still considered suspect and because of the threats to you and the pups."

"That... that... that damnable slimy pink maggot!" Kagome exclaimed, fisting the fabric of her hakama in rage. "I know it had been that damn hideous butterfly who killed him."

Rin was speechless in front of that outburst, but Inuyasha remained unfazed; he knew how she acted when she was angry and he knew very well how much she hated Tsubasa.

"We know, but again we have no proof and that's the best we could do. Luckily, most of his followers are dead now, because he let them fight for him so they are considerably less than before. This doesn't mean, however, that we can lower our guard. They would likely keep a low profile now, but we don't know when they'll strike next time. One thing is sure, though, he and his damn lover won't be so lucky next time," he declared confidently. They were on borrowed time. "We will leave tomorrow ready to deal with everything they will throw at us and be sure I won't let anyone touch you, nor will Sesshomaru."

A/N: This was the last chapter, for now, settled in the village, the next bunch will cover Rin's introduction to court. There will be more scenes about Sesshomaru and Rin too.

Red light - green light is another name for a famous children game called Statues but that is known worldwide with several names. I had fun reading them all, some even call it "One, two, three, Winnie Pooh" or something similar 😆. In Italy is mostly known as "Un, due, tre, Stella", which translated means "One, two, three, Star". According to Wikipedia in Japan they call it "Daruma-san ga koronda" meaning "The Daruma fell over".

Thanks for reading, until next time!