Inuvember:

Ichiro & Tsukihime

Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi

Story and OCs © Me

Ichiro sighed as he sat on the porch with his head resting in the palm of his hand, his elbow propped on one knee as he stared out at the horizon. His expression was...somewhat solemn as he watched some larks flitter about in the sky, playfully tweeting and chirping as they flew off together. As he watched them fly off, Kagome came from around the corner, carrying a basket of roots and herbs from the garden.

"Ichi, can you come help me with lunch?" she asked as she prepared to head inside...but Ichiro didn't answer her, causing her to glance back at him. "Ichi? Sweetie, did you hear me?"

"...Wha...?" Ichiro muttered as he noticed his mother. "Oh...hey, Mom. When did you get here?"

"Sweetie, are you okay?" Kagome asked as she put the basket down and sat beside her oldest son. "You've been staring out into space like that for a while, now."

"Oh, it's...it's nothing," Ichiro said as he looked back up at the sky. "Nothing at all."

"I heard that before," Kagome quipped as she put her hand on Ichiro's shoulder, causing him to give her a side glance. "Ichi, what's wrong? You wanna tell me about it? You might feel a bit better if you do."

Ichiro drew his lower lip into his mouth, biting his lip in contemplation. Then he looked back at his mother, who gave her that reassuring smile that she always made to let him know that he could trust her. With a sigh, the teenage quarter-demon turned to her and said...

"How do you know when you're in love, Mom?"

Kagome's eyes went wide while Ichiro looked at her with these almost pleading eyes...like he was really expecting some sort of answer.

"This has been on your mind for a while, hasn't it?" Kagome asked.

"Yeah," Ichiro replied as he cast his eyes to the ground. "A really long while."

"...Ichi?" Kagome asked. "Is this...about Tsukihime, by any chance?"

"Well...I mean...not necessarily," Ichiro replied...his cheeks turning pink. "Is...is it really that obvious?"

"Well, I'd be surprised if it was anyone else," Kagome said. "I mean, you two have been friends since you were little."

"Yeah, I know," Ichiro said. "I mean...I never really felt weird about her in any way. We'd hang out, laugh about a few things, maybe roughhouse a little bit, but...lately...I've been seeing Tsukihime a little differently, now...and it makes me feel a little weird. It's like...my heart won't stop skipping beats and...I just can't get her outta my head and...!" He groaned as he ran his hands through his silvery-gray hair. "It's so damn frustrating!"

Kagome's eyes softened at her son...and for a moment, she could have sworn that she saw a young girl in his place, sitting on a bench, running her hands through her hair in frustration.

"Ichiro," she said, causing Ichiro to glance at her. "Believe me when I say that I know exactly what you're going through."

"Really?" Ichiro asked.

"Yeah," Kagome replied as she looked up at the sky. "You see, Ichiro, I didn't think I'd ever fall in love, either...but then I met your father and suddenly, everything just seem to click for me. I tried to say to myself 'Oh, it's just some silly crush, I'll probably be over him'...but I couldn't. No matter how much I tried, I could never get your father out of my mind. I didn't know your father for very long, but it sure felt like I knew him for my entire life." She then sighed with a fond smile as she looked down at the ground. "Before I knew it, I started to think about how our future would be...and now, look at us. I'm here and I'm married to him...and he and I...we have 5 beautiful children with another one on the way."

Ichiro smiled slightly at his mother, then glanced down at her stomach: still flat, but he knew something was growing in there. It was still a bit hard to believe, but then again, with his parents, he wasn't surprised.

"So, Ichiro," Kagome said. "Have you ever thought about what a future between you and Tsukihime might be like?"

Ichiro folded his ears back and furrowed his brow in deep thought, then he closed his eyes.

"Well," he began, "I...I see myself in maybe...ten years, I guess...and I still live in the village, but I have a house of my own, now."

"Oh, I see," Kagome smiled. "What else?"

"...Tsuki's there with me," said Ichiro, "and...we have a dog...and some farm animals."

"...Any kids?" Kagome inquired.

"...Yeah," Ichiro replied. "Uh...2...two daughters, born 2 years apart. One has...Tsuki's hair color, my eyes, and my ears...and the other has my hair color, Tsuki's eyes...oh! And they both have tails!"

"...What are their names?" Kagome smiled, imagining herself with two granddaughters.

"Our first daughter is called Nanami," said Ichiro, "and our second one is called Botan. Sometimes, they argue, but I can see them getting along." He then smiled warmly. "We're all happy and smiling...and we're sitting out on the porch, watching the sunset...and it's so beautiful...and Tsuki and I...we...we look at each other and...then we kiss."

Kagome smiled lovingly at her oldest son before she pulled him into a tight side-hug, causing him to open his eyes as he looked at her.

"That's beautiful, Ichiro," she said.

"...You really think so?" Ichiro asked.

"Yes, I do," Kagome replied. "I can tell you really do love Tsukihime."

Ichiro smiled...but instantly, that smile disappeared as a look of worry appeared on his face.

"...Should I...should I tell her?" Ichiro asked. "Or...is it too soon?"

"Well, Ichi," Kagome began, "I can't really give you a straight answer on that one...but I will give you some advice." She gave him a knowing smile. "When the time is right...you'll know."

Ichiro blinked at his mother, who gave him an impish little wink...and that made him smile, once again.

"Hey, Ichi!"

Ichiro turned to see Tsukihime waving at him from a distance.

"Come on!" she called. "We're going to Haruyama Falls today!"

"I'm coming!" Ichiro replied as he prepared to leave, but not without giving Kagome a quick hug. "Thanks, Mom...I love you."

"I love you, too, honey," Kagome replied as she hugged her son back. "Now go have fun."

With that, Ichiro turned and ran off to join Tsukihime, who smiled as they walked away together...but as they did, the former reached out and gently grabbed the latter's hand, causing her to glance at him...and yet, she didn't pull away. She just kept walking alongside him, her tail wagging left and right behind her.

As they walked away, Kagome felt an arm wrap around her shoulder, causing her to glance back and see her husband grinning at her as he sat at her side.

"He's only 13 and he's already talking about having kids," quipped Inuyasha.

"Never hurts to think ahead," Kagome replied, causing a chuckle to rumble in his throat before he pulled her close to him...and pressed his lips against hers in a chaste kiss, which she lovingly returned.

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