Disclaimer: Wow, I think the only character that I do not own in this chapter is Kagome. Everyone else is mine.
Chapter 7: The Return
Kagome's mouth dropped when she heard that part of her friend's story.
"You mean he asked you?"
Nekoyasha nodded. "I couldn't answer him. I had no idea that he had fallen that much in love with me. I just lay there in his arms looking up at the sky."
Nekoyasha paused to reminisce. "He was actually gone for longer than a cycle of the moon."
xxxxx
A black-haired Nekoyasha paced the room. She was beginning to worry over the warrior. It had been a cycle and a half of the moon. His mother watched the healer pace back and forth.
"You really do care for my son, don't you," the old woman stated.
The healer stopped in her tracks. She turned to look at the warrior's mother. A shy smile played across her lips.
"Yes, I suppose I do." She looked down. She did not want to offend the woman. "How do you feel about that?"
"Come here, child." The older woman chuckled as the healer came and sat before her. "I call you 'child' even though you are much older than I am. You saw me into this world as well as my son. You have lived in this, your mother's village for quite some time. And I have never seen your eyes shine like the way they do when you look at Isaaru."
Nekoyasha blushed. She was not sure how to reply.
The woman continued. "I am getting very old. I am hanging on just to see my son happy. I can tell that being with you makes him happy. That's all he talks about since the night he brought you to help me."
Nekoyasha bowed her head. "It was seeing me in this form that made him interested, I believe."
"No, he had said on several occasions that he wished he could get to know the healer better and always wondered why she hides in her house once a month. He has cared for you longer than I think you realize. Seeing you as a human just made him think that he had a chance of courting you."
Nekoyasha was surprised by this news. She sighed. Again she was speechless.
The older woman yawned. "I believe you will continue your vigil alone for the rest of the evening."
Nekoyasha rose. "Let me help you to bed."
After she had helped the older woman to bed, Nekoyasha continued her pacing. She wished she had her senses so she could smell if he was coming. The night was close to being over when she contemplated retiring as it didn't look like he was coming back tonight either, when she heard a sound.
She stilled herself waiting for it again. There it is! Footsteps! Isaaru!
She rushed out of the door to see a figure walking slowly toward her. She ran to the man. He was slightly injured and his bandages needed to be changed, but Isaaru was alive. She took his armor from him and helped him back to the house.
They didn't speak as they walked. There was also silence as she cleaned and redressed his wounds with clean bandages. When she was done, the samurai pulled her into his arms and stroked her hair. She put her arms around him and rested her head on his shoulder, as tears slid down her cheeks. They stayed like that for a long while.
When he finally let her go, the woman gestured to the outside. He nodded. Holding on to his hand she lead him outside to the field behind her house where they had their picnic. After putting down the blanket she had picked up along the way, they lay on it looking at the sky and holding on to the other.
Isaaru wiped the tears from her face. He smiled. "Looks like I picked a good night to come back. Did you miss me?"
"Nekoyasha nodded. "I can't tell you how much I missed you. I was worried that you might not come back."
"And I missed you. So tell me Lady Nekoyasha, have you given any more thought to my question?"
"Yes, I have."
"And?"
Nekoyasha looked out over the horizon. The sun was about to come up. "Ask it again, please."
Isaaru sighed. "Will you be my mate?"
Nekoyasha could feel her heart hammering in her chest. He had now asked her in both her forms. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. When she opened them, she saw his chocolate brown eyes gazing into her own.
"You know, Isaaru, we haven't actually kissed yet," she commented.
He laughed. "You are going to base your answer on a kiss?"
"Not really. I mean if you don't want to kiss me, I comple—"
He interrupted her by pulling her closer to him and placing his lips to hers. Her arms tighten around him. They kissed as the sun rose over them.
When Isaaru broke the kiss and opened his eyes, he found himself staring into clear blue ones instead of gray ones. There was a little bit of fear there.
He stroked her red hair. "Nekoyasha, I love you no matter what form you are in. Be my wife."
She smiled. "Of course I will."
xxxxx
A/N: ::sigh:: My little bit of original character fluff. It was fun. Let's see, what all is new with me? Well, like I said last time, I am writing on more than this story. Another Inuyasha story that is not within this arch. I'm not sure when it will be posted as it just in a notebook (I can't believe I am writing it out by hand!)
Bjorn and I are talking again (This would be said boyfriend that broke up with me a little while back. He wants to be with me again. ::sigh:: ).
Feedback Comments:
Minuet-love: I, too, am glad that there is someone else here at MouseWorld that enjoys Inuyasha. Thank you for all of your comments. I will try to proofread better, but sometimes my mind sees words that aren't there.
Henrika: Yeah, I know it was… again one of those "connect the dots" chapters. I feel like I am having more of them in this story than in "The Healer." Oh well. And I am confused on what you mean by beta'd. Do I need one, or if I have one did they do something to the story? Main battle coming soon… I think. Thanks.
Ryguy: Yep more fanfics. Little odd to be writing more than one project at a time.
Animefreak: Thank you.
Animeinsomniac: Wow, a new fan! I guess "Choices" would be a little confusing if one does not read "The Healer" first. Thanks for reading the summary. In answer to your question… you want to recommend my story? On yours? ::jumps up and down excitedly:: Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes, Yes!!!!! Thank you.
That's all for now!