author's note: we're almost at the end! or at the end here, as i'm unhappy with the following chapter. as of october 30th of 2018, it's being reworked. you can find the old version elsewhere for the time being however. but honestly, what was i thinking... that's just poor writing on my part. sorry folks!

edit 2: wtf I didn't update this, just editing. Wtf ffn, thatst just poor design.

warnings: none, unless you count angst

4:

to be forgiven

Alucard was becoming worried for his son.

He wasn't supposed to be gone for this long. With a deep frown he folded his letters still with a small hint of his love's perfume, and tucked them away within his coat. With a twist of his feet he closed to the door, grimacing at the sun still not fading its light yet. He hadn't any courage to spend time outside, in the light—the sunlight would only serve as painful reminders of the one who held his heart.

Gabriel was the only reason he kept on living—he was, although painful, his reminder to keep hope. His son was his and Kagome's impossible product of love. Being a hybrid between a vampire and a human he had little hope to have his own child, but Gabriel happened, born a dhampyr* just like his sire.

It was something about his love that made it possible for him to be a father. A fatherhood he thought to be an impossible dream. He hadn't thought he could love Kagome anymore than he did then, but it was indeed possible. His love for her borderline into obsessive.

She and their son were his entire life.

Until Kagome died in his arms, begging to put his wrath to peace.

He could only think of her.

Even now he still sees Kagome through their beloved son. It hurts to look at Gabriel's face, sometimes. Although he felt like he was a terrible father, he tried. He made sure Gabriel would be clothed, fed, and trained to defend himself.

There had been a time where Gabriel had been left to fret for himself with familiars his company, when Alucard had to put an end to Dracula's insanity daring not bringing his then-small son into the frays. With the Belmont and Speaker's assistance, he was able to put both of his parents' souls to rest—though perhaps temporary. It was hard to say with an immortal soul.

Afterward, he tried to be a father, alone and waiting for Kagome to return.

That was all he could do, being a father and wait.

Worries about his son's absences were a daily thing. But, this wasn't Gabriel's norms. With another grimace at the sun-lit grasses, Alucard hadn't taken a step outside the cabin, when Gabriel dashed from the greenery, with a massive predator on his back, "Son." There was a slight reprimand in his one word.

Gabriel disregarded his father's subtle displeasure, his blood-streaked face cheery, "Father!"

At this Alucard blinked—Gabriel looked happy for a change, being a subtle quiet scholar he was. And why had he shed his tears? He raised his chin when Gabriel grasped onto his garb and gave a light tug, "Father, Mother is waiting for you!"

Alucard's eyes were wide with his son's declaration. There was no reason to disbelieve Gabriel, and with a slight shaky breath, "Where?"

Hope hurts, biting his cold heart inside his body, but he thought it was a good kind of pain.

He was gone. He dashed through thesunlight, when Gabriel raised a finger into the direction he came from. Alucard missed Gabriel's wet laugh.

Tugging the hood closer to her eyes, Kagome settled under a great shade. The sun was starting to go down, much to her relief. She could think better, without the sunlight burning her sensitive porcelain skin.

She slid close her eyes against the rough bark of a tree and sighed. For a short while, Kagome did hate Adrian—or felt she did. She never entertained ideas of hurting him more than how she was hurting. It was an ugly feeling, one she'd rather not feel again toward someone who she loved the most.

It was hard sleeping feeling so cold. Her body was like a walking icicle, so numbed. She was used to sleeping to the sounds of her own breathing, her own heart beating in her veins—but now she could hear nothing of herself but could hear literally everything else within miles. Kagome hadn't mind Adrian's statue-like body but never imagined her body would one day like his.

She never wanted to be a vampire.

Adrian knew this, accepted this.

Or she thought he did.

He wasn't able to accept her mortality, at all.

Kagome decided not to think about her decade-long turmoils that followed her revival and thinned her lips. Her son deserved her willingness to face his father again. She knew how much he wanted her to make peace with Adrian's atrocious deeds.

He sacrificed countless women just for her—something she was so torn about. Was he really that desperate? It was a hard thought to hold, and she doubted she'd ever figure out how she felt. Making peace was the only thing she could possibly do, with her tender heart toward Adrian.

Something familiar was coming her way, and it was coming fast.

She backed away from the tree and braced herself, to face Adrian Tepes.

Her face turned monotonous when large hands grappled her waist, "My love." His warm tone she wanted to sigh at. Even after a decade Adrian still kept that warmth that would have her heart shiver in delight.

Which, her unbeating heart did.

She didn't fight the embrace but she didn't return the hug either. Kagome found herself being buried in his arms and heavy clothing. It was both comfortable and uncomfortable.

Kagome opened her eyes. Adrian didn't care for heavy clothes. With a push she turned to look at him, taking several steps back.

She recoiled in shock, "Dra—?" She shook her head, jerking herself away from Adrian's hold, "Good lord, Adrian…" For a brief moment, she thought Dracula must have dyed his hair blond and shaved his goatee off.

It was cute to see Adrian becoming self-conscious, tugging on his tall collar of his cloak. He tried to be subtle, but Kagome saw him just the same. "…I—" He winced.

"You looked rather…" Kagome frowned, interrupting his apology, "not Adrian."

Adrian flinched, although he fought himself not to crumble at the sound of his true name once more from his love's lips, "…I see." He fisted his hands to himself. His body sang its gratitude for feeling his wife's little body again.

Shaking her head Kagome kept her distance—there was still too much old pain lingering for them to bury for her to willingly take his affections again, but…he certainly looked like he needed something. "We have much to talk about." She didn't miss his grimace, but he nodded just the same.

"That we do." Adrian agreed, his tone weary.

Cocking her head at him she hummed. It'd be a start. She gestured toward herself, "Come here."

He wasn't sure of her intentions, half-expecting to suffer a slap (or a few), but he'd pay any penance to have her forgiveness. To have her at his side again, to be his better half.

"I'm not going to slap you." Kagome sighed, startling Adrian out from his brief hesitance. She shot him a plain glance, "No, I can't read your mind. That is not one of my new found talents." Her chuckle was a dry one, but honest.

Adrian closed the distance. He blinked at his love's rising arms and at her following words, "Here." Kagome looked expectant, "You looked like you hadn't had a hug in years."

He hadn't, all the weight he felt at his back seemed to have fallen off at her willingness. He pulled her tiny body into his hold and held onto her with every inch of his love he felt for her. Her scent. Her every crook and cranny of her body. Her hair he'd bury his nose in. He missed it all.

Unbothered by Kagome's feeble attempt to return his embrace he barely heard her sigh, feeling it through her body, "I am still upset, Adrian."

"I know. I know." Adrian shuddered. He had to mind his claws from tearing into her mantle, "I will kneel and grovel before your feet, begging for your forgiveness." He shifted to do such.

Kagome stopped him, a hand darting to his shoulder and shook her head, "No needs for that. You've been punished enough as is."

"Then what must I do to gain your love again? Your forgiveness?" Adrian clawed into his wrists, unwilling to separate himself from Kagome.

At that she laughed, with a sad tinge in her voice, "I've always loved you, Adrian. That never changed. As for forgiveness…" Kagome slumped, her blue eyes gazing into his gold, "that is in the progress, Adrian."

He hadn't realized he was streaking red from his eyes at what he heard from Kagome—she never stopped loving him. "I—I love you." It was all Adrian could think to say.

"I know. Let's talk." Kagome parted, with a small smile and cupped his face, smearing away his tears.

Dhampyr*—a hybrid borne between vampire and human, so literally a halfling, similar to hanyō. They could be classified as hanyō, but I couldn't say it would be accurate because vampires are of western mythologies while yōkai is a Japanese term and is actually a catch-all umbrella term for extraordinary beings split into four categories; kami/gods, folk heroes/transformed humans, demons/oni [actually always evil, iirc], and spirits [can be good, neutral, or evil].

In short, characters like Sesshoumaru would be best classified as a dog spirit, not a dog demon, because Sesshoumaru isn't an evil character—he's neutral, at best. Yōkai as a term got very muddled over the years when anime became more popular outside Japan and fanworks populated. Terms like that started to lose its intended meanings.

Well, that's your fun fact of the day! Do with this information as you like.

Another thing to add, dhampyr have multiple spellings; dhampir, dhampyre, and dhamphir. I just picked the current spelling because I liked the y.