Chapter 20

A tearful goodbye

"Tomorrow,"

"I know," Inuyasha muttered, snuggling further into her mattress.

"I honestly can't see how you can be so passive about it," Kagome groaned, rubbing her face. "Leaving isn't going to be easy for me, you know,"

"I think the only problem with your pregnancy that I'm having is your mood swings."

"I'm being serious, Inuyasha!" Kagome growled, glaring. "Look, I'm just saying...what?"

"Do you smell that?" Inuyasha sniffed the air and, annoyed, Kagome sniffed the air as well. There was a pause for a moment before they both looked at each other, muttered "brownies!" and bounded for the door and down the stairs.

"Well," Mrs. Higurashi giggled as they both came into the kitchen, staring at the fresh pans of brownies in her hands and Jaenelle's. "I knew you two would be down here the second we got these out of the oven,"

"Brownies?"

"Yes,"

"What in the darkness is going on?" Daemon came around the corner a few minutes later and stared at the sight of the hanyou and his mate happily devouring a few brownies. "Hungry?"

"These are the best brownies I've ever had," Kagome moaned. "Of course, it could just be because I'm pregnant..."

Mrs. Higurashi grinned proudly. "I'm glad you think so. But I'm afraid I didn't make them this time,"

"You didn't?" Kagome looked up, curious and then grinned. "I always knew Sota would be a good cook when he got older!"

By then, Daemon had decided to give one a try and was thoroughly satisfied with it. Jaenelle smiled brightly, but he didn't take notice.

"Of course Sota's a good cook. But he didn't make these brownies either,"

"Of course not, but I wasn't about to say otherwise when Daemon had yet to finish his." Kagome chuckled. "These are fantastic, Jaenelle."

Daemon choked, blinking in surprise, and then turned to face his wife. "You made these?"

She nodded, smiling.

"Ah, sweetheart," He hugged her tightly. "Finally, we're learning,"

"Gee, thanks," She rolled her eyes and then joined the group at the kitchen table to enjoy her own brownie. "They weren't that hard to make," She insisted, though she was thoroughly proud of herself for them. So they were going to be heading back the next morning with high spirits and a big surprise for Mrs. Beale.

Kagome crept down the stairs quietly, stepping into the kitchen with bare feet, hissing at the cold that raced up her legs.

"You couldn't sleep?"

She gasped as that deep, cultured voice rolled over her and she met Daemon's gaze for a moment. "No, no, I couldn't." She moved for the refrigerator and pulled out the half empty carton of chocolate milk and the leftover brownies that had been made the day before. "We leave at noon tomorrow,"

"Today, actually," Daemon murmured as he glanced at the clock above the oven. Kagome grimaced as she sipped her chocolate milk and took a small bite of her brownie.

"I hate this entire situation,"

"We all do," Daemon said dryly as he sipped his brandy. "We'll figure out how to end this, Kagome. You know that,"

"I know...I know that they're waiting for the pup to be born," Kagome suddenly whispered. She saw him tense, thinking of anything to say that might reassure her otherwise when he knew damn well that that's what was keeping Hakuuyo and Naraku from attacking. "I've known from the start, Daemon. I can't use my Miko powers while I'm pregnant without risking a miscarriage and they know it. I'm sure they also know that I won't use them even if I'm in danger because I love this pup. I loved him before he was even thought about and I won't do anything to risk losing him," Kagome glared down at the table. "I just wish that April would get here faster so that the pup will be born and I can use my Miko powers to get rid of those two for good."

Daemon reached across the table and took her hand. "Darling, we all want that. But these last four months until then will give us time to plan."

"I know that," She sighed heavily, rubbing her face. "I just wish that my family didn't have to suffer this, too. Tomorrow isn't going to be a pleasant day...I just know it,"

"Today," Daemon corrected and heard her whimper.

"I don't want to leave, Daemon. At least...not without knowing for sure that I'm coming back,"

"You will," Daemon reassured, smiling softly. "You will come back here, Kagome. I promise you that much."

Kagome nodded as she finished her chocolate milk, smiling as she sat back and rubbed her rounding stomach. "He likes brownies,"

"Does he?" Daemon asked, amusement dancing in his gold eyes.

"Yeah," She took his hand and placed it on her stomach, giggling at the expression on his face.

"He's a feisty one," He chuckled as he felt the pup moving under his hand. Would his child do the same? He smiled warmly at the thought of having a child with Jaenelle in the future. Maybe when all of this is over...when it's all said and done I can start my own family with Jaenelle...

"He's going to be just like his father," Kagome giggled as the pup settled down again. Daemon withdrew his hand, still smiling warmly. "Oh I hope he looks just like Inuyasha, too."

"You two are up awfully early,"

"Morning, mama," Kagome smiled as her mother came into the kitchen, gathering the coffee pot and beans to start a fresh pot.

"Had an early craving, I see," She chuckled at the remaining brownie sitting in the napkin in front of Kagome.

"Just a bit," Kagome confirmed, breathing deeply for a moment as her mother turned on the radio to an oldies station, keeping it quiet enough that it wouldn't wake the rest of the house. When the coffee was finished and a mug had been handed to Daemon, Kagome noticed the beginnings of the sunrise through the kitchen window. She sighed sadly.

"When do you leave?" Her mother joined them at the table, smiling softly at her daughter.

"Noon,"

"Well, that's just long enough to spend with your family and enjoy a nice breakfast, maybe even a few hours playing video games with Sota. Why don't you all go to the movies before you leave?"

"I'd rather stay here," Kagome murmured as her mother squeezed her hands.

"Sweetheart, you'll be back here in six months," Her mother smiled sweetly. "And the second you get back we can start planning your wedding,"

Kagome's eyes lit up and her mood lifted. "My wedding to Inuyasha,"

"Yes, your wedding to Inuyasha,"

Kagome giggled, nodding.

"And you'll have my darling grandson with you!"

"Goodness, are you that sure that it's a boy?" Kagome laughed as she asked it. "What if it's a girl?"

"Then you'll bring me back a granddaughter, either way, I'll have a grandchild to cuddle when you get back!" Kagome smiled at her mother's mirth.

"Yeah, you're right,"

The rest of the family rose to investigate the wonderful smell of breakfast that started to drift up to them an hour later. Jaenelle, a woman no one wanted to approach until she'd had her first mug of coffee, was the first to join the trio in the kitchen, settling herself into a chair next to Daemon, a fresh mug of coffee cupped in her hands. Sota came next, followed by Grandpa Higurashi. Inuyasha was the last to join them, looking uneasy but well rested.

Once breakfast was served, they began to wake up more and their moods lightened greatly. Even grandpa joined in on the conversation about whether the pup would be a boy or a girl, and caused Kagome's eyes to glitter with tears. Her family was accepting her choice in who she was going to start a family with and they were happy for her.

"This is a good way to start a new year,"

Noon came too quickly for Kagome and she was in tears before she even reached the building that held the sacred well.

"Oh, now, Kagome," Her mother hugged her tightly, rubbing her daughter's back. "You'll be back soon enough. Don't get all emotional, your hormones are bad enough as it is,"

"I don't want to go,"

"I know, honey," Her mother smiled gently, kissing her forehead. "But you have to. Once this is all over, you can come home for a while. Besides, planning a wedding is going to take a little while, so now you have a very good excuse. Now, wipe those tears off your face and go save the world,"

Kagome laughed as she hugged her mother again. Sota came next and he clung to his older sister like a lifeline. "You promise to come back with my nephew soon?"

Laughing, she nodded, hugging him tightly.

"Hey, Inuyasha!" Sota glared pointedly at the hanyou. "You had better take care of my sister or I'm going to impale your head with a stick."

Inuyasha muttered his famous, "Feh! Whatever, kid!" And turned away again.

"This is for Shippo," Grandpa said as he pressed that familiar yellow backpack into her hands. "Well, for all of you, really. There's enough Ramen and junk food in there to hold you all for a few weeks,"

"Thanks, grandpa," She hugged him, grateful that he'd accepted everything about her.

"Be careful, Kagome,"

"I will,"

"Let's go," Inuyasha said as he opened the door and started down the stairs towards the well.

"It was nice to meet you," Mrs. Higurashi smiled at Daemon and Jaenelle who received hugs from the family as well. "Make sure you both come back again! Now, all of you, take care!"

"Mom..."

"Now, now, Kagome," She hugged her daughter again, smiling, tears shining in her eyes now, too. "Go on before you get your fiance's haori in a twist,"

With a gentle, loving shove from her mother, Kagome was able to walk down the stairs towards Inuyasha and the well. The door was closed behind them and he pulled her onto his back, allowing Daemon and Jaenelle to go first. The well let them all pass without any kind of delay this time and soon they were making a hasty trip towards the breach. Kagome clung to Inuyasha's back, her face buried in his shoulder, her tears soaking the hanyou's red Fire Rat haori. She missed them already.

Yeah, I know, this one was depressingly short compared to the last one and those that follow, but when I wrote this chapter I just wanted to get on to the next one and the action with it, you know? Sorry it took so long, I've been really preoccupied with work. Picked up more hours because our other cashier quit. fun for me... Reviews? Hearts to all!