Scene:3- A Mixed Blessing

(Several hours have passed since the previous scene, dinner is over, and the moon is high in the sky. Kagome is outside sitting on a low bridge behind the house, dangling her feet in the water, deep in thought. InuYasha is standing at the backdoor, arms folded, staring at her with an unreadable expression on his face. After a time, he approaches.)

I:…hi.

K: (stirs suddenly, as if from a dream. She smiles weakly.) –Oh. Hi! What's up?

I:…um, oh… nothin… um, well, actually, there is something… can I sit with you?

K: Of course! You don't need to ask.

I: Yeah, I really do. (several more minutes pass. Kagome continues to stare straight ahead, InuYasha fidgets uncomfortably)

K: InuYash-

I: -Kagome, please, just let me say something. I, I know I reacted badly… when you first told me, (Kagome huffs) ookay, okay, really badly, but please, just listen for a second- I came out here… because I wanted to say that I'm- that I AM- really, REALLY sorry. (Kagome looks up, surprised- InuYasha begins to rant loudly) No! no that's wrong, I am really, REALLY, really so very sorry I-I can't even tell you- I…you…I, if you can maybe think t' ever forgive me, ever, I-

K:(totally shaken to tears) …ahh Oh InuYasha!!

(Kagome throws herself into his chest and begins to sob. He embraces her tenderly.)

K: T-That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me! I'm so sorry too!! I've ruined both our lives! Can you ever forgive me??

I: Forgive you! There's nothing to forgive! (wipes her tears with his palm) Forgive me! I was the asshole. You're so brave, Kagome. You waited so long, you kept it inside you so long- you should've told me right away!

K: I thought you'd never speak to me again!

I: (teasingly) I almost didn't! (Kagome glares.) Kidding!! I'm only kidding!

K: I-I was soo scared!

I: Well, stop that, okay? You never have anything to fear from me, Kagome. (still trying half-heartedly to make a joke of everything) Besides, it's not like you came on to me or anything. I was irresponsible. It really is my fault. (Kagome's face flushes, but she has finally stopped sobbing. She suddenly looks very worn and tired.)

K:…so… what- does this mean then? What are you saying?

I: (he is smiling, but the moon is haloing him from behind, leaving his face disfigured by shadow) What I wanna say, Kagome, is that I'm ready. Only if you still want me to, obviously, but I am ready to be this kid's father. (the moonlight beams down on her and Kagome's face glows dramatically coinciding with the glow of her unbelievable happiness)

I: (drinking in her joy) …I wanna feed him and play with him and teach him to fight like his old man, I wanna do everything for him! Hell, I don't even know the kid, Kagome, but I've done some hard thinking these past few weeks and y'know what, I think I kinda already love him.

K: (explodes into a teary tidal wave. The happiness driving every logical thought from her head, she drives a long, passionate kiss on InuYasha, who welcomes it without complaint) INUYASHA! Y-you! Just look what you've done, now I'm CRYING AGAIN. …besides! It could be a HER! (InuYasha grins and kisses each of her eyes playfully.)

I: Yeah, yeah, okay, so I kinda already love her too, then.

K: I love you, InuYasha.

I: heh… Kagome, I can't even tell you how much that means to me. I care about you so much. There's no one on earth I'd rather have a child with than you. -Hey, speakin of which, if we're gonna do this right we can't just be raisin' a kid outta Sango's kitchen-what's say we get a place of our own?

K: Oh that'd be so wonderful! …But InuYasha, we don't have any money, where would we go?

I: heh! Easy, I'll build us a place!

K: (Thinking: since when can he build houses?) Build one! Where? How?

I: Well, why not right here? Next to the river? We'd be nearer the well and only a stone's throw from Sango and Miroku.

(Kagome kisses him in approval. He returns the gesture, then pulls her into him tightly, letting his cheek rest protectively on the crown of her head. Several yards away, Miroku and Sango are spying from their backdoor, Sango is crying softly. Shippo and his fox lady are side by side on the doorstep, she's asleep, but he's still up and groggily watching the action.)

S: I always knew, I always hoped- I just can't believe it's finally happened! Oh, Miroku!

SH: Ah, the two star-crossed lovers are together at last! Now that he's finally admitted that he loves her, maybe there'll finally be some peace in the house.

M:…Mm… yes. Maybe. (There's worry on his brow, however. Thinking: well, he didn't quite say that, the devil. He still won't say he loves her.It's been three goddam years since that… Well, he's gone and slept with Kagome, for chrissake. They're going to have a child; what could he possibly be so hesitant about?)

S: (looks over to Miroku, surprised by his response, then his thoughts dawn on her, and she looks nervously back out at the bridge. Thinking: Please…please don't hurt her anymore, InuYasha…)