Author's Note: Yes, I'm happy that I got this chapter up for Christmas. I wanted to give you all a present so this chapter would be it, and I'm even more happy because it's a good one. You'll see why. Anyways... MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha...
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Chapter 4: Don't Worry, Be Surprised
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The limo pulled up into the circular driveway, stopping right in front of the stairs entering the large house. No cars were present but the atmosphere was suffocating as if a crowd of people swarmed the limo, waiting for those inside to come out. Dai walked around quickly, knowing that Inuyasha was in a bad mood, but still didn't make it to the door. The back door swung open, bouncing back against the hinges of the door as if it would break. Inuyasha stepped out, his long silver hair a light contrast compared to his mood that showed on his face. Dai stepped back as Inuyasha turned and glared at him, as a few seconds passed as the hanyou just stared at him. Dai kept his eyes averted from Inuyasha, though he wasn't afraid of Inuyasha, he knew that Inuyasha wasn't in any good mood to be played with.
After a few seconds, Inuyasha growled, his eyes glaring at Dai. "You knew." Those two words made Dai take a step back, surrendering to the angry hanyou. Dai knew what Inuyasha was talking about and he did feel guilty and threatened by the hanyou's angry aura that was suffocating him. But he had his duties to his parents, and Inutaisho hadn't wanted Inuyasha to know. It was Kagome's request. Dai kept his head down as Inuyasha tampered his anger. After a few seconds, the door heading into the home was opened.
"Inuyasha! Leave Dai alone!" Izayoi called, seeing the way her son towered over Dai. Though they were both around the same towering height, she could see her son's body language and knew that he was threatening Dai. It was the Inu-demon's nature and the body language that Izayoi had years to notice and perfect. She knew the feel and actions of her mate and sons to know what to expect. Izayoi waited for a heartbeat and then Inuyasha turned towards her and stalked away from the limo. Her heart eased a bit as she realized that Dai would be okay. But as Inuyasha came closer to her, she could feel his anger spilling out from every pore of his body. But with that, as his mother, she could feel his hurt and confusion and knew that it ran deeper than his anger of not being told of Kagome's rebirth before. Inuyasha turned his angry, golden eyes towards her and she could practically feel his breath against her as he came right next to her.
"You didn't tell me…" That said Inuyasha strode past her into the house. Izayoi placed a hand above her heart, not afraid of her son but afraid that she hurt him. She knew that she did, this whole thing did with Kagome's rebirth. But she couldn't feel any regret for not telling him. It would have been better if no one knew, and at this very moment, with Inuyasha in so much turmoil, Izayoi knew that Kagome was right about her choice. 'It would have been better if no one found out about her…' Izayoi told herself secretly.
Dai reached into the limo and urged Kagome to come out of the car. She was at the other end, still staring out of the darkened windows at something that he couldn't see. But he could tell that she needed some time alone. Dai smiled encouragingly. "Kagome…" he called, seeing the way Kagome turned her head to him as if she just noticed that he was there.
Kagome smiled back, trying to make him feel better, and then scooted towards him. Her miko robes shuffled as he helped her out of the car. Dai took in Kagome's appearance, noticing the way she stood right next to him, staring up at Inutaisho's home. There was a sense of urgency in her eyes as she looked at the high building, but he wondered if it was her need to flee from this place or to get all of this over and done with. But before Dai could figure it out, Kagome turned towards him and nodded.
"Thank you, Dai," Kagome said, bringing her hand back to her side and walked towards Izayoi. The sound of the door closing and then the engine started was left behind her as she walked up towards the stairs. Her heart began to pound at what waited for her inside. Inuyasha didn't frighten her. She knew that he would never hurt her. Never. No matter what time has done to them, she still believed that Inuyasha would never hurt her in any way. But what she feared by walking into Izayoi's home is getting close to those that she had left behind. She feared having to tell them about being back and why she didn't tell them. She feared listening to how hurt they are about her not telling them about her rebirth when she had first come back. She feared that her old friends might want to become friends with her again. But what she feared most is falling for that hanyou boy within these doors and, therefore, severing the bond that Inuyasha and her sister had together.
The sound of two cars coming up the driveway made Kagome look back to see that there was a black car and a red car quickly making their way up the driveway. The two sports cars stopped right in front of the stairs before Kagome turned her back on them. She didn't want to see her friends yet. Not until she was forced to be in their presence. 'Yes… I'm forced into doing this…' she tried to remind herself as she smiled at Izayoi.
"I'm sorry that it had to be like this," Izayoi said, placing her hand on Kagome's shoulder as she gestured her into her home. "I saw the news this morning. Inutaisho and Sesshomaru stayed home. They knew that something like this was going to happen."
"Thanks, Aunt Izzy," Kagome said, taking the comfort that she gave her. It would be a big help to have all three of them on her side. Even adding an extra person like Dai would be a blessing, but Kagome couldn't do that to him. This was her problem and she had to solve it by herself. She had gotten herself into this mess and she would get out of it, making sure that she left no one in the dark this time. Everything would be straightened out and she would be sure to include everyone in about her life. Kagome took a deep breath as she and Izayoi entered the living room, descending to the couches and chairs that waited for the entering guests.
Kikyo was helped to the living room by Koga, who was then replaced by Inuyasha once they stepped foot into the living room. Kikyo smiled an awkward smile at Inuyasha and then turned her head towards her sister. Kagome moved to sit across of the group on one of the chairs made of fine, red material. The hems of the recliner were in gold, matching that of the whole living room set. Kagome watched as her sister was helped to a seating position by Inuyasha. His body posture was protective, bringing a frown to Kagome's face. 'He confuses me,' she thought, turning her eyes from the pair to stare at the ground. 'One minute he's all protective of me and the next he's protective of my sister.'
Koga and Ayame sat together on the other end of the couch with Kikyo and Inuyasha while Miroku and Sango sat on recliners next to each other. No one relaxed once they sat down on the comfortable pieces of furniture. Everyone was leaned closer to Kagome, as if drawn to her by her very presence within the room. Of course they all had a reason to have confusion written clearly on their faces, they all held a new emotion now that time had begun to sit within their minds. It looked like they all began to accept Kagome's presence and, dare she think it. Kagome thought she saw love and happiness in their eyes.
The sound of footsteps made everyone turn their attention to the two men now walking down the stairs. Dressed in black tuxedos, as if they hadn't changed after getting ready for work, Inutaisho and Sesshomaru both made their way down towards the living room area. Everyone began to get situated again in their seats as they waited for the two Inu-Taiyoukais to join them. Kagome remained poised in her seat, noticing how everyone began to relax a bit now that they had seen her twice this time. It wasn't a big shock to them this time, but there were still unanswered questions that she could see in their eyes. And Kagome was ready to address those questions.
Inutaisho went to sit next to his mate on the couch next to Kagome's chair and then Sesshomaru went to stand next to Kagome's chair, a little ways behind her. Inuyasha saw this, his eyes going to his brother's in a challenge.
"What are you doing, Sesshomaru?" There was a deadly tone in Inuyasha's voice, making him seem threatening.
Sesshomaru did not engage in Inuyasha's meaningless challenge. He simply looked towards his brother with no expression at all, feeling the way Inuyasha's demonic energy reached out towards him a little too close. "I do not need to explain myself to you, Inuyasha." Inuyasha growled, his eyes glaring at his elder brother. He went to stand and suddenly the air grew thick. Kagome kept her eyes averted the whole time.
"Enough!" Inutaisho said, raising his voice to prove his point. After a few moments, Inuyasha began to sit back down but not without turning his heated gaze to Inutaisho now.
"You guys knew about Kagome," Inuyasha accused, not having to make it a question since he could see that they were clearly on her side. His whole family stayed next to her as if to protect Kagome from them. As if they were protecting Kagome from him. 'Like Hell they are…' That alone brought on a new sense of possessiveness from Inuyasha, as if their actions were what was firing his anger and agitation. Inuyasha didn't know what the hell was wrong with him, but for some reason he just couldn't calm down. But he told himself that it was because Kagome was back and he hadn't known until now. "You knew and you didn't tell me."
"Of course we didn't," Sesshomaru said, staring at his little brother.
Inuyasha growled and glared at Sesshomaru. "Sesshomaru, you are not helping," Inutaisho said. He looked towards his eldest son and then back towards his youngest. "We did not tell you because it was Kagome's wish." Inutaisho watched as Inuyasha blinked, biting back his remark. There was even deeper confusion set on his face, but he was trying to hide the fact that he had no idea why all of this was happening.
"Kagome had wanted her rebirth kept a secret," Izayoi said, trying to comfort everyone's confusion. They all seemed to share the same look. Well, everyone except her youngest son. "She had come here to give us the gifts for our families in aiding her in the war three years ago. Then, she told us to not tell anyone about her… situation." Izayoi turned to view Kagome who continued to avert her gaze from anyone. She could understand why Kagome was so withdrawn from the subject. But Izayoi also knew that only Kagome could explain her actions and what has happened to her.
Sango took a deep breath, trying to steel her nerves. Her eyes looked ahead at Kagome, taking in the body of the girl she had longed to see for three years. Since the time Kagome had left, it felt like something was lost inside of her. Kagome was like a sister to her, a best friend, and when she had left, Sango had felt broken and in despair. She had lost her best friend, the one person she could confide in for anything and talk to for anything. But now that one person was back, sitting in front of her so silently and still. Sango had remained quiet the whole time. From the time she had first seen Kagome on TV to the first encounter they had at the shrine. All she had done was take in Kagome's appearance, telling her brain that what she saw was the dead truth. Kagome was alive. And that fact alone was making her brain work overtime. But it also brought out dead emotions that she had felt for the girl. Sango felt her eyes water as she kept staring at Kagome, unbelieving that she was actually in front of her. With a steady breath, Sango gazed at Kagome.
"Kagome… please. Tell us what happened." Sango watched as the others looked at Kagome, everyone now focused on the reason why they were here. They were all together again, the same as three years ago. It was Kagome who had kept them together then and it was her who brought them back together now. Sango watched as a few seconds passed before Kagome brought her head towards them and straightened out her back. She frowned, noticing the new way Kagome acted. It was as if someone had shaped her into this very well-bred and gracious woman in front of her. Sango wondered if those three years Kagome had been gone had actually done something to her mentally and emotionally. 'Just like all of us…'
Kagome watched as everyone waited for her to answer. She took in their faces again, still amazed at the fact that she was within their presence once again when she thought that she never would meet them again. With a steady sigh, Kagome faced Sango and once in a while looked at the others. "Like I said back in the shrine, my mother, Midoriko, had spoken to the Fates to allow me to be reborn. Truthfully, she had thought that I had suffered too much to get too little in return and wanted the Fates to address it. The Fates had seen the sacrifices I had made with little rewards in the end and had decided to allow me to come back to the world of the living." Kagome turned her eyes from Koga. He looked confused in that black shirt and jeans pants that he was in as he leaned his arms on his knees. But she could see it in his eyes that he was starting to believe that he wasn't going insane or anything. "I had arrived in the Naiku Shrine. There is a pond in the Garden of Naiku that is sacred to even the monks and priestesses that reside within the Naiku Shrine. No one is allowed to swim in the pond or let alone step foot within it. The water is the purest in all of Japan and it is used for spiritual purposes. I had been found floating from the pond's depths to the awaiting arms of my five Brothers. That night I had remained in the Naiku Shrine and was updated on the world as you know it today. My Brothers told me of the things that happened after the war and the next day I had come back to Tokyo to meet my family."
The group remained silent as Kagome talked. Their confusion began to disappear, now bringing up new emotions. They were happy, happy to see the girl that they had lost on the battlefield so quickly those three years ago. They were happy to be given another chance to live with this light, carefree young woman. She had brought them laughter and life in so many ways. But they were also feeling negative feelings towards her rebirth. They had all moved on. It had taken them a while for them to do it, but they did it. Now, they felt regret for moving on without her and being happy without her. But most of all it was Inuyasha and Kikyo who felt the regret more heavily. They avoided each other's eyes and touch as they watched Kagome.
Kikyo kept her eyes steady on her sister. 'My sister…' Kagome was back. Her sister was back. The other half of her, the one who she always went to and depended on for sanity was back. Her beautiful sister who had given her heart and soul on that bloody day three years ago. Her lovely sister who was covered in blood from head to foot had given her life for their lives. 'My sister…' Kikyo couldn't help but feel ashamed at herself, though a part of her wondered why she felt that way. There was a sense of her that told her that her sister would have wanted her to be happy, and that was exactly what she had done. But there was another part of her that told her that she had betrayed her sister in the worst possible way. Kikyo felt so confused with her conflicting emotions that she placed one hand on her belly. She didn't know if she did to hide the symbol of her and Inuyasha's relationship or to protect her child from her sister. Kikyo closed her eyes in pain and confusion.
"A few days later," Kagome continued. She reached out her aura to her sister, feeling Kikyo's distress as if it was eating at her. Immediately, Kikyo's head jerked up and her eyes were wide with shock as Kagome's touch did its job. "I came here to give my gifts for the families to Papa and Aunt Izzy." Kagome took a quick glance to Inutaisho after saying the casual name she had always called him before. He smiled at her encouragingly, making Kagome smile with more determination to get this out. "I had brought gifts for the families, gifts that were given to me from the people of Japan. It seemed that while I was gone, the people of Japan were worshipping me and giving me gifts. So, I had taken some of my gifts and giving it to you all."
Miroku nodded his head when no one made a move to acknowledge the fact that they had received her gifts. He looked towards Kagome, and with a small smile he spoke. "My grandfather had said that Inutaisho had wanted to give us his thanks in helping them with the war three years ago. He had said that Inutaisho wanted us to know how much he appreciated us helping to protect and fight with his family." Miroku watched as Kagome smiled and something within him stirred to life. 'Kagome…' Her smile brought back so many memories and emotions that Miroku felt his heart skip a beat. She was a blessing for all of them, and with her being back Miroku wouldn't have it any other way. If the others wouldn't accept her, he would. She was a very special person and he loved her for what she was. Though this was all sudden and unexpected, Kagome deserved so much more than this. She deserved so much more than their confusion and withdrawal.
Koga then nodded with Ayame doing the same at his side. "I remember. My father had brought the gifts home too. When I looked inside the bag, though, I was shocked. There was all gold in there. Everything was gold, from the bracelets to the cups. We were all shocked that the Takahashis had given us such great gifts." Koga talked to Kagome the whole time, only wanting to see her. She was so beautiful that it reminded him of the first time when he had seen Kagome Higurahsi in high school and had fallen for her right away. This was the same beautiful woman, but she was grown up now and it was noticeable in her features. Koga smiled at Kagome, seeing the way she was starting to relax at their voices of a 'casual' talk.
"But the gifts were from you, Kagome," Ayame said, her green eyes happy. She was starting to get used to the fact that Kagome was alive and she was starting to get comfortable within the girl's presence. She was so happy that Kagome was back. But on the other hand, she feared for Kagome because of Inuyasha and Kikyo.
Kagome nodded her head, feeling the tension in the air starting to calm down. She was glad that everyone was starting to get used to her presence and she, too, could calm down. It was a bit easier to talk to them now. "I wanted to give you all something for your sacrifices." Kagome turned to her sister, trying to ease Kikyo's tension and distress. Though her sister was starting to calm, Kikyo still looked at her with a troubled look. Kagome could only smile. Seeing her sister again made her smile and think about all the happy times they had together. To see her sister reminded her of the family that she had. "After that, I still wanted to keep my rebirth a secret. I went back to working at the Daycare Center. The Sensei took me back after I explained to him how I was alive again and he had understood my plea for secrecy. The children there had not known of my existence since they were still too young to know about the troubles and struggles that go on in this world. So it was easy to work there without being known." Kagome took a deep breath, giving herself a few moments to listen to the silence before speaking again. "But I wanted to get a real job where I could make money. So… I started working at Café 100."
A gasp flew out of Sango's and Kikyo's mouth before Sango spoke. "What?! You work there?" Sango watched as Kagome nodded, shaking her head in pure confusion. "But… how? I haven't seen you there before…" she thought, trying to remember if she had seen another girl behind the counter beside Ary that looked like Kagome. But no one came to mind. She and Miroku went there everyday, or so, but she had never seen Kagome there. Ever.
Kagome smiled to calm Sango down. "I started training on Tuesday. Yesterday was my first day."
Miroku smiled with a whistle. "Dang… we went in there yesterday and we didn't even see you." Miroku shook his head with a small chuckle as Sango nudge him on the side. He made a face, hurt at that hard nudge, and looked at Sango with a 'what'.
"Don't give me that look," Sango threatened, her glare on Miroku. "What's so funny about this?" she asked, her hands going in the air to address her emotions.
Miroku tried to calm Sango down. "I was just shocked as to how Kagome was able to remain unnoticed by us. That's all Sango," he said, hoping that she would calm down before she made a scene. Sango had taken the bait and backed down, turning her attention back to Kagome and forgetting about his idiocy.
Koga snickered. "Well… she was able to hide herself from us last night at the concert." Ayame nodded her agreement at his side as she watched Kagome with shocked eyes, thinking of how Kagome could have done that.
With a tentative smile, Kagome looked around at everyone. "Well… actually, I had gone with Aunt Izzy and Papa." Inuyasha turned his eyes to his parents, once again wishing that he could strangle them. They hadn't told him about Kagome coming back to life and they had also brought her to the concert last night without telling him. What was worse was that he had sung his songs. Inuyasha quickly looked away, staring at the ground as he remembered what happened last night. He had sung the number one hit song and had bragged about its popularity as well. He sung the song he had written for Kikyo. The song he had made because Kagome had left him and he had fallen in love with Kikyo and she was his life now. 'Kagome was there to hear all of that…' he thought with even more regret and sorrow. He only felt even worse by the fact that Kagome was back and now he was happy without her. But what was worse was that he was starting to feel a tug towards her as if he was being drawn to her again. Inuyasha tried to stare at the ground while listening but also trying to sort out his emotions.
"Aunt Izzy had wanted me to go and I figured that it would be a nice way to see how Mayonaka has progressed over the years," Kagome said as she looked at the three boys. Everyone was looking at each other with knowing eyes, understanding that Kagome had seen and heard more than she bargained for. But Inuyasha was the only one who had his eyes averted from everyone's gaze. Kagome looked away from him. "I sat on the opposite side of you guys. But I must say that I did have fun. The songs were beautiful and you boys did well last night," Kagome said with a smile. She looked at the boys and noticed that they saw her sincerity and happiness for their success. Hesitantly, the two boys smiled back in appreciation, though not knowing if they should be worried or happy that she had gone to the concert last night and liked their performance. The two boys turned towards Inuyasha and saw that the hanyou wasn't paying attention to them. His face was turned towards the ground and they knew that he was thinking the same thing that they were. The two boys turned their heads away from Inuyasha, feeling sorry for the hanyou who was now stuck in a hard situation.
Kagome smiled at everyone with a nod. "I want you guys to know that I intend to work and move out of the shrine. Hopefully in time I can get my own home and live the life that I had wanted to back then." At this, everyone's eyes glanced up at her with wide, knowing looks. Everyone's but Inuyasha's. Kagome smiled understandingly. "Or at least… live a long life with no restrictions or rules," she said, wanting to clarify what she meant. She hesitantly glanced over at Inuyasha and quickly looked away. She didn't want to meet his gaze in fear that she might see his hurt. She was feeling hurt herself for being so selfish as to live happily without him. But this is what she has chosen. A thought came to mind and a heavy sigh came out of her.
"But I don't know if that's possible now that the media knows of my existence." Kagome fidgeted with her fingers on her lap. "Now they'll want to stick a camera in my face every second."
Sango frowned, agreeing with Kagome for she knew what it was like to live like that. Even though all of them had their own homes now with their new, starting family, they all still experienced the wrath of the media. The media would sometimes sleep outside in their cars on the sides of the road just to catch the morning pictures of the members of Mayonaka. They would go far for that one shot that could get them thousands of dollars. Sango despised the media for being so cruel and unrelenting. Now, Kagome would be feeling that threat again.
"But isn't there, like, regulations or something on following holy beings," Ayame questioned, thinking that maybe Kagome wouldn't have to worry about the media. She would think that it would make sense for people, especially the media, to avoid pressuring the holy beings since they held great power. And they were revered by everyone.
"Not necessarily," Sesshomaru said. Everyone turned their gazes towards the Inu-Taiyoukai standing behind Kagome's chair. "The paparazzi don't have to follow a strict regulation other than the fact that they cannot harm the people they follow up on. Harassing those people, whether humans or not, is not a considered factor for the paparazzi." Sesshomaru knew that the paparazzi didn't really have any regulations when it came to obtaining more information and shots of famous people.
"But she's not just a regular celebrity," Koga said, understanding Ayame's point. "She's the High Priestess as well. The media should know the rules when it comes to addressing the High Priestess."
"Yeah, well that all was forgotten just a few hours ago," Sango reminded them with a snicker. The paparazzi had been relentless, even that lone reporter last night outside of Swan Lake. The paparazzi were soulless bastards who only thought about themselves and money.
"Yeah… well, I'm not expecting anything. This is what I have gotten myself into and I expect to find a way out of it without bringing you guys into this."
Sango shook her head and frowned. 'The same Kagome…' This woman wasn't any different. She still thought of others before herself and Sango realized that Kagome really hasn't changed at all.
After a few silent minutes, Kagome turned to her sister. Kikyo and Inuyasha had been quiet the whole time they had been discussing about her rebirth. She was dying to know what her sister thought about all this. But most of all, she was just dying to get her sister alone and hold her in her arms. She loved Kikyo dearly no matter what her sister would ever do to her, she would still love Kikyo. Her love for her sister can be proven through those hard years of when she had been alive once back in high school. Her heart had been broken once before because of her sister but she had still loved Kikyo. Kagome knew that her sister loved her back, but she also knew that they both had their own hearts in mind as well and were only trying to follow their hearts and the time. 'Kikyo…'
"Kikyo…" Kagome called, gaining the attention of the said girl. When Kikyo looked up at her sister, Kagome smiled. "Can I have a word with you outside?" The others watched as the two sisters conversed, watching the scene unfold with a small smile. Their world of what was before was coming back to them. This past hour or so had made them all comfortable with the fact that Kagome was back in their lives. Though there was much more to discuss and much more to talk about regarding what they had done while Kagome was away, they accepted the fact that she was back in their lives. They would just have to get over the guilt and regret of moving on without Kagome soon because she wouldn't want that of them.
Kikyo smiled after a few moments and nodded her head. "Sure." Kagome got up from her recliner and walked over to her sister. Inuyasha hadn't moved the whole time though it was obvious that he could hear everything that was being said. She didn't look at him as she went towards her sister and helped Kikyo up. The two of them then walked towards the hallway leading to the backyard outside in the fresh, open breeze.
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The backyard was the same that she remembered. Izayoi's favorite garden was still in the same area with its perfect beauty of roses and a water fountain. Kagome urged her sister to Izayoi's rose garden, the two walking through the entrance with vines twining their way through the holes that the white painted archway made. Little small pink flowers grew from the vines that twined their little patterns along the archway and down the sides of the entrance. Kagome marveled at its beauty while helping her sister walk towards the awaiting white stone benches near the three layered water fountain. As she passed by the many different colored rose bushes, Kagome felt a sense of peace come back to her. She drew on the power of the rose bushes, grasping on its beauty that it created all over the land. She drew on their power of creating peace and serenity; it was a comfort when she was stuck in a room with overpowering emotions. She had tried to comfort everyone and lessen their emotions so that they all wouldn't shout out or go crazy at once. But Inuyasha's emotions…
Kagome helped her sister sit down on the stone bench that circled around the water fountain. She looked at the water fountain that remained in the middle of the circle that the benches created. The three layered water fountain was loud in the silence that she and her sister made. The water fell in soft waves, reflecting one's reflection and enabling those to see through the mysterious water. Kagome smiled, her heart being filled with happiness at the peace that surrounded her. She was glad to be out here in the sunlight with the peace of the rose bushes around her. Her sister was at her side but she was quiet, sitting on the bench and marveling at the garden as she was.
The roses grew on the lush, green bushes like jewels reflecting off the sun in sparkling arrays of colors. Kagome found herself going to one rose bush, unable to stop her yearning for one scent of the roses. She loved roses. They were so tender and soft that it felt like one would be able to break the petals if one touched it. The scent that the roses emitted calmed her soul and made her find peace whenever or wherever she needed it. The roses held such power because they were so delicate. Kagome bent to her knees, her robes shuffling under her, and leaned forward to smell the red rose in front of her. She took a sniff and felt her eyelids close in total bliss. 'It just bloomed…' she knew because of the rich and new scent that it brought. Kagome moved back and looked at the rose. The petals were opened to reveal the bud that lay awaiting inside, protected by the delicate petals. Kagome smiled, her eyes shining with happiness.
"It's beautiful here…" Kikyo said, looking at her sister's back. She watched as Kagome nodded her head but kept her eyes on the rose she had just smelt. Kikyo found herself wanting to break the silence. She was alone with Kagome so she had the chance to ask Kagome what was on her mind, what was eating her heart. Kikyo knew that Kagome must be feeling hurt for seeing her and Inuyasha together, something that she could never hide because of the growing evidence in her body. But Kikyo felt guilty, in a way. Yes, a part of her felt guilty for being with Inuyasha. She loved him, but with Kagome back, she felt like she was betraying her sister. Kikyo glanced at Kagome's back with a pleading look, as if asking for her sister's forgiveness.
"Kagome… why did you come back?" Kikyo asked.
Kagome turned her head, glancing behind her to her sister. Kikyo had one hand on her belly while the other was on the bench next to her, supporting her weight. She could see her sister's dilemma in Kikyo's eyes, the dark depths swirling with guilt and turmoil. It was like a turbulent sea of chocolate in her sister's eyes and at that moment, at that very instant when Kagome saw her sister's strife, Kagome knew that she had made a wrong decision. "Because I wanted to." Kagome turned away from her sister, unable to bear the sight of Kikyo's burden. She felt terrible. She could see what she was doing to her sister because she had come back. For Inuyasha. 'I don't know what to do Kikyo… I'm sorry…' She frowned, pained.
"You came back for him, didn't you?" Kikyo didn't have to see her sister's expression to know that she had hit a spot. Kagome remained poised in her sitting position, not looking at her but at the rose in front of her. Kikyo bit her bottom lip and sighed. "You came back because you wanted to be with Inuyasha. You thought that you could live your days with him now without having your prophecy on your shoulders." Kikyo knew what her sister was thinking because she knew her sister. She knew the troubles that Kagome had to go through when she came back to live with her family at the shrine. Kagome had so many responsibilities then that it didn't seem like she had a chance to live her own life. But that was the whole reason why Kagome wanted to come back now that she didn't have her prophecy. It was because she wanted to live her own life.
"Kagome… we moved on." Kikyo turned her head from her sister. "He… moved on." The wind blew between the two as if to prevent Kikyo from speaking. Kikyo closed her eyes as she looked at the other rose bushes with their beautiful colors. She could only guess what Kagome was feeling. Her sister had come back for Inuyasha but he had moved on. Kikyo didn't know why, but she felt guilty for taking Inuyasha from her sister. 'But she left him. She left him with a broken heart and I mended it.' This she told herself to keep her sane and to keep her from breaking down. Yes, a part of her loved Inuyasha deeply. He treated her like his queen. Who wouldn't love a man like that?
Kagome got up to her feet, leaving the rose behind. She turned around to view her sister, her head turned from her as she gazed at another bush. With a frown on her face, Kagome walked to her sister's side. She couldn't blame Kikyo's emotions, for being so straightforward. But this is what she wanted to talk about with Kikyo, this was the weight that Kagome wanted to get off her shoulders.
"Kikyo, my sister." Kagome sat down next to Kikyo on the stone bench, feeling the solidness it provided for her emotions. But Kagome didn't look at her sister, afraid that she would lose her strength and courage to tell her sister this. She was going to give up Inuyasha. "I came back for Inuyasha." She could see Kikyo at the corner of her eye, still looking at the rose bushes, as she looked ahead at the entrance. The long walkway of stones with grass growing between the cracks made a beautiful scene, allowing her to concentrate on their beauty. "When my mother told me that I would be able to come back, I was so happy," she said with a smile, remembering how her happiness had flooded her, overwhelmed her. "I was so happy to come back because I wanted to live with Inuyasha. I was happy to be able to live with him again, but this time I could give him all that he wanted. I could give him me. And that was what I looked forward to as I awoken in the Naiku Shrine."
Kagome watched as her memories unfolded and showed her of the time when she and Inuyasha had walked into Izayoi's garden together. She averted her eyes from the images of the happy couple walking down the isle of roses. "My mother would always come back to the living world but she never told me what she saw. She never told me that my family and friends had moved on together."
"Well… what did you think Kagome?" Kikyo asked, turning her eyes towards her sister. Kagome looked away from her, keeping her eyes averted, but Kikyo needed to rant at her sister. She needed to get the guilt off her chest. It was suffocating. "Did you think that we were just going to live our lives in misery? That we were going to live our lives in sorrow because that's how you left us?"
Kagome frowned but never showed her emotions. Her sister was right, but it still hurt to hear it. "No. I just thought that you guys had moved on… except, not with each other. My beloved sister and my… and Inuyasha." Kagome took a deep breath, taking comfort in the cool air that entered her burning lungs. Her chest hurt, but she needed to talk about this. Kikyo was suffering just as much as she was and Kagome wouldn't let Kazuki or their unborn child suffer because of her. "When I saw you guys together at the park the first day I came back to Tokyo, I broke. Of course, Inuyasha was my life." Kagome smiled at the thought. "But I saw you two together with a child," Kikyo quickly looked away, "and another one coming and I knew that I stood no chance against that. You two were having a family and I would never do anything to stop that."
Kagome turned to her sister, grabbing her sister's free hand and placing both of hers around her sister's hand. Kikyo hesitantly looked back at Kagome. "But I saw something that pained me even more, Kikyo." She looked into her sister's soft, dark eyes and found hesitation. Kagome smiled, encouraging her sister's fears. "I saw happiness. I saw that he was happy with you and Kazuki. I saw that you were happy with him after… Onigumo." Kagome saw Kikyo's frown and noticed that she was going to look away but Kagome pulled on her sister's hand. "But I also saw something else, Kikyo. Something that you gave him, and I thank you for that." Kikyo waited, her face showing her confusion and pain.
"You gave Inuyasha a family, Kikyo." Kikyo's eyes widened at the realization and understanding. Kagome smiled with a nod. "You gave him everything that you are and you gave him a family. You gave him something to live for." Kikyo frowned and watched as Kagome released her hand with the smile still on her face as if she had gotten what she needed off her chest. But now Kikyo had more on her chest. She had more burdens. 'I… didn't give him a family, Kagome,' she thought while watching her sister. Kagome sighed. "I have no place here anymore. Inuyasha loves you, Kikyo," Kagome said with so much love and happiness that Kikyo had to look away this time, feeling her eyes sting. "I can see it when he looks at you. He used to give me those looks too, you know. But… I can't fight with destiny. Buddha only knows I have tried before and I didn't succeed."
"Now, I can only wish for a future. And I'm going to live the life that I have, Kikyo." She looked towards her sister, wanting Kikyo to understand that she wasn't mad or sad that Inuyasha was with her. She wanted her sister to still be happy with Inuyasha even though she was back. "I want you guys to stay together. I have no right to all of a sudden come back and ruin what you guys have worked so hard to mend over the last three years. It was my fault for leaving you guys like that and I won't make things worst."
Kagome smiled, happy that she got that off her chest and stood. But she felt Kikyo grasp her arm, stopping her from walking. Kagome looked down to see Kikyo's desperate expression. She could see conflict and hesitation in her sister's turbulent chocolate eyes. Kagome frowned with a pained expression and sat back down, giving her sister her full attention. "What's wrong, Kikyo?"
"Why do you do this?" Kikyo asked, turning her head to the side to avoid her sister's beautiful, innocent eyes. Kagome always thought about others but herself without even thinking about it. It just came natural for her.
"Do what?" Kagome asked, confused as to what Kikyo was talking about. She watched her sister curiously as Kikyo looked at her with a pained expression.
"Why do you pretend that everything's going to be okay?" Kikyo asked, gripping her sister's wrist a little more. "Why do you act like you're going to be okay?" she emphasized, wanting Kagome to know what she meant without asking. Kikyo wanted to know how and why Kagome does this. Why she always thinks about others before herself and why she never cares if she doesn't get what she wants. 'I know her too well to know that she'll think about me before herself.' And that alone gave Kikyo more guilt.
Kagome smiled tenderly down at her sister as she sat back down, grabbing her sister's hand with both of hers again. "Because you are my sister."
"And so are you!" Kikyo said, a little louder so Kagome could stop with beating around the bush.
With a sigh, Kagome shook her head and looked away. "I can't do this." She stood up and brought her hand to her side as Kikyo remained shocked on the bench. But Kikyo understood that her sister was going to avoid the conversation so she got up and followed Kagome.
"Do what?" Kikyo questioned, now getting angry at Kagome. "What can't you do, Kagome? You can do everything. You can do anything that you want, but you choose to hurt yourself."
"What do you want me to do, Kikyo?" Kagome turned around and practically yelled. She huffed, stunning Kikyo with that quick rebuke and just relaxed a bit but still feeling the fire of her sister's challenge. "What do you want me to do, Kikyo? Hurt you?" Kagome felt like she was being pulled into a trap but she knew that her sister just wanted some answers.
Kikyo made a face of exaggeration and then placed her hands on her hips, just as angry as her sister. "That'll be good. Something else for a change."
Kagome just glared at her sister and shook her head. "Well… I already did that, okay." She quickly turned her back on her sister and crossed her arms. "I already did hurt you. Twice, remember?" Kikyo was about to object when Kagome raised her hand with her index finger high in the air. "Once when Inuyasha and I fell in love and you guys broke up." She raised her middle finger. "And then again when I left you guys." Kagome shook her head and brought her hand back to cross over her chest. "I know that I hurt everyone when I just left you guys that day on the battlefield. I didn't have any last words to say to you guys or to thank you guys or… anything," Kagome said, feeling heavy again. She turned to look at the rose bushes near the fencing around the garden, drawing on their wonderful power again. She had to be strong, if not for herself, then for her sister. "I felt bad for leaving you guys like that but I couldn't do anything about it. And then, I knew that after Onigumo died," Kikyo flinched, bringing her arms to wrap around her chest, "you would need help to cope. But I wasn't there."
Kikyo looked down at the ground as painful memories came washing back to her mind, making her feel weak. 'Onigumo…' She had always told herself to never think of him or the memories she had with him. They always brought her to her knees and made her cry every time. For she still loved him, and missed him dearly. But she had moved on without him, just like Inuyasha. Kikyo looked up hesitantly, still seeing Kagome's back facing her.
Kagome wanted to give her sister some space. She could feel that she had hurt Kikyo when she brought up Onigumo's name and she wanted to give her sister a few moments to get control again. Kikyo had then spoken and Kagome turned around.
"I just…" Kikyo said, unwrapping her arms as her sister turned to look at her. "I just want you to be happy, too."
Kagome smiled and walked towards her sister, placing her hands on both arms of her sister. "And I will be. I am." Kagome nodded her head and she watched her sister hesitantly smile back. "I'm glad that you and Inuyasha have moved on. I never would have wanted you two to suffer for so long and I thank you for mending his heart. I owe you a lot, Kikyo." Kikyo was a bit reluctant to take that compliment. Though it was true, it was a bit weird since it came from her sister who still loves Inuyasha. She watched as Kagome moved back and linked her arm through her sister's. "Come on. Let's go back inside."
Kikyo smiled as she followed her sister down the pathway to the entrance of the garden. She wished that she had the strength to tell Kagome everything that she wanted to. To tell Kagome about her son. But… Kikyo turned to look at her sister. 'I can't.' She didn't know if she couldn't or if she didn't want to. But she decided to leave that up to Inuyasha. Kazuki was their child. And though she felt like his mother, her sister was his true mother and he deserved to know that. Especially her sister.
-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-
The living room was bustling with people talking but still remained in their seats. Questions were flying in every direction about Kagome's rebirth and the fact that she was back in their lives. Though Inutaisho, Izayoi and Sesshomaru tried to talk some sense into the others about Kagome's rebirth, they were still shocked and questioning their future with her. Kagome had seemed reluctant to reach out to them and she had said that she wouldn't have told them she had come back anyways. Sango got up from the recliner and started pacing on the floor above the living room. Her feet padded on the wooden floors as she looked at the tall window in front of her and then turned to view the wall with a picture frame of the mountains.
Sango knew that Kagome wouldn't have told them if she could help it because she didn't want them to know. 'She saw how happy we were without her and didn't want to ruin that happiness.' Sango frowned but kept her thoughts to herself. She knew Kagome, or at least she did before, but she still felt like she knew Kagome. The girl always thought about others, but Sango couldn't blame Kagome on this one. She had left them those three years ago, not thinking that she would be given a second chance to live again. Now that she is given that, she can't expect everyone to have stopped their lives for her and start where they left off. Sango shook her head, coming to a conclusion for Kagome but feeling sorry for her friend. At the corner of her eye she saw Inuyasha get up and walk over to the hallway leading to the backyard. 'They're back.'
Kagome and Kikyo walked into the living room, coming back with smiles on their faces. Sango smiled, happy to see that the sisters were getting back together and had their one on one time. She went back down to the living room area as Inuyasha brought Kikyo to his side to help her back to her seat. He spared Kagome a quick glance but looked away when she met his eyes. Kagome stayed behind the couple and went to her recliner on the opposite side of the others. Inuyasha helped Kikyo sit and she smiled up in thanks at him. He then sat down next to her and looked over at Kagome, questions in his mind as to what they had talked about. He could feel Kikyo's aura and she was happier and lighter than before so the two must have talked about some good things, which made him even more curious.
"So… where do we go from here, Kagome?" Inutaisho asked, looking over at Kagome. Sesshomaru remained in his spot the whole time like an unmoving statue. His hands were still crossed over his chest as he watched the gang, reading their expressions and actions.
Kagome smiled and looked at the group in front of her. "Well… that depends. Now that my rebirth is out, I can't hide from you guys."
Miroku smiled. "I guess I'll be seeing you at the Café then." Kagome nodded with a chuckle.
"It's really nice there actually," she confessed, watching as Miroku and Sango nodded. "But… I don't know. Where do you guys wanna go with this?" Kagome looked back and forth at everyone to see their facial reactions. She sighed and relaxed back into the recliner, placing her hands on the hands of the recliner. "I wanted to keep my rebirth a secret from you guys." Kagome smiled apologetically as she took in everyone's shocked and hurt expressions. She knew that she had hit a spot, but she needed to tell them how she felt. It felt good to let out some of her thoughts so that she didn't have such a huge burden on her shoulders. "I didn't want you guys to know because I saw how happy you guys are now. And I didn't want to bring any confusion into the mix of your lives with me being back in the picture." She glanced towards Inuyasha and met his eyes, quickly turning her eyes away to avoid him. He was reading her just like she was reading him. "But now… I guess it's unavoidable. I just hope that you guys don't have a problem with it."
"Are you kidding?" Sango asked, making a face as she crossed her arms and relaxed back into her recliner. Kagome looked towards her with a small smile at her sarcasm but she remained quiet. "Of course we don't have a problem. I'm just… besides all of this confusion and all… I'm so happy that you're back, Kagome," she said, her eyes becoming tender as she smiled tenderly at Kagome. The girl beamed back at her, and Sango thought that she saw something flicker in Kagome's eyes. She seemed happy that Sango was happy that she had said that and Kagome thanked her through her eyes. Sango nodded, understanding the silent words.
Miroku nodded his head, agreeing with Sango. "Really Kagome… I am happy that you're back." He shrugged as Kagome turned to give him her attention and everyone watched as well, agreeing with him. Well, everyone but Inuyasha who remained staring at the ground. "We're happy that you're back. I don't wanna sound sappy or anything," Kagome giggled, "but it was hard when you died. All of us had felt your loss but we had to move on. But now that you're back, it's like we can start over again."
"Which is good because it'll feel like old times again," Ayame said, her beautiful green eyes sparkling with happiness. "We can do all the things we did when we were in high school, and more," she said while wiggling her eyebrows. Ayame looked towards Koga next to her and smiled. "We can party in Koga's club and drink now that we're old enough." Kagome giggled while shaking her head at the possibilities she had now that she was old enough to do "bad" things. She smiled at her friends as they all joined in to give a little bit of something they could do together now.
Kagome took a deep breath and sighed heavily, feeling a huge weight lift off her shoulders. 'They're happy that I'm back.' It was nice to hear that from Sango because she was worried that they wouldn't be so happy for her to come back into their lives all of a sudden. But at least they all felt the same way about her rebirth and Kagome thanked Buddha that they accepted her back. Now she had her old friends back and she could go back to old times with them, and make more memories with so many things that she can do now with her life. Kagome hesitantly took a chance and looked over at Inuyasha as everyone continued to talk. Inuyasha kept his eyes on the ground while Kikyo, at his side, talked with the others about the ideas they had for a good time together. Kagome frowned. Inuyasha was thinking about something because he had that same concentration on his face that she remembers when he thinks deeply about something. She waited for a heartbeat, knowing that he would feel eyes on him, and then he looked up and she felt her heart still.
The beautiful golden eyes were rich and something that Kagome wanted to drown in. Like before. He brought back so many emotions by just a single glance, and Kagome found herself falling for him again. 'Well… it's not like I never gotten over him to begin with.' True, she always loved him and never stopped, not for a single second. But he was with her sister now and she had no right to feel this way for him again. He was not hers and he was not free for her to feel this way towards him. But Buddha strike her with lightning. 'Inuyasha…' She kept her eyes locked with his, never turning away from those golden orbs. Inuyasha remained with his elbows on his knees, staring at her as if trying to see right to her soul. But she could see a battle within those depths of his eyes. Kagome bit her bottom lip and Inuyasha's gaze went down to her mouth where they blazed with fire.
"Kagome." Snapping her view away from Inuyasha, she tried to calm her nerves as Ayame called her. Kagome blinked a few times, getting out of her dazed expression and tried to calm down.
"Yeah?"
"Let's go to the mall today. What do you say?" she asked, smiling at Kagome for the good time that they will be having.
Kagome smiled with a nod. "Sure." The girls giggled and began to plan on what to buy and how long they were going to take in each store. Kagome shook her head as she tried to figure out what she got herself into. She then remembered something and got up from her chair to walk over to Inutaisho. Kagome got to her knees as he leaned forward, realizing that she needed to tell him something. Kagome placed her hand next to him on the couch and lowered her voice, knowing that he could hear her, but so could the other Inu-demons.
"Can you make sure that the media doesn't bother my mother?"
Inutaisho smiled with a nod, already thinking about making a call to the media to leave Kagome alone. "Don't worry about it, Kagome." She smiled gratefully at him and got up, turning around to walk back towards Sango's chair. Kagome leaned her arms on the top of the chair and looked down at Sango.
"I need to go home first and change. I'm not going to the mall like this," she said making a disgusted face. Sango giggled and quickly got to her feet, clapping her hands so that everyone would get up and go with them to the mall.
Kikyo giggled and turned to Inuyasha as the others got up and began telling their plans of meeting at the mall. She smiled at Inuyasha, placing her hand on his arm, getting his attention as his eyes met hers. "You wanna go to the mall?" she asked, seeing the contemplation in his eyes.
Inuyasha smiled back and shook his head. "You go ahead with Miroku." Inuyasha helped Kikyo get up and looked ahead at Miroku and Sango who were already at the door with Kagome following them. "Hey, Miroku!" Miroku turned around to see Inuyasha letting Kikyo walk towards them as he remained in his spot. "Watch Kikyo."
Miroku rolled his eyes as he watched Inuyasha sit back down. "No problem." The hanyou's demanding choice of words always made Miroku roll his eyes and feel so exaggerated. The hanyou just knew how to irritate people in all the right places. But he had no problem with taking Kikyo in his car.
Kagome smiled as Kikyo came to her side and she let her sister walk ahead of her as she kept her eyes on Inuyasha for a second longer. Inuyasha had sat back down on the couch and she could see his lips moving. He must be talking to his parents about all of this since he had remained quiet the whole time she spoke to them. Kagome pressed her lips together and turned around to walk out of the door, not knowing what she was getting herself into.
-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-
Kira watched as people continued to enter the shrine grounds and head straight for Kagome's statue. They were eager to see her daughter and some even knocked on her door to ask where Kagome was. Kira shook her head as she washed the dishes. 'Those people are really insistent.' After Inuyasha had rushed Kagome out of the shrine, the reporters had left, following the two right on their heels. Kira was afraid that something would happen as she watched through the living room window but she saw her daughter on the ground in front of Kagome's statue. Kikyo had remained in her spot, looking lost and confused as she stared ahead into nothing. At that moment, Kira had felt torn to comfort both of her daughters for both different, but in the end same reasons. Kazuki was happily watching cartoons on the television as the group got up and began to follow the others down the shrine stairs. Her curiosity had beaten at her as to what had been said but she didn't have time to think before the paparazzi came back into the shrine grounds and began to knock on her door. Kira had let the paparazzi continue to shout out her name and knock on the door as she took Kazuki upstairs into her room, waiting for them to leave. After about five minutes, they had finally left and the loud knocking stopped. Kazuki had continued to ask her what was going on while she held him on her lap, but she wouldn't tell a young child about such hardships. Kazuki had looked so innocent on her lap, showing the youngster that he truly was. At that moment, while she held Kazuki in her arms and looked down at his frightened eyes, she saw her daughter. She saw how much Kazuki looked just like Kagome.
"Tadaima." Kira jumped out of her thoughts when she heard the door close. Her eyes flew to the doorway into the living room as her grandson ran to meet the person at the door.
"Uncle!" Kira smiled to herself as Kazuki and Souta began to talk about what Souta did in school and how his baseball practice was. She could hear Souta talking about his hits at the field when the two came into the kitchen. She took one last look outside, seeing the way the sunset glowed its magnificent orange against the shrine houses, throwing the ground to a luscious sea of orange. Kira turned around and dried her hands as she watched Souta walk towards the table with Kazuki on his shoulders.
"You should have seen it, Kazuki. I hit the ball so hard. It flew into the end zone!" Souta said, twirling around and hanging onto Kazuki's thighs as the boy screamed with a giggle.
"Really? I wanna see! I wanna see!" Kazuki said while patting his uncle's head. Souta arched his eyebrow while grabbing Kazuki and taking him off his shoulders.
"You will," Souta said as he placed Kazuki on a chair, the child's eyes shinning up at him with envy and wonder. "At my next game, you can tell your father to take you to my game. Then, you can see me do another homerun." Souta winked at Kazuki as he looked up to his mother. "Hi, mom."
Kira smiled, shaking her head as she turned around with a sigh. "Souta… you and your stories." She opened the refrigerator to take out Kazuki's favorite juice, cranberry juice, and closed the door. "You should take Kazuki to the locker rooms again."
Kazuki, sitting politely at the table, bounced his head up and down as his uncle turned to look at him. His eyes were wide with excitement. "Yeah. Locker rooms. That was fun!" he said, his palms spread wide on the table as he moved them back and forth over the smooth surface. His adrenaline was obvious as he bounced in his chair, but remained at the table.
Kira giggled at her grandson's antics. Kazuki loved to go to Souta's baseball games. He was always eager to watch the batters hit the ball and he always could see where the ball was in the bright sky. The boy was like his father in his demon abilities. Kazuki loved to watch his uncle bat all the time and would help his mother cheer for Souta when he was up for bat. Kazuki loved the excitement from the fans yelling and the sound of the loud speaker when the announcers would speak into the microphone. Kira watched as Souta sat next to Kazuki and the two began to talk about his baseball practice that happened today. She went over to the stove to make her family dinner, already prepared for the night just a few minutes ago. Kira made three plates and went back to the table to place them in front of the two boys. After they each thanked her, the three began to eat their dinner. Much sloppy noises could be heard between the two boys as Souta tried to eat faster than Kazuki. But the boy wouldn't back down and he kept trying to eat faster so that he could beat his uncle. Kira shook her head and scolded them for their bad manners. 'He's so much like his father… so competitive.' Well, Kira couldn't blame Kazuki. It was an Inu-demon's nature to be competitive.
After dinner, Kira sent Souta and Kazuki to the living room to watch TV while she cleaned the kitchen. She started with the dishes. Turning on the water, Kira began to wash as she thought about what was going on with the kids. Kagome had to have told everyone what happened and why she did everything the way she did, but she wondered how the others were taking the news. Especially Kikyo and Inuyasha. Kira shook her head as she turned off the water and began to put the extra food in Tupperware to save for Kagome when she gets home. She toweled off the dishes and placed them back in the cupboard and cleaned up the table. By the time Kira was finish, an hour had passed and she entered the living room to find a sleeping little boy.
Souta turned to smile at his mother while nudging his eyebrow to his nephew. "Fell asleep right after we started watching TV." Kira smiled tenderly as she walked behind the couch and gazed down at the sleeping boy. Kazuki was tucked under Souta's arm but his dazzling silver hair stood out with the cute little appendages on the top of his head. She smiled, Kazuki's face so innocent and calm. He reminded her so much of Kagome when he slept. Kira took a deep breath and sighed as Souta got up, bringing Kazuki with him. He carried Kazuki up the stairs and placed him on his mother's bed. The little boy stirred for a bit, getting used to the feel of the new bed, and then went right back into his dreams. Souta chuckled and shook his head, closing the door on the little boy.
"So… how did it go with Kagome?" Souta asked as he came back into the living room. His mother was already sitting on the couch so he went to sit next to her. The questions of whether or not the others accepted Kagome back was still eating at him. He wanted to know if his sister was okay.
"Well… the paparazzi was here." Souta's eyes widened and he glanced at his mother, shocked. "Yep." Kira nodded her head as she sighed and crossed her arms. "They came for your sister but she was in the middle of telling the others of what happened."
Souta snorted. "How did they take it?" Though it sounded like he could careless what they thought about her sister, he really wanted to know what the others thought of Kagome. Of course, Inuyasha and Kikyo must have brought Kazuki over since he was here and the two hasn't come back for him yet. Something bad must have happened if Kazuki was here and the parents weren't.
"I don't know. Kagome was in the middle of telling them when the paparazzi came and as she tried to come into the house, they had stopped her and began asking her questions."
"Bastards…" Souta whispered as he glared out the window.
"Souta," Kira reprimanded, looking at the back of his head as he looked out the window, though she couldn't blame him. "By the time I knew it, Inuyasha had gotten up and rushed Kagome down the stairs. The paparazzi followed them but I think they got away because of Dai." Kira sighed, again. "The others followed a few minutes later, your sister included. I kept Kazuki because Kagome didn't want him around while she told the others about her rebirth. So… they've been gone ever since." Kira looked up towards the clock to see that it was already eight o'clock. Outside was already dark, the stars probably lighting up the sky beyond the wooden roof of her home. But the fact that it was dark only worried Kira even more. Inuyasha and Kikyo were protective of Kazuki, loving the little boy so much. And with Kagome being included in the picture, she could only guess what was going on.
Souta sighed and got up, making Kira watch him as he walked towards the stairs. "Well… I'm going to go take a shower." Kira just smiled and nodded as she watched her son go up the stairs. She sighed once she was alone in the living room, the sound of shotguns going off from the television as musical instruments played along with the cartoon characters. Kira smiled and reached for the remote, changing the channel to the news.
An hour later, the shoji opened, making Kira jump at the sudden noise.
"Tadaima!" Kira gasped and got up from the couch so quickly that she was in the foyer before Kagome closed the door.
"Mama. What's wrong?" Kagome asked, her eyes worried as she took in her mother's appearance, wondering why she acted so urgent.
But Kira never spoke. She just looked over Kagome, taking in the change of appearance. Kagome wasn't wearing her miko robes anymore but a light blue shirt and a white skirt. 'Where did she get that from?' But not only that, but Kagome had shopping bags in her hands, obviously going to the mall. 'What happened after she left?' she wondered, now confused as to Kagome's appearance.
"Mama?" Kagome asked, reaching out to touch her mother's hand. Kira turned her eyes to meet her own. "Are you okay?"
Kira smiled and shook her head. "Kagome… what are you wearing?"
Kagome looked down at herself and then smiled, moving the packages around as she rolled her eyes. "Long story." She went into the kitchen, making her mother follow her, and dropped the bags down on the kitchen table. She could smell the dinner they had but she wasn't hungry after eating pizza from the food court. Kagome turned to see her mother moving to sit in one of the chairs and Kagome then sat in the head chair, closest to her mother.
"I told everyone about my rebirth." Kagome smiled with a nod and Kira knew the look that she gave her. "They're okay with it. Everyone said they were happy that I was back and that we can start over again." Kagome could hear the excitement in her own voice, but it was obvious that it was rubbing off on her mother because Kira smiled as wide as did. "I talked to Kikyo…"
Kira hesitated, wondering what happened. "And?"
Kagome shrugged with a smile. She looked towards her bags and began to run her fingers along one. "We talked about everything, about her with Inuyasha and the fact that they have a child together. And I told her that I'm okay with it and I'm not here to ruin their relationship." Kagome smiled as she turned back to her mother. "Then, we went to the mall. Well… everyone except Inuyasha." Her mind then went back to the hanyou as his image came up in her head of how he looked sitting on the couch.
"How did he take it?" Kira asked, curious as to how Inuyasha would have taken the news. But Kagome shrugged with a frown, her eyes clouding with wonder.
"I don't know. He never talked. The others were talking and telling me how they felt but him. You know Inuyasha," she said with a smile to her mother. "He doesn't express his emotions that well." Kira made a small smile and nodded her head, surprised that Kagome still remembered that. 'Of course she does. She still loves him.'
"Well… I need to go take a bath. I asked Sango if I could use her clothes since I wasn't about to go to the mall with my miko robes on." Kagome got up from the table and grabbed all of her bags. Kira began to rise too and she pushed in her chair as she watched her daughter.
"What about the paparazzi?"
"Papa said he would take care of them. And when we went to the mall, there wasn't that many people that bothered us. Only a few came up to us and asked who I was, but other than that, we had a lot of stares and whispers as we walked by…" Kagome chuckled as she walked towards the living room with her mother right behind her. She had bought a few of the things in the bags. Well, one thing. Her sister had told her that she would pay for her and so did Sango. And though she was against and mad at everyone for paying for her, she was outnumbered and had no choice but to let them go. Kagome walked towards the stairs and placed a hand on the handlebar leading up the stairs.
"Oh… Kazuki's sleeping in my bedroom and your brother is in the hallway bathroom." Kagome nodded as she began to walk up the stairs. She tiptoed up the stairs so she wouldn't disturb the little boy and then got to her room. Opening the door, Kagome went inside after taking a glance at the bathroom that her brother was singing in. Kagome shook her head with a giggle. 'Oh… Souta.' She closed her door behind her and placed her bags down by her computer desk. Kagome turned around and gasped, her eyes wide in shock as she looked at her bed.
A small lump was on her bed and under her sapphire comforter was Kazuki. His head popped out of the blue and his silver hair graced her pillows with light. Kagome chuckled and placed her hands on her hips, wondering how he got in her room. She shook her head as she realized that she really didn't care, but looked over at the young child. He was adorable sleeping on her bed. His face was soft and calm, his lips in a pout as he dreamed. His long eyelashes graced his soft cheeks and everything about him screamed innocence. Kazuki was indeed a beautiful child and she was happy for Inuyasha and Kikyo. 'Kazuki…'
Kagome went over to her dressers to get her clothes so she could change in her bathroom. As she rummaged through her drawers, she got her pajamas and closed the drawers. The sound of the wood hitting against each other made Kazuki stir and Kagome stopped all movement, afraid that she ruined his dream.
Kazuki stretched and moaned as he moved around to lie facing the window. Kagome watched, her eyes wide as if she's been caught, as Kazuki took a deep breath and sighed with a smile on his face. "Okaa…" he said as he snuggled deeper into Kagome's bed.
As Kazuki went back to sleep, Kagome watched him, perplexed by the sudden name. 'Okaa?' she wondered, confused as to why Kazuki had said that now. She straightened out and brought her clothes into her arms as she walked around her bed to view the child sleeping on his side. Kazuki was still lost in his dreams but a smile played on his face. She tilted her head, wondering what could have caused him to call Kikyo. He had taken a deep breath, and as she tried to process everything, she knew that he would have the same senses as his father. Which meant that he took a deep breath and her scent had to have gone into his lungs. He was on her bed and in her room so her scent was all over the place. But why did he say her name? Kagome didn't get it. She thought about it for a few more minutes and decided to let it slip out of her mind. Kazuki was deep in his dreams and he must have been having a good dream because of the smile on his face. Kagome smiled and turned around, going into the bathroom to take a much needed bath after a long day.
-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-
There was a knock at the door, startling Kira from her perch on the couch. She got up and fixed her skirt, taking a look at the clock on the wall. 'Eight thirty…' she thought, wondering why Inuyasha and Kikyo had taken so long to get Kazuki. She quickly got to the front door and opened the shoji to smile in greeting up at the hanyou outside of her doorway, his silver hair gleaming in the light of the full moon.
"Inuyasha…" Kira said, surprise in her voice. "It's so late," she commented, tilting her head to the side.
Inuyasha seemed apologetic as he scratched the back of his head, looking a little sheepish. "Uh… yeah. Sorry for leaving Kazuki with you for so long."
Kira waved her hand in the air. "Nonsense," she said as she made a face and turned to allow Inuyasha entry. "It's so good to be with my grandson after not seeing him for a week or so." Kira watched as Inuyasha nodded his head, his eyes darting in front of him to the stairs. She watched as the ears on his head tweaked once, then settled back against his head in content, as if they had found what they wanted.
"He's sleeping."
Kira smiled and nodded her head. "Right after he ate," she said, closing the shoji as Inuyasha took off his shoes, "he fell asleep against Souta on the couch watching TV." She walked towards the living room slowly, clasping her hands together in front of her. "I was going to call you guys but I didn't want to interrupt anything."
Inuyasha stopped when Kira did and leaned on one leg. "No, it's my fault. I should have called to check up on Kazuki. How was he?" He looked up towards the stairs, his nose scenting Kagome's scent. It was all around the house now, her intoxicating scent that brought back so many memories. Inuyasha was trying his best not to seem affected by it, afraid that Kira would find out that something was wrong, but he was suffocating in this house. Inuyasha blinked and concentrated on Kira as he waited out the feeling.
"He was good," Kira said with a smile. "He still didn't take a bath, but he was in the house the whole day so he shouldn't be filthy. Is Kikyo waiting in the car?" she asked, watching Inuyasha who remained stiff as a board. 'Is something wrong?' she wondered.
Inuyasha shook his head. "No. She's at home. She went with Sango guys to the mall. That took it out of her so she's at home resting. She didn't have the strength to come by and she wanted me to tell you that she's sorry for not coming."
Kira shook her head with a smile. "No need. I'm glad she's finally resting. You know her… always trying to do something." Inuyasha smiled, though there was no feeling in it. His mind thought back to what that phrased reminded him of. 'Kagome.' She, too, could never rest while she was pregnant. She was always doing something or finding something to do, even training with them when she was pregnant. Inuyasha pressed his lips together. Kagome's scent was bringing back too many memories. This house now had her touch all over it, reminding him of her. Everything about Kagome.
"I'm going to go get Kazuki," Inuyasha said before hurrying up the stairs. Kira walked towards the bottom of the stairs, watching Inuyasha rush upstairs to head to her bedroom. She frowned after his figure, wondering if he could scent Kagome and the fact that she was here. 'I wonder how they're going to act when they see each other.' Kira took one last glance upstairs and turned to wait on the couch for the two kids to come back downstairs.
Inuyasha sighed as he reached Kira's door. The scent of Kagome was stronger now that he was upstairs. When he had passed her room, he swore Kagome's scent was strong, as if she had been here just recently. His mind was playing games with him now that she was back. Everything about Kagome was bringing memories back to him and they hurt right now. Inuyasha couldn't help but clear his mind as he opened the door. He didn't want to remember about Kagome right now, though the smell of roses brought back everything about her.
Walking forward, Inuyasha didn't see Kazuki on Kira's bed. He stopped halfway to the bed and his eyes widened as he realized where Kazuki was. He growled, angry at the fact that Kazuki had gone back into that room when he was told many times to not do so. But that was another reason why Kazuki wasn't allowed to sleep over. Inuyasha fisted his hands by his side, bending his head to the ground. He suddenly felt weak to take another step. He knew that he would break down once he got in there, but he had to get Kazuki. 'Just walk in, grab him and leave.' Inuyasha nodded his head and turned around to head back into the hallway.
Steeling his nerves, Inuyasha opened the door and was suddenly hit with Kagome's scent. His heart beat faster and his head was spinning by the strong scent, making him feel so many emotions that he had forgotten. Inuyasha kept his hand on the knob as he opened the door wider. Kazuki was on Kagome's bed, tucked comfortably under the sapphire comforter. Inuyasha took a deep breath, trying his best not to get affected by the scent he inhaled, and walked towards the bed. He bent down and took the blanket off of Kazuki, earning a small moan from the boy. Inuyasha tucked his arms under Kazuki as the boy stirred and he lifted his son onto his shoulder. Kazuki snuggled into his father's embrace as Inuyasha turned around and headed for the door. He recognized that the pictures that Kagome once had along her dressers were all gone. 'What happened to them?'
Suddenly, the bathroom door opened and Kagome walked out in just a blue spaghetti strap top and matching blue underwear. Inuyasha's eyes widened, but his mind was frozen on the picture that stood in front of him. Kagome's creamy skin was exposed to him and he began to feel a stir in his pants. But Inuyasha forgot about everything else but Kagome in front of him, the sight of her in just a shirt, with her belly button showing, and her underwear. The sight was perfect and Inuyasha knew that it would be forever embedded in his memory. Kagome was beautiful standing with the light of the bathroom shinning in behind her and her hair up in a white towel.
Kagome hummed as she looked down at her shadow. She smiled and then looked up to check that Kazuki was still asleep, but then froze in her spot. Kagome stared, shocked, at Inuyasha who stood right next to her bed with Kazuki in his arms. It was as if time had stopped and she was staring at Inuyasha flabbergasted. With the moonlight spilling in from her window, his hair was illuminated in the darkness of her bedroom. 'My bedroom!' Kagome blinked and suddenly her mind began functioning and she began to realize what she was wearing and that she was staring at Inuyasha who was staring at her. 'Oh my God!'
"Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed, making the hanyou move back at the sudden noise after the quietness of gazes. He quickly looked away and Kagome rushed back inside the bathroom, slamming the door. Kagome began to pant, not really understanding what had just happened. She turned around and looked in the mirror, seeing that she really was still in just a shirt and her underwear and Inuyasha had seen her. A blush fell across her cheeks in the mirror. 'Oh my God…' she thought, feeling her heart beat accelerate at the thought of Inuyasha just staring at her a few minutes ago. Slowly, Kagome moved to the bathroom counter while trying to think about what had just happened in just a few seconds.
Inuyasha looked back towards the slammed door and suddenly there was a knock on the bedroom door. He blinked and looked towards the door as Kira walked in.
"Inuyasha. What happened?" Kira asked, her eyes wide with worry after she had heard Kagome scream. Though she had a feeling why Kagome had screamed, she thought that maybe they both would need some help on counseling after just meeting each other, again.
Inuyasha shook his head, his eyes still dazed. Kira waited for him to say something but he couldn't. Kazuki began to stir in his arms, making him realize that he needed to leave this room. Kagome was still shut in the bathroom, but now he couldn't get the image of her half naked out of his mind. Inuyasha growled, walking towards the door as Kazuki moved.
"Otou?" Kazuki said, wondering what was going on. He rubbed his eyes while hanging onto his father, looking at his grandmother in front of him.
Kira moved to the side as Inuyasha came to leave the room. "Inuyasha… are you okay?" she asked, seeing the dazed look of the hanyou. Inuyasha seemed confused, but most importantly, he looked like he was thinking about something else.
"Mama?" Kagome asked, peeking through the small crack of the opened bathroom door. Kira looked towards her daughter and then looked back at Inuyasha, figuring out what had happened. Kagome's head was the only thing showing as she tried to hide the rest of her body. 'Oh no…' she thought with a secret smile of her own. She found this situation funny through the emotional confusion the two were feeling.
Inuyasha didn't turn around to look at Kagome, afraid that he would never be able to take his eyes off of her again. But Kazuki had looked over his father's shoulder and smiled.
"Miko." Kazuki pointed towards Kagome with a huge smile on his face. He took a deep breath and took in the woman's scent. He wanted to smell her again, to know what her scent smelt like again. Kazuki watched as the woman smiled at him, her eyes going soft. But she remained with only her head sticking out through the doorway.
Inuyasha held in his growl. 'Kazuki…' He heard his son take in a breath. Kazuki had scented Kagome's scent and there was no doubt that he knew Kagome's scent now. Something triggered in him that would recognize Kagome's scent anywhere, which was bad. Inuyasha turned his head, not looking at Kagome but enough so that she could hear him. "I need to talk to you outside." That said, he left the uncomfortable circumstance that he had found himself in for the past three minutes. Inuyasha walked down the hallway and headed for the stairs, all the while thinking about Kagome standing there with the light of the bathroom making her skin glow. 'Shit…' He needed to get out of here fast.
"Otou?" Kazuki asked, grabbing onto his father's hair to call his attention. "Miko? Who is she?"
Inuyasha took the first step down the stairs and glanced at his son. One thing about demon children is that they grew faster than human children, meaning they developed everything faster. Especially the brain. Inuyasha sighed and continued walking. "Did you see her before?"
Kazuki nodded his head and looked down the stairs where his father was walking. "Yeah. I saw her was when we came to see Obaa." Inuyasha scrunched up his eyebrows, thinking back to that time. He remembered scenting Kagome, but he had thought that it was his mind playing games on him. Even when he had told Koga and Miroku they had thought the same thing. 'But not anymore…' He was right then. Kagome had been alive and back, and she had been in the shrine when he and Kikyo had come to visit. Now, he worried about other times that Kagome was here without him knowing. 'How long did she keep herself a secret while I was here?' he wondered, hurt that Kagome didn't tell him before.
"I was sleeping on the statue. And I saw her. She wanted me to come down. But she smelt so good. Why does she smell familiar Otou?" Kazuki asked, now looking at his father. Inuyasha turned to look at his son as he got to the bottom of the stairs.
"I don't know." Inuyasha grabbed Kazuki and put him on the ground. He turned to see Souta get up from the couch and look at him with a confused look. "Can you watch Kazuki for me?" Souta nodded without asking any questions and opened his arms for Kazuki to enter. The little boy looked up at his father, though Inuyasha didn't look down at him but kept looking at Souta. Kazuki frowned and kept his head down as he walked to his uncle, entering the man's arms. Inuyasha nodded his head and walked towards the shoji, putting on his shoes to head outside. He had to talk to Kagome. He needed to get some things off his chest, and hopefully get that image of her out of his mind.
-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-'-
Inuyasha waited outside by Kagome's statue. He began to think about the past when they were together. His mind wandered through the memories that he kept locked away. Ever since Kikyo had come into his life, he felt like he was betraying her if he remembered Kagome. Everything about Kagome was forgotten, even her beautiful eyes that he had fallen in love with so easily. Inuyasha sighed and began pacing, digging his thumbs into his jeans pockets.
The past was the past. He had to forget about what they had. 'Easier said than done, Inuyasha.' Kagome's scent was fresh, wrapping around him like a forbidden fruit that he could never pick. It was frustrating to know it, but pleasing to be around it. Inuyasha didn't know what he wanted anymore. He thought that Kikyo was everything that he wanted, and Kazuki would always be a memory of what he had. But he had moved on, with Kikyo, and they were going to start a family now. Kikyo was holding his child and he couldn't leave her. Even if he thought about it. She was holding his child and it wasn't in his nature to leave one of his pups behind. But the thought of Kagome being back was always in the back of his mind, eating him alive.
His ears twitched and moved towards the sound that was made against the cement. Kagome was here, but she wasn't wearing any shoes. Inuyasha's nose tweaked as her scent floated to him, or rather, he was seeking it out. He didn't know anymore because it was all over the shrine grounds and he found himself being suffocated by it.
Kagome walked around the corner and spotted Inuyasha near her statue. She had a feeling he would be there but hoped that he wouldn't. Her statue brought back memories of the past, of when she had died and the families had grieved. She looked ahead to see that Inuyasha was now looking at her. At least this time she put on a white jacket and white, sleeping pants that hugged her curves and kept her warm. After that incident, she felt a little insecure and didn't want to attract anymore attention to herself. Kagome grabbed both ends of the jacket and tugged it so that she could hide the blue spaghetti strap underneath.
Inuyasha turned away from her and smirked. 'She's hiding herself from me.' For some unknown reason, that thought brought on a sense of possessiveness from deep within him. He wanted to claim her, to show her that she belonged to him, to let her know that she should never hide herself from him. 'Woah. Where the hell did that come from?' Inuyasha looked at the ground as he concentrated on keeping it together. He couldn't lose himself with Kagome. That was for sure. For one thing, he was with Kikyo and not Kagome. Another thing was that Kazuki was in the house and might come out to see them. 'Kazuki…'
"Kagome…" Inuyasha said, once Kagome got to his side but remained quiet. He looked at her standing next to him and began to have a déjà vu when she used to always stand by his side. He shook his head and watched as Kagome looked at him with an expectant look. "I need to tell you something."
Kagome smiled and then crossed her hands over her chest. "Really? Because for some reason I have the impression that you don't even want to talk to me." Kagome nearly glared at him, bringing back that deep desire he would get when she got mad. She always had a fire in her that he could never distinguish, and he loved that so much about her.
Inuyasha sighed with himself. "No. It's not that." He looked up to see that Kagome was giving him a disbelieving look. Inuyasha nearly glared at her now. "I just… don't know what to tell you."
Kagome snorted and looked towards her statue. "How about… Hi, Kagome. Long time no see. Or maybe… Hey Kagome I thought that you were dead," she said, sarcasm leaking from her voice. She then went to look back at him to see that his ears were flattened on his head. "Anything Inuyasha to let me know that you're still alive."
"What makes you think that I'm not?" Inuyasha challenged. He began to feel threatened by Kagome's remarks. 'Not alive?' He had lived through the past three years without her and had overcome his desire to join her in the afterlife. He had lived. And she had not. So what gave her the right to tell him that he's not living? "You don't anything, Kagome."
"Exactly!" Kagome nearly shouted, throwing her hands in the air. She huffed. "You're so difficult. You come here and pretend that everything's going to be okay?"
"No. I came here for my son."
"Well go get him," she said, pointing to the house. Kagome was furious, her eyes burning as she glared at him, wishing that he would just leave her sight. When Inuyasha didn't even budge but remained glaring at her, Kagome sighed heavily and brought her hand back to the front of her. She clasped her hands in front of her abdomen and walked a little closer to her statue. Her head remained down in weariness as she began to read the inscriptions that she had wanted carved on her statue.
Inuyasha watched Kagome, glaring at her back as if she was still looking at him. He noticed her slumped shoulders and knew that something was bothering her because her anger was suddenly gone. That was how fast Kagome could change her emotions, or hide them. Inuyasha ran a hand through his hair. 'I can't talk to her if I'm mad…' he reminded himself.
"You forgot about me." Inuyasha looked up as he heard Kagome's voice. Though she had whispered it, he could hear it as loudly as if she had yelled it in his ears. He watched her back, his eyes confused as she remained looking down at the foot of the statue. His eyes then followed hers, wondering what had caused her to say that.
Kagome frowned, looking down at the inscriptions on the white stone at her feet. "All I wanted was for you to remember me." The night remained quiet for the two bodies that stood in front of the glowing statue bathed in moonlight. The three shadows remained darkened on the illuminated ground. Kagome could read the kanji clearly because of the light from the moon. "That day… after the battle had ended… I remember looking down at you guys from high in the air." Inuyasha flinched and looked away from Kagome, hurt by the past memories that she brought up. He remembered that day well too. Though he tried not to remember it, it was still there and fresh in his mind.
"I had all the time in the world when I had died. But at that moment, as the sun was setting, I had so little time to tell you guys how I felt. And I didn't have time to tell you guys what I wanted to say. There were words left unsaid by us all." Kagome took a deep breath and turned her head to look up at the moon, right next to the Goshinboku. "I remember the look in your faces as I left, and though I cried every day after that, I knew that it was useless to keep in me what would never be said."
Inuyasha crossed his arms, his chest suddenly heavy with emotion. He wanted to wrap his arms around Kagome, comfort her. But then, he was also conflicted with emotions and didn't know which ones were right. He watched Kagome as she looked up at the moon, reminding him of how he had looked up at her that day at sunset. Kagome had looked so beautiful to him through all the blood and ripped clothes that she wore. The Sacred Jewel had shone bright within her hands as she turned to look at them and bid them her final farewell. But it wasn't a goodbye or an 'I love you'. It was a simple 'be happy' and that brought on an anger that he had buried within himself for the past three years. Anger was fusing under the surface and Inuyasha was afraid that he might lose himself here, with Kagome.
"But… I kept them…" Kagome bit her bottom lip as she felt her eyes burn as she stared up at the moon, trying to blink back the tears. "Inuyasha… I ask you to love me, and you do. You treat me like your queen, your one and only, the other half of you. Together we complete one soul. Everyday the love we make anew." Kagome turned around, her eyes glistening with tears as she stared at Inuyasha. He was shocked to see Kagome with tears, but that only brought out his desire to hold her even more. "I asked you to love me, and you did." Kagome smiled with a small chuckle and then looked away from him, looking around the shrine to keep herself from crying. "I ask you to hold me, and you do. Deep within the warmth of your arm's embrace. My haven from the consuming darkness. Your arms hold me to wash away my fears and loneliness. Never to let me go, my sadness disappears." Kagome smiled as she looked back at Inuyasha, a tear running down her cheek as she finally couldn't hold back anymore. "I asked you to hold me, and you did." Kagome frowned and looked away from him, seeing his golden eyes filled with his conflicting emotions. He was torn, just like her, and they were both in for a hell of a ride. But she still could not bury the feelings that she feels for him. "I ask you to forget me, and you don't. You hold on to our memories we made together. The times when we are flooded with joy and love. Only each other can give us these feelings. A pure love, and life, as pure as a dove."
Kagome had to stop, feeling her sadness choking her. She wiped the tears away from her eyes and turned to look up at the moon, facing her back towards Inuyasha. She couldn't face him, not now. She was open again, her emotions were served on a platter and she couldn't allow herself to be broken again. After she got herself together and tucked her emotions safely back behind her barriers will she be able to turn around and face Inuyasha. Just looking at him hurt her. Seeing him only reminded her that he was in love with her sister and she was nothing anymore. A sniff escaped her as Kagome looked up at the moon and a few more tears fell down her cheeks. "I asked you to forget me… and… you did."
There was a moment of total silence, a small breeze filtering through the leaves of the Goshinboku. The night was clear with no clouds blocking the heavens. The stars shone bright, trying to outshine the moon, but with no luck. Kagome took a deep breath, drawing the night deep into her lungs to help her bury her feelings again. She heard a small shuffle and then arms were wrapped around her body, making Kagome gasp at the sudden closeness that Inuyasha's body was to hers. Kagome stood, her eyes wide, in Inuyasha's arms, shocked that he was holding her. She remained staring ahead at the Goshinboku, her mind completely frozen in the situation that she found herself in.
Inuyasha didn't know what had happened, but he suddenly found himself with Kagome in his arms. Everything felt right. She fit perfectly into his body, molding herself with him as before. Inuyasha smiled, unable to resist the temptation, the desire. He found himself at peace, and this was the peace that he had been looking for ever since she had left him. He remembers it now. This feeling of completeness. With Kagome in his arms, he felt like the world was right and so was he. He was complete. 'Kagome… I…lo'
"Inuyasha…" Kagome whispered. She sniffed, feeling something within her stir. She felt alive again, like she had a purpose, like everything would be okay if she remained within his arms. Only Inuyasha gave her this feeling and it was what she had come back for. This was what she lived for back then and had planned to live for now. "Inuyasha… all I ever wanted was to make you happy," she said with a small whimper. Inuyasha tightened his hold on her, only fitting her body closer to his. Kagome felt small compared to his strength and body, but she felt right. "But… I can only do that by stepping aside." Kagome placed her hands on Inuyasha's arms, her fingers trembling against his skin. "I just have one favor to ask you…" Kagome pushed against his arms, feeling as Inuyasha released his hold on her. Suddenly, she felt the cold again and it was an unwelcome feeling when she had everything she had wanted just a second ago. Kagome turned around and gazed into Inuyasha's worried eyes. His eyes full of gold was full of sadness and regret, something that she desperately wanted to wipe away. Kagome placed one hand against his cheek, feeling the warmth and the way he pushed against her palm. Kagome smiled sadly. "Remember me…" she whispered while more tears fell down from her eyes.
There was no hesitation on his part. No doubt in his mind that he wasn't doing the right thing, because he was. This was what he wanted, what he needed. Inuyasha closed the distance between them and Kagome's hand fell to his shoulder as he found her lips with his own. Yes, this was what he wanted. Inuyasha grabbed onto Kagome's jacket and brought her closer to his body as his body came alive. He was on fire; he felt like his head was spinning as Kagome's scent engulfed him in a frenzy of emotions. Inuyasha wrapped his arms around Kagome and held her close to him as he kissed her harder. Then, he felt Kagome respond.
Kagome was shocked that Inuyasha had kissed her. She remained standing still, but Inuyasha had pulled her towards him. She closed her eyes and fought against her body. Her body yearned for Inuyasha, desperately wanted to be held by him forever. But she didn't want to get hurt, and she didn't want to hurt her sister. But… 'This feels so right…' she thought, remembering this same feeling when she and Inuyasha were together. This was the feeling that she had come back for, he was the reason why she had come back. And now, at this very moment, she had him. Inuyasha was all hers, and damn her to Hell. Inuyasha's arms tightened around her and he pressed his lips harder on hers, and she responded. Kagome wrapped her arms around Inuyasha's neck and gave herself to him completely. She knew she would get hurt after this. It was inevitable. She would give herself completely to him and he would hurt her again. They could never be together and it was only a matter of time before she would get hurt again. By this one man. But this one man was the reason why she was living again, and she would lose herself for this one moment. She would risk getting her heart broken for this one moment in time. And Buddha damn her for being selfish.
There was a deep growl and then the ground disappeared from under her. Kagome didn't care what was happening around them only that she had Inuyasha in her arms and she wasn't going to let him go. Suddenly, Kagome found her back hit a wall of the shrine house. Though it wasn't hard, she was even more excited by the roughness and Kagome pushed her breasts into Inuyasha's chest. Inuyasha growled and suddenly thrust his tongue into her mouth. She moaned and fell limp in his arms, grabbing fistfuls of his hair and bringing his head closer to her. She wanted him to consume her, everything she was, so she would never be alone in this world again. She wanted to be with him wherever he went and it would be so much easier if she was one with him, within him, all around him. Kagome gasped, disengaging their kiss, but Inuyasha didn't waste one second.
Inuyasha brought his head down to Kagome's neck and began sucking, nipping her and then running his tongue along the little stings, leaving her breathless. He could hear the increase in her heart beat and smell the lingering scent of her arousal, only increasing his desire for her. And Kagome could feel it. He was hard as a rock and aching to be within her, straining to be released from his jeans. Inuyasha felt his heart skip a beat and then he opened his eyes, wide with shock. His fangs had elongated and they were growing longer by the second. Inuyasha growled, but the sound was deeper and more animalistic. He blinked, staring at the wooden wall behind Kagome as her scent kept teasing his nose. He began to huff now, unsure of what was happening to his body but loving the sensations that he was getting from Kagome. She kept moaning, pushing her body into his and rubbing against his erection. He ran his tongue along the tip of his fangs and was suddenly hit with the desire to sink his fangs into Kagome's neck. Inuyasha was shocked by the thought, but his body had other ideas. He ran his nose against her smooth throat, feeling her jumping pulse within the vein on her neck. Inuyasha felt his erection jump at the same time as her pulse and he wanted nothing more but to claim her.
Grabbing the open ends of Kagome's jacket, Inuyasha tugged it off of her body in one easy movement. He heard Kagome gasp and sigh as he brought his body back against hers, the heat they made together combating the cold of the night. Inuyasha's fangs hurt, his demon desperately wanting to claim her. 'That's it!' That was the reason why his fangs had elongated and he felt the primitive urge to claim what was his. Inuyasha wondered where this was coming from and why he hadn't felt this before with Kikyo, but Kagome had brought his thoughts back to her. She moaned and Inuyasha took the invitation to squeeze her ass. He ran his hands down to her thighs and picked her up, making her wrap her legs around his waist without him asking. Kagome began panting now that she was open for him, surrendering to his invasion.
Suddenly Inuyasha began to huff as if he was fighting something and Kagome cooled down enough to get her senses back to her. She blinked a few times and took a few deep breaths while telling herself to remain still. Kagome breathed hard as she tried to look at Inuyasha's eyes, but his head was right against her neck. "Inuyasha," she said breathlessly. He huffed and the warmth of his breath tickled her skin, sending shivers along her body. Kagome moaned at the sensation, earning another growl and a small thrust of his pelvis. The hardness of his shaft was pressed firmly right against her womanhood and Kagome wanted to cry with desperateness to get him inside of her. The desire was so strong to just be one with Inuyasha.
"Kazuki!" Kagome's eyes snapped open at the new voice and she looked past Inuyasha to see her mother come around the corner. Her heart picked up as she saw Kazuki running ahead of her, straight for them. Kagome placed her hands on Inuyasha's shoulders and nudged his head with her shoulder, earning a growl from the hanyou.
"Inuyasha. Inuyasha, Kazuki's coming," she said breathlessly. But Inuyasha tightened his hold on her and didn't make a move to let her go. Kagome became worried and tried to push him away but to no avail.
"Don't." Kagome froze as she heard his voice. Her mouth remained opened as she panted, fully aroused but also worried about Kazuki. "Just… let me hold you… a little longer…" Kagome nodded her head, the difference in Inuyasha's voice worrying her. She began to get concerned as Inuyasha's voice sounded more guttural, deeper and something she's never heard before. More like… an animal's growl.
Kazuki began to slow down as his eyes remained on the two figures stuck together. The moonlight hid nothing from his eyes. Kazuki remained shocked as he saw his father holding the miko close to him as if she was his. But that woman wasn't. His mother was his father's. But then again, the woman felt so close to him and there was definitely something about her that he loved. He didn't know what, or why, but as he looked at his father and the miko holding each other he was happy. Kazuki suddenly felt himself being picked up and he was brought into his grandmother's arms. Kira placed one hand on Kazuki's head and pressed it against her shoulder so that he was facing her neck. Kira remained staring at the couple in front of her, shocked at the position that they were in. She knew that there was a lot more going on between them than the silence and stillness of their bodies. But she looked at Inuyasha and saw that he was huffing while Kagome seemed to be stroking his hair. 'What happened?'
Kagome watched as her mother picked up Kazuki and covered him from their bodies. She smiled thankfully at her mother and then gave her attention back to Inuyasha. She stroked his hair gently as his huffing began to get smaller. After a moment, Inuyasha then moved, the movements of his muscles making her body tingle. They were so tightly fused together that she could feel every ripple of his muscles that he made as he moved back. Kagome was hit the coldness as he let her feet touch the ground and moved back a bit to allow her to get her balance. Kagome fixed her spaghetti strap and pants and then moved to pick up her discarded jacket. Inuyasha blocked her body the whole time and once she stood up, he came to move both his hands on the side of her face. Kagome blinked up at Inuyasha, wondering what he was doing.
But Inuyasha's eyes bored down into hers and Kagome looked up at him helplessly. Those golden eyes swirled with the desire that he felt for her, and it brought back a new wave of pleasure through her body. Inuyasha took a deep breath, letting her watch him as he took in her scent, wanting her to know what it did to him. She watched, enthralled, as Inuyasha released his breath and looked back into her eyes with a new desire. Kagome felt her heart beat accelerate and leaned back against the wall to remain standing. But then Inuyasha became concerned as he heard movement behind them. They had an audience and he had to tell Kagome now. Kazuki was here, and he would be asking him questions about Kagome. It was only right for him to tell Kagome now that Kazuki saw them together. Though it would be hard.
"Kagome…" Inuyasha said, trying to calm down so that he could talk to her. He still had a hard on and his blood was still heated with arousal. His demon was enraged that he didn't claim Kagome, which was only adding more pressure against him to remain in control. But the look in Kagome's eyes made Inuyasha come to his senses. She gave him her full attention, concern within those chestnut orbs. Inuyasha sighed and leaned against his hands that pushed against the wall. "Kagome… I have to tell you something." Kagome looked up at Inuyasha expectantly, wondering what it is that he had to tell her. She waited for a few heartbeats and then Inuyasha took a deep breath and spoke.
"Kazuki is our son."
Well I hope that I appeased your Christmas spirit for gifts and joy. :) I just hope that I didn't bring anyone's spirit down because of the cliffhanger. :( Well... have a Merry Christmas and let me know what you thought. :)
-Kaleialohalani
