riridreaheart: Ah, it's not exactly forgetting to update, it's more like I was too sick to update. *bows head* Sorry! So just like three or so chapters, and then we leave the world of Inuyasha and go to the world of Nurarihyon. Yay!
Halley Vanaria: Probably. Yohime is looking forward to seeing her grandchildren, and her great-grandchildren, ya know? So I'm thinking she'll be staying another three days.
Royaih: I love Skip-Beat! It takes forever to update, up isn't it awesome? *whisper* The reason Maru-chan is cute is because he's fluffy.
Alice (guest reviewer): I don't speak French, but I think that translates to 'more strongly'. Perhaps. But, OMG I HAVE A FRENCH REVIEWER! THANK YOU!
Professor of Gallifrey: *sigh* Now, darlin', don't get mad at me that my cliffhangers are awesomer than yours. And yes, I like to think it was a very fine chapter.
monochrome noah: No big deal, I do the same. However, someone requested that we met Kagome's family so I added it.
Dinner was eventful to say the least. Nurarihyon, since having discovered his precious Yohime was pregnant, was hovering over her. Though in a very off hand way.
Sesshomaru was sulking. Not that anyone would tell him, or even hint at it, but he was sulking.
Rin was discussing plans with Kohaku about their children's arrival tomorrow and the fact they would have to warn them about Yohime desire for great-grandchildren.
Shippo had sent Ren to gather those who wanted to see his mother, and he was informed that they would be delayed a day or two due to a job of extreme importance.
Maemi was whispering secretly with Chiyo, no doubt about the wolves who would be visiting very soon.
Though the dinner itself went smoothly, several servants were fired due to their stupidity and ignorance. There was even a noblewoman who was thrown out after she announced to the world that she refused to eat at the same table as a human whore.
What she was doing there and where ever she got the idea she would even be welcome was a mystery.
Thankfully, by the time Nura and Yohime retired of the evening, she was already tired and couldn't scold her family.
The knowing looks tossed around by the staff at the sight of Nurarihyon cradling the Great Lady as he carried her out of the room (not to mention Maemi and Chiyo's cooing), were not missed by Sesshomaru. Who promptly left for the dungeons, no doubt to kill- uh... relieve some stress.
All in all, it was a good evening.
Up in their rooms, Nura quickly dressed Yohime in her sleeping clothes, then stripped down to his hakamas before cuddling her gently to his body as he laid down on the raised futon.
"Nura?"
His eyes softened and lightened at the adorable way she said his name while she was sleepy.
"Hm?"
She yawned, displaying white teeth and a pink tongue.
"Do you think we'll have a son or daughter?"
Nura dropped a kiss on her nose as she blinked owlishly.
"I don't know, but I can't wait to see."
She smiled and burrowed into his side more firmly.
"I want a son. One with your eyes."
He laughed softly.
"Then we should have a son with my eyes."
She didn't speak anymore, finally drifting off to sleep, her hand entwined with Nura's on her stomach. And she dreamed of a little boy with hair dark as night, eyes of amber, who smiled as she held him, Nurarihyon at her back.
Yohime woke to the sound of many people talking. Opening her eyes, she saw Nura was sitting up, her head on his thigh his hand stroking her hair.
"Nura?"
"Your grandchildren have arrived."
She blinked.
"Ah."
Nurarihyon glanced down surprised to find her attempting to go back to sleep. A small smile curved his lips.
"Yohime."
She whimpered softly at his tone. His tone that clearly said she had to get up.
Slowly she pushed herself up, ignoring the sudden nausea. She let her head fall on Nura's shoulder and breathed deeply in.
"Do you happen to know how long pregnancies last for humans bearing ayakashi children?"
His arms careful slid around her, lifted her up and carrying her over to a seat, setting her down gently.
"Normally for ayakashi depending on the type, they last anywhere from three to twelve months."
She hummed at the loss of body heat as Nura gathered her clothes.
"I think I'm about a month along. Since I know that I'm with child, I used some reiki to search my body. I should start showing in a couple weeks."
Her eyes opened at the touch of hands on her shoulders. A soft expression covering his face, Nura slid the fabric down to bunch at her wait. He tenderly laid a kiss on her stomach which was definitely more rounded than it had been.
Yohime's fingers slid in his hair, dragging a hand through the blonde and black locks.
"I wonder if he'll have this wild hair of yours," she murmured in a low tone.
Nura shifted his attention from her stomach to her face. Rising up he covered her mouth with his own.
After a short while, he pulled back and spoke against her lips.
"I bet he'll be a mischievous kid."
She giggled.
"Easy going and laid back, always finding amusement in everything?"
Mock anger showed on Nura's face.
"My lovely wife, is that what you think of me?" He whispered against her ear in a silky voice.
"Is it not true, my strong, handsome husband?"
He nipped at her lobe, his hands resting on her stomach.
"Perhaps, perhaps not."
Bending down he kissed her stomach one more time, before raising his eyebrow at her.
"I think you should dress now, my Yohime."
She laughed at him.
"And you shouldn't? I'm more-"
She stopped with a sigh. In the few second she had taken to speak, Nurarihyon was almost dressed. Reaching for her kimono she felt happiness descend on her.
A husband, a child on the way, family coming to visit, what more could she want?
Yohime and Nurarihyon descended into the receiving room and immediately, she noticed the several people standing there. She leaded forward, hoping to catch a better glimpse, and she- in a moment of clumsiness- slipped on the stairs.
Thankfully, Nura quickly caught her and proceeded to carry her to the bottom, despite her protests. At the base of the staircase, he gently set her on her feet. She sighed and kissed his cheek before turning her attention to the people in front of her.
"Mamma."
Rin held out her hand, motioning her to take it.
As soon as Yohime's hand took hers, Rin tugged her forward and presented her family to her.
"Yohime, once the Great Lady, Kagome these are my children."
She smiled at them as they came closer when their names were called.
"Takeshi," a tall man, 40ish, strongly built, with gold brown eyes, wavy long brown hair held in a high pony tail.
"Sora," slightly shorter, 30ish, slender, bright blue eyes, long black hair braided tightly.
"Katsura," the spitting image of Kohaku, 30ish, except his features were harder.
"Akira," another one in the image of his parent, but this one was of Rin, 20ish.
The four bowed, as did Yohime, and on straightening she held out her hand to Takeshi.
"Hello, Takeshi."
He didn't hesitate before taking her hand, an easy smile on his face.
"Hello, Grandmother."
She took a moment to memorize his aura. It was more demon than human, most likely due to his mate, yet she could detect faints hints of Sesshomaru's. He seemed to have an easy personality, yet she saw the slightly guarded way he held himself.
She gave him a bright smile and moved on to Sora.
Her breath caught and she froze, tears pricking her eyes.
"Hello, Sora," she said her voice slightly cracking.
"The hell you crying for?"
For an instant, blue eyes were gold, black hair lightened to white and an entirely different person stood before her.
His older brother slapped the back of his head, and shot a glare at him.
She laughed.
"I'm crying because you reminded me of someone."
His face sobered.
"Uncle Inuyasha?"
She nodded, then she threw her arms around him.
"I'm sorry I wasn't here."
Sora only hesitated a moment before he returned the hug.
"He talked about you all the time, ya know."
She sniffled.
"That idiot, I'll bet he said I was clumsy and annoying."
"That and you were scary when you got angry."
She pulled back and grinned at him, wiping her tears away.
He nodded at her, and returned her grin, a slightly pointed tooth looking suspiciously like a fang poking over his lip. He's aura resembled Inuyasha's and identified him as half human, half youkai, yet not a hanyo. It was the first she had ever seen, and she was impressed.
Turning to Katsura, she almost sniggered. He stood much like Sesshomaru, the same I'd-kill-you-but-you're-not-worth-my-time expression on his face, his aura was tinted with the inuyoukai even more so than his mother. Yet, he was still human and she suspected he displayed no youkai tenancies except for increased strength.
"A pleasure to met you, Katsura."
An eyebrow twitched, and he inclined his head gracefully.
"Lady Kagome."
She winced.
"Ah, please don't call me t-"
"It's your title, is it not?"
He said in a some what cold tone.
She laughed nervously.
"Well, not anymore, I'm Yohime no-"
"The wife of the Lord of Pandemonium, yes I know."
In the background Rin closed her eyes as if in pain.
Anger was beginning to stir in Yohime's aura, but she forced it down and smiled warmly at him, hoping to thaw the ice build up.
"Well, I would be happy if you called me Yohime or-"
His face showed a hint of irritation and disdain.
"Aren't you already happy? After all you are of the family of the most wealthiest and influential youkai, not to mention you have gathered several titles."
Both Rin and Kohaku flinched, and a small laugh that quickly turned to a cough was heard from a kitsune emerging from a neighboring room.
Katsura was not even looking at Yohime, but was fixated on the air just past her shoulder, as if she was below his notice. However, that very rapidly changed very quickly.
A small fist curled into the front of his clothes and he was jerked down to eye level with the much shorter woman, with surprising strength. A smile was firmly on her face and she looked for all the world like a gentle hime, but when his eyes met hers, a silver of fear made it's way down his spine.
"Katsura."
Her voice was sweet, and innocent, yet those who remembered exactly what this tone was used for, instinctively took a step back.
"I am your grandmother, the mother of your mother. I am your aunt, the sister of your father. I was once and will always be Miko no Mao, Shikon no Miko and the Great Lady of the Western Lands. I brought the end of a war that most said would last centuries. I gathered allies from all corners of the land and put together a treaty that stands to this day. Eventually I left to complete my quest, along the way I met many powerful youkai, ayakashi, demons and all of them are indebted to me."
Opening his mouth, Katsura tried to speak.
"Silence, you do not interrupt your betters when they're talking," her voice remained the same, yet her powers rose to the surface of her skin and hover over the man who was rapidly losing his composure.
"I am now the wife of Nurarihyon, Yohime. Physically, I am much younger than you. Mentally and spiritually I am much older. I possess knowledge beyond your comprehension and imagination, I have seen things you can scarcely believe, and I have survived through every trail been giving to me."
She dropped her act of gentleness and seemed to bore into his soul with her eyes.
"I can see you, Katsura. You are much like your grandfather. You hate the woman of youkai and ayakashi as they seek after power, wealth. You hate the woman of humans as you deem them cowards and weak. You curse your humanity and do not realize how unique and special you are."
The man's eyes sharpened in fury and he violently jerked away from Yohime.
"What would you know?" He spat at her.
She ignored him and lunged at him, wrapping her arms around him, her aura turning soothing, comforting, accepting.
"I told you. I've seen things you couldn't believe. I'm human, yet not. I'm an ordinary human, yet not. I thought, as you do, that there is not a place in this world I belong."
Her hand reached up to stroke his hair.
"I found my place, though it took a century, I found the place where I was accepted. Your place used to be by your family, but now you are unsure."
She paused, and he didn't speak a moment, but soon his body slumped as if the weight of the world was weighting him down.
"Demons ask if I'm human, humans ask if I'm a demon. I don't have an answer."
Yohime laughed, pulling back and somehow managing to ruffle the hair of the taller man.
"Silly boy," she declared with a smile, "You are Katsura. Who else do you need to be?"
A/N Cover image belongs to midnight (artist) I don't own it.
Surprisingly, because of my sickness, I got off school today. Therefore, there is a long chapter for my readers!
OMG THERE'S A POLL ON MY PROFIILE, WHO KNEW?
I was totally shocked that people actually read the author's note, I mean, I'm usually on the last chapter with a fiction before I realize there's a note at the bottom. Ahh… anyways, I went back and edited. It's nothing much just made things flow better together.
THANK YOU FOR READING REVIEWS ARE THE STRINGS TO MY VIOLIN. REVIEWS ARE MY WISH ON THE JEWEL, THE INSPIRATION, THE MOTIVATION TO CONTINUE!