Disclaimer: This story is based on "Inuyasha," copyrighted by Rumiko Takahashi. No infringement of copyright intended or implied.


Grandson

Inuyasha paused his jog. Kagome and Rin were elsewhere, but Kaede was seated on her bench, Aimiko sprawled across her lap and arm, bonelessly asleep. Kaede was stroking the white hair, her expression radiant with joy and contentment.

His breath caught. He knew the old miko was fond of his daughter, and yet, something about the scene was so right and perfect—

Kaede was the girl who had become an old woman in a blink of unawareness that was fifty years. She was the woman who had accepted his presence, scolded him and fed him, when she should have hated and despised him for his supposed role in her sister's death. She had spelled the hated kotodamu around his neck, and then supported him and listened to him through three long years without Kagome. And, now, she was 'grandmother' to his little family … a family that for too long, he had never believed he could have …

Kaede looked up, smiled, and beckoned. Sitting down beside her, Inuyasha started to reach for Aimiko, then hesitated.

"She walked this morning," murmured Kaede. "Came right up to this bench."

His breath caught again. "She did? She kept trying to stand up yesterday, but kept falling."

"She was good and ready today—she just really wanted to get to great-grandma."

"Feh." Delighted and regretful both, Inuyasha felt emotion rising. "Have I ever thanked you for everything you've done for me? Us?"

She petted his thigh. "You're a good man, grandson."

"Keh!"

Silence and a blush.

"Grandma."


Author's Note: This was written for the prompt "Good and Ready" for the IY Issekiwa community on LiveJournal. It was originally posted on on August 16th, 2012. It won the contest. (01/25/2013).