A/N: Hi everyone! As promised, another new chappie within a week. Hooray! Thank you to my new followers: Kaiyatethesilverwolfdemon and Myztic Aura! Feel free to share this story with readers you know who may be interested. Please continue to leave reviews. It helps me know what works and doesn't work for my readers. So far they have been pretty good, so...hopefully I'm writing this okay? It's my first fanfic, so I get self-conscious about it.
This chapter: Kouga/Kagome relationship development (Yay!), meeting old friends, and more. I hope you all enjoy this one ;).
About the character Dokan Ota: There is much more we have yet to know about him in this story. He is, however, based on a real historical figure, Ota Dokan. Ota is the sur name and Dokan is the first name. I switched his names because in the English dub of Inuyasha, we refer to Kagome as Kagome Higurashi, not Higurashi Kagome. Read about him if you are interested. I am interweaving factual details about his life into his fictional character.
One more thing. Be prepared, EPICNESS is about to happen in 2 to 3 chapters! Stay tuned... ;)
The Castle of Edo – Chapter 6
"Kagome," Kouga called from the top of the hill. They had been walking together at her pace through the morning. It was nearing noon, judging by the towering spring sun above them. Finally, he saw what he thought was their destination. "Is this…"
Kagome reached the crest and stood beside him, peering down into the valley that held a bustling human village. Her eyes lit up and she smiled enormously. "Takasaki! This must be it!"
Her heart was racing, for multiple reasons. After two and a half years, she was about to be reunited with two of her best friends of the Sengoku period. She was also within touching distance of her wolf demon companion, and being near him after the 'event' sent her spiraling into schoolgirl silliness.
They had behaved nervously around each other since that night at the hot spring, much like elementary children with their first crush. Despite the tension brewing between them, Kagome grabbed Kouga's hand in jubilation, squealing with delight over the impending reunion.
Kouga smiled down at her. She was such a breath of fresh air, radiating pure joy over life's simplest yet most important gifts. Her happiness was contagious. He couldn't help but to feel happy for her, with her, and that he could share her joy with her.
"C'mon, Kouga! What are we waiting for?"
"Huh?" He muttered as she pulled him down the hill, sprinting top speed towards her friends.
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The high noon sun blazed upon the villagers below. One of the many expecting village women was carrying a bucket of water to her hut she shared with her young husband and two beautiful toddler daughters. She smiled at the girls as they played with matching homemade dolls. The twin dolls, with rice filling and cloth scrap skin, differed only in their kimono colors: one a lovely jade green and the other a pastel pink. Each doll matched her two year old owner's attire.
Sango sat the heavy water bucket down, taking a momentary break to stretch her aching back. She looked up the hill toward the sweltering sun, shading her eyes with her hand from the bright beams above. It was only April and the spring breeze blew relief to her sweating skin, but due to her condition, it felt like the middle of a tortuous summer. She was about to turn back to her girls when she noticed two figures in her periphery.
Curious, Sango swerved her head to the side, narrowing her eyes in attempt to notice more specific detail about the duo. Although the blinding beams above impaired her vision, she made out two figures, what appeared to be a man and a woman holding hands. She smiled. Perhaps this was a happy couple visiting her husband's relatives' lovely and hospitable town.
The pair descended the hill rather quickly, seeming to be in a hurry to arrive. Sango continued to stare at them. They drew near, their figures becoming ever clearer. She saw that the man had a long ebony pony tail whipping through the wind behind him and a…tail?
Sango gasped. A youkai! She began to turn her body towards the family's temporary hut and her young twins, preparing to alert her husband, when a precognitive pulse pounded in her heart, inciting her to turn back toward the rushing couple.
If Sango were still holding the water pail, it would have plunged to the earth, spewing water and ruining her morning's work. She gasped, her eyes wide with confusion and shock. The woman holding the demon, the wolf demon's hand, was none other than…
"Ka-Kagome!"
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Kagome was still pulling Kouga down the hill, recklessly racing towards the village with no regard for, well, anything. Her focus narrowed on one thing only: her friends.
"Ka-Kagome!"
Kagome stopped suddenly, Kouga nearly colliding into her. He swiftly averted the accidental assault and dodged to her left. He looked at her questioningly and followed her gaze upward towards the source of her shouted name.
Kagome held her breath. Standing before her, as beautiful as ever, unchanged except for her growing belly, was her best female friend.
"Sango!" Kagome cried. She ran to the ex-demon slayer, her arms flying up and encircling the slightly older girl's shoulders in a solid embrace.
Sango eagerly accepted Kagome into her arms, returning her strong hug. Sango pushed Kagome's shoulders away slightly, studying her friend's face. Kagome was beaming at Sango, swiping happy tears away from her eyes. "Kagome? Is that really…you?"
Kagome swallowed a sob a joy to respond. "Ye-yes! It's me!"
Sango looked at her questioningly, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "But Kagome, how? We thought you…" she paused, her tears pouring over and cascading down her rosy cheeks. "We thought we lost you. Oh, Kagome, I'm so happy you're back," Sango cried as she wrapped her arms around Kagome and pulled her into a tight embrace.
The girls cried in each other's arms, unaware of two sets of male eyes observing them. Kouga was watching Kagome reunite with her best female friend of this time. He hated to see and smell her tears, but he knew they were from joy.
Miroku had heard his wife scream outside their momentary residence, shelter provided by his family during their extended visit. He ran outside, shocked silent at the sight. He watched his six month pregnant wife in the fierce embrace of a ghost…
"Lady Kagome?" Mirkou questioned quietly, his eyes wide and disbelieving.
As if she heard his inaudible inquiry, she pulled away slightly from Sango and looked beyond her, meeting a familiar violet stare.
"Miroku!" Kagome cheered, running from her beaming friend to the monk.
"Kagome?" Miroku asked again. Kagome beamed and nodded enthusiastically, reaching her arms out to embrace him. He felt her arms encircle his neck, still stunned from her sudden visit after close to three years of absence. He shook his head and his arms reached out for her, wrapping around her back and pulling her into his purple robes in a friendly hug.
They pulled back, the trio smiling widely at each other, overjoyed at their reunion.
"Kagome, you have company," Miroku stated, glancing up toward the wolf demon accompanying her.
Sango looked up and noticed, "Kouga?!" Sango stared with eyes and mouth gaping in shock.
Kagome blushed, forgetting momentarily about her handsome companion and suddenly aware of the feeling of being stared at from all directions.
"Ye-yes. Kouga helped me find you two."
"Yo," Kouga waved flippantly, smiling politely at the demon slayer and monk.
They stared at him a moment, unsure what to say.
"Hello, Kouga. It's a pleasure to see you again, and doing well I presume." Mirkou responded, breaking the silence and smiling politely in return. He looked back and forth between Kagome and Kouga, his hands folded in a prayer position with the draping sleeves of his robes covering them from view. "Please join us for lunch. We have much to catch up on."
"Yes!" Kagome responded happily. 'Yes we do…'
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Kagome and Kouga told Sango and Miroku everything while the twins ate their lunch and played in an open corner of the hut's main room.
"We were wondering if you could tell us more about Dokan Ota?" Kagome questioned Miroku. "We know that he was a Buddist priest. Do you know of him?"
Miroku put a thoughtful finger to his chin, observing the swirling patterns in the wooden floor beams. "I seem to remember my father talking about a member of his monastery named Ota." Miroku narrowed his eyes in contemplation. "Perhaps my uncle would know more. He is my father's brother and the village priest."
Kagome smiled. "That would be fantastic, Miroku. Anything we can learn about him would…" she trailed, frowning, recalling the 'event' a few nights ago. "Would be great…" she finished.
Kouga, sitting closely by Kagome's side, studied her and frowned. Her scent screamed anxiety. Confirmatively, she wrapped her arms tightly around herself in self-comfort.
Kagome felt warmth on the small of her back, the area tingling with heat and spreading through her torso. She glanced beside her and noticed Kouga had scooted a little closer, his clawed hand resting on her lower back, gently massaging her comfortingly. She quickly looked at the floor, blushing. What was he doing to her? She didn't recall blushing ALL the time when certain other males made physical contact with her.
Abruptly, Kagome felt a gush of frigid fluid spray her body. She yelped, her arms flying outward in shock from the freezing liquid.
Sango bared her teeth in fury, standing from her kneeling position on the floor next to Miroku, her hands flying to the sides of her head. "KAGAMI! TAME! You girls just knocked over the water Mama spent ALL morning collecting! You are in DEEP trouble!" Sango roared.
Miroku cowered beside her. Sango was far more irritable during this pregnancy, as opposed to weepy while carrying the girls.
Then, waterworks. So much for that thought…
Sango fell to her knees again, her hands shrouding her sobbing eyes, tears rushing out like waterfalls down her cheeks. Miroku turned to his wife, lovingly whispering reassurances and rubbing her back comfortingly.
Kagome frowned worriedly while her cold body trembled. Poor Sango…
Immediately Kagome felt warm, muscular arms wrap around her shivering body from behind, massaging her arms up and down to warm her. She instantly felt warm from the inside out. She briefly thought about present-day Kouga, the evening he had shown the same gesture to her, right before he vanished into the night…
Sango swiped her eyes furiously, flushed from embarrassment at her emotional display. "Forgive me," she began, addressing Kagome and Kouga with her gaze planted on the ground. "My pregnancy has caused my emotions to get the best of me." She smiled, standing and allowing Miroku to support her as she rose. She looked up at Miroku with gratitude.
Then Sango glanced over at Kagome and gasped. Kagome, self-conscious of her visible proximity to Kouga, pushed out of his embrace, teeth chattering from the instant cold. Sango shouted, "Kagome! Your clothes are soaked! Here," Sango said while hastily grabbing a forest green blanket folded on a nearby table, "wrap this around yourself. I'll give you one of my kimonos to wear."
"Th, thank y-you, S-Sango," Kagome chattered as she reached for the blanket. Kouga caught the blanket before she could grasp it, unfolding the cloth in one quick flick in the air and draping it around Kagome's back and over her shoulders.
"Miroku," Sango began, smiling softly. "Why don't you go speak with your uncle while I get Kagome her dry clothing and fetch fresh drinking water for us and our friends?"
Miroku looked at Sango worriedly and shook his head. "No, Sango, it's too hard on you. I'll pick up some drinking water upon my return."
There were clatter and jingling sounds from across the room. Sango, Miroku, and Kagome looked over.
"I will get your drinking water," stated Kouga authoritatively. "Monk, we are grateful for any information you may find out about Dokan Ota. You ladies meanwhile can take some time to catch up."
Miroku smiled at Kouga gratefully. "Thank you, Kouga. You have our deepest gratitude."
Kouga waved away his thank you. "You are hosting us. It's a trivial way to give back." Kouga turned to Kagome and smirked. "This should only take me half an hour, but I may slow down to a human pace to give you more time to speak with your friend."
Kagome masked her nervousness with a happy smile. She really was thankful he was helping her pregnant friend. "Thank you, Kouga, for being so thoughtful of Sango."
Kouga smirked wider, grabbing Kagome's hands in his with the bucket draped over his arm. He bent low to Kagome's ear, her cheeks flushing as his warm breath tickled her skin. "Anything for you."
He quickly stood up, flashed Kagome a dashing smile, waved to her friends, and left with the water bucket.
Kagome stared after him, watching him vanish out the door.
Miroku and Sango raised their eyebrows at the exchange and looked at each other knowingly. Miroku leaned down to Sango's ear and whispered mischievously, "this is going to be good."
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"Sango! This one is too nice! I can't wear your best kimono!"
Sango smiled at her conscientious friend. "Of course you can, Kagome. I want you to."
Kagome furrowed her eyebrows guiltily. "But Sango…"
"No 'buts'. You will wear it. Besides, you look gorgeous in it."
Kagome looked down at her attire. It was truly a gorgeous kimono. The crimson silk flowed beautifully around her body's curves. The kimono was adorned with small embroidered pink cherry blossoms outlined with shimmering white thread. She wore a complementing golden obi, tied in a large fanciful bow behind her. As a final touch, Sango pulled Kagome's hair up at the side and pinned a matching cherry blossom barrette into Kagome's raven locks.
Sango smiled impishly. Kagome looked perfect.
"What's that sly smile for?" Kagome probed.
"Oh, nothing!" Sango laughed nervously.
Kagome shrugged it off. "Tell me more about your beautiful girls!"
Sango smiled. "They are wonderful. A handful at times," she added, watching the girls run around the front of the hut, chasing each other through the dirt, spending spirals of dust into the air and swirling around their kimonos. Sango sighed, "I need to teach them how to wash their own clothes."
Kagome laughed. She knew little of toddlers, except how impulsive and playful they could be. She imagined having her own would be…draining.
"Their names are beautiful. Kagami and Tame, right?"
"Yes," Sango replied.
"How did you pick their names?"
Sango paused, smiling distantly. She studied the dusty ground along which the girls were playing. "We named them after you, Kagome."
Kagome stared at Sango in surprise. "R-really?"
"Yes," Sango smiled at her from the side. "I missed you terribly when I was pregnant with them and Miroku and I decided they should in part be named for you, to remember you. Kagami has the first part of your name and Tame the last."
Kagome hadn't realized the connection between their names and hers until now. She looked at Sango and smiled sadly. "Thank you, Sango. That's beautiful." Kagome felt fresh tears pool in her eyes. "I'm so sorry to have caused you two so much heartache."
Sango reached for Kagome and hugged her close. "It wasn't your fault, Kagome. The jewel did this." She released Kagome from their embrace. "Anyway, you're back now. I'm so thankful."
"Me too," Kagome smiled. "So, what do their names mean?"
"Kagami means mirror and Tame means unselfish."
'Mirror…' Kagome thought.
"So…what's going on with you and Kouga?" Sango slyly interrupted Kagome's musings.
"Heh?!" Kagome blurted. She blushed furiously and looked the other way, watching the twin toddlers host a pretend tea party for their dolls. She was sure her face matched her borrowed kimono.
"You two seem…close." Sango noted playfully.
"We are close. I mean…he's helped me so much. Finding you two again, figuring out about the demonic presence and Dokan Ota…"
"Kagome…"
Kagome glanced to the side at Sango, who was smiling that smile that a girl does when talking to another girl about a new love interest.
Some things never changed. Not even after 500 years.
Kagome was tongue-tied. "Well…you see…we…"
"You like him, don't you?" Sango inferred.
"I…" Kagome began. 'I admitted that much to myself, didn't I?' She smiled, thinking of Kouga's handsome face, the way her body felt when he touched her, geez, when he so much as looked at her with those intense blue eyes…
"You have it bad, my friend."
"What?" Kagome asked, confused.
Sango smiled even more. "Admit it. You like him."
Kagome smiled, blushing softly. "I do."
Then Kagome frowned. What did Sango think of that? After all, she and Inuyasha…
"Kagome, we know about Inuyasha. It's okay."
Kagome swerved her head towards Sango, her eyes questioning. Sango smiled softly. "We know that he went in search of a priestess. One whom he believed to be…Kikyo. We heard him informing us where he was going and what he intended to do. We watched him go…"
Kagome looked down at the ground, observing the footprints left by the rambunctious twins. It still hurt deeply to talk about this…
"Kagome," Sango began, eyes narrowing in determination, "you deserve someone who will put you first, always. You deserve someone who is loyal, dedicated. When he looks at you, looks in your eyes, he only sees you. Someone who loves you fully, with his whole heart, not just half of his heart."
Kagome smiled at Sango. "You just described Miroku, huh?"
Sango grinned back. "Actually, I think it's a pretty accurate description of Kouga."
Kagome blushed vibrantly. Sango laughed. "You know, Kagome? I think this is the most we've gotten to know the 'real' Kouga. When Inuyasha was around, all Kouga had the opportunity to do was to banter and fight with Inuyasha, mostly over you. He was trying to impress you, although very immaturely. But now I see that he is kind, respectful, intelligent. And…" she added, placing her hand on Kagome's shoulder, "how much he cares about you."
Kagome glanced up at Sango and smiled. "Really? You see all that in him?"
Sango squeezed Kagome's shoulder and chuckled. "Oh, yes. He couldn't take his eyes off you today. And as soon as you got drenched by my daughters' antics, he was right there to warm you up."
"Yes," Kagome giggled, "he sure was."
Kagome was lost in thought when she felt Sango nudge her shoulder. Kagome looked up at her friend, noticing Sango nodding toward the dirt path coming down to the hut. Kagome followed Sango's gaze to see an attractive man walking toward them. His midnight hair glistened in the late afternoon sunlight, the golden glow highlighting his golden tanned skin and reflecting in his cerulean blue eyes. He stared straight at Kagome, his expression unreadable. Kagome's breath hitched in her throat. He looked like a mythical god in that moment. Handsome didn't cut it. And something about the way he was looking at her sent a shiver through her body.
Then she noticed what he was carrying. He held four water buckets, two in each palm. He also had a boar carcass draped over his shoulder and secured to his back with rope. He finally reached the two women, smiling politely at Sango and flirtatiously at Kagome.
"Well, here you go," he said to Sango. "Where shall I put everything?"
Sango stared at his load, her mouth agape. She blinked several times, then beamed at him. "Kouga, you have brought us so much! We will have enough water tonight to drink, cook, wash, and bathe! And the boar, how thoughtful of you! Thank you!"
Kouga shrugged. He glanced over at Kagome who was smiling appreciatively at him in gratitude. He smirked back, a hungry glimmer darkening his eyes, unconsciously scanning her body from head to foot while drinking in her beauty. Her red kimono looked ravishing against her raven locks, the flower adorning her hair adding to her feminine loveliness. He wanted to tell her how exquisite she appeared this evening…
"Follow me. I'll show you where to put everything." Sango spoke. "Then, you and Kagome should let me cook dinner. It will take a little while with the size of the boar, but if you can help me clean it then you and Kagome can explore for a while before dinner is ready."
"Alright," Kouga sighed, following Sango toward the hut entrance.
Sango glanced at Kagome with a playful smile and a wink.
Sango seemed to have found a new profession as a mother. Matchmaker.
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Kagome helped Sango prepare the last of food, now ready for cooking. "Are you sure I can't stay and help you, Sango? Miroku hasn't returned yet."
Sango waved her hand in dismissal. "I'll be fine. I've put the girls to work sorting the dirty linens. So…" she smiled playfully, "you two go and have some fun. But beware," Sango winked. "He was undressing you with his eyes earlier when he saw you in that kimono."
Kagome reddened and laughed nervously. She waved at Sango and the girls and retreated out of the hut into the warm early evening sunlight. She looked around, enjoying the beauty of the surrounding meadows, their grasses growing vividly green from recent rain. She closed her eyes, allowing the soft sun rays to grace her skin with their caressing…claws?
Kagome's eyes fluttered open. The warmth on her shoulders was not from the setting sun, but rather a towering wolf demon with midnight hair.
"You startled me," Kagome chided playfully.
Kouga chuckled. "Since when can I sneak up on you? You can sense youkai."
Kagome snickered. "I guess I was just lost in thought."
"I see," said Kouga. He smiled at Kagome, observing how she refused to meet his gaze. Kami, she looked beautiful. He could scent her nervousness. He caught a faint scent of something else…something that drove him wild.
"Kagome," he breathed headily, "you look unbelievably beautiful."
Kagome blushed. "Oh. Th-thank you." She smiled awkwardly.
"I want to show you something, Kagome."
Kagome looked up at him. "What is it, Kouga?"
Kouga grinned at her dashingly. "Come with me."
"Wha?" Kagome began, but couldn't finish and she was lifted into the air and into a strong pair of tanned arms. She was abruptly pulled against his warm body, his cool chest plate contrasting the heat spreading through her. They bounded up a nearby knoll behind Sango and Miroku's hut. At the top of the hill, Kagome released her breath and opened her tightly shut eyes.
When Kagome observed her surroundings, she gasped in awe. They were standing in a magnificent meadow of red, white, golden, and pink wildflowers. Kouga gently placed Kagome down, slowly letting her feet touch and re-acclimate to the ground below. Kagome gaped at the breathtaking hillside that she couldn't believe she hadn't noticed before.
"Wait here," Kouga commanded. Kagome watched him bound off to a tall oak far across the meadow. She turned her eyes to the nearly setting sun, lowering herself to the ground to sit. She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes and smiling, experiencing fully the crisp, fresh scent of the Sengoku period. There was nothing like it, not in her time.
Her eyes were still closed, feeling a cool breeze rush through her hair, when she heard footsteps approaching. She smiled. The familiar demonic aura arrived and she knew who it was without looking.
"Kagome," called a husky voice.
Kagome turned and looked up into sky blue eyes shining back at her. Her heart fluttered. He looked at her so devotedly. She didn't know how to react to the intensity of his affections towards her sometimes, but this evening she would let go and enjoy everything about her attractive companion.
"You're back," Kagome smiled brightly at him. "Where did you go, Kouga?"
He grinned at her, kneeling on one knee beside her on the bed of wildflowers. He was holding something behind his back. Kagome turned her head, naturally looking toward his back to peek at the hidden object.
Kouga smirked. "Eager to see what I have in store for you?"
Kagome blushed fiercely. "Wha-what?"
Kouga laughed heartily and shook his head. "Sorry," he grinned, putting his free hand to his forehead, "that stuff just comes out when I'm around you."
Kagome giggled. "I appreciate your honesty."
"But it's really just because," Kouga began, running his hand through his hair nervously. Kagome peered up at him from the side. Was he blushing?
"Kouga?"
Kouga put his hand up, indicating to her that he had more to say. "Because I want you…" he began, looking toward the ground sheepishly, "I need you to know, how I feel for you."
Kagome gazed at Kouga, her eyes twinkling from the warmth welling in her heart. Her heartbeat hastened, her breathing quickening.
Kouga looked at her and smiled affectionately. He took one of her hands with his free one and, while still bent on one knee, brought from around his back a beautiful bouquet of wildflowers tied with a sapphire silk ribbon. Kagome gasped slightly, her eyes and smile widening with delight. She grasped the bulging bouquet with both hands, eagerly bringing the buds to her nose and inhaling deeply their sweet fragrance.
She smiled warmly at Kouga. "They're beautiful."
"Not as much as you," he smiled, lowering his raised knee to sit comfortably beside her.
Kagome's body went wild with sensation. He snuggled his body next to hers, gazing into her eyes so deeply, affection beaming from his sapphire stare.
Kagome was captivated by his exotic inhuman eyes, demon eyes that radiated the deepest of human emotions. He was a paradox, a testament to the complexity of life and love.
"Kagome," Kouga whispered huskily, bringing his hand to her cheek, stroking her skin softly with his claws. "May I…kiss you?"
Kagome held her breath. Her thoughts were racing. What should she do? But looking at him looking at her, feeling his lips just a breath away, how could she say no? Especially when this felt so…right.
Her cheeks glowed and she nodded.
Kouga hesitated, wanting this moment, their first kiss, to be just right. He leaned closer, the energy of his lips grazing hers. She desperately wanted him closer and licked her lips unconsciously. Unable to control himself anymore, Kouga lowered his lips, meeting hers for the first time.
It was a short, gentle kiss. Kouga and Kagome slightly parted, enough to meet each other's gaze. Chestnut eyes met sky, both ablaze from the electrifying chemistry between them. Kouga didn't have to ask again. He scented Kagome's bodily response, and apparently she wanted more. Who was he to deny her anything?
Her placed his palm upon her cheek and pulled her into his body, his lips once again meeting hers, this time hungrier. They kissed passionately and fully, Kagome unknowingly dropping her bouquet upon the bed of wildflowers as her hands reached around Kouga's neck. Kouga ravaged her sweet, supple lips, drinking in her intoxicating taste. His tongue begged to enter and she granted this, their tongues dueling and deepening their desire.
Kouga snaked his arm around Kagome's back and pulled her further into his body, unable to feel close enough to her. His other hand moved quickly from her cheek around the back of her head, holding her passionately against him.
Kagome mimicked Kouga's actions, raising one of her hands into his ebony hair at the nape of his neck. She sighed into his mouth, eliciting a soft growl from Kouga. They were losing themselves in each other.
"Kagome! Kouga!" They heard. The couple reluctantly abandoned one another's embrace, still tasting and feeling the other's aura on their tingling lips. They were panting quietly, looking down the hillside at Sango and Miroku's hut as the ex-demon slayer, far at the bottom of the hill, called up to them.
'Oh my gosh, she must have just seen us make out!' Kagome mentally screamed.
"Kagome," Kouga called softly, placing his clawed hand upon her cheek tenderly while caressing her skin.
"Hmm?" Kagome replied in a daze, slowly turning to meet his loving eyes.
He smiled so genuinely at her. She smiled back. This thing between them really felt…amazing.
"We better go back," he whispered huskily. "They'll be worried if we don't."
Kagome nodded, smiling towards the grass. She felt her chin being lifted by Kouga's finger.
"Kagome. I…I…" Kouga started, struggling for words.
"Kagome!" Sango called again, her pregnancy-induced short-temper perking.
"We better go, Kouga." Kagome smiled apologetically.
Kouga looked at her a moment, very intently. He lowered his head and nodded. Then he stood, helping her to her feet. Kagome remembered her flowers and grabbed them as she was placed upon her feet. She smiled down at the lovely buds.
"These will look so lovely in their hut."
'Not as lovely as you,' Kouga thought blissfully, taking Kagome's hand tenderly in his as they walked side by side down the hill.
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Alone in the forest, a lone figure trudged, trapped in memories of the past. His long shiny hair blew back from a gentle breeze wafting through the tall oak trees. His vibrant robe ruffled as the wind rushed past him. He wondered if a spring storm may be on its way, despite the shining sunlight splaying across the land hours earlier.
He neared his destination, the sound of villagers settling into their huts for the evening flowing to his inhuman ears. He wasn't nervous, but agitated and ambivalent. He stared ahead with an uncertain expression. Should he show himself? Did he belong here, now?
His hesitation was short-lived. He continued forward, eyeing the hut that was his destination.
A woman stepped out from the hut, having sensed his arrival. She peered at him, her eyes saddened by his dismal expression. She couldn't help but feel empathy for the poor creature. He had suffered much loss.
He met her gaze, his stance steadfast and strong, but his eyes revealed a different reality.
The woman smiled sadly at the being in front of her. She gestured for him to come.
"Welcome back, Inuyasha."