Good eve! Herein lies another chapter. I was inspired twice. Woohoo! Enjoy.
Kagome was in a pretty decent mood. The day was fair; the sun high above thick, illustrious clouds. The trees were in full bloom, green and replete with life and zest.
Inuyasha was still at home. He had not run away, not since last week. And her pregnancy was going well, with no signs of morning sickness ever plaguing her.
Yes, despite her sad, depressing and rather morbid position, Kagome was in high spirits.
Her dear friend, Rin, was not.
The girl had not yet gotten over Sesshomaru's departure and no matter how often the likes of Kaede or even Kohaku inquired about how she faired, Rin remained silent as she had been when she was younger.
Kagome carried a basket of fish she sought out earlier that morning. Inuyasha used to help her fish, but since he was rather incapacitated, at the moment, knocked out in his room, Kagome chose to get the food on her own. It wasn't a hard task anyway. All she needed was a net to catch about two trout and she was good to go. She intended to prepare some grilled fish for Inuyasha, something he had not had the pleasure of eating yet. She wanted to feed him well enough to remember, at least from this moment on, that she was a great cook. Having a husband like Inuyasha required that she be one. He had such refined taste.
She made her way to her house and prepared the food with some salts and spices to keep it nice and fresh until she returned from her time with Rin. Once she was finished, she left the house, checking in on Inuyasha's comatose form on his mat. Her husband was so sleepy, he seemed oblivious to the snores escaping his mouth. She regarded him with a smile and moved swiftly through the hall without a sound.
The walk was not very long to Kaede's home since they lived so close to one another. Kagome had wanted to stay close to the old woman. It allowed her to learn all that she needed toward becoming a competent priestess and healer. When she arrived, Kaede was tending to a brown haired child who had fallen on his knees. He had a large cut scraped against his skin. At the sight, Kagome's eyes widened and she rushed over to the boy with alacrity.
Kaede acknowledged her approaching form, as did the boy. He knew Kagome, as did all the village youth, since she helped them with menial tasks, including reading and writing.
He perked up at the sight of her and said, "Kagome!"
She knelt before him and picked out a salve she held within her bag. "Hi there, Ikuto. What happened to you?"
He spoke with the excitement that came from any hyperactive seven year old boy. "I was helping father pick out some grains, and I didn't see a vine on the floor, so when I went to walk past it, I tripped and hurt my knee with a rock that sat next to it. It was sharp, like a dagger, and it really, really h-hurt." He ended that with a soft whimper. His lips quivered, and his eyes filled with water.
Kagome rubbed his shoulder. The boy was so adorable, she nearly awww'd. If she had a son, then he would surely be this adorable. With his father's temper and looks, the boy would be the cutest creature in all the world. Her heart warmed at the idea and she kept the feeling close.
"Oh, Ikuto. Don't worry. We'll have you fixed in no time. Right, Kaede?"
"Ay."
Ikuto immediately perked up and began swinging his legs. The salve Kaede applied to him was already showing its effects.
Kagome bandaged him and sent him on his way. He limped toward his family, with a grin plastered on his lips. With that done, Kagome turned to Kaede. "So how's Rin?"
Kaede shook her head, her voice grim. "The child chooses not to venture outside. I fear she has caught an illness."
Yeah. It's called the "Love Bug."
"I'll see what I can do to lift her spirits."
"She does not even speak to Kohaku."
Kagome knew this, but still it shocked her, for the two had been the best of friends for nearly eight years now. They shared a relationship which could rival even that of Sesshomaru's, a fact which must have plagued the demon if he held any regard for the girl, romantic or platonic.
"I think it may be a woman's issue."
Kaede sucked her teeth. "Bah. Then why not speak to me about it?"
Kagome had no words, all explanations caught within the fibers of her throat. When she could speak, it came out like a jumbled mess; a puzzle none could decipher. "Ah... I... You see... Things."
"It is about the demonic demon," Kaede rasped with a scowl.
Kagome laughed at her word use. Yes, he was a rather demonic demon.
"Do not mock me, Kagome. I know it is so. That fiend came to Sango's get-together- which I was not invited to, but we shall speak of this matter later-and now my girl is torn in twain."
Kagome clamped her mouth toward Kaede's use of the term "my girl" to define Rin. Empathy cloaked itself, for it was plain that Kaede viewed the girl as nothing short of a daughter. She took her in when she was merely eight years of age, mentoring as well as teaching her all she could. And now the girl was sixteen, of age to move on with her life and choose a new story to walk through.
Kaede looked at Kagome, her one eye, deep and intense. "Do ye know a thing about this?"
Kagome nodded. "Inuyasha told me Sesshomaru said he was leaving for a while."
"But he always goes away."
"This time may be longer than usual."
"Well, there it is. That be the reason for her melancholy." Kaede made a move to stand, but struggled to do so. She was getting older, and simple tasks were becoming a burden. Kagome quickly came to her aid, and helped her up.
"Thank ye, my dear."
Kaede picked up an iron tea pot and poured the two a drink of sencha tea. The green herbs were dried and used to rejuvenize and strengthen those who sipped its contents. Kaede must have been feeling tired, though Kagome could hardly tell. Her worry over Rin surely plagued her body.
Kagome sipped the drink in silence, letting the hot liquid sooth her inside. In this silence, she could hear birds playing along to natures' music. The wind blew and trees moaned, yet the natural sounds comforted her.
Once finished, Kagome asked Kaede if she could try her hand at bouying the girls spirits.
"Have at it, Kagome. Lord knows I've tried."
Rin was despondent. Her room was dark, the window covered by a thick clothe. Her body lay strewn across the floor; her hair in disarray, tangled across her face as she stared at the ceiling, or perhaps even nothing.
Kagome understood the girl's plight for she had, at one time, acted as melodramatic as she. Heck, if she let herself think too much about all that transpired between she and Inuyasha, the pain would empty her, bleeding what little strength she had.
But it was unhealthy to remain in such a state, and she hated feeling malcontent, no matter if she had every right to be. Rin, of course, had some reason to be so emotional, but the girl was young, and she had all the time in the world to work on things with Sesshomaru. She thought. Kagome found that whole relationship rather confusing.
The demon was the most aloof being one could ever come across. He was expressionless, with a tone which held no inflection. Why the girl loved him so, boggled the mind.
He was handsome, Kagome could give her that. The InuTaisho men were known for their good looks as well as the terror they could strike on their enemies. But what else could have pushed the girl to love him so?
It didn't really matter to Kagome. Her heart was tied to one half demon and it would stay that way no matter what.
She entered the room, making sure to take measured steps. Her feet were bare, yet the wood creaked when she planted her foot against a weak plank. The whine made Rin turn sharply toward Kagome. Had Kagome been easier to scare, she would have screeched at such a sight. She reminded Kagome of a horror movie she had seen long ago.
But instead of making any odd noises, she waved at the girl. Rin sat up, ever the sweetheart. "Hi, Kagome." Her voice was somewhat hoarse, having not been used for possibly a day or two.
"How are you, Rin? I hear you've been a little emo."
Rin cocked her head, not understanding what she meant by that word. Kagome smiled. "Sorry. It's a future word." She sat on her knees before the girl. "It means you've been a bit emotional. Dark. Quiet."
Rin simply shrugged. She gave no reply.
"Want to talk about it?"
Rin shook her head.
Kagome slapped her thigh and rose from where she sat. "Good!"
The girl blinked, surprised by Kagome's odd display of delight, then said, "Huh?"
"I don't want to talk about anything either. Especially about men."
Rin's face clouded, her gaze withdrawn.
"Sorry about that. Any who. Let's go!"
"Where?"
"I'm beat. I went fish catching all by my lonesome, and now my back is killing me. Sango is too busy to come with me, and I don't want to trouble Kaede."
Rin remained silent, though the unsaid question filled the air. So why not go with Inuyasha? Kagome knew the girl wouldn't say such a thing, so she waited by the door, with her hands at her waist. She tapped her foot one. Twice.
"You coming or not?"
"I..." Rin was flustered. Kagome knew the girl wanted to remain in her pit of misery, but she was too kind to say no to Kagome. Surely.
"I don't think I want to."
Perhaps not.
"Come on, Rin! I need some company. Don't leave me alone." Kagome then pouted her lips ever so slightly. She doubted such a thing would work, but she was having fun being playful with the girl. "Please?"
Rin narrowed her eyes at Kagome, and she found herself nearly gulping. Woof. The girl was annoyed.
Oh well.
Rin sluggishly came to her feet and groaned with a-curse? Did Kagome hear her correctly? She knew then that it was imperative the girl leave her room. She was acting far too emotional and needed to regain her equilibrium posthaste.
"Chop-chop!" Kagome clapped her hands, further annoying the girl and not giving a fig. If she was annoyed, it was far better than being depressed. Anything was better than that.
It took some time for Rin to get dressed (nearly an hour or even two-Kagome lost track of time), but once she was ready, she and Kagome left the house, a gaping Kaede left aghast.
They arrived at the spring at a fairly moderate pace, never once saying a word. Kagome wanted to give her a break from being too annoyed since the girl's shoulders were so tight, she feared they'd pop.
When they undressed, Kagome first entered the water, a groan escaping her lips. Lord, it felt so good to relax within the heated folds of a natural hot spring. Rin came in soon after, continuing her offering of silence. She wrapped her legs around her arms, holding them to her chin. The water went up to her lips, and she let out small bubbles as she sat there.
Kagome imagined a pernicious cloud hovering above her.
Naraku would be laughing.
Kagome moved her hands along the water, letting the waves lap her chest. She rested her head against a rocky exterior, looking up into the sky. The time had gone by quicker than she realized, for the sun was at its highest, indicating the noon hour. She wondered if Inuyasha was awake. He was probably looking for her. Of that, she hoped. More likely, he was taking advantage of his time alone, walking around the village and exploring. She continued to apply salves onto his head at night, and they even ate dinner together. But not much progress had been made between the two. For some reason, after he had seen the pictures, he'd remained somewhat quiet. Not much withdrawn, but rather solemn.
What could he be thinking within that mind of his? She wondered about this for hours at end, waiting for him to seek her out for more than help or food. But no matter what she said to try and pique his interest, he seemed instead lost in thought, in a nothing box all his own.
The day after Sango's celebration party, she had noticed his silence and wanted to hear his voice. She showed him his sword and asked if he wanted to know how to wield it properly. The weapon could only be drawn and emit its power when he used it to protect others. It was connected to both his human and demonic sides.
He shook his head and told her he wasn't ready yet to use it.
She'd tried to hide the shock from her face when he said such a thing, for he had always been eager to learn something about his sword. He smiled half heartedly, telling her, "Head's hurting."
And that was all she got from him most times.
"Head's hurting."
"Got a lot on my mind."
"It's all giving me a migraine."
"Food."
The last one actually humored her for a while since he said it with the straightest face, as if it were of the utmost importance. In his state of weakness, he had become a voracious eater; almost like a proper dog.
Inuyasha would have been insulted at such a thought. In fact, he had been the last time she told him to sit.
She felt remorse for having placed the beads on him, but he had not forced her to use it on him at all this week. She was thankful for that.
Rin continued to sit in silence and it began to rankle at Kagome's nerves, so she chose to open up to the girl, allowing her to focus on something else.
"Inuyasha and I are doing pretty well." Lie. "He's opened up to me a bit." Lie number two. "And he's willing to stay in the house despite not remembering me still." Truth.
Rin shifted in the water. "That's good."
"You think so?"
Rin shifted again. "Not really. This must really hurt you."
Amen to that. "I can handle him. And I think I can make him love me. I'm a pretty lovable girl. Right?" Okay, now she was sounding like a moron.
When Rin gave no answer, Kagome assumed the girl had gone into herself again, but then she saw her cheeks. Streaks fell, coming from nowhere near the water.
"I'm sorry," Kagome rushed out. "I didn't mean to make you cry."
Rin wiped her eyes. "It's not your fault. I..." She paused because her chin began to tremble. "I shouldn't be crying."
"Is it about Sesshomaru?"
She hesitated before she nodded.
"What did he do?"
"Nothing really. He just left."
Kagome inched some more. "So why are you so sad? You're worrying us all."
Rin finally looked at her, her eyes filled with a sadness she could mirror. "He's going to be gone for a long time."
Kagome swallowed thickly. "How long?"
"He said a year, at minimum."
Kagome gasped, startled. "But why?"
"He wouldn't tell me," she murmured. Rin suddenly laughed, but it was pained and sharp. "He tells me nothing."
"Have you told him?"
Rin colored and averted her gaze, hiding beneath her bangs. She didn't have to ask what Kagome meant by this. "I'm afraid to. He's so much older than I."
"Inuyasha is for me, too, but that didn't stop me."
"I'm afraid that he sees me as a ward and nothing else." She shuddered at the thought, the movement creating a current in the water. "I don't know what I'll do if he does. I've loved-" She cut herself short, horrified over nearly declaring her love for the demon.
"I understand, Rin. Say no more."
The cloud surrounded her once again and Kagome couldn't stand the sight of it. She pushed a gentle current toward Rin, and the small wave lapped across her mouth. Rin rolled her eyes and blew some air through the water. "You really won't let me simmer, will you?"
"You have no reason to simmer- not really. Your demon will come back to you. But what about mine?" Her breath caught at the end and she stopped herself from saying anything else. She had to remain positive, for the sake of them both. "Listen, we've got to be strong for our men. Mine has lost his memory and yours is lost in time, but they'll come back to us. I promise."
"But..." Rin's voice trailed off with a sigh. "You're right. I'm sorry."
"No apologies necassary. Besides, I think a congratulations is in order."
At Rin's puzzled expression Kagome muttered, "I'm pregnant."
Rin's hearing was clearly better than Sango's, because the girl jumped up, her body exposed to the world. When she realized what she'd done, she came back to her knees with a splash, then made a move to hug Kagome. The two were naked though so their hug came out somewhat awkward. With a laugh, they settled instead for a high-five and a whoop.
For a space in time, their clouds dissipated, letting in only light.
He could smell her everywhere, yet she was not close by. Inuyasha caught himself worrying over the whereabouts of Kagome. Her scent surrounded every nook of their home, but he could not find her. He zoomed out of the house, in a heavy gust of wind, lifting the pants of passerby's.
Where the heck is she? he wondered, feeling as though he were in a state of desperation. After leaving his home, her scent drifted toward a river, so he searched there first. Villagers permeated the place, fishing for food, but Kagome was nowhere in sight. Prickles of unease settled over him. Was she hurt? Could she have gotten lost in the woods- or been taken by a demon!
No. He would've smelled her blood in an instant if she was hurt. And if she'd been taken by a demon, surely someone would have mentioned this. He continuously whizzed by people, all of them saying "hello" to him with the kindest of dispositions.
Guilt gnawed at his nerves, for he knew he had retreated into himself for a time, scared of his new feelings for Kagome. She probably was irritated by him by now, seeking a reprieve from all that he did.
He felt bad. Truly, he did. But he didn't know how to react to the woman without falling into a blundering fit of nonsense. When he looked into her eyes, something inside of him was so entwined with her, that he sometimes caught himself reaching toward her when her back was turned.
Images were coming to him again, as well. Except these weren't lascivious as the former. Instead, they dealt with an evil menace of a long ago past who had tried to destroy Kagome. The thought of such a thing happening to her, scared him to bits. Every time he dreamt it, he would awake in a heavy sweat, nearly calling out her name. He held back, not wanting to see her worry over him again.
He continued on his search for her, venturing now toward Kaede's home. He remembered that he wanted to speak to Kaede about Kikyou and what had happened long ago, but his urgency toward finding Kagome took precedent.
She looked at him wide-eyed when he came to her, nearly out of breath.
"Where is she?" he rasped.
"Where is whom?"
"Kagome. My-my wife."
"Ay, she is with Rin."
"And where are they?"
"I know not, Inuyasha."
He threw his hands up in a state of outrage. "How do you not know where two young women are?" he barked. "They can get hurt."
Kaede looked at him, her eye filled with mirth. "I assure ye, Inuyasha, your wife is more than capable of taking care of herself."
"Doubt that," he muttered, crossing his arms to his chest. His ears twitched and he noticed that Kaede tried to hide her laughter.
Irritated, he whirled away, glowering. He followed the next trail of Kagome's scent, and finally it became stronger, thickening with every step he took. He jumped higher and higher, whirling past trees. They shook with the force of his speed, and leaves fell to their death. Finally, he caught a thicket where her scent seemed strongest, and he jumped over the green patch of shrubbery.
And he fell to his face.
Kagome was naked. She was standing tall, arms akimbo, naked as the day she was born. Her skin was red, heated with the water which clothed her slick flesh. Her nipples were pink, breasts glistening; her center darkened with a patch of thick, brown curls.
Inuyasha didn't know whether to turn around and screech, or run away. His body had other things planned though, and he simply stared.
Inuyasha desired Kagome. She knew it the second he laid eyes on her. Also, even though his red pants were thick and rather large, she could still make out the bulge which rose from his center.
She smiled with delight.
Kagome had long ago lost all desire to be prim with Inuyasha. In the past, she used to scold him for appearing suddenly while she bathed, without giving her time to clothe herself. This time, she did no such thing, reveling instead on the face he made as his gaze devoured every inch of her.
Had she not already been wet, she would've been now.
She turned to Rin. The girl was safe in her corner; her body completely covered by the water and a bush.
She returned her focus on Inuyasha, his eyes now glossed over as they watched her center.
"Inuyasha."
He blinked suddenly and whirled around in an instant.
"Put some clothes on!" he barked.
Kagome sighed. The fun was over.
"What are you doing here, Inuyasha?"
"I was looking for you."
"Why?"
"I can't talk till you put some clothes on!"
She turned to Rin to tell her to stand and get ready, but the girl had already put her clothes on and sent Kagome a farewell salute before leaving her stranded.
Kagome's clothes were in front of where Inuyasha stood, so she walked around him, unashamed. Her body moved sensually, knowing every shift her husband adored. The sounds he sputtered, while looking skyward, made her bite her lip to hold back a laugh.
She purposely put her clothes on slowly, languorously, torturing him as much as she felt tortured. For though she held the power in this dance, if he were to turn the tables, she would have become putty in his hands. When she was finished, she strode toward the spring, grabbing onto her bag. When she turned, she caught Inuyasha staring again before he looked to the heavens again.
"You little perv," she muttered.
"I didn't see shit," he snapped.
"Oh, I think you saw plenty, Inuyasha." His blush proved this; his face now covered in red.
He growled, the sound meant to be frustrating, yet it simply aroused something primitive in Kagome. She had to work hard to tamper it down because she wanted to pounce on him and his flustered face.
She changed the subject. "So, what was so urgent for you to come find me here?"
He counted with his fingers, his eyes following her as she moved around the area, getting her things. "First of all, I did not know you would be bathing at this hour-it's noon, how can you stand that heat? Second, I did not know you would be naked."
Kagome chortled. "How else would we bathe?"
Inuyasha stopped short. "We?"
"Rin. You didn't smell her?"
"Wasn't searching for her," he gritted out, his face a mask of ire.
"Would you relax, Inuyasha? You've seen me naked thousands of times before."
He looked at her, his eyes now blank. "I do not know how to respond to that."
She sighed, the sound exasperated. "Never mind."
They returned to the village, the two in silence. Once they were home, Kagome cooped herself in the living room, but Inuyasha stood by the door way, staring at her. She wondered why he chose not to leave, but he made no sound.
"You just gonna stand there and watch me?"
He pursed his lips, the image both cute and annoying. How could a person be both?
"I'm hungry," he said. "When are you going to cook?"
A nerve ticked on her forehead, the motion visible to Inuyasha. "I just got home. Let me settle down. I'm tired."
Inuyasha snorted. "Of what?"
"I woke early today to catch some fish," she snapped. "No thanks to you. You've been sleeping your days away."
She hadn't noticed how tight he was strung until his shoulders lowered. He raked his fingers through his hair, the gesture tugging at her heartstrings. She could see how stressed he was and she decided then to calm down. Not everything could be blamed on hormones, after all.
"I'm sorry."
"I'm sorry."
Their eyes met having said the same thing in unison, as if in sync. Kagome grinned, and Inuyasha caught his lips curving on one end.
"Knock on wood," Kagome said.
Inuyasha cocked his head and his ears twitched again. "Why?"
At that, Kagome burst out laughing, while his expression turned puppy-like and puzzled.
I can't wait to have his child.
The thought made her laughter die, though not uncomfortably. In fact, she had not felt this comfortable with Inuyasha since before his amnesia. Yes, the idea of having his child calmed her soul and made her feel high. He wondered, obviously, about her change in mood but she could not bother to explain how she felt to him. Not yet, at least.
That grounded her for a moment, but she didn't let it hammer her spirits. Instead, she took this brief snippet of optimism and said, "Inuyasha, would you like to go on a date with me?"
He didn't understand what this meant; nevertheless, the word made him blush.
"Date? What's that?"
"It's uh," she paused with a purse to her lips. "Well, we simply go out and have lunch together somewhere other than home."
"And where would we go?" But more importantly; "What will we eat?"
"I already seasoned some fish, but maybe we can go hunting together. We can leave the fish for tomorrow."
The idea set his back straight, as excitement poured through him. This sounded fantastic. He wanted so much to experience something familiar and this was it. With a nod, she stood up and picked up a long bow and a few arrows, surprising him with her swift readiness. She asked him if he needed a sword, but he scoffed. His nails were sharp enough to deal with food items.
Outside of the village, far from where the hot springs sat, trees towered above Kagome and Inuyasha. They walked together, as Inuyasha searched for a tasty morsel to capture. He caught wind of a boar and told Kagome to get ready. She grinned with anticipation and he found that look to be positively seductive; so much so, that when she told him to go, he had not realized it until she ran to the animal.
Inuyasha took this opportunity to show off his skill. As Kagome ran with her puny human legs, he whizzed down the road, jumping high above the trees. He managed to catch the boar in a swift movement, his claws arching and striking the animal in an instant. With the animal on his back, he waited for Kagome to come for him, and when she did not, he sniffed her out, finding her atop a hill which gave them a view of the village and mountainous regions surrounding them.
In Kagome's hand were three arrows, each one holding a lifeless crow.
Inuyasha stood next to her, while she gazed toward the view.
"Not bad," he said. "You caught those pretty quickly. How'd you get up here?"
She arched a brow, the side of her eyes meeting his. "I intended to come here in the first place. Just waited for you to arrive. What took you so long?"
He shook his head, smiling. The woman was clearly a skilled archer, but she was also adept at leaving him speechless. He hefted the creature over his shoulder and let it flop onto the ground.
"What do you think of this?"
Pride for him laced her tongue when she told him it was simply "amazing."
He wanted to puff up his chest at the idea of making this woman proud of him, though why he could not fathom. He shook the thought away, letting this moment continue.
"So what do we do now?"
"Set up a fire."
They worked on this, the two in tandem. Inuyasha gathered the wood, while Kagome plucked what she could from the crows. When the wood was settled, Inuyasha set it ablaze with a nail to a stone. Kagome grabbed some sticks and stuck them onto the birds. She let them simmer in the firey blaze. When she looked at the boar, she said, "I think that may be too much."
Inuyasha scoffed at the idea. "If you need me to cut a piece, I can do it. Just tell me where."
She told him the precise location to incise, choosing one leg for them both. Inuyasha managed to skin the creature, proficiently cutting off the fat. Before she knew it, the leg was ready to be cooked.
While their food sizzled and popped, sensual aromas permeating the valley, they sat in companionable silence, looking out toward the view. The sun was arching toward the horizon, covered by heavy clouds. Rays pierced through various patches and hit them where they lay. Inuyasha's pale hair was nearly golden, reminding Kagome of his tempting eyes.
"Pretty amazing," he said to her, his gaze on high.
She agreed, but wasn't referring to the view, her eyes now focused on him.
When the food was ready, Inuyasha grabbed the pieces of meat, and laid them onto a stone to cool off. Their mouths watered at the feast laid before them. Once it cooled, he handed her a brown slab of pig meat and they devoured the meals together, enjoying every sinew they broke through.
Satisfied, they lay on their backs; their eyes set to the darkening sky. But when droplets began to fall onto their face, they sat up with a quickness. Inuyasha grabbed onto what was left of their food and told Kagome to run, but she ran too slow for comfort so he stopped in front of her and said, "Get on my back. It's going to pour."
She nodded without thought and jumped onto his back.
They made it home before the torrent came. Rain pelted above their roof, yet no water leaked through the wood. Kagome and Inuyasha went to their rooms to change into warm clothes. She placed her wet clothing close to the fire which sat at the center of her abode. She stared at it, a smile gracing her lips, having enjoyed her date with Inuyasha.
Content, she began to close her eyes, the firey blaze, turning into darkness. Until she heard a pat on her door frame.
Inuyasha stood there, his foot resting by the wall. He had his arms covered in a white shirt, while his hair remained wet and clung to his skin.
"I just wanted to say," he began; "that I had a good time and..." He paused just for the tiniest second to meet her eyes. His own were soft, like a pool of gold, having been melted by the sun. "I just wanted to say 'good night.'"
She nodded her head and whispered, "Good night, Inuyasha."
When he left, she lay on her cot, and for the first time that week, she slept in peace.