The Lucky Ones
Chapter Twenty-Three
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The Lucky Ones
By Terri Botta
Disclaimer: I don’t own
Inuyasha. Sole copyright belongs to Viz and Rumiko Takashi. I’m poor so don’t
sue.
Rating: R for later chapters.
Pairing: Inuyasha/Kagome,
Miroku/Sango
Summary: Sometimes Fate hands
you a gift you never thought you’d ever get, and it’s up to you to accept it
for what it is.
Feedback to:
tci100@psu.edu
Website: http://www.wordsmiths.net/Botta
**********
Chapter Twenty-Three
Inuyasha
sat next to Miroku as they watched their women with their little ones. Sango,
Shippou and Kagome were sitting on one of Kagome’s ‘picnic blankets’ and were
enjoying the early autumn sunshine. Soon Kagome’s ‘school break’ would be over
and she would once again have to return to her world every two weeks. It would
be her last year before ‘college’ as she called it, and from what he understood
of her time that meant her official schooling was almost over. She didn’t have
to go to ‘college’ but her mother wanted her to, and she’d often told him going
to ‘college’ would help her ‘get a better job’ when she was grown-up.
He didn’t
really want her to go to ‘college.’ First of all, it meant more ‘school’ which
in turn meant more ‘tests’ and more time away from him, although he pretty much
went with her every time she traveled through the well now. Second of all, he
really didn’t see the point in her continuing. She had her life with him and
the pup in his time. He didn’t see any reason why she couldn’t stay with him
and learn miko healing from Kaede
if she wanted to study to become a ‘nurse’ or a doctor. He had to admit,
however, that Kagome would make a very good doctor. Not only was she excellent
at patching up their many wounds with her modern medicine, she was also very
good at diagnosing problems.
A few weeks
ago, she’d realized Sango’s tr> troubles with her pup
weren’t normal and that the taijiya was suffering from something called
‘post-partum depression.’ Apparently this sometimes happened to women after
normal. This made women sad and unhappy and sometimes even made them kill their
pups. All this time they’d been assuming that Sango was just suffering from
new-mother jitters, but when she didn’t stop crying all the time and started
calling herself a bad mother, they’d started to get really worried. Miroku had
even taken the pup away from her a few
times because he feared for the pup’s safety. The houshi
had hated doing it, and was beside himself with grief and concern for both his
wife and his daughter, but when he found bruises on the pup’s arms he’d grabbed
the pup and ran.
Kagome figured out what was going on, and brought back books that had recipes
for herbal remedies and even some medicine from her time. It took a couple of
weeks, but slowly Sango began to return to normal, and everyone was relieved.
Now the last three months seemed like nothing but a bad dream that Sango had
finally awakened from, and the taijiya had often referred to her ‘depression’
as just that: a horrible dream from which she could not wake. The young mother
couldn’t thank Kagome enough for realizing something was wrong and helping her.
After reading Kagome’s books, she’d been horrified to know that she could have
killed her pup if her condition had gone untreated. Inuyasha knew Miroku was
eternally grateful as well because Kagome had saved both his wife and pup,
although Kagome waved off her amazing accomplishments as she always did, saying
it was nothing and refusing to take any credit for her part in
The
she was born. Yukio, of course, now ten months old was a roly-poly pup who
toddled after his mother wherever she went. Both mothers had their pups in
their laps as they talked, Kagome waving hends nds as she animatedly told some
tale from her time. Sango and Shippou were listening avidly, nodding and
smiling. Miyoko was sleeping, and Yukio was looking
bored.
a bored pup will find his own trouble,’ he thought.
“It’s a
beautiful sight, isn’t it,” Miroku commented with a contented sigh.
He grunted in
agreement, caught on Kagome’s laughter.
“I cannot
thank Kagome-sama enough for all she’s done. When the
time cofor for you to build her that house, you can count on me to help as much
as I can.”
He nodded.
“I don’t know when that will be. With Kikyou gone from here, there is no way to
resolve things between us, and Kagome won’t let me build it until we know what
“But you
have told me you have chosen Kagome.”
“If I can,
I will chose her, but Kikyou has to release me first.”
“You may be
able to demand it of her since it seems obvious that she has abandoned you.”
The thought was a slap to his face. ‘Lowly
hanyou doesn’t even deserve a goodbye…’
“Maybe,” he
replied non-committally.
Yukio,
hanyou puppy ears catching the sound of his father’s voice, turned his head to
see him and smiled.
finally realized we were here, eh pup? Well, we are sitting downwind…’
“
lap and heading his way over.
Kagome
paused in her story to look where he was going and saw the two of them sitting
in the shade of the trees. She cast him a brilliant smile and waved. Sango
waved too, then they went back to their conversation.
Yukio toddled the rest of the way across the clearing and plopped into his lap,
giggling.
He smiled
at his son and rubbed his ears. “Hey, pup.”
He fished
out a sweet root from his haori and gave it to Yukio
for him to chew on. The pup happily accepted the treat and started gnawing away
as he settled into his father’s lap, his little back against his abdomen. He
put his arms around the pup the way his own mother used to do when he was just
a little whelp and pulled him close.
“I’m glad
things are back to normal with Sango. Woman had us all worried,” he commented.
“Almost,”
Miroku replied, an unhappy note to his voice.
He turned
to look at the houshi and saw him frowning. “Is
something still wrong? Does Kagome need to bring more medicine back from her
time?”
Miroku
shook his head. “It’s nothing like that…” He paused for a long time, his face
unhappy and indecisive.
ask about it? Well, none of my business of he doesn’t want to tell me.’
“Inuyasha…”
“What?”
“With the
responsibilities of Yukio… has Kagome ever…”
“Has she
ever what?”
Miroku
struggled with the words, his hands clenching.
“Has she
ever… refused you?”
“Refused
me?” ‘Refused me what? Oh…’ He
blushed and looked at his son. “No.”
Miroku
sighed. “I see.”
lecher!’
“Not all
marital bliss, eh bouzu?” he teased.
groped!’
There was a
pause, then Miroku answered, choosing his words carefully, “Sango’s
return to her wifely duties has been… slow.”
dry.’
“I am
trying to be patient, but… my palms are starting to itch.”
“Been two
days, eh letch?”
“More like
two months,” Miroku admitted sadly.
He gaped.
must really be desperate if he’s asking me
about it.’ His own groin twinged in sympathy.
pan>pan>The
the stress of Miyoko, then
later when Kagome-sama said Sango was suffering from
a medical condition that needed treatment, I thought it was that.
returned.”
“Have you…
is any concern of mine. Still, if his hands start to wander… His pup may grow
up without a father. The taijiya will probably kill him if she finds out.’
“Yes. She
says it hurts her.”
“Hurts
her?”
Miroku
swallowed uncomfortably and shifted a bit. “Yes. Her body… it… it doesn’t get
ready.”
saying…?’
“
slippery,” he offered.
Miroku
blinked at him in surprise. “You and Kagome-sama have
had this problem?”
“Not
really. Usually I just lick her. A few good swipes to her sweet spot and she’s
wetter than a fish,” he answered distractedly as Yukio tugged on his sleeve.
the sweet root.
“
“Lick her?
“Yeah, the
little bump…” He got flustered and blushed, realizing
what he was saying. “Are you telling me you don’t lick your woman?”
Now it was
of pretending to be a womanizer were just an act.’ A dark thought clouded
his mind. ‘Or maybe he just took his
pleasure where he found it and didn’t return the favor.’ The idea did not
sit well with him.
“Look.
There’s a little bump there. Find it yourself. Like I said, a few good swipes
and your problem should be solved,” he said irritably.
The
He growled.
“Don’t thank me. Your woman’s pleasure should come first because she gives you
pleasure. If you’re not making it good for her, it’s no wonder she’s saying
no.”
Miroku had
the decency to look ashamed. “You are right, of course.”
“Damn right
I am,” he snorted.
He hurried
to reassure his son that his ire was not directed at him. :Pup
good. Pack-male displeases leader-male.:
Yukio
turned wide, golden eyes towards Miroku, then slowly
ducked his head behind his haori sleeve. He had to
struggle to suppress the smile that threatened to come out.
“My
previous experience with women was limited…” the houshi
began.
“And I had
none,” he interrupted. “That’s no excuse. You find out what makes her feel good
and you do it. It’s not hard, it just takes longer.” ‘And the letch gets sex advice from the virgin hanyou who didn’t even
know women could climax… What is
wrong with this conversation? Am I really so different from other men that I do
my best to please my lover?’ That thought also did not sit well with him.
“Of… of
course,” Miroku agreed nervously.
The
his sleeve, two golden eyes peered up at him, but otherwise the pup was still
keeping his head down.
“Women
aren’t vessels for breeding more sons,” he said, repeating something Kagome had
once told him about the attitudes of the men in this era.
“Of course
they aren’t!” the houshi gasped immediately.
His temper
was still piqued, however, and he was tired of discussing a subject he felt he
shouldn’t have to be talking about in the first place. Yukio was getting ready
to fuss, and there were better things he could be doing: like sitting with
Kagome and basking in her attentions. To that affect he did something he rarely
did; he pulled a Sesshoumaru.
how to deliver a good put down.’
“This
conversation is over,” he said coolly, very much like his brother would do, and
stood up, putting Yukio on his shoulders. “I’ve told you something you can do.
The rest is up to you. If you want more, ask Kagome for her books. She has two
of them that have been very good for us.”
He didn’t
wait for Miroku’s reply before he walked over to
where Kagome was still sitting with Shippou, Sango and her pup.
Later that
evening all of them gathered outside of Kaede’s hut for
dinner. Earlier in the day he’d dug out a fire pit and placed several fish
wrapped in ‘foil’ from Kagome’s time in a bed of hot coals, then covered them
up with rocks. The fish stayed baking in the coals for most of the afternoon,
with more coals being added when needed, and when the meal was ready, the fish
was retrieved from the coals. They were flavorful and tender, cooked in their
own juices and the spices Kagome had wrapped with them. Served with rice,
vegetables and the ever present ramen noodles, it was a feast for eyes, noses
and tastebuds.
“Ah-men,”
Yukio enthused, seeing the noodles.
“Yeah, you
got that right, pup. Ninja food. Yummy.”
Of course,
the pup couldn’t use chopsticks yet so he had to eat with his little hands.
Kagome would drain the noodles and give them to the pup as dry as she could
make them to reduce the mess. Many times she’d had to strip him almost naked
after a meal and wash his clothes until she got wise and started using a bib on
him.
During the
meal, Miroku was subdued, but not hostile, and he was friendly but reserved. In
the law of inu-youkai, it was up to the monk as the
subordinate in the pack to make up with him by offering the proper apologies
and not the other way around. Sango and Kagome seemed to know that something
had transpired between them, but were wisely keeping their mouths shut for the
time being, although he was certain Kagome would ask him about it later.
They were
joined for dinby
The two were practically inseparable these days, and some of the light was
returning to the boy’s eyes. Unfortunately, the same could not be said for
and still Sesshoumaru did not return for her. Oh, she
tried to hide her worry and disappointment, she she was usually her bubbly
self, but it was obvious that she was missing the taiyoukai
vmuchmuch.
thought dourly. ‘And my brother’s an
asshole. It’s been two months and he hasn’t even sent word of how things are
going.’
“Inuyasha-
“Do you
think Sesshoumaru-sama has forgotten about
He almost
choked on his tea. ‘How the hell should I
know? I never understood why he kept a human whelp with him in the first
place!’
He looked
to Kagome for rescue, and she saved him without hesitation.
“I’m sure
you, Rin-chan,” she said.
“But the
New Moon has come and gone twice and soon it will come again.
“Bah! You
don’t have to be worried about that. No weak human army could hurt my brother,”
he scoffed. ‘However, it has been an
awfully long time. He should have defeated that army by now and come for her.’
He pushed away the little feeling of foreboding and concern.
to worry about that bastard.’
The girl
looked as if she was going to cry and Kagome glared at him.
“What? What
did I do?” he complained defensively.
“But if
for Rin?”
“Why don’t
we write Sesshoumaru-sama a letter asking him if he
knows when you can go home. I’ll help you write it and
Inuyasha will find a youkai courier who can deliver
it for us,” Kagome suggested.<
<
“I will?”
Kagome gave him a ‘death glare’ and his heart started pounding in his chest.
“Oh yes. Yes, I will,” he stammered. ‘Shit,
she’s still scary…’
“You will?
Oh thank you, Inuyasha-sama, Kagome-
hear from Sesshoumaru-sama!”
Pacified
for the time-being, Rin forgot all about her sadness
and the rest of the meal progressed without further upset. Afterwards, however,
he asked Kagome about her plans to write a letter as they walked to the den.
“Are you
really planning to do that?”
find a ‘courier’ and send it off. It doesn’t really have to go to the Western
Lands, she just has to think it did,” she answered.
“Oh good,
for a moment there I was worried. Bothering my brother about that girl before
he’s ready to come get her would probably make him
leave her here just to spite us.”
“Exactly,”
she agreed, stooping down to enter the den. He’d widened the entrance a little
to accommodate going in with the pup on his back, but it still wasn’t high
enough to stand. “Then, if he still hasn’t come for her, you writwrite a letter
of response and have it sent here.”
“Me?”
“You know
how Sesshoumaru talks, who better? Besides,
kanji used in this era. I don’t.”
He smiled
to himself. Kagome had often commented on his writing, saying how amazing it
was that someone as rough and seemingly unschooled as him could write such
beautiful, flowing kanji.
way, I’ll do it.”
him a little kiss on the cheek. “Thank you. It is worrisome though, isn’t it?
He should have come for her by now.”
everything’s alright.’
“Bah! You
worry too much. Sesshoumaru won’t be done in by a
bunch of humans. He’s probably enjoying the peace and quiet from that girl’s
endless chatter.”
“You sound
so certain.”
“Alright
then, I trust you.”
They
settled into the den, lighting some candles and stowing their belongings, and
he took off his clothes as he usually did, folding them and putting them in
their cubby. He had no modesty in front of his family, and the den was more
than warm enough for him. Kagome was the one who was cold at night, but that
just made her snuggle closer to him. Since Rin was
staying with Kaede and Sango and MlE>Miroku’s
hut was full, they’d been practically living in the den full time. In fact,
they hadn’t missed a single night there since Sango started coming out of her
‘depression.’
Kagome put
Yukio down in his place. It wasn’t a bassinet anymore, but its own littsepaseparate sleeping spot with straw and blankets. Having it didn’t keep him from
crawling in with them at night, but he knew enough to stay there until he was
invited to join them.
“So… do you
want to tell me what is going on between you and Miroku?” she asked.
ul
puppy-dog’ eyes.
“Don’t try
to distract me with that look. It’s a dead give-away,” she said, smiling.
He growled
softly.
“Why don’t
you get more comfortable?” he suggested.
“No. I
start taking off my clothes and you start getting all dominant
barely said two words to each other since this afternoon.”
“We weren’t
that bad,” he complained.
“Inuyasha…”
she warned.
He sighed.
“It was man-talk,” he admitted, giving in. While he might be the ‘dominant
dog,’ she was the true alpha and he couldn’t refuse her.
He nodded.
a little emphasis on the word relationship to make sure she knew he wasn’t
talking about their current living arrangements.
“He was?”
“Apparently
he and Sango are… having difficulties. Has she talked to you about this? It
sounds like something two women would talk about more than two men.”
She shook
her head. “Sango’s always been really shy about
intimacy. I remember when I tried to ask her about what it was like to be
married before I got together with you, she always got
really nervous and reluctant to answer me.”
wasn’t doing his duty and pleasing her, she probably didn’t want to tell Kagome
that she was unhappy.’
“Come to
think of it, she might have tried a couple of times but stopped herself. Is it
something really bad?”
him, and he told me his hands are starting to itch.”
She blanched.
“He wouldn’t be stupid enough to cheat on her would he?”
“I don’t
know. She’s said no for two months…”
“Two
My god, you go two days and you start getting cranky!”
that’s just what I thought.’
“Did he say
why? Is it the baby?”
“That’s
part of it, but…”
He
blushingly relayed what Miroku had told him, what he had inferred from the
Kagome listened thoughtfully, nodding every now and then, and stayed quiet
until he was finished.
“So I can
expect Miroku to ask about my books.”
“I hope so.
Their little pup might not be as cute as Yukio, but I don’t want her to grow up
fatherless.”
She gave
him a little smile. “Miyoko is plenty
“Or his
at the pup who was looking at them because he’d heard his name.
“Come here
my little big dog,” Kagome said, opening her arms. Yukio wasted no time in
going to her and snuggling into her side.
“Okay, he
cuter than Miyoko,” she agreed.
“
She’d
gotten him down to nursing only twice a day: once in theningning before bed and
again when they woke in the morning. By now she was making so little milk, that
he barely fed for five minutes, but it was enough to satisfy his need to
suckle.
“
want,” she cooed, lifting her shirt.
he replied enthusiastically.
She’d
barely gotten the nipple exposed before he was on it.
“No teeth!”
she reminded, and he gave a little grunt of agreement. “He’ll be the death of
me,” she sighed.
He shook
his head. “I keep telling you, you have to harden your heart and let him cry.
If you keep giving in, you’ll never get him weaned.”
“I can’t do
that, you know I can’t.”
He
shrugged. They’d been through this many times before over the past two months.
In truth, he was amazed that she’d gotten him down as much as she had.
“All things
considered, though, you shouldn’t have been surprised by Miroku,” she said,
obviously changing the subject.
“I was
being honest when I said in this time men think women are just things they use
to breed sons. A woman’s pleasure isn’t something that they would necessarily
think about.”
rutting animals that take our pleasure and don’t care if our partner is left
wanting?’
“I don’t
think that way,” he argued.
“No, but
you didn’t know much about lovemaking or giving pleasure when we first started.
I had to teach you. If the men and women here don’t know about the things I do,
how can they do any better?”
“It’s not
that hard!” he answered, repeating what he’d said to the houshi.
‘It’s not. How hard is it to remember
what makes your woman moan?’ “They can learn. Besides, that
used women for his own pleasure and didn’t care how they felt.”
She gave
him a tender smile, her eyes warm with approval, and he knew that he’d be
getting and giving pleasure very soon. Yukio was already on the second breast
and just about finished.
about it.’
“Miroku
wasn’t as experienced as he would like us to believe. That Sango
tell me. He wasn’t a virgin like you were, but I don’t think he’d had more than
two or three encounters before he met us, and for all his groping and
suggestion, he never spent the night with any of the women we met.”
“So it was
all an act?”
She nodded.
“Mostly.”
a liar.
She giggled
as she put Yukio down into his bed and checked his diaper. “Well still, I hope
he does ask me for my books. They can only help, right?”
He waited
until she was finished changing him and settling him down in his bed, before
pulling her into his arms and slipping one hand under her shirt.
“Well, we
certainly don’t need them anymore, do we?” he whispered huskily.
“Confident
you’ve learned all you need from them, are you?” she answered coyly.
“Haven’t
we?”
She smiled
wickedly, reached over to one of the cubbies where they kept their lovemaking
supplies and pulled out a book. Turning to a random page, she showed him the
illustration.
“Maybe we
should try this one tonight,” she suggested.
“What’s
with the chair? And even you’re not that flexible, and I’d bang my head on this
low ceiling.”
She began
to laugh and he laughed with her, loving the feel of her in his arms and the
heady freedom his heart enjoyed when he was alone with her.
stopped laughing when my mother died. Now I laugh again. This woman is amazing.’
She tossed
the book over her shoulder and wrapped her arms around his neck. “I guess we’ll
just have to improvise then.”
“
He kissed
her and nothing more was said except when she moaned his name, or he moaned
hers, until the candles burned low and guttered out.
Some untold
hours later as they lay snuggled together in the dark with Yukio nestled next
to them, their conversation at dinner came back to him and he frowned.
lands? It has been too long. Maybe I
ought to go see what’s happened.’
“Hey,” he
whispered in the dark. He knew she was still awake.
“Hmmm?” she
murmured. “Again?”
He chuckled
and kissed her bare shoulder. “No. I’ll let you rest.”
She rolled
to her back, peering up at him in the darkness. He could see her perfectly, but
he knew she was just about blind.
“What is it
then?”
“Do you
think I should go?” he asked suddenly.
“Go? Go
whe
want to, but…’
worried about him?”
“Bah! Why
would I worry about that asshole?”
“Inuyasha,”
she warned.
“Well, he
“Not in
front of Yukio.”
“He’s
sleeping.”
“That’s
what you think.”
He snorted.
She was right, but she couldn’t see the pup in the dark so how would she know.
“Do you
want to go check on him?” she asked.
“Not
really, but it’s not a matter of wanting is it? If everything was alright, he’d
have come for Rin. For whatever reason, he’s attached
to that girl and I don’t think he would have left her for this long if
everything was okay. Gives me a bad feeling.”
She nodded.
“I agree. How much time would you need?”
concerned like I am.’
your time while I’m gone? It’s been a while since any youkai
have showed up to hunt him, but if I’m not around, you’re both vulnerable.”
“You’re
actually telling me to go home for a week? That’s a first,” she teased.
“Don’t get
used to it, wench.”
She giggled
and kicked him lightly with her foot.
“
“Can you
survive without me for a week?” she asked lightly.
gone, but I can’t take you and the pup with me. Not when I might be going into
a warzone.’
“I’ll try.”
“Okay then.
When do you want to leave?”
“Bah. I “Travel “And fast. Her eyes “I don’t He “What if “Then I’ll “Okay. Do His ears She rolled “I’ll miss “I know you “One of us has “Sentimental It worked “You’ll be “ “ He nuzzled She sighed. She laughed “Kagome…” They moved ******** He ended up “This is “But it’s “Yes, it is “I’ll be “I’ll be The others “We’ll miss Shippou had “Take “No. She On the way “I want to “For He’d “You said “Do you As if by “Here,” she She’d “Oh my…” He’d Miroku had “Later!” He’d come “ Shippou had Smiling, “That goes “You’ll be “You know I “Okay.” Shippou had “Be safe, He’d bowed “I will, “Bring back “I will He’d left
p>
don’t need anything. Tessaiga and the clothes on my
back are all I need.” ‘They’re all I own
as well. All I have to give you. But you don’t care about that. You never did.’
light?”
On my own I can be there in two days.”
widened in the darkness. “
need to sleep and I can go a long time without food. When I’m really trying, I
can go 60 to 70 ri in a day.”
240 kilometers!”
shrugged. “It’s easy for me. I can go, see what’s going on, and be back in
seven days.”
what you find there… isn’t good?”
find a way to send word that it’ll take longer. Maybe I’ll send the toad on
that two-headed dragonet Sesshoumaru has.”
you want to hold off until tomorrow afternoon to give
me time to go back and get ramen for you to take along?”
perked up at the sound of ‘ramen.’ “Yeah, okay.”
towards him and snuggled close.
you. You’ll be careful, won’t you?”
be fine.”
will. You’re Inuyasha.”
in the palm of my hands.’ He wrapped his arms around his heart and soul.
to be.”
or a woman?” he teased, trying to cheer her sudden subdued mood.
because she giggled. Then her hand stroked his chest and he shivered.
gone a long time,” she whispered.
me again.”
day.”
her throat, growling. “Always.”
“Let’s make love again. Once more before you go.”
and he chuckled. “I love you,” she whispered.
he breathed, kissing her.
a mildly protesting Yukio to his sleeping space and covered him up with his
blankets. Then he proceeded to telegraph his love for her with his body,
letting his actions speak the words he felt he wasn’t permitted to say.
and build you the finest house in all of Musashi
country.’
leaving much later than he wanted, but there were many questions to be answered
and plans to make before he left. They kept the real reason for his trip from
worried.
very sudden, Kagome-chan,” Sango had said with
concern.
been coming,” Kagome had replied. “Sesshoumaru should
have sent for Rin by now.”
worrisome,” Miroku had admitted, casting an eye towards where
back in a week. Hopefully. If not, then I’ll send
word,” he’d assured.
going to my country with Yukio to protect him. With Inuyasha gone, if a
had agreed.
you Kagome,” Shippou had sniffed.
threatening the kit with a fist.
yelped and hid behind Kagome. “You’re still a meanie.”
Kirara with you,” Sango had offered, and firecat had
should stay here and guard the village,” he’d replied, shaking his head.
to the well, Miroku had pulled him aside for a moment.
thank you,” the houshi had said.
chuckled lowly. “Told you it would.”
Kagome has books?”
think she would…”
magic, Kagome had appeared by their side.
had said, handing Miroku one of the aforementioned books. “Inuyasha said you
wanted to read our books. This is the first one. The first fewpterpters cover
the basics. After that, it goes into the advanced stuff not even Inuyasha and I
have tried yet. I hope it helps.”
winked and smiled, then hurried to distract Sango before the taijiya had time
to suspect anything was going on. Miroku had looked stunned, then flipped open
the first pages and blushed.
decided to enjoy the monk’s embarrassment. Peeping over the top of the book,
he’d looked at the illustration the monk had turned to.
not to push her legs up too high or she’ll get a cramp.”
blushed even further, sputtered, slammed the book shut and shoved it quickly
into his robes with a hastily mumbled thank you. He’d snickered all the way to
the well, then teased the monk some more by telling Sango that he hoped she
would have a ‘very enjoyable evening.’ The taijiya had given him an odd look so
he’d winked at her and she’d blushed furiously.
he’d called and jumped ithe the well after Kagome and Yukio once they’d said
their goodbyes.
back through alone a few hours later after ramen shopping and another last
lovemaking session that was more sweet and sad than wild. Shippou had been
waiting for him when he climbed out of the well carrying a bag of Ninja food,
and a second bag of medical supplies Kagome had bought for the old
coming back, right?” the kit had asked, his green eyes belying his worry.
course.”
looked a cro crossing his arms. “Good.”
he’d taken the kit up in a rare hug and was hugged back. “I’m coming back, I
promise. I won’t leave you and the others.”
without saying.”
careful?”
will.”
moved to his shoulder and he’d carried the kit to the old woman’s hut where he
gave her the bag from Kagome.
Inuyasha,” Kaede had said, making a blessing over
him.
his head and thanked her for her gesture, unnecessary as it might have been.
good news for that poor child.”
try. That’s why I’m going.”
the hut before the ache in his heart got too much to bear, much the same way he
had left a sadly quiet Kagome and openly crying Yukio in her time. Then he’d
gathered his resolve and courage, took one last look at the village he called
home and leaped off to the West.