[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

Chapter 26 - Misunderstandings
"Inuyasha? What have you to say to me now?"
Inuyasha glanced back at his friends, each one of them looking curiously. Everyone but Kagome,
who was still out cold.
He trembled, turning back to Kikyo.
"Why did you do this, Kikyo?" he murmured, his voice quivering with held-in anger. She smiled
tranquilly.
"Witnessing the union of the one you love with someone else is never a pleasant thing,
Inuyasha." She saw his eyes widened and nodded her head fractionally. "Yes, Inuyasha, I saw."
He glanced back at his mate, who was beginning to stir, their stillborn daughter placed far away
from her. No one wanted Kagome to see her. Inuyasha's eyes filled with tears, and he furiously
reached out to grab Kikyo by the shoulders. She winced slightly in his grip, but made no other
move.
"Why, Kikyo? Why!?" He shook her, and for a brief instant, he saw pity in her eyes, and she too
looked to Kagome. For the first time since emerging from the castle, she realized just what had
happened. Her lifeless eyes took in Kagome and her blood-drenched skirt, and the small bundle
that should have been rustling, taking her first breaths of air.
Kikyo frowned, and swallowed hesitantly, then looked down at Inuyasha with a new look in her
eyes. After one moment of hesitation, she embraced the hanyou, her eyes prickling with tears.
Kagome opened her eyes, wearily looking around, trying to remember. Her eyes found Inuyasha,
with his arms around Kikyo. She frowned, and then she saw her thighs, covered in red. Her
breath hitched in her throat. Sango bent down, pressing a thick wad of cloth between her legs,
stopping the flow that was already lessening. Her stomach knotted, and she gently pressed a hand
into her side. A few seconds later, and she burst into tears at the lazy force that pushed back.
Sango fell to her side, and she closed her eyes, trying to block out the sight of Kikyo kissing
Inuyasha's brow.
"Kagome? Oh thank Kami, you're awake!" She brushed the hair back from Kagome's forehead,
and the weak young woman stopped her hand.
"Take me home, Sango." The taijiya frowned, then straightened in her stance to look for
Inuyasha. When she found him, her mouth fell open and she hastily turned back to Kagome, who
was shaking her head.

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"Don't, Sango. Just take me home, please?"
Sango sighed. "Alright." And she whistled softly to Kirara, who rushed forward, leaning down so
that she could place Kagome on her back.
Once she was settled, Sango threw herself up behind her, but Miroku surged forward to grab her
wrist.
"Where are you going?" he asked. Sango smiled gently, and bent to kiss him softly.
"Kagome wants to go home. Take care of..." her eyes fell on the small bundle, and she sniffed
before turning back around. Miroku nodded, leaning down to pick up the baby.
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"I'm sorry, Inuyasha. I didn't know she was... I didn't know." Inuyasha pulled back, searching
her eyes.
"You didn't know she was pregnant?" Kikyo shook her head slowly.
"I didn't know he meant to kill the child..." she stopped when Inuyasha made a soft sound in his
throat. She looked at Kagome, who was being hauled onto the giant cat- demon. Her eyes took in
the bulge of her stomach, and she frowned.
"Inuyasha?" He frowned, turning to look at what held her own gaze. He blanched, breaking away
from Kikyo to try to run. But he was too late, and Miroku held him back with his free arm.
"She wants to be alone, Inuyasha. Leave her be."
"But I need her! I need to..." he fell to his knees, his sobs tearing from his throat. Kikyo swiftly
came then, and Miroku spared her a glare before going to where Ayame was tending Shippou and
Kouga.
Kikyo knelt slowly, holding Inuyasha's shoulders.
"Inuyasha? Look at me." He did, and was puzzled to see her small smile. He glowered.
"How can you be happy?" he whispered harshly. " Are you glad that my child is dead?"
She pulled back slightly. "While I am not altogether pleased that I was not the one to carry your
child, I do not wish ill of any children you sire." She held his cheek, ignoring his glare. "I've
come to a realization, Inuyasha.
"I loved you dearly, and I realize now that you've moved on, as should I." She stood, gazing at
him. "I should never have been brought back, for I have no place in the land of the living." She

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briefly thought back to Sayu, the little girl who wanted to be her sister. But she didn't belong
there, and no village could house her without eventually turning her out for fear of her.
She sighed. "No further harm shall come to you or yours by my hand, Inuyasha." She bent briefly
to kiss his cheek. "Good luck, Inuyasha. You have another child waiting for you." He looked up,
confused. She smiled, the corners of her eyes creasing with her happiness for the one she once
loved.
"Kagome bears another, Inuyasha. Embrace the future, and leave the past where it lies. Learn
from it, but dwell not on it." With a final wave, she called to her [ ] and flew into the air, leaving
Inuyasha with a tiny smile on his face.
He stood when she was gone, walking over to Miroku and the rest of the wolves who were left.
Many were injured, but only 3 had died in the battle, miraculously. Shippou was sleeping, curled
against a female wolf who held him as he slumbered.
He turned to Miroku, who held his daughter in his arms. He locked gazes with the monk, and he
was given his child without comment. He looked down at her, tracing her features with his
fingers, tears forming in his eyes, even as he smiled.
"Aiko," he whispered. Miroku smiled slowly, then coughed gently and reached to touch the
child's cheek.
"Aiko," he repeated, and kissed the child's brow. "Aiko she shall be."

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