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

Just a note, in case you didn't know. Aiko means "little loved one". Sad, but hey... I just write it.
Doesn't mean I actually think about it before I write it... Sorry for all the sadness... but it's a
happy ending...
Chapter 27 - Coming Home
Sango gently pulled on Kirara's fur, signaling for her to descend. Kagome had stopped sniffling
in the few hours it had taken to get to the village, and had finally fallen asleep. Once on the
ground again, Kagome stirred and moaned, but didn't wake up.
With a smile, Sango lifted her from the great cat and took her into the hut. Kaede was laying in
the corner, her face down in the pillow. Sango quickly deposited Kagome onto a pallet, then ran
to the old miko. A hand on her shoulder was all it took, and she shot up, her lone eye searching
the room.
"Where is the man? And my sister, she was..." Kaede stopped, her eyes finding Kagome, and the
dried evidence of what had occurred earlier. With a stifled gasp, she hobbled quickly over to the
miko, checking for other injuries. Sango collapsed onto another pallet in the corner, fighting the
urge to fall asleep.
"Go to sleep, Sango, and don't worry for young Kagome," Kaede said without turning. "She'll be
all right."
Sango made to protest, but stopped as she yawned. Then, with a bashful smile, she lay her head
down and fell asleep instantly.
Kaede smiled and turned back to Kagome, finishing her impromptu check-up. The child inside
was still lively and kicking, but then what was the blood? With a frown, Kaede gently shook
Kagome awake.
She came to slowly, not wanting to return to the harshness of reality. Then everything came
rushing back, and a frown made it's way to her pretty face. Kaede prodded her gently once more,
and when Kagome took in her form, standing there, safe and sound, she let out a peal of laughter
and hugged the woman.
Kaede let this go on, before pulling back and searching the girl's face. "What happened, child?"
She reached back and pulled a rag out of steaming water, dabbing away the blood on Kagome's
inner thighs. Kagome took a sharp breath, then relaxed under the woman's kind hands.
"I... I lost her..." she bit her lip, searching Kaede's face suddenly. "Is she alright? Is the other
safe?" She held the unborn child, reassured to feel movement inside. Kaede nodded slowly.
"Aye, the child inside is safe, but... there was another?" Kagome nodded, swallowing.

---

"Kouga said I had two girls... but when we went to get Inuyasha and the others..." She looked
over to where Sango was lying and sighed, then turned back to the old miko. "Naraku attacked
me, and he hit my stomach... then..." She hiccupped, and Kaede drew her into a gentle embrace,
wiping away the tears.
"Where is the child, Kagome? And the others? Where are they?" Kagome shrugged half-
heartedly.
"I suppose they're still at the castle..." she yawned, then rubbed her face with the heels of her
palms. "I'm tired...if everything's all right, may I sleep, Kaede?" The old miko nodded, and
Kagome sank gratefully onto the pallet, asleep within seconds.
Kaede watched her for a bit, tears forming in her eyes.
"Poor child... Kami, protect her. And Inuyasha..."
__________________________________________________________ ____________________
"Come on Miroku, let's go! I wanna get back now!" Inuyasha paced impatiently. Kouga walked
up to him, clasping him on the shoulder.
"Take care of Kagome, and the child." Frowning, Inuyasha prodded him in the belly.
"You knew, didn't you Wolf-turd?" he murmured. Kouga nodded.
"I didn't say anything because I feared you would never kill Naraku. As much as I hate to admit
it, you were the only one who could have done it."
"He's right, you know." Kagura stepped forward, and the young boy at her side glanced fearfully
around, as though afraid something would pop out from behind the trees.
"Kohaku?" Miroku grabbed the boy's shoulder, and he jumped in response.
"Where's Aneue?" Miroku grinned.
"You remember her?" The boy nodded, and Miroku whooped and picked the boy up, swinging
him around. "Sango's gonna go crazy!"
Inuyasha smiled gently, and Kouga nodded to him in farewell, and Ayame ran up, hugging
Inuyasha. He stuttered for a second, before she let go.
"Give that to Kagome, alright?" She frowned then, and waggled a finger at him. "And make her
happy again, or I'll have to kill you!" A moment longer, and then she grinned and hugged him
again. "Bye!" she squealed, then tackled Kouga before he could speed away.

---

Inuyasha sighed wistfully, then turned back to Kagura, who was smiling at Kohaku, who was
interrogating Miroku about his sister.
"I have my heart now, thanks to all of you." She put a hand on Inuyasha's shoulder. "I'm sorry
about the child, but be happy for what you have, and don't give Kagome a hard time for coming."
Inuyasha met her eyes with a startled gaze, and she chuckled.
"You didn't want her to come, I know the whole story. But she came back fearing for you,
because she loves you. Grieve for the child that was lost, but celebrate the child you have waiting
for you." She let go of his shoulder, then a thoughtful look came over her face.
"How on earth are you going to find the rest of the jewel shards with a child?" Inuyasha's mouth
fell open; he hadn't thought of that. Kagura shuffled her feet.
"Well, I guess..." She huffed. "I'll help you if you want. It's the least I could do, I suppose." She
gazed around the ruined state of the castle with her eyebrow raised. "There's nothing here now...
Oh!" her hand flew to her mouth.
"What now? Is there another Naraku or something?" Kagura shook her head, not meeting his
gaze.
"No, but there's something I need to take care of, first. I'll find you in the old crone's village
when I'm done." She pulled the feather from her hair and flew upwards, waving down at them.
"I'll fill you in later, go take care of your miko!" And with that, she took off.
Miroku walked up to Inuyasha, Shippou and Kohaku playing around nearby.
"Ready to go home, Inuyasha?" The hanyou rolled his eyes.
"Duh! I said that five minutes ago!" He looked to where the kids were playing. "Yo! Over here
twerps! Come on!" They obeyed immediately, cowering in his fearful presence. He really wanted
to go, and nothing was going to stop him from getting to her. Nothing.

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