InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Distance ❯ Chapter 4 ( Chapter 4 )
[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]
By: Leunra 
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.22.2005 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.5K | Visits: 328 | Status: Work In Progress
Anime/Manga: InuYasha Fan Fiction | Genre(s): Romance | Type: Alternate Universe | Uploaded On: 02.22.2005 | Pages: 3 | Words: 4.5K | Visits: 328 | Status: Work In Progress
Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. ::I'm really getting tired of saying that...truth hurts::
"blah" - talking
'blah' - thoughts
> > > > change in scene
>>>> flashback and end of it
Chapter 4:
'She's here again...' the same words keeps echoing in his mind over and over again. He though that she was gone, never to cross his path again for the rest of their immortal lives. Sesshoumaru was no fool, he knew the pain he inflicted upon the innocent demoness. In fact he expected her to do the exact thing after that faitful night, she ran away, away from him to be exact. Kagome is a strong and determined woman , he knew that for a fact. She was not one to back down when times are bad, but when she left without even telling anyone where she was going, he cursed himself, with Inuyasha right behind him yelling all the vulgar language in the book, and some he knows were made up. He can still remember his younger sibling's exact word, "What's the fuck is wrong with you bastard! You picked the wrong time to stop using your fucking brain and your common sense, even I ain't that dumb to do the shit you just pulled. If anything happens to her, you only got your fucking self to blame asshole. And you got me to deal with you...you...fluff...shitter!"
It's been two years, two long years. He massages his temple, willing to somehow ease the headache that's been forming from so much stress from work and now the message he had just recieved. Alas, the headache didn't dissapear, nor did it even fade the least bit.
The hanyou made a little note that she was heading to the park, for what reasons he didn't catch. He shouldn't have hanged up on his little brother, but the idiot's taunting was only riling him up, and that's the last thing he wants right now, to loose control regretting another action he makes. He stares at the ever growing pile of paperwork scattered all over his mahoghany desk. He's usually very organized, but right now he was in the middle of a very important deal from a big company overseas. It took months just to arrange a meeting, he can't just leave this to seek this woman. He managed to deal with it for two years, what's another hour to him? 'The girl can wait,' he tells himself, as he set off to review the proposals and documents.
Yet the image of the beatiful demoness with long glistening raven hair and amazing sapphire eyes smiling at him will not leave his thoughts. If it's one thing he hates it's loosing his concentration, and never has this happened until she walked into his hectic, but coordinated life. His whole world was turned upside down as soon as she opened her mouth and dared to stand up to him. He had a routine, one that worked well with his busy lifestyle, but it was all thrown out the window when he volunteered to train her. 'Self defense...her nagging along would be a lethal weapon,' he scoffs. She was became a part of his life without him knowing it, until it got to the point that images of her haunted him in his sleep. If he can go without a wink of sleep just to regain a part of his normal life back he would, but no demon, not even The Taiyokai of the West can achieve that feat.
He growls breaking the pen that he had been holding in two, spilling ink all over his littered desk and papers, not to mention his clawed hands. He then notices the many scratched made by the other, a habit he does when his train of thought are jumbled. Picking up his phone he presses the speed dial for his secretary "Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama?" a squeeky voice answers.
"Jaken...get me a copy of the proposals." Jaken notices that his master is irritated at something.
"A...copy?" sweat was beggining to form around the toads forehead as he tugs on his collar, 'there was a copy?'
"I'm giving you a minute to retrieve the copy and have it on my desk, no excuses."
"But Sessho-" but the line was cut off.
Sesshoumaru closes his eyes and breaths in slowly, "One more hour..." he says once more to himself, an hour that seems to stretch into forever.
> > > >
Upon coming closer to the park the little girl couldn't help but notice a little area in the park. Swingset, slides, see-saw, monkey bars, and the thing that goes around so fast her Uncle Houjo threw-up. She smiles and began to jump around with excitement, "A PLAYGROUND!!! Mama...there's a playground," her blue speckled golden eyes widens. She holds her breath and whips her head to the right to look at her mother. Kagome nods and before the girl can even take a step her mother puts her hand on her shoulder.
"You need to cover those cute little ears of your with something, it's chilly," she rummages in her bag and takes out a furry pink beany, "here." she puts it on, tucking in the braided pigtails, "Don't want your hair getting everywhere, you might hit Uncle Houjo's face with it."
The little girl covers her mouth to hold in the giggles. "Arigatou mama. It was nice meeting Aunt Kikyo and Uncle Inuyasha, " Kagome kneels down so that the two are looking straight at eachother. "I like it here...because our family's here," she then puts her pink glove covered hands and places them on both sides of her mother's cheek, "and you're happy mama...I like seeing my mama happy, because it makes me happy," she smiles. Kagome feels like she's a dam that's about to burst, those words it was simple but it held soo much meaning, her little child knows deep down that she was hurting, she just couldn't fool her. Kagome places her hand on her daughters cheeks as well and smiles, she never wants to dissapoint her daughter, she's all that she has. The two, then give eachother a hug, Kagome chokes out a dry sob from this sentimental motion.
Kagome gets up and brushes off the tears that she failed to hold back, "now...where is your Uncle?" Her daughter only gives her a shrug, they we're suppose to meet here at 5 and it's already 20 after.
"Kagome!!!" She turns around to see Houjo running up to them, he stops , doing a little 'just a minute' gesture to take a breather. When he finally arrives Kagome gives him a weird look then laughs at his pale face. "I...had...a call...from...Ayumi," he pants then takes a deep breath. "When I looked at the clock it was already time for us to meet here, I ran as fast as I could."
The poor guy, Kagome rubs his back hoping it will help a little, "you didn't have to do that Houjo you could have just explained later on, we would have understood," Houjo coughs again, Kagome patting his back.
"I promised and I don't break promises, especially if it's a promise I gave to my favorite niece," the girl runs up to him and gives him a hug.
"You didn't hafta Uncle Houjo..."
Houjo clicks his tounge, "no no ladies, a promise is a promise. Now what kinds of a gentleman would I be if I break a promise?" He straightens himself and offers his hand to the girl, "Now...come milady! I'm afraid we're a bit late for our playdate." She takes his hand and he picks her up and puts her on top of his shoulder. "Hold on!" he warns her as he runs to the playground, the girl laughing so hard.
Kagome just has to smile at the two's antics, for the two years that her daughter's been here on Earth her family consisted of her, her mother, her little brother, and Houjo. Houjo being the little girls father figure, yet it surprised Kagome that never once did her daughter addressed him as 'papa'. He was always 'Uncle Houjo', 'hakufu' on rare occasions, but never as a father, she figured that maybe her daughter knows that her father is somewhere else.
"Hey wait up!" cries a young girl, Kagome's heard of that girl's voice before, in fact she was certain that she knows the owner of that voice.
"You gotta run faster than that to catch me!" this one is of a young boy, who's coming closer to her. 'Funny, that voice sounds familiar too.' The owner of the voice tackles Kagome, all she heard was an "oomph" from the boy. She opens her eyes and sees that unforgettable red hair in a pony tail.
Said red head was too busy rubbing his head to even look up, "Sorry lady...I didn't notice that y-" Shippou blinks furiously and rubs his eyes, hoping that the figure looking at him is not a result from hitting his head. "Ka...Kagome?!"
"Shippou!!! Oh Kami!!!" she grabs the kitsune as he lunges himself at her once again. "You've grown! I miss you!"
The kitsune's eyes are already getting misty, his Kagome, his big sister is back and he couldn't believe it. Although it was proof enough since he's within her warm embrace. "Where-were-you-why-didn't-you-tell-anyone-where-you-were-we-were-all-sad-e specially-me-because-IMISSYOU!!" he didn't even pause to breath, he's just happy she's back.
"I just had to have time to myself Shippou...but it's okay...all that matters now is that I'm here," she ruffles the soft red hair of his. "By the way..." she places her hands on his chin to make him look at her, "who's with you?"
"There you are! That's not fair Shippou-chan I can't run as fast as-" the one-sided pony tail and gap tooth is a given already. The little girl has grown into a beautiful young lady, one who is currently staring at her with mouth hanging open from disbelief. "Ka...gome-chan?" Kagome only nods, the little girls whole expression change from shock to pure joy, and without warning she joins the two, gripping Kagome by the waist a little too tight. "I MISS YOU!!!"
"I do too you guys, but you gotta give me room to breath," the two quickly got off, cheeks flushed from embarrassment at their childish behavior. "Now," she places her hands on her hips, "I assume that you two are not here by yourselves?"
"No...Sango-chan is here with us, she's a bit behind because she's too slow," Rin scowls when Shippou mentions their chaperone being 'slow'.
"Quit it Shippou-chan...just because she gained some weight doesn't mean she's slow," she looks up at Kagome, "she's just taking her time."
Kagome watched the exchanged between the two, "What do you mean gained some weight?" Sango loves to exercise, infact the girl always forced Kagome to work out and exercise all the time when she was training. The girl has the perfect trim figure, there was no way she could loose it that fast.
"Just because I wanted to take my time doesn't mean you can take my weight gain into consideration. Besides...some women tend to gain weight when they're expecting..." Kagome whips her head back and sees her best friend smiling at her, "unlike a certain demoness who still looks perfect...some things never change." There stands Sango with an enourmous belly, there's no way you can hide a portuding abdomen like that!
Kagome is speechless, her eyes begins to water, second time she broke down in under 5 minutes, this is way better than watching a romantic movie.
Sango just had to laugh, "what, two years of absense and you got nothing to say to your best friend?" She almost fell back from the force of Kagome's embrace, Sango returns the favor and rubs the back of her crying friend. "I would have invited you to our wedding...but we had no idea where in the world you were hiding," she jokes, she heard the stiffled laugh from her friend. "We all miss you Kagome...we we're very worried."
"I didn't mean to do that... I'm soo sorry," Kagome looks at her friend, "you're beautiful Sango-chan....join the mother's club," she points at her daughter from afar.
She can see her daughter pointing at one of memorable rides she and her uncle rode in, "Let's go on this one Uncle Houjo!"
Houjo looks at the thing and holds onto his stomach, he just ate an hour ago, "ummm....why not try out the swing?" he laughs nervously. (A/N: does anyone know what I'm saying...you know in the playground where you just sit there and someone pushes that thing to go round and you get all dizzy from it.)
Sango's face turns serious, "Kagome-chan....Inuyasha told us...everything." She was waiting for her do to something, anything...like her eyes turning red or something, Sesshoumaru always did that when he's really mad, but Kagome only kept quiet.
'They all know....well I did tell Inuyasha he's no Fort Knox when it comes to keeping secret.' She nods in understanding, "This is Inuyasha I guess...just please....don't tell you-know-who."
"Our lips are sealed," Sango makes a zipper-like motion to her mouth. "No one is gonna say anything to a specific work-aholic am I right?" she turns and looks at Rin who sticks her pinky fingers out.
"Pinky promise okay!" They can't blame her, she adores her Sesshoumaru-sama, and it's hard to keep secrets from someone like him. Especially since she lives with him. "I won't do anything to drive you away Kagome-chan...even if it means lying to Sesshoumaru-sama."
"Great! No one opens their mouth...or else they'll feel the wrath of an emotionally unstable pregnat woman!" Sango laughs in triump and everyone looks at her with fear. That is something no one wants to face, Sango angry without a bulging belly is already a scary sight, add 20lbs with raging hormones and you're messing with someone not even the Great Sesshoumaru wants to deal with.
"So...where is Miroku, I assume the father should be here supporting the wife."
"Hey...why are you so sure he's the father?"
"Come on! The spark was there...wait no correction: it was a thunder bolt! Everyone knew you two would get together."
Sango doesn't reply, she folds her arm and looks away, "he's out getting me some nachos...I've been craving them lately." Kagome can just picture it now, Miroku in the busy streets of Tokyo (A/N: they live in Tokyo, I just decided...sorry.) looking for a Taco Bell. The poor guy.
"Neesan...can we play with your daughter?" asks the kitsune.
"Sure go ahead...again, lips closed about you-know-who," the two children winks.
"Okay...no mention of work-aholic annonymous." adds the kitsune. "Come on Rin, betcha I can get there faster than you!"
"No duh genius, you're a demon!" she runs after the red head.
> > > >
An hour passed already Shippou and Rin are exhausted. They ran around the entire park basically, Houjo had to excuse himself for fear of him over-exerting his heart. Kagome's daughter on the other hand is still energetic, she's having fun and this is the first time she actually played with other kids.
Sango and Kagome are talking about life and pregnancy when they heard some strage music. Both stares at eachother when Sango remembers that it was her cellphone, she checks the caller ID to see that it's Sesshoumaru, oh dear. She smiles at Kagome, "can you excuse me for just one minute Kagome...this is a private call," she answers the phone not even giving the demon on the other line a chance to talk first. "Dr. Shimatsu! You have the results to my test!" she practically yells out, she covers her phone with her hand and looks at Kagome with a smile, "Kagome-chan just a second please," and walks off.
Kagome understands and gets up, heading to the playground to play with her daughter who is currently on the swing going unsually high. "HOUJO! NOT TOO HIGH!!" she screams, fearing that at any momment her poor little daughter will be catapulted off the air.
Sango checks to see if her friend is paying attention to her call and sees that she was too busy worrying over her daughter. "Pick the best time buddy!" she hisses.
"Is she still there?"
"Yes, but she's leaving pretty soon. Take my advice: don't mess this up! We're leaving in 20 minutes got that."
Sesshoumaru didn't hear a word she said, he was too busy trying to listen to anything that's going on in the background. He could hear the faint voice of Kagome yelling something about someone not having wings to fly in case she flies of the swing, the kitsune, Rin, another child and a male, whom he's never met and is with Kagome right now. "Who is with her?"
"Are you even paying attention!"
"Who is with her?!" he's getting a bit impatient.
'My, my aren't we the jealous type,' Sango smirks, "you wanna find out, get over here then! I'm not gonna tell you, you got 20 minutes Sesshoumaru 20 mi-" and the dial tone, he's gone. Sango stares at her phone wishing it was Sesshoumaru so that she can wring his neck. He has a habit of doing that.
> > > >
Sundown, and everyone is heading home, Sango is worrying, 'WHERE THE HELL IS HE!!!' Sesshoumaru has yet to make an appearance, she's beginning to think that maybe he...chickened out? Although that's highly unlikely. Just then she hears a resounding slap, she know's exactly who was in the recieving end of that painful slap.
"You never change do you houshi!" Kagome screeches, "you're married and you're gonna have a kid soon and you're still going at it!"
"There was a dust on the back of your coat, I merely brushed it off," Miroku explains while rubbing his aching red swollen cheek.
Sango drags her husband, along with Shippou and Rin, "come on now, let's get these two home. Inuyasha's going to worry when we don't get Shippou back at the shrine on time, " it may sound weird, maybe even insane but Inuyasha is one over-protective father. He pretends that he doesn't care as much about his adopted son but deep inside everyone knew that he loves the kid and cares for him. He already had doubts about leaving the kitsune in the hands of a perverted monk, "if I see him display anything that's remotely related to you and you're lechery...I.Will.Kill.You." That was his threat the first time he left Shippou in the houshi's care, which was understandable. "Kagome-chan, why don' t we do this again...does tomorrow sound good to you?"
"Sure," Kagome replies, "maybe a bit earlier so we can have lunch. Let's invite Inuyasha and Kikyo."
"Okay then, we'll have lunch at 12...then we can come back here in the park so the kids can play at around 4...is that good?" Kagome nods, "Alright then, we'll see you tomorrow!" The four leaves, Shippou a bit hesitant since he loves her big sister soo much. Kagome can hear Sango murmuring something about being late and how's she's starving again.
Once they are out of earshot Kagome sits next to Houjo on the bench. She leans her head to his shoulder and sighs, "I've missed them..." she closes her eyes and breathes in slowly. "I've been gone for two years Houjo," she opens her eyes and looks up at him, gently cradling her daughter who's fallen asleep. "Soo much has changed. I've missed a lot..."
Houjo puts his free arm around her and squeezes her for comfort, "what matters is that you're here, what's past is the past, you can't change it." He rubs her arm the pats it.
"You know...you're a good father," she whispers.
"And you are a great mother," he replies.
Kagome didn't respond, but instead nestles her head on his shoulder and closes her eyes once again. Everything that happened today was making her feel guilty about the decision she made, about running away. She missed her best friend's wedding, something she swore she would be there to see, just to prove her point that the houshi is ment for Sango. Shippou and Rin grew so much, Rin's growing up into a beatiful young lady and Shippou, Shippou is showing more and more of Inuyasha's brash characteristics. Inuyasha and Kikyo, they're engaged now and she wasn't there to see him propose or anything. Can anything else make her feel worse?
She just had to ask. That aura, that strong familiar aura, there's no denying who it belongs to...it's him.
Her eyes shot open, taking a quick breath she looks straight ahead to see a tall shadowed figure, golden eyes staring right at her. She places her hand on top of Houjo, "Houjo...can you go on ahead and take her with you. I'll just catch up."
Houjo immediately knew the reason when he saw the man walking up to them. The silver hair, gold eyes, it didn't take a rocket scientist who this guy is. "We'll be back at home." He get's up, along with Kagome, arranging the load in his arms. "Are you sure you'll be okay?" he whispers.
Whispering's useless in this case. "I'll be fine...really...you don't need to wait for me." She says with pleading eyes. His jaw tightens, he stares at her for a while. He was having mix feelings about this, he wants to protect to let her know that someone's there for her , but at the same time this confrontation might help her get some closure. Making up his mind he said his goodbye and walks off.
Sesshoumaru notices the little girl in the man's carrying, the child is Kagome's. He then changes his sight and looks at Kagome, who's walking slowly up to him. She never changed, she's till beautiful, although her eyes are not as lively as they were before.
She stops a few feet away from him, "How are you?" she asks timidly.
"Well...and you?"
"I've been better..." her lips twitch, she tried to smile but she can't seem to bring herself to do it, even if it was fake. "How did you..."
"My brother..." he answers. She makes a little 'oh' with her mouth and looks down at the ground. Inside she was seething, 'THAT INUYASHA!! I'm sure Kikyo won't notice his dissapearance on their wedding day.' "The child?"
She was brought out of her thought when she heard his deep voice. Kagome looks at him to see that he's looking off to the direction of where Houjo and her daughter was, "is my own..."
"I see...and the ningen?"
Kagome's taken back from that question. Her anger only grew, their first encounter in two years and he's jealous. Did he really think that she would just throw herself at any man and bear his child so quickly? This was all his fault to begin with, why is he the one doubting her, she should be doing all the questioning! In that moment Kagome lost all sorts of reasoning, she was here to inform Sesshoumaru of their child, but all she could think of is how much he had hurt her. She will inflict the damage this time! She stops to think of what she was aboutto do, she couldn't do that...epecially since her daughter's life is a part of this. She decides that maybe telling him the whole truth right now, might not be the perfect time. "The father my daughter has grown to love, " she answers steadily, she was merely twisting the truth not entirely lying.
"You left without notice. " he finally lets out.
"So did you."
This is not geting him anywhere, "Why did you come back then?"
Those words are sent to her to damage her, did he really change that much, did he not even care about her anymore? It was like meeting him for the first time again, the old Sesshoumaru who was always closed off, never allowing anyone to know who he really is. Her eyes are beginning to blur, she doesn't want to cry, not in front of him especially. "I just want my daughter to be closer to her family."She looks at him and he is not even looking at her, his eyes are closed. "I have to go...it's late, she'll be looking for me." She turns around and begins to walk away.
"Her aura is strong...too strong for a child her age."
She didn't even look back, it will only bring more grief to her heart. "The demon blood is strong," she whispers.
------------------------------
Okay I apologize for any spelling/grammar errors in this chapter...actually in any chapters. I only have Wordpad right now, so sorry no ABC check, my comp doesn't have Microsoft word, well it did...but it got taken out when my computer had a virus. Sorry...I'm babbling, bad habit.
Well what do you all think? Please review!
Converting /tmp/phpykPGqa to /dev/stdout
"blah" - talking
'blah' - thoughts
> > > > change in scene
>>>> flashback and end of it
Chapter 4:
'She's here again...' the same words keeps echoing in his mind over and over again. He though that she was gone, never to cross his path again for the rest of their immortal lives. Sesshoumaru was no fool, he knew the pain he inflicted upon the innocent demoness. In fact he expected her to do the exact thing after that faitful night, she ran away, away from him to be exact. Kagome is a strong and determined woman , he knew that for a fact. She was not one to back down when times are bad, but when she left without even telling anyone where she was going, he cursed himself, with Inuyasha right behind him yelling all the vulgar language in the book, and some he knows were made up. He can still remember his younger sibling's exact word, "What's the fuck is wrong with you bastard! You picked the wrong time to stop using your fucking brain and your common sense, even I ain't that dumb to do the shit you just pulled. If anything happens to her, you only got your fucking self to blame asshole. And you got me to deal with you...you...fluff...shitter!"
It's been two years, two long years. He massages his temple, willing to somehow ease the headache that's been forming from so much stress from work and now the message he had just recieved. Alas, the headache didn't dissapear, nor did it even fade the least bit.
The hanyou made a little note that she was heading to the park, for what reasons he didn't catch. He shouldn't have hanged up on his little brother, but the idiot's taunting was only riling him up, and that's the last thing he wants right now, to loose control regretting another action he makes. He stares at the ever growing pile of paperwork scattered all over his mahoghany desk. He's usually very organized, but right now he was in the middle of a very important deal from a big company overseas. It took months just to arrange a meeting, he can't just leave this to seek this woman. He managed to deal with it for two years, what's another hour to him? 'The girl can wait,' he tells himself, as he set off to review the proposals and documents.
Yet the image of the beatiful demoness with long glistening raven hair and amazing sapphire eyes smiling at him will not leave his thoughts. If it's one thing he hates it's loosing his concentration, and never has this happened until she walked into his hectic, but coordinated life. His whole world was turned upside down as soon as she opened her mouth and dared to stand up to him. He had a routine, one that worked well with his busy lifestyle, but it was all thrown out the window when he volunteered to train her. 'Self defense...her nagging along would be a lethal weapon,' he scoffs. She was became a part of his life without him knowing it, until it got to the point that images of her haunted him in his sleep. If he can go without a wink of sleep just to regain a part of his normal life back he would, but no demon, not even The Taiyokai of the West can achieve that feat.
He growls breaking the pen that he had been holding in two, spilling ink all over his littered desk and papers, not to mention his clawed hands. He then notices the many scratched made by the other, a habit he does when his train of thought are jumbled. Picking up his phone he presses the speed dial for his secretary "Yes, Sesshoumaru-sama?" a squeeky voice answers.
"Jaken...get me a copy of the proposals." Jaken notices that his master is irritated at something.
"A...copy?" sweat was beggining to form around the toads forehead as he tugs on his collar, 'there was a copy?'
"I'm giving you a minute to retrieve the copy and have it on my desk, no excuses."
"But Sessho-" but the line was cut off.
Sesshoumaru closes his eyes and breaths in slowly, "One more hour..." he says once more to himself, an hour that seems to stretch into forever.
> > > >
Upon coming closer to the park the little girl couldn't help but notice a little area in the park. Swingset, slides, see-saw, monkey bars, and the thing that goes around so fast her Uncle Houjo threw-up. She smiles and began to jump around with excitement, "A PLAYGROUND!!! Mama...there's a playground," her blue speckled golden eyes widens. She holds her breath and whips her head to the right to look at her mother. Kagome nods and before the girl can even take a step her mother puts her hand on her shoulder.
"You need to cover those cute little ears of your with something, it's chilly," she rummages in her bag and takes out a furry pink beany, "here." she puts it on, tucking in the braided pigtails, "Don't want your hair getting everywhere, you might hit Uncle Houjo's face with it."
The little girl covers her mouth to hold in the giggles. "Arigatou mama. It was nice meeting Aunt Kikyo and Uncle Inuyasha, " Kagome kneels down so that the two are looking straight at eachother. "I like it here...because our family's here," she then puts her pink glove covered hands and places them on both sides of her mother's cheek, "and you're happy mama...I like seeing my mama happy, because it makes me happy," she smiles. Kagome feels like she's a dam that's about to burst, those words it was simple but it held soo much meaning, her little child knows deep down that she was hurting, she just couldn't fool her. Kagome places her hand on her daughters cheeks as well and smiles, she never wants to dissapoint her daughter, she's all that she has. The two, then give eachother a hug, Kagome chokes out a dry sob from this sentimental motion.
Kagome gets up and brushes off the tears that she failed to hold back, "now...where is your Uncle?" Her daughter only gives her a shrug, they we're suppose to meet here at 5 and it's already 20 after.
"Kagome!!!" She turns around to see Houjo running up to them, he stops , doing a little 'just a minute' gesture to take a breather. When he finally arrives Kagome gives him a weird look then laughs at his pale face. "I...had...a call...from...Ayumi," he pants then takes a deep breath. "When I looked at the clock it was already time for us to meet here, I ran as fast as I could."
The poor guy, Kagome rubs his back hoping it will help a little, "you didn't have to do that Houjo you could have just explained later on, we would have understood," Houjo coughs again, Kagome patting his back.
"I promised and I don't break promises, especially if it's a promise I gave to my favorite niece," the girl runs up to him and gives him a hug.
"You didn't hafta Uncle Houjo..."
Houjo clicks his tounge, "no no ladies, a promise is a promise. Now what kinds of a gentleman would I be if I break a promise?" He straightens himself and offers his hand to the girl, "Now...come milady! I'm afraid we're a bit late for our playdate." She takes his hand and he picks her up and puts her on top of his shoulder. "Hold on!" he warns her as he runs to the playground, the girl laughing so hard.
Kagome just has to smile at the two's antics, for the two years that her daughter's been here on Earth her family consisted of her, her mother, her little brother, and Houjo. Houjo being the little girls father figure, yet it surprised Kagome that never once did her daughter addressed him as 'papa'. He was always 'Uncle Houjo', 'hakufu' on rare occasions, but never as a father, she figured that maybe her daughter knows that her father is somewhere else.
"Hey wait up!" cries a young girl, Kagome's heard of that girl's voice before, in fact she was certain that she knows the owner of that voice.
"You gotta run faster than that to catch me!" this one is of a young boy, who's coming closer to her. 'Funny, that voice sounds familiar too.' The owner of the voice tackles Kagome, all she heard was an "oomph" from the boy. She opens her eyes and sees that unforgettable red hair in a pony tail.
Said red head was too busy rubbing his head to even look up, "Sorry lady...I didn't notice that y-" Shippou blinks furiously and rubs his eyes, hoping that the figure looking at him is not a result from hitting his head. "Ka...Kagome?!"
"Shippou!!! Oh Kami!!!" she grabs the kitsune as he lunges himself at her once again. "You've grown! I miss you!"
The kitsune's eyes are already getting misty, his Kagome, his big sister is back and he couldn't believe it. Although it was proof enough since he's within her warm embrace. "Where-were-you-why-didn't-you-tell-anyone-where-you-were-we-were-all-sad-e specially-me-because-IMISSYOU!!" he didn't even pause to breath, he's just happy she's back.
"I just had to have time to myself Shippou...but it's okay...all that matters now is that I'm here," she ruffles the soft red hair of his. "By the way..." she places her hands on his chin to make him look at her, "who's with you?"
"There you are! That's not fair Shippou-chan I can't run as fast as-" the one-sided pony tail and gap tooth is a given already. The little girl has grown into a beautiful young lady, one who is currently staring at her with mouth hanging open from disbelief. "Ka...gome-chan?" Kagome only nods, the little girls whole expression change from shock to pure joy, and without warning she joins the two, gripping Kagome by the waist a little too tight. "I MISS YOU!!!"
"I do too you guys, but you gotta give me room to breath," the two quickly got off, cheeks flushed from embarrassment at their childish behavior. "Now," she places her hands on her hips, "I assume that you two are not here by yourselves?"
"No...Sango-chan is here with us, she's a bit behind because she's too slow," Rin scowls when Shippou mentions their chaperone being 'slow'.
"Quit it Shippou-chan...just because she gained some weight doesn't mean she's slow," she looks up at Kagome, "she's just taking her time."
Kagome watched the exchanged between the two, "What do you mean gained some weight?" Sango loves to exercise, infact the girl always forced Kagome to work out and exercise all the time when she was training. The girl has the perfect trim figure, there was no way she could loose it that fast.
"Just because I wanted to take my time doesn't mean you can take my weight gain into consideration. Besides...some women tend to gain weight when they're expecting..." Kagome whips her head back and sees her best friend smiling at her, "unlike a certain demoness who still looks perfect...some things never change." There stands Sango with an enourmous belly, there's no way you can hide a portuding abdomen like that!
Kagome is speechless, her eyes begins to water, second time she broke down in under 5 minutes, this is way better than watching a romantic movie.
Sango just had to laugh, "what, two years of absense and you got nothing to say to your best friend?" She almost fell back from the force of Kagome's embrace, Sango returns the favor and rubs the back of her crying friend. "I would have invited you to our wedding...but we had no idea where in the world you were hiding," she jokes, she heard the stiffled laugh from her friend. "We all miss you Kagome...we we're very worried."
"I didn't mean to do that... I'm soo sorry," Kagome looks at her friend, "you're beautiful Sango-chan....join the mother's club," she points at her daughter from afar.
She can see her daughter pointing at one of memorable rides she and her uncle rode in, "Let's go on this one Uncle Houjo!"
Houjo looks at the thing and holds onto his stomach, he just ate an hour ago, "ummm....why not try out the swing?" he laughs nervously. (A/N: does anyone know what I'm saying...you know in the playground where you just sit there and someone pushes that thing to go round and you get all dizzy from it.)
Sango's face turns serious, "Kagome-chan....Inuyasha told us...everything." She was waiting for her do to something, anything...like her eyes turning red or something, Sesshoumaru always did that when he's really mad, but Kagome only kept quiet.
'They all know....well I did tell Inuyasha he's no Fort Knox when it comes to keeping secret.' She nods in understanding, "This is Inuyasha I guess...just please....don't tell you-know-who."
"Our lips are sealed," Sango makes a zipper-like motion to her mouth. "No one is gonna say anything to a specific work-aholic am I right?" she turns and looks at Rin who sticks her pinky fingers out.
"Pinky promise okay!" They can't blame her, she adores her Sesshoumaru-sama, and it's hard to keep secrets from someone like him. Especially since she lives with him. "I won't do anything to drive you away Kagome-chan...even if it means lying to Sesshoumaru-sama."
"Great! No one opens their mouth...or else they'll feel the wrath of an emotionally unstable pregnat woman!" Sango laughs in triump and everyone looks at her with fear. That is something no one wants to face, Sango angry without a bulging belly is already a scary sight, add 20lbs with raging hormones and you're messing with someone not even the Great Sesshoumaru wants to deal with.
"So...where is Miroku, I assume the father should be here supporting the wife."
"Hey...why are you so sure he's the father?"
"Come on! The spark was there...wait no correction: it was a thunder bolt! Everyone knew you two would get together."
Sango doesn't reply, she folds her arm and looks away, "he's out getting me some nachos...I've been craving them lately." Kagome can just picture it now, Miroku in the busy streets of Tokyo (A/N: they live in Tokyo, I just decided...sorry.) looking for a Taco Bell. The poor guy.
"Neesan...can we play with your daughter?" asks the kitsune.
"Sure go ahead...again, lips closed about you-know-who," the two children winks.
"Okay...no mention of work-aholic annonymous." adds the kitsune. "Come on Rin, betcha I can get there faster than you!"
"No duh genius, you're a demon!" she runs after the red head.
> > > >
An hour passed already Shippou and Rin are exhausted. They ran around the entire park basically, Houjo had to excuse himself for fear of him over-exerting his heart. Kagome's daughter on the other hand is still energetic, she's having fun and this is the first time she actually played with other kids.
Sango and Kagome are talking about life and pregnancy when they heard some strage music. Both stares at eachother when Sango remembers that it was her cellphone, she checks the caller ID to see that it's Sesshoumaru, oh dear. She smiles at Kagome, "can you excuse me for just one minute Kagome...this is a private call," she answers the phone not even giving the demon on the other line a chance to talk first. "Dr. Shimatsu! You have the results to my test!" she practically yells out, she covers her phone with her hand and looks at Kagome with a smile, "Kagome-chan just a second please," and walks off.
Kagome understands and gets up, heading to the playground to play with her daughter who is currently on the swing going unsually high. "HOUJO! NOT TOO HIGH!!" she screams, fearing that at any momment her poor little daughter will be catapulted off the air.
Sango checks to see if her friend is paying attention to her call and sees that she was too busy worrying over her daughter. "Pick the best time buddy!" she hisses.
"Is she still there?"
"Yes, but she's leaving pretty soon. Take my advice: don't mess this up! We're leaving in 20 minutes got that."
Sesshoumaru didn't hear a word she said, he was too busy trying to listen to anything that's going on in the background. He could hear the faint voice of Kagome yelling something about someone not having wings to fly in case she flies of the swing, the kitsune, Rin, another child and a male, whom he's never met and is with Kagome right now. "Who is with her?"
"Are you even paying attention!"
"Who is with her?!" he's getting a bit impatient.
'My, my aren't we the jealous type,' Sango smirks, "you wanna find out, get over here then! I'm not gonna tell you, you got 20 minutes Sesshoumaru 20 mi-" and the dial tone, he's gone. Sango stares at her phone wishing it was Sesshoumaru so that she can wring his neck. He has a habit of doing that.
> > > >
Sundown, and everyone is heading home, Sango is worrying, 'WHERE THE HELL IS HE!!!' Sesshoumaru has yet to make an appearance, she's beginning to think that maybe he...chickened out? Although that's highly unlikely. Just then she hears a resounding slap, she know's exactly who was in the recieving end of that painful slap.
"You never change do you houshi!" Kagome screeches, "you're married and you're gonna have a kid soon and you're still going at it!"
"There was a dust on the back of your coat, I merely brushed it off," Miroku explains while rubbing his aching red swollen cheek.
Sango drags her husband, along with Shippou and Rin, "come on now, let's get these two home. Inuyasha's going to worry when we don't get Shippou back at the shrine on time, " it may sound weird, maybe even insane but Inuyasha is one over-protective father. He pretends that he doesn't care as much about his adopted son but deep inside everyone knew that he loves the kid and cares for him. He already had doubts about leaving the kitsune in the hands of a perverted monk, "if I see him display anything that's remotely related to you and you're lechery...I.Will.Kill.You." That was his threat the first time he left Shippou in the houshi's care, which was understandable. "Kagome-chan, why don' t we do this again...does tomorrow sound good to you?"
"Sure," Kagome replies, "maybe a bit earlier so we can have lunch. Let's invite Inuyasha and Kikyo."
"Okay then, we'll have lunch at 12...then we can come back here in the park so the kids can play at around 4...is that good?" Kagome nods, "Alright then, we'll see you tomorrow!" The four leaves, Shippou a bit hesitant since he loves her big sister soo much. Kagome can hear Sango murmuring something about being late and how's she's starving again.
Once they are out of earshot Kagome sits next to Houjo on the bench. She leans her head to his shoulder and sighs, "I've missed them..." she closes her eyes and breathes in slowly. "I've been gone for two years Houjo," she opens her eyes and looks up at him, gently cradling her daughter who's fallen asleep. "Soo much has changed. I've missed a lot..."
Houjo puts his free arm around her and squeezes her for comfort, "what matters is that you're here, what's past is the past, you can't change it." He rubs her arm the pats it.
"You know...you're a good father," she whispers.
"And you are a great mother," he replies.
Kagome didn't respond, but instead nestles her head on his shoulder and closes her eyes once again. Everything that happened today was making her feel guilty about the decision she made, about running away. She missed her best friend's wedding, something she swore she would be there to see, just to prove her point that the houshi is ment for Sango. Shippou and Rin grew so much, Rin's growing up into a beatiful young lady and Shippou, Shippou is showing more and more of Inuyasha's brash characteristics. Inuyasha and Kikyo, they're engaged now and she wasn't there to see him propose or anything. Can anything else make her feel worse?
She just had to ask. That aura, that strong familiar aura, there's no denying who it belongs to...it's him.
Her eyes shot open, taking a quick breath she looks straight ahead to see a tall shadowed figure, golden eyes staring right at her. She places her hand on top of Houjo, "Houjo...can you go on ahead and take her with you. I'll just catch up."
Houjo immediately knew the reason when he saw the man walking up to them. The silver hair, gold eyes, it didn't take a rocket scientist who this guy is. "We'll be back at home." He get's up, along with Kagome, arranging the load in his arms. "Are you sure you'll be okay?" he whispers.
Whispering's useless in this case. "I'll be fine...really...you don't need to wait for me." She says with pleading eyes. His jaw tightens, he stares at her for a while. He was having mix feelings about this, he wants to protect to let her know that someone's there for her , but at the same time this confrontation might help her get some closure. Making up his mind he said his goodbye and walks off.
Sesshoumaru notices the little girl in the man's carrying, the child is Kagome's. He then changes his sight and looks at Kagome, who's walking slowly up to him. She never changed, she's till beautiful, although her eyes are not as lively as they were before.
She stops a few feet away from him, "How are you?" she asks timidly.
"Well...and you?"
"I've been better..." her lips twitch, she tried to smile but she can't seem to bring herself to do it, even if it was fake. "How did you..."
"My brother..." he answers. She makes a little 'oh' with her mouth and looks down at the ground. Inside she was seething, 'THAT INUYASHA!! I'm sure Kikyo won't notice his dissapearance on their wedding day.' "The child?"
She was brought out of her thought when she heard his deep voice. Kagome looks at him to see that he's looking off to the direction of where Houjo and her daughter was, "is my own..."
"I see...and the ningen?"
Kagome's taken back from that question. Her anger only grew, their first encounter in two years and he's jealous. Did he really think that she would just throw herself at any man and bear his child so quickly? This was all his fault to begin with, why is he the one doubting her, she should be doing all the questioning! In that moment Kagome lost all sorts of reasoning, she was here to inform Sesshoumaru of their child, but all she could think of is how much he had hurt her. She will inflict the damage this time! She stops to think of what she was aboutto do, she couldn't do that...epecially since her daughter's life is a part of this. She decides that maybe telling him the whole truth right now, might not be the perfect time. "The father my daughter has grown to love, " she answers steadily, she was merely twisting the truth not entirely lying.
"You left without notice. " he finally lets out.
"So did you."
This is not geting him anywhere, "Why did you come back then?"
Those words are sent to her to damage her, did he really change that much, did he not even care about her anymore? It was like meeting him for the first time again, the old Sesshoumaru who was always closed off, never allowing anyone to know who he really is. Her eyes are beginning to blur, she doesn't want to cry, not in front of him especially. "I just want my daughter to be closer to her family."She looks at him and he is not even looking at her, his eyes are closed. "I have to go...it's late, she'll be looking for me." She turns around and begins to walk away.
"Her aura is strong...too strong for a child her age."
She didn't even look back, it will only bring more grief to her heart. "The demon blood is strong," she whispers.
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Okay I apologize for any spelling/grammar errors in this chapter...actually in any chapters. I only have Wordpad right now, so sorry no ABC check, my comp doesn't have Microsoft word, well it did...but it got taken out when my computer had a virus. Sorry...I'm babbling, bad habit.
Well what do you all think? Please review!
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