InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Do What You Have to Do ❯ Chapter 23: To let you go ( Chapter 23 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

Title: Do What You Have To Do
Author: DeityOfDeath
Archive: Yes please...
Pairings: Inu Yasha/Sesshomaru mentions of Inu Yasha/Kagome and Inu Yasha/ Kikyo
Category: Drama, romance, slash, Mpreg, yaoi
rating: NC-17/R
Spoilers: Most likely.
Warnings: Yaoi, Lemon, Non-con, Mpreg, Incest, SPOILERS!
Disclaimers: I never have nor will I ever own Inu Yasha or its chars. They are property of Rumiko Takashi and major companies.

Note from Author: Thank You for reading and supporting fan fiction! Enjoy and please review!

The chapter titles are lyrics from the song "Do What You Have to Do" by Sarah McLachlan

Chapter 23: To let you go

The sun warmed everything it touched but no overly much. It was only Spring so the warm weather had just begun and there was a cool breeze that would blow bringing with it refreshing air and I was experiencing it like I had so…many years ago; outside in the open and on my own.

I was only four hours outside the palace gate and yet I had found myself heading to the one place I had known as “home” for many years. I had my sword at my side and it was almost like things had never changed, almost.

As I came upon the familiar woods I halted to a stop in front of the old wooden and stone well that had been the beginning and end of a grand adventure.

I jumped down from the tree branch I stood on and stared a moment or two before circling the well and as I did so I took a deep sniff; breathing in all the scents that surrounded it. It smelled of humans and local animals but her scent was not among them. Kagome's scent had long disappeared from this well and this time. Perhaps in time I would see her again, maybe sometime in the future I could visit the shrine where she and her family resided.

I sat down at the well and let the memories take me away for just a few minutes and I smiled as I fingered the beaded necklaces that Hade and Hisso had given me. I sighed and opened my satchel, pulling the water skein out and taking a small drink. I sighed and stood up returning the water skein to its place and taking a sniff as the familiar scent of fox wafted through my nostrils. I grinned and stood up and started heading towards the village and Kaede's old hut.

I came out of the woods and started following the dirt and rock paved path that lead to Kaede's hut and saw that it was still standing and had even had a makeover. It was larger and had recently had its roof retiled. As I stopped before the building and looked at it a tall redheaded figure came walking out with a large grin in place that reached his deep pine green eyes.

It took me a moment to look him over and realize what I was seeing. The body was muscled and tall and the face older than I had last remembered, older than it should have been and in place of paws were human feet clad in boots and he was lacking his signature large fluffy cream colored tail, but I knew that face and smile.

“Long time no see, InuYasha.”

“I could say the same Shippo. You've changed.”

He grinned and before our conversation could continue a beautiful woman in her late twenties stood behind him in the doorway of the hut with a swollen belly, an infant in her arms and young boy at her side. The young boy resembled Shippo; with his deep pine green eyes and bright coppery hair which was up in a short ponytail which revealed slightly pointed ears. The infant was a young boy as well but this child was undoubtedly a hanyou child with his fox paw feet and a set of fox ears perched high atop his chocolate locks of hair with a pale cream colored tail fluffed out behind him. He too had his fathers pine colored eyes that looked at me wearily.

“InuYasha, its good to see you again,” said the woman giving me a beautiful smile full of happiness.

“Tsubame, my you've grown. I see you two have quite the family going,” I answered grinning happily at the two and their sons.

Shippo grinned, “We're blessed in more ways than we can count. My eldest son is Hitomu and my youngest is Kouichi. We're still thinking of names for our next. We're hoping for a girl but as long as he or she is healthy then we're happy.”

As Shippo said it I could see the joy on his face. He loved his family and he had stepped into fatherhood with a joyful happiness.

“Come in InuYasha, I'll make us some tea while you and Shippo catch up,” she went inside and I followed with Shippo and his eldest Hitomu right behind me.

The inside hadn't changed much. Herbs and plants of all sorts still hung from the rafters in various degrees of drying and jars of already dried herbs lined shelves and the floor around them with handwritten labels for most.

Kaede's scent still lingered somewhat and it made my eyes hot to smell her scent once more and I didn't bother to wipe away the errant tear or two.

“You can still smell her here. It's pleasant once you get over the pain of her missing presence,” said Shippo as he sat down near the fire pit in the middle of the room where Tsubame was already boiling water for the tea.

I nodded and cleared my throat, “Yeah. I see that you are continuing her healing arts.”

Tsubame smiled and nodded, “I try my best. I learned what I could from her before she passed and she left lots of notes and books so that I or anyone after her could learn from them. Every so often Sango visits and the two of us discuss what we've learned and share new knowledge. I've also started training two young girls from the village so that the knowledge will be passed down.”

“Kaede-bachan would be proud,” and as it left my mouth I knew for certain she was. She had never bore any children herself but she had helped many and in turn the village itself was her child.

I sat down and closed my eyes inhaling deeply and smiled widely, “So you've mastered your kitsune test I can see and your skills are up there with some of the best Tanuki's I've seen.”

Shippo smiled and nodded and closed his eyes making a sign with his fingers causing his current form to vanish and a more familiar looking Shippo sat across from me with his large fox paw feet and long flowing cream colored tail. He winked at his eldest son who closed his eyes and copied his father causing his form to also change except he was more fox like in appearance with his ears similar to his brothers high atop his head and instead of one tail he had two.

“The village is more tolerable than most thanks to you and Shippo having lived here all these years but since we have a lot of travelers and strangers in town this past year we thought it safer to take on as human appearance as possible,” Tsubame said as she poured the now hot water into the tea pot in front of her.

“Hitomu was a quick learner and as soon as Kouichi is a bit older he'll learn just as quickly. I want them to be safe no matter where they are or what era. I'm teaching them as much as I can,” Shippo said as he patted Hitomu's head.

“I can understand that,” and as I said it I thought back to my children and how much they had grown and learned and wondered just how much I should tell them of the future I had seen thanks to Kagome.

“Speaking of…how're your pups. Last time I saw Ryusei he was about Hitomu's age,” asked Shippo with a grin catching his eldest's attention at the mention of my son.

“Ryusei is twenty one now and by human standards an adult but by ours…he still has much to learn and more to grow. I have a daughter named Chiouka who is becoming a beautiful woman before my eyes and I currently have twin sons Haderashi and Hiderashi who are a year or two older than Hitomu.”

“Twins!? Oh you poor thing. I thought having two boys of different ages was hard but two at once… I can only imagine.”

I laughed out loud at Tsubame's words and grinned;”Oh, they're a handful but they are amazing children. Every day is a new adventure. Now daughters…they're a handful.”

I laughed at Shippo's expression and sipped the tea Tsubame handed me.

“How long will you be in town? I was told by Kouga after Sesshomaru claimed you that we'd be lucky to see you again.”

I sighed and looked down into my tea, “I'm on a bit of a break at the moment. Things have been tough but they're getting better. I'll probably be out traveling until the beginning of winter. I'd like to see as much as I can before then.”

“You're more than welcome to stay with us. Sango and Miroku should be visiting within the next week. They always come in the early spring and leave before Summer comes. As they've gotten older the heat can be a bit much and Miroku claims it's cooler at the Demon slayer village,” said Shippo with a smile.

“If you don't mind I think I'll take you up on the offer. I probably won't stay long because I do want to travel and see all the old places we've visited but it would be nice to see the village more and get to know your family.”

We finished our tea and then Shippo transformed back into his human form, Hitomu following suit as we stood up making our way out of the hut. I felt my satchel behind in my old corner and was amazed and amused that as we left Kouichi ran up and took my hand, holding it tightly.

“I think he would like to go with you if you don't mind,” Tsubame said with a small indulgent smile in her youngest son's direction.

“It's fine with me if it's fine with you and Shippo,” I said as I smiled down at Kouichi who had finally given me a small smile.

We walked through the village and I got a few odd stares here and there but most of the villagers had recognized me and shouted their greetings enthusiastically. Shippo grinned and continued to give me the grand tour, showing me the newest buildings and explaining the human arguments over land and lords that had been going on. Not much had changed, one lord passed away or was warring and another was taking over the land. Taxes were raised and they struggled here and there but they had luck and Shippo on their side. I was amused to see that they had even built a small shrine which was called the “kitsune shrine” to help bless their village. Shippo would do what could for this village and I knew that even when his beautiful wife passed he and his children would watch over this village for years to come.

We toured every part of that village and I sensed no evil presence and saw nothing that would worry me. Shippo had done a great job of protecting this village and I couldn't wait tell Sesshomaru about it when I returned so that he could spread the word in the hopes that other youkai, especially those of the kitsune clan would find shelter in or around it.

The sky was just beginning to darken as we finished our tour on the very outskirts of the village and I had my arms full of the tiny Kouichi whose tiny feet could only walk so far. He was snuggled against my chest almost asleep and I was reminded of Shippo when he was a youngster.

“Let's head back to the hut, I'm pretty sure Tsubame has outdone herself and made an amazing dinner.”

I had no doubt that Shippo was right and he had been. We arrived back at the hut and thoroughly cleaned our hands and feet before we sat down to a meal of wild bird that had been marinated in a homemade sauce, pickles of various types, rice and a nice broth and hot green tea. We ate our fill and I watched as Shippo played with his sons, teaching them a trick which they practiced and then he tested them seeing what they had learned and tweaking them as they did so. They settled down and soon Tsubame had lead them into their room and settled down for sleep. They offered me a room but I declined and settled myself in my old corner facing the fireplace.

I was handed two blankets and I folded one over which I sat on and the other I wrapped around myself. Sleep evaded me for a bit as I tried to get used to sleeping without my mates warmth or my children's hugs. I thought of them and it warmed me and I closed my eyes, sleep eventually pulled me under.

The next day came and went and I spent a week in Shippo and Tsubame's home enjoying their children and their company and even teaching them a bit about foraging, hunting and defending themselves and as the week was about to end we received news that Sango and Miroku were on their way. It seemed they had stopped at a nearby village to help and would soon be done and on their way.

Excitement filled me as I waited for their arrival.

To Be Continued….

Thank you for reading. I called out sick today so I was able to work on this chapter. I have already started the next so hopefully it will be finished before Friday… More coming soon~!

Kat

Notes:

Hitomu - Single dream

Kouichi - One happiness