InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dream Quest ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

“He's . . . Inuyasha and Miroku's son?”

“Hai,” the old priestess nodded. “He is.”

A torrent of emotions went through Kagome at that moment, emotions ranging from shock and confusion to outrage. She was shocked to hear that the boy had been borne of two males. In her mind, it was a scientific improbability in her era, downright impossible in the feudal era. Naturally, she was also confused by the news for the very same reasons. She was also confused because she thought for sure that Inuyasha would not have taken up with anyone during her absence. Granted, she hadn't intended on being gone as long as she had been but then it couldn't have been helped. The well had blocked her off for some reason or another and hadn't let her and Shippou back until now. Then there was her outrage . . . she wanted to know how Inuyasha and Miroku could do something like that to her and to Sango. As soon as they returned, she intended to give both males a piece of her mind.

“A lot has changed since you've been gone, Kagome,” Kaede murmured, as if she'd picked up on the younger miko's thoughts. “There is much that ye do not know about.”

Immediately feeling ashamed of herself, Kagome lowered her head. Of course a lot would have changed in two years. It was silly of her to expect things to be the same.

“Miroku . . . has passed on . . .”

Kagome's eyes widened and her head shot up as Shippou gasped at Kaede's quiet revelation. Miroku . . . had died?

“Wha . . . what happened?” she whispered, dreading the worst and yet not truly expecting what Kaede was about to tell her soon.

The old priestess didn't answer at first. Instead, she pet the young boy's ears, her own expression filled with sad contemplation. Finally, she gave Hiroshi a small smile and a kiss on his forehead.

“Hiroshi, why don't you go find your brothers and sisters? Make sure that they are staying out of trouble, ne?”

“Yes, Kaede-sama!”

As quickly as he had come in, the boy scampered out. Kaede let out a heavy sigh.

“It isn't best to discuss his sire's death . . . not now,” came the quiet murmur. “Not when his siblings still have their sires.”

“What happened, Kaede?” Kagome breathed, her heart feeling as if it would break into two. Her mind had completely registered what the old priestess had said about the other children.

“He committed seppuku last year . . . his wind tunnel was growing out of control . . . It would have destroyed Edo if he had not . . .”

Tears flowed from Kagome's eyes as Kaede informed her of her friend's death. Out of all the things she'd feared to have happened, this truly had not been one of them. She'd hoped that she'd be able to come back before the void completely destroyed him but this . . .

“Poor Sango,” she whispered, her heart aching for her best friend. “Who . . . helped him?”

 

She really didn't want to know who had assisted the monk yet she felt compelled to know. Kagome had no doubts that Kouga and Sesshomaru wouldn't have a problem in killing a human. They had before. They'd confessed as much. They were the only ones, in her mind, that wouldn't be too attached to Miroku. They were capable.

“It was Inuyasha who assisted Miroku . . . the young monk did not want anyone else there with him . . . His death hit the group rather hard, Inuyasha especially.”

“I can imagine,” Kagome murmured, her heart sinking lower into her chest. The decision had to be a rough one, especially since the two had had children together. Still, she found it rather hard to believe that Inuyasha had done that. Not after all the times he'd saved Miroku from certain death.

They fell silent for a few moments, Kagome and Shippou digesting Kaede's words and Kaede in sad reflection. After a few moments of thought and still trying to come up with how Inuyasha and Miroku had ended up . . . doing that in the first place, Kagome glanced at the old priestess.

“Kaede . . .”

“Yes, child?”

“How come Sango didn't have a child for Miroku? I mean, they were . . .”

“Falling in love when you were last here?” the priestess finished. At Kagome's nod, she continued. “As I said before, a lot has changed since you've been gone. Sango is no longer the same person you once knew . . . about a week after your disappearance, Naraku killed Kohaku right in front of her and the others . . . she became withdrawn and sullen, and it ended the playful banter between them.”

“Oh . . .”

Very quietly, Kaede began to fill her and Shippou in on the events that had happened after they had become trapped on the other side . . .

* * *

A strong hand glided firmly yet gently over his rear before giving it a gentle squeeze. Inuyasha fought back a sigh as he and Kouga walked next to each other towards Edo, the sounds of the village ahead of them, Sango and Sesshomaru having taken the lead. He knew what the wolf wanted when Kouga touched him like that, what he always wanted just before they'd walk into Edo. A talk, a kiss, some touching . . . reassurances that they were going to survive and defeat Naraku . . . though why Kouga would need that now, Inuyasha wasn't sure. They'd defeated the dark hanyou. He cast a quick glance at the dark-haired male, a silent question of curiosity. A slight nod towards the woods was his only reply. Inuyasha shook his head and turned his attention back to the two in front of them, ready to inform them of his and Kouga's . . . discussion.

“Go ahead,” came the cool statement from Sesshomaru, the older youkai not even bothering to look back. “We'll keep the little ones distracted while you to . . . talk.”

A small chuckle escaped Sango at that point and Inuyasha felt his cheeks burning. No matter how many times it happened, for some reason Sesshomaru's words always managed to embarrass Inuyasha. Before he could retort back, Kouga had him by the hand and heading into the trees. The sudden turn about brought on a wave of dizziness to Inuyasha, causing him to nearly stumble.

Not that Kouga would have allowed it. Before his knees could hit the ground, Kouga had him cradled close and began to nuzzle him.

“You're not well, puppy,” the wolf murmured. “I can tell.”

“I'm fine,” Inuyasha began. Kouga pressed a finger to his lips.

“No. You're not. I can smell it, Inuyasha. There's something wrong. If there wasn't, you wouldn't have stumbled back there.”

Sapphire orbs met his, concern shimmering in them.

“It isn't over yet. The Shikon no Tama isn't going to allow it.”