InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love Reigns Down ❯ Of Hopes and Dreams ( Chapter 10 )

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

“That was a delicious supper, Mama. Thank you,” Kagome said as she pushed her bowl away. Although she was too full to eat another bite she eyed the last remaining piece of shiitake mushroom left in the clay pot. She was tempted to eat it, but before she could make up her mind, a pair of chopsticks came into view and niftily picked up her mushroom.

“Open up,” Yash cajoled as he held the piece of mushroom in front of her. “Come on, you know you want it.” His eyes twinkled with merriment as he teasingly held the morsel to her lips. A big smile crossed his face as his wife smiled her thanks and obediently opened up and gingerly took the mushroom off his chopstick.

Winking at her, he got up and started to help Nori clear the dishes away. When Kagome rose to help, he put his hand on her shoulder pushing her down gently and grunted for her to relax.

Nori stacked the dirty dishes in the sink and put the kettle on before she set out three tea cups, along with a plate of daifuku mochi. Kagome’s mouth practically watered looking at the treats made of sweet rice and sweetened red bean paste. Did she think she was full? No way. Looking at the delectable plate of pink and green sweets, she definitely had enough room for dessert!

“Mmmm, these are so delicious, Mama.” Kagome closed her eyes in dessert ecstasy as she chewed the scrumptious treat. “I could eat these all night.”

Nori laughed and moved the plate closer to Kagome. “Have as much as you like, sweetheart, there’s plenty.” She refilled their cups with green tea while inquiring conversationally, “How is the nursery coming along?”

“Oh, wonderful, Mama. We finished decorating it this afternoon.” Kagome’s eyes lit up as she thought of the beautiful room they had prepared for their baby. It was painted in a soft shade of maya blue that brought forth an illusion of the sky, and went wonderfully well with the hand-crafted teak crib and matching dresser and change table. The rocking chair that Sota had lovingly restored sat in the corner near the window allowing for some tranquil afternoons after the baby was born. Animals in miniature arks decorated the walls and the whole room had a warm, cozy feeling to it. The only thing missing was the baby and they couldn’t wait until the big day arrived.

Nori gave her daughter an affectionate smile. “I can’t wait to see it.”

“We’ll have supper at our place next time,” Yash spoke up and when identical sets of smiles were bestowed upon him, he was glad that he had made the offer.

“That’s a great idea!” Kagome beamed at InuYasha before she turned to her mother. “How about next weekend? Sota will be back by then and we’ll invite Aimi, too.” Kagome planned, thinking the timing was perfect. Work was winding down for her and she wasn’t scheduled to take on any more projects until after her maternity leave was over.

“That would lovely. I’m sure Sota and Aimi would love to see the new nursery too. Sota was so excited to work on that old rocking chair for you.” Smiling, she picked up the tea pot and asked, “Would anyone like more tea?”

Yash shook his head and Kagome patted her stomach. “No, thank you, Mama. I’m so full. If I have any more tea, I think I’ll burst.” She smiled warmly at her mother. “Thank you again for supper, Mama. It was wonderful.”

“It was delicious. Thank you,” Yash added as he got up with a dirty plate.

“You’re both very welcome. InuYasha, dear, just leave those. Sit and relax with Kagome. I’ll clean up.”

Kagome watched as Yash piled the dirty plates together and handed them to her mother.  The kitchen light hanging low over the table reflected off Yash’s platinum ring and the sight of it made Kagome internally sigh. She had been bugging her husband to upgrade his ring to the new hanyou transformation charm for months now. She thought he’d be the first in line to get the new charm, but the charm had been in production for four months now and he still had his old ring. She asked in an exasperated tone, “I don’t want to keep pestering you...” She smiled guiltily as she grabbed his hand and entwined her fingers through his. “But your ring…”

Yash sighed. He knew what was coming. “You know how busy work has been. I told you I wanted Yoshikazu to do a bit of a re-design on my ring first.”

“But it’s been months now. Really, InuYasha, just get your ring re-done and then give it to me. I’ll have the new charm infused in a day.”

He threw her a mock salute which made Kagome giggle. “Yes, ma’am. I’ll ask Mrs. Morito to clear my schedule sometime next week and get it done.” Standing over her, he slowly, deliberately leaned down and whispered teasingly in her ear, “Enough about my ring, I don’t want to talk about that right now.” He was so close that she could feel the warm caress of his breath on her cheek.

It was on the tip of her tongue to ask him exactly what he did want to talk about, but the words got stuck in her throat when he gave her a roguish grin. The implication was loud and clear in his half hooded eyes. And the way he stared at her lips, it was like he was ready to devour her. Kagome’s cheeks flushed with pleasure at the thought. He was so close that if she just tilted her head a touch she would receive his kiss. But the quiet clinking of dishes broke her out of her seduced trance and brought her back to her senses. How in the world did she forget that her mama was in the same room, not six feet away?

Nori had discreetly turned her back on them, busying herself with washing the dishes. She couldn’t help the perceptive grin on her face as she debated whether or not she should leave the room.

Her face a bright crimson, Kagome pushed out of her chair, making Yash take a step back. Flashing him an exasperated look for his teasing, she ignored the smirk on his handsome face and said in what she hoped was a steady voice, “Here, let me help you with those, Mama.”

Nori waved off the help. “I’m fine, dear, you just relax. In fact, why don’t you and InuYasha go outside while I finish cleaning up? It’s such a lovely evening and you should see all my flowers. They all coming into bloom.” Nori looked at them expectantly — a knowing smile on her face — and Yash quickly took the hint.

“That’s a good idea. I think we’ll do that.” He flashed Nori a look of gratitude before he grabbed Kagome’s hand and led her out into the warm spring evening.

Kagome had thought they were going to sit and enjoy the flowers, but when Yash bypassed the garden, she stopped in her tracks. “InuYasha, where are we going? Can’t we just sit on the bench?” She gestured to the one they had passed. It was a perfectly good bench with a wonderful view of her mama’s garden. The jasmine was coming into bloom and its sweet, yet subtle fragrance filled the night air. “I really don’t feel like walking too far. I’m so full and my feet are all swollen,” she half-heartedly protested as her husband firmly placed a hand on the small of her back and nudged her to keep walking. She felt justified in her refusal to traipse across the shrine. After all, she was pregnant, she had a good excuse. And really, all she wanted to do was sit down and do nothing. Well, maybe sit down and cuddle with her husband, but did she really have to walk first?

“You can sit and rest when we get to the Goshinboku. We can cuddle up there,” Yash said lightly, clearly reading her mind. “Besides, I know for a fact that you’re not retaining that much water and you’re in great shape for being seven months pregnant.”

Kagome stuck her tongue out at him making him chuckle. Hmph. She couldn’t even get any sympathy since her husband went over her weekly medical reports so thoroughly.

Grudgingly giving in, she followed Yash as he held her hand and guided her across the cobblestone pathway. They walked past the old well house and Kagome’s mood turned somber. Her step became hesitant as a wistful look crossed her face. In her mind’s eye she saw the ofuda seals that trapped her Feudal InuYasha on the other side. It had been over a year since she moved back to Japan and she could hardly believe everything that had transpired since then. Being married to InuYasha, expecting their first child. It was a dream come true and she wouldn’t change it for the world. Yet, no matter how much Yash assured her, she inevitably always felt a tinge of guilt whenever she thought of the sealed well.

Her inattention caused her to stumble, but warm strong arms caught her before she fell. She smiled up at InuYasha. She could always count on him to catch her.

Yash noticed where she directed her stare and with her growing melancholy mood, he could guess where her thoughts were turning. “We’re almost there.” He gave her a reassuring squeeze and pressed his lips warmly against her temple before he effortlessly picked her up. With one arm supporting her back and another under her knees, he carried her to the Goshinboku. Her arms automatically encircled his neck as she relaxed against him, allowing him to steer her physically and emotionally away from the unwanted memories.

He slipped off his ring, and with no hesitation in his step, he jumped into the Goshinboku as soon as they reached the ancient tree. Kagome yelped from the suddenness of it, but then relaxed in her husband’s arms. She knew he would never let her fall.

Yash gingerly made his way along the branch and with Kagome seated comfortably across his lap, settled back against the tree trunk. Kagome snuggled into him and sighed blissfully as his arms wrapped securely around her.

There was something extremely soothing about having his wife, heavy with their child, in his arms sitting in their tree, and it made Yash relax in contentment. He didn’t comprehend the tension in his shoulders until this moment, and suddenly realized that the last person he saw Kagome with in Goshinboku wasn’t him. Well, that was all rectified now. His wife who was pregnant with their child was on his lap in their tree.

Kagome leaned her head against InuYasha’s shoulder. Comfortable and sated, she absently wound a strand of his hair around her finger. “You know, InuYasha, there’s a saying…”

“Hmmm….” He replied nonchalantly. He was too busy nuzzling her and placing light nips and kisses along her neck.

“If you love someone, set them free. If they come back to you, it was meant to be. You came back to me, and I came back to you, so it was meant to be, don’t you think?”

Yash internally sighed. She was obviously still thinking of the past again. But wasn’t he just guilty of doing the same thing? It couldn’t be helped he guessed since they were sitting in the tree that had brought them together in first place; the ancient tree that held so many sacred memories for them both.

She was looking at him expectantly waiting for his response. “Silly wench, what do you think?” he asked huskily before he caught her lips in a soft, sweet kiss.

Sighing happily, she smiled sweetly and said, “I think I love you more and more each day.”

“You better.” His gruff response made her giggle which earned her another dozen kisses to her face, her neck, her lips.

Enjoying his tender ministrations, she reached up and gently rubbed his ear causing a low rumbling sound to emit from the hanyou. She sighed contently and they enjoyed the blissful embrace for all of two minutes before Kagome asked, as if the thought suddenly occurred to her, “InuYasha, can you tell the sex of the baby by scent?”

Yash shook his head. “No, if I could, I would have done it a long time ago and not wait until the technician screwed up.”

Kagome laughed lightly. “I know we wanted to be surprised, but she didn’t mean to tell us like that,” she said thinking of the poor ultrasound technician — new to the job — who accidentally blurted out the sex of their child. “She was so scared when she did. I think she thought you were going to fire her on the spot.”

“Yeah, I was tempted…” he grumbled.

“InuYasha! You were not!” Kagome laughed. “But I did feel sorry for her. She was so apologetic about it, but she was new, she didn’t know we requested not to be told. But in the end I’m glad we found out. Now I can stop trying to buy dresses for our baby boy.” Kagome giggled as she thought of all the pink frilly dresses she was oh so tempted to buy.

His husky chuckle filled the night air infusing Kagome with soothing warmth and she snuggled closer to her husband; her soft, pliant body pressed against him.

“Why did you ask about the scent thing?”

“Oh, just something General Matsumoto said to me. He was so certain that our baby was a boy. I thought maybe he could tell or something.”

Yash shrugged. “He probably said that out of habit. He’s old school where tradition dictates the firstborn is always a boy to carry on the family linage.”

The simple explanation made sense and Kagome felt an unexpected surge of relief. She should have asked InuYasha sooner instead of letting that statement linger and fester like a sore, giving her an uneasy feeling. “Well, I don’t care as long as our baby is healthy. That’s all that matters.”

“Damn straight,” He ran his hand lightly through her tresses before he cupped the back of her head and lightly brushed his lips across hers. The kiss was meant to reassure, but Kagome fisted her hands in his hair and pulled him closer for a deeper kiss. She greedily opened her mouth to taste him. “More,” she moaned.

“Greedy lil’ thing, aren’t you?”

“For you? Kami, yes…mmm… now finish what you started back in the kitchen,” she murmured, flicking her tongue against his, loving the taste of him.

Yash complied with his wife’s wishes and kissed her deeply before he removed his mouth and proceeded to trail his lips down her neck to her collarbone and back up again, all the while murmuring endearments over and over again in a husky whisper. She was loved, oh so well loved, and in that moment all she felt was him. The whole world melted away and she couldn’t imagine being anywhere else but here in his arms. That was all that mattered.

It was past ten o’clock by the time they got home. Yawning widely, Kagome neatly put her flat slingback shoes away and stretched out her arms. Dinner with mama was a wonderful way to wrap up an already wonderful day and she hated to see it end, but tomorrow was a work day. Covering her mouth she started to follow Yash into the bedroom when her eyes lit upon her purse. Since they had gone to mama’s, she hadn’t bothered to bring it along for dinner, but now seeing it, she remembered the precious object that lay inside. Getting her second wind with the thought of surprising her husband, she pulled out a small velvet pouch. Holding the charm lightly behind her back, she strolled excitedly into the bedroom and sat on the bed, watching as her husband took off his shirt. She admired his muscular physique for a moment before she got up and went to him. “I have a surprise for you.”

Turning he captured her in his arms and leaned in for a kiss.

“No, InuYasha,” she laughingly pulled away, “not that kind of surprise. Here.” She dangled the little transformation charm in front of him. “Isn’t it absolutely adorable?” she gushed. “Kaz commissioned it from Yoshikazu so that it looks just like your necklace! At first I thought it was a bracelet, but it’s even better, it’s an anklet. It’s going to look so cute around his little foot.”

Yash took the trinket and held it up. And sucked in a ragged breath.

An anklet…

“InuYasha, are you all right? It looked like you’ve seen a ghost.”

A faint smile touched his lips and was gone a moment later. “Maybe I have,” he murmured low under his breath.

“What?”

He spoke up loudly, “Nothing. It’s nothing. The charm is… great, wonderful.” He forced a cheerful smile despite the sinking feeling in his gut. He cleared his throat roughly and turned away before Kagome noticed his darkened expression. He grasped the charm tightly in his fist as an unbridled memory unraveled in his mind.

Even as a chill ran up his spine, his thoughts were interrupted as slender arms snaked around his torso. Kagome’s warm, soft breath caressed his back, and the immediate warmth of her pushed away the coldness seeping into his heart.

“It has the new transformation charm infused into it, unlike someone I know,” she teased as she laid her head against his shoulder blades, ignorant to the fact that Yash was trying to calm the frantic pounding of his heart that the little trinket had caused.

Trying to sound normal, he responded, “All right, you win. I get it. I’ll get the new charm that my lovely, gorgeous wife invented infused into my ring.” Kagome giggled and lightly kissed his back before letting go.

He forced out a breath of relief as Kagome continued chatting merrily as she stripped and sat back on the bed dressed in only her bra and panties. “It matches your necklace perfectly, and you know what they say about magatama beads. They bring good luck to those who wear them. With your beads and the baby’s we’ll have all the luck we’ll ever need.”

He softened his countenance before he turned around and faced his wife. Kagome was in a deliriously happy mood and he sure as hell wasn’t going to spoil it with his suspicions. He approached the bed and dropped lightly in front of her. His muscular chest touched her knees and he found comfort from the contact. “Kagome, our baby doesn’t need any luck. With you for his mother, he’s the luckiest baby there ever will be. Don’t you ever forget that.” His voice grew tight with emotion. “I mean it, Kagome. No matter what happens, promise me, you’ll remember,” he choked out emphatically as tears sprung to his eyes.

Kagome misinterpreting the sheen in his eyes caressed his cheek lovingly. Her own eyes misted. “I promise,” she said softly.

“I love you. I love you so, so much. The baby, too,” Yash whispered as he laid his head gently on the swell of her stomach, the steady heartbeat of his son thumping loudly in his ear. Kagome rested her hands on his bowed head and gently laced her fingers through his silken hair. He welcomed her touch. It soothed his soul like nothing else, and only in her arms could he lose himself and forget.

Careful not to disturb his wife’s restful slumber, Yash slowly eased out from under the covers and crossed to Kagome’s side of the bed. Reaching down to grab the small charm she had lovingly placed on the night table, he made his way out of the room. It wasn’t until he was standing in his study that his heavy breathing became audible. With the lights dimmed low, he hastily dropped the charm onto his desk as if it scorched him. He stared at the beads in disbelief. The knot of dread coiled in his chest became heavier as the realization sunk in.

He had seen this anklet before.

“Why are you alone? Where’s your husband?”

“He’s dead.”

Fuck no, it couldn’t be. It’s impossible. His chest constricted as if a fist had a hold of his heart and was squeezing it tight, and his mind exploded as a flood of memories rose up and threatened to drown him. None of it made any sense, yet he couldn’t deny the truth; couldn’t deny what his senses told him. The evidence was right there before his eyes in a small strand of beads that should have only been filled with hopes and dreams. But for Yash it held something much more dark and ominous. All the roads of his mind led to the same conclusion. It was her. It was Kagome. But how and why? And what the fuck does he do now that he knows?

Flipping through his desk calendar, he tapped a single claw on Kagome’s due date. Hunched over the desk with both hands flat on its cold hard surface, he bowed his head between his shoulders and tried frantically to make sense of it all. And he had to do it fast, because if his memory served him correctly he would be dead before his son was born.

A/N: If you haven’t already guessed, this chapter is the flushed out version of the epilogue of “Paradox: The Power of Letting Go.” So… now it’s come full circle. ^_^

Thanks for reading! ^_^

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