InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Nigatsu no Hoshi (Stars of February) ❯ Private After Party ( Chapter 24 )

Suteki: after three months I've finally returned! I'm really sorry for taking so long with this. I just wish I could have had a more glorious come back…like 2 updates in one day *sigh* sorry to disappoint everyone.

Chapter 22: The Private After Party

After the departure of Lords Samui, Hayai and their mates, the party began. Katasuki and kagome talked about china and Katasuki's past as an advisor.

"so Katasuki, why did you say that my father was Onigumo? Of all people, why that monster?" kagome asked the kitsune.

"well, I really wanted to say Naraku, but people would have known who that was. But you see, in reality, you owe your existence to him as much as you do your biological father." Katasuki explained.

Kagome only stared at her a moment, "okay, maybe I didn't hear you right, but I don't get what the heck you're talking about. How do I owe my existence to that bastard?"

Katasuki gave her a small laugh, " I understand that you would never have thought about it like that. but, the reason why you were born, was because Kikyou was killed by Naraku in this life. After you were reborn, you returned to this era to correct the wrong Naraku had done, in the process, meeting inuyasha and falling in love with him. Then, you found your powers as a miko because you were forced to fight against Naraku in battle. He also played a role in you becoming a youkai as you are now. You discovered your second destiny as the eye of fate because of that, thus, everything that has happened to you since birth, is somehow related to Naraku." She said.

Kagome tried to think about it for a moment, "I know there's logic in there somewhere, I just cant find it." she laughed.

"its alright, you don't have to accept it, but, you did ask, so I told you." Katasuki told her.

Kagome and Katasuki laughed about it for a while longer, until they were approached by another demon. "um, Lady kagome?"

Kagome turned to face the demons voice, "oh, Ayame, what's up?" she asked kindly.

"well, I just wanted to congratulate you I guess, on your achievement and all." She said, bowed, and walked away.

"man, what's wrong with her? She's been acting weird all night."

"don't worry kagome, Ayame's fine, she's just acting like a child as usual." Hakkaku said as he approached kagome with inuyasha and Ginta at his side. "hello sis." Ginta greeted as he waved.

"hey Ginta! Long time no see!" kagome said with a smile as she waved back. she looked back at Hakkaku, "what do you mean by that Hakkaku? What's wrong with Ayame?"

he looked at the corner Ayame had isolated herself in, and sighed. "well, you see sister kagome. Since the death of Kouga, she's been like this. I tried to assure her that it wasn't your fault, because she believed that you had used his love for you in a way that killed him. It took a while, but she got over her grudge, but she still blames Kouga for leaving her. She agreed to be my mate, but she still hasn't forgotten him." The young wolf demon explained.

Kagome huffed as she stared at Ayame from over her shoulder, "she's still stubborn and self centered, that's for sure. She's not the only one who misses Kouga, there's a lot of people he left behind. But he died knowing that he had at least TRIED to revenge his comrades, the last thing he told me, was that he wanted to help defeat Naraku, that's why he gave me his shards. His shards were the only thing keeping him alive, and he gave them to avenge the deaths of his brothers, and it worked.

I owe my life to Kouga, yes I miss him dearly, but he died for me, so I can only be grateful he gave his life. She needs to learn that, or else…well, or else it'll just bother me." She said with sternness.

Hakkaku kept silent, wondering what his friend would do to his mate. Not that he really cared if she slapped some sense into the woman, he would have loved to do it himself, but he was a little scared of the girl to tell the truth.

Kagome huffed and began to storm towards the pouting Ayame. A hand on her shoulder spun her around and she came face to face with inuyasha. "go easy on her kagome, I know how it is to mourn the death of someone you love, its not easy to except."

"well, why don't you go talk to her?" she asked him, and he raised a brow at him, "you're kidding, right?"

kagome laughed, "oh yeah, I forgot, you're too tough to do something nice like that." she teased as she nudged him with her elbow. "okay fine, I'll try to keep my cool, but I'm not guaranteeing anything."

"that's my girl." He said and kissed her on the forehead. Kagome turned, closed her eyes, counted to 10, and then made her way to the wolf demoness in the corner. "Ayame-sama?"

Ayame looked at her from the corner of her eye, "yeah kagome?" she asked in an uninterested tone. Kagome sighed while she tried to get her thoughts in order. "I know what's bothering you, and I wanted to talk to you about it, see if I can help you get some closure on the matter."

"I appreciate your generosity, but I didn't come here to confide with you of all people, I came her to pay my respects as is required of me, nothing more. Now if you'd excuse me, I have a mate to take home." Ayame said as she started to push past kagome.

Kagome put a hand to her shoulder before she could get passed, "you're just like him you know that? Running off whenever you feel fit, worrying about the here and now. Although, he was at least capable of telling me how he felt. Now you're going to be a good little girl, and listen to what I have to say, alright? I'm gonna be as nice as I can with you about this, any violence will be on your head if you fight it." she said sternly, trying her best to keep her smile.

Ayame shook the miko's hand off her shoulder, and backed up to lean against the wall again. "okay, but be quick about it, I don't have all day you know."

Kagome smiled and put her hands on her hips, "now that's more like it. but I want you to start Ayame, tell me the exact reason that keeps you from letting go of Kouga."

Ayame let out a small agitated growl before answering. "he left me behind, never telling me if he would come back and become my mate. I saw it in his eyes, he was doing this for someone else besides himself. I knew it was you, he never stopped loving you, even after all these years, you were always the closest thing to his heart. If he hadn't of loved you, then maybe he would have listened to me when I told him to stay out of the battle!" she yelled at kagome, hot tears shining it her green eyes.

"if I could have been the one he loved, the one he gave his heart to, then maybe…maybe he'd still be here." Ayame fell to her knees, and let the tears fall, her small frame shaking in sobs. Kagome watched on with a pitiful gaze, her heart did feel for the girl, but her reasons were still selfish.

Kagome rested herself on the ground next to the distressed princess, and put an arm over her shoulder. "Ayame, I can understand how you feel, to have someone you love never show you that love in return. But you know, he DID care for you, but maybe he just never showed you, or you were too busy stressing over the fact that you knew he loved another. What you must understand now, is that it is not right for you to blame him for his own death, he did what he chose to do. You should know that Kouga is not a puppy with a leash, he was a wolf with a free spirit, what he chooses to do, he WILL do, there's nothing you can do to change that.

I pain the loss of him as well, we all do Ayame, this is another thing you must recognize, you are not alone in your pain. Your mate Hakkaku for example, was close companions with Kouga for decades, he lost a very dear friend, you should seek comfort with him, not shun him for it."

Ayame only stared at the ground sniffling, her tears had stopped, but her mind was trying to decide whether to digest what kagome was telling her, or rebel and throw a fit. `maybe Kagome's right…Kouga was indeed a wild spirit, perhaps I'm reading too much into his actions, maybe I AM being a little selfish…' ayame looked back up at kagome, who was watching her reaction with soft eyes.

Ayames temper calmed and she let out a heavy sigh. "I guess I have been dwelling on this a bit much…hakkakus really a great man, I shouldn't treat him so poorly just because I was too determined not to lose Kouga…thank you Lady Kagome…" she finished quietly, still staring at the ground.

Kagome giggled and gave her a small hug, "I'm glad you see that now ayame, perhaps now you can let go and move on."

Ayame scoffed with a smile, but the smile quickly faded when she felt eyes on her. Slowly she looked up, and saw just about the entire room staring at her and she blushed. When she came back to her senses she shrugged Kagome's arm off her again and jumped up, smoothing out her fur skirt and walking back towards Hakkaku with her nose in the air.

Inuyasha and kagome both raised a brow at her and shook their heads as the wolf princess grabbed ahold of their friends arm without missing a beat and dragging him towards the exit of the courtyard. "heh, I guess I'm leaving now you guys! It was great seeing you two again take care!!" Hakkaku yelled as his mate dragged him from the ceremony, waving till he disappeared around the corner.

Kagome, still laughing got up and came to stand next to inuyasha, linking her arm in his and leaning against him with a sigh. Inuyasha looked down at his mate and smiled, "you did good, I don't know how but it looked like to you actually reached her through that thick red head of hers."

Before kagome could respond, a familiar voice interrupted her, "indeed you did Lady Kagome, that was very gracious of you, you handled it quite well."

Both nobles of the western lands spun around, mouth gaping and eyes wide. "M-Miroku-sama?!" kagome gasped before lunging herself at the monk and capturing him in a strong embrace. "hah, its n-nice to see you too kagome-sama!" he cringed at the force of her hug.

Inuyasha laughed and walked up to the man and patted him on the back, the force of his hits jerking Miroku's body forward and knocking the wind out of him. "keh, long time no see monk, when did you get here?" he asked.

Miroku pried kagome off of him and straightened his robe, "its only been a few days inuyasha. But, we've been here the whole time, we saw everything." Kagome's eyes lit up and she bounced up and down, "WE?! Where's Sango-Chan?!!" she asked excitedly. Miroku glanced over his shoulder and Kagome's ecstatic eyes followed and she watched Sango forcing her way through the crowd, Kirara in her arms.

"Sango!!" she squealed and proceeded to tackle the other girl to the ground, Kirara just barely escaping the attack, jumped into Miroku's arms and mewed at inuyasha. Sango giggled with kagome and both girls wrapped their arms around each other, clearly close to tears.

Inuyasha `kehed' and turned back to Miroku, who was nearly drooling. Inuyasha smacked him in the back of the head, almost causing him to drop the two-tail. "aaah that was uncalled for my friend," he said innocently, rubbing his head. The hanyou lord rolled his eyes, "keh, Hentai as usual."

~*~*~

After the girls finally got off the ground and joined the boys, the small group left the courtyard and their guests to find a less chaotic atmosphere. Inuyasha and kagome followed the scent of sulfur and sakura, until coming upon a small room with a hot spring in it. They wasted no time in getting in, inuyasha and kagome needing some serious relaxation after the stressful evening, and Miroku and Sango needing the same from their long journey.

"So, I'm curious, how was it that all three of you could have been present during the ceremony, yet neither me or kagome sensed you?" inuyasha finally asked.

Miroku lifted his staff, which lay close at hand outside of the hot tub, and he tapped it against the floor, the gold rings jingling. "you forget that I am a MONK, kagome isn't the only one that knows a few tricks." He said, winking at Sango with the last comment, and Sango promptly blushed.

After kagome and inuyasha were done studying the exterminators strange response, they shook it off both thinking they'd rather not know. Sango quickly changed the subject, and inquired kagome regarding their new living arrangements.

From that point, both the woman conversed about their homes and they're plans for adding their, `womanly touch', that phrase alone making the men cringe and exchange worried glances.

"so, I saw Katasuki here does that mean that Shippou is present as well? I didn't see him." Miroku asked kagome, who was in mid-sentence about her closet. The smile and sparkle never left her eyes as she turned her gaze from Sango to Miroku, if anything her smile got wider at the mention of her formerly adopted kit. "oh yes! Shippou-Chan is here, he's in another part of the castle with Rin and jaken at the moment. They weren't aloud to stay for the ceremony, so Sesshoumaru sent them off. Ooh Sango you must see him before you guys leave, he's grown so much! And in such a short period of time too!"

Sango smiled and laughed at how excited kagome was getting, it made her heart glad to see her `sister' so happy. She thought back to Kohaku, the bubbling laughter of kagome fading out as she let her mind focus on her memories of him. Usually when she did so, her heart would ache, and her throat would clench. But now, she found that the smile didn't fade, her heart lost none of its joy.

She knew that her troubled heart was now calmed, she had barely thought of her younger brother since the day of the last battle. She knew that Kohaku was happy before he died, and she saw him smile one last time. She would always be grateful for that. with that last thought, she returned her gaze to her laughing friends and her smile grew again.

Miroku, noticing his wife's strange behavior, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in for a deep kiss. Causing Sango, kagome, and even inuyasha to blush. Sango turned her frantic eyes to her friends shocked and amused faces and promptly pushed her husband away from her, splashing water at him.

Miroku laughed, "hey! Well I'm sorry you got quiet so I thought id wake you up!" he said in defense, only to be rewarded by more hot water in his face.

~*~*~

Shortly after that, Miroku sadly informed them that they had to be returning to their village. Kagome pouted and insisted that they stay the night, but they said that they couldn't be gone for too long. Word had spread in the area that the slayers village was re-inhabited, but only by a single couple. So, there was a threat that robbers could ransack their home while they were gone, or that the demons could come to destroy the village once more, afraid that the population of youkai slayers would be replenished.

So, Sango and Miroku bid their farewell to Kagome, inuyasha, Katasuki, Rin, Sesshoumaru, shippou, and even Miehiko. Kagome of course, caught Sango in one last hug in the doorway, and refused to let her go for about fifteen minutes, and inuyasha had to pry her away from the Taijiya.

"Don't be strangers! Visit again soon!" kagome yelled as her two friends took off on the back of Kirara, and they waved in return. Kagome turned and smiled happily up at her mate. "well, it was nice to see them again." inuyasha said as he wrapped his arms around her and carried her back inside.

"it sure was, I wish they didn't have to live so far from us. I mean, there's plenty of room here in the castle, why cant they just stay with us?" she asked, looking up at inuyasha with begging eyes.

Inuyasha ran his hand through her hair as he thought for a moment. "first, I don't think Sesshoumaru could handle living with any more humans, and second, you know that its Sango's dream to rebuild her village and her people. How could she do that if she was living in a demon castle?"

Kagome `hmphed' and pouted, but admitted defeat by sighing and leaning her head against his chest. "oh inuyasha, I'm so tired, lets go to bed huh?" she said warily, the exhaustion from the evening finally catching up to her, and with a vengeance. Inuyasha couldn't help the smirk that took over his features, and he mentally slapped himself, crediting the thought to too much time around the perverted monk. "alright kagome, I think we deserve it after the hell the stupid counsel put us through today."

Kagome laughed as she remembered the coronation, and inuyasha picked her up in his arms and started his way up to their room. Before he couldn't even reach their floor, kagome was fast asleep in his arms. He gazed down at her still face and smiled to himself, "my princess." He whispered and kissed her forehead, their bedroom doors opening infront of him.

He walked over to the bed, and gently laid her down on the soft pillows. The lord carefully undressed her, trying his best not to become aroused at the sight of her exposed body (MnS: go easy on him, he's just a male). Slowly he climbed into their bed and wrapped his arms around her waist from behind, burrowing his face in her loose locks and inhaling her scent with a smile.

He kissed the mark that adorned her neck, and his smile grew. He felt whole now, like another large part of him had just been found. Although he wouldn't admit it verbally, he was overjoyed that he was finally a part of his youkai heritage, that he was finally accepted by the almighty counsel that had once banished him.

His thoughts drifted back to his mother, and how proud he knew this would have made her…and his father, how much he would have loved to have had him here to see this day, to have his approving smile upon him. But then, he remembered the words of kagome from earlier that evening, *"…and your father of you. They are here in spirit inuyasha, you cant deny the presence of their aura that lingers in this room, in these clothes, throughout this house."*

`I'm home mother…father…' and with that last thought, the dream world came to claim him, and he drifted into a peaceful sleep, his arms still holding his mate close to his body, and his parents legacy to his heart.

Suteki: okay I'm sure that most of you probably want to kill me right about now! I'm sooo sorry for my absence. I got stuck on this chapter, rewrote it like 5 times, and I never liked it. I still think it could have been better, but I was in a hurry to get it done. I've been going through a painful lapse of writers block, amongst other things.

But I'm going to be making a desperate effort to getting back on track I promise! I just need a little encouragement is all. To Inusprincess, thank you for that review, all in all that one statement is what pushed me to get this chapter out there.

Don't worry, I still have more things planned for this story, first on my list is another lemon yaaayyyy! Haha. Well, please review, criticism is very much needed at this point, thank you.

Special thanks to all those that review on this chapter!!! *hugs all loyal reviewers*

Alright, till next update! (which hopefully wont be in another three months *cringers and ducks from angry readers* IM SORRY!!) ja ne ;)