InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ To Blot out the Sun ❯ Chapter 1 ( Chapter 1 )

As he lay with her in the still darkness of the early morning hours, watching the rise and fall of her naked chest and the pink flush that clung to her skin after their earlier activities, he felt satisfied. She had always been an excellent lover, as perfect in bed as he could ever ask for, and tonight had been no exception. He tugged her closer to his body and felt the way their skins stuck together. He could almost taste the saltiness of the dried sweat lingered on her. The scent of their sex had him in a pleasant haze he didn't care to let go of as he buried his nose in her neck, wishing to burn it into his mind. As he fell deeper and deeper into a heavy, dreamless sleep, he thought that this was exactly what he was meant for.

After what seemed to be only a few moments, he was roused from his slumber by the sound of hurried footsteps approaching his tent. The haggard breathing and the sound of shuffling feet told Inuyasha that it was his servant, Myoga, coming to wake him. He heard the old demon in human form to come a halt before the tent's opening and pause uncertainly. The sleepy hanyou growled softly before disentangling himself from the warm woman beside him, wrapping a sheet around his naked hips, and throwing open the tent flap to reveal the first streaks of early morning light and a very wide eyed servant. “What?” he barked irritably.

“I…sir, well… my lord, I'm sorry to disturb you so early. I know how you dislike it.” The old man sputtered. He looked around nervously, waiting for Inuyasha to snap something back.

“S'already awake. What is it that you want anyhow?”

The old man began to fidget even more anxiously. He looked around again, hoping to find the words he was looking for in the nearby treetops or in the pale orange streaks staining the sky. His scattered movements and generally frantic demeanor were fast wearing on Inuyasha's fragile morning nerves, adding to the hanyou's usual morning gruffness and putting the old man in an even more uncomfortable place. “Well?” the hanyou demanded crossly.

Myoga spoke hesitantly, “Your wife was taken into the birthing tent early this morning.”

The old flea demon saw his master's eyes widen for a brief instant before narrowing dangerously as he took a few steps forward and grabbed him by the collar with the hand that wasn't fisted in the sheet at his waist. “And why the fuck am I only being informed now?” He hissed angrily.

“She…she urged us not to. “ Myoga sputtered quickly. He grasped the hand that held him fearfully, his eyes wide and nervous, before continuing. “Your wife did not want to disturb you at that time of night. She knew you'd be…resting. “ His mind raced as he searched for a prudent word to call what everyone knew his master was up to before quickly resuming his impromptu announcement. “Births are a long process you know, my lord. She didn't want you to be bothered so early in the delivery.”

Inuyasha released the old flea impatiently, stepping back to allow him some space, before speaking. “I damn well know that births are a long process,” he muttered as he turned away, fully intending to return to his warm bed before a sudden thought struck him, “Wait, what exactly is going on? Something must be going on for you to come get me now, right?” He turned around to face the old demon again and immediately knew he'd reached the point of the matter at hand when he saw Myoga practically in a panic at his question.

“Well, my lord,” the old flea began uncertainly, “It seems that something has gone wrong.”

Inuyasha paused and digested Myoga's words for a few moments before speaking again. “What's happening? What's gone wrong?” He asked hesitantly, concern replacing the earlier irritation present in his voice. “Is it the child? Or…her?” He continued, his speech even more tentative than before.

“Perhaps both, my lord,” Myoga answered plaintively. “Kaede said that there was blood in the birth water and that things were not moving along as they should.” He paused to look up from the ground and observe his master's reaction to the news. “She fears things are getting out of hand.”

Inuyasha stared at his old servant blankly, not fully grasping his message. When he didn't speak, Myoga continued his message. “Kaede has given her some herbs to make her pains stronger and the process speed up, but your wife has asked to see you before they continue.” He stopped again and looked at Inuyasha imploringly with wide, glassy eyes. “Make haste, my lord, please. There isn't time to waste.” He whispered pathetically in a cracking, watery voice that snapped Inuyasha back into action.

It was as though a murky film was lifted from his eyes as he regarded the early morning through a brand new, hypersensitive body. Suddenly, every sound echoed a thousand times in his ears. His eyes picked up every color in his environment as his brain struggled to make sense of a world that seemed to be moving too fast for him to keep up. He turned swiftly and rushed back into the tent, throwing the sheet aside and tearing into his clothes as quickly as he could muster before flying back out into the morning sun and setting a violent pace back to where he knew the birthing tent would be.

An uncomfortable, almost suffocating pressure settled in his chest as he approached the site and began to smell the odors coming from it. Abhorrent amounts of blood, sweat, salt, and unadulterated agony invaded his sensitive nose as he came closer. He forced his feet to move faster until he finally stood outside the folds of an expansive, violet tent near the outskirts of camp.

As he moved to step past the flap, he was stopped by the old figure of Kaede exiting wearily. The old crone's back was even more bent than usual, her visible eye tired and resigned. She moved slowly, almost listlessly past him without even meeting his gaze. Inuyasha waited for her to acknowledge him, to recognize his presence, and when she didn't his anger was reignited with biting intensity. “Hey baba! What the hell is going on?” He snapped unceremoniously at her back.

“Nothing you would understand, Inuyasha. These are women's mysteries. Be satisfied with hearing of the outcome when it happens. Now, come with me, there are things to be gathered.”

He wanted to scowl and argue with her, but refrained and instead trailed after her silently. As much as the old bat irritated him to hell and back, he still held some sort of strange respect for her. He had no mother or grandmother of his own, no matronly figure in his life other than old Kaede. She was as wise as she was old; her words as helpful as they were confusing. The woman liked to talk in riddles, but no matter how frustrating she was, the crone was a fixture in his life and he respected her for it.

She led him out to the field on the east side of the camp that held her herb garden and instructed him to gather the little yellow blossoms that grew in a neat little row among some long grasses. They worked in silence for a while, feeling the ever-present tension weighing down on them like lead, until he could hold back no longer. “Kaede?”

She didn't look up from her picking to look at him, but she acknowledged him nonetheless. “Yes Inuyasha?” She responded calmly.

He paused in his flower gathering and searched for the right words to ask her what he wanted to know. She was right; these were women's mysteries, things he couldn't understand. Did he even want to understand something as bloody and smelly as a birth? He was tongue tied for the first time in a long time, but managed to force out a barely coherent scrap of a question about how she was doing so far.

Kaede turned to look at him for the first time that morning. Her beady black eye scrutinized him critically and her wrinkled brow furrowed unnervingly. Her frown was as pronounced as the creases that lined her weathered face and her silence was as loud as a thousand war drums. She opened her mouth and answered his question with another question. “Inuyasha, do you love your wife?”

Her bluntness caught him off guard. His eyes widened in surprise and he stood there stupidly for a few seconds before answering her. “What does that have to do with anything?” He bit back sharply.

Her one eye narrowed even farther. She looked at him for a moment or two before once again turning away from him and resuming her flower gathering. “Why don't you answer my question?” She asked him calmly.

“Because it's a stupid question!”

She ignored his harsh words and answered the question herself. “You feel as sense of responsibility towards your wife but you do not love her.” Her words hung heavy and final in the still morning air.

A strange tightening sensation gripped his chest as his cheeks burned with what he imagined was shame. He didn't understand where the queer feeling came from, but he didn't like it. “What does it matter anyways? I provide for her, make sure she's safe and give her whatever she wants. I'm a good husband for her. Love has nothing to do with it.” He defended himself hotly. “Our marriage is just like any other marriage, no worse. `Sides, she doesn't love me either.”

At his words, Kaede stopped and turned towards him faster than imagined her capable of and hissed at him venomously, “You're wrong, boy. You have no idea what your wife feels. You can't even begin to imagine what she went through after she married you. You have no idea how much she loves you, and how you hurt her with your indifference and… affairs”

“Well that's her problem then. Our marriage was arranged by my brother. She was a fool to expect more of me.” He barked back aggressively. “We got married out of duty, not love. I have every right to have as many wives and concubines as I want. You know that and she knows that. That silly sort of sappy love you're talking about was never in the plan,” he countered defensively.

“Inuyasha, I hope you realize that your wife may very well die this day giving birth to your child. You've had a woman that married you when she was 17 and has dedicated herself to you and your endeavors wholeheartedly and you have squandered your chances with her for a woman you found on the street.” Her eye bore into him as her unsympathetic words sunk in. “I raised a great warrior, a strong man of courage and honor. But I fear I failed with you. I didn't teach you the most important thing a man should know in life. You don't love your wife because you don't even know how.”

Inuyasha fell silent at her words. He could think of nothing to say to her that would negate what she just said but still, he didn't want to accept the picture she had painted of him. He wasn't some cruel, heartless bastard that was incapable of love….was he? He had always provided for his wife and made sure she was safe. He allowed her to run the household and manage everything as she pleased. He didn't dominate or abuse her. Wasn't that enough? Wasn't that how husbands were supposed to love their wives?

Kaede turned away from him and began to walk back towards their camp slowly. “Enough of this. Come Inuyasha, bring the flowers you gathered. All of this talk of love and marriage won't matter after today anyhow.” She said.

As he trailed behind her, he processed her words silently. When she didn't continue, he spoke in a hesitant, almost frightened voice, “You really think she's going to die?”

“I cannot say for certain,” she answered wearily, “but I think you should know that things are not looking good right now. She is bleeding far too much. I do not see a fair ending coming for this birth. When I consulted the oracle, the prophecy was not promising.”

Inuyasha stopped abruptly and stared at her in surprise. “You went to the oracle? What did it say?” He asked impatiently.

“I did not go in person, but I requested its prophecy by proxy. Rest assured, Inuyasha, you will have a child this day. The oracle has foreseen it happen and so it will.” She answered. “However, the rest of the prophecy was not as promising.” She paused for a moment and regarded him curiously before continuing, “the oracle has said that after this day, there will only be one woman in your heart. I fear your wife will not be the one that remains.” She said gravely.

For the third time that day, he felt an uncomfortable, almost painful, pressure settle in his chest. He didn't want her to die. She was his wife, an important person in his life. If she died, she would leave a motherless hanyou child in the world to be raised by others who would never fully accept him or her. He knew personally what the loss of a mother did to a child and he didn't want that to be his firstborn's future.

His somber musings were interrupted by Kaede's voice as they approached the birthing tent once more, “She has asked to see you before we proceed. Stay out here and I will send someone to fetch you once I have checked her progress.” Her voice had lost its intensity and now only conveyed the pragmatic, efficient manner of a well-seasoned midwife. The sentimental film disappeared from her eye and now it only displayed the critical scrutiny of a woman who had seen many babies enter the world. She looked at him once more before stepping forward and into the tent and left him only with a few words to keep in mind. “Do not upset her, Inuyasha,” she said, “you are important to her.”

Her parting words rang in his ears warningly as he sat himself in the shade of a nearby tree. He felt the knot in his stomach tighten as he considered the many things he was thinking and feeling. To be frank, he didn't think he'd ever been more afraid of anything. He was afraid of not knowing how to be a father. He was afraid of what would happen to his child if his wife died. The thought of her dying sent a wave of nearly suffocating panic through his system that he could barely suppress. No one would love their baby the way she would. No one could replace a mother. If she died, their child would be the one to suffer the most.

Inuyasha sighed wearily and ran a hand over his face and through his long silver mane. Trying to escape from the macabre and oppressive hold of his thoughts, he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the trunk, trying to focus on the sounds and smells that surrounded him. He breathed deeply and took in the clean scents of the nearby river, of the many breakfasts cooking around the camp, of all of the people he was responsible for. In the relative stillness of the morning, it felt like he could hear everything; people talking, water running, and animals moving about the camp. He was acutely aware of everything around him and that offered him solace.

He slipped further and further away from his thoughts and concentrated on not thinking. He sat in silence for a few moments before hearing the heavy folds of fabric that made up the entrance to the birthing tent rustle and open. He rose to his feet and took a few steps towards where he knew Kaede would be waiting for him, dreading the moment he'd step into the dark, forbidden territory of the tent.

The smell attacked him as soon as he walked through the entryway. It clawed into his nose and burned its way down his throat as he stepped further inside and closer to where his wife lay. Sweat, blood, and incense had his head spinning before he even got a glimpse of the woman laboring quietly on the bedding. It was oppressive and made Inuyasha feel like gagging, but he suppressed the urge and forced himself to kneel beside his wife and offer her his hand.

Her breaths were ragged and her face glistening with sweat. When he knelt beside her, her eyes were screwed shut in pain and her knuckles were white from gripping the bedding underneath her. Even with her face contorted in agony, she didn't make noise. She breathed and suffered quietly through her pain until it subsided and she turned to acknowledge him. He could see the exhaustion written clearly in her pretty blue eyes, yet she smiled for him and accepted his hand serenely. “I'm okay,” she whispered.

He didn't know what to say to her. He sat there mute, holding one of her hands in his own and awkwardly patting it with the other. He felt bad for her because she was going to die, so he figured he might as well be supportive while she was still around. They sat quite for a few moments, both waiting for the other to say something. She smiled at him tiredly before speaking up. “I'm not going to die today, you know.”

Again, he couldn't think of an appropriate answer to give her, so he stayed quiet and let her continue. “I want to see him grow. I can't abandon him now.”

He nodded solemnly. “Be strong.”

“Have you ever known me to be otherwise?” She replied with a mischievous twinkle glinting in her tired eyes for just a moment before another contraction attacked her.

He watched her breath miserably though it, clinging to his hand and to the sheets she was laying on, writhing in silent agony. He tried to wrack his brain for something helpful to do, but before he could settle on an idea, he was shooed out of the tent by one of the women, silently thankful at being able to escape the awkward silence that stuck between them.

* * *

The boy was born some time after midnight. Bloody and wrinkled, he slid into Kaede's old yet steady hands as his mother gave a strangled cry and collapsed onto the pillows behind her. “What did I have? Oh God, Kaede, what is it?” she gasped wearily.

“You have a boy, child, a boy.” Kaede whispered back. Kagome could see a tears welling up in her good eye before her own vision became clouded.

She reached out to touch him, desperately needing to know that he was real. Although he was still covered in birth fluids, she couldn't remember ever seeing something so beautiful. His first cry was faint, almost gurgled, but the second, and third, and all of the ones that followed were strong and loud. She was in a daze. She knew there was probably a frenzy of activity going on around her, but she only had eyes for her son. When he was taken out of her reach, she panicked. Irrational terror gripped her before she could rationalize that they were taking him away to clean him before his first blessings could be said.

Another pain shot through her, reminding her that she wasn't finished yet. At Kaede's gentle coaxing, she pushed again, hoping for relief from this miserable ordeal. She just wanted to hold her baby and sleep off the pervasive exhaustion that suffocated her.

With one final push, she felt something inside of her change. She felt the torrent of blood the gushed from inside of her and the almost unbearable dizziness that swept over her. Her vision swam in and out of focus and she felt herself loosing her tenuous grip on consciousness. Was this what it felt like to die? Was she really about to leave her son, her soul, without his blessing and his mother? “No…” she rasped out, forcing the blackness stealing into her vision away. “His blessing,” she continued, “please, someone, Kaede.” Tears streamed down her face. Why was it so difficult to speak? Before she could string together anything else, she felt someone take her hand and place it on her baby's forehead. “Thank the gods,” she thought wearily as she heard the sound of the blessing, led by Kaede and chorused by the other women, fill the tent.

Her eyelids felt like they were made of lead, but she forced herself to stay awake until she could see her baby properly. She couldn't find the energy to move and reach for him. The ancient words of the first blessing surrounded her as she felt herself slip away. Darkness didn't engulf her all at once; it crept into her vision until there was nothing but a pinprick of light in the center. She heard the final words of her son's blessing and caught one fleeting glimpse of wide, unfocused golden eyes before the light was gone. She felt her hand slip from his head heavily and then there was….nothing.

* * *

The wrinkled, pink little creature that was placed in his arms looked nothing like the baby Inuyasha had imagined. Besides the little flaps of flesh still lying against his strangely shaped head and his tufts of silvery hair, this baby looked nothing like either of them. His eyes were tightly shut as he squirmed in his father's hold, probably trying to find his mother's scent.

Inuyasha didn't think his son ugly, just strange. He stared transfixed at the little bump of a nose currently sniffing fervently at him, trying to recognize who exactly was holding him. He watched his baby squirm even more vigorously, open his little mouth and wail loudly. Immediately seized by panic, he handed the baby off quickly to Kaede and exited the tent as quickly as he could manage. The night air was unusually cold for so early in the autumn, but Inuyasha didn't feel the chill as he gulped down some air.

He felt unnaturally agitated. He should feel happy; he had a healthy son. Instead, he was overwhelmed with anxiety. He didn't know the first thing about babies. How was he supposed to take care of his son if his wife died?

“Relax, Inuyasha, he's alright.”

He turned to see Kaede walking towards him slowly. “He was missing his mother's scent. We laid him next to her and he quieted.” She smiled at him. “Well, what do you think?”

“He's not what I expected.” Inuyasha answered sheepishly as his cheeks colored.

“How so?”

“Well for one I though he was a girl,” he answered irritably, turning away from Kaede and looking towards the hills, “and the fact that he's so weird looking doesn't help either.”

He heard Kaede chuckle quietly behind him. “Its normal for babies to be a little ugly when they're born, Inuyasha, but he'll look more like you imagined in a few hours once his color changes.”

“Ya think?” He asked, actually looking over his shoulder at her.

“Of course. He'll be a handsome boy; I have no doubt about it. You and his mother are both very good looking, so why wouldn't he be?”

He stood silent for a moment. “How is she?” He asked finally.

He heard Kaede sigh and turned to face her. “She's alright. Exhausted as is to be expected, but otherwise she seems to be doing surprisingly well.”

He watched her old face form into a frown. “What?” He asked.

She looked up at him and he saw the confusion shining in her good eye. “I don't understand. The oracle's prophecy makes no sense now. Kagome bled more than what is normal, but that's stopped now. Even if she were to come down with the fever, which I doubt, she would never die tonight. The prophecy said that as of tonight, there would only be one woman in your life. I do not understand.”

“Keh!” He scoffed, walking towards the tent again. “That's women's superstitions.”

“Wait Inuyasha,” she said, halting him before he reached his destination. “Don't go in there now. You will have plenty of time to see them soon enough. We have many things to discuss before sunrise. Come,” she said before turning and walking down the path that led towards the center of camp.

Inuyasha grumbled at being treated like a pup, but followed her nonetheless. Whatever she needed to say to him better be worth it.

Kaede's tent was near the very center of their encampment. They entered in silence and settled into cushions around the fire. A skinny maid brought them tea before scurrying out like a frightened animal. Inuyasha scoffed. If there was one thing he hated more than ugly women it was fidgety women.

“The oracle is never wrong, Inuyasha, never. We may not see what it means at the moment, but rest assured that things will come to pass as it have foreseen it.” Kaede began solemnly.

“Whatever baba. That better not have been the reason you made me walk all the way down here.” He said.

“No, Inuyasha, that's not why I asked you here.” She said sternly. “We need to talk about you and Kagome.”

Inuyasha stiffened. “What is there to talk about?”

“You know our laws, Inuyasha,” she continued, “now that you have a child and it is apparent that Kagome can have healthy children, your mating must be completed.”

“I know that,” he sighed. “We will complete it.”

They sat in silence for a while before Kaede spoke again. “What about the rest?” She asked tentatively.

“What rest?” He asked, his ears standing alert atop his head as his eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“The part that says that now you must either take Kikyou as your second wife or end things with her. By keeping a mistress after your legitimate wife has given you a son and heir, you dishonor both her and you child.” She eyed him solemnly, waiting for him to speak. When he didn't, she pressed him, “Well?”

“Well what?” He snapped at her, his eyes staring intently into the fire.

“What will you do?”

He stared into the fire for a few more seconds before looking up at her, “Is that all?” He asked evenly.

It was Kaede's turn to ask what he meant. “Is that all you wanted to talk about?” He clarified crossly.

“No, it's not. As you know, your eight days begin at sunrise. Before then, you must go to the river, bathe, and give an offering to the gods in thanks for your child. Miroku may accompany you.” She paused for a moment before continuing; ”I will organize his formal blessing and naming ceremony for dusk of the eight day. We will send word to your brother and to the other provinces. Is there anything else you would like done?”

“No.”

“Very well then, that was all I needed to speak with you about. You can go if you like.” She said. She took up her cup of tea and sipped it quietly as Inuyasha got up and moved towards the exit. “Oh and Inuyasha,” she said, stopping him by the door, “Congratulations.” She smiled.

* * *

Throughout his time spent bathing in the frigid river water, placing his offering, and chorusing the prayers Miroku lead, all he could think about were his upcoming eight days. He had never been alone with his wife for more than a few hours, how the hell was he supposed to last eight days in that damned tent without driving himself crazy? How was she?

He retied his trousers and plopped down on the bank, his hair still sopping wet and his upper half uncovered. He glared at the water and tried to ignore Miroku's maddening attempts at conversation. Couldn't he get five fucking minutes to himself before being trapped for eight fucking days?!

“Now I'll say, Inuyasha, maybe this won't be so bad. Your wife is very lovely and I think you two are plenty capable of finding sensational ways of enjoying your time together, wouldn't you?” He asked suggestively.

“We're not having sex, you fucking lecher, she just had a baby. “ Inuyasha growled

“Why, Inuyasha,” Miroku replied dramatically, “I meant no such thing! What I meant to imply was that you two would be having a lot of quality conversation, no?”

When Inuyasha made a face, Miroku shook his head and chucked. “Come now, don't be so negative. Have you ever even had more than a five minute conversation with her?”

“No.”

“Would it really be so bad to just talk to her for a while?”

“No, it would be fine if it were a while, but it's not, it's eight fucking days!”

The hanyou's irritation hung heavily in the air, clearly conveying the message that he was not exactly in a conversational mood, but the monk continued to push the subject incessantly. Finally, when Inuyasha could bear no more of it, he exploded.

“For fuck's sake, monk, shut up!” He roared. “Stop talking as though she and I are a fucking happy married couple!” The venom with which he spat the word “she” sent a chill down Miroku's spine. “Can't you fucking understand, can't anyone understand that this is an arranged marriage? I don't want her.” He spat viciously. “I married her because it was my duty to do so. I provide for her and keep her safe. She does what she wants and I do what I want. Why the fuck does everyone have to image that there is anything else between us?”

As his tirade progressed, his voice became progressively louder until he was shouting at the top of his lungs, leaving the ever-garrulous monk speechless. When his final, explosive words were said, Inuyasha stood in front of Miroku, panting and tense like a caged tiger, practically shaking with inordinate rage.

Almost as suddenly as his anger had materialized, it disappeared. He deflated suddenly and plopped down on the group, taking his head in his hands and sighing in defeat. He sat motionlessly in that position until Miroku found his voice again. “Inuyasha…” he began uncertainly.

“I don't know what the fuck is wrong with me, monk,” he answered. His words were laced with the uncertainty that threatened to consume him from the inside out. He had never felt such an unnatural and overwhelming barrage of emotions in one day. Truth be told, he was exhausted. He didn't want to go though with the miserable obligation that awaited him within the tent. All he wanted was to go back to his own bed and sleep without having to worry about women or babies or responsibilities.

“There's nothing wrong with you, my friend,” Miroku offered in what he hoped was a reassuring tone. He felt an unusual sense of pity grip him as he looked at his usually strong and proud friend looking more like a child than a king. “Today has been a stressful day for everyone, especially you. It's normal to feel overwhelmed.”

“What the fuck am I supposed to do with her for eight days? Talk? About what?” He continued forlornly, “I haven't been along with Kagome since before western campaign…” words he hadn't said hung in the air between them, heavy and imposing even when unspoken.

“Since before you brought Kikyou back with you, you mean.” The monk finished solemnly. He remembered the day that wolf in sheep's clothing came into their lives. In trying to claim the disputed borderlands from the Hissites, Inuyasha had led the army on a six-month campaign almost a thousand miles from home. They encountered heavy resistance, but eventually managed to push they enemy back over the mountains. When the final village had been won and the Hissites dispatched, they had been treated to a festival for kings. The quaint village transformed into a utopia for the welcomed conquerors, full of every imaginable pleasure. That very night, she had come before Inuyasha with her eyes lowered demurely and her arms laden with gifts from the village headman. He had been too far to hear the words that passed between them that night, but he saw her approach his friend and somehow knew she would bring trouble into their lives. Sure enough, she worked her way into his bed that very night and somehow managed to convince him to bring her back here.

When the newly completed gates to their capital opened, the heroes rode in triumphantly with one notable addition. Kikyou rode in on a magnificent white horse originally intended to be a gift for Inuyasha's queen from the headman of the last village. She was dressed like a true royal, in lush red and gold robes, and as such stuck out like a sore thumb in the sea of grey and black armor around her as she rode up to the dais where the pregnant queen sat looking on in stunned horror.

If betrayal had a face, Miroku would bet anything that it was the one Kagome wore as she watched Kikyou come into the city. The pretty face that had glowed with radiant excitement just seconds before was now a mask of unadulterated grief. He saw her wide blue eyes dart from Kikyou to Inuyasha and back again, finally coming to meet with his own, questions practically pouring from them. He grimaced and had to look away, not being able to stomach the hurt he saw there.

By the time the Inuyasha had finished the procession and ridden up to the dais, Miroku had stationed himself near the right of the platform. He had seen the way the queen's hands clenched and unclenched on the arms of her seat and he knew she was battling with herself as to whether she should sit and silently endure the humiliation she surely felt or leave and undoubtedly cause a scene. She went pale as she watched her husband dismount his horse and step up to her, pecking her on the cheek before taking his seat to her left. She didn't speak a single word the entire day as the festivities wore on, instead sitting stoically by Inuyasha, her hand placed protectively on her growing belly, until she finally excused herself around sunset.

“Do you remember that day, Inuyasha?” Miroku asked sternly, breaking the silence that had settled upon them for several minutes.

“What the fuck are you getting at, bouzu?” Inuyasha snapped back defensively. Hell yes, he remembered that day. He remembered seeing his wife's smile crumble as she looked on. He remembered a strange guilt creep into his chest when he saw her hand fly to her belly as she looked at him with a look that could only be described as despair. He had forced it back stubbornly, refusing to feel bad for exercising his right as a king to have as many women as he wanted, at least for the time being.

“Nothing, nothing,” the monk conceded, knowing he had stirred the hanyou's conscious enough. “Just try and be nice, Inuyasha. She's your son's mother, and even if you don't feel anything more than obligation towards her, you should try and be civil.”

“Keh!” The hanyou grumbled in response. The two men sat in silence for a few more minutes until they noticed the eastern sky begin to lighten, knowing that it was nearly time for Inuyasha to enter the tent and face his wife for the first time since the night their son was conceived so many months ago. They had only even been alone together for any extended amount of time once, on that night, their first and only. They were practically strangers, and that, Inuyasha was certain, would make for a very uncomfortable and very long eight days.