InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Volition ❯ Business As Usual ( Chapter 37 )

~*Volition~*

~~Chapter 37: Business As Usual~~

 

 

“I want a baby.”

 

A muffled `clunk' drifted in to Rini's ears as she looked at her mate through the fringe of her bangs only to see his striking sapphire eyes round at her statement. Seconds later, she heard his snort as he leaned over the white leather couch of their home to reach for the game controller he had dropped.

 

“That was a little funny, Rini, I thought you said you want a…kid” Raidon scowled at the word.

 

“I'm glad you find it amusing my mate because that's exactly what I said. I want a baby, Raidon.” Rini frowned, closing the book smack and settling it on the glass coffee table in front of the couch.

 

He was at loss of words. It didn't help that she looked serious either. Raising her legs on the couch, she wrapped her small arms around her knees before resting her chin on them. She sighed. He blinked slowly, watching as a couple of strands of red hair fell over her shoulder. And because he couldn't think of anything to say, he uttered “…Why?”

 

She smiled---a small innocent grin that somehow managed to light up her entire face. “Because it would be a joy! Come on, Raidon, a child---a pup! A little baby that looks like us and we'll raise it, teach it, and love it! That doesn't inspire you?”

 

“…No”

 

Rini sighed, face dropping as she sighed. “Why not?” She whispered, barely audible.

 

He carefully placed his controller on the coffee table before breathing in deeply, choosing his words carefully. “I just…” He rubbed his forehead furiously, to the point where he thought he actually rubbed off his crest. “I'm not ready for a child, Rini. I wouldn't be able to deal with it. I told you this already, I just…I don't…I just can't.”

 

She whimpered. “Aren't you like two-hundred something? You've had centuries to be prepared to raise a child.”

 

Raidon felt his cheeks warm at her argument. He rolled his eyes when she attempted to remember his actual age since on the documents he used currently, it stated his age as twenty-six. “Just because you have time doesn't mean you're ready to take on a pup, Rini. I want `em, sure. Just not yet.”

 

He could sense the shift in her aura as she smiled just a tad. “Someday?”

 

He shrugged. “Yeah. For now, be happy we're taking care of your sister and Joey.”

 

“My sister is a full grown teenager and Joey is a rabbit…they hardly count!”

 

“It's the same idea, Rini. We forget to feed that damn rabbit most of the time. Imagine a kid?”

 

Rini rolled her eyes, but chuckled. “A rabbit and a baby are hardly the same thing, Raidon.”

 

Raidon sighed and shook his head. “Well present a more compelling argument and you might convince me to make a kid. Until then, however, you have Joey.”

 

“I'm hungry.”

 

Raidon unpaused the game he was playing and without taking his eyes off the screen, he acknowledged his mate's statement. He knew deep down Rini wanted nothing more than to have a baby, but because that decision was in his power alone, she was trying her hardest to convince him. Her swift change of subject, he knew, was meant to cover what she really felt. “You wanna go out? It's a nice Saturday, you know. We could…take a walk.” `I'm sorry, Rini. I'm not ready yet, you have to understand that.'

 

Rini glanced at him before slowly breaking in to a smile.

 

“Okay.”

 

 

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“I wanna go on the big slide!” Jiro yelled, pulling his father from his index finger and happy pointing at the biggest slide in the park.

 

“You don't say,” Shippo said, grinning. “I think you're still too small for that slide, Jiro.”

 

“No! I'm a big pup!”

 

“No he's not!” Hiroshi, the older of the two, stated loudly as he swung himself around the jungle gym. “You're still a big baby!”

 

Shippo rolled his eyes. “Don't say that, Hiroshi. Jiro, you can go on the big slide, just don't fall off.”

 

“I won't Daddy!” Jiro agreed seconds before he used his youkai speed to run to the `big' slide.

 

Shippo grimaced as he plopped down on a bench nearby. It seemed to him that Hiroshi and Jiro never stopped running around. He knew Shiori, his mate, had a very difficult job as it was and their boys made it no easier on her. And so, being the excellent mate he was, Shippo volunteered to take the boys out for a few hours to give Shiori some rest. Actually, often times, Shippo also felt…drained. As a Chemistry professor in Tokyo University, he also had a lot to do. He had papers to grade, meetings to attend, and lessons to prepare. But, in general, he knew Shiori's job as a Hospital Emergency Room physician, her job demanded a lot more from her.

 

`And so my wonderful mate is taking a bubble bath while I run around chasing our beautiful children' Shippo chuckled.

 

“'Ippo!”

 

The familiar sound of the pup's voice made the kitsune lean his head to the side to make sure he wasn't hearing things. “Miya?”

 

Sesshoumaru and Kagura's daughter walked over to him, as fast as her little legs could take her, and leaned on his knee. “'Ippo!”

 

“Fancy meeting you here, Shippo.” Kagura said as she approached him, watching as her pup tried to claw her way up Shippo's leg. He laughed, leaning down to pick up the bubbly child.

 

“Hello Kagura. Hello pretty pup.” He said, tweaking Miya's nose softly. She cried out in laugher. In a split second, both Hiroshi and Jiro were standing before them, both smiling at the sight of Miya.

 

“Miya!” Jiro yelled, lifting up his chubby hand “Gimme five!”

 

Having seen the gesture before, Miya giggled before using all her small strength to hit Jiro's outstretched hand.

 

“She's so awesome! She's gon' be my favorite cousin!” Jiro declared, placing his small hand against his forest green tee shirt.

 

“So Shippo, what brings you out here on this beautiful Saturday morning?” Kagura asked, taking a seat besides him. Miya threw herself on to her mother, who caught her without any effort.

 

Shippo shrugged. “Shiori needed a break.”

 

Kagura smiled before she cradled Miya's chin in her index finger. “You should tell your father to bring you out here, young lady.”

 

Miya nodded once. “Daddy!”

 

Kagura rolled her eyes, but smiled nonetheless. “Hey Shippo, lets go get breakfast after this.”

 

Shippo nodded once. “You got it, Kagura.”

 

 

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InuYasha and Kagome's wedding was only days away which meant the rest of Kagome's bridesmaids were well on their way to Japan. Actually, Emma and Sharei had arrived yesterday. Kagome herself had gone to pick them up early in the morning and had dropped them off at the Higurashi residence.

 

But Victoria had decided to take a later flight. And because of that, Kiyoshi was now driving to Tokyo International Airport to pick up the lovely Victoria Valentine. `I'm a little excited to see her. I have missed her'

 

Kiyoshi smiled. `Yeah, I've missed her to. She was…different.'

 

“Excuse me?”

 

The family looked to Victoria, who had a complete face of confusion. She held hangers in her hands. Kiyoshi looked at her, blonde hair falling around and her brilliant blue eyes looking at him. “I have no idea where anything is, could you please help me?”

 

Kiyoshi slowly stood up and glanced at Alexandra. “Ummm…sure.”

 

The pretty girl grinned. “Kagome asked me to go to dressing room six, you know where that is?”

 

Kiyoshi nodded. “Yeah, come on.” He grabbed the hangers and jerked his head. “My name is Kiyoshi Taka.”

 

She grinned. “Victoria Valentine, I'm Kagome's friend. I came with her.”

 

“Oh…”

 

“Yeah, we're helping her out, but you know…I don't know where things are around here.”

 

Kiyoshi shot her a side glance and smiled. `Victoria huh?'

 

A familiar scent caught his nose and he turned around in time to see Alexandra walking behind them, violet eyes catching his sapphire ones. She frowned before going in to one of the bathrooms.

 

Kiyoshi sighed. “Girlfriend?” Victoria asked. Kiyoshi shook his head.

 

“Not at all. I'm all yours.”

 

Victoria laughed.

 

 

When they first met, perhaps it had been a desperation Kiyoshi had held within him that drew him to her. The fact he'd been chasing Alexander Sueki, the woman who never gave him the time of day, sunk him in to a sadness he couldn't hide. Deep down he always had thought Alexandra would eventually come around. And he allowed himself to fall deep in love with her and when he realized his feelings were not returned, it hurt him terribly. And then the years he spent trying to convince Alexandra to go out with him just one time finally wore him out.

 

And then Victoria came in to the picture. In the two and a half weeks she spent in Japan, she had manage to give him a whole new perspective. She had figured out he was youkai, albeit Kagome assisted in that discovery. And the most beautiful thing about the girl was that she actually liked that he wasn't human. When they were alone, she often had asked to see his real face, his real features that set him aside from human men. Kiyoshi couldn't help, but redirect his feelings for the blonde haired beauty.

 

He stuffed his hands in to his pockets as he waited at the arriving gate for her. Thousands of people walked around him, speaking, laughing, crying, waving as they waved their loved ones goodbye. He kept watching for her, watching people push their carts from around the gate and in to the airport where they were greeted by those who came to see them.

 

`Its her…' The scent of her stood out in his nose against the scents of everyone else. She bit her lip as she pushed her cart, licking her lips nervously. Kiyoshi smiled as he smoothed out his white polo tee-shirt and made his way towards her. “Victoria” He said loud enough to carry it to her ears.

 

She immediately looked up, gasping softly. “Kiyoshi!” She yelled happily, abandoning her cart as she ran towards him. He opened his arms for her, allowing her to embrace him tightly. He held her, closed his eyes against the scent that engulfed him.

 

“Would you believe me if I said I actually missed you?” Victoria grinned, re-adjusting her powder pink tee shirt and making her way back to her cart. Kiyoshi chuckled, pushing her gently out of the way so he could push her cart.

 

“I could believe that. You know, I actually missed you to.”

 

“How much?”

 

Kiyoshi held his index finger from his thumb about half an inch away. “This much.”

 

Victoria threw her head back, laughing softly. She mimicked his hand gesture before winking, those blue eyes sparkling. “I missed you this much to.”

 

“Good.” Kiyoshi said, allowing them to fall in to silence and just enjoy each other's company. `…Maybe I can do this.'

 

 

 

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“Tic-tac-toe-three in a row, wench.” InuYasha announced rather smugly as he made a line though his row of X's.

 

Kagome sighed melodramatically before groaning. “That's not fair. I was good at this game.”

 

InuYasha rolled his eyes. “In what world, woman? You're down by four points, may I remind you.”

 

Kagome grabbed the nearest pillow and used all her strength to smack him with it. He flattened his ears, but managed to catch the pillow. “You cheat!”

 

“Keh!”

 

Kagome placed the top back on her hot pink marker before tossing it on the floor. “You do, you know. I know it.”

 

“Really….” InuYasha said rather dryly.

 

“Yup. Miko's instinct.” Kagome stuck out her tongue. She leaned back, lifting her arms over her head to stretch out, allowing her hanyou to see her chest rise and show off the planes of her upper body.

 

InuYasha whimpered.

 

“What's wrong, Puppy?”

 

“You suck at games, Kagome.”

 

“I don't.” Kagome said, plopping back down on to the bed they had lazily stayed in all morning. “I'm letting you win.”

 

“My ass!”

 

“What? You don't believe me?”

 

He snorted.

 

“Well its true.”

 

He snorted again.

 

Kagome sighed. “We should get out of bed, InuYasha. I'm kind of starting to get hungry.”

 

InuYasha rolled over to peek at the digital clock on the nightstand besides their bed. “It's only eleven.”

 

“But I'm hungry.”

 

“So I'll go make something. What do you want?”

 

Kagome smiled, but rolled her eyes. “Lets go out.”

 

“Out where?”

 

“Like…lets go pick up at that Starbucks. Its American and its really good.”

 

“I've never been there.”

 

“Well come on!” Kagome said, pushing the wine red comforter off the hanyou and tugging on his hand. “Its delicious! You'll love it.”

 

He didn't complain when Kagome pulled in to the bathroom. He grinned. “Whatever you want, wench.”

 

 

 

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Victoria had ruled out staying at his home. But that was okay with Kiyoshi. He never expected her to run in to his house at first chance. He had dropped her off at the Higurashi shrine for Kagome to pick them when they had their fitting. Mrs. Higurashi had invited him to stay for breakfast.

 

Aside from Emma, Sharei, Kagome's grandfather, mother, and Souta, also joining them had been Victoria, Souta's girlfriend, and Kiyoshi himself. How long had Rini's sister been Souta's girlfriend already?

 

Kiyoshi sighed. Even a teenager had more luck than he did. Stuffing his hands in to his pockets as he walked around Tokyo, Kiyoshi bit his lip and sighed.

 

“You know Kiyoshi, I just…I don't like you.”

 

`Suck it up, Kiyoshi. That was years ago'

 

`Maybe…but I really, honestly thought Alexandra was the one.'

 

`Well you thought wrong.'

 

And all of a sudden, as though Kami had willed it so, the scent of Alexandra Sueki floated in to his nose. Stopping and looking up, Kiyoshi could see she was coming down the street with a bad held in her left hand. Her hair was black again, he noticed, and her highlights shone beautifully against the lights of the stores around them.

 

He hadn't seen her in a while. And just like that, the butterflies erupted in his belly, causing a strange sensation to course through his veins. A sudden sense of comfort and beauty engulfed him and he basked in its warmth. How could she do that to him with just one sniff of her scent?

 

And she noticed him to, because he stopped and looked at him. They stood there, roughly five feet apart, just starting at each other. Those mystical violet eyes of hers bore in to his very soul and he sighed deeply. Instantly, he felt the draw upon her, the feeling that had kept him coming back to her even after all the times she rejected him.

 

`Damnit…' He thought. “…Why”

 

He closed the distance between them in two strides, reached out to grab her and tug hard enough to bring her colliding with his chest. Wrapping his arms around her, a second instinct guided Kiyoshi in to holding her head against his shoulder…burying his nose in her hair…wrapping his arm around her waist and holding her close.

 

“K-Kiyoshi…”

 

He growled softly. “Don't push me away, Alexandra…”

 

He heard her gasp softly. Ever hesitantly, he felt her arms come around him and settle on his back. And for the first time in all the time he knew her, she hugged him back. She took fistfuls of his sweater and pulled him closer to her. He closed his eyes, dug his fingers in to her thick hair he liked so much. He felt the front of the tee-shirt he wore under the sweater begin to moisten and smelled the salt of Alexandra's tears.

 

“Why are you crying, Alexandra?”

 

She gulped. “I don't know.”

 

“You have to know…”

 

“Shut up, Kiyoshi” She whispered. He looked up over Kiyoshi's shoulder, longingly staring at the light of the full moon that rose up high in the sky. `

 

From around the corner, a Miko and Hanyou stared intently at the scene taking place nearly a block away from them. “Leave them alone, Kagome. You're so nosy.”

 

“I'm not nosy, I'm just curious. Kin mentioned he talked to her today. Maybe he gave her an epiphany?”

 

InuYasha shrugged, stuffing his hands in his sweater and leaning against the wall of the apartment complex. He watched from the corner of his eye as his fiancé peeked from around the corner of the building and watched.

 

“He's messed up in the head, Kagome. That girl has toyed with Kiyoshi for years. Fat chance she'd give him a chance at this stage in the game.”

 

Kagome gave a version of his “keh” before standing up straight. “You have such little faith in true love, InuYasha.”

 

He rolled his eyes. “You call torture true love. That pup is one fucked up girl.” He made a face.

 

“Alexandra?”

 

He nodded.

 

“Maybe she was scared of facing her feelings?”

 

“Keh! Who knows? I don't like her much.”

 

“Why? She's lovely…”

 

“Real lovely, Kagome.” InuYasha said, leaning over Kagome to see Kiyoshi and Alexandra. He sighed. “How long is he gonna hug her?”

 

Kagome shrugged. “I don't know. You know, InuYasha, it's a romantic night. You should hug me.”

 

He rolled his eyes. “How `bout you come here and hug me first?”

 

Kagome chuckled softly, but complied, wrapping her arms around his waist and leaning her head against his chest to hear his heartbeat. He snorted softly, cheeks flaming up as people smile when they saw Kagome's display of affection. He suddenly felt hot in his black sweater, but shook it off, wrapping his arms around Kagome's shoulders and looking up at the moon.

 

`Alright Kagome, you win…this time.'

 

 

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~*Volition~*

 

Kagome mistakenly makes a wish on the jewel after Naraku's death. It forces the well to close and leave her second family behind. Now, InuYasha has waited 500 years to finally see Kagome again, but when he does see her, she is not the 'Kagome' he thought he'd face...

So how does a hanyou convince a miko to love him all over again?

 

 

 

 

Volition- the act of making a choice or decision; a desire; a wish.

 

 

 

Disclaimer, I do not own InuYasha. All right belong to Rumiko Takahashi.