InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Birthday To Remember ❯ Telling the Friends ( Chapter 4 )

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Inuyasha and I never will. Inuyasha belongs to Rumiko Takahashi, and I own nothing. I make no profit off this; it is simply something I'm doing for fun, for my own enjoyment and hopefully yours

 

IMPORTANT AUTHOR'S NOTE: This USED TO BE the third chapter of this story. It was moved back when I decided I really wanted to have Inuyasha and Kagome becoming mates included in this story. Sorry if this confuses people.

 

Chapter 3 - Telling the Friends

 

Sango hiked through the forest named after her dear friend for the last three years wondering what had happened to him. She wasn't really worried, knowing full well he could take care of himself, but she couldn't help but be a little concerned, not to mention confused.

 

Like Kagome, Sango couldn't help but notice how Inuyasha had disappeared half way through the celebration last night and wonder as to the reason why. Then very early this morning she (along with everyone else in the village not already up) found themselves unceremoniously woken up to the sound of Inuyasha howling from somewhere in the direction of he Sacred Tree. Actually howling. In the three years Sango had known Inuyasha, not once had he howled, and part of her couldn't help but worry about the reason why.

 

Fortunately, Sango had realised that there was no pain or fear in that howl and that she couldn't sense any hostile demonic energy anywhere near the village before she had panicked and ran out in full battle mode. So now, curious but not overly concerned, Sango was hiking through the woods, with her perverted husband by her and a sleepy Shippo dozing on her shoulder as he hitched a ride. Kirara was back at the hut, the fire-cat deciding that there was no danger and that despite the old saying, this cat wasn't nearly curious enough to have her sleep interrupted.

 

Sango didn't really know what could have caused Inuyasha to howl like that but she was determined to find out. Miroku on the other hand was convinced he knew what was going on and was dead set on telling Sango, despite how much she didn't believe it and how many times she told him to be quiet.

 

“My dear Sango,” Miroku began again. “I assure you there is nothing to worry about. I am sure what we heard this morning was merely the sound of Inuyasha expressing his joy in the fact that Kagome must have enjoyed his very special present last night.”

 

“Will you be quiet already, you hentai!” Sango snapped, annoyed with her husband's one-track mind. “Look, I might not know just why Inuyasha howled like that, but I'm sure it wasn't because of anything like that. If nothing else, Kagome isn't here. She went home through the Bone Eater's Well last night.”

 

Miroku looked very disappointed. “Are you sure?” He asked.

 

“Yes.” Sango said calmly, feeling and sounding rather smug. “She went home after the celebration started winding down.”

 

“I thought she went looking for Inuyasha.” Shippo said with a yawn, not really awake or fully understanding what Miroku and Sango were arguing about.

 

Sango stopped walking in shock and stared at Shippo, not sure she had heard right.

 

“What was that?”

 

“Kagome went looking for Inuyasha once the party was almost over.” Shippo repeated with another yawn. “She was worried about where he had disappeared to. I heard Kori telling her she'd seen him heading for the Sacred Tree.”

 

Sango stared at Shippo in shock. She couldn't believe it, Miroku couldn't be right. Miroku on the other hand was brightening once again.

 

“Well, well, well.” Miroku said with his trademark lecherous grin. “It certainly sounded like Inuyasha at least was still at the Tree this morning. I wonder what he and Kagome were up to, out there all night, hum?”

 

“Get your head out of the gutter houshi!” Sango snapped, angrily coming out of her daze. “Even if they are out there together, and there's no guarantee Kagome didn't just go home after she found Inuyasha, I'm sure nothing like that happened last night.”

 

“I beg to differ Sango, dear.” Miroku said, grin getting impossibly wider. “I know that tone Inuyasha was using earlier. It was the sound of a man who has had his greatest dream realised. I very nearly howled like that on our wedding night.”

 

“Will you be quiet?” Sango snapped again. “Look we're almost there, and then you'll see nothing like that happened.”

 

Unfortunately for Sango, it had.

 

###

 

Fortunately for Inuyasha and Kagome, they had managed to get covered enough that by the time their friends arrived they didn't see anything they shouldn't. Unfortunately, their dishevelled hair, Inuyasha's bare chest, the crumpled state of Kagome 's kimono and her underwear still being on the ground served as clear signs as to what had happened last night. So, Miroku and Sango knew the moment they stepped into the clearing, just as Inuyasha and Kagome knew that they knew. Shippo was the only one in the dark, as virtue of being too young and half asleep.

 

For a long moment after Miroku, Sang and Shippo entered the clearing, no one said anything, but instead just stood there staring at each other each with a different expression on their face. Inuyasha stared defiantly at his friends (especially Miroku) as if daring them to dispute his right to be with Kagome or to make a joke out of it. Kagome stood there, embarrassed beyond all reason, barely able to maintain eye contract and as red in the face as her mate's fire-rat haori. Miroku, predicably, had his lecherous grin firmly in place while silently chanting `I knew it, I knew it, I knew it!' to himself. Sango stood there in pure shock, her mind not quite yet processing the facts in front of her, not quite yet able to believe her friends had finally admitted their feeling for each other and gotten together. Shippo just blinked sleepily, not knowing or caring what was going on. Now that he knew for sure his friends were okay, he'd gone back to wishing in was still in bed.

 

“Soooo.” Miroku said slyly after a full minute had passed. “It appears you two had your own little party after you both left the celebration last night.”

 

“Feh, how is it any of your business what we do?” Inuyasha demanded, embarrassment and fear of his friends objecting to his and Kagome's Mating making him hostile. More than usual that is.

 

“Well for starters, that howl of yours woke up the entire village this morning.” Miroku said dryly. He grin became even wider when Kagome turned even redder and finally looked away, and even Inuyasha turned a slight pink.

 

“Seriously,” Miroku said, as his grin surprisingly changed from lecherous to truly happy. “I must say I'm truly happy the two of you finally decided to admit your feeling for each other and get together. It's about time, I might add.” For once, Miroku was completely sincere and Inuyasha and Kagome both knew it.

 

“You two did admit your feelings didn't you?” Sango asked, finally overcoming her shock, though part of her was a little put out at being proved wrong mere minutes after telling off Miroku. “You are together now?” Kagome was like a little sister to Sango, and the demon slayer knew full well how much Kagome loved the hanyou, as well as how much he had hurt her (however unintentionally) in the past. If this had turned out to be a one-night stand, Sango knew that Kagome's heart would be truly crushed, possibly forever. She didn't think Inuyasha would use Kagome (or for that matter any woman) that way, she believed he had more honour and respect for women than that. But so help him if she was wrong…

 

“Of course we're together.” Inuyasha snapped, insulted and hurt that Sango apparently thought so little of him that she believed he would use Kagome in such a manner. “Do you really think so little of me Sango, that you believe I would spoil Kagome to sate my desires then leave her, like some kind of fucking animal?”

 

Sango's eyes widened at his words, realising how much she'd hurt Inuyasha with her careless words. “Of course not!” She said quickly, realising that she knew Inuyasha would never treat Kagome like that.

 

“Feh.” Inuyasha answered, not convinced. He had smelt the doubt on her at her question after all. He had expected that some people (to be honest, a lot of people) wouldn't like the idea of a hanyou being mated to a miko, but he had hoped his friends at least would be on his side. Inuyasha suddenly felt a wave of guilt wash over him as he realised he had most likely doomed Kagome to a life of prejudice and hatred, but none of that showed in his voice as he said defiantly, “Kagome's my mate now. You have a problem with that?”

 

Miroku and Sango just smiled.

 

“Why would we have a problem with that?” Miroku asked happily, as his wife moved to engulf Kagome in a huge hug. “We've been waiting three years for you two stubborn idiots to finally admit your feelings for each other.” Unable to detect any trace of insincerity in either of their scents Inuyasha relaxed, realising that he and Kagome had at least two people who accepted them.

 

“Wait, you two are Mated?” Shippo squeaked, finally waking up fully.

 

“Yes Shippo we are.” Kagome said, speaking for the first time since her friends' arrival.

 

“Well, it's about time.” Shippo shouted gleefully, while doing a little happy dance on the spot. “I thought you two were never going to get together.” He stopped dancing at this point, and turned to grace Inuyasha with as serious a look as a ten year old fox-demon child could manage. “You better be good to her Inuyasha, or else I'll be coming after you.”

 

Despite the fact that the threat of Inuyasha being attacked by Shippo was laughable at best, Inuyasha returned the serious look with one of his own. “Don't worry, I intend to.” He said earnestly.

 

Shippo nodded at the hanyou, before once again resuming his happy dance. “Will you be living here all the time now Kagome?”

 

“Well, Inuyasha and I still have to discuss that Shippo.” Kagome said, as she realised that she and her new mate actually had a lot to talk about.

 

Inuyasha met Kagome's eyes, realising the same thing as her. “You guys head back to the village, we'll met up with you later.” Inuyasha said to Miroku Sango and Shippo, though his eyes never left his mate. His tone left no room for argument, so Miroku and Sango simply nodded and turned around and left, Miroku grabbing hold of Shippo by the tail when he would have stayed.

 

“But I wanted to stay with Kagome.” Shippo whined as they headed back to the village.

 

“Now Shippo, they really should be allowed some time to themselves, I'm sure they have a lot to talk about.” Miroku said, for once without any lecherous insinuation in his voice.

 

Sango nodded. “They'll be along later, but for now we should let them be alone.” She said seriously.

 

Shippo sighed but nodded. “Fine, but they better not take too long to talk!”

 

“I'm sure they'll be along soon.” Sango said, though she doubted they'd see them again until at least lunch.

 

###

 

Back with Inuyasha and Kagome, once the others had left the two just stared at each other, neither knowing where to start.

 

“Do you want to stay here?” Inuyasha asked after a long moment. She had said last night that she wouldn't be returning to her own time, but maybe she had changed her mind.

 

Kagome sighed. “Yes Inuyasha, I do want to stay here. I said so last night. It's just that, I'm only a couple of months away from graduating school.”

 

“Oh, school.” Inuyasha said flatly. That damn place of `tests', the one that kept dragging her away from him.

 

“Inuyasha please.” Kagome pleaded slightly, knowing he thought her schooling was pointless. “I know you don't give a rat's butt about my schooling, but it's still important to me and my mother. I didn't go through three years of struggling to pass my tests around fighting demons and looking for Jewel shards to flunk out three months from graduation.”

 

Inuyasha sighed, knowing how stubborn his mate could be. “It's really that important to you, your `school'?” He asked, already knowing the answer.

 

“Yes, Inuyasha it is.” Kagome said. “In many ways, graduating school is a matter of honour. If I don't finish, it'll dishonour my family.” Kagome added, deciding to use ideals she knew Inuyasha would understand and relate to. For the longest time, honour was all Inuyasha had had.

 

Inuyasha winced slightly, both because he understood what she was saying, and because it brought up another worry about their Mating he hadn't really considered yet though he knew he should have.

 

“What about after you finish?” Inuyasha asked, putting his concerns to the back of his mind for now.

 

Kagome smiled, relieved that he apparently wasn't going to fight with her over her wanting to finish school. “After I graduate, I want to move here permanently, to live with you. It's what I was planning to do even if you hadn't asked me to be your mate after all. Well, minus the `with you' part anyway.”

 

Inuyasha smiled back at her, and pulled her into a hard kiss. He was relieved. While wanted her to be happy, and would have willing moved to her world if that was what she wished, he knew full well that he wouldn't have an easy time there and was relieved he was able to avoid the experience. Kagome happily kissed him back, but knew they still had things they had to talk about, and so eventually broke the kiss.

 

“Inuyasha, we still have to talk.” Kagome said softly. Inuyasha sighed in slight regret, but nodded as he sat down at the base of the Sacred Tree, puling her down with him.

 

“What else do you want to talk about?” Inuyasha asked, already willing to give her whatever it took to make her happy. He knew his own happiness was assured simply by her being by his side, especially if it meant more encounters like last night.

 

“Well…” Kagome said, sorting through her mind to decide which questions she felt most needed to be answered. “How do you feel about children?” That one was definitely at the top of the list. As much as she loved the idea of having children with Inuyasha, she had to know how he felt about the subject.

 

Inuyasha frowned. “Don't you want to have my pups, Kagome?” He was slightly hurt by the idea that Kagome didn't want to have his children, but if that was what she wanted he would try to abide by her decision. No matter how much he himself wanted pups.

 

“I do!” Kagome said quickly, immediately picking up on the hurt in her mate's voice. “I just didn't know how you felt. A lot of men, in my time at least, don't want children.”

 

“Well, I'm not like those men, and I do want pups Kagome.” Inuyasha answered. “I've always wanted pups, wanted a family, but I thought I'd never be able to have them. I never thought anyone would want to be with me, let alone bare my children. Who would want to have the pups of a filthy hanyou?”

 

“I would.” Kagome said firmly. “And don't you dare ever put yourself down like that in front of me like that again. I would love to have children with you, do you hear me? Especially if they have your ears.” She added as she reached up to rub one of the aforementioned triangles. Inuyasha groaned in pleasure and leaned into her hand for a moment, before he realised they probably still had things they needed to talk about and if she kept that up they'd probably end up having a replay of last night. So, reluctantly he pulled himself away slightly to look in his mate's eyes.

 

“I hoped you'd feel that way.” Inuyasha said softly. “I hoped but I wasn't really sure you would.”

 

“Well, I do.” Kagome said calmly. “Only… would you be upset if we maybe wait a while before we have kids? I think I need some time to get used to the idea of being a mate before I tackle being a mother.”

 

Inuyasha chuckled slightly, which rather surprised Kagome who honestly couldn't remember Inuyasha ever laughing. “Considering the fact that we're likely to live to be several hundred years old?” Inuyasha asked with an easy-going smile. “I don't mind at all. We can wait as long as you need before we have pups.”

 

Kagome smiled, so glad that the two of them were agreeing so easily. It was quite a change from their usual routine

 

“Anything else you want to talk about?” Inuyasha asked, pulling his into a tight embrace.

 

Kagome smiled into his chest. “Kami, there are so many things I want to talk to you about, but most can wait till later.” She said happily. “There's just one more thing I want to ask you, where exactly do you want to live? I mean sure, this time, that's a given, but…”

 

Inuyasha frowned at that and unconsciously held her tighter, as his second biggest fears in taking her as his mate (other than her simply refusing him from the start) reinforced itself at her innocent question. “I… I was hoping to build you a hut on the outskirts of the village here.” He said somewhat hesitantly. “If the villages let me that is…”

 

“Let you?” Kagome repeated in confusion, pulling herself just far enough away to look her mate in the face. Once she did, she instantly noticed his troubled, almost fearful, expression. “Why wouldn't they let you?”

 

“Because I'm a hanyou.” Inuyasha said. His tone was void of emotions, but Kagome could still see the hurt and sadness in his eyes. “There aren't many who want a hanyou for a neighbour.”

 

Kagome frowned. “The villagers here have never seemed to have a problem with you before.” She said. “Well, other than that time you were still trying to perfect the Wind Scar and accidentally destroyed…”

 

“They can handle me visiting.” Inuyasha interrupted. “I don't know how they'll react to having me live here permanently. Hanyous aren't well liked by either humans or demons Kagome. Neither are those who choose to be with them.” Inuyasha's ears lowered in sadness and guilt as he continued. “You'll be as much of an outcast as I am now Kagome, and I'm so sorry for that. No matter where we go we'll both face prejudice and hatred from now on. I never wanted that fate for you. As much as it pains me to say this, maybe you should use the herbal potion to get rid of my Mark while you still have a choice. I'd understand if…” He never got to finish that sentence as Kagome suddenly grabbed his face and pulled him into a hard kiss.

 

“Idiot.” She said softly after she finally pulled away. “I love you, and I intend to stay with you, no matter what anyone else thinks. You are the strongest, bravest, most honourable man I've ever known, whatever anyone else thinks, and I'm proud to be your mate. If other people can't accept us, then that's their problem, not ours. Besides, I don't think we'll have nearly as much trouble in this village as you seem to think. You've helped protect it for three years now and the people here all respect you. I'm sure of it even if you're not. Besides, we have Miroku, Sango, Shippo and I'm betting Kaede on our side as well. I'm sure will be fine.”

 

With a sigh that was equal parts happiness and weariness, Inuyasha pulled Kagome into another hug. For a long moment he didn't say anything and just sat there enjoying their closeness.

 

I hope you're right Kagome Inuyasha thought to himself. I really hope your right. But even if you're not, I promise I will always protect you and do everything I can to insure you never want for anything.

 

###

 

It was almost noon when Inuyasha and Kagome finally returned to the village, and right away, Inuyasha noticed that more than a few of the villagers paused in what they were doing to look up at the couple as they passed and that whispered comments followed in their wake. Inuyasha's hearing may not have been as good as a full youkai's but he was still able to hear most of the villagers' comments.

 

“There they are.” “Are they really together?” “That's what I heard?” “Does this mean they'll be living here now?” “Are they really married, I mean Mated?” “Is what the fox child said true?”

 

Damn it Shippo! Inuyasha growled under his breath. He had been hoping to get at least one day before all the whispering and rumours started. Still, Inuyasha was surprised by the lack of `Hanyou' and `Filthy' and `Demon Whore' comments being thrown out. That was how all the comments at the village he had lived at with his mother when he was a pup went.

 

Inuyasha was so deep in thought that he almost jumped in shock when he suddenly heard his and his mate's names being called out. Looking up, he wasn't surprised to see Kaede walking towards them, but he was surprised to see the smile on her face and the twinkle in her good eye.

 

“Good day, lady Kaede.” Kagome greeted the old priestess politely.

 

“Good day to ye child.” Kaede said happily. “Ye too, Inuyasha. It is about time.”

 

“What's about time baba?” Inuyasha asked, honestly having no idea what she was talking about.

 

“Why, that you took our dear Kagome for your mate of course.” Kaede said, as if it was obvious. “I was starting to think the two of ye would never get together. Young Shippo told me, along with half the village. The rest of the village no doubt knows as well by now.”

 

Normally, Inuyasha would have probably grumbled something about soon to be dead kitsunes at this point, but he was thrown for a loop over the fact that Kaede was actually happy over the fact that he and Kagome were together. His friends he could understand, sure, but Kaede was a priestess and as such should probably have been opposed to a human-youkai union. Then again, she'd never seemed to have had a problem with him before, Inuyasha mused, so why should she necessarily have one now?

 

“You don't have a problem with us being together, Lady Kaede?” Kagome asked, a little hesitantly. While she wanted to believe what she had told Inuyasha earlier this morning, there was still a tiny part of her that feared her mate may have been right about the villagers' reactions. While she could not hear them as Inuyasha could, Kagome was fully aware of the fact that they were being talked about behind their backs at that very moment.

 

“Of course not, child.” Kaede assured her. “In fact, the village headman, the elders and I were talking about you two this morning…”

 

Inuyasha tensed at this, sure they were about to be thrown out of the village in no uncertain terms.

 

“And we wanted to ask ye, if ye would like to stay in this village permanently?” Kaede continued. “We would gladly welcome two such powerful and honourable individuals as the two of ye with open arms. The edge of the village bordering on your forest, Inuyasha, and your well, Kagome, is yours if you wish it. I have no doubt that you could build a fine hut there, and you would be close to Miroku and Sango too.” Miroku and Sango had built their own hut on that edge of the village when they finally settled down and got married.

 

Kagome smiled. “That sounds just perfect, Kaede, thank you.” She said happily, so glad at the offer. She glanced at her mate to see what he thought, and wasn't particularly surprised to see that he appeared to be in a state of mild shock.

 

“Inuyasha?” Kaede asked, also noticing the hanyou's astonishment. “What do ye think?”

 

For a moment longer, Inuyasha was silent before he put his whole heart into two quiet words.

 

“Thank you.”