*Repost* Always and Forever- Chapter 6 (NC-17)

[KeikoDogDemon]

Always and Forever

By KeikoDogDemon

Chapter 6


*Note: Posting my fic under my original persona because people kept confusing me w/ another author on AFF.net*






Inuyasha made his way through the forest towards the God tree. He needed some time alone to think, and the sacred tree where he had been pinned fifty-two years ago by his former love was as good a place as any to sit in solitude and contemplate the many thoughts that were racing through his mind. Kagome, Midoriko, the baby...just the thought of the latter gave him a sinking feeling deep in his gut. So many questions had yet to be answered, and there seemed to be no definite solutions in sight.

Upon arrival, he leaped to the highest branch of the tree that was sturdy enough to hold his weight and took a seat. Although it was unusual for him, Inuyasha could feel the beginnings of a headache surfacing and wished he had some of Kaede?s herbs and spices to squelch it. However, he decided to bear it. He just simply did not feel like moving for a while.

Staring up into the stars reminded him how lonely he really was without Kagome at his side. If she had been there she would have cuddled up to him despite being dozens of feet above the ground. But that?s just the way she was...so trusting of him that it made him wonder sometimes about her sense of logic. He knew for a fact that she was afraid of heights. Her first experience riding atop Kilala had been an unpleasant one. Inuyasha?s ears still rang from all the screaming she?d done that day.

But when she rode him across the countryside, her fear disappeared completely. The same went for when they cuddled in the God tree together, which they had done quite often since they had become mates. It was one of Inuyasha?s favorite spots, and Kagome insisted on being near him as often as humanly possible, even if it meant facing potential danger. Being near her love made any trace of uneasiness or fear leave the vicinity. He wished she was with him now, but if she had been, he wouldn?t have been able to concentrate as well as he needed to at that moment.

What were they going to do? Kagome had insisted that Inuyasha take the baby and raise it in the feudal era, but he would have none of it. If his child?s fate was to be part demon like himself, he would rather it live in Kagome?s time where it would be safe, away from the demons of his world that would terrorize it just as they had terrorized him as a child. And who knew...maybe it would be happier with Kagome. Mrs. Higurashi would be a good grandmother and make sure the child was well cared for, and Souta would make a fairly acceptable playmate. The idea seemed like a good one.

His decision made, he decided that he?d been away from Kagome long enough. Jumping back down to the ground, he was surprised to see her making her way toward him carrying the always-present big yellow bag over her shoulder.

?Kagome,? he began. ?What are you doing out here??

She placed the bag on the ground in front of her, grunting at the effort because it was so heavy.

?I went back to my time for a while and got some things...I think you?ll need them.?

Inuyasha looked confused. ?What are they??

She kneeled and, unzipping her bag, poured the contents out onto the dew-covered ground. Inuyasha was surprised to see her textbooks, as well as some flash cards, sheets of paper, pencils, and some childrens? books in the pile.

?What?s all this for?? he asked curiously.

Kagome looked forlorn. ?It?s for the baby. After I leave I want him...or her...to be educated. I?m leaving these things here so it can learn.?

Inuyasha stared wide-eyed at her. ?I don?t need these things, wench! You?ve got it all wrong! You?re taking the kid! I don?t want it leading the same life I did, always afraid that demons will be after it! It will have a better life with you!?

?Inuyasha, you know that?s not true,? Kagome said. ?In my time there are no demons, remember? It would live less of a normal life there than here. I?d have to keep it locked up...otherwise they?d take it from me.?

?Who?? he asked.

?The government, child services...people are always wanting to run tests and experiments on things like this...I just can?t let my child be subjected to that kind of treatment. Do you understand what I?m saying??

?Vaguely,? Inuyasha said. ?And I suppose you?re right, but...? Tears formed under his eyes and he suddenly rushed forward and embraced her, holding onto her as if she were his last lifeline.

?Oh, Kagome...I just don?t think I can let you leave. It?s too hard to even think about. Just the thought of not being able to see you or...or hold you, or touch you...makes me terrified. I can?t live without you.?

Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck and began sobbing. ?Please, Inuyasha, don?t make this harder than it already is. I love you with all my heart, you know that, and I regret every moment that goes by that we don?t spend together because it just means more of our time has been lost...but I have to do this. The cycle of time won?t be mended until I return to the modern era.?

They pulled apart and he stared into her eyes, trying to see the situation through her perspective. It was extremely hard. But he understood that she knew best....somehow she always did.

?Come on. Let?s go home.? Taking his hand in hers, she led him back to the village and their hut. They made love for the rest of evening and didn?t stop until well into the dawn when, exhausted, they finally fell asleep in each other?s embrace, their hearts beating as one.

~***~

The weeks flew by, and Inuyasha and Kagome spent every waking moment together. He never left her side. When Kagome had to return home for a doctor?s appointment, Inuyasha sat perched on the roof outside waiting for her. When she bathed, he was always just a stride away, and more often than not, he would join her. At times Kagome even had trouble getting her privacy while going to the bathroom.

As she neared the end of her pregnancy, her belly grew huge and getting around became more and more difficult. Inuyasha constantly insisted on carrying her to where she needed to go, which suited her just fine. She enjoyed those moments when he held her in his arms like something delicate. It made her feel special, wanted, and loved, like a new bride which, sadly, she knew she may never be.

At night Kagome would catch up on her studying while, laying in bed beside her, caressing the mountain that had become her midsection, Inuyasha would talk to the small creature inside her, whispering tender words of devotion and love.

After a while, however, Kagome?s body began making more demands of the hanyou. She began to become steadily weaker by the day as the tiny semi-demon life inside her left her almost completely devoid of energy, and Inuyasha had to devote all of his time and attention to caring for her, whether it be by feeding her because she was too weak to sit up, or by just holding her hair out of the way as she hurled the contents of her stomach into a nearby bedpan. He would stay awake until dawn most nights, so he would be exceptionally tired the next day. But he never complained. Time spent with his Kagome was time well expended.

One of Kagome?s better days left time for Inuyasha to sleep in. She had felt a little nauseous upon waking that morning and had had a slight headache, but other than that, she was in a fairly good condition. Deciding to catch up on her homework, she reached over and picked up her books. As she began reading, Inuyasha, out like a light, turned over towards her on the futon and unconsciously laid his head on her shoulder. Kagome smiled. How lucky she was to have the man of her dreams finally return her love.

After a while she began to get hungry. Not wanting to wake her mate, who?s head had managed to find its way to what remained of her lap, she sat up slightly to reach for a piece of fruit in a bowl next to their bed when she was suddenly overtaken by the sensation of her insides dropping. Panicking at first, she soon realized what the problem was when she felt the futon soaked beneath her.

Then the pain overtook her. Her body was strung taut and she cried out in agony, waking Inuyasha. He took one glance at the futon covered in birth fluids and Kagome whimpering his name and then, gathering her into his arms, raced for Kaede?s hut.

~***~

For hours Inuyasha paced outside Kaede?s hut, the occasional cry of pain or agonizing moan from his mate reaching his ears. When it got to be too much he decided to go for a run to try and once again clear his head. Exerting a great portion of his energy, he raced around the perimeter of his forest numerous times at top speed. Eventually he made his way back to Kaede?s hut, where he found Miroku sitting cross-legged on the ground just outside the front door in an almost meditative state.

Sliding to a stop in front of the monk, he asked, ?Any word yet??

Miroku shook his head. ?They won?t let me inside. Sango insists that she and Kaede can take care of things...they won?t even let Shippo enter.?

?They wouldn?t let me in, either,? Inuyasha said. He beat his fist into the ground. ?Damn it...I want to know if she is all right!?

?You had best calm yourself, Inuyasha,? Miroku said. ?It could be a while before we?ll know anything.?

?Why won?t they let me see her?? Inuyasha questioned.

?Kagome is giving birth, you baka,? Miroku stated. ?For one thing, it?s not proper for a man to be present when his wife is in labor. For another, she is incredibly stressed right now. Having you present would just remind her of everything that?s going on.?

?They let me stay with her last time,? the hanyou countered.

?She wasn?t giving birth back then. Although Kaede thought it was possible she might have been, Kagome?s water didn?t break so she knew she couldn?t have been going into labor.?

?But still,? Inuyasha growled. ?Why won?t they tell me anything? Is she all right, or isn?t she??

?Relax, my good hanyou. We?ll know all in good time.?

Inuyasha leaned back against the wall of the hut and sighed deeply in exhaustion. Closing his eyes, he decided to try sleeping to pass the time.

?Kagome...?

~***~

?Inuyasha....wake up....Inuyasha...?

Slowly opening his eyes, Inuyasha was surprised to see Sango leaning over him with a questioning look on her face. He shot to his feet.

?How is Kagome? Is she all right??


Sango smiled. ?Why don?t you go see for yourself? She and your daughter are perfectly fine.?

?My...daugther...??

He burst through the door. ?Kagome!?

She was sitting up in bed with a small bundle in her arms. She averted her eyes to meet his gaze and he could see tears streaming down her face as she smiled warmly at him. Her cheeks were flushed, her nose was red, her hair was in wild disarray, and she was covered in sweat, but to Inuyasha she had never looked more beautiful. He rushed over to her and knelt by her side.

?Kagome, how are you feeling??

?Never better,? she replied. She pulled the blanket away from the newborn?s face, giving Inuyasha his first look at his daughter cradled in her mother?s grasp.

Surprisingly, the child was completely devoid of dog ears. To his delight, she had the rounded, fleshy pink ears of a human. What little hair was on her head was silver, but a much darker shade than his because of the added darker hairs from Kagome?s gene pool mixed in, but she could still pass for a human. He was amazed when she slowly opened her eyes and saw that she had the same eye color as he.

?She?s beautiful, Kagome,? he managed to say. He put his arms around his mate and kissed her tenderly on the forehead.

?Would you like to hold her?? Kagome asked. He nodded and she gently placed the baby into her father?s arms. He stared in awe at the tiny bundle he was now holding. Everything about her was so small and fragile and he was almost afraid to touch her. He ran a finger very carefully, mindful of his claws, down the side of her soft cheek and underneath her chin. He was surprised when the baby reached up and gripped his finger in her surprisingly firm grasp. Her hand was so tiny it barely wrapped around the base of his finger.

?I can?t believe her eyes are already open,? Kagome stated, leaning her head on her mate?s shoulder.

?She?s one-fourth demon,? Inuyasha replied. ?Demon children mature slightly faster than humans. But once we reach a certain age we seemingly stop aging. It?s a defense mechanism. We have to grow up faster so we can have a chance at defending ourselves.?


?How much faster??

Inuyasha thought about that for a moment. ?In a few days she?ll look like a two-week-old baby.?

?That?s not much faster,? Kagome stated.

?I guess not.? He handed the baby back over to Kagome.

It was at this time that the two lovers noticed that they were completely alone in the hut.

?Where did Sango and Kaede go off to?? he asked.

?I don?t know,? Kagome said before kissing her daughter on the nose. ?I guess they needed to relax after this whole ordeal.?

Inuyasha smirked. ?Were you that much trouble??

?Oh, hush,? she said. ?I was having a baby, Inuyasha.?

?I know, I know,? he laughed. Then, looking down at the baby, he asked, ?So what are we going to name her??

Kagome looked down at her daughter in wonderment. Then, smiling brightly, she replied, ?Kaori.?







~This chapter was slightly shorter than the others, but I hope you all are happy with it either way. ~


KeikoDogDemon


Note: *Kaori- Fragrant Beautiful Girl*