Sword of Supreme Conquest - Chapter Three –

Kagome sat cross-legged on the floor of Kaede's hut and chaffed her arms to ward off goose bumps from the chilled air. The small fire she'd built flickered and gained strength, but it was a long way from the roaring inferno she was used to.

The old priestess was noticeably absent, apparently tending to the sick in a nearby village, and the hut felt haunted without her presence. She brought a sense of comfort to the otherwise dull and gloomy abode and Kagome longed for her words of wisdom. She needed to talk to someone about what Akira had told her.

Frowning, she glanced wearily out the one window she'd left open for some fresh air and noticed that the sun was beginning to die down. Ah-Un would be there the next morning to take her safely back to the Western Lands, but from where she sat morning couldn't come soon enough.

Pushing herself up off the floor, Kagome moved the bamboo mat covering the door aside and looked out at the nearby fields. It never ceased to amaze her how green everything was in the feudal era. It saddened her to know that within a few hundred years all of this beauty would be gone.

Tapping her fingers against the wooden doorframe, she pondered where Inuyasha could be. She hadn't seen him in over a year, not since she'd last left him to return with Sesshomaru to the West. She hoped he was doing well.

From what Kaede had told her during her previous visits, he seemed to be adapting well to life as a human. She was glad for it; she only wished she could see it for herself.

With a bored sigh, she turned away from the door and looked longingly at the abandoned cot on the floor. Taking a warm blanket from her bag she shook it out and gingerly eased herself down onto the straw mattress. Within seconds her eyes were closed, her breaths even, and she was lost in a deep, dreamless sleep.

oOo

The sun was low in the sky when Kagome awoke to the sound of someone calling her name. Thinking she was still in a dream, she rolled over and blocked out the voice.

A gentle hand touched her shoulder then, forcing her eyes open. When she locked gazes with a pair of curious brown eyes hovering above her she relaxed and a smile spread across her face.

After how things had been left between them before, she hadn’t been sure how she’d feel seeing him again. Would the anger still be there, and the sense of betrayal too? She’d worked hard to get past that period in her life, but she had yet to forgive him and worried constantly about she’d feel after seeing him again. Now that that moment had arrived, the only emotions that flooded through her were relief and joy.

"Inuyasha! It's been so long!” she gushed. “Where’ve you been?"

He chuckled low and soft and helped her up. It'd been so long since she heard him laugh that the sound made her squeeze his hand tight. Once she was standing, his eyes immediately went to her stomach and she suddenly felt nervous. She’d assumed that Kaede had told him she was with child, but considering it was Sesshomaru’s there was no telling how he’d react.

"Kagome…you got fat!" he exclaimed, stepping back to look at her incredulously.

Putting her hands protectively over her stomach, she narrowed her eyes at him. "Thanks a lot, Inuyasha! I'm pregnant, not fat! Besides, it's not like I want to be this big!"

Barely a sentence in and she was angry at him! It had to be a new record! Inuyasha shook his head and attempted to give it another shot,

"That's not what I meant! Kaede told me you were with child. I just didn’t realize it till now…"

He had the decency to hang his head and made a show of looking embarrassed. Her anger quickly melted and was replaced with an encouraging smile.

"Inuyasha…," she began softly, not sure what else to say.

He held her gaze and for the briefest of moments let her see what was in his thoughts - he still loved her as much as he always had. He looked away just as suddenly and their private moment was interrupted by a soft cough from the doorway.

A young woman stood there, her small frame backlit by the dying sunlight. She smiled at them pleasantly as she stepped inside, but Kagome had a feeling there was more to the story. Inuyasha's sudden nervous cough confirmed her suspicions.

Stepping over to the girl, he guided her into the room with a gentle hand against the small of her back and Kagome noted that it suddenly felt much too small inside the hut for three people.

"Kagome, this is Shizuka. Shizuka, this is Kagome. She’s an old friend and my brother's…wife."

If Shizuka noticed the way he hesitated before adding the bit about her being Sesshomaru’s wife, it didn’t register on her features. Her polite smile remained in place as they bowed to one another in greeting.

So…he's found himself a girlfriend, Kagome mused with a small smile.

It also appeared, judging by the blank expression on her face, that the girl had absolutely no idea who she was. She wasn't sure exactly what to make of that.

Shizuka was, in every way, what a perfect feudal wife should be - dainty, graceful and meek. Kagome felt a surprising pang of jealousy. She’d spent her entire life envying women like her, women for whom grace and poise seemed effortless. She’d never been any of those things. Even her hair was unruly!

Considering what she knew of Inuyasha's past experiences with women Shizuka was the exact opposite of his “type”, though maybe that was for the best. The previous outcomes of his love affairs hadn’t exactly been Happily Ever After material, and he deserved that. He deserved to be happy, even if it was with this perfect, poised, feudal era beauty.

The girl's dark eyes travelled over Kagome's body, resting only momentarily on the obvious signs of her pregnancy. With the faintest hint of a smile, she leaned closer to Inuyasha and rested her hand atop his arm. She was making a point and Kagome got it loud and clear – He's mine now.

Inuyasha, for his part, appeared incredibly uncomfortable and was sweating in the awkward silence. After quietly clearing his throat, he whispered something softly into Shizuka's ear. She nodded obediently and shuffled quietly towards Kaede's herb cupboard. With her back turned, Inuyasha seemed to breathe easier and he motioned for Kagome to follow him.

"Come on! I'll take you on a tour of the village while Shizuka makes some tea," he offered.

"A lot's changed," he commented genially once she’d joined him outside, but Kagome had a feeling he wasn't speaking about the village. They walked in silence beside one another down the dusty main road. They were three huts away before Inuyasha finally spoke.

"About that," he started off apologetically. "I was bringing her to meet Kaede. I didn't know you'd be here…"

Kagome cut him off with a flippant wave of her hand.

"Inuyasha, don't be silly! You couldn't have known I'd be here. So, tell me about her. How did you two meet?"

He seemed to breathe a sigh of relief but shifted uncomfortably in his haori nonetheless.

"It was Kaede. She said I should start looking for a women to…well…you know…’settle down’ with. She introduced Shizuka to me during Tanabata. She lives a couple of villages away with her parents and younger sisters.”

“She seems nice,” she interjected, finding it hard to keep the smile on her face. The sudden wave of jealousy she felt towards this girl left her thoroughly confused. Why should she care who Inuyasha dated? As long as he was happy, wasn’t that the most important thing?

“I suppose you can be the first to know… I've asked her to marry me."

Well, that changed things.

Kagome was admittedly surprised but she kept the shock from registering on her features. Living with Sesshomaru had taught her how to hide those emotions she didn't want others to see. It’d proven itself to be a useful skill to have on more than one occasion, including this one.

She took hold of his hand and forced a smile onto her face instead.

"Inuyasha, that's great! Congratulations!" she gave him a quick hug, but when she pulled away there a flicker of regret in his eyes. Pulling him towards a fallen tree that had long since begun to rot she forced him to sit down next to her. Jealousy forgotten, her eyes were now full of concern.

"You don't love her do you?" she pried, already knowing what the answer would be. He hung his head and folded his hands between his knees.

"I want to. I've really tried to. I know she'll be a good wife and mother and I know I could be content with her, but…"

His shoulders lifted and then fell again and his unspoken words reached her ears loud and clear. When he turned to face her, she could see the pain behind his eyes. He really wanted to move on but it was impossible for him.

"Inuyasha, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have come."

He shook his head vehemently and stared hard into her brown eyes.

"This isn't yer fault. It's not your problem so don't worry about it. I'll manage. I always do."

Desperate to change the subject, she reached into her pocket and retrieved the photograph she’d been carrying.

"Hey, I wanna show you something from the modern era."

He reached out to take it from her and took his time studying it. "What is it?" he asked finally, scrunching his nose at the grainy black and white image.

“A picture of my baby,” she explained, practically beaming. “The doctor's took it while I was home.”

She patiently pointed out where the baby's head and feet were. After turning the picture around a few more times, Inuyasha cried out with excitement.

"I see it! I see it! So that's what they look like, huh?"

Squinting, he drew the picture closer and studied it in detail before slowly nodding his head.

“I think he has your nose.”

Glancing at her he handed the picture back and she gently tucked it away.

"Has Sesshomaru seen that yet?"

She shook her head and her eyes immediately looked longingly westward.

"I haven't been home yet to give it to him. Do you think he'll like it?"

He shrugged, "I'm sure he'll think it's great."

She smiled gratefully and let out a contented sigh. A comfortable silence settled between them and she boldly laid her hand overtop his.

"You know Inuyasha," she began tentatively, "nothing says you have to get married. If you don't love Shizuka, then maybe she isn't the right one for you? Kaede and I would both like to see you happy, but maybe you're just not ready yet. I'm not saying don't marry her, I just want you to make sure that if you do it it's for the right reasons."

"Thanks," he replied, his tone warm with sincerity. "Maybe I am ready to settle down. I wouldn't mind having a home and family of my own."

Standing slowly, he helped her to her feet and pulled her into a solid hug. As she rested her cheek against his chest she realized how much she’d missed his rough embrace. With her ear pressed over his heart, she could hear its strong beat and knew that a part of it still (and always would) beat for her.

Breaking away from one another, they turned towards the tiny cottage where his fiancé was no doubt waiting for them.

"We should get back before she starts to worry," he said softly.

Kagome nodded and fell in step beside him. With a heavy sigh she gazed westward once more and silently asked the gods for strength. She'd need that and a barrel full of patience to get through the next few hours of awkward small talk. Morning definitely couldn't come soon enough!