Disclaimer - It's not mine. It never was.
A/N- Okay peeps. This story is officially over with. This is the last chapter. I'm so glad you guys have stuck with me through this story. Thanks to everyone.
Later,
A.A.
In My Heart, I Never Truly Left
Chapter 36
In the End, All is Well
It kept on like this for the two and a half months before Kagome gave birth. The young miko stayed with the wolf tribe, carrying on her normal duties as best she could until Keiko ordered her to get in the bed and stay there until she had the child. Kouga was by her side when possible, and any other time, Inuyasha was with her. It seemed as though the impending pregnancy had made the two domineering males come to some sort of uneasy agreement, which only made Kagome happier.
Of course, tension still occasionally ran high between the two demons. They still glared and snarled and growled at each other when they thought Kagome was occupied doing something else. It had even gotten so bad one time that Kagome told Mika to help her bodily separate the two before blood flew and one of them wound up dead.
Mika, used to Inuyasha's presence by now, had challenged him to a spar to get him to work off some pent up tension and frustration. The hanyou had left with the demoness and stayed gone for most of the day. When they had finally shown back up at the den, Inuyasha was in much better spirits. Kagome tried to get Mika to tell her what had him in such a good mood, but Mika would never spill. Eventually though, Kagome gave up and let it go.
Even after all of that, though. They still threw insults at each other on a regular basis. Yells of 'mangy wolf' and 'stupid idiot' were mixed in with the ever present 'dog breath' and 'dog turd' at any given point when Inuyasha was around. The rest of the pack had learned to ignore the insults about wolves, realizing that Inuyasha was referring to Kouga, and not the rest of them. Of course, the elders of the pack had had some reservations when Kouga told them about Inuyasha coming and going through the pack. It had taken a while, and a whole lot of persuasion on Kagome's part, to get many of the elders to comply with her. Not that it really stopped their complaining, but it did help when Kagome and Inuyasha walked through the den and did not get glared at. Lord Jiro and Lady Laniko had gotten wind of the situation not long after that and laughed.
Kagome was happy to see the two important men in her life attempting to get along, even if it was only temporary, and for her sake to begin with. As she watched the way they interacted, she had felt her heart twist from the love she had for both of them. But, she know there was only one of them she could forever trust her life into. She knew there was only one that she would forever feel connected to. And it was that one, that she loved more than anything in the world.
"AAAAAHHHHHH!" came the blood curdling scream from inside the small, sectioned off part of the cave Kagome had went into nearly five hours ago. Outside the doorway that led to the room where Kagome was now giving birth, Kouga and Inuyasha paced back and forth, every now and then throwing glares at one another and grumbling about 'mangy wolves' and 'stupid dogs'. Kagome had been in labor for going into sixteen hours, and both the wolf prince and the hanyou were walking on egg shells every time she screamed. Another scream of pain erupted from the room and Inuyasha pinned his ears to the back of his head as a reflex.
"This is crazy!" the hanyou shouted. "How hard is it to have a baby!"
"Well, obviously hard enough, hearing how Lady Kagome seems to be screaming her head off in there." Mika said simply, coming into the den where the two demons were pacing. Kouga growled and Inuyasha continued to pace, completely ignoring the white haired demoness' smart remark. "Will you two calm down all ready? Kagome will be fine. Keiko knows what she is doing, as does Kuarasama."
Another sob of pain was heard and the two males looked at each other, glared, and took off towards the opening leading to where Kagome was. Somehow, Mika seemed to pop in front of them at the last minute, effectively blocking their way into the chamber.
"Stop right there, the both of you!" she said loudly, ready to knock their heads together if need be. Men couldget so irrational when a woman was in childbirth, and these two were definitely living up to that observation."Neither of you are needed in their right now. So stay out! It should not be much longer before you get to see them both."
"It's been sixteen damned hours!" Inuyasha exclaimed, glaring at the demoness. "Isn't that kid out of there yet!" Kouga and Inuyasha heard Keiko and Kuarasama, who had had Kagome at her side during her own birth the month before,coaching Kagome through the intense labor pains. Two seconds later, Kagome gave one final heave, and the two heard the healthy cries of a baby, right along with Kagome's exhausted sobs. The two men tried to get through once more, but was stopped again my Mika.
"They still have to deliver the afterbirth, boys." she smiled. "Then you can go in."
"Mika…" Kouga growled, loosing his patience with her. He knew Kagome was in pain, and it annoyed the heck out of him that he could not even get to her to help. It didn't help his conscious that the person who was responsible for Kagome's pain was standing right next to him, but he dealt with it for her sake, and her sake alone.
"Damn it, wench! Let us through!" Inuyasha yelled, his patience long gone out the window.
"Sorry, can't do that." she said, enjoying the hell out of teasing them so much. "Women are meant to give birth. So, there's no need for you two to be in there, underfoot and in the way. You've got the easy part. Just sit down and relax." The two demons grumbled and walked away from the entrance. What seemed like an eternity later, which was actually only a few minutes, Kuarasama pushed aside the curtain, only to come face to face with Kouga and Inuyasha.
"Well come on, you two. Kagome wants to see you both." she said with a smile. The two demons quickly went in and Keiko and her own daughter filed out, giving the three some privacy.
Sitting on the make-shift bed was Kagome, and a small bundle of cloth in her arms.
"Kagome?" Kouga asked, going to her side.
"Are you alright?" Inuyasha questioned, checking her from head to toe.
"I'm fine, guys." she answered, her eyes bleary from the pains of an extended labor, and little beads of sweat still clinging to her face and neck. "Just a little tired. But there is someone who wants to see you two. Come here." Kagome moved the little bundle around and pulled back one of the wraps. Nestled inside was the small, wrinkly face of a new born baby girl. There was already black hair on the child's head, and when she opened her eyes and yawned, Inuyasha gasped and Kouga grinned. Her eyes were amber colored, just like her father's.
"She's beautiful, Kagome." Inuyasha said breathlessly, staring at the little bundle. "You done such a good job. She's perfect."
"Want to hold her?" Kagome asked, offering the child to him carefully.
"Are you sure?" Inuyasha stuttered. "I mean…."
"She's your daughter, dog breath. She's not going t o bite you." Kouga teased. Inuyasha carefully took the baby girl, still in awe of the life before him. While he was staring at the child, completely transfixed, Kouga sat down next to Kagome and hugged her gently before giving her a kiss.
"You did wonderful, love. She's absolutely gorgeous." he said. Kagome only smiled and nodded before laying her head on his chest, to physically exhausted from the labor to do much else. Inuyasha, meanwhile, was murmuring something to the baby that no one could hear; but when Kagome saw his face light up into a mega-watt smile, she knew something was going on.
"She smiled at me, Kagome!" he said excitedly. "She smiled at me!" Kagome grinned at his enthusiasm, and Kouga chuckled. Being the leader of the wolf pack, he knew how hard it was for women to give birth. And he was just glad that Kagome seemed to be okay, and not suffer any complications other than a very long labor.
"Are you sure she wasn't just laughing at you, dog-turd?" Kouga asked. Inuyasha glared at the wolf, but did not retort. It was not long before the child started crying. Kagome took her back and the child began to nurse hungrily.
"So what' s her name going to be?" Kagome asked, looking up at the two of them once she got the child settled down to feed.
"You want us to name her?" Kouga asked, wondering if she was feeling okay.
"Um-hmm." Kagome answered. "Both of you. Inuyasha picks the first name, and you pick her middle name, Kouga."
"Yoshe." Inuyasha said after a minute of thinking.
"Sakura." Kouga said right afterwards.
"Yoshe Sakura…." Kagome thought, watching the baby eat. "Sounds like a good name to me. Yoshe Sakura it is then." By now, little Yoshe had finished eating and was about to sleep. Kagome, completely exhausted, soon followed in sleep. The two demons left in the room looked at each other and grinned. Kagome was safe, and now the child was in the world, sleeping near it's mother. So everything was on the path to being okay as far as they were concerned.
Both Kouga and Inuyasha had come to an unspoken agreement about Kagome, not long after the battle with Kikyou. Inuyasha still cared abut her deeply, and the fact that he now had a baby girl the he shared with her only strengthened that bond. He knew that Kagome still cared about him, and loved him, but it was not the same love she now held for the wolf prince, the same love she once held for him, but he had been too blind to see. He had lost Kagome to the wolf demon, and that hurt him, but he knew Kagome was finally happy.
Over the past two and a half months, ever since the truth had come out, Kagome had helped him come to terms with what had happened. It was during these extended walks through the woods and longer stays at Kouga's den, that Inuyasha had watched how Kagome and Kouga interacted with each other. As the pregnancy advanced into its final stages, Inuyasha had stepped back once again, allowing Kouga to have a larger part with Kagome. He had never seen Kagomeas happy as she was when Kouga was with her, and he did not want to break her spirit again. He'd done it too much already.
Kouga, on the other hand, was still wary of the dog demon. Ever since Kagome had come to stay with him and his pack, Kouga had learned how to read her facial expressions and body language. The proud wolf prince knew Kagome still cared about Inuyasha, loved him even after everything that had happened. But he also knew, because Kagome had told him one night down by the hot springs, that her love for Inuyasha had changed to that of a dear friend. It had also been that night by the hot springs, that Kagome had confessed her own love for Kouga after so long.
They had been walking along the bank of the springs near the den, relaxing as another day passed by. Kagome had been sentenced to complete bed rest by Keiko, but Kouga had managed to get the demoness to relent, at least for a little while, and let Kagome go stretch her legs.
"It is peaceful out tonight." she said, burrowing into Kouga's side and watching the fireflies flit around them in the moonlight. Kouga nodded, not sure of how to respond to that. He was still a little peeved, to be honest. Inuyasha had been at the den earlier that day, and an argument between the two of them had emerged, which was nothing unusual. They usually tried to keep their serious confrontations away from the very pregnant Kagome, but this time she had come in right during the middle of it.
The two males had quickly calmed down after that, and Mika had taken Inuyasha away for a while. Kagome had seemed angry with the both of them, and had avoided him until Inuyasha had come back. The hanyou had seemed to be in Kagome's good graces, unlike himself. And it angered him that Kagome would take the dog demon's side, as opposed to his own.But the worse part was when Inuyasha had kissed Kagome on the cheek before leaving. That itself had caused Kouga to get angrier than anything. He had left right then, going into the woods to vent some frustration over the situation.
When he had come back, he had conned Keiko into letting Kagome come with him. He had been bound and determined to find out how he stood with Kagome, and the part that Inuyasha was going to play. He realized that he was being insecure, and moody, but... Well, after waiting so long for Kagome to come to him, and accept his feelings for her, he did not want to lose them.
"Are you okay, Kouga?" Kagome asked, looking up at him, her eyes wide and worried. "You are unusually quiet tonight."
"Just thinking." he said, smiling down at her. He wasn't sure how to start out the conversation he wanted to have with her, at least not without blowing up and getting angry about Inuyasha, but luckily for him, Kagome had a good idea as to what was bothering him.
"It is Inuyasha, isn't it? The kiss he gave me before he left?" she asked quietly, looking out over the water once again, absently rubbing her very rounded abdomen. "You're angry with him."
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't." Kouga ground out, trying to keep his temper in check. He knew losing his temper would only work to his disadvantage. "The hanyou is overstepping his bounds."
"Bounds?"
"Touching you like that." Kouga snapped. "Like he loves you."
"He does love me, Kouga." Kagome said simply. "And I love him, as well." Kouga honestly felt his heart break in two pieces when she said that. After all the time, all the energy he'd invested, he still had not been able to capture Kagome's love like the hanyou had. He turned his back and began to pull his energy around him, forming his trademark tornado. At least he was, until Kagome got in front of him, a frown on her face, and her hands on her hips. "And where are you going?"
"To get the half-breed." he growled, gently pushing her away. He'd heard enough.
"What for?" Kagome demanded, the confusion evident on her face, right along with the hurt that Kouga's tone had taken with her. "Why are you going to get him?"
"You want to be with the one you love, right?" he demanded, the air around him still swirling maddeningly.
"Well...yeah... but..."
"I'm going to get him." he said sadly. "You don't want to be here, not with me. He still has your heart." He looked away and pulled his energy around him once again. Kagome would be fine until he got back with Inuyasha. He'd send Ginta or Hakkaku to keep her company until he returned. He was so engrossed in his pity party that he never noticed when Kagome wrapped her arms around his midsection and hissed at him. In fact, he almost knocked her down as he took off towards the den. "What are you doing?"
"I'm trying to make you understand something." she said firmly. "But you're not making it any easier for me."
"What is there to understand?" he asked, shaking his head. "You love the halfbreed."
"I do." she said, nodding her head in affirmation. "And I always will. But my love for him is...different than it used to be." Kouga looked down at her in sheer confusion.
"What?" he asked, sitting her down on a small rock nearby and kneeling down in front of her, waiting for an explanation of some sort.
"Kouga, I loved Inuyasha once, and you know that." she said, causing the wolf prince to growl in annoyance. "He was my first love. But now, things are different between him and I. I love him as a friend, an ally, a close comrade that shares a part of me. I can't forget him, Kouga. And I won't."
"I know that." he grumbled.
"But, you..." she said, shaking her head when he looked up at her with those big blue eyes. "You're different." She reached out and ran her hands through his bangs, pushing them out of his eyes. Kouga had trembled at the touch. He knew Kagome's touch anywhere. And it always had that same calming, soothing effect on him, no matter what. "You are the one that holds my heart now, Kouga. Not Inuyasha. Not anymore."
"You mean..."
"You're the one I love, silly." she smiled, tugging him to her height and wrapping her arms around him. "You have been the one I've loved for a long time, and I just didn't realize it then." Kouga knew the look on his face was priceless, and Kagome's bell like laughter had finally woken him up to the reality of what she had just said.
"You mean it?" he asked quietly. "You honestly mean it?"
"I wouldn't say it, if I didn't mean it, Kouga." she said softly. "You know that."
"But..Inuyasha..."
"Kouga, you have to understand. I made a promise to Inuyasha, not long after we first met." Kagome said, laying her head on his chest as he pulled her down into his lap. "I promised him that I would always be with him, by his side. At the time, I thought I would fulfill that role as his wife, his mate. But now I realize that my role will be to help him along as a friend, and nothing more." The miko had looked up at him, nothing but honesty in her eyes, and smiled. "I'm yours, Kouga. Not his. Not anymore. Please, don't doubt me when I say that."Kouga was honestly speechless at what she had said. But his heart was bursting with happiness, knowing that she loved him, and was willing to stay at his side.
"I don't doubt you, love." he said, leaning down and giving her a gentle kiss. Kagome smiled and reached up, pulling him closer to her and deepening the kiss until both of them had to break away, gasping for breath.
"I love you, Kouga, with all my heart." she said."I wouldn't ask you to drop your friendship with Ayame, or any of the other females of the packs, so please don't ask me to abandon my promise to Inuyasha."
"I love you too, Kagome." he said, a smile on his face as he ran his clawed fingers through her hair. "You are my world, my life. And when this is over, and our child born, I want to take you as my mate. I want you by my side, ruling over our tribes. Please, tell me you'll say yes." His other hand rested lightly on her stomach, feeling the minute movements of the little life in her womb. He honestly wondered what she was going to say. But he needn't worried to long because Kagome used her hand to lift his face up to hers, then planted a small kiss on his forehead.
"You know I will, Kouga." she answered, smiling happily as a few tears gathered in her eyes as proof of her happiness. "I'll be with you, from now on. No one's going to take me away. Not now, not ever."
Kouga remembered that night fondly, a smile on his face as he looked down at the woman he loved, and the child he had all but considered as his own up until Inuyasha had come back into the equation two and a half months ago. Now, he was not sure exactly what part he would play with the child, seeing as how the hanyou was back, but he planned on finally taking Kagome as his mate as soon as she recovered from the birth. He wanted to have a part in the little girl's life. He was brought out of his musings by a voice at the entrance.
"You two just plan on sitting there all day?" Mika questioned, sticking her head in the room and grinning when she saw the little baby sleeping.
"Not you again." Inuyasha said, trying to hide a grin at seeing the wolf demoness. "Don't you have something else to do?" Kouga looked at the two and raised an eyebrow. It seemed as though Inuyasha had taken a shy to the outspoken demoness during the past few months, despite what had happened to Kikyou. And anytime he wasn't with Kagome, he was with her.
"Not really." she grinned, playfully patting the hanyou's head like a child as she walked in. "But Keiko wants to know if you guys are hungry."
"We'll be there in a minute, Mika." Kouga said.
"That's fine. I'll tellher to keep some food out." she said with a grin. "I know how the both of you have horrid appetites. I just hope the new addition to the pack doesn't take after either of you." Inuyasha grumbled and Kouga nodded towards the retreating figure of Mika.
"Go ahead, dog-turd." he said with a grin. "I'll wait with Kagome for a little longer." The hanyou nodded and left, but not before casting a glance at Kagome. A few moments later, Kagome spoke, startling Kouga, who whad thought she was asleep.
"It seems like I'm not the only one who's been helping Inuyasha." she said sleepily, adjusting her hold on Yoshe. Kouga smiled and took the baby from her, allowing her to sit up. He looked down at the sleeping child in awe, wondering if any children he gave Kagome would be as miraculous as this little being.
"She's really beautiful, Kagome. Practically perfect." he said. He was about to hand her back to Kagome, but the miko shook her head and smiled. Seeing Kouga holding the baby so carefully made her smile.
"You can hold her, Kouga." she said wearily. "She won't bite you….yet."
"She's not mine, Kagome." he said, almost sounding sad. Kagome noted the sound of his voice and smiled slightly ready to tell her prince of the good other good news.
"You're right, she's not." Kagome said. "She's ours."
"HUH?" Kouga asked, blinking rapidly. "What are you talking about, love?"
"Inuyasha…he wants her to be raised like the wolf cubs. He wants to be a factor in her life, a father figure. But he knows she will be here with me and you, so there's really no reason to teach her the ways of the inu-clan. He will eventually, but he wants her to get a stable footing with her family before he teaches her anything else." she explained.
"You mean……"
"Inuyasha gave you his blessing to raise her as a wolf, Kouga. In fact, it seems as though little Yoshe will have two daddies." Kouga smiled happily and looked down at the sleeping child. Yoshe may not be his blood child, but he cared for the new life as though it was. Now he realized what Laniko had meant that day at Cali's hut, about being able to love a child that was not truly your own just as well as if it were.
"You know, love," he grinned. "She kinda looks like me anyways." Kagome shook her head and rolled her eyes, knowing exactly where the conversation was leading.
"Don't get any ideas." she warned him.
"But Kagome….Yoshe is going to need a little brother or sister soon." Kouga whined. Kagome smiled and shook her head.
"You're impossible, Kouga." she said with a grin.
"You wouldn't have it any other way…"
A few weeks later…
Kagome stood in the center of the clearing, the very place where she had almost lost her life, and that of her child's, only a few weeks ago. Around her neck was the legendary Shikon jewel, pulsating its purifying energy. Off to the side stood Kouga, Mika, Inuyasha, Lord Jiro, Lady Laniko, and here baby girl Yoshe, who was gurgling at Kouga and Inuyasha from the relative safety of Laniko's arms.
The little girl was a perfect mixture of Kagome and Inuyasha. Her hair was completely black, save for two white streaks that would appear on either side of her head. Her amber colored eyes were thanks to Inuyasha, but her facial features were practically all Kagome. To be only a few weeks old, Yoshe was growing surprisingly quickly. Keiko had told her that demon children grew quicker than normal humans, and that it was completely normal.
When Kagome had finally brought the baby back to her time to show her mother, Rei Hirugashi had cooed over how she looked so much like Kagome when she was a baby. Of course, since Inuyasha had shown up with her, Kagome had been forced to explain the whole situation with him and Kouga. Her mother was, as usual, completely acceptable to the idea. And they had agreed that Kagome would come home every few days for a few hours to let her mother see the child, which Kouga had already agreed to.
Everything had worked out fine, and Kagome was more than glad. Her brother and grandfather had flipped out when they saw the baby, and Kagome could have sworn she saw a tear in her grandfather's eyes as he held the small bundle and talked to it.
Sango and Miroku had been probably the happiest of it all. The day Kagome had went to retrieve the jewel from the village, Kouga and Inuyasha had been with her. Sango had fell in love with the child on sight, holding her and cuddling her. Miroku, ever the pervert, had suggested that if Sango wanted a baby so much, then maybe they should go practice on making one themselves. Sango had grabbed the first thing she could find and hit the monk over the head……hard.
Shippou had been another one to show. The little kitsune had smiled at the baby for the entire time Kagome had stopped by. And Shippou's mother and father had given her a blanket to wrap the baby up in that had belonged to Shippou as a baby. All in all, their friends were happy that Kagome had finally had the baby.
Kagome smiled, her hand absently going to her neck were two small bumps had scared over from the mating mark Kouga had given her only days after Yoshe's birth. 'Humph. He gives me enough time to get my strength back, then he wears me out again.' she thought with a grin as her mind wondered to the night Kouga had finally marked her. 'Why am I not surprised?' She shook her head and concentrated on the task before her. Ever since Kikyou had died, the lands had slowly started to repair itself. Now that Kagome was able to wield the power of the jewel again, she intended on giving the land a little boost.
Gathering her energy and concentration, she reached into the depths of her soul and the depths of the Shikon's power. As the familiar tingle once again began to flow through her body, she placed her hands on the ground and will the land to heal itself. She could feel the power flow from the jewel, through her body, and into the struggling land, giving it the extra needed boost of power to purge the poison from the soil and neutralize it with the Shikon's power.
When she could find no more of the poison, she pulled her hands from the soil and slumped to the ground, her energy temporarily depleted from the extensive use of the Shikon's power after not having it for so long.
Kouga and Inuyasha were immediately at her side.
"Kagome, are you okay?" Kouga asked.
"I'm fine, guys. Just a little dizzy." she said, waiting for her head to stop spinning.
"Did it work?" Inuyasha asked, looking around him for some sign of difference.
"It's gone." she said happily. "All traces of the poisonare gone. The land can heal itself much quicker now."
"What would we do without you, Kagome?" Kouga grinned, hugging her tightly.
"I don't know, but you'd be in a lot more trouble." she grinned.
"Inuyasha! Lord Kouga! Lady Kagome!" Mika shouted. "Come see!" Kouga picked Kagome up and Inuyasha took Yoshe from Laniko's arms as they all walked over to where Mika was standing. When they got to Mika, there was a huge smile on her face.
"What's wrong, wench?" Inuyasha barked good naturedly. Mika frowned and punched his shoulder playfully, then took the little baby from his arms.
"The springs are already starting to run again. Look." she said, pointing to the little spring in front of them. From Kagome's view in Kouga's arms, she could see the small spring begin to move at a sluggish pace. It was a small change, but a change none the less from the stagnant pools of water it was earlier.
"Well, that was quick." Laniko commented. "You work fast, Kagome."
"I didn't do that. I just gave it a little boost." she said.
"The land will heal itself." Jiro said, coming to his son's side. "It's just going to take some time." Kagome nodded and looked over to where Inuyasha and Mika were arguing and bickering with each other, with little Yoshe gurgling happily and waving her fists between the two of them.
"Yes." she said with a long sigh as she looked up at her mate. "Time. It's amazing what time can do to things…."
A/N- Okay, it's done. Completely finished. No more to write. Kagome stays with Kouga, and Inuyasha is not left alone. How's that people? Hope you guys enjoyed.
I do have one little favor to ask you, though. Me and some friends were having a discussion the other day, and my fanfic were the topic. All three of them have read this story, and they were commenting on what the strongest and weakest points -overall- of it were.
What I want you guys to do, if you don't mind, is leave me a review telling me what the strongest parts of the overall story were (things that I done well), as well as the weakest points and places were you can see I need to improve (things that could use some improvement). It can be anything from character development to plot development, writing style, anything. I just want to know so that I can fix my weaker points.
So, with that said, I' m going to wish you good people farewell.
Until next time.
Avonnalay-Ariemay
3/24/04