Kagome felt like the ground had been torn out from underneath her. In the void of Sesshoumaru’s absence, her heart floundered, bereft. She might have stayed weeping in that state of desolation indefinitely. But her concern for her baby outweighed her distress. She dredged herself up from the frozen mud with Shin in arms. Wrapping him up as best she could against the cold driving rain, she trudged and sloshed her way back home.
The only thing she was grateful for, as she dragged her bedraggled self across the threshold, was that the rain hid her tears.
It couldn’t hide her abject misery, though. Dazed as Inuyasha still was, he frowned up at her from the middle of the floor where he sat crouched, tacking a thick heavy reed mat over the crater he’d made in the planking when she’d ‘sat’ him.
“Don’t tell me,” he muttered, standing up and frowning eastward.
Kagome shook her head. “No—Sesshoumaru isn’t going to go after Kohaku-kun and Rin-chan.” Thicky, she said, “He’s gone.”
“Oh.” Inuyasha let out a terse breath through his fangs. “That’s good. Because he looked mad as hell.”
“He was,” Kagome said, her voice threatening to break.
Inuyasha nodded. “Well, nothing for it, I guess. I know you like for everyone to get along, but sometimes you’ve just got to cut your losses. Him taking himself off to sulk is the best possible outcome, really.” Inuyasha would never condone her use of the subjugation spell, but this was the closest he would come to admitting she was right. “Anyway, he’s gone now, so that’s that. No harm done.”
Kagome couldn’t bring herself to respond. All she wanted to do was to crawl down into that hole in the floor, curl up and die.
Shin wriggled in her arms. She set him down on the rug, where he fell at once to all fours, phased into his hanyou form and shook himself dry like a puppy after an unwanted bath. Frizzed-out, he huffed. Inuyasha chuckled, flicking flung water off his face.
“Heh, he’s gonna be frisky now. Just watch.”
As if on cue, Shin’s black ears perked, swiveling. Sitting back on his haunches in a froggy sort of crouch, Shin sprang, leap-frogging around Inuyasha, Kagome and the hut in general, until Inuyasha plucked him from midair, grinning.
“Gotcha, little frog,” Inuyasha said, nipping Shin’s ear between two furled knuckles.
Shin half-giggled, half-growled, swatting at Inuyasha’s claws with his own tiny white ones. Still grinning, Inuyasha turned to Kagome.
“Haha-ue always said I learned to hop before I learned to walk.”
Kagome’s heart sank like a stone. “Inuyasha…”
Knuckling at Shin again, he asked, “How’s yours doing, by the way?”
Kagome started, confused. “What?”
“Your mom,” he said, his brows furrowing at her. “You just went to see her, so how is she?”
“Oh,” she said, stumbling, “s-she’s good. She sends her love.”
Kagome’s heart faltered. She had completely forgotten about her own fabrication. Inuyasha looked narrowly at her, scenting the obvious lie.
Inuyasha © Rumiko Takahashi
Will tidy up later <3 Happy weekend!
Ugh. She hasn’t said anything. Come on girl! It’s time!!!!
Hahah sorry, Kathy! XD
Thanks for sharing your reactions & hope you enjoy the next chapter <3
Now it’s time to truly figure out what and who you want, girl! Watching through my fingers! 🫣
Thanks, L-desu!! Promise I won’t leave ya hanging too long 😉 <3
I somehow feel like Inuyasha might be a better partner for a little while after the ego bump of seeing Shin with his cute little ears! But we all know that can’t last for very long. Those mates won’t be able to deny each other forever. And I really hope we get to see more of Sesshoumaru’s mom soon. What a way to throw Inuyasha for a loop.
Yeahh poor Inuyasha XD As annoying as he can be, I still love him lol
Thanks for sharing, Tsuyoku! Hope you enjoy the next part <3
I’m actually feeling so sorry for Inuyasha…
“Haha-ue always said I learned to hop before I learned to walk.” Like??? </3 Char! You're really going to make this reveal hurt, aren't you? AHHHHH
Yeahh ngl that line made me tear up as I was writing it ;_;
Thanks so much for sharing, bella! Hope you enjoy the next chapter <3
HERE IT COMESSSSS
😉 😉
Thanks for sharing, mim!! <3
I also want to bring up the last chapter quickly, I am so happy that the medicine mentioned from chapters ago was brought up again. I have always wondered about it, though it sicked knowing it may have prevented her from returning to the modern world or at least living there permanently (though it would be cool if she visited with Shin). So, for this chapter, Kagome is clearly feeling hollow at the moment, and is still processing what happened and I wonder if she will go on a downward spiral due to the mating bond. I admit the Inuyasha and Shin scene was so adorable, it reminded me that they are still related and have a close family bond.
“I admit the Inuyasha and Shin scene was so adorable, it reminded me that they are still related and have a close family bond.” – aww thank you! So glad you enjoyed this interaction <3
Love hearing your thoughts on the medicine being brought up again! So glad you enjoyed the scene <3
It would shock me if Kagome still tells the truth. I believe I would take my baby and go home in the future because this situation is not going to turn out for anyone. Sango may have to save Kagome’s life because one of these brothers is going to put her out of her misery. Great update. I wish there were more.
So glad you enjoyed the update, Redwolf! Thanks for sharing <3
Mmm I’m worried for Kagome 🥺 The last time she thought Sess betrayed her she tried to jump off a cliff. And before that she was sinking in a deep depression until Sess came back with Taiyoutori. Hope she has the strength to pull through and face her fears this time.
Maybe she can get that bit of strength from Shin. I love how quickly he bounces back. Baby lives in the moment 🥰
Yeah he’s a resilient little guy! <3
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts, friend!! <3
Kagome doesn’t know how her family is doing but Inuyasha does. DOKI. 👀
I could almost hear the threads holding this lie together about to snap!
Ahh love it!! Thanks so much for sharing, hanayome! Hope you enjoy the next part!! <3
Well, damn. I should have known you were going to make this as uncomfortable as possible!
*Char turns the guilt machine dial to eleven.*
I suppose it would have been easier on Kagome’s conscience (and mine) had she walked back to an angry Inuyasha still spoiling for a fight rather than a nearly contrite Inuyasha–who then really rubs it in by sharing closely guarded childhood memories while playing and bonding with the hanyou nephew he believes to be his son. 💀 😭
“*Char turns the guilt machine dial to eleven.*” – ahhh guilty as charged!! XD
Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts and reactions, friend! Hope you enjoy the next one!! <3
The way Shin is single-handedly keeping all of us from the brink of despair in his cute little baby fist 🥲 I love him so much.
YUS ;_; Poor baby Shin! So glad you’re rooting for him, Kova!! <3
I really cannot tell whether Inuyasha is just a masterful actor or he really doesn’t suspect anything. Is it that he has such a low opinion of Sess that he truly believes Sess thinks sleeping with a human is like seggsing a cow, and that makes Sesshoumaru/Kagome impossible, or is he choosing to delude himself? Thinking back to his disdain of Rin’s choice to live ‘an ordinary mortal life’ though, maybe that view isn’t far off either. Oooof 😅
“Is it that he has such a low opinion of Sess that he truly believes Sess thinks sleeping with a human is like seggsing a cow, and that makes Sesshoumaru/Kagome impossible, or is he choosing to delude himself? ” – that’s the question!!!
Thanks so much for sharing, oskorreia!! <3
i’m glad that shin is too young to be truly stressed out by all the happenings 🥹 young kids tend to throw violent fits when they couldn’t process their grief
“i’m glad that shin is too young to be truly stressed out by all the happenings ” – Yep it’s a good thing for sure!
Thanks so much for sharing, rehizakki! <3
The way I am screaming at my phone for her to just tell him already though.
XDDD Yeah I feel ya!! <3
…..You just refuse to make this easy on us?!
Is Kagome not deserving of a virtual fuedal therapist at this point?! Her inorganic attachment to Inuyasha in these rare moments he decides to be a dad and caring partner, is so frustrating to see =( There’s a whole domino effect that she keeps ignoring just to hold on to these fabricated moments that even Inuyasha is starting to pick up on. She just spent a whole cruise vacation worth of time with Sesshomaru in minimal clothing, playing house with Shin, in Sesshomaru’s vacation home. (Granted, he should’ve given her a few more hours to break the news before he snapped considering she only recently found out she eternally bound to him) She should be more sympathetic that she’s been milking him for over a year and still trying to slowly peel the bandaid off slowly when it could’ve been healed over ages ago.
“…..You just refuse to make this easy on us?!” – XDD I know, I’m the worst haha
Ahh awesome insights all around – thanks so much for sharing, BlackDevereaux!! <3
It’s been in the back of my mind but I wonder if Inuyasha could survive the fallout of this secret after all. The magnitude of pain inflicted here is intense the more I think on it.
Humiliated, heartbroken, betrayed, cuckolded by the ‘superior’ brother who always demeaned his existence, then finding out that his hanyou son isn’t his own despite NOW feeling reassured by Shin’s tiny puppy ears. Would it tear at their father-son relationship?
The price of exposure is just…. incredibly steep.
All very good points.
It’s one thing to have an inferiority complex–but having many of those associated fears and insecurities become undeniably validated? It has the potential to completely erode one’s foundations of reality.
“The price of exposure is just…. incredibly steep.” – very true, and you laid out the disastrous possibilities so well… ;_;
Thanks so much for sharing, Inupapa!! <3
I’m surprised Inu wasn’t pissed she sat him… guilty conscious maybe?
Maybe so! Thanks for sharing, Becky!! <3
Oh man, my heart just sank for Inuyasha. No matter what he loves that little baby! The suspense and emotion! So good.
Ahh thank you, Delys! So glad you’re enjoying the suspense!! <3