[FIC] Say Goodnight ch 5 & 6/16 +epilogue
Chapter Five: Letter from Sango #1
Dear Kagome,
This is the first letter I will write to you. Actually, this is the first actual letter I have ever written. You left yesterday. I can’t believe you are never coming back. I may never see you again. My best friend. It makes me want to cry, even now.
Inuyasha hasn’t moved, Kagome. He has not moved since you went down the well. He is just sitting there, with his eyes closed and his arms folded. Miroku went down there a little while ago, and Inuyasha was silent. Just calm and still. Miroku said he has never seen Inuyasha like this. I worry for him.
Shippo is putting on a brave face, but I have seen him tear up a couple of times. He is staying away from the well and Inuyasha. I think those two things remind him too much of you at this point.
I do not know what else to write, except that Miroku has not groped me once since you left. I do not have high hopes that he will stay this way, but we will see.
Kirara says hi.
Sincerely,
Sango
The morning held a promise of sunshine and slight breezes. Kagome woke up and blinked her eyes. She was on her stomach, with a heavy arm across her back.
Inuyasha’s arm, Kagome thought with a lazy smile. She stretched, using the headboard on the bed as leverage. She turned her head over and looked at the man she loved. He was lying on his side, facing her, with a sizable amount of drool coming out of one corner of his mouth. Kagome smiled again, and started to ease herself out from under his arm.
That operation successful, she made her way to the window. She drew back the light curtains and tied them with the tiebacks provided. Then she opened them up, letting the soft breeze waft into the room.
“Kagome, come back to bed,” Inuyasha said, the sound slightly muffled by his pillow.
“Shouldn’t we be going soon?” Kagome asked him.
“Not yet,” Inuyasha moaned, and Kagome went back to the bed. She slid in, underneath the covers, and Inuyasha pulled her close to him. He undid the messy bun her hair had been in, and buried his face in her hair.
“Inuyasha? I’m getting hungry,” Kagome protested.
“So am I,” Inuyasha purred as he nuzzled her neck.
Kagome gasped a little as he trailed kisses all around her neck and her throat, “Inuyasha? Inuyasha?” she asked, a little panicked.
Inuyasha stopped and looked at her, “What?”
“I’m really hungry, and I need to go see my Mom. Believe me, I want to stay here too, but I have work today. So does Mei, I believe,” Kagome told him. He sighed.
“Quit the job,” Inuyasha shrugged.
“Are you going to act this way for the rest of our lives?” Kagome asked.
“Act like what?”
“When we were in the feudal era, all you could complain about was how much time school took away from shard hunting. Now, you are asking me to quit my job!” Kagome had raised her voice, and had climbed back out of the bed. Inuyasha stood as well, and moved to block her from leaving.
“I hated your schooling because it took you away from us from too long, from me too long. I want you to quit your job because I want you with me! Damn wench!” Inuyasha threw his arms up in frustration.
“Mei works there,” Kagome pouted.
“Mei is Shippo’s mate, not mine!” Inuyasha yelled.
“I’m your mate?” Kagome asked softly.
Inuyasha realized what he had said, and he swore softly, “Kagome, I had not planned on asking you yet. Hell Kagome, I did not take a mate the whole five hundred years we were apart because I was waiting for you”
“Don’t dog demons mate for life?” Kagome asked.
“No. Wolf demons like that Koga and his mate are for life. Dog demons do not mate for life. We do not even physically mark our mates. Our scent is enough to detour other demons from our territory,” Inuyasha explained.
“I’m not quitting my job, I need the money,” Kagome told him.
“No you don’t. I have enough money for both of us,” Inuyasha told her.
Kagome looked at him in surprise, “Where did you get that kind of money?”
“Here and there. Got some of it when we switched from a barter economy to a monetary economy here in Japan. I had graduated from building huts to building other structures when Japan started growing. Eventually, people started paying me more and more. Then, after about one hundred years, I had to move on to somewhere else. This was around the time Mei and Shippo finally fell in love. Jungo, Akana, Shippo, Mei, Kirara and I moved onto the mainland, to China. From there we just migrated, building houses and doing various other things. Shippo often performed as a magician or illusionist wherever we went. We lived pretty comfortably. Then, we just kept moving until we found someplace we liked enough to stay for a while,” Inuyasha told her.
“Kirara? Wait, I will get back to that,” Kagome frowned, “Where did you end up settling for that time?”
“Greece,” Inuyasha smiled, “Athens. We loved it there. We all went to schools and universities. That was when I started to write for a living. Shippo performed as an illusionist in the town square. The language was kind of hard to learn. We stayed there for another hundred years. So, now it was about the early nineteenth century. Then, we went to Spain. We lived on the Spanish coast for a little bit, then we decided to go to Morroco. We lived there for a bit. Then, in the early twentieth century, we moved onto America”
“Wow”
“Yeah. We spent all of our time moving around America until about a year ago. Then, we hopped on a plane and came back. Now, I have a lot of money. Not as much as Sesshomaru, mind you. But a lot. Somewhere around one point one trillion yen, or ten million U.S. dollars,” Inuyasha smiled at Kagome’s gasp. He had been working hard for many years to make sure that he could support them when she came back to him.
“Wait, you are a writer?” Kagome asked, shocked.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” Inuyasha raised his voice.
“It’s just, I have never seen you write anything, let alone a book!” Kagome laughed.
“You work in a damned coffee shop!” Inuyasha retorted.
“Some of us have to work harder than other when we give up going to University!” Kagome yelled.
“Keh,” Inuyasha folded his arms and looked away, obviously at a loss.
“How much does Sesshomaru have?” Kagome asked,
curious.
“Somewhere around two trillion yen,” Inuyasha smirked, “Kagura is a lawyer. She’s sharp enough for it. Sesshomaru is in imports and exports. Lot of money there. Not to mention that they have been at it for centuries. They moved around too, but not in the same way we did. Sesshomaru always went in style. Koga and Ayame just moved around Asia. They never really left the area. Koga always made his way as a detective or a cop. Ayame always took care of the pups. They are here too. I am surprised they have not found you yet. Koga keeps saying he owes you for bringing back his pack,” Inuyasha rolled his eyes.
“Kirara?” Kagome asked as she sat down on the bed again.
“Hold on,” Inuyasha held up a finger and opened the bedroom door, “Mei! You up?”
“What do you want?” Mei shouted from the kitchen. She knew Kagome must be hungry, and she had already made two rice bowls with sliced fruit on top. A pot of tea sat on the tray also.
“Kagome’s hungry!”
“I’m bringing the tray now! You are damned lucky I am such a good friend. Make sure you’re dressed!” Mei yelled. Shippo chuckled from the couch. Mei glared at her husband before walking upstairs. Inuyasha took the tray from her and shut the door in her face.
“Thanks Mei!” Kagome called from behind the door. Inuyasha sat on the floor, and Kagome sat down in front of her.
“To understand Kirara now,” Inuyasha swallowed a mouthful of rice, “You have to understand the earrings”
Kagome nodded, “I can only assume that they are kind of spelled?”
“Exactly. When Kaede got to be really old, she told us that one day, we would need to conceal who we were, so that we would not resemble demons. Demons would dwindle in numbers as humans found more means to kill us. So, she and Miroku got together and worked out that we could wear a spelled object that would fool people into thinking we were human. We still smell like demons, but we do not look like it. Well, Kirara could not very well be converted to a human. So, she wears a small gold hoop on her collar,” Inuyasha told her. A realization dawned on Kagome.
“A house cat? A firecat demon is a house cat?” Kagome’s jaw dropped.
“Every once and a while she has us take her out to the forest, and we take off her collars. When the collar comes off, she runs into the forest. We go back for her after about two weeks. She makes a very cute Japanese Bobtail,” Inuyasha smirked.
Kagome chuckled at the thought of Kirara eating bonito flakes, and chuckled even more at the thought of her using a litterbox.
“She goes outside,” Inuyasha said, as if he knew what Kagome was thinking. Kagome laughed even harder.
“What do you write?” Kagome asked.
“Textbooks, articles, novels, you name it, a lot of historical stuff. It was kind of easy to do that, since I lived it,” Inuyasha told her. Kagome didn’t laugh this time, and asked one last question.
“Inuyasha, you mentioned Kagura. But what happened to Kanna?” Kagome asked.
Inuyasha sighed. Kanna’s tale was not a fun or lighthearted one, “She killed herself. After many years, she still had not grown. She always remained a ghost of a little girl. We still do not know when she did it. But one day Kagura went to look for her, and she found her. Kanna had poisoned herself. Kagura never told me what kind of poison. It would have had to have been very strong, and very fast acting, since Kanna was a demon. Every mirror all around her place was broken. I suppose she finally got tired of looking at herself the same way,” Inuyasha shrugged. It had happened so long ago now.
Kagome finished her meal in silence. What a sad way to end your life. Dying alone. But then again, hadn’t Kanna always been alone in a way? She had always accompanied Kagura, but she had rarely ever spoken. Who knew what went on in her mind?
*~*~*~*
Kagome put on a t-shirt and jeans that she borrowed from Mei. Her clothing was dirty, and she sure was not going out in her pajamas. She clasped the bag that had once held the new things Inuyasha had bought her, and looked at the room Inuyasha had designed for her. It had been thoughtful of him. She was going to live here, with him, with them. The thought was still almost too much. Why was she not reacting with more emotion? Why was she not shocked? She chalked it up to a sixth sense. For all her worrying, all her crying, had part of her always known they would come back? She guessed she would never know. She walked over to Inuyasha’s door and knocked.
“Inuyasha?” Kagome asked.
“Come on in,” Inuyasha told her. Kagome opened the door and walked into the ebony paneled room. The floor and walls were made of an ebony stained wood, and the ceiling was painted white. There was a futon over on one side of the room, and the blankets and pillows on top of it were red. There was a low table for dining in the room, with delicately embroidered pillows on each side. A closet was on one side of the room, with delicate shoji screens for doors. Another screen separated the master bath from the rest of the room. Inuyasha came from that screen, and motioned for Kagome to come closer.
“I want to show you something,” Inuyasha told her as they made their way to a particularly large screen. Inuyasha slid it aside and showed her that his room held a very elegant balcony. The view of the city was very nice. She noticed, for the first time, that his house sat on a hill.
“Wow,” Kagome said with a smile.
Inuyasha led her back inside and shut the screen. They made their way downstairs to say their farewells to Shippo and Mei.
“See ya!” Kagome told them.
“Are you working today, Kagome?” Mei asked her.
“I think I may call in sick,” Kagome smiled at Inuyasha.
“Yeah, me too,” Mei laughed.
In the detached garage, Kagome was not very surprised to see a little red two seater. What did surprise her was what kind of car it was.
“Inuyasha? Is that an American sports car?” Kagome asked.
Inuyasha smiled and ran his hand over the cars hood, “1958 Chevrolet Corvette, to be exact. I have owned her since they came out. When we came back to Japan, I had her changed so that she could drive on the roads here. Hop on in,” Inuyasha opened the door for her, and Kagome sat down. She sat her bag at her feet. Inuyasha got in the other side and buckled in. Kagome did the same, and then he started to car. A loud purr issued from the engine, and then Inuyasha backed out of the driveway.
It was a thirty minute drive to the shrine. Kagome and Inuyasha spent the time in companionable silence, with the wind whipping through their hair.
It was still early enough that Kagome’s grandfather was walking around.
“Gramps!” Kagome called, using her free hand to wave.
“Kagome!” Gramps waved back. Keito had told him that the dog demon was back. Kagome walked past him and into the house. Gramps was too tired to throw a sutra at Inuyasha. He just stared as the half demon walked up the stairs.
Inuyasha bowed to the elder gentleman. To his surprise, Kagome’s grandfather bowed back.
“It’s nice to see you again, sir,” Inuyasha told the old man.
“Hello, Inuyasha,” Gramps told him. Inuyasha offered his arm to the shrine caretaker, and they finished walking up to the house. Kagome’s mother had already set a pot of tea on the table. Inuyasha took off his shoes and stepped inside.
“Hello again, Inuyasha. Kagome ran up to her room for a second. She said something about changing clothing,” Keito explained.
“She is wearing Mei’s clothes,” Inuyasha replied. Keito sat down next to her father, facing Inuyasha.
“Inuyasha, let me ask you rather bluntly: What are you planning do with my daughter?” Keito asked the half demon. Inuyasha had been expecting this question somewhat.
“Marry her at some point. I will not lie, I love her very much. I always have. Five hundred years is a long time to wait for someone, Keito. Right now though, I have asked Kagome to move into the room I designed for her in my house when I bought it. But, in the case that I just decide to ask her, I want to ask you both,” Inuyasha nodded at both Keito and her father, “for Kagome’s hand”
“You will provide for her? Be loyal? I know all about all those times with Kikyo,” Keito told him. Inuyasha hung his head a little.
“I cannot say that I do not know what you are talking about, nor can I say I regret it. I made a promise to Kikyo. I had intended to keep it, but then she was shattered before she could take me to hell. I loved her at one time, but for the past five hundred years I have loved no one but Kagome. But yes, I am worth a lot of money. I made my fortune in construction first, and then in writing. That is what I continue to do. Right now, she will be living with Shippo, Mei, and I. I had planned to take Kagome on a trip sometime soon. That is when I plan to ask her. I have had a ring for her for about five years now. I bought it in America. I plan on taking her to California, and proposing to her there,” Inuyasha stopped talking.
“Inuyasha, she is a human. You are a half demon. She will die long before you,” Gramps pointed out.
“No she won’t. I have lived a long and happy life. I refuse to live it without her. When she dies, I will make sure I die with her,” Inuyasha told them.
“Inuyasha, I have known from the moment I met you that you cared for my daughter. I knew later that you loved her. You have always protected her, always been there for her. I have no objections to your union,” Keito told him with a gentle smile.
“I have no objections,” Gramps said with a low whine. Inuyasha knew this must be hard for him.
A few minutes later Kagome came down, looking fresh as a daisy.
“Well, Mr. Mori was not too happy to learn that I was too sick to come into work today, but he will get over it!” Kagome said cheerfully.
“Are you hungry dear?” Keito asked her daughter.
“No Mom. Say, did Inuyasha tell you that I am moving in with him and the others?” Kagome asked her mom.
“Yes he did, dear. I can go get some boxes from the store if you would like,” Keito offered.
“I actually do not think she will need anything other than her clothing and what personal things she wants to bring. She has everything else, and I plan on buying her some new things,” Inuyasha told them. Kagome smiled and hugged him.
“Of course. I will get a small amount of boxes, and the clothes can go into your luggage, Kagome,” Mrs. Higurashi stated.
Inuyasha stood and offered a small bow, “Keito, I think we will be going for now”
“Bye Mom, bye Gramps!” Kagome called as they left the house.
Once back in the car, Kagome turned to Inuyasha, “Where are we going now?”
“To see my family. My father wants to meet you”
Kagome swallowed hard and stared ahead. It was not every day that a gal went to go meet the revived father who was once the Lord of the Western Lands. The Great Dog Demon himself. And to think, here she was wearing a denim skirt, white tank top, and red cardigan.
“I feel underdressed,” Kagome complained.
Inuyasha only laughed at her as he kept driving.