Chapter Text
“Thanks for seeing us off, everyone, we should be back by tomorrow afternoon and we’ll make sure to bring back snacks for everyone.”
“It’s so nice that you’re still able to travel back for your brother’s birthday, Kagome, I’m sure he’s really excited to see you,” Sango said, gently bouncing a disinterested Hisui on her hip.
“Are you sure you don’t want to take either of the twins with you? I’m sure they’d love to see the other world Moroha is always talking about,” Miroku said. He had Gyokuto on his shoulders and seemed entirely unbothered by her attempts at styling her father’s hair, and Kin’u was busy trying to stand on both of his feet, her little arms reaching around to steady herself by gripping onto his legs and giggling hysterically.
“Nah,” Inuyasha said, grabbing his own daughter’s leg and hoisting her upside-down into the air “This one’s enough to deal with as it is,” Moroha shrieked in delight and wiggled around, trying in vain to catch her father’s arm. “Besides, we’ve already tried it and even though the well lets Moroha through, it’s still not allowing anyone else.” For three years the bone eater’s well that connected the feudal era to Kagome’s modern world had sealed and they had been separated, unable to see each other or communicate until one day it had suddenly reopened. Since then, Inuyasha and Kagome had been able to travel back and forth between the eras periodically, although they had quickly figured out that the well only had enough power for limited trips. They made that mistake at first and got stuck in Kagome’s world for a week and a half before they could return home. Now they traveled to the future once every month or two, although they made exceptions for special occasions, such as birthdays.
“Well, have fun you three, we’ll see you when you get back in a few days,” Sango said.
“Alright, girls, guess you’re stuck here with us,” Miroku said with mock disappointment. On his feet Kin’u giggled as she desperately tried to stay on top of her father’s now moving feet.
“They’re such a cute family,” Kagome remarked quietly as their companions walked back towards the village. “I don’t think I ever saw Sango and Miroku so happy back when we were always traveling. Don’t you think Inuyasha?” Inuyasha, never one to express many emotions, made a noncommittal noise of agreement and gently set his daughter down into the grass. “Moroha are you traveling with mommy or daddy this time?”
“Daddy,” Moroha shrieked, already scrambling to try and get on her father’s back.
Inuyasha chuckled and crouched down so that his daughter could reach his shoulders and settle herself onto his back the same way Kagome always had when they were traveling. There was a time when Moroha was still an infant that Inuyasha could run around holding both of them at the same time. Now that she was getting bigger, and squirmier, it was a little harder to do but they still found a way every now and again. But for now it was just her, and if it weren’t for the heat of her body, Inuyasha probably wouldn’t even notice the extra weight.
“Ready, Moroha,” he asked, turning his head over his shoulder to catch her out of the corner of his eye. Moroha in response buried her face into his snow white hair. “Keh, you don’t have to be scared, we’ve done this a hundred times before. Besides, papa’s not gonna let anything hurt ya.”
“Even though I’m pretty sure you’re the most dangerous thing in that world once we cross over,” Kagome teased. “I hope they warned Buyo that you were coming.” Nonetheless, she took her husband’s hand and they both stepped up onto the side of the well before jumping in together, feeling that familiar rush as their feet sailed through the dirt and floated temporarily through space and time until they were gently deposited down on the other side. Kagome’s family had thoughtfully draped the rope ladder down the side of the well for their return so that they could climb out easily. Inuyasha of course ignored this and cleared the well with one jump. “Hey you jerk,” she called up, “Wait for me!”
Inuyasha had wandered outside and set Moroha down by the time Kagome made it out of the well. Looking around the temple looked exactly how she remembered, the sacred tree standing tall and proud, a silent guardian to the house where she had grown up. Moroha was already halfway to the house, yelling for her grandma and great grandpa. Inuyasha, taking advantage of a rare moment when they were alone, took Kagome’s hand and gave it a little squeeze.
Kagome stretched up on her toes and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. “Thanks for coming with me, Inuyasha. Sota will never say it but he still loves when you come to visit, he still thinks you’re pretty cool.”
“Keh, of course he does, why wouldn’t he?”
“My husband, a humble man,” Kagome muttered as they walked towards the house.
***
The rest of the day seemed to fly by them, there was cake and presents and a special meal of Sota’s favorite curry prepared, with a bowl made on the side with absolutely no spice for Inuyasha, who still sniffed the food warily before being goaded into trying it by his daughter. Moroha may have been a shrunk down version of her father in many ways but his tongue was not one of them, she preferred her curry spicy like her mom.
Sota had been pleased with the books his mother had bought him, and had feigned polite interest, more than Kagome ever did, in the “authentic” artifact his grandfather gave him. He’d smiled warmly at the picture that Moroha had made for him and seemed grateful for the elegant but simple tea set that Kagome had commissioned for him. But nothing matched the sparkle in his eyes when Inuyasha presented his gift: a real sword forged by none other than Totosai, the same sword smith who had made his Tetsaiga. Although Sota’s sword wasn’t made from any demonic material, it was still assured to be of the highest quality and craftsmanship. Sota, who had never stopped idolizing Inuyasha since he met him in elementary school, immediately lost his cool teenage demeanor and had practically dragged Inuyasha outside to show him how to use it and take some practice swings. The two were outside for hours until it was almost too dark to see and Kagome’s mother was calling for them to come inside.
Meanwhile, Kagome had taken advantage of her husband being busy and had wrangled Moroha into the bath and had almost succeeded in getting her to sleep. She refused, however, to go to sleep until she got a goodnight kiss from her father and one last story from her mother. Kagome smiled to herself, adoring the determination on her daughter’s sleepy face even as her eyelids kept sinking lower and lower with each stroke of Kagome’s hand over her hair. Inuyasha made it just in time to give his daughter her goodnight kiss and catch the end of her bedtime story. Tonight it was one of Moroha’s favorite stories, and one of Inuyasha’s least favorite: the time he had gotten tricked by the monkey sprites and had to spend a whole day running around the mountains and a little village with a giant rock stuck to his hand. By the end of the story, Moroha was sound asleep and Inuyasha had taken up residence on Kagome’s bed, still keeping guard although his sword was propped up by the door, just within reach.
Kagome joined him on the bed and immediately curled up next to him, resting her head on his shoulder. He un-tucked his hand from his sleeve and slid it around her waist instead. “Do you remember the first time you slept over here,” she asked in a whisper.
“Yeah, I think so,” he replied, “You said you had to study for one of those test things and you refused to come back with me until it was over. You kept yelling at me for every little thing-“
“To be fair, you were being very distracting,” she said. “Imagine if when you were trying to learn how to control the wind scar if I kept popping up near your shoulders and asking you silly questions or tried to watch what you were doing.”
He chuckled, “Yeah well, your books had all these weird shapes in them. Sango and Miroku used to ask me sometimes if I ever figured out what a test was, and I’m still not sure I have a good answer for them. But then I gave you your space right? Weren’t you still upset after that?”
“Well then it was too quiet, and I could feel you looking at me. But then I turned to check on you after a few minutes of working, and you had fallen asleep on my bed.” She turned to look up at him, delighted that even now there was a light blush to his cheeks. “Fast asleep, not a care in the world. I don’t think I had ever seen you so relaxed.” He gave a little huff. “Although you got a great night’s sleep that night, I barely slept at all; you were hogging the whole mattress.”
“Hmm, guess that was the first time I kept you up most of the night,” he murmured, nuzzling into her neck.
She giggled, “Miroku and Sango had a field day with that one. Any chance she got when we were out of earshot of you two she asked me what had happened that night.”
“And what did you tell her,” he asked, nibbling gently on her earlobe.
“What was I supposed to say? I didn’t know what would be more embarrassing so I just kept trying to brush it off and say you were being selfish. What about Miroku, was he grilling you for details?”
Inuyasha pulled away slightly while he considered this. “Ya know, I think all he asked me was, ‘So you and Kagome shared her bed last night?’ and when I said yeah he just got some look on his face and said he didn’t think I had it in me to be such a charmer, whatever that means.” Kagome flushed scarlet. “Hey, what’s the matter, Kagome?”
“Oh nothing,” she said, burying her face in her hands, “That just explains the strange looks he kept giving us both those next few days. I just hope he never told Sango.”
“Never told Sango what?”
Kagome sighed and looked up at Inuyasha’ genuinely confused face. “Never mind, it’s not important. We did end up getting married, anyway.” Inuyasha looked like he wanted to press the topic but Kagome cut him off with a kiss instead. “We should get to sleep, too. You and Moroha have to go grocery shopping tomorrow while I help my mom and grandpa with some things around the temple before we go back.”
“Oh yeah, that’s right, we need to buy some more of those noodles I really like.”
“And gifts for our friends,” Kagome said as she crawled under the covers of the bed.
“Yeah, yeah, that, too, I guess,” Inuyasha said, curling up behind her. Since they had gotten married and decided to stay in Kaede’s village, Inuyasha had slowly stopped sleeping sitting up against a wall all night where he could hold his sword and keep a watchful eye on the door. He would often fall asleep lying next to Kagome now or with a protective arm curled around their daughter, although he was generally awake and back in his guard spot by the time either of them awoke. It was only on nights when they stayed in the modern world that Kagome knew he’d still be there next to her when she woke up.