- Chapter 11. -

News Bringing Hope

-()-()-

The sun was just about to rise over the horizon when Inuyasha saw a familiar form approaching from the edge of the distant forest.

Jumping silently from the tree, he landed by Kagome's sleeping form.

"Hey, Kagome. Wake up!"

Nudging her shoulder carefully, he kept his voice low so as to not wake the others. When she finally stirred, she looked around with sleep-blurred eyes, trying to focus on the familiar voice. Inuyasha couldn't keep himself from smirking.

"What's the matter Inuyasha?" Kagome asked groggily as she pushed herself up from the ground, forgetting that Shippo was asleep on her stomach. He tumbled off her and landed with a soft thud on the grass-covered ground.

Ignoring Shippo's protesting groans; Inuyasha smiled a rare smile and pulled Kagome completely out of her sleeping bag, supporting her till she was able to stand on her own.

"Kirara's back. Look! She's just coming over that hill in the distance."

He pointed out the direction and noticed the small smile spreading on Kagome's face. She really was beautiful when she smiled.

"Finally!" Kagome said as she scooped Shippo into her arms. "Come on Inuyasha, we have to tell Sango the good news."

She was grinning widely as she made her way towards Sango's sleeping form and for once, Sango wasn't located as far away from Miroku as she could come.

'Finally.'

Inuyasha's thought reflected Kagome's statement.

'Finally we'll get the news we've been waiting on for so long.' He stopped for barely a second on his way over to Sango. 'I hope it will be good news for once...'

-()-

Kagome didn't bother to keep her voice down as she hurried over to Sango. Shippo was awake already and she knew that Miroku was as anxious as the rest of them regarding the news they were expecting.

"Sango! Sango wake up! Kirara's on the way. You have to wake up now!"

Sango bolted up from the ground with an abnormal speed and quickly afterwards, Miroku was by her side.

"Kirara's back?" Sango asked, not daring to believe it.

Nodding furiously, Kagome pulled her friend towards the slope and pointed to where Kirara's form was rapidly approaching. The neko youkai was already a lot closer than when Kagome had seen her for the first time.

"Can you see anyone else?" Sango asked quietly, disappointment already evident in her voice.

Kagome's heart sank at the question and she turned her attention back to the giant cat. Kirara was getting pretty close now, but she couldn't for the life of her see another person riding on her back.

"No. She seems too be alone." Kagome answered just as quietly.

Casting her aura sense out to be sure, she noticed with a sudden surprise that there was indeed another aura clinging to Kirara's back. It was so small that Kirara's own aura was drowning it, but she was still able to make it out.

"I think Myoga's with her though." Kagome said soothingly in an attempt to lift Sango's spirit.

"Don't give up hope yet Sango." Miroku added while he gave Kagome a peculiar look.

When Sango finally nodded her head slowly in response, they all refocused their attention on Kirara.

As Kirara came closer, Kagome began to feel really nervous about the outcome. Glancing briefly at Sango, she noticed that she was clutching Miroku's hand tightly for support. It wasn't for the first time that Kagome envied Sango's 'newfound' relationship, but she felt happy for her at the same time, wanting her to be happy and feel loved above all else.

Actually, Kagome wanted that for everyone. She strongly believed that every living creature deserved a real chance to be loved and love another in return.

Averting her gaze to Inuyasha who stood on her right side, she felt the urge to grab his hand for the support Sango was receiving, but she managed to resist and resigned herself to hug the kit in her arms.

'I hope it's good news...'

-()-

Sango was on the brink of running to meet Kirara when a hand grabbed hers and held it tightly. She didn't need to see it, to know that it was Miroku's and for once she greatly appreciated his touch.

Returning his favour with a light squeeze she resigned herself to the short wait.

Kirara quickly closed the distance and stopped in front of the anticipating group.

Sango finally broke free from Miroku's grasp and rushed forwards to hug her friend. When she stepped back, Kirara burst out in flames, returning to her small size again and greeting the group with a 'mew'.

Sango was surprised to discover the small flea feeding of Inuyasha's nose even if Kagome had said that he was there.

Picking up Kirara and cradling her in her arms, she turned her attention to Myoga and Inuyasha.

-()-

Inuyasha's eyes flashed in anger as he brought his hand up to his nose, squeezing the small intruder between his thumb and index finger.

"What do you think you're doing?" He growled to the offending flea who just happened to be his advisor.

Wiping his brow with a really small handkerchief, Myoga started to ramble out an excuse.

Furrowing his brow in irritation at the flea's antics, Inuyasha decided to put a stop to it, or he would have if Kagome hadn't interfered.

"Myoga, would you be so kind to tell us what news you're coming with. Please try to understand that we are all anxious to hear about Sango's little brother."

Jumping from Inuyasha's hand to Kagome's, Myoga settled down Indian style.

"Very well Lady Kagome." He turned his attention to Sango.

"As you all know we all set out to find Kohaku after Naraku's defeat, but as suspected he was dead when we found him."

They nodded their agreement, Sango with tears in her eyes.

"It was then that Lady Kagome remembered what powers Lord Sesshoumaru wields..."

"But why would Sesshoumaru aid us in saving Kohaku?" Inuyasha interrupted in disbelief and contempt.

It was true that Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha had managed to work together as 'allies' before and when they fought against Naraku, but it was a really tense relationship, insults being thrown both ways. At least Sesshoumaru wasn't after Inuyasha's sword anymore and that certainly helped to keep them from ripping out each other's throats after the battle.

They were capable of keeping peace between them when they passed each other's paths, but Inuyasha wouldn't put a bet on it if they were forced to spend time with each other for a longer amount of time.

Myoga contemplated Inuyasha's question for a short time before he finally answered.

"You are of course right Lord Inuyasha. There was no guarantee that he would use Tensaiga to resurrect Kohaku, but nonetheless, while you were gone after the fight, I was instructed to contact Lord Sesshoumaru and ask for his aid. So I and Kirara travelled with the body of Kohaku to find Sesshoumaru."

Sango couldn't stand to hear anymore of this hopeless rambling and she pushed forwards, grabbing Myoga fiercely and shaking him hard.

"Cut the crap Myoga, we already know this. Just tell me. Did he resurrect Kohaku? And even if he didn't, where is he?"

They were all surprised at Sango's sudden violent outburst, but they all understood it too. She was after all anxious to learn if her brother was alive.

"Err..." Myoga croaked out.

"I was just coming to that. Sesshoumaru did resurrect Kohaku..."

At this they all let out a breath they didn't know they were holding, but Myoga quickly carried on before they could add more questions.

"It wasn't entirely Sesshoumaru's decision to bring Kohaku back. True, he wielded the sword, but I daresay the sword had as much to do with it as anything else. It seems that the sword communicates with him on some levels and that human girl, Rin I believe her name is. She begged the Lord to bring him back and he obliged. It seems that she's rather fond of Sango's brother. That's the reason why Kohaku didn't follow me back. He stayed with Rin to keep her company. Funnily enough, Lord Sesshoumaru didn't seem to mind."

Inuyasha suddenly burst out laughing.

"That little girl has the great Sesshoumaru twirled about her little finger. And he's nagging on me for spending time with humans. He's got a fucking child tagging after his tail and he doesn't even have a good reason."

He continued to laugh as he pressed the words out between the breathing breaks he was forced to take. Failing to notice the sudden stiffness in Kagome's posture...

"INUYASHA!" Kagome screeched out to get his attention.

The rest of the group took this as their cue to take their leave and they all trotted off towards the outskirt of the camp to continue their interrogation of Myoga.

Inuyasha's mirth dropped rapidly as his ears plastered to his head because of the high volume.

"WHAT?" He growled back, his mood worsening by the second.

Kagome took a calming breath and began to talk to him in a more level voice, regretting to herself that she had shouted. It was difficult to remember how sensitive his ears were sometimes.

"I'm really sorry for shouting Inuyasha, but I wasn't sure if you'd hear me over all that laughter."

Grunting Inuyasha decided that he would hear her out for once, but just because she apologised.

"You see Inuyasha. You shouldn't laugh of your brother..."

Hear her out? Had he actually decided to hear her out? Fuck that!

"What the fuck are you talking about? He's always laughing of me, well. He's not exactly laughing, but he treats me like shit all the same and it's not like he's here to hear it anyway."

Kagome shook her head exasperated and grabbed his chin, forcing him to keep silent and look at her.

"Please listen to me Inuyasha. Even if your brother treats you like dirt sometime, doesn't mean that he doesn't deserve to be honoured for the honourable choices he makes."

Seeing that he was about to interrupt her again, she rushed on.

"Maybe it was Rin that convinced him to save Kohaku, maybe it was the sword, but does it even matter what it was? After all, he did it. He was the one that saved Kohaku. If anything we should all thank him. He's done us all a huge favour, not only Sango and Kohaku. He's done 'us' a favour. That means you too. We're all affected by the decision he made and we should all be grateful."

Inuyasha just stared dumbfounded at her. What was she thinking?

"You want me to thank him?" He finally asked, disbelief in his voice.

Kagome shook her head slowly.

"No you don't have to thank him. It would be great if you did. The main point is that you should honour him for the decision he made. He may be cruel sometimes, mocking you and calling you names, but you do those things too. To Kouga, to Miroku, to Shippo. You even call me names."

Inuyasha didn't speak. It occurred to him how right she was. He did those things too. He even tried to kill Miroku, not that he remembered why, but that wasn't the point. He had done the same as Sesshoumaru, but the ones he had done it to didn't hate him and push him away, they honoured him for the right choices he made instead.

Finally nodding in response he turned away from her, head down in shame. He was no better than Sesshoumaru. He truly didn't deserve someone as wonderful and forgiving as Kagome.

-()-()-

A/n: Okay, I know that I haven't updated in a good while, but I've been on vacation (as stated before). And after that I've had the flu. Sob. I'm just wrapping up some loose ends in this chapter and I apologise if it's boring. I have a writers block. --;

Thanks for all the reviews. I greatly appreciate it.