The Pursuit of Happiness

Pairing: minato/kagome,



AN: this is the end. I hope you liked it! again unbeta'd. - mpb/r0o



The Pursuit of Happiness



XxX



That morning things were a bit different for the boys, Miroku and Souta were very used to there mother being awake longer then they were but at the same time, usually breakfast was ready as well as a cheerful mother. This morning she wasn't there. One had decided that maybe she had left early for some reason - Miroku, and while he was the oldest, he had inherited Kagome lacking morning personality and thought process. Not stupid but not all there until he woke up. - as she wasn't there, but the other, - Souta who was very much a morning person, instead not being able to stay up rather late - had noticed the barrier around her room.



Souta could tell that it wasn't a barrier to keep anything out, like the one around the house, but more to keep things inside. They were still learning how to read barriers, but his mother usually never put one up. Using his senses, Souta could feel another being with his mother, he bristled at the thought. He and Miroku hadn't ever really wanted their mother to be with their father until they had met him, and Naruto. Now the idea that she might be with anyone else just seemed wrong.



The eldest blond child took it upon himself to hush his brother's as Naruto was groggily making his way into the room as well, seemingly it didn't matter if the boy had another mother, he was just like Miroku waking up, Souta thought as he made his way over towards his mother's room. His brother's followed him quietly in Miroku's case, and not horribly loud in Naruto's case. Easing upon the door and placing his ear upon it, he pushed just the smallest amount of his aura out into his body making everything stronger all at once, something their mother had taught them a while ago.



It made his body give off the slightest glow, which they were still working on hiding. What greeted his ears was a low tired moan from his mother calling out to their father's name. He smirked as he pulled away, his brother's looking at him questioningly. He shook his head somewhat pleased that they were back together, and thought to himself that he father had better not hurt their mother again or he and Miroku would kill him.



Miroku finally waking up enough to be responsible, went ahead and started breakfast for the three of them as they listened to Naruto's quiet morning gibbering about this and that. They ate, and Souta advised that their parents were seemingly back together. Parts of the conversation went over Naruto's head but he understood enough, so that if everything worked out, Kagome would be his mom. He liked that idea because Kagome was nice, and didn't treat him any differently then she treated her son's. Miroku and Souta decided it was best that they were the ones to break everything to their little brother. Sure they could be asses about it, like Lord Sesshomaru that their mother had told them about before he had changed, but at the same time it was not how they were.



They told him a more kiddie version of what their mother had told them, about how their mother wasn't from this land, and that she had found herself in the hidden village of the leaf. About her and their father getting to know one another, to the point that they, Miroku and Souta were the results. Also about them splitting up and that it wasn't anyone's fault.



Basically it was a more detailed yet kiddie version of what his Jiji-Jiraiya had told him, but it was a bit of a shock to find out that Kagome had been his father's great love, that she wasn't dead, and that this meant that Miroku and Souta were his brothers. It was a lot to take in and it left him with a lot of questions. Voicing them they spent the morning getting to know one another as brothers, and it was finally afternoon when any of them saw their parents.



Their, Miroku and Souta's, mother had a blush on her face as Minato held her protectively by the hip to his form. He was serious when he said that he wasn't going to let go of her. He would keep her with him always, follow her everyone, and kami help anyone that tried to split them apart. While they hadn't heard anything from the boys all morning, they had stopped their passions for long enough to talk. In all reality Minato was completely and totally serious about keeping his son's and their mother.



He was going to marry her as soon as he got back home, and he'd kill anyone that thought to stop it. He had already given up more then he was willing to, his lover, his happiness, knowing his elder son's even existed, even missing all of their life until now. He'd been miserable, protected the lot of them - the people of his village, accepting grudgingly that it was his duty to put aside hi own happiness for the village, but no more. He'd step down if he had to, fuck them all if he had any say, which he would do, ANBU was still an option for him if he did step down, he didn't care. If they really honestly tried to stop them he would either run with his family, or kill anyone that thought to have words against him. And he was dead set on that.



For his soon to be wife, he had told her plain and simply that they were going to go on as if the 'disruption' had never happened, adding to their lives as if the Kushina had never separated them. It was a concern of her's whether or not Naruto would like her as a mother figure. She didn't want him to think she was trying to fill the roll of mother in his own mother's place, as well she didn't want him to think she hated Kushina, because that was not the case. Kagome had hated what Kushina had done, not the woman herself. Either way Minato had eased her fears telling her that Naruto already liked her, as he didn't warm up to just everyone, as well, he told her that if it was needed he would talk to Naruto and make him understand. While that easier her a bit, Kagome was still concerned about it. From there they had talked about their future.



Both knew neither would go one without the other at this point, their all night sexcapades were proof enough of that, for while some might have had their passions turn to embers in all the years apart. They on the other hand, had to stop so that Kagome could simply rest, and that hadn't stopped him from caressing her and eventually gaining another bout to add to the growing number. In short their passions were still glowing white hot. Minato was still Hokage though, and that meant that he would have to go back whether or not he wanted to at the moment. If he didn't then people would start looking for him soon, probably already were.



On the other hand Kagome had made a name for herself as an herbalist in this area, her clients came from far and wide to gain access to her abilities to heal without the use of chakra. So talking between the two of them it was decided that an earth jutsu would work to bring whatever land was needed to its new home. As well he planned to have a Yamanaka help with her botany. From there, Kagome had a somewhat list of some of her clients she could send word out that she was now residing in Konoha, and could be found there if and when needed. All this decided really all that was left was to tell the boys.



Coming out into the open area of the house that allowed her to go to her kitchen and the main room, Kagome was amused to see her boys as well as Naruto all sitting talking about everything under the sun. It wasn't long before the boys noticed them and at once and Miroku and Souta were up and greeting their mother with warm hugs. They didn't care that some might call them 'momma's boys,' it was totally true, because no one but them had ever seen anyone do the things their mother could, she was their hero, she was a warrior, a miko, a saint, a killer, she was everything to them. Naruto had felt left out but Kagome had called him over and gave him a very affectionate kiss on the brow, much like she did her own boys. He was family no matter what, and she would not hold things he could not help against him. Easily she accepted him as her son, just as her son's had their brother, Minato watched it all from a bit away from them all.



From his point of view this was probably the best thing to happen in a very long time, he hadn't felt this light hearted in nearly ten years, for even Naruto's birth had been foreshadowed by the Kyuubi's attack and Kushina's death. But while he had honestly welcomed death then, even his wife's, he hadn't been so keen on living. It was all too much then, seeing Kagome, Kushina suddenly being gone, not being upset about it, the Kyuubi, and then Naruto. He'd been in a foul mood for weeks only because he hadn't been able to see and talk to, hold Kagome. He felt a bit ashamed of this but at the same time, he had really associated all of his pain and suffering with the woman he'd been forced to marry. All that being put out there to see the woman he really loved embracing his child and their son's as if they were all her own made his heart feel lighter then it had in a very long time. He actually smiled something that he hadn't done easily in a decade.



Giggles and murmured words brought him out of his reprieve just in time to see his son's all coming at him with the intent to glomp, unfortunately he wasn't aware fast enough not to take the hit. Three smaller bodies on top of him and the melodious laughter of his onna in the background, Minato couldn't help but laugh out loud for the first time in a very long time at the situation. It took a time to calm down as rough housing had started, while Kagome watched totally amused, and happy that they were a family. She could only think that the only thing to make this more perfect would be a daughter to watch her boys with. Either way when the fun died down, Minato spotted the thoughtful look on her face, and gave her a look that told her they would speak later, right now things had to be explained. He didn't know how Miroku or Souta would react to having to move back to Konoha, but at the same time he really couldn't and wouldn't give them or Kagome up again. He didn't even think he'd push them to be ninja considering how he'd been forced to move against his will.



They all ended up sitting in what Kagome referred to as the living room, while Kagome made herself and Minato tea and a late breakfast. Minato broke the news to them all. He was shocked and in awe that his elder son's knew a great deal about what was going on, until they explained that Kagome didn't keep very much from them, saying that it was always best that you knew the correct information from a direct source, because someone could come along later to try and twist events around. From there he nodded, it was very wise, as well. He launched into what he thought would be upsetting for Naruto to find out that Kagome was his long lost love, and that he had wanted to be with her, only to find as well that Naruto already knew. He smirked but he had the feeling he was looking foolish right then, Kagome was giggling about how he was so tough but so very behind, and that he should get used to it.



Sighing the new head of household asked if they had any questions about anything. After answering a few here and there he went into what he really wanted to get to now that they already knew everything else. Moving. While he wasn't excited to have to go back home, he knew it was necessary, so he told them his plans and wanting to bring them all home, marrying Kagome and everything, being a real family. He explained that he was the Hokage of Konoha, and that he couldn't really stay away, but at the same time if anyone tried to cause problems that he would certainly see to it that they were fixed.



While he had told them this he had expected them to be upset, and he was right they were but he was slightly amused to understand why really. He thought it would be for moving from their childhood home to a new place, this was not the case, in fact, it was more or less because they would be moving to the place that had forced them apart. Neither boy seemed to want to live in a place where they could be so easily split up like that, and both found it hard to control monstrous tempers inherited mostly from their mother, on that subject.



Seeing how very upset her boys were Kagome came over and it was talked out. She could honestly understand where they were coming from on this situation. She had never kept secrets from them for the most part because she had seen what happened when those secrets came out. Usually they were mean and hurtful only because the person had not trusted them enough to share with them. Along with that thought she knew that there were plenty of times when her boys had heard her crying over everything that had happened. She knew also that for the most part, she was all that they had ever had, to see her upset, angry and sad was too much for them. She also knew there was a lot of hate and resentment that her boys felt because of the village Minato and Naruto called home. She knew that while they wanted to become ninja, they didn't want anything to happen to them or their family, as it had happened to their mother and father.



Calming them down a bit more Kagome explained that she understood them, and that she wasn't too thrilled with the idea of going back, this had hurt Minato a little until he listened to everything she had to say, while it confused Naruto. She went on to tell them that while she wasn't really looking forward to it, the pains and annoyances were well worth being with Minato, and that she really wanted them all to be a family.



She explained that she and Minato had already spoken about it, that if things didn't work out there they could always come back here or go elsewhere to start over, that she wanted them to be a whole family. And mostly that Minato's job required him back in Konoha. She told them that while she herself had been a ninja, was still capable of it, she wouldn't rejoin as she now had three beautiful boys to love and take care of. She also told them it would be up to them to decide if they wanted to become ninja as well.



Hearing it all Miroku and Souta asked for a bit of time alone, leaving Minato puzzled by this, Kagome only giggled as she picked up Naruto and pulled Minato away with her. While they were gone, Miroku and Souta deliberated on the topic, and Kagome explained to her male what was happening. How she had once explained a democracy to them and how ever since when there was something to be thought of seriously the boys would go into a debate of sorts to work out their thoughts. It was all honestly amusing to them both.



In the mean time both adults talked to Naruto to see how he felt about all of these changes. Yes, the youngest blond was excited truth be told, honestly he had liked Miroku and Souta from the moment they met, mostly because they had treated him just as another boy and not like the Hokage's son as everyone else did. He liked that. He also liked that Kagome made his father happy, which was a rare thing to see, - this comment had hurt both adults for different reasons. Mostly though he was overall okay with the changes and excited to find out what it would be like to have a mother.



The younger boy understood everything that was happening, and didn't hold anything against anyone. He had known for a long time that his father had been in love with someone else when his mother had somehow made her way into her father's life breaking them up. He had known that his father was a happy man by how everyone spoke about him in the past, and just from seeing how he was around Kagome he knew this was a good thing, because the only time he had ever seen his father smile like that was when they were alone and it was still a very rare and sometimes sad smile. Again he didn't get everything but he knew Kagome was for his father, and if she made him happy that was all that matter. Besides he got brothers and a pretty lady for a mother! This had pleased both Kagome and Minato, and she'd even told the younger boy that if and when he felt like it he could call her mother, and she'd be honored.



The twins deliberation had come to an end and the overly stoic faking boys had come to their conclusion. They thought that so long as the option to return here or leave all together was open that it was a good thing to go back that they would be supportive. The both held off on the idea of becoming ninja because they wanted to see this village before they decided they might one day give their life for it. All this Minato and Kagome understood and accepted easily, Kagome with a small grin on her face, and Minato with a little blush considering his son's were barely ten and speaking like politicians. At this point both twins went on to say though, that while they were open to this move, to becoming family, neither would tolerate anything negative towards their mother. They were both very accomplished at their young age in their mother's art, and getting there on their father's for them to take anything laying down. They both told the adults that they would make sure anyone and everyone who had something to say knew it wasn't tolerated.



Kagome blushed hot in embarrassment, while Minato gave them a thoughtful look. Even to this day he had never known all of what Kagome was capable of, or what she had taught their son's so in all honesty he was interested in what they were able to do. But as Hokage he couldn't have his twin son's hurting people because they didn't like what they had to say, the hospital would be full of all the village gossips in less then a week.



He decided that he need to know what they knew before he could pass judgment on this part of their deliberation. With a nod Kagome led them all out into a large training grounds not far from the house, and in open view. The space was staggering but again, Kagome had always been a surprising one. For an hour the twins went over what they could and couldn't do, in some cases only speaking about it, in other's showing him when he didn't believe them, and all of it made him wonder about his onna, and what she could do if they were still new to this and she the expert.



Either way in the end he gave them an okay but they had to promise not to hurt anyone permanently. While the boys glowered over this in the end they were okay. The rest of the day though was spent as a family, telling stories about things they had both missed on both sides. By that night it was another night full of passion, and if Kagome wasn't certain the night before she was certain by the end of this night that he was already trying to impregnate her again.



She could only laugh at that, but in the end, he was completely serious, especially when he had found out that her thoughtful look had been about having a daughter, he was completely game for giving her one. The next morning Kagome had to sleep in because in all honesty Minato had worn her out and then some, he happily got up and made breakfast for the boys, and throughout the morning they all got everything ready.



He knew that they wouldn't be able to leave again for a while so he started to get everything packed in sealing scrolls. Honestly it was so much easier that way. By the time Kagome woke up everything short of the garden was packed up in sealing scrolls and they had a large tote bag to carry back. Kagome took care of her herbs making a special scroll for them so that the plants wouldn't die in the move, and by mid afternoon they were ready to go.



Miroku carried Naruto, while Souta carried the tote which weighted about as much as his little brother, and Minato had insisted on carrying Kagome about half way there when he noticed her getting tired, probably from the last rump they had shared at about noon while the boys had still been packing things up. Not that she minded, but it was so nice just to be held by him again so she didn't put up a fuss. By evening they made it back to Konoha, Kagome was asleep, and Minato had already warned the boys that he would be adopting a bit of a stoic face when they got there.



Because of this, it was no shock to them when they came to the gates, the guards looked both relieved and slightly terrified. Minato had told them that their mother was known as Konoha's Black Death, Konoha no Kuro Shi, people not only remembered her, but were scared of her. That both twins could understand, their mother was more then terrifying when she wanted to be, either way, everyone parted ways for the mission Hokage, Naruto, Kagome and the twins. By the time they got to the Namekaze home, word had already reached the Sandaime, and everyone else. Kakashi and Jiraiya were already beating on his door to let them in, and it was with ease and a bit of amusement on his side as Kakashi basically scolded Naruto for running off and scaring him as such. Jiraiya on the other hand was more focused on the twins who had found themselves tired and curled around Kagome.



They looked so picturesque but at the same time, Jiraiya knew this woman. She was far worse then Tsunade when it came to power and temper, and she was more of a looker as well. Feeling the other chakra's near her and her children, but also feeling Minato's as well, Kagome's eyes fluttered open, dreamily, and saw Jiraiya. She smiled at the old pervert, and got up to give him a hug, remembering that this man had been against the council so long ago, had been like another father to both her and Mina long ago. She wondered if he'd act as grandfather to her son's as well. Waking the boys up Kagome decided it was time they met the rest of the 'family.'



Twin sets of amazingly blue eyes like Minato's and Kagome's opened up to see who was there, feeling their mother out both boys had known not to be defensive, but they were a bit wary of new people. Often their mother didn't like them meeting her clients, only because the world was dangerous, and there was no telling who might find out about her and her children. The less people that knew about them the less danger they were always in. Meeting the larger then life Jiraiya and the somewhat stoic but comical Kakashi had been a hoot. Kagome had given the boy, Kakashi a hug, she had always liked him, as well as Rin, and Obito. She had been sad to find out that Obito had died, and that Kakshi had been in a depression because of it. Rin as it turned out had not been able to handle Obito's death and had left the village some time before. Even after that, the Sandiame had showed up as well, though she was not as excited to see him, it was then that she noticed the fact that they were surrounded by ANBU, and that her boys were tensing.



The happy reunion seemingly was over for the moment. The old man had been let in his guards behind him along with the council elders, Homura, and Koharu. Kagome was instantly in front of her children, Naruto included, her eyes hard. She'd literally kill them if they tried anything, she really didn't give a fuck who they were, they knew little about her, and what she could do, and depending on what they were here for they would find out the hard way. The instant killing intent that came from her set her boys on edge, it was rare that the twins had ever seen their mother in such a state, but it quickly set them in the same state. The hostility was instant, and the Sandaime could only sigh out loud, the 'welcome' not at all unexpected. He turned to Minato to try and get her to calm down only to notice that Minato, as well as Jiraiya were tense as well, not to mention Kakashi.



For Kakashi's part, he had remembered Kagome being possibly the nicest female he'd ever met, and had instantly found himself thinking of her as an older sister. Having her back even for just a moment like this was enough to remind him of how much it had hurt when she'd left, when they had forced them apart. At this point the Copy nin was over his death wish after Obito's death but he found after that experience that he was more then willing to fight for what he wanted, and what he wanted was a family. This family. Deciding they were getting no where fast, Kagome spoke up from behind the many people that were in front of her.



"What are you doing here?" she asked, her voice cold and tight, sending shivers down many spines in the room.



"Our Hokage vanished for more then 48 hours, and suddenly shows up with a woman, three boys, one of which is his son… I think we have a right to find out what's going on." stated Koharu, again not respecting that she was not Hokage and that in truth no one had to really answer to her. While it was true she did hold power to a point in the village she was an elder, she did not have power over anything other then opinion in truth. Beyond that, Minato was the Yondaime, he was the current Hokage, while the Sandaime was only a back up, Koharu had always resented this fact, she was one that did not like to give up power. She also had not liked that the female, Kagome had not only abandoned her village, but had brought out into open light the shame that was Danzo. She narrowed her already narrowed eyes at the younger woman when she answered.



"Well hello to you to, Koharu." Kagome intentionally left off any honorifics from the woman's name. "But, you know perfectly well who I am…" she said as her voice appeared right behind Koharu's ear, leaving the old woman's eye to widen at her forgotten speed. The black pluming smoke from her teleportation billowing around them. "…Or have you forgotten in the few short years since I was last here?" she finished, her voice vanishing from behind the old woman and reappearing back where she had been. "Not that its actually any of your business, but these children are Minato's and my own. I would think he, as Hokage could bring his own children back." she stated delighting in the fact that she could make the old woman's face pale at the thought. Really Kagome didn't understand why this women was such a bitch. Minato was of no relations to her, and she had no control over his personal life.



"You abandoned this village!" Koharu continued, adding fuel to the fire.



"And your lucky I didn't decide to level it to the ground as well." Kagome countered glaring fury filled daggers at the wizened woman, who really just didn't seem to know when to stop.



"As if you co-" Koharu found herself interrupted by the Third.



"Koharu!" was his aged but sharp counter. It was not the place of his council at this point to dictate to the Hokage what he could and couldn't do in his personal life. The backlash from sending Kagome away in favor of Kushina had been horrible, in the end they had decide that the Hokage's life was already the villages so much so that they had no place in forcing marriage or anything like that upon him or her. Further more from how Minato had reacted to all of it, he really didn't want to go down that route again. In all honesty Hiruzen had already been looking for a replacement for Minato, the blow they had dealt him in taking Kagome away from him, had left him cold, angry and bitter.



How he'd treated Kushina had been proof, but the incident with the fox had only confirmed it. The man hadn't even been sorry that the woman had died, and the Third knew that it was his fault and the fault of the council and elders for turning such a loving man into what he had become. Hiruzen was shamed to know he had any part in creating the monster Minato had become during that time, and at this point he didn't want it to get worse. He knew that for the most part Minato was more then dangerous, and Kagome was terrifying, he didn't need one or both of them as enemies of the Hidden leaf.



"Kagome." Hiruzen greeted civilly.



"Sandaime." she replied in favor. It was tense for a moment, until the third spoke again.



"Welcome back." was all he said before deciding it was time to go, he did call back before leaving, "For the moment I'm relieving you of duty so that you can take care of personal matters. I'll give you a months time to sort out what you need to." with that the quiet Homura, and Koharu still brooding over the situation left, taking the platoon of ANBU with them. Kagome could only smirk a bit as she walked over to Minato and kissed him soundly. That had gone far better then she had thought it might, not that she really cared what they said to begin with. The fact of the matter was she didn't care one bit, and she'd been very serious about leveling the city to the ground. They thought the Kyuubi was bad, they had never seen Sesshomaru. She grinned thinking about that little known secret.



Her ally had made contact with her shortly after she's sent the kitsune back to where he belonged, for the most part there was a lot of shock but also she had been pack way back when, and she still was. Reaffirmations and relearning about one another, he had deemed her to be like his little sister, making sure she had a fang of his own presented to her, and one for each son as they grew up and into them and their power. He was to be called for every birth she had from then on. Kyuubi was nothing compared to the Lord King of all biju and demon kind. She smirked again keeping that secret to herself, no one really needed to know about Sesshomaru right now, she'd explain that when she got her daughter. The rest of the night came down to the point where everyone was asleep, boys tucked into their new beds. People sleeping on sofa's not wanting to be away from where everything was happening.



Kagome laid in Minato's arms drifting to sleep as he thought. He knew that for the most part it really wasn't over just yet. He knew the gossips, and talk would make them all crazy, he knew they'd have more going on before either of them knew it. But for the first time in a very long time Minato was happy. He'd had a long hard road without her, and he'd do anything to keep her at his side again, his village would have to understand and accept that, or loose him. Either way, he was happy, and it was worth it. He rubbed Kagome as she murmured in her slumber and nuzzled into his side. Yes it was all worth it.



EndAN: well? review! tell me what you thought. its over, no more for this... i think.... i have nothing else written i might later a sequel maybe? no.. yus... i have no idea...obviously the pairing isn't as liked as i like but b/c well.. its only gotten 6 reviews. kinda makes me sad but i like this! maybe its the rating, but there's smex.. so i had to! oh well.. maybe it'll get more with time. -MPB/r0o