Kagome sighed as she listened to the bickering she was listening to. "Would you two cut it out!" she attempted a growl. Truly, how could anyone stand to listen to this anymore? It was wearing on her patience.
"He started it!" Inuyasha cast her a disbelieving glance.
"Well, act your age Inuyasha." Returning to trying to patch up her yukata from where her husband had ripped his claws through it she turned her back on them both, trying not to initiate a cursing war between her and he.
"Yaya wrong!" Yuki huffed, folding his arms over his chest. The toddler had grown quite a bit in the past months, and he was even beginning to use real words. He was still chibi adorable though, trying to use Sesshomaru's glare on them all. Inuyasha could always make him collapse in giggles though.
"You don't think I'm as good a hunter as your bastard father? Hell, who do you think feeds you?" Inuyasha snorted.
"Father hunt! He hunt!" Yuki protested.
"Inuyasha, you can't use language like that! Besides, I don't think you should talk about Sesshomaru like that to him. He is his father."
"Keh, like the shortie knows anything." Inuyasha grinned down at the defiant toddler standing in front of him.
"Yasha hunt, but Father better!" Yuki stomped his foot for good measure, losing his still growing balance and going down. Inuyasha caught him by the armpits, chuckling as he brought the kid into his lap.
"You've seen him then?" Inuyasha tilted his head while Yuki glared at him.
"Father feed! He good hunter!" he was huffing. He ruffled the kid's hair, hearing a little whine as the kid threw his hands up in protest. "No fun of Father! He brave and strong like Yasha!"
"Whatever you say then." Inuyasha laughed, and apparently seeing 'Yasha' laugh made Yuki giggle and bury his face against his haori-clad stomach. "Kagome's just moody again, right pup?"
Yuki giggled again and turned around to glance at Kagome, who was seriously unhappy at the moment. "Gome mad at Yasha again?"
"She's always mad at me, pup." Inuyasha couldn't help more laughter.
"I am not moody!" Kagome simply threw down her yukata, turning to glare at them both. "If you two weren't so stupid then you wouldn't irritate me. Just…leave me the hell alone!" Getting up she marched outside, cussing at him under her breath.
"Not moody at all right Yuki?" He giggled, clapping his hands down over his mouth. "And amazing how she's the one telling me that I'm not supposed to curse." He could hear her slamming things around outside. What could that wench be doing? Yuki was pulling on his haori again and he glanced back down. "Keh, and it's not even that stupid week of the month, or whatever she calls it."
"Gome smell funny." Yuki pronounced, tapping his fingers against Inuyasha's chest.
"Yeah, I know kid. I'll figure it out." Kagome kept getting angry at him and throwing stuff. Not that it wasn't fun to watch but it would be nice if he could find out what her problem was. It wasn't her stupid hor-moans or whatever. He didn't think.
Throwing the kid on his back he headed outside, dodging a bucket that came flying at his head immediately and smashed against the outside of their home. Yuki squeaked, ducking his face against the curve of his neck. "Oi wench, watch where you're throwing that!"
Kagome turned on her heel again after picking up a basket of their laundry. "Eh, Kagome?" he chased after her, keeping a few steps between her and him in case she tried to hit him again or something. "What did I do wrong Kagome?" If she was this mad, for a while now he could recall, then he'd definitely done something wrong.
"You're such a jerk!" she cast back at him, hitching her basket up a bit more.
"Eh, let me carry that for-"
"Quit it! I don't need to you to babysit me!" She sounded absolutely livid at him.
"Kagome!" he let out a small growl. "I ain't done nothing you stupid bitch!" Yuki yipped his agreement from Inuyasha's hair. He immediately decided that the kid deserved whatever he wanted for dinner tonight, and a game of his choice. "Why are you acting like this?"
"Leave me alone baka!" Kagome spat. "Si-!"
He clapped his hand over her mouth, pulling her back against him. "Don't you dare stupid! I got the kid on me, remember? You promised not to when I had him. You made him cry the last time you did it." She'd slammed him for calling her a few things. The kid had been scared, and he'd scraped his nose.
She flailed at him, finally getting away to turn on him, dropping her basket and sending her white clothes onto the grass. "You're such a stupid jerk! Ugh!" She put her hands on her hips, and he would swear that if she were youkai she'd be hissing at him.
"Are you sick or somethin'? You're acting like a total bitch Kagome."
"You-" Kagome raised one hand, running it through her hair.
"You are, aren't you?" His ears flattened against his head and his face lost its anger as he considered that Kagome might be sick. She was human. How could he handle her being really sick? "You're not…not hiding anything from me are you? I'll take care of you Kagome." Yuki was rubbing his face against the side of his neck and a low rumbling noise was coming from the kid. He wanted attention but right now Kagome was terrifying him.
"Fine, ok?" Kagome took his face in her hands, and he took in the scent of her breath as it washed over his face. "Inuyasha, we're having a baby."
A baby? "You mean a squirt?"
She rolled her eyes. "If you want to put it that way."
They'd been trying to have a kid ever since they'd been married. "Kagome," he breathed. Moving forward he pulled her into his arms, burying his nose deep into her neck as he took in the scent of his wife. Nothing else could calm him like this. Floral and sweet and comforting, just like her. She let out a small giggle, wrapping her arms around his waist. Yuki squirmed on his back as he started to beg for someone to talk to him and he glanced back, catching sight of Yuki's bright little eyes. "Give me a minute runt."
He yipped, burying his nose into his back.
"Inuyasha, I love you." Kagome said softly against his shoulder. His heart fluttered for a minute and he could feel his ears twitching uncontrollably. No matter how many times he heard it those beautiful words always made him want to blush.
He settled for kissing her instead. "I love you too, wench." He gave her a small grin and received one in return, bending to swipe his lips against hers in what was meant to be a romantic gesture. If only for those tiny hands that were grabbing onto his ears. He was forced to pull away, issuing a small growl from his throat as Yuki tilted his head in confusion. "What did I tell you pup?"
"Play!" Yuki giggled enthusiastically, tugging at the back collar of his haori. He was going to spin around and take the kid from his back but Kagome's grip stopped him and she pulled his mouth down to his for a brief kiss.
"Be patient, Inuyasha. He's little." He let out a growl, bending to press a light kiss to her throat.
"Later," he promised.
"Play Yasha!" Well, he had promised the kid a game in his head.
"Fine. What game, squirt?" Yuki squeaked, scrambling down his back agilely to pull on his hakama leg. He released Kagome so that she could pick up her laundry and he ran his eyes over her form again. She did seem a little bit…rounder. Damn he needed to start paying more attention when she started talking to Sango about all that pup stuff.
"Play frog!" Yuki giggled, and he tore his eyes from Kagome's form. The kid made him kneel down so that he could show him what to do. Getting down on his hands and knees the squirt pretended to hop around making 'frog' noises. He sniffed the air around him to make sure that Sesshomaru really had gone somewhere for a few days and not hiding in the bushes to make fun of him later.
"Yasha ribbit ribbit!" Yuki giggled, bouncing around him. Sighing he tried to entertain the kid while keeping one eye on Kagome several yards away down at the river. Dammit if she wasn't just beautiful. And having his kid! The kid of a hanyou. Could she take it?
"Yasha?" Yuki pouted, sitting on his behind. His brow lowered and he sat back on his haunches.
"What is it squirt?"
"Yasha no want play?" The kid sounded weird. He shook his head, leaning forward to ruffle his hair.
"Yer a good kid, Yuki. I like playing with you."
"Why Yasha quiet?" Yuki stuck out his bottom lip, deciding that a strand of Inuyasha's hair would be fun to play with.
"Cuz Kagome's having a kid, kid." And dammit if she didn't look sexy enough to scoop up at the moment. He could think of carrying her back to the bed right now and-A sharp tug to his hair brought him back to the present and he glanced back down into Yuki's amber eyes. Would his kid have his eyes? Would the squirt love him like Yuki did? Would he get treated the same for being raised by a hanyou and a human together?
Yuki released his hair, turning away from him on his hands and knees. Inuyasha could only sit there and watch the kid move, too focused on thoughts of his own kid's future. The kid scrambled away from him and towards Kagome, knocking the laundry out of her lap to settle down there with her.
He could put the squirt to bed early, right?
Yuki yawned. Gome had given him lots of warm milk for his nap and he blinked up at the ceiling. The room was dark-dark and he was alone. Yasha? Where was Yasha? Yasha hadn't let him stay with him and his lady mate in their big bed?
Father had gone away and left him with Yasha. Father was very important and tall and impressive. He'd even let him see his sword the other day! He wanted Father so that he could prove to Yasha that Father was the best hunter that ever lived! He'd even promised to teach him when he got a little bigger!
He giggled, swiping at the air above him with a practice aim. Father would make him the best hunter ever and then he could impress Yasha and Father with his dinner findings!
Rolling onto his belly his nose searched the air. He could hear a little bit of noise coming from next door and he got to his knees, kicking those heavy blankets Gome always put on him. She was very nice and always tucked him in nice-nice. Running he got to the door, slipping into Yasha's room so that he could go crawl into bed with them. Gome always loved when he came to cuddle between them.
And they weren't even asleep! Yasha was on top of Gome and they were making nose. "Yasha?" Movement and noise slowed. Glancing back Yasha sat, and Gome pulled the sheets up over her. "Yasha?"
"Oh, Yuki!" Gome was very pink. She was only pink when she felt embarrassed. "Yuki baby, weren't you asleep?"
"Yasha play?" Now Yasha was a little pink. He ran forward to jump on their futon bed, scrambling up so that he could tumble on his back between their legs. "Yuki play!" He shouldn't have fallen asleep. If Yasha wanted to play now then he could stay awake. Yasha hadn't wanted to play earlier, but maybe he was better after dinner.
"It's an adult game Yuki. Only for me and Inuyasha," Gome pulled the sheets higher on herself.
Yasha was already scooping him up by the armpits and carting him to the other room. "Gome!" What was Yasha doing? "Gome!"
Yasha carried him back into his room, sitting him down on the matting. "What bad Yasha?" He smelled angry, and from the wrinkle between his brow he looked angry too. Reaching up he tried to smooth the wrinkle but Yasha pushed his hand away. Had he done something bad?
"When Kagome puts you to bed that's where you stay, ok?" Yasha let out a small growl. "You can't keep running to our room to sleep. It's time to be a big boy and sleep in your own bed." Yasha was urging him to lie down, pulling the sheets over his shoulder.
"But Yasha play and-"
"No. It's nighttime and you're going to sleep, ok?" Yasha's face softened for a minute and he leaned down to press a quick kiss to his forehead. "Goodnight Yuki. Go to sleep for me ok? Be a big boy." Yasha went back to his own room and he huddled down inside the blankets.
He didn't understand. Yasha wanted to play with Gome and not him? Had he done something to make Yasha mad? He buried his head under the blankets and bit into the pillow. Father wasn't here and Yasha was mad at him. He'd been mad at him since he'd talked to Gome. He hadn't meant to make Yasha mad. Maybe Father was mad at him too and he wasn't coming back.
He whimpered, hoping Yasha would come back. But he didn't. Sticking his face into the pillow he tried to stop his tears. Yasha never cried because he was a man. But he was alone and he wanted Yasha and Yasha didn't want to play with him. And Gome didn't want him either. He wiped at his tears quickly. Father said tears were weak and he didn't want Father mad at him, but he was already gone. No one would see him cry. He whined into his pillow but nobody came running. Gome always made him happy when he felt sad.
"Inuyasha?" Gome's voice lilted. Yuki's head popped up from where he was eating his fish but she wasn't talking to him. Inuyasha grinned and leaned over to kiss her, and they lost themselves for the moment in kissing.
"Yasha?" he asked nervously. They'd been acting weird for a few days. They were always kissing each other and touching, but Yasha didn't want to play with him anymore. Gome fed him and made him wash in the river, but she didn't want to play either. "Gome?"
They separated and Gome blushed under Inuyasha's smirk. "What is it sweetheart?"
"Play?" he asked quietly. Gome looked over at him and her face softened. "Play?" he asked more hopefully, lifting his head. Gome patted her lap and he hurled himself there in case she decided that he could play by himself in his room again with some of her things again. Sitting in her lap he looked up at her face and waited for her to talk to him again.
"I know you don't understand sweetie but I need to talk to you ok?" He nodded. "Do you know what a baby is?"
He'd seen them in the human village, screaming and crying and they always smelled like poo. "Yes Gome," he chirped. Why wasn't she telling him a story or cuddling him? She loved to play hide and seek or chase.
"Inuyasha and I are having a baby, and it's…it's a very special time for us." Gome smiled, and Yasha reached over to touch her hand. He watched that, and the dopey weird look on Yasha's face. He could tell Father and maybe Father would laugh! He wanted Father to laugh, like when he tumbled sometimes and he thought that it was funny!
"Yeah squirt," Yasha said softly, never taking his eyes off Gome.
"And in a few months Inuyasha and I are going to have a little baby, your cousin." Gome was talking to him softly. She had a very pretty voice and it was good for telling stories. She told very silly stories, not like when Father told him about wars and swords. "Do you understand?"
"Baby?" What would they want with a little squirming thing like that? None of the village women would let him touch one of theirs. "I can touch?"
"Ah, sure Yuki. And you can help us watch him and play with him. Would you like that?"
Play?
"When Gome?" Someone to play with would be nice. Maybe they could go get it sooner and he could play with it instead.
"Not for a while squirt. Not until the leaves start changing color." Yasha snorted, leaning over to ruffle his hair. He withstood it because it was Yasha and he liked doing that. "Then it'll be here."
"Where is it? We get Yasha!" He could help Yasha go get it and then he could catch it by himself! He could hunt anything in the whole world once Father taught him! "Father help! We catch!"
"That's not how it works Yuki." Gome laughed. "The baby's not something to be caught in the forest honey." She was laughing very hard, and so was Yasha. What had he said? "We just have to wait."
"Why Gome want baby?" He was very confused. Yasha could smell. Why would Yasha want something that was so smelly and dirty-smelling?
"Because they're very sweet, and it'll bring me and Inuyasha together." Her voice got very soft and she was looking at Yasha in that same dopey way. "They're very desirable, Yuki."
They weren't looking at him anymore. "Gome?" he whined. Why was this thing that wasn't even here making them act this way? "Want Father." Father wouldn't act so stupid about a baby thing. Gome looked down at him surprised.
"You want your father?" He nodded. Father never ignored him. "He's not supposed to be back for a while. He had to back to his lands to settle a few things, but I'm sure that he'll be back again soon." Gome was looking at him oddly. He wanted Father. Father always let him talk and he treated him like he was a grown up. "Ok? So don't worry about him. He'll be home before you know it."
Later Gome put him in his room again. Rin was down in the village with that old lady and she wasn't here to play with him. Rin always played with him. But Gome didn't want to play with him anymore and neither did Yasha. He looked down at the sheet of paper that Gome had given him to color on. Her ink things were stupid. Raising the paper to his mouth he bit into it many times until his paper was wet and torn apart. Dropping it he set to throwing the ink container across the room to bounce against the walls.
No one wanted to play with him. Rin hadn't visited him in a long time. Shippo was gone somewhere, just like Father had gone somewhere. And no one would play with him anymore, not since this stupid baby thing had happened. It wasn't even here yet! And he didn't want it to. When Father came to get him he could touch all the shiny things he had with him and Father could tell him about his adventures and he'd let him play. Not just put him in this stupid room all by himself.
He could go find Father and leave them. They didn't want him here anyway. Yasha loved playing with him and now he didn't even want to tell him about his travels. Getting to his feet he peeked into their room. He was able to sneak outside where he could at least track Father.
Racing towards the trees he tried to find Father's scent. He was soon distracted by all the other interesting scents outside though. There were leaves and dirt and birds and trees and…and rabbit! Maybe if he caught some rabbit Father would tell him that it was good. He'd show that rabbit! Spring after the scent he came to a little bush where there was a mama bunny and some little baby bunnies. Peeking through the bushes at them he could see her sleeping with them. It would be bad to hunt her. Squatting down he focused on her.
Mama deer always traveled with their babies. And birds took care of their little egg-babies. Father took care of him.
The rabbits looked very soft, with that pretty fur and their little tails. His hand clenched. If he touched them then they would wake up and she would be scared and he didn't want to scare a mama bunny. Her little baby rabbits were pretty too, cuddled up to her like that.
He left them alone after collecting some leaves for them to eat, leaving them in a pile outside their bush. Turning he skipped his way through the trees, loving the way the scents filled his nose and he could see the sky. It was wonderful for him to be out here in the forest alone, traveling like Father did! He giggled, straightening his back and trying to walk like him. Nose high and never looking down. He fell on a rock though and ruined it. Father could teach him how to walk like that when he found him.
He picked up some smooth rocks and stuck them in his pocket. Father liked when he brought presents during their walks. He smiled and continued, but he couldn't smell Father.
He could play then. Turning around he saw a little hole under a tree. Sprinting forward he crawled underneath where it was dark and cold, like a hideaway place! Giggling he peered out, glancing around. Nobody could find him here!
But he had to find Father and help him with whatever he wanted. Sighing he crawled out again, patting the tree bark softly. "Bye bye tree." Continuing he had to leave his new secret place to find Father.
He froze when he saw ducks walking through the forest. Ducks! Sprinting forward the ducks made some very loud noises and scooted away from him on their funny little feet. "Squawk!" he giggled, sticking his arms behind him and walking funny too. They only squawked some more and avoided him. Eventually they took flight, landing several feet away.
"Bird?" One had wandered closer to eat some of the grass and its head stopped moving when he spoke. "Nice ducky." He managed to pet it once before it rose up angrily and he yelped as it bit his hand. Pulling it away from the bird the creature took to the air, landing on the other side of the field.
Didn't the silly birds want to play either? Dropping to the ground he wiped some tears from his face, sniffing for any sign of Father. He couldn't find him, and Yasha was busy, and Rin didn't want to visit anymore. His lip trembled and he drew his knees up to his face, burying his eyes in them so that if Father did find him he couldn't see him crying like a stupid boy would.
He cried until he couldn't cry anymore, wiping his face on his pants. His hand hurt and he was lonely. Yasha wouldn't even care that he was gone. He had to find Father! What if Father needed help and there was no one to help him? Yasha was too busy playing without him to think about Father!
The thought of his Father hurt and alone somewhere sent him into new panic. Why hadn't Yasha gone to help Father? He was strong too! Father might be scared and Yuki wouldn't be there!
"Father?" he called out. The mean ducks were wandering away and he suddenly felt very alone. "Father? Please! Yuki here! Father!"
His own voice echoed back to him and he let loose his whimper. He wandered back to the secret place a little ways back to crawl into as he felt the fatigue of the day washing over him. Disappointment and fear welled up in him and he curled up in his hole, trying to fall asleep. But he kept seeing Father hurt and asking for him and it made him cry again.
What if Father were hurt? He needed someone to find him, but he wasn't old enough to run like Yasha, or that kitty from the Sango-lady. And Father would be very impressed if he could find him. Closing his eyes he leaned his head against the cool earth and closed his eyes. He could find Father when he woke up.
When he did it was dark, and he could hear all the insects coming out to play. Waiting another moment he heard what had awoken him. Thunder. He whined, looking. It took him a moment to remember that Yasha wasn't nearby and he let loose another howl. Ducking his head he saw the flash of the lightning again and then the thunder a few moments later. It was raining outside! He was going to lose all his scents!
He couldn't find Father now. Father would be angry that he had failed like this. He peeked his head outside, sniffing. Water dripped on his head and he looked down at his feet when he felt the mud squishing around under the tree.
Gome would be upset that he had got dirty. But he didn't want to go back and smell their anger at him. He'd left. They hadn't come looking for him either.
Another thunder boom made him shrink back against the hole, whimpering. Father always came into his room and stayed with him when there was a storm. He'd sit against the wall and let him sleep in his lap, and he could breathe in his scent all he wanted. Father was always warm and when he removed his armor he could lean against his chest and listen to his heart beat.
Boom.
He mewled, flinching. Father would protect him from the thunder. Nothing could hurt Father right? Everyone said that. But what if Father were out in the storm too? Father wasn't afraid of storms, he wasn't afraid of anything in the whole wide world. But what if he wasn't inside and the mean thunder boomed again?
He had to find Father, or Yasha, and make him go find Father. Crawling out he shrank against the tree when he heard more, yelling with fright. But Father would want him to be strong like him, a man. Opening his eyes he hurried forward before the next big boom, tripping and cutting his elbow on the ground when it hit a rock. "Yasha?" he called. He kept running where he thought that he'd gone, calling for Yasha and Father.
All of his scents were gone and the rain was making his clothes heavy. "Father," he whimpered. He found a bush and crawled inside like the mama bunny had done. It kept some of the rain off his head and he could sing songs to himself to block out the thunder. Clapping his hands over his ears he sung to himself, remembering some of the things Gome and Father had sung.
It was very dark outside at night when he was away from home. Singing he could peep out of the bushes and watch little animals get home. He wondered if the mama bunny had found a hole like he did or if she was still in a bush like he was. Did the mean ducks like the water? He hoped not. If Father were there he would've killed the stupid bird and let his acid work, like he'd showed him on the tree. "S-stupid bird," he sang, shivering.
Rin would sit with him and play those paper card games with her, or let her attack that pretty hair of hers, or help him climb trees. Rin always played good when she had spent time with him. But she'd been telling him about plants when she came now. He didn't care about plants. Rin was boring now.
And the other village kids were afraid of him. He'd smelled it. Their mommies had pulled them away and shooed him off towards the trees like he was a bunny too. He'd loved playing with Yasha but Yasha was going to have one of those mean vilage kids. Yasha would not like him anymore. Would they shoo him away too? He loved Yasha and Gome but they had left him alone again.
Father never shooed him away.
"O-Father come back," he sang quietly. "Father come back and play and sing a song to Yuki, so that bad go away." He could still hear the thunder and it was scaring him. Why hadn't they come looking for him yet? "Yasha and Gome and baby," he sang again," storm go 'way kill stupid birds."
"Maybe no come," he whispered to himself. Maybe they didn't want to find him.
He heard sticks snapping and clamped his ears down harder. "Rin play and Yuki chase and-"
A hand came down though the bushes and lifted him out and he froze at the tall man staring at him. He had scary blue eyes and dark skin, and he smelled like youkai. Was he going to eat Yuki?
"Oi pup, what're you doing out here?" There was a lady next to him with pretty red hair. He stayed silent though in case they wanted him to say that he was alone. "Pup?" The man sniffed closer and Yuki saw his shiny black hair. "You smell like that mutt's brother, oh, what's his name. The one with a stick in his ass."
"Kouga," the lady said. He only rolled his eyes, still holding him by the back of his shirt. "You're scaring the little thing. Look at his eyes."
He gruffed, and Yuki squeaked at the way this fellow was holding him now, cradling him like a baby. "Sorry pup. What are you doing all the way out here in the forest?" He was an ookami-youkai according to his nose.
"Maybe we should take him with us. I don't smell Inuyasha here, Kouga." The lady leaned to peer over him and he couldn't help the whine that left him. Father would not be proud that he had showed these strangers his fear.
"Fine." He was shoved into the lady's arms and he winced, not sure what to expect. She touched his head tenderly though and made nice sounds to him as they walked, setting him on her hip. He lifted his head to meet her green eyes and she smiled at him.
"It's ok, little one. We'll take you home." She was petting his hair and making nice sounds.
"No eat?" he asked softly. Father had told him to run away from strangers because they might eat him. But this lady's eyes widened and she shook her head so violently that it made her hair move.
"No, no no no! There is no way that we would eat you." She sounded surprised. Even the man glanced over. "Don't be afraid, baby. Kouga and I stick strictly with boar meat, isn't that right?"
"What she said," the man said.
He relaxed a little bit and let her pet his hair like Gome used to do. Hesitantly he rested his cheek down on her shoulder and breathed in her weird scent. They didn't seem dangerous; this lady seemed like she might be nice. "Why are you out here little one? Did you get lost?" the lady asked.
"Father go," he whined softly. The lady looked past him to her friend and he buried his face against her skin. "Father wear white."
"I'm sure we'll find him." Her hands were very smooth in his hair and he was enjoying it. "So calm down now," she said softly," You're perfectly safe now." She smelled like some of those herbs that Rin had showed him before. "See Kouga? I knew that we shouldn't stop for the night."
"Even though it's raining," the man sighed.
"But I was right. We wouldn't have found this little ball of fluff out here if we hadn't kept on." She tickled under his chin to try to get him to smile but he tucked his chin close to her neck to stop it. He heard her sigh.
"Figures damn mutt face would let a kid get lost."
"We don't know what's going on. So wait before you start fighting with him ok?"
"What the hell is wrong with him that he lets his brother's kid go off on his own? If he was watching him. I didn't catch a whiff of that brother of his."
Yuki stayed focus on the way that the lady was speaking because she sounded very calming. The way she was walking was very gentle and he couldn't even feel the rain with her holding him. Closing his eyes he let the swaying ease him back to sleep, even as the thunder was fading. He was too tired to care.
The nice lady with the pretty hair woke him up a little later. Straightening up a little he looked around he could recognize the woods around the house and he let out a small whimper. "That's right hon. We're nearly there now."
"No," he protested weakly. The lady stopped, and her friend stopped too.
"No? What the hell do you mean no?"
"Kouga!"
"Hell, we went through the trouble of bringing him here, I'm gonna get-"
"Shut up Kouga!" Yuki flinched at the way her voice peaked and her hand found his hair again, petting the frazzled ends down. "Sorry about that sweetie. Now, tell me what you mean by 'no'?"
"They no want," he tried to explain. "Yasha and Gome play, want Father." The lady's brow was wrinkled like Yasha's had been. "Help find Father?"
"They don't want you? What are you talkin' about pup?" That was the man, and he had a scary voice. But the lady seemed to like him. "They throw you outside or something? I don't get it."
"Kagome wouldn't do that to a baby," the lady shook her head. "And you're not old at all."
He shook his head. They didn't understand. He needed Father; Father understood everything even if he didn't quite know how to tell him. "Plea, want Father! Father!" His voice broke on the end and he had to bit his lip to stop himself from crying again.
"He wants his father," the lady sighed to the man. His head lifted; the lady could tell what he wanted. "Why doesn't he want to go to Inuyasha's house? The little inu smells terrified Kouga."
"I don't know, but damn mutt face is gonna answer for this." There was a growl attached to that sentence and Yuki's eyes widened.
"Ssh, Kouga, easy. I'm sure that this baby has just confused things to himself. I don't think-"
"Kouga!" Yasha's voice thundered. They turned to see the hanyou snarling at them from behind, hand on the Tetsusaiga.
"Hey mutt," Kouga shrugged nonchalantly.
"Give me the damn pup, now!" Yuki whimpered at the anger in his voice. He'd known that coming home would be bad. He'd tried to find Father and he couldn't, and now Yasha was going to punish him horribly. He shivered, burying his face further into the lady's neck and whining. She wouldn't let Yasha punish him too much, would she? Maybe the scary man could help him.
"What the hell was he doing out in the forest, mutt face?"
"Wh-at?"
"Hiding in a damn bush from this rain, singing to himself." He heard footsteps as the man went closer to Yasha. "A damn ri from here!"
"How'd he get that far?"
"How the hell should I know mutt? He's your kin!" The lady's friend growled.
"Boys," the lady sighed," quit your posturing please. This baby is filthy and terrified."
There was silence for a moment before there were quiet murmurs from both males. The lady made a small hmph noise before he felt swaying again and glanced up to see Yasha and that other man following her. Yasha didn't look happy either.
The lady went inside the house and he heard a gasp. "Yuki! Oh Yuki baby!" Gome's voice was talking to him. He was pulled away from the lady as the two males were entering, crushed against the white shirt that belonged to Gome. "I was so afraid when we couldn't find you! So frightened," Kagome's voice sobbed. He could only take in the scent of her shirt, knowing that he was going to be put in the other room to be alone again. "We were so frightened!" She was crying.
Yasha hated when Gome cried. He really would be punished.
There was warmth from his other side as he saw two long red arms wrap around Kagome and Yasha's scent became prevalent. He could feel their breaths intermingling over his head.
"Mutt." Yasha let go. Gome went over to sit down, crushing him still to her body as she continued to cry. "Why the hell would he be out there?"
"I don't have a clue you stupid wolf! He was here one minute and then he was gone."
"Were you watching him?" The lady asked, a bit nicer than the man but not by much.
"He was in the next room bitch! And there's nothing in there to hurt him. The only way out is this room." Yasha sounded really angry. Yasha might not want to see him ever again.
"He was afraid to come back," the man growled. Yasha didn't respond. "Why the hell is he afraid of this place mutt?"
"Y-Yuki?" Gome wiped her face, making him look at her. "Are you afraid?" She still had water on her face from crying and he didn't know how to answer. So he just kept looking up at her. Her face crumpled and new tears came running down her face. "You're afraid. Why would you be afraid of us Yuki? Don't you know that we love you?"
"He's been scared since we've got nearer. What's going on mutt?"
"Oh Kagome, I'm sure it's nothing." The lady sounded sad too. She came to sit next to Kagome, patting her on the arm.
"Is this because of the baby Yuki?" Kagome pushed, gripping his shoulders tightly. "Are you afraid of our baby? That we won't love you anymore?" He stayed silent. Maybe if he waited until Father returned he could go with him and they wouldn't put him out. "Yuki?"
"Yer havin' a pup?" the man's voice snorted. He heard a fist smacking skin and another one.
"Boys!" the nice lady scolded.
"Oh Yuki, I know that we've been preoccupied, but that's no reason to run away!" He was making Gome sad. He'd just wanted to find Father. She was running her hands over his arms and she was choking on her tears. "I'm so sorry! I didn't know that you felt like that."
"What the hell were you two doing out there anyway? Ain't you kind of far from home?" Yasha snorted.
"Ayame wanted to visit Kagome. Guess we got lucky, eh dogturd?"
"Like I need your help you skinny wolf." Yasha's voice softened a little. "But thank you for bringing him back."
The man made a noise in his throat. "Yeah, whatever."
"Yuki baby, please talk to me." Gome looked really sad. "Yuki sweetie, why did you run outside like that? I need you to talk to me. I don't want you to be afraid to come home."
"Mad?" he squeaked.
She seemed confused. "Mad? Oh honey, I'm as far from mad as I could ever be. I'm afraid, nervous, scared! I didn't know where you were."
"We aren't mad Yuki." Yasha's voice floated to his ears and he looked back to see Yasha come to sit in front of Gome. "But you can't run off like that. It's dangerous, squirt."
"Mad." He repeated, shaking his head.
"No baby, no." Gome put her hands on either side of his face, bending to touch foreheads. "No mad, no mad."
"I'd be mad," the man snorted from the corner.
"Shut up Kouga," the lady seemed to order the man around. He listened.
"Gome no put in room?" He was terrified of being put back in that room with nothing to do but sleep.
"What are you talking about sweet?"
"No play, play with Yasha. No play Yuki." He was ashamed that he could feel his own tears starting. "Plea no room."
Gome gasped. "We weren't punishing you! Yuki, we…I'm so sorry Yuki." She was touching his face with her calm hands and he was glad to see that he had her attention again.
"No want," he reached up to brush away his tears. Father would be disappointed. Gome was crying too, kissing him all over his face. "Yasha mad want Father." Gome was trying to soothe him with sounds but he was upset. "No find Father."
"Oi pup. We'll always want you." Yasha's voice was soft but it made him cry harder from fear and relief. "And you know that he'll be back soon."
"Father hurt need Yuki. Maybe alone." He looked back to Yasha, blinking away his tears. "Plea Yasha? Father need. Please?" He had to make sure that Yasha knew what to do. What if Father were in danger?
"Yuki you're daddy's fine. There's nothing that could hurt him." Gome was playing with his hands.
"Yer dad's a hard one to kill, pup." The man in the corner was laughing.
"So you don't have to be scared Yuki. Inuyasha would go help him if he were in trouble." She kissed his cheeks again, running her thumbs over them. "And you're safe and loved here. Will you remember that for me?"
"Sleep with Gome?" he whispered.
Her face brightened up. "You can sleep with us and Kouga and Ayame can use your room. That's a brilliant idea Yuki." He didn't feel quite so scared anymore and he nodded, looking at Yasha to make sure that it was ok with him. He nodded and the fear in him went out.
He couldn't help yawning. "Come on Kouga. I wouldn't mind getting some sleep myself." The two ookami excused themselves into what was usually where he slept and Gome let out a long sigh.
"We should clean you up a little first, but I think it's been a long day. A quick wash will have to do." Gome put him in Yasha's lap for a minute and he heard a low humming coming from his chest.
"Welcome back squirt." He ruffled his hair, and Yuki was glad. It meant he was forgiven.
"Miss Yasha," he said quietly.
"I missed you too."
Kagome put Yuki between them in their bed after cleaning most of the mud off of him, changing into her yukata and cuddling in behind the baby. His little confessions and those big frightened eyes of his had made her feel terrible. How was she going to be a mother when she couldn't even take care of Yuki now? Mothers kept their children comfortable and warm, safe and protected and today she had failed in all of them. Something could have happened to him and they would never have seen him again.
She and Inuyasha had been…well, "playing". Yuki was quiet in his room and the only way out was through their bedroom, which Inuyasha had said he would know if anything came in or out. But Yuki had snuck right out of the house! When the first boom of thunder had hit…she'd waited for Yuki to cry for her, but it never came. And she'd been so worried for him when she couldn't find him that…that…Inuyasha had told her to stay inside while he went to search for him and she'd done nothing but cry. He'd been gone long before the thunder and she hadn't even noticed. She'd made him feel terrible, punishing him by locking him in his bedroom.
"There's my good baby," she soothed, lying down behind him comfortably. Inuyasha was getting in on his side, hakama on, and they both soothed and petted Yuki until his little body simply gave into sleep. She could feel Inuyasha's intense eyes on her but she kept petting Yuki's hair, all curled up against her husband's stomach.
"Kagome?" he asked quietly.
"I can't believe we did that Inuyasha. He could've died," she whispered. Inuyasha was always warning her about wandering off alone into the forest without him, without Kilala or himself, or even Sesshomaru around somewhere. And it was even more important for Yuki. She was so guilty.
"Ssh, Kagome. He's home now, safe." Inuyasha's hand was on her shoulder.
"How are we going to be good parents if we can't take care of Yuki, Inuyasha?" He looked shocked. "He was afraid to come home because he thought he was going to be punished. And he's only a baby."
"He's also youkai, wench." Inuyasha spoke softly, leaning over to kiss her gently. "He ages differently that our squirt will. He thinks a little differently."
"But he's a baby, first and most important. And he was afraid." Afraid of her. Afraid that he was going to be locked away all alone with no one to take care of him while she did what she wanted. "I feel so selfish, Inuyasha."
"We've been taking good care of him. Don't you hear how well he's talking now? And he can almost use the bushes by himself. You're not a bad mother, Kagome." Inuyasha leaned down, propping his head on his hand. "We've finally got some good news of our own. We just got a little carried away."
"Well, we can spend all day tomorrow making up to him." She felt like crying again. How could she have ignored her baby like that? "We'll play all the games he wants and you can go hunting for dinner and he'll forgive us." She settled down under the blankets too, curling around Yuki's body. "I don't ever want to feel like that again Inuyasha."
"Scared shitless?" he breathed, letting his claws trace Yuki's ear.
"Yeah." He could've been killed and it would have been all her fault.
"Father," Yuki whispered, and his little feet twitched in his sleep.
Sesshomaru. What would Sesshomaru do if something happened to little Yuki? He'd gut them both and Kagome couldn't even blame him. He'd left his precious baby with them while he went to deal with a problem in the Western Lands, Jaken had sent word, and they'd almost lost him because they'd been so selfish about…And little Yuki missed him.
"Easy squirt," Inuyasha said quietly, bending down to kiss Yuki's baby cheeks gently.
It made her feel a little better to read the worry signs left over in her husband. For all his brave talk she knew that he'd been as frightened and guilty as she felt. He'd been out there for a while before Kouga and Ayame came in, which was surprising. They didn't usually visit very often. But she was very grateful that they'd found their baby out in the woods all by himself. At least they'd brought him home to her.
"Let's…just try to get some sleep, ok Kagome?" Inuyasha lay down, making sure to run a large clawed hand through Yuki's hair. She could feel the relief pounding through her own veins still and she pushed farther into the bed, keeping a hand on Yuki's side as she let herself touch that little heartbeat that was staying steady. Steady and strong against them both.