Chapter 2: Headstong

"Back off, I'll take you on.

Headstrong, to take on anyone..."

- "Headstrong" by Trapt

Kagome blinked herself awake and stared blankly at the familiar walls of the room, not really seeing them. Sometimes she still woke up in the morning expecting to see Inuyasha's sleeping face next to hers. Sitting up slowly, so se wouldn't jostle the baby, Kagome sighed and began to make the bed. It was a habit she'd devoloped at her mother's knee and it had remained with her even after she'd abandoned them. Souta opened the door to his sister's room, half expecting her to be gone and stood in shock when he faced her back. Kagome was looking out the window onto the shrine grounds. Behind her, he could faintly make out Ji-chan's figure as the old man greeted the early morning visitors. Kagome turned her head and smiled at him. Souta smiled back, but he couldn't help but notice that Kagome's easy smile seemed a little tired.

"Hey, Souta. You've grown since I saw you last." Kagome spoke first, the blue eyes she'd inherited from thier grandmother shadowed and dark.

"I hit my growth spurt last year. Mama says that you were a late bloomer too."

Kagome laughed softly. "Yeah, I was. I was the only girl in my middle school class who hadn't developed yet. And that was third year."

Azumi's cheerful voice could be heard calling Souta and Kagome to breakfast. Souta backed out into the hall in front of Kagome. She smiled at him, and made her way to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.

When Kagome made it downstairs, Souta had already eaten and was playing a video game in the living room, with the mammoth family cat Buyo laying on his back. Azumi was still sitting at the table, nibbling on her breakfast while she read the newspaper. Glancing up at Kagome, she smiled faintly and returned to her distracted perusal of the paper.

"Mama..." Kagome began, but trailed off as she realized that she didn't know where to start. Her mother deserved an explaination.

Azumi looked up and focused on her daughter, who looked a little desperate as she argued with herself. "Yes, Kagome?"

"I just wanted to know if you hated me. I understand if you do. But I just wanted to let you know that I didn't mean to defy you."

"Oh, Kagome." Azumi's eyes filled but she continued. "I could never hate you or Souta. I was young once. I know what you mean."

Kagome grinned, but her eyes quickly became shadowed. " I still keep expecting to see him next to me when I wake up."

Azumi didn't have to ask who HE was. Inuyasha no Baka Ropa.

Kagome started softly as she explained everything to her mother, the discovery, the confrontation, and the conclusion. Azumi found herself hard pressed to go find the ignorant twerp and cut off his head herself. The shock and the anger warred within her. Her instincts were screaming at her to help her baby. Kagome had always been so trusting and a little unsure of herself. The affection Inuyasha had showered on her had seemed to help bring the girl from her shell, but listening to Kagome recount the events that had finally lead to Inuyasha's disapperance was like watching someone you love kill themselves. Azumi sighed as she gathered Kagome into her arms. I'm your mother, my darling. Nothing will harm you again if I can help it.

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Sesshoumaru blinked at his father over the computer screen. A contact of his had e-mailed him in response to sighting Inuyasha in the Carribean. Sesshoumaru was e-mailing him back in hopes that he had a set address so Father could go beat him senseless.

"Hai, Outou-san?"

Touga glowered at his heir over his precious computer screen. I know I told him that we were leaving, didn't I?

"Pup, I am waiting on you so that we may go see how the mother of my granchild is doing. Did you forget?"

"Outou-san, I am not accompanying you."

Touga bristled at the disdain in his eldest's voice. " Hai, you are. I am still Alpha, pup. Get your rear in gear."

Sesshoumaru yawned lazily as he resumed clacking at the keys. " A contact of mine has spotted Inuyasha in the Caribean. I am trying to get a set location, so I can go and retrieve him."

Touga rolled his eyes. When in the hell did Kami see fit to gift me with a son who prefers work over a pretty girl?

" I saw that Outou-san." Sesshoumaru growled.

" I wanted you to see it. Now let's go."

" I said No, Chichiue."

"Sesshoumaru Keniichi Takaherashi, I said get in the car."

"Iie."

" If you get in the car, you may have my leave to pound your brother into the ground once he is home and has spoken to his wife. If he doesn't want her anymore, she should at least be taken care of."

Sesshoumaru looked thoughtful and Touga wished for the millionth time that he had been blessed by a girl that was inly intrested in ribbons and a couple yards of something shiny.

"Hai." Sesshoumaru unfolded his tall form from the chair and grabbed his jacket. Touga sighed again and made his way after the striding pup.

Impudent pup. Takes after his old man.

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Kagome looked at her mother from her postion at the table as she hacked out a chapter of her latest manuscript. Souta had vanished earlier to play some soccer or something at the park with his little friends. Azumi was humming lightly as she rummaged around in the fridge for something for dinner. Kagome was dressed in a simple ankle length gazy skirt in black and a loose knit tunic in a bright green. Her feet were bare, since her mother had been plying her with juice when she had emerged from her room. A braid was twisted down her back and lay coiled on the floor next to her. Azumi grinned at the picture Kagome made.

Knock Knock SLAM

" I said to buzz the bell,Jaken. Step aside."

" Outou-san, was that really needed?"

"Hush."

Azumi smiled wider as she made her way to the foyer to admit thier guests. It was no mystery that Touga had flattened their retainer as he pressed the buzzer. Azumi swung open the door.

"Touga-kun!"

"Azumi-chan!"

"Higurashi-san."


"Sesshoumaru-kun! Please come in. Kagome and I are in the kitchen."

Touga smiled and bellowed loudly at Azumi.

"You get uglier each time I see you, Azumi-chan. It's wonder you managed to hook Daisuke with those looks!"

Azumi frowned mockingly at him but continued the banter.

"Touga, you are a fine one to talk! Izayoi and Tsunade are miracle workers to be able to stomach you."

Sesshoumaru ignored them as he made his way to the kitchen. The dark head was bowed as she typed furiously on the laptop. Sesshoumaru watched amused as she deleted half of what she'd typed and then furiously typed again. He knew a lot about the infamous Kagome Higurashi. She was a successful novelist and worked as a daycare assistant. But what struck him as odd was the way she seemed so shy and insecure when she was a great beauty. Suddenly he found himself stabbed with the feeling of being watched as turned to see those gemlike blue eyes who mostly dominated her small heart shaped face.

"Hello, Sesshoumaru-san. Are you feeling well?" she asked politely.

"Hn." he muttered noncommittedly.

Azumi and Touga entered the room. Kagome smiled as she collected herself from the floor to embrace Touga. Sesshoumaru noticed the way her sweater was designed to hide her stomach. Touga embraced the girl enthusiastically. She smiled happily as Touga helped her back to her seat.

"Touga-sama! You are just as rambuctious as always! Do you ever get tired?"

Touga grinned at her, the girl looked like she was holding up rather well,but he really wanted to know her plans.

"Kagome, I'm not going to pretend that this is a social calling. I understand that Inuyasha left you."

Kagome's smiled faded as she nervously folded her arms over her stomach. She nodded.

"Kagome, if you don't know, Inuyasha is my youngest son. Since he had neglected his duties to you, Sesshoumaru and I are prepared to help you take care of the next being of the House of the Inu. This includes housing, bills, and other expenses, along with the medical and prenatal care." Touga explained calmly.

Kagome blinked at him, but Sesshoumaru could smell the anger rolling off her.

"Inuyasha is a worthless being of a man. He left me for his secretary because according to him, I'm an ice queen and Kikyo is a better fuck. I'm not attentive enough, I don't care what his opinions are, and I don't give a damn about anyone but myself. I am nobody's duty. Goddamn it, I don't want you to feel like you should take care of me since Inuyasha skipped out. I can take care of myself."

Sesshoumaru mentally scoffed at her outburst. She couldn't afford to take care of a pup and herself. She had no earthly idea about a demonic pregnancy.

Touga looked miffed. "I understand that, Kagome. But you are facing a demonic pregnancy which is far different than that of a human one. I am offering you the very best care possible."

Kagome looked even more miffed, but she stood firm in her decision. Azumi knelt down next to her daughter.

"You can't just refuse Touga-san's help,Kagome."

"Hai, Mama. I can and I will."

Touga exploded from the table.

"YOU IMPERTINENT CHILD! I AM OFFERING YOU A SOLUTION TO YOUR PROBLEMS! THE IDIOT WHELP OF MINE LEFT YOU IN A LURCH AND YOU ARE TOO STUBBORN TO ACCEPT THE SMALLEST GIFT OF HELP! YOUR MOTHER CAN'T AFFORD TO TAKE CARE OF YOU AND A PUP ON HER OWN!"

Kagome's shoulder's stiffened as she glared at him.

"Excuse me, Takaherashi-sama. I don't believe I said that I was relying on my mother. But since you are so determined to help me, I will accept. Just remember that I am not a child. Nor am I impudent as you so eloquently put it, I am just stubborn. But the next time you insult me, I doubt that the pup will take kindly to it." Kagome's voice was like finely tempered steel, beautiful yet deadly. She rose from the table stiffly and made her way outside. Touga turned to Sesshoumaru.

"Keep her safe,please?"

He nodded and rose to his own feet. With a bow to Azumi, he followed the girl outside. He found her a couple of minutes later under a huge tree in the center of the grounds. She was grumbling to herself and rubbing her hands over her stomach. She turned and glared at him as she swung around to stalk to the opposite end of the center. Sesshoumaru watched her calmly as if she hadn't just glared at him with enough force to burn a hole in his head.

"What do you want?" she asked him cooly, snatching up a mammoth orange and white tabby cat.

Sesshoumaru ignored her in favor of looking at the tourists who milled about them curiously. Each one was discouraged, partly from Kagome's glares and his frigid stares. He turned to look at her.

"Why do you not accept my father's help? He's actually worried about you and as such, feels that you should be suitably taken care of."

Kagome sighed before she set Buyo down. The cat mewed at the loss of love mornfully before twining himself about Kagome's ankles. Sesshoumaru noticed the faint gleam of sliver around her ankle.

"I declined your father's help because I don't want or need anyone's charity. It's simply a twist of fate that I had to go and get myself into this mess. I don't want anyone to think that they need to take care of me."

Sesshoumaru looked at her, his whiskey gold orbs shimmering in faint curiousity. She was nothing if not fiercely independent.

"Chichiue is not handing out charity as you put it. I understand the need to do it yourself, but he is worried because you are a miko and if my nose is correct a celestial being. He's attached to you mainly because of your mother, but this Sesshoumaru thinks that it is because you are unfamiliar with birthing demonic offspring. The pup will be a pure breed, since Inuyasha's one and the pups usually feed of the mother's energy. But since Izayoi died birthing Inuyasha, Chichiue is more panicked at the thought of a human bearing a demon pup since it's usually difficult on the body. Since you have no knowledge of it, we are offering to help you through the pain and the ordeal."

Kagome blinked at him and dug her toes into the cement sharply, causing a wince. Sesshoumaru sighed inaudibly but easily hefted her into his arms and made the trek back to the house. He and Touga left shortly afterwards, Touga looking relieved that something had changed Kagome's mind about the offer.

Azumi watched her daughter quietly as Kagome shuffled about the house, her eyes thoughtful and carefully guarded. It seemed that Kagome had also been a little headstrong her in opinion but she was also elated the girl had changed her mind.

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Across town in his own apartment, Sesshoumaru lay in his own bed, a simple mattress covered in a futon. The large size was great since he liked having his space and was convinent if he brought home company. Kagome's enraged face kept flitting through his mind. She was impulsive and a great deal rash about matters but she was also independent and headstrong. Someone should remind her that she was taking on a demon with centuries more experience.

The last thoughts that drifted through his head were some he had not heard in sometime, the lyrics to a song that Inuyasha had often had blaring from his room.

Back off I'll take you on

Headstrong to take on anyone.

I know that you are wrong

And this is not where you belong!

Yes, that was the perfect description of Higurashi Kagome. Headstrong. She was a bit stubborn as well. It's a wonder she made it this far.