Obligatory Disclaimer: The "Inu Yasha" series and its characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, Sunrise, Shounen Sunday, Viz, and other corporate types. I am none of those entities. I'm just a silly fan writing silly stories because it's fun. Suing me would only be a waste of time and funds, so please don't. Any original characters that show up belong to themselves. Just ask them.

Author's Disclaimer: Thoughts and opinions expressed in this work of fiction do not necessarily reflect those of the author.

Overall Rating: M

I CHOOSE NOT TO WARN!

This story contains material that may be disturbing or outright triggering to some. Reader discretion advised.

Two Plus Two
By Misarae

Chapter Three
One Step Closer

The door to Sachiko's room was open, but Inu Yasha knocked on the doorframe, anyway. Naoki and Sachiko looked up from their work, which was scattered all over the low table that they had dragged into the middle of the room. Naoki looked mildly relieved at seeing their father standing in the doorway, while Sachiko's eyes filled with tears.

Inu Yasha's feet moved of their own accord, bringing him into the room and meeting Sachiko halfway as he fell to his knees to brace himself. He took Sachiko's full weight, her heartfelt sobs breaking him as she crashed into him. He shifted her, tucking her under his chin so he could bury his nose in her hair, reassuring himself that her pain was only emotional. He shifted part of his attention to Naoki, seeing him still standing by the table and looking at them uncertainly. Inu Yasha unwound one arm from around Sachiko and reached out in welcome.

Naoki took the invitation, wrapping his arms as far around Sachiko and Inu Yasha as possible, the result being an Inu sandwich with Sachiko filling.

Both his pups were trembling in his arms, and Inu Yasha did his best to keep his own emotions in check. He'd been so relieved at Kikyou's continued absence in Naoki's life that he hadn't even considered Sachiko's biological father possibly reasserting his claim until that devastating call earlier. He hated the smell of tears, especially feminine ones, but he willingly let Sachiko soak his shirt. He couldn't imagine the pain she had to be in, to be so cruelly rejected, only to be reclaimed when someone else wanted her.

Eventually, Sachiko wore herself out, sniffling even as she continued to cling to him.

Naoki broke out of their group hug to grab her a tissue.

Sachiko shook her head.

"It's okay, pup," Inu Yasha said. "We're in your room, and you know I'm just a rude hanyou, anyway."

Sachiko curled up tighter, clinging to his shirt.

Inu Yasha and Naoki shared a look, and Naoki handed over the tissue. Sachiko startled when Inu Yasha held it up to her nose.

"Blow."

Sachiko gave in and did so.

"Good girl." Once she was done, Inu Yasha wadded up the tissue and tossed it in the trash.

"Nice three point shot!" Naoki said, trying to lighten the mood.

Sachiko gave a watery chuckle, even as one corner of Inu Yasha's mouth quirked upward. "Thanks, pup," Inu Yasha said.

Inu Yasha and Naoki's ears flicked as they heard the familiar sound of footsteps coming up the stairs.

"I think your Granny's back," Inu Yasha said to Sachiko.

Sachiko clung to his shirt a little tighter.

Inu Yasha shifted his position so that he could face the door, Naoki moving in line with Inu Yasha's shoulder to present a united front.

Kagome felt as if her heart would burst as she and Mama Higurashi reached Sachiko's bedroom door. She wished she could just rush in and hug her children and fiancé, but she knew this moment was of incredibly solemn importance.

"Inu Yasha-kun?" Mama Higurashi began.

"Yes, Kasumi-san?"

Mama Higurashi smiled. "Everything went smoothly, just as we all hoped it would, and my petition has been accepted. We're all going back to the municipal office tomorrow."

Naoki cheered, jumping and dancing around. Sachiko stood up, only to fling her arms around Inu Yasha's neck again. Inu Yasha lost the ability to speak, the lump in his throat far too big to allow it. It took several minutes for it to dissolve enough for him to whisper into Sachiko's hair, "That Hojo bastard may be able to use human law against me when it comes to being your legal father, but as of tomorrow, I will officially be the head of the Higurashi family. If he wants a fight, he is going to get it. I won't rest until the legal system recognizes that you are my daughter, no matter what anyone else says. Do you hear me, Sachiko?"

Sachiko nodded her head vigorously.

Kagome found herself dabbing her eyes. "Thank you so much, Mama."

"Thank Souta," Mama Higurashi replied.

Night had fallen and, exhausted by the events of the day, Naoki and Sachiko were already tucked up in their individual beds. Mama Higurashi had also turned in, telling Inu Yasha and Kagome "not to stay up too late" with a wink as she climbed the stairs. Inu Yasha and Kagome were snuggled up on the couch, Kagome in Inu Yasha's lap as they drank in each others' presence.

"So, how's it feel to be the head of a household?" Kagome quipped, toying with the neck of Inu Yasha's loosely belted yukata.

"Keh," Inu Yasha said softly, letting that one word speak for a moment before continuing on. "Wait until our family registries have been officially combined. Then I'll let you know."

Inu Yasha still couldn't believe all that had happened in the past few months. Ever since he had asked Kagome to marry him, his life had been a whirlwind. He'd gone from being a single father of one to the Intended and future husband of a gorgeous woman, gained a daughter, and now there was another son on the way. The thing that shook him the most, though, was how thoroughly Kagome's family had come to rally around him and Naoki. Once the truth about his past came out, Mama Higurashi had been the first to bring up the idea of adopting him. Inu Yasha had looked at Mama Higurashi as if she had lost her mind, then she'd patiently explained the human concept of mukoyoushi. That a man who married a firstborn daughter of the family could be adopted into said family, taking up the role of firstborn son.

Such a thing was unheard of for a hanyou. Inu Yasha had existed outside the government's notice for the majority of his life. Only full-blooded youkai made it into the youkai registries, and Sesshoumaru would never have claimed him anyway because of his mixed blood. The first time he had ever appeared on a human registry was when he married Kikyou, taking her family name as he had none of his own. He'd built his business from scratch by word of mouth, only officially registering it after he had a name to attach to it. Tomorrow he would be changing all of it. He knew it would take a while for the change to filter through all his clients, but eventually, the last vestiges of his unhappy past would be erased.

He would no longer go by the name Takahashi. He would be a son of the Higurashi family from that moment onward. As would Naoki, through both his blood relation to Inu Yasha, and his adoption by Kagome.

The youkai portion of his blood rumbled contentedly at the thought of him being the equivalent of alpha male to this new, bigger pack. One that was better rounded and more fulfilling. It was no longer two lone males, but an older female, a younger female who was technically still a pup, a mate, and a new pup as well.

"Your youkai side is getting stronger again, isn't it?" Kagome asked.

Inu Yasha nodded. He didn't know how or why it was happening, but now he was actually glad that Kikyou had forbidden him to participate in her pregnancy with Naoki. He'd tried to wring some answers out of Myouga, but the coward just ran away whenever he tried to question him. From the moment he first caught the changing of Kagome's scent, it had ripped his inu instincts much closer to the surface, and sometimes it was only his hard-won control keeping him from turning into a complete and total dog...

"I won't tell Souta," Kagome teased.

Inu Yasha chuckled, trying to lighten his train of thought. He'd been absolutely shocked when they'd brought up the idea of his adoption to Souta. He'd expected the guy to immediately refuse. Instead, Souta had agreed that it would be fitting since Inu Yasha would be, in Souta's own words, "Married to Kagome, and she's the firstborn", at the same time announcing that he wasn't planning on marrying and settling down anytime soon, so Kagome could keep popping out heirs if she wanted to. Which, of course, earned Kagome's not-entirely-genuine ire.

Inu Yasha found himself with his hand on Kagome's belly again. He was glad for the summer months, when he learned Kagome only wore a tank top and panties to bed, though she'd exchanged the tank top for a sports bra in the past few weeks. Although he'd learned to control himself a bit better as time went by, he was still insanely attracted to Kagome, and the feel of her soft skin under his hands always delighted him.

"I think it'd be best if we were available to the pups all night," Inu Yasha said, his voice tinged with regret.

Kagome chuckled. "I agree. I'll let you make it up to me after everything's legal."

"You bet I will," Inu Yasha said, his gaze heated. "Is everything still okay with the tickets and stuff?"

"Yup, Mama and I double checked while you were still up with Naoki and Sachiko."

Tomorrow they would be married in the eyes of human law. Three days after that, they would be leaving for Hawaii to have an actual wedding in paradise.

They'd discussed it thoroughly. Kagome had been appalled to discover that there hadn't been any kind of ceremony when Inu Yasha married Kikyou. Kagome, for her part, really wanted some kind of Western-style wedding, since hers to Hojo had been a very traditional Shinto ceremony.

That was when they happened on the idea of rolling their wedding and honeymoon into one. Naoki and Sachiko would be coming along, of course, and Mama Higurashi had happily volunteered to keep tabs on the children when the newlyweds wanted some alone time.

"We're getting our passports tomorrow, too, right?" Inu Yasha asked.

Kagome nodded. "Sachiko, Mama, and I have ours. They're just waiting on the paperwork for yours and Naoki's."

Inu Yasha couldn't resist any longer, closing his eyes and lowering his lips to press against Kagome's. As always, Kagome eagerly accepted his advance, their breath intermingling as he worshipped her mouth. His hand slipped up from her stomach to cup her breast, brushing her nipple with his thumb.

Kagome shifted away with a sigh. "We better not, or we'll 'stink'."

Inu Yasha chuckled, remembering the one time they hadn't been through enough after an intense lovemaking session, Naoki's "oh GROSS!" waking everyone else in the household up. "Fine, fine," he pretended to grouse. "Can I still carry my future bride up to our bedroom?"

"Thought you'd never ask," Kagome said, reveling in his strength as he rose from the couch with her in his arms, carrying her as if she weighed nothing at all. "I love you, Inu Yasha."

"Keh."

Author's Note: I'd just like to thank everyone who reviewed, commented, kudo'ed, favorited and followed after the first couple of chapters. :) It's folks like you that only make me more determined to post this whole thing.

And as always, a big shoutout to inufan625 and Youkai55, without whom there would be nothing to post yet. ;)