Hanyou

-Four-

They didn't stop until late that night. The moon lingered behind a dark veil, the grey storm clouds had seen to enfolding it just as they had the sun earlier on today. The storm was clearing now though, and there were many patches of clear sky where the stars shone down upon them. Miroku and Shippo collapsed onto the damp ground, demanding they stop where they were. There, (wherever they were), seemed as good a place as any to stay, Shimura would find them wherever they went, if he was looking for them anyway, so was there any point in too much caution? So Inuyasha and Sango, (who seemed to become the joint-leaders of the group all of a sudden), agreed they should stop there the night; and the others were so tired, they did not care it was the middle of a dark, vast wood.

"Whose turn is it for firewood tonight?" asked Miroku pathetically, fanning himself with his hand, after finishing his rant on how he was dying from exhaustion and lack of food.

"Mine," replied Kagome chirpily, helping the half-asleep Shippo to a seat on a tree stump, "I'll go now." Inuyasha seized her arm, yanking her towards him.

"Do you really think you should go, after all we've just found out about this crazed, Shimura demon?"

"You think I can't take care of myself?"

"Not the chauvinistic crap again," sighed Inuyasha, rolling his eyes, "why are you being so difficult lately?"

"Why are you being so awkward lately?" Sango, Miroku, Kilala and Shippo all dropped what they were doing, and gazed at their arguing friends, confused heads turning this way and that, following the retorts.

"What the hell are you talking about?" Inuyasha asked, his voice rising, "I've always protected you."

"But lately, whatever I do I'm too weak or it's too dangerous."

"For the Gods' sake!" griped Inuyasha, "you're the one who wanted me to… You know what forget it, go, go get firewood!" Kagome gave a triumphant smile, and left into the darkness.

"Are you really going to let her go out there alone?" asked Shippo, drifting out of his sleepy state, and opening one eye, to look at Inuyasha.

"No," replied Inuyasha, "I'm just gonna give her a bit of a head start."

"Why?"

"Because let's face it, I was never going to win against her. Right, back in a minute," then Inuyasha departed from the fireside, following Kagome's path into the forest.

He could just sense her, a little way in front of him, moving towards the clearing, which was lighted by the moon, now having escaped the clouds in the sky above. Then Kagome moved into the clearing, and Inuyasha walked after her.

"Inuyasha," she sighed as she turned to face him.

"Well, you don't think I would let you go alone?" he asked with feigned innocence, Kagome rolled her eyes, lovingly but impatiently, the priestess began to pile firewood into her arms. A harsh wind, shot over the clearing; Kagome continued to gather wood, but Inuyasha shuddered. The girl turned to him.

"Are you shivering?" she asked giggling slightly.

"Yeah," he snapped reproachfully, "I'm cold."

"Well if you actually helped, you might keep warm." Inuyasha looked away from her in a sulk, and shivered again, his ears twitched madly as he did so.

"What?"

"Nothing," she replied, laughing as his ears still twitched.

"What's so funny?"

"Your ears," she said, giggling uncontrollably, "They're so funny."

"Oh really?" Inuyasha smirked deviously, dashing at her.

"Inuyasha, no, no!" she laughed, dropping the wood on the floor and running as he chased her playfully.

Inuyasha grabbed her and started tickling her tummy. Kagome fell to the floor with laughter, dragging Inuyasha with her.

"Inuyasha, stop it, it tickles!"

"Who's laughing now?" he asked playfully.

"Still me," she replied, tickling him back and crawling away from him. Inuyasha grabbed her again and pinning her to the ground and growling at her playfully, licking her swiftly.

What Inuyasha and Kagome did not sense, was the creature that lurked in the shadows of the trees, watching them. The creature drew back its dark hood, to reveal a face, once pale and veined, now full of life after the demon blood he had spilled. He watched the two, instantly recognizing Inuyasha as a half demon. But Inuyasha's half blood was not what held Shimura there, it was Kagome. He seemed fascinated with her; her carefree laugh, her sweet face, he found her astonishingly beautiful. She seemed to him so beautiful, because of her innocence, because of her vulnerability. He found strange however, the true love she showed towards a demon. He continued to gaze at the two as they laughed with each other, occasionally exchanging playful kisses, in the blue moonlight.

The girl giggled in the tickling sensation as he brushed his clawed fingertips down her neckline, squirming slightly, Inuyasha smiled, leaning down and nipping her neck softly. As he still pinned down her arms, so Kagome couldn't tickle him back. Inuyasha shivered as she blew lightly in his ears, and she laughed again. "Still cold?" asked Kagome sweetly, finally ceasing to giggle as Inuyasha pinned her on the ground; Inuyasha's ears shivered in reply. Kagome pulled both arms round Inuyasha as he sat up and got off her, "Don't worry, we'll keep each other warm," Inuyasha smiled at her, cheeks slightly flushed with embarrassment.

Then something clicked in Shimura's head as he watched them, something about the way Inuyasha gazed lovingly at her, the way he gently pushed the hair out of her face; then it came to him, Shimura saw something in Inuyasha's eyes that he recognized; Inu-no-Taishou. Inuyasha's love for Kagome, reminded Shimura of the demon and his human long ago, then he knew Inuyasha's name, he had seen him before; a small crying bundle in his mother's arms. Though only knowing Inuyasha thereafter, from the tales of his reputation, he wondered what he was doing here, in the arms of a human. It puzzled him; he was half expecting Inuyasha to suddenly rip her throat out, until he saw something which proved his suspicions wrong. Inuyasha pulled his hand behind Kagome's neck, and the girl gasped in surprise slightly as he pulled her towards him, leaning down and brushing his lips softly against hers. As he did, Shimura stood in awe; how could a monster like Inuyasha change so much? Then he heard something, or somebody else in the forest not far off, and he got up slowly, and headed away from the forest.

Kagome whimpered as she granted Inuyasha access into her mouth, pulling her arms round his neck, deepening their kiss. As the half-demon traced around the tip of her tongue with his, making the priestess shiver with delight, he sensed something, attempting to ignore it, enjoying the long delayed alone-time with Kagome far too much to care at first. Kagome whimpered as Inuyasha released her from their kiss, and stared about him cautiously. "What is it?" asked Kagome, gazing at him still.

"I can hear something…" Pulling her closer with one arm, the half-demon drew out Tetsusaiga with the other; it transformed in his hand, and glowed hostilely in the moonlight. "Whatever the hell you are, come out now!" ordered Inuyasha to the darkness; nothing happened immediately, but they heard some scuffling, and whispering voices. Then out of the shadows came a light haired boy, the moonlight flickering across the iridescent scar across his right eye, red triangular marks across his cheeks, a sword strapped to his back, he couldn't have been older than Kagome, but he was not alone…

After him followed another boy, about his age, but slightly smaller, he held the hand of a small dusty haired boy, and in the crook of his arm was a small black haired girl. Then beside him was a girl, maybe younger than he was, walking beside a dark boy of her own age. Subsequently, close behind, was another boy and girl, each around sixteen and fifteen, beside them was a smaller boy and girl, around eleven and twelve, and dragging their feet along behind, was two more children, another boy and girl, the boy looking around ten, and the girl being about seven. Exhaustion, that's the only emotion that mixed with fear in their youthful features, but the first boy led them to where Inuyasha stood with Kagome in his arms. Kagome pushed Inuyasha's sword arm down, so Tetsusaiga did not hold menacingly above them.

"Who are you?" asked Kagome kindly.

"I am Falken, we are too many to name out in the open, is there somewhere we can talk?" replied the first boy, his voice rough and deep, obviously not much of a child anymore.

"I don't even know what all you kids are doing in the dark, I'm not about to sit you down and have tea with you!" exclaimed Inuyasha, the priestess shook her head at him as he spoke harshly.

"I am probably no younger than the child you're standing in the dark with," replied the boy coolly, gesturing to Kagome, who flushed darkly.

"Umm…No it's okay, you see I'm his…who are you?" asked Kagome, releasing Inuyasha and standing beside him.

"We were all sent together to find the half-demon, Inuyasha," said the second boy, with the two children in his arms.

"That's me," said Inuyasha. "Whose askin'?"

"We can't tell you everything now, we need to sit and talk, the younger are too tired; but we are not your enemy, we swear," said this boy.

"Of course," said Kagome trustingly, "Inuyasha these children must be starving, lets get them back to camp so they can have something to eat," Inuyasha did not trust them, but he couldn't refuse Kagome when she asked this of him. Taking her hand, the half-demon stooped to pick up the firewood, and started walking back towards the camp, signalling that the children should follow.

* * *

When they got back to camp, among other things they saw Sango and Miroku had given up on them and been to get firewood themselves, as there was a roaring fire already started. Another thing they noticed was the perplexed looks on their companions faces, as they saw the gang of children following them. Kagome rushed to Sango's side, and started boiling some soup over the fire. The children all taking on the opposite side of the fire to the others, Falken eyeing Kilala warily, not fully trusting she was not about to bite him.

When the soup had finished, Sango cut up the bread, and they had to find extra bowls at the bottom of the bags to feed everyone. The priestess handed out the bowls and bread, though two of the smaller children, (the boy and girl that were carried), did not take it. Kagome took two bowls over to them, and sat between them and Kilala. "Here," she said kindly, "I think you should have some," the children looked at her, but did not touch the food. Setting the bowls down at their feet, Kagome petted Kilala who promptly climbed onto her lap. The children flinched as the cat-demon neared them. "She's okay," assured Kagome, taking the boy's hand and helping him stroke Kilala's ears. The fire-neko nuzzled up to him, and the girl started stroking her too. "My name's Kagome."

"I'm Mikeu," replied the boy, in a soft, sweet voice, who had dark hair, and ears very much like Inuyasha's atop his head, although they seemed to be cat ears, not dog ears.

"And I'm Miura," said the black-haired girl in a similar tone. Kilala hopped back to Kagome, and the two children took up their bowls, and ate.

The second boy from earlier leaned over to Inuyasha.

"Those two haven't said a word since we started this journey," he whispered, "she must be something to get them to speak." Inuyasha gazed dotingly at her, mothering over the two children as they ate, it made him love her more.

"Tell me who you are then, why are you here?" asked Inuyasha, the others stopped and looked at Falken to give the reply, but the other boy beat him to it.

"My name is Katsuchiro, I don't want to go through everyone's story but, my village was attacked, my mother told me to find my father, who was the demon out of my family. When I found him, he told me to go to Tayama village while he held the monster back. I ran all the way, when I got there they said more like me were to come, they did. There were supposed to be five more…but Shimura..he killed them before they got here-"

"-When word of Shimura's return in the world got out, every part human demon was sent to Tayama," interrupted Falken. "Most were killed by Shimura's spies or by other demons before they reached there. As I'm sure you're aware, a half-demon – particularly young ones are an easy target for low-level demons…" Kagome frowned at the recognition passing Inuyasha's features; he knew exactly what he was talking about.

"We left Tayama three days ago, they told us to find another like us, the only one who could protect us from Shimura, and that we must help him, that's you." Inuyasha looked to Miroku, as if he had just thought of something.

"Miroku," he said, "isn't Tayama village just off of…?"

"Kaede's village," said Miroku, "do you think it was Kaede who said your name?"

"The elder who told us also mentioned that to know if it was Inuyasha or not, he would have Tetsusaiga, the sword, and would be with a priestess called Kagome; if that helps," Katsuchiro divulged.

"That's Kaede," confirmed Shippo confidently, "she's the only person, who would say Kagome would be with you for definite," Inuyasha nodded in agreement, finding it slightly annoying that the old hag assumed Kagome would be with him.

"Help me? Most of your party are little children, how can they help me?" asked Inuyasha a little more rudely than he'd meant it.

"The smaller children were sent to you for protection, and some, like Chiaki and Kimae," Katsuchiro nodded to two light haired girls sitting beside an older boy, who resembled them. "Are related to the older of us, like Mèhiro; the other siblings here are Atelia and Mura," he nodded to a sixteen year old red headed girl, and the dark eleven year old at her side. Inuyasha seemed to be lost for words, (not to mention confused at all this information at once) but his friends could see his temper rising.

"That takes the piss!" he yelled, "how dare they send me a lot of kids, presuming I'm gonna fight Shimura!" Inuyasha shot up, and seemed like he wanted to hit something, but Kagome jumped up as well, and darted over to him.

"Inuyasha, stop!" Inuyasha looked in her direction.

"I'm not having everyone tell me what I'm going to do!"

"Inuyasha, stop shouting, shut up and sit down!" At the word, sit, Inuyasha's necklace glowed, and he fell to the floor. He was sure the children would have laughed, if they hadn't feared Inuyasha's temper. Kagome marched over to him, grabbed hold of him by the hair and dragged him behind a tree.

"Will you stop being such a jerk?" she whispered angrily, Inuyasha stood up before, her, rubbing his head where she'd dragged a clump of hair.

"It's not my fault these kids have presumptuous parents!"

"So that's it? It's not your fault so they have to be blamed? Inuyasha, most of these kids have lost their parents because of Shimura," said Kagome, tears in her eyes. Inuyasha's rage seemed to dissolve and he softened as tears fell down her face. "Miura and Mikeu told me, they saw their human parent killed as they tried to stop Shimura, and their demon parent was torn to pieces as they ran to the village. They're just kids Inuyasha…six and eight years old and they've seen both their parents die…if you was them what would you think of Inuyasha?" Inuyasha felt ashamed of his behaviour. "They may all be part demon, but that is all the more reason for you to help them, when you were little, you wanted someone to help you when your mother died didn't you? And I'm sorry that no one accepted you because of what you are, but this isn't about you. They need your help Inuyasha, and I want to help them." Inuyasha nodded at her in agreement, and she held his hand in hers and smiled at him. "Thank you," she said softly, kissing him on the cheek. Kagome lead Inuyasha back to the fireside, and they sat back down together.

"I'll help you Falken," growled Inuyasha when he had sat down, "I'll help all of you, but you have to do as I say, understand?" All of them nodded promptly. Kilala hopped onto Sango's lap as Sango decided to introduce everybody.

"I'm Sango, this is Kilala, Shippo and Miroku, I guess you already know Inuyasha and Kagome," she said. Katsuchiro then set about introducing their entire group. There was Katsuchiro himself of course, and Falken, the dark haired girl was seventeen and her name was Toru. He insisted they had already named the blonde siblings, Mèhiro seventeen, Chiaki a twelve-year-old girl, and Kimae, her seven-year-old sister. The red head Atelia took it upon herself to needlessly introduce her and her brother Mura. She did not say her age, but Inuyasha guessed she was sixteen and her brother around eleven.

It was Kagome who learned the other children's names. The children of eleven and under tended to stick by Kagome as they saw her as a figure that had some control over the hot-headed hanyou, which Inuyasha found quite cute, though he didn't say so. There was a ten year old by called Nateu, who was dark haired like a lot of the others, and a fifteen year old boy called Kai; but of course Mikeu and Miura stuck closer to her than anyone, and the more they were with her the more they started to speak.

Inuyasha instantly liked Katsuchiro, partly because he was sure he had liked him, but also he found Katsuchiro a generally nice boy, and thought he should have been the leader of the children instead of Falken, whom, by the way, Inuyasha hated with deepest loathing. The likeness to Falken and a certain wolf tribe leader to prominent for them to be friends. Though he was just a boy, he had a smart mouth, and Inuyasha always hated anyone who stood up to him. Also as they settled down that night, Kagome fell asleep under the blanket with Inuyasha and snuggled up close to him as she did most nights; but Inuyasha was sure he saw Falken staring at her funnily, and this made him angry. But the girl Toru, told him to stop staring and go to sleep, and as he settled down, Sango had already fallen asleep beside Miroku and Kilala, (though Miroku sat awake as it was his turn to be look out). Shippo had already gone to sleep next to Kagome, and Miura and Mikeu of course, who didn't stray far from Kagome's side lay nearby. Inuyasha nestled up close to Kagome, resting against the nape of her neck, closing his golden eyes, and falling asleep.

TBC

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A/N: Like it? I know all those characters were alot to process, but there needs to be alot of them for later. Also, all their names and characters belong to me, but if you would like to borrow them you're more than welcome, just ask first please. (One of the hanyou's names - Mikeu, was a character in the computer game: The Legend Of Zelda; Majora's Mask, and therefore it belongs to Shigeru Miyamoto. K?) BTW, I made up Tayama village, it doesn't exist in the anime or he manga (hardcore fans like me will know that). N., please review, I like the feedback ^_^

Luv Shigure

x chuu x