A/N: A bonus, to make up for not getting Ch. 7 out earlier.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al.

Her Monk

Ch. 8

Inuyasha patrolled the perimeter of the village, determine to catch the demon hovering around the outskirts and protect his two friends. He cringed, not wanting to think about his "imouto" becoming a wife in deed as well as in name but unable to deny what his senses were telling him. The rustling of trees to his right gratefully dragged his mind out of the ditch it was unwillingly sliding into.

Focusing his attention that way, the dog demon inhaled the strong scent of an intruder. Giving chase, he heard the sharp curse his quarry gave as he realized he'd been found out. "Hold it right there you SOB," Inuyasha spat all the while knowing the human curse wasn't effectively showing his ire but having made a silent promise to his mother-in-law to clean up his foul mouth, he could do no better.

Both inuyoukai raced across field and stream until they were almost at the lake that was home to Inuyasha's mother's grave. Using Tetsusaiga, Inuyasha aimed a Wind Scar towards the enemy, clipping the male demon. The attack had the intruder coming to a stop, a long spear raised in defense. "Che, that ain't going to do you any good against my Wind Scar. Just who are you and what are you doing nosing around my territory?" Inuyasha demanded, lifting the other male up off the ground.

"I am here at the Lady Mother's behest. Rumors reached her that an unmated alpha male added humans to the Taisho clan without permission from Lord Sesshoumaru. That male matched your description."

"That's false. I am married, and Sesshoumaru knows exactly what happened that caused my human pack mates to become members of the clan. If his mother has a problem with it, she can come to me herself. If she sends another scout, or an assassin, I'll send the bastard back to her in pieces, understand?"

"Y-yes." Disgusted, Inuyasha tossed the dark haired dog demon away.

"Get out of here. If I find you here again without my permission, I'll consider you a threat to my family and eliminate you." The half demon sheathed his sword, not considering the black inu a threat any longer. He watched as the scout hurried away before turning his back and heading home. Inuyasha spent the rest of the night in Goshinboku, alert for any other demons who would try to harm the village. All ready one had encroached, two if the youkai sent by the Lady Mother was counted.


Kagome was still eating breakfast when Inuyasha knocked on the kitchen door the next morning. She saw just by looking into his eyes that he had spent a sleepless night either guarding the village and their family or battling with a strong demon. "Inuyasha, dear, you look horrible. Haven't you slept?" Mama asked, horrified at his droopy eyes.

"Nah; had to keep the demons away from the village last night. I'll sleep while Kagome's in school, and then take her back to see Sango and the others."

"Sit down and eat. I want you to go straight upstairs and rest afterwards." The half dog demon nodded his agreement, not really paying attention.

"Is everyone all right? How many demons tried to attack the village?"

"Not the village, just Miroku and Sango. A whole slew who prey on newlyweds showed up just before dawn."

"Are they hurt?" Kagome grabbed onto his sleeve, causing the bowl he was holding to wobble.

"Oh, no, they're fine. They don't have a clue as to what happened outside of their home last night." Inuyasha winced at the memory of just why they didn't know.

Kagome saw his wince and blushed scarlet as she realized what he meant. "Oh. I'm sorry. I wish you could have come here last night."

"I was planning to. The Lady Mother sent one of her guards to spy on us. She's heard the rumors about Sango and Miroku."

"But there's nothing to them now. We're married by Feudal Era standards and Sesshoumaru knows it wasn't your doing that had them joining the clan."

"That part apparently hadn't reached her by the time she sent out the scout. Either that or she deliberately ignored it which is likely the case." He finished his miso soup and washed it down with what remained of his tea. "You okay to go to school by yourself?"

"I've been doing so for a lot of years, Inuyasha. I'll be fine, you go take a nap. I haven't seen you this tired since we defeated Naraku."

"Getting soft," he grumbled as he stood. Giving a kiss to the top of her head, he nodded to her mother and the rest of her family who'd been listening silently before making his way up to her room. He'd be fully charged in a couple of hours. And he wouldn't have been tired at all if he'd gotten any rest during the night the last three but he'd been patrolling then too.

Kagome shared a knowing look with her mother and then finished her own meal. She stood and picked up her bag. "See you later, Mama, Gramps. Check on him for me, will you?"

"Of course, dear." Mama smiled and waved her children goodbye as they left for school. Silently she praised herself for the bridal gift she'd sent Sango. It seemed to have done the trick. Mentally she contemplated just what she'd get her daughter in a few years.


Miroku and Sango were sitting under the Sacred Tree when the other two ex-shard hunters returned that evening. Shippou sat on the edge of the well waiting for his adoptive parents and immediately jumped into Kagome's arms when she was on firm ground again. Inuyasha snorted at the smug grin on the monk's face but didn't say anything until the girls had taken the fox cub back to Lady Kaede's.

"Keh, happy now, bouzo?"

"Married life is indeed a rare treasure, my friend. You will no doubt understand completely once Kagome is free to become a wife in more than name."

"Yeah, well, next time put up some wards or something. You had a dozen or more demons after you last night."

"A dozen?"

"I stopped counting after the twelfth showed up."

"My apologies, I had no idea so many would try to prey upon us in our vulnerable state."

"Don't worry about it. You'd have done the same for Kagome and me. We have another problem. The Lady Mother sent a spy last night. She's heard that you've joined the clan. I expect her to make an appearance sooner rather than later. I know you wanted to go visit Mushin, but do you think that can wait until she comes?"

"Certainly. Reasoning with her if she becomes difficult is not an option, is it?"

"I wouldn't count on it. She's not especially reasonable when it comes to me and mine." Inuyasha sighed. "Not that I blame her. Father did leave her to be with my mother. Although theirs was a political mateship and only lasted as long as it was necessary to beget an heir." He shook his head, not wanting to remember the recriminations she had once heaped on his head for the alienation of affection she'd suffered.

Glancing towards the far side of the village, Inuyasha wasn't too surprised to see the large glowing orb sailing towards him that indicated a powerful demon was headed that way. "Speak of the devil."

"Is that…?"

"Brace yourself." The orb attacked him, sending him head over heels.

"Inuyasha-kun, you naughty pup! You got married without telling me. What is your poor stepmother supposed to think?"

Miroku stared incredulously at the female dog demon standing not three feet away from his friend. Inuyasha was no less shocked and barely refrained from demanding to know what she was about. "Hello, Stepmother," he said cautiously.

The Lady Mother waited to see what else he would say. If he acted guilty, she would know. If not, then she would leave him be. The rumors she had heard were mixed in exactly what had happened to cause humans to become part of her clan. Either way, she would have the last say in what the younger son of her former husband did. "Explain yourself," she ordered, becoming serious.

Inuyasha sighed again, meeting Miroku's eyes briefly. This was going to take a while. "As you wish."

Return to Top