A/N
~Dark~ The story has gone through yet another revision due to mistakes...gomen... Now though we are satisfied with it and think we have fixed ALL the mistakes.
~Light~ But if anyone sees any please tell us! Remember we don't own InuYasha just this idea and the OCs.
Kagome couldn't help but laugh at the small set of silver blue eyes watching her from just above the water line while their ears twitched madly. Almost immediately those same eyes narrowed and turned away from her before vanishing beneath the surface. In an instant, Kagome was diving beneath the surface to see the small girl swimming to the shallow end by digging her hand into the sand beneath her and pushing forward.
"Well she figured that out fast," Kagome thought as she resurface at the same time as the small girl. Kagome rolled her eyes at the fact that said child seemed to be ignoring her as she lightly scrubbed herself with a small bar of soap Sango had given her.
"Mmm, Kagome?" Sango said in a slightly amused and confused voice causing said girl to turn around to see her sister holding a deflated water toy above the water. Kagome was surprised at first before she smiled and just shook her head.
"Don't worry about it," Kagome said before looking back at the child that had become a part of her and the other's lives since InuYasha and Miroku brought her to the village almost two weeks ago. At first it had confused her on why InuYasha was so determined to keep her from running off but after talking to Myoga she had discovered why.
^Flashback^
"And so is the life of a flea," Myoga said with a groan as Kagome slapped her neck, where he had been about to suck her blood. Kagome stared down in surprise at the flea that no one had heard from in quiet some time.
"Myoga!" Kagome said with surprise in her voice as the old flea jumped up and looked at her.
"My apologizes Kagome, but your blood was just to tempting." Myoga said with a bowed head as Kagome smiled at him before she remembered something.
"Myoga, can you answer a few things for me?" Kagome asked then after seeing the flea was listening began to explain what had been going on with InuYasha lately.
"Well that is interesting but not at all surprising," Myoga said as he crossed his arms in a thoughtful manner. "You see with InuYasha being half demon and already mated to you his demonic blood has, how shall we say, heightened his instincts." Myoga tried to explain to a confused Kagome while she continued to gather herbs for Keade.
"But what does his instincts have to do with Akari?" Kagome asked as she carefully picked a few leaves off of a plant that was good for upset stomachs and bad breath. She waited a minute before looking at the flea resting on the lip of the basket hanging from her arm.
"Well, demons are very similar to animals when it comes to parenting. By this I mean InuYasha has excepted her as one of his own and has allowed her to become one of his pack. He sees her as a small pup as well meaning his demon wants her to stay within the immediate safety of his den, or in this case the village." Myoga explained as Kagome finished gathering a few of the required herbs and began to move on to find more.
"So you're saying he sees us as his family and Akari as his daughter, and because of that he wants her to stay where it's safe instead of running off and getting into danger." Kagome said shortening Myoga's entire explanation into one sentence.
"Yes, in simplest terms that is it. Now I must be off to find Master InuYasha," Myoga said before jumping off to find her husband.
^Flashback's End^
"Akari, where are you going?" Sango called out to the small girl as she quickly got out of the water and began to get dressed.
"No where," Akari said in her usual tone as she began to race towards the village. Kagome frowned before slipping beneath the surface and, quickly rinsing out her hair, began swimming to the shore.
"Sango, I'm going after Akari," Kagome said as she began to towel off only to be surprised to see her sister doing the same.
"I know, now come on before she leaves us completely behind." Sango said lightly as both women quickly slipped into loose fitting skirts and long sleeves that billowed out slightly at the end. A few minutes later a thought began to nag at the back of Kagome's mind making her feel antsy as they ran after the child.
...
"Stupid! Stupid! Stupid!" I silently chanted as I looked up at the setting sun from the tree I was in before jumping to the next one feeling my legs become weaker as I began to take shorter jumps than usual. "I need to get to InuYasha," I thought before stumbling and nearly falling off the branch I had landed on.
"I do not need to get him." I muttered fiercely before shaking my head and jumping to the next branch. "Why did I think that? I need to get somewhere safe, not somewhere with InuYasha!" I thought as I jumped again and landed near the outskirts of the village feeling strange in a good way.
"Shit, where ca-" I mumbled turning to leave just as a familiar scent hit my nose making me inwardly groan. "Shippo," I growled as said kitsune popped in front of me with a poof of smoke and a giant grin on his face.
"How'd you know it was me?" He asked with a laugh as I ignored him and pushed past him before thinking better of it and going back the way I had come. "Where are you going? The hut is that way." Shippo said as I began running back the way I had come only to change directions after a few seconds. Trying to throw Shippo off of my trail and run as fast as I could as the sky began to darken.
"Akari! Where are you?" I heard Shippo yell as I started to feel really weak and tired. Slowly I stopped and looked up at the faint sliver of moon hanging in the sky. I stood there staring up at the sky while trying to catch my breath before falling into a heap beside a tree not really caring about anything at that second as I pulled my dark jacket off and wrapped it around myself. I listened as the forest seemed to come alive in the darkness and reflexively pulled myself together more tightly beneath my shirt feeling my heart race.
"Akari!" A loud yell vibrated through the night making me jump as the wildlife fell silent for a second before starting up even louder than before. I cautiously peeked out from beneath the folds of my shirt before pulling my giant shirt closed and staying as still as I could while the bushes near me rustled loudly. "Where is she?" I heard Shippo say out loud before I felt something very close to me pulling at my shirt carefully.
"Hey!" Shippo complained as I pulled the shirt away from him without looking at him. "You shouldn't run off like that, InuYasha's going to be real mad." Shippo said matter-of-factly as he tried to pull again only for me to repeat my action and pull away from him.
"Go away!" I tried to snap at him but it came out more like a weak request that made me wince.
"You smell...different." Shippo stated making my heart leap up into my throat before I heard him gasp. "You're human!" He exclaimed as I bit my lip and pushed him knocking him down in his surprise and stumbling past him before breaking into as fast run as I could.
"Wait! Akari!" I could hear Shippo yell as I ran, stumbling every other step but remaining upright before running straight into what felt like a wall.
"Ow," I whispered as I landed on the ground and looked up at what I had hit making the faint outline of a person before I felt my shirt being pulled. Immediately I jerked it back down and kicked out at the figure only to miss and hear a familiar growl.
"InuYasha?" I whispered before I heard him make a 'keh' sound. Without another word I felt myself lifted up and set on my feet before the figure began to move away from me just as Shippo came into view carrying a bright green flame in his palm.
"InuYasha!" He exclaimed happily before looking from him to me with confusion.
"Come on you two, Kagome's worried." InuYasha said calmly walking out of the small area he had found me. Almost without thought I began following him, jogging a few steps to catch up to him. I carefully looked up at him and thought I saw a faint smile but I immediately looked away when he looked at me.
"I can't stay," I mumbled slowing to a stop at the edge of the trees looking out at the village that was lit by a few fires from inside the many small huts. I looked over at InuYasha to see he had stopped and Shippo was already leaving us behind. Suddenly before I could react InuYasha hit my head hard making me yell in a mix of surprise and pain.
"That. Hurt!" I yelled at him aiming a kick at his legs before I felt the cloth over me slide off a bit. Instantly I stopped and pulled it back into place only to be stopped as a strong hand grabbed mine and the cloth fell away from my head to pool around my neck. I tensed in fear and looked up at InuYasha expecting something bad to happen.
"Don't worry about it," InuYasha said before setting his hand on my head and lightly running his claws through my hair. I nodded nervously before shaking him off of me and shaking my head.
"No. I refuse to let anyone see me." I said trying not to let my fear get into my voice before I remembered he could probably smell it. I looked down at the ground wishing it would swallow me whole right then and there.
"You're fine, pup. Come on before I have to carry you." InuYasha said in a serious voice before walking away, with me just a step behind him. As we walked I pulled my outer shirt back over me and held it close not wanting to follow but knowing I had no choice.
"InuYasha, where's Akari?" I heard Kagome ask as InuYasha stepped inside and I stayed where I was outside. I looked back the way we had come, debating whether to leave or not only to feel something grab onto me and pull me into the hut.
"I'm glad you're okay, you had us worried when you ran off like that." Kagome told me as she poured stew into several bowls as everyone, including Sango's kids, sat down to eat. After a few minutes of simply sitting there next to InuYasha one of the twins spoke.
"Why is she wearing a shirt over her head?" The young girl asked curiously as Miroku choked on his food, Kagome looked confused, Shippo became nervous, and Sango simply looked curious.
"Amaya, is right. Why are you wearing that on your head?" Sango asked as I looked down and clenched it more tightly.
"It's her human night," InuYasha said blandly making me pale and look at him as silence filled the room, save for the sound of the small fire in front of us.
"Hmm, that's something I'll need to remember." Kagome said in a calm voice as I found my voice.
"No!" I yelled drawing their attention, "don't remember it. Just forget it," I said staring at all of them as everyone but Sango's kids looked at me in surprise.
"Alright," Kagome said slowly staring at me with an odd look. "Akari, you don't have to, but can you let us see?" She asked in a soft kind voice as I felt a small nudge from my side where InuYasha sat. Moving slowly I carefully lifted the cloth away and laid it down beside me on the ground.
