A/N: I hope everyone is ready for this chapter. Things get really exciting now! At least I hope I made them exciting.
Chapter 10: Take the pain away
InuYasha was coming down the stairs, he was carrying a weak Kagome in his arms. "What do you mean you have a mate? As far as we know all the demons were killed years ago. How come we never knew anything about this before?" Anger and confusion showed on InuYasha's face as he spoke. With Kagome still weak and time running out. They needed to move quickly and the journey wouldn't be easy. True Akihiko could carry his mother. But not for long as a human.
"Look I know it's hard to thrust me or any human, but if this helps in any way I have heard of your father. The great Inu no Taisho." InuYasha just looked at Alex. How did he know his father.
"Actually InuYasha my mate has told me how her mother had fought both you and your father." Alex gave a bow to InuYasha after these words.
Now InuYasha was wondering what was going on. And just who is Alex's mate? 'Can we really thrust him?' InuYasha thought, looking down at Kagome. To his surprise one of Kagome's hands touched his cheek. "We don't have much of a choice mate." Kagome said in a weak quiet voice.
Giving a heavy sigh, InuYasha continued. "So I take it Hailee is coming too?"
At InuYasha's words Akihiko pulled Hailee close. "It's your choice Hailee. I won't force you. There's a chance non of us will ma..." Akihiko's sentence was cut short when Hailee wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a passionate kiss on the lips. After the kiss Hailee pulled back and looked deep into Akihiko's dark brown eyes. "Why wouldn't I go with my soon to be mate." Akihiko gave her a smile and claimed her lips again.
"Grrrr! Would you two save it. We need to get going!" InuYasha growled out to his son and Hailee.
"Sorry." Hailee said, with a blush on her cheeks.
"Look Akihiko just get some clothes and let's move. We're running out of time." InuYasha order his son. For Hailee things would be harder since she couldn't return to her apartment. So Akihiko found a few things of his own she could wear.
The family of four was now packed and ready to go. InuYasha and Kagome gave their home and old life one final good-bye. Then they were off. The group made their way easily through the dark. As Alex lead them through mostly wooded areas.
After four hours of non stop walking Akihiko could tell Hailee was getting tired. And he could see her injured arm was hurting by the look on her face. "Hailee?" Akihiko asked, pulling her close. "Are you feeling okay?" She tried to hide the pain, but he knew. So without warning he scooped her up in his arms. "You can't fool me Hailee Myers. I know you're tired and your arm is hurting. Just rest I'll carry you." Akihiko said, nuzzling his nose on Hailee's nose. In no time Hailee was fast asleep.
Looking back at his son now carrying Hailee. InuYasha decided to talk to his son. His own mate sleeping soundly in his arms. "You know Akihiko, this isn't going to be easy."
Akihiko looked up at his father. "I know dad, but me and Hailee are not parting from each other." Akihiko looked down at the sleeping woman in his arms and smiled. "I'm sorry dad, but on the next new moon night. I'm...I'm going to mate Hailee."
"If you are sure she's your mate, then I can't stop you son" InuYasha answered, giving his son a small smile.
"Yeah dad she is, and thank-you dad." Akihiko said, then kissed Hailee's forehead.
Not long after InuYasha and Akihiko's talk. Alex stopped the group. "This is where we will stop till tomorrow night. We can't move during the day, at least not until we are farther away from here. My mate will meet up with us from here also." Alex said, as he took off his backpack.
Alex laid a mat out for InuYasha to lay Kagome down on. Then did the same for Akihiko so he could lay Hailee down too. Alex could tell both cared deeply for the women in front of them. And that both father and son seemed to be on edge. So after making the camp fire, Alex decided to break the ice. "So Akihiko, you and Hailee just started going out I take it? I remember when I first started going with my mate. Funny thing is she was the demon. I must say I knew nothing about hanyous or demons. So tell me InuYasha, you don't seem to happy about your son thinking about taking a mate?"
InuYasha throw another log into the fire before he answered. "Keh, nothing much I do about it. He's chosen her and so has his demon. All that's left is for them to mate."
Alex knew this was hard for any father. That alone a father of a hanyou, who's life would be hunted for life. "I know what you are thinking InuYasha. I to worry about what will happen to my family. But you can't make your son live a life and not allow him to love." Alex looked over at Hailee. "You know she reminds me of how I was. Actually me and my mate both felt the connection once we started going together." Alex rested a hand on Akihiko's shoulder. "And once you mate the connection becomes ever stronger."
"Keh, I just hope he's not blinded by love. It can happen so fast when your lonely and want to feel loved." InuYasha said. Akihiko remembered the story his father told him about how he to thought he found love at first sight. Only to be shot by the very woman he loved.
"Sigh! Dad I know this is bad timing but you know I couldn't just leave Hailee with the army after us. And I know you would do the same if you were me." Akihiko said looking over at Hailee.
"You know InuYasha they say the Japanese army wiped out all but a few demons." Alex folded his hands as he rested his elbows on his knees. Then he looked into the fire. "You know I've heard stories of you and your brother InuYasha. They say he's still around, but no one has seen him in years."
"Feh, that bastard always did know how to keep himself alive no matter what." InuYasha said, as he stuffed his hands in his sleeves.
"Well you and your brother were once and I guess still are the strongest demons alive. They also say your brother took a human mate as well." Alex looked up when InuYasha started to stand.
"Yeah right! I don't see that ever happening. Now I know your crazy." InuYasha was starting to think this Alex guy was up to no good.
Alex then gave a chuckle at InuYasha's words. "Well they say his mate's name is Rin, ring any bells?"
InuYasha gave a snicker. "Well I'll be. So the son of a bitch mated Rin. And to think he made such a big deal about our father mating a human."
A rustle in the woods caught their attention. And InuYasha went into protection mode. But once Alex saw it was only his mate. He stood in front of InuYasha. "It's okay InuYasha, it's only my mate." InuYasha placed Tetsusaiga back in it's sheath and waited With his hands once again in his sleeves.
"It's okay Resuri." Alex called out to his mate, letting her know it was safe. But when she appeared InuYasha froze. "You!" InuYasha said half growling. "I know you. Why don't you just say your real name? Toran of the panther demon tribe."
Resuri gave Alex a confused look. "Alex what is he talking about?" Coming to stand at his mate's side. Alex stood ready to protect his love. "Alex h-how does he know my mother?" Resuri was shaking and almost in tears as Alex held her close.
"Your mother?" InuYasha asked, as he stood a little less like he was going to attack the couple.
Alex stepped a little closer to InuYasha. "Yes InuYasha. Toran was Resuri mother. She is the only daughter Toran had before she to was killed by the very army that was after your family. Look InuYasha I know it's hard to believe, but we need to work together if we want to survive."
InuYasha didn't trust a lot of people or demons for that matter. But if Alex's words were true. Then he would need to at least trust these two. "Alright but how and where do we go? It's not going to be easy getting around now. Damn I thought we would be safe here in this country." InuYasha looked over at his sleeping mate and son. Once again he felt guilty. "We can't keep running forever. Not with Kagome this weak, she needs time to rest."
Alex looked in the direction InuYasha was looking. He knew InuYasha was scared of losing his mate. He to felt that same fear everyday. "It isn't far InuYasha, I know you're worried. But please trust me." Alex's words held promise as he spoke and InuYasha felt a little more confident that maybe they'd make it. "It's only a two day walk then we'll be at our destination. But after tonight we lose are cover. There is very little forest cover to hind us." Alex said.
"Either way we're going." InuYasha said, as he started walking over to Kagome.
Akihiko was quiet through the conversations his mind on his own mate. He knew things would get bad. He just hoped in the end both him and Hailee made it out alive. He needed her now more than ever. And when the next New Moon night came he would mate her, making her his forever. She was the only thing that could calm his demon. And take all his pain away from the years he spent lonely.