Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al.
What Ifs and Plot Holes
A New Addition
Inuyasha glared down at the sleeping bundle in Kagome's futuristic bedroll before turning his ire on the young priestess. "No, absolutely not."
"But Inuyasha, he's just a little boy."
"He's a full-blooded kitsune who can take care of himself. His magic is strong. Didn't you see him pin me with a rock earlier?"
"I know that but he won't be able to always get away from people who want to hurt him like that. What if he comes up against your brother? There's no way Sesshoumaru would be let him get away with his mischief." Kagome stroked Shippou's auburn hair and looked at her protector imploringly.
"Keh, it would serve him right if he was stupid enough to play his pranks on that bastard."
"But Inuyasha…"
The half demon dropped to the ground and pulled Kagome away from the camp. The cub was asleep but he still wanted a bit of privacy. They'd just met the kitsune child that day and couldn't trust him. "Look, I know he's pulling on your heart strings. Not hard when you're a soft wench but still. We have to be careful. Collecting the shards is dangerous. Too dangerous to have a kid trail us everywhere."
"Can't we at least keep him with us until we find a group of kitsune to take him in?"
"Youkai don't like taking in runts that aren't their own," Inuyasha warned. He could feel himself weakening, never a good sign. His outburst that afternoon was to blame.
"There's got to be someone out there. Maybe a vixen that's lost her own cub because of the wars and other youkai. Surely a mother would never deny an orphan if she could help it." Kagome grasped his sleeve lightly for a moment, debating the wisdom of her next words. "You were orphaned around his age, right? Do you really want him to go through what you did?"
Anger spiked sharply in Inuyasha and he growled lowly. "You know nothing about my childhood."
"I know that but I do know that it was horrible and lonely. Even though I've only lost my father, I felt very lonely when he died. Please, Inuyasha, I don't want him to think no one cares. Don't let him wander alone in the wilderness." Kagome knew the moment he caved. Holding in a squeal of delight, the young miko clasped her hands to keep from clapping like an excited child.
"Fine, the runt can stay but just until we find a kitsune family to take him in." Despite his grouching, Inuyasha felt a rush of warmth when Kagome smiled brilliantly at him.
"Thank you, Inuyasha. You won't regret it."
"Yeah, well, we'll see about that," he answered and led the way back to camp. "Remember, just until we find a kitsune family." Inuyasha knew his words fell on deaf ears. Resigned, he watched Kagome go back to camp and snuggle next to Shippou.
By the time they came across the Kitsune Inn, it was too late. He was theirs and they weren't giving him away. Years later Kagome would ask Inuyasha as they held their own newborn why he hadn't made Shippou stay with his own kind.
His answer was a gruff "Keh."
It was the only one the young mother required.