Disclaimer: I do not own InuYasha. But I will one day.

Chapter 10: The Spell

"I don't know, Makoto. I don't remember very much from back then, and I certainly don't remember any youkai that was after Okaa-san or Sesshomaru that Oyaji didn't…dispose…of. Of course, we did have a lot of enemies back then. It's possible that there's still a few out there." Shippou, Makoto, and Kita were sitting in the hut. Kita gazed into the fire as Makoto told his brother everything she had said the night before. Shippou listened intently, obviously more willing after his argument with Makoto.

"What about the spell? Can't Okaa take it off or something?"

Shippou sighed. "The healer said she can't use her powers until after the pups are born. Using that much energy could hurt her and the pups. We'll just have to wait and see if she has any other ideas. How much longer do you have, Kita?"

"Two, maybe three days." Makoto scooted closer to Kita and casually put his hand against her back to comfort her. "I have to be in the clearing. That's all I know."

"Alright. Don't worry about it. They should be getting here sometime today or tomorrow morning. In the mean time, I don't want you going too far from either me or Makoto, though I don't see much of a chance of that." He glared playfully at his brother, who was intent on not meeting his gaze. "And if that spell kicks in again, tell one of us before even thinking about doing something drastic." Kita nodded.

Makoto stood to his feet, taking the girl with him in one swift motion. "And right now, I want you to meet the rest of the gang."

Kita couldn't resist his smiling eyes, looking so innocent and hopeful. He grabbed her hand before she had the chance to reply, and they were off toward the human village. Shippou followed on the other side of Makoto, the two talking back and forth about the wedding. Kita was content just listening. She felt a little jealous of Makoto, having such a wonderful family, a wonderful life, all as a hanyou. The meek smile across her face quickly faded as they reached the hill top that overlooked the human village. Makoto sensed her distress and stopped. Shippou gave a knowing nod and headed down on his own.

"I-I can't go down there." She stuttered.

"Sure you can. All the humans here are use to having us in and out of the village. We protect them, and for the most part they accept us. Shippou even lives in the village, and no one bothers him or Tani. It's different here. You'll see." He smiled reassuringly, and nudged her with his shoulder. She sighed and gripped his hand tighter as she was led down onto the worn paths of the village. Being nearly midday already, the men were coming in from the fields for lunch, along with the children going in from their play.

They stopped in front of a rather large hut, right in front of the shrine grounds. Shippou was just walking up with his human mate at his side. Kita gulped as she saw the pair disappear into the building and Makoto once again nudged her on. The first thing she noticed as she entered was the loudness and business of everyone around her. Two human girls were running around her legs laughing, Shippou had found his way over to a black-haired middle-aged man and a younger man with blue eyes and a bulkier build, striking up a conversation with the two; Tani had sat down next to another woman who could only have been the middle-aged man's daughter, as they looked strikingly alike, and another middle-aged woman who had to be his wife. The three were vigorously cooking over an open fire, another little girl watching intently.

Kita couldn't help herself from flattening her ears and recoiling behind Makoto's back. She felt overwhelmed by being such close vicinity with the humans, and so many of them at that. Makoto noticed her discomfort and held her closer to his side.

"Hey, who is she?" Little Yumi had her hands on her hips; head cocked to one side, and was staring up to the hanyou. The whole room became quiet as the humans seemed to notice Kita for the first time.

"Guys, this is Kita. She's staying here for awhile." Makoto grinned. There was a moment of awkward silence, just before the dam broke. All of a sudden, Kita found herself surrounded by curious humans, receiving hands on her shoulder and pats on her back, flooded with names: Miroku, Mai, Yumi, Hana, Sango, Cho, Kisho… all wanting to know different things; where she was from, why she was there, how she had gotten there, the younger girl asking why she had ears like Makoto and for some odd reason wanted to touch them. After things had settled down a bit the man she now knew as Miroku offered her a bowl of food in which she graciously accepted, after a few quick sniffs, of course.

The humans, she found, were not as bad as she thought. None of them gave her a second thought as to if they should allow her to stay. She was welcomed. More so by the human pups than anyone else. Yumi had taken a particular liking to the she-wolf, obliging herself to sit on the side opposite of Makoto all during their meal. The pups' mother completely trusted them around the hanyou, not even glancing over to make sure her daughters were alright with the stranger. It gave Kita a new sense of security. Her meek smile soon grew into a full blown grin, her dull eyes brightening greatly.

Makoto felt a new sense of pride in himself. He had felt bad before, him being so blessed with his family yet brooding over Akina like his live was over, and Kita never having a loving family, never having the chance to grow up unafraid because you always knew someone would come if you got yourself into trouble, never bickering with a brother or sister over petty things just because you're bored, never living a life that she should have had all along. Makoto could only give her a small taste of what her life could have been, what it could still be, but that bit was making her smile like he had never seen before. And that was worth everything in the world to him.

Afterward, when the younger kids were sent out to play, the world came crashing back down as Shippou, Tani, Makoto, Kita, Miroku, Sango, Mai, and Kisho sat in the hut discussing the wolf-hanyou and what had to be done.

"It is most unfortunate that you have come at this time, Kita. Kagome cannot use her miko energy to rid you of the spell in her condition, but there are other ways of breaking a spell. She is more knowledgeable on submission spells than I." Miroku stated with a bit of sarcasm at the end. Shippou and Makoto flinched; having grown up with the threat of their own submission spells being cast.

"It has to be a strong submission spell to actually be able to control someone with it." Sango replied, looking down and very tired already.

"He's only in control a short time, just enough to…do…what he wanted done. After that it's my choice how to escape or…finish…" she let the last bit hang. There was no way she was going to get more than that out.

Miroku seemed to be in thought, his eyebrows furrowed and eyes unfocused. "Hm." He finally replied after a few moments had ticked by. "Kita, what kind of youkai is your master?"

"Inu. He's an inu."

Miroku nodded intently, all eyes on him at this point. "Inu and wolves are closely related, especially in instincts." Makoto flinched. "And an inu is the one that cast the spell, correct?"

"Yes."

"So, he's not only using a submission spell on you, but he's also playing your own instincts against you as well. The simple spell cannot cause one to be controlled by another being, but using the females natural sense to be submissive to the leading male combined with that of the actual submission spell may cause the desired effect, thus allowing the inu to temporarily control your very actions."

"So if she can control her instincts, she might be able to fight him?" Makoto perked up.

"Well, yes and no. He shouldn't be able to gain control of her, but the pain from the spell would still work against her. In order to completely rid her of his control, the spell will have to be depleted."

"And Okaa-san can't use her powers to get rid of it, so where does that leave us!" Makoto was just about to lose his patience.

"I was just getting to that." Miroku mumbled something under his breath about hotheaded inus, not going unnoticed by Makoto who just gave his father's signature 'keh' in response. "Now, when Kagome and InuYasha return, she can give me instructions on removing the spell. Though I don't have nearly as much spiritual powers as she, I believe it is possible for me to remove the spell."

Makoto turned to Kita to see her on the brink of tears. "Kita?" She shook her head and buried her face on his sleeve. "Wha…" What was he suppose to do? The girl was crying all over him. He looked to Miroku and Shippou, both who had seemed to find something else in the hut of more interesting than the pair. The females looked at him expectantly. Sighing and figuring he was on his own; he carefully reached down and hooked her chin with his finger, lifting her eyes to meet his. What he saw wasn't something he was expecting. Her brilliant green eyes blazed, a smile elegantly brightening the look on her face. He gave her a confused look.

"Do you think he can do it? Do you really believe he can remove my spell?"

"Oji can do a lot of things. I wouldn't doubt it for a second." Makoto smiled. Kita launched herself into the hanyou's chest, wrapping her arms around his neck. Makoto, hesitant at first, wrapped his own arms around her waist. He had to admit, though he felt like he was taking advantage of the situation, it felt good.

Miroku glanced over to Shippou with a questioning look, motioning over to the cuddling couple. Shippou in turn rolled his eyes and shrugged his shoulders. He didn't like the fact that Makoto hadn't heeded his warning of the she-wolf. Miroku seemed a bit shocked by the sudden affection, but indifferent to the situation at hand. The girls, on the other hand, were sitting and watching with that googlie look in their eyes. Sango leaned her head against Miroku, Mai doing the same wish Kisho. Tani entwined her fingers with Shippou's. What was with women and romance anyway?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

"Makoto! Shippou! Where are you two!"

"Quit yelling InuYasha. If they were here they would have answered by now. I'm sure they didn't go far." Kagome waddled over to her bed and sat down, pressing the palm of her hand against her lower back. Twice the pup, twice the weight, twice the strain on her body. Yep, it was going to be a long four weeks yet to come. "Just go get them. They're probably just at Sango and Miroku's."

InuYasha turned toward the entrance and growled. "And leave you here with that mangy wolf? I think not, Kagome. And before you even suggest it, no, you're not going to go either. The healer said say in bed and that's what you are going to do. You promised, after all. Remember?" Kagome huffed and crossed her arms. She did promise. What in the world was she thinking at the time she promised that!

"Then I guess we'll just wait here. It'll be getting dark out soon, and a new moon night too." She laid back and propped her head on her pillow. InuYasha smirked and took his place by her side, idly caressing her stomach with one clawed hand. "That's the real reason you didn't want Kouga to come, isn't it?" He let out a soft growl as he nuzzled Kagome's belly once more before turning his attention fully on his mate.

She giggled as his lips pressed down on her neck, leaving a trail of kissed from her nape, to along side her jawbone, and finally coming to rest on her own lips. Kagome tugged on his two dangling locks of hair to pull him in closer. "Who cares about that stupid wolf?" he mumbled against her.

"Hey dog-breath! I can hear you, ya know!"

InuYasha pulled away growling. "After I rip your ears off you won't!"

Kagome was blushing, having completely forgotten about the wolf-youkai's acute senses. She let out a heavy sigh. "I'm hungry." InuYasha's ears drooped, that lovely moment completely ruined by Kouga's presence.

"What do you want?" he whined.

"Umm… pizza? Hamburger? Oh! Ice-cream… or peanut butter! Mmmm…"

"Something that exists in this time, Kagome."

"Hm. Surprise me then."

He took a moment to glare at Kouga and Ayame cuddled up in one corner of his hut before giving his 'keh' and walking out. As soon as InuYasha stepped out into the fading light he could hear voices coming from up the path. One male, Makoto. The other was female, unfamiliar, had to be the wolf-hanyou. They both seemed to be laughing. InuYasha put off his fishing trip in favor of his curiosity. The two came walking up, the girl swinging around in front of Makoto and grabbing both his hands. He smiled back before twisting her around and wrapping her in his arms. When they turned and saw InuYasha, both smiles faded and they nearly tripped trying to but distance between each other.

"Oyaji."

InuYasha nodded toward the girl. "That's her?"

"Yea. Th-this is Kita." Makoto gave the girl a shove forward. She kept her eyes lowered to the ground as InuYasha circled her.

"You did a good job at patching her up." He replied after a few minutes had passed. "Have either of you eaten dinner yet?" they shook their heads. "Keh. That means you get to help me with the fish."

Fish caught and cleaned, it was taken inside to be cooked. A few feet from the door Kita stopped and stared with wide eyes as the sun started to set. Makoto could sense her fear spike as the last of the light finally faded. The change started happening quickly. His hanyou ears were the first to go, being sucked into his head as human ears popped up on the side of his face. His eyes changed from their normal golden state, to a deep brown while his fangs and claws receded. His silver and black-streaked hair turned black with silver streaks. Transformation over, he sighed and his shoulders slumped.

His human ears picked up on a small cry beside him. His human eyes couldn't see that well in the dark, but he could see a now human Kita sitting on the ground with her head tucked between her knees. "Kita?" she slowly lifted her head and glanced up at Makoto. Her eyes were still green, still able to pierce though his heart with that one glance. Her ears were now human, too, and her hair still black. Her facial features had changed a bit as well. There was no wildness about her, not like in her hanyou form. This Kita was completely tame, and that he didn't like.

"Oi, Makoto! Get in here, we ain't waitin all night!" InuYasha's voice rang though the night. Makoto reached down, grabbing Kita by the hand and lifting her to her feet.

"I hate human nights too." He stated, not knowing what else there was to be said. That seemed to do the trick though, as Kita gave the brightest smile she could muster. "Come on before Oyaji gets really mad.

A/N:

Action is coming up soon, and a bit more fluff. :winks:

And sometime during the next few chapters, you get your first glimpse of the evil youkai.

And I'm really, really sorry for getting this out so late. Things still haven't quite settled down around here yet. I'll be glad when all this with FEMA is finally done and over with.

As always, for points go to: (and sorry for not getting them up last chapter. Oo; I must be slipping….)

www dot freewebs dot com / kachiki(underscore)tsucasa

Trivia time!

"Umm… pizza? Hamburger? Oh! Ice-cream… or peanut butter! Mmmm…" – Kagome

Okay, Kagome wasn't the first pregnant lady to have a bad craving for peanut butter, so here's the question: Season one of this show featured a pregnant woman with a craving for peanut butter. Name that show. It's worth 5pts if you answer correctly, so go and review!