I'M NOT DEAD! LOL. (Just in case you were wondering why I haven't updated- death is definitely not a reason. I've just been waiting for a few reviews to pop into my inbox).

Believe it or not I'm really starting to doubt that this story is going very well. The reviews for this one aren't coming in as well as CLS. I'm not expecting over 1000 reviews but I feel a little neglected. So I'm thinking maybe I began posting stories too soon after CLS finished and should've waited at least a month or two before posting another story.

But I just can't help myself! I just have to keep writing and posting and writing and posting because I love you guys soooooooooooooo much and I want to make you happy by giving you all a story that has meaning and substance. I want this story to be like CLS and really inspire others to write fanfics too! I wanna make people happy when they read my work and give them something to look forward to when they wake up in the morning, or when they get home from school or work or just whenever they really need an Inu/Kag fix.

If my story is a drug to you then you'll understand what I mean when I say your reviews are my drug. I'm addicted to going to my inbox and seeing a new review that I can read and cherish- so when I get none it's kinda disappointing but anyway! I just wanted to get that out there to you guys. Your reviews mean so much to me. That's all I wanted to say. Enjoy the chapter guys!

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

© 2011-2012, Apryl Johnson.
I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters created by Rumiko Takahashi, but I do own the idea/plot/storyline of this story.

FATED

Chapter 17: Inuka's Fierce Reaction

Inuyasha moved swiftly and caught his son from behind before he launched himself at his brother and his brother's pup.

"Sesshoumaru," Inuyasha's eyes narrowed.

His brother was staring quite fixatedly at Inuka. Kagome came and kneeled to Inuka who was trying desperately to free himself from his father's powerful hold. He wanted to attack Sesshoumaru's son.

"Inuka what's wrong with you?" Kagome asked a bit frightened at her son's fierce reaction.

Sesshoumaru's son, Shoukamaru was staring just like his father. He looked like a miniature verson of Sesshoumaru. The regal stance, the cold eyes, the masked expression- everything even the face markings and the fluffy tail over the shoulder and the armor and refined clothing.

Sesshoumaru stepped in. Shoukamaru did as well.

Inuka's eyes suddenly turned brown to pure gold and his hair turned silver. Atop his head, puppy ears popped up and fangs and claws grew out.

Sesshoumaru masked his shock but his son, couldn't quite manage that.

"A hanyou with the pure aura of a demon?" Shoukamaru asked and then looked up at his father. "How is that possible father?"

Inuyasha looked at the pup.

Sesshoumaru remained stoic as he analyzed Kagome and the pup. 'The woman's scent and the pup's scent is masked. I only smell Inuyasha upon them.' he thought. "It's the woman's blood, Shouka." Sesshoumaru said as he stepped into the room further.

"GRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR" Inuka's anger was fearsome.

So much so that Inuyasha felt his hand begin to burn and he had to release his hold. 'Purification?' Inuyasha thought.

Kagome screamed when Inuka launched himself at Shoukamaru, who simply jumped into the air, flipped and landed gracefully on the ground. Inuka turned and attacked again but this time, he was so fast, Shoukamaru would've been hit quite fatally if it wasn't for his armor that broke and fell off from Inuka's attack.

"Father, tell him to stop or I'll kill him," Shoukamaru began to growl angrily and when he got into the air, his finger glowed green.

Sesshoumaru stepped forward. "Calm down Shouka."

Shoukamaru did as told and went behind his father, growling.

Inuyasha grabbed his son and bared his own fangs at Sesshoumaru. "Stay away from my son." He said. "You'll both die if you even try to harm him. Kagome hold him." and then he thought, 'Inuka's really worked up. He burnt my hand just to get free to attack? Why is he reacting like this? Does he feel endangered?'

Kagome took her son but he was so strong.

"He attacked first," Sesshoumaru was quite cool as he cracked his fingers.

"He's only one and a half!" Inuyasha told Sesshoumaru. "He doesn't know you so he's attacking."

"How foolish," Sesshoumaru said. "I do believe I sense deep hatred eminating from him. It makes me wonder what my son and I did to warrant such a reaction. I think I need to-"

Suddenly Kagome was crying in her son's neck. "Inuka please. Sweetie please calm down. Don't be like this. Mama's scared. Mama doesn't want Inuka like this. Please Inuka? Please calm down for Mama?"

Inuka's growling stopped. His ears pinned down to his head when he felt his mother's tears. His hair turned back to black and everything demonic, even his aura faded.

"Mama no cry," He said sadly. "Mama no cry. Nuka sowy."

"What kind of monster is he?" Shoukamaru asked.

Inuka's eyes flashed back to gold his head snapped to the pup and before anyone could even see him, he disappeared from his mother's arms and appeared right in front of Shoukamaru and landed a hard punch upon the pup's face causing Shouka to stumble back, flip and find his balance again.

Sesshoumaru had enough. He grabbed the human-looking pup up by the collar and growled in a very threatening manner.

"AHHHHHHHH! Inuyasha!" Kagome screamed.

Inuka showed no fear and growled, "Nuka no monsta! Demon pup evil."

Inuyasha attacked Sesshoumaru so swiftly, all Sesshoumaru could do was drop Inuka and dodge the attack. "Keep your fucking hands off of my son!"

"That little vermin yearns for me to kill him," Sesshoumaru said as he picked up Shouka- only 2 1/2 years and looked at his face. "Does it hurt Shouka?"

Shouka rubbed his bruised cheek. "A little. What is he, father?"

'Inuyasha's son said Shouka was evil,' Sesshoumaru licked his son's face. "Shouka, he's..."

"Different, Shoukamaru." Inutaisho stepped into the room having watched the entire scene.

Kagome was holding her head, panting. Her son could've died. Inuka could've died.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha went to her.

She was shaking.

Inuyasha hated this, he turned his attention on his son who looked completely normal. "Go upstairs Inuka." Inuyasha said sternly.

"Papa-"

"NOW!" Inuyasha barked and pushed his son toward the stairs unafraid that Sesshoumaru would attack his son since his father was in the room now. "I'm gonna tan your ass when I get up there." Inuyasha pulled Kagome to him as Inuka headed up the stairs to await his punishment.

"It's okay Kagome," Inuyasha said gently.

"Inuka- what- what happened to him?" She asked tearfully.

Inuyasha sighed. "I don't know. We'll figure it out."

"I want to go." Kagome said to him. "I- I don't want him here- not- not if he's going to change like this again-"

"Kagome-" Inuyasha tried to speak.

Inutaisho went to her. "There's no need to leave."

She looked up at him tearfully.

"Your son is safe. Sesshoumaru wouldn't have killed him. I wouldn't have allowed him to." Inutaisho said.

"Why? Why'd he change like that?" Kagome asked. "The only time he's ever changed was when Kikyo attacked us but- but they didn't attack- they just came and Inuka attacked them. Why? Why'd he do that?"

"We'll figure it out," Inutaisho echoed his son's words. "Inuyasha calm her down. I'll go up to Inuka."

"I should do that," Inuyasha said getting up. "I'm his father."

"Inuyasha- please don't hurt him," Kagome pleaded. She could feel Inuyasha' s anger.

Inuyasha took a deep breath to calm himself. "I won't hurt him Kagome, I promise. I'll go see if I can speak to him. He must be very confused."

Kagome nodded and Inuyasha turned to his mother. "Give her something to drink?"

"Right away," Izayoi said as she took Kagome into the kitchen. Inuyasha went up the stairs to find Inuka.

Inutaisho sighed and then went to Sesshoumaru who was rubbing Shouka's healing cheek.

"Father, to invite such an unstable pup into your home-"

Inutaisho cut him off. "He wasn't like that before you came Sesshoumaru. I think you and your son triggered his most basic instinct."

"What instinct? He hit me. I wanna kill him." Shoukamaru said as he licked inside his cheek. He was bleeding in his mouth. Sesshoumaru smelt it.

"You're bleeding," Sesshoumaru opened his pup's mouth and checked his teeth.

'Is Sesshoumaru so concerned about Shouka's injury?' Inutaisho stared at the scene. 'He's never like this and the scent of Shouka's blood- there's something strange about it.'

"I'm fine," Shouka began to squirm.

"Hush," Sesshoumaru said as he put a finger in Shouka's mouth and rubbed his teeth. "Your tooth's loose."

"It get better," Shouka didn't like being coddled so much.

"Say- it will get better," Sesshoumaru corrected, took his finger out his son's mouth and cut his wrist. "Drink."

"Father!" Shouka complained but not for long. His father gave him the one look he hated most and Shouka began to drink his father's blood.

"What instincts were you talking about father?" Sesshoumaru asked watching his pup drink.

"His instinct to protect." Inutaisho said analysing his eldest son. His eyes caught onto Sesshumaru's neck and he didn't see what he knew should be there. "I don't know why he felt he had to do such a thing I suppose we'll work that out."

Shouka licked off the last bit of blood and his mouth was healed.

"Better?" Sesshoumaru asked.

Shouka nodded. "Did he think he was in danger?" Shouka asked.

"More than likely," Sesshoumaru said. "He's a hanyou. His demon blood took over."

Shouka frowned. "Papa he- he was strong."

Inutaisho nodded. "He's a lot stronger than a regular hanyou pup."

"It's the mother's blood," Sesshoumaru said. "It's partially masked."

"I knew you'd pick up on that," Inutaisho looked at Sesshoumaru. "You don't happen to recognize anything else about the scent on her you do smell?"

"She's Lord Higurashi's second daughter, Kagome." Sesshoumaruu recalled her name. "She's the bitch, Inuyasha was horny for before he married Lady Kikyo. I didn't concern myself much about her scent, but I know it was her."

"Yes," Inutaisho rubbed his chin. "Her father's no mystery it's her mother's blood that makes me wonder."

"The scent I did pick up father, had an underlying scent to it," Sesshoumaru informed him. "If I'm not mistaken I'd say the underlying scent was similar to your advisor."

"Yet again we are on the same page," Inutaisho could always trust his oldest son to be on the same track as him. "I spent last night thinking about it and I'm almost certain Inuyasha's lover and my advisor have something in common. Now that you have also come up with the same similarity I have grown with certainty."

"You've summoned him then?"

"I have. Now let's settle in and wait for Inuyasha to bring his son back."

Shouka masked his anger- not very well though.

"Calm yourself Shouka," Sesshoumaru said to him. "You needn't stoop so low and allow your anger to override your judgement."

"He hit me," Shouka felt embarassed that a hanyou pup, who was almost a year younger than him could even touch him.

"He hit you because you weren't fast enough to dodge it," Sesshoumaru told him. "Learn from that and become stronger. Don't let your guard down again. Now calm yourself or I'll punish you as well."

Shouka knew his father would do it too so he sighed and allowed himself to cool off a bit. 'He's gonna pay for that.'

Inuyasha found his son in the corner of their room crying. His heart broke. 'How do I deal with this?' Inuyasha wondered. 'What would father do?'

But Inuyasha didn't know because his father hadn't been around when he was younger to actually become a model for him to learn from. 'Okay what about mother?'

That was a far better model for this purpose. Inuyasha could see what Izayoi would do clearly. She'd go to him and be understanding.

Inuyasha went to his son and put his hand upon his tiny head. "Inuka?"

Inuka didn't look up.

"Inuka?" His father picked him up into his arms and held him close. "Speak to papa."

Inuka was sniffling. "Mama hate Nuka."

'Hate?' Inuyasha frowned at the thought. "No mama doesn't-"

"Papa hate Nuka too," Inuka began to cry loudly. "Mama and papa no wike Nuka."

Inuyasha's heart burned with deep pain. "No! Inuka," He held his son tightly. "Mama and papa love you."

Inuka shook his head. "Hate Nuka! Nuka monsta!"

Inuyasha felt tears come to his own eyes. "Inuka you're not a monster."

"Mama and papa no wike too fom!" Inuka tears were hot with pain and sadness.

"What?" Inuyasha couldn't understand him. "Inuka no we love you. Mama and Papa love you."

"Nuka make mama cry!" Nuka didn't like making his mother cry.

"You didn't mean to," Inuyasha said. "It was an accident."

"Papa punch Nuka!" The tears kept pouring.

'Punch?' Inuyasha thought about what Inuka could mean and then he remembered sending Inuka upstairs threatening to tan his backside. 'Punch is punish,' Inuyasha remembered.

"Inuka, papa won't punish you," He said. "I won't punish you Inuka." Inuyasha kissed his son's teary cheek over and over.

"Nuka sowy," Inuka sniffed sadly. "Nuka sowy, sowy."

"I know, I know Inuka," Inuyasha rubbed his son's head. "I know you're sorry. Now hush."

Inuka buried his face in his father's chest and held him tightly for long, long minutes. And then Inuka looked up at his father.

"Papa?"

"Yes Inuka?"

"Nanger," Inuka said softly.

"Danger?" Inuyasha frowned.

"Demon pup nangerwus." Inuka sniffled. "Pup kill mama."

Inuyasha froze. "Inuka? Do you mean Shoukamaru?"

"Yes, Nuka see pup kill mama," The tears floated into Inuka's gold eyes again. He was so sad.

'He saw Shoukamaru kill Kagome?' Inuyasha couldn't comprehend the thought. "Are you sure Inuka?"

"Yes papa," Inuka was shaking. "Pup have spida."

"Spider?" His son was talking in riddles. Inuyasha was completely confused. 'Could he mean Naraku? But how could Inuka know about Naraku? And is he trying to tell me there's a connection between Shouka and Naraku? But how? That's- that's impossible.'

"Evil. Spida." Inuka told his father. "Nuka potec mama from evil spida."

Inuyasha understood the last bit. 'Inuka had attacked to protect his mother from... Shouka or Naraku?'

"Inuka?"

"Yes papa?" Inuka looked up at Inuyasha.

"Why'd Shouka kill mama?" He asked.

"Nuka no no," He said honestly. "All Nuka see- pup kill mama."

'So he only saw the pup kill her but doesn't know anything else,' Inuyasha thought. 'Could he have... seen the future?' Inuyasha was a bit shocked at that bit. 'Can Inuka see the future?'

"Nuka tell mama sowy," Inuka said. "Pwease papa?"

Inuyasha sighed and nodded. "We go tell mama sorry. And Sesshoumaru and Shouka."

Inuka shook his head. "Nuka no say sowy to demon pup."

Inuyasha frowned. "Inuka you have to."

"No! Demon pup kill mama!" Inuka told him strongly. "Me no say sowy. Me kill demon pup."

'Not good,' Inuyasha thought. "Inuka don't touch the demon pup."

"He tuch mama- Nuka kill him." Nuka said strongly.

"He won't touch mama," Inuyasha assured him. "Okay?"

Inuka didn't respond. They were headed down the stairs and Inuka tensed up again. "It's okay Inuka," Inuyasha calmed him. "Papa's here and grandpa too."

Inuka nodded and they entered the room.

"Inuka?" Kagome went to him the moment she saw him. "Inuka are you okay?"

"Nuka sowy mama," He apologized. "Nuka sowy."

Shoukamaru watched with heated eyes. 'Mother and father never was like that with me.'

"Oh Inuka!" She hugged him to her and kissed his soft little cheeks. "I'm so happy you're okay."

'Mother never coddled me like that either,' Shouka felt a bit jealous. He looked away and he felt his father's hand on his head. Shouka looked up at him but his father wasn't looking at him.

"Tell him you love him Kagome," Inuyasha told her. "He thinks you hate him."

"No!" Kagome rubbed her face into Inuka's soft skin. "Mama love Inuka. Mama love Inuka sooo much."

"Mama wuv Nuka?" he asked.

"Yes!" she nodded. "Mama love Inuka very, very much."

"Nuka no monsta?"

She shook her head. "No. Inuka's not a monster. Inuka's a hanyou."

"Wike papa?"

"Yes! Just like papa!" Kagome told him.

"Mama no die?" He stared at her.

'What's he talking about?' Shoukamaru wondered as he saw his father's expression harden at the sight.

Confusion swept over Kagome and before Inuyasha could speak she said, "No. Mama will not die. Mama live for Inuka and papa. Mama live."

Inuka was comforted. Kagome sat down rubbed his little back. "Nuka wuv mama and papa."

"We love you too Inuka," Kagome said kissing his forehead. "Now sleep my sweetie."

"Nuka potec mama," he said as he closed his sleepy eyes and drifted off.

Once he was asleep Kagome looked at Inuyasha. "What did he mean by 'Mama no die?'" she asked.

Inuyasha exhaled. "Well, the truth is the reason Inuka attacked Shouka is because..."

"Because what?" Sesshoumaru asked folding his arms across his chest. "I'd love to know the reason we were greeted with such hostility."

Inuyasha's gold eyes met his brother's. "Inuka believes Shouka will kill Kagome."

Izayoi and Kagome gasped, Inutaisho and Sesshoumaru frowned but Shouka got up protesting.

"WHAT!" He shouted.

"Shouka-" His father called his name.

"Why would I kill that woman?" Shouka asked angrily. "I don't even know her!"

Sesshoumaru sat his son back down roughly. "Do not outburst like that again."

Shouka was growling. "Father why would I kill her? Who's this Kagome anyway?"

"It's me." Kagome said looking at Shouka with worried brown eyes.

Shouka looked at her. "I have no reason to kill you so why would that- that- half breed pup think I would?"

Inuyasha growled lifting himself to his full height. "Sesshoumaru bridle that pup's mouth. I won't stand for anyone disrespecting my son. No matter who he is."

"Shouka do that once more and I shall punish you in front of everyone." Sesshoumaru said and then looked at Inuyasha. "For what reason would my son have to kill your bitch? He is right. He doesn't know her."

Inuyasha shrugged and sat back down. "He just said that he saw Shouka kill Kagome. He also said something about an evil spider and that Shouka has a spider. I don't know what all that's supposed to mean."

Kagome noticed Sesshoumaru's slight reaction to the word 'spider'. 'Could it be that he knows something?'

"Evil spider?" Inutaisho frowned. "The only evil spider I know of is Naraku's signature mark. It's the mark all of his incarnations possess."

"This is foolishness," Sesshoumaru said lifting his son up onto his lap and putting his nose in Shouka's collar bone. "Your pup obviously has an overactive imagination to have associated my son with Naraku. Naraku is our most hated enemy."

Kagome's eyes narrowed at him. 'Such protectiveness,' she thought. 'He's definitely hiding something.'

Sesshoumaru felt the only pair of brown eyes staring at him and he stared back- challenging her to speak against him.

She did. "I highly doubt what Inuka said was foolishness," she told him. "I think it may hold a lot of meaning. Inuka isn't a regular hanyou pup, I wouldn't downplay what he said just because he's but a pup."

Sesshoumaru's eyes flashed at her. "So you're saying that I must hold onto the belief that my son may be associated with my enemy? Is that right?"

Kagome didn't flinch. "I'm merely saying that we can't throw away any piece of information we acquire. I don't know much about my mother's blood but I know it was far from ordinary and so my son is far from ordinary as well. His words could mean something important and we shouldn't throw it away because you believe it to be foolishness."

Inuyasha watch as Kagome continued speaking to his brother as if she had known him all her life. "You know, to be honest, I get the strangest feeling that you are hiding something behind that cold mask you wear."

"Kagome-" Inuyasha was about to stop her when he saw Sesshoumaru's eyes flash.

"I don't know what it is," She said ignoring Inuyasha. "But I will find out. Inuka's intelligent and I think he's found out something that you would rather everyone not know."

Shouka looked up at his father. "What is she talking about?"

Sesshoumaru smirked at her, "Now I know where the pup gets his foolish thinking from. I suggest you stop with this analysis of yours because you know not what you say."

Kagome smirked back, "Is that so?" She asked. "Well forgive me but I will continue with this foolish thinking of mine until I discover what you're trying to hide. I notice that you're holding your son quite protectively. Is there a reason for that? Do you hold him so your scent can cover an underlying scent of some sort?"

'This woman is so smart,' Shouka thought to himself. 'This is the first time I've ever met a human woman like this one. She stands up so brave against father.'

"I am now convinced Inuyasha," Sesshoumaru ignored Kagome and looked to him. "Your lover has quite the imagination as well. She's quite fanciful." And then he turned back to her. "I hold him because he's my son and I can hold him if I desire. His mother isn't here and I wouldn't want him to feel... neglected."

Kagome's gaze softened. "Really?"

"Indeed," Sesshoumaru said. "You coddle your pup far too much and Shouka may start to compare and measure the quantity of affection he gets. I wouldn't want that."

Kagome smiled then. "That's- that's really... caring of you."

"Caring?" Inuyasha frowned not liking the smile she was giving his brother. "What do you mean caring?" Sesshoumaru's cold as ice."

"That's what I was feeling before but now... I don't know I'm starting to think he's not as cold as I first thought he was. Anyway, maybe I was wrong to speculate your actions. Shall we continue?" She said and then thought, 'I still have the oddest feeling that he's lying through his shiny white fangs.'

Inutaisho had watched the entire scene and was quite impressed that Kagome could even hold a conversation that long with Sesshoumaru. 'She's right. He is hiding something and I was so close to discovering it before he put Shouka onto his lap and wrapped his arms around him. Now that strange scent I was picking up is now covered. I can't even smell the scent of Shouka's mother on him anymore.'

'That girl knows too much,' Sesshoumaru thought. 'No matter, all she has is speculations and no evidence to back her. Shouka should be safe for a while longer.'

There you go guys!

This is all I'm posting for today. I've written a bunch of other chapters during my brief absence so I'll wait for reviews and see you guys on Monday.

Inuluver1990 goes to rest her brain a bit.

Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

© 2011-2012, Apryl Johnson.
I do not own Inuyasha or any of the characters created by Rumiko Takahashi, but I do own the idea/plot/storyline of this story.