Her Life – Chapter 38 – "Love Is More Than Just A Game For Two – P2"

Chapter is dedicated to CEM95

PLEASE READ AUTHOR'S NOTE AT THE END

It was simply too much.

The discovery of their lost son and of an unknown grandchild was a lot for Inuyasha and Kikyo to take in. Especially for Inuyasha, for he did not know what to feel at the moment. Should he still be feeling for the loss of Kagome or should he feel joy for finding the son he'd long thought to be dead? Better yet, should anger not be prevalent since said son hadn't shown hide nor hair of himself in over four hundred years?

He was conflicted. He was tormented.

Frankly, he was downright pissed off.

So, after a windy (and lengthy) "discussion" it was decided that Kazuhiko would accompany them back to the house while their grandson (who still hadn't revealed his name) would stay with Souta to help with shrine duties for the time being. It honestly wouldn't phase the family to wait a bit longer for his story since, for right now, they were focused on welcoming their son back into the fold.

"Don't you go running out on us pup." Inuyasha spoke as they prepared to leave, Kikyo now asleep in his arms. "You've got some explaining to do too. I'm not exactly happy with you either."

"I've kept nothing from you Grandfather."

Inuyasha turned back to face him as he stepped out of the house. "I don't care how little of a thing it is. When Kagome is involved, you've kept everything from me."

They kept quiet. Intensely quiet. Not a one of them would ever be sensed by the group leaving the home.

That's not to say, however that they didn't want to whip themselves out and run their claws through them, making it rain blood. Would they do it? Most likely not. The song of vengeance still sang through their own blood though; repeating over and over to punish those who had done wrong. This song sang the most through their leader, whose growl was penetrating the air, almost giving them away.

"Shall I give the signal General?"

His growling quieted to a low grumble, which continued as his gaze scanned through the surrounding trees. The sight of his men cracking their necks, clenching their claws, and gripping their weapons tempted him; enticed him to allow his comrades what they wished most for. What they'd waited years for. Had only dreamed of. So close within reach yet so far away.

The creaking of branches broke his concentration, alerting him to the restlessness of his men. Many were swaying on the balls of their feet, itching with excitement of what was surely about to come. The General took in the group again.

"No."

Stunned eyes turned towards him.

"No sir?" All were surprised at his decision.

"No, I believe we should take our next cue from that of a stalking predator.

"Let's play with our food before sinking our teeth into it."

Bounding out from his cover, the General decided it was high time to get that cumbersome shit ball rolling up hill.

"Look at what the cat dragged in! You know that old saying 'Better late than never'? Well mutt, I think you're positively late as fuck!"

Standing atop the red arch at the entrance of the shrine was a demon, one that could rival Sesshomaru with his hard stare and stature, but not in attitude. Jumping down before the group just as they reached the top of the stairs, the mysterious demon allowed everyone to take more of him in while he sized them all up, as if preparing for some kind of battle.

Chopped blue hair encompassed a chiseled and scarred face, making his anger even more profound. His eyes were glazed over as well, obviously scarred, possibly even blind, but it just made him appear even more crazed. And his clothing, that was a whole different story. This demon would have stuck out like a sore thumb among the current population of Tokyo, because not only did he wear the clothing style of old (from the looks of it even before Inuyasha's birth) but also battle armor and a large sword at his hip. Didn't he know of the arrests that could be made just with that sword alone?

The demon, somehow, was far in to personal space limits now. (How had he gotten there without being noticed?) While he appeared to be cool and composed, Inuyasha could see the fire in his eyes; a fire that was gaining an even larger flame by the second. Why was this fire directed at him? Was it even directed at him? He tried to stay calm, but his claws still flexed into Kikyo's skin. This drew the demon's attention from them all to strictly Kikyo.

"So this is what you chose over Kagome puppy?" Flicking his wrist toward the slumbering miko. "Looks like a scrawny piece of meat compared to her." The demon stepped closer,

"Or should I use a crumpled clay pot as comparison?"

Fires then lit themselves in Inuyasha's eyes.

"You better consider yourself God damn lucky that my WIFE is in my arms, otherwise my hands would be around your throat!"

"Why should I give a damn about your wife eh? It's YOU I have the bigger issue with."

Suddenly the blue haired face was up close, even closer than he should have been, poking Inuyasha harshly in the chest, and growled through his teeth. "It's your ass I plan on mounting to my wall of victorious defeats you bastard! You will pay for what you've done."

"I don't even know who the fuck you are!"

Joints cracked in his hands, "I am General Hisoka – and mine will be the last face you see in your pitiful existence."

Being this close to the hanyou was setting off Hisoka's instincts off far more severely than he thought possible. Everything he had, even the most reserved of his energies, were being used to hold himself back. "She wouldn't want me to hurt him."

"You've never heard of me pup, of that I'm sure. I was born centuries before you and will live for far longer after you die. That glorious event, in itself, will come soon enough." He lunged, claws at the ready, knocking Inuyasha, surprisingly, off his feet, and forcing Kikyo to topple out of his arms; waking from her semi catatonic state. Her eyes took in the scene before her mainly that of her newly found again son, Kazuhiko, amazingly manhandling an unfamiliar demon and forcing him off of his father.

"Stand down Hisoka!"

"Oi pup I can defend myself!" Inuyasha spout angrily but Kazuhiko ignored him.

"You are here to honor your comrade, not to fight on sacred ground!" Kazuhiko stood on his back paws, forcing them to take several steps back. Hisoka continued to growl at Inuyasha who was now taking a defensive stance with Cornelius before his family, all while taking in his son's words. Of course he knew that Kazuhiko was right, but did that truly change things? Could he not just take vengeance on this hanyou now and avenge everything? "Do you think that you are showing any respect for this shrine OR to her?!"

A breeze passed through, "Is truly yours to take? You know that my actions were my own." It whispered to only Hisoka. "Is there even any kind of retribution needed? You know my actions were my own."

The feelings broadcasted through the wind and was the only thing that made his mind truly stop and think. He remembered several conversations regarding the hanyou before him; each one ending with a sad woman needing reassurance that everything would turn out ok in the end. By that, meaning that a certain man would never find out about what truly happened to her or the consequences from her decisions, but, he honestly vowed, albeit silently, the hanyou's death. Now, however, he was having second thoughts, more akin to diabolical thoughts than the ones where he'd seen "the error of his ways". Thinking it over, a far better solution presented itself.

Smirking haughtily, Hisoka brushed Kazuhiko off of his person and approached Inuyasha, holding his hands up in mock defeat. "Your boy is right." A hand was held out, offered as a peaceful gesture, "I offer my apology and a proper introduction."

Dropping his hand (as it wasn't taken) he gave a short, borderline disrespectful bow. "I am Hisoka, General to the Royal Army of the Le'Whim Sekjo."

The Fujioka's were skeptical and Inuyasha was just plain pissed, but none were more incredulous than Cornelius. "And just what pray tell has suddenly changed your tune?"

"Simple logic of course." God he loved fooling people with his innocence bit. "Killing him would be a moot point," A cruel smirk commandeered his face. "Especially when knowing the truth about a certain miko would be far worse. Suffering every day with the knowledge of everything she'd selflessly done for you; an ungrateful mutt."

Hisoka dangled by his shirt now, in the grip of a now red eyed, purple striped face of Inuyasha.

"What the fuck do you know about Kagome?"

"A hell of a lot more than what you will ever know, after all, I was her bonded."

That was a blow. There was nothing Inuyasha could do or say to counter such a thing. Of course part of him wanted proof of such a claim but the past few days were so pumped full of information that his mind just couldn't process anymore. If what Hisoka claimed was true, then he knew Kagome far more intimately than he ever did. Distractions allowed Hisoka to break away.

"What's wrong dog? No snappy comeback for me? Tisk tisk, or is it, Inuyasha, that I am the one that had such a relationship with her when you did not? After all, I was man enough to love her for who she was," Eyes locked with Kikyo. "Not who she used to be."

"ENOUGH!"

All turned to find, surprisingly, Mama standing in the middle of the grounds; hands on her hips and looking madder than a wildcat caught in a rainstorm.

"I will not have that kind of behavior on my property. Now either get along and behave or there will be no snack time!"

They all blinked, trying to figure out whether to take her seriously or laugh at the ridiculousness of her demand. Only two of them, however, knew the true wrath of Mama when she was in this state. Hisoka, being one of that unfortunate pair, decided to play along with her game. He shoved Inuyasha away from him; playing along with Mama's "fantasy" accordingly. (Which only fueled a mutt's fire further)

"Yes Inuyasha you wouldn't want to end up in time out. I don't think you could even SIT that long anyway. A minute for every year you are old, isn't it?"

"Don't you think that is enough Hisoka?" The voice, belonging to Souta, was standing with his arm around Mama, ready to take her back into the house.

"Hmph. You're right. Why waste my time on a low life like him? He doesn't deserve my time anyway. COME ON MEN!"

Suddenly nearly two hundred demons appeared out of nowhere and started following Hisoka toward the back of the shrine. So many demons gathering together usually wasn't a problem, but when they were all in their true forms….that was a different situation entirely. Slithering, hulking, and flying demons all made their way along the path, none paying mind to the group watching them. Only a few sent glares Inuyasha's way. A few even sent silent but clear threats with their claws or brandished weapons.

"Excuse us pup while we, Kagome's TRUE friends AND comrades, honor her in the proper warrior's way." Hisoka started to join the others.

"And why exactly do ye say that General?" Kaede finally spoke up.

"Because old woman, WE didn't forget about her."

A/N – Total words – 2,003

Hope you like this chapter. Some of it is filler and seems wordy but this is what I came up with. There will be a Part 3 to "Love Is More Than Just A Game For Two" before we head on to more exciting chapter titles.

SPOILER! I left a HIDDEN clue as to who exactly General Hisoka's army is and how they know Kagome. CAN YOU FIND IT?!

WOW, holy crap it's been a long time. I promise all of you that this story will be finished and that I haven't abandoned it. It's been a very rough year since my dad passed which has led my attentions elsewhere. To make a long story short, since the last update I've had depression set in (from dad's passing) and my mom ending up having emergency surgery. (A gallbladder surgery that went from 45 minutes, to two hours, to ANOTHER four hour surgery at a different hospital because she was wired wrong and had to go to a specialist…) Not a fun year for me – I've had to deal with that, people stabbing me in the back, school, and rising medical bills - which led me to taking a second job.

I've continued to write when able though. The next chapter is mostly written and I will be typing it in tomorrow to hopefully post on Wednesday or Thursday of this week.

QUESTION – What would you guys think about me starting a ? If you were to help support this story you would be allowed early access to pieces of the next chapter, the whole next chapter, and could also help me decide which direction to go in with certain parts.

QUESTION #2 – Would anyone be interested in a side story about how Kaede and Cornelius came to be? I've got an idea semi in motion but I want to know if anyone is interested in reading such a story.

THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HAVE STAYED WITH THIS STORY!

Much love ~ Daphne