Obligatory Disclaimer: The "Inu Yasha" series and its characters are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, Sunrise, Shounen Sunday, Viz, and other corporate types. I am none of those entities. I'm just a silly fan writing silly stories because it's fun. Suing me would only be a waste of time and funds, so please don't. Any original characters that show up belong to themselves. Just ask them.

Author's Disclaimer: Thoughts and opinions expressed in this work of fiction do not necessarily reflect those of the author.


Overall Rating: M

I CHOOSE NOT TO WARN!

This story contains material that may be disturbing or outright triggering to some. Reader discretion advised.


Author's Note: I know it's been a few weeks, and I'm truly sorry about that! I thought having my life starting to straighten out would mean I could go full-steam on getting this prettied-up for public consumption, but instead, I've been in a, to put it politely, a deep, blue funk.

So I want thank Youkai55 and SplendentGoddess for helping dig me out and encouraging me to keep posting. This update wouldn't be possible without them!


Two Plus Two
By Misarae

Chapter Fifty-Two
Into the Mouth of the Serpent

Inu Yasha whipped around the doorframe and froze. Even without his usual night vision, his human eyes had adapted to the slightly darker room, so he could clearly make out the large, sinuous form that had appeared from the kami only knew where. Something else about it raised his hackles, but he'd be damned if he could place it.

Sachiko was shaking in terror, her crutches having clattered to the floor.

What he wouldn't give for his usual hanyou speed, or even his claws.

All he knew was desperation as the massive albino snake reared its head to strike.

That desperation took shape and form, and before Inu Yasha could even fully realize what he was doing, he grabbed one of the tiny, complimentary bars of soap off the sink next to him and hurled it at the snake, hoping to at least distract it.

What actually happened shocked him to the core.

Brilliant pink light encased his impromptu projectile, and when the snake turned its head in the direction of the incoming missile, it opened its mouth to hiss, and the bar of soap whizzed right down its gullet.

A heartbeat. Two. The light within the snake glowed for only a moment before winking out, then the entire creature exploded, sending bits of snake flesh everywhere.

Inu Yasha didn't care. He only had eyes for his precious daughter. He ran over to her, wrapping his arms around her as tightly as he could, feeling her cling to him and the dampness of her tears against his bare chest.

"Papa. Papa!"

"Shh.. Sa-chan. Papa's here," he said, trying his best to soothe her, even as his own body vibrated with shock and adrenaline.

"Inu Yasha? Sachiko?" Kagome's voice echoed in the room.

The bathroom light flicked on, and Inu Yasha muttered a curse as his human eyes took a minute to adjust. "Don't touch anything," he barked, "and get Aohara on the phone."

Mama Higurashi came up from behind and squeezed Kagome's shoulder. "I'll do it," she said.

"Thanks, Mama," Kagome said, tightening her grip on Naoki, who had been with her the whole time. "Stay back," she gently reinforced Inu Yasha's command. She could tell that Naoki wanted to ignore her directive, so she added, "Your Dad can get Sachiko out of there without touching any snake bits. We need them all if we're going to find out who did this."

"How did that thing get in?" Naoki asked, staring at the grisly scene in fascinated horror.

"That's what we've gotta find out, pup," Inu Yasha said.


"My, my, it looks like I am going to have to up my game in order to keep my wife from straying."

"Miroku!" Sango said with a glare before turning to an obviously uncomfortable Inu Yasha. "Sorry about him."

Inu Yasha shrugged. "Doesn't bug me. I like you, Sango, but not that way."

"Obviously, if you are willing to share your human night with us," Sango replied, backing up her statement with a slight, but warm, smile.

It had been quite a production, trying to get Sachiko out of the bathroom. He'd eventually been able to coax her to her feet, make her decent, then crouch down and carry her on his back at least as far as the bedroom. He'd stood back as Kagome took her turn hugging Sachiko and reassuring herself that their daughter was shaken, but physically unharmed. That had prompted Mama Higurashi to hand the phone to him, where Aohara waited on the other end of the line. Inu Yasha had recounted what happened as briefly as possible, and when Aohara suggested bringing Miroku and Sango in, Inu Yasha hadn't been opposed. The more witnesses, the better, even if it meant making more people aware of his secret.

They'd helped him get Sachiko back. The least he could do was put up with them seeing him in human form.

Aohara had arrived first, and immediately fell to documenting the carnage. Inu Yasha hoped that between Miroku and Sango, they could identify what kind of snake it had been, and where it had come from.

As Miroku, Sango, and Inu Yasha trooped back to the bathroom attached to the bedroom, Aohara came out looking grim.

"This is very serious," Aohara said. "Though I really can't say I'm surprised."

Sango and Miroku took their first look into the room. Sango frowned, while Miroku's eyes widened.

"I don't think it's a youkai," Sango said.

"No, indeed," Miroku said. "In fact, it's the opposite."

Aohara nodded grimly, while Sango stared at her husband. "What do you mean?" she asked.

"That was no ordinary snake. It was a shikigami, and it reeks of black magic," Miroku told her with a frown.

"From what I could make out, it looked something like this." Aohara turned his notepad around, showing them a sketch.

Inu Yasha flushed when he realized all eyes had turned to him. "Don't look at me! I'm human, remember? And it was dark. All I know is it was a huge fucking snake."

"C.. can I see?"

Everyone turned back toward the main room, where Kagome, Naoki, and Sachiko perched on the bed, while Mama Higurashi stood vigil at the table.

"Sachiko," Kagome whispered.

"Are you sure you're up to it, Sachiko-chan?" Sango asked. "You must have had quite a scare."

"It's dead now, isn't it?" Sachiko said.

Inu Yasha looked at Miroku.

"It won't be troubling you any more," Miroku said. "Seems your Mom didn't want to take any chances."

"It wasn't Mom who blew it up."

"What do you mean, Sachiko-chan?" Aohara asked.

Sachiko beamed. "It was Papa!"

Miroku blinked. "That's impossible. The destructive signature is unquestionably pure reiki."

"Inu Yasha?" Kagome inquired.

"I don't know what the hell happened, okay?" Inu Yasha spat. "All I knew was I had to kill that thing before it hurt my pup. Maybe black magic hates soap!"

"It glowed pink, Papa. Like Mom's and my power, but I didn't do anything! I was too scared," Sachiko said, biting her lip after she finished.

"You did the best possible thing," Miroku said, walking over to the bed and going down on his knees, then taking Sachiko's hands in his. "Something like that probably would have struck if you had moved."

Sachiko turned away.

"Oi, pup, none of that," Inu Yasha said, marching over and plopping himself next to her, after Naoki quickly scrambled out of the way. "I'm the only one allowed to brood around here, got it? You staying still gave me a clear shot."

Sachiko jerked her hands out of Miroku's to throw her arms around Inu Yasha's waist. Inu Yasha sighed and briefly closed his eyes, hugging her back as he felt the current of adrenaline still running its course through her much smaller body.

Miroku raised an eyebrow and Sango laughed. "Looks like you've finally been rejected, Miroku," Sango teased.

"Alas, I must be losing my touch," Miroku replied, ruefully shaking his head, but the corners of his mouth were twitching as he stood back up. Then he sobered as he turned to Sango and Aohara. "Come to think of it, there may be a reasonable explanation for Inu Yasha's sudden ability. If I recall, Kagome-sama put up a barrier of both reiki and youki, back when Kikyou was in Sachiko-chan's hospital room."

Everyone looked at Kagome, and she nodded. "That's true."

"If you have gained the ability to wield youki, it would make sense that your mate would be able to wield reiki," Miroku continued.

Sango's eyes widened. "I remember, just before we found Sachiko, Inu Yasha used an attack that broke Kikyou's barrier."

Keeping one arm around Sachiko, Inu Yasha lifted his other hand, staring at it as if it were some foreign object.

"And now that your youkai blood is in remission," Miroku continued, turning his attention to Inu Yasha, "you'd be left with just the reiki."

Kagome scooted closer, then took Inu Yasha's hand. She closed her eyes, concentrating on the flow of power she now knew existed just below the surface of her skin. She reached out tentatively, sending a tendril of power into Inu Yasha's hand. Almost immediately, a corresponding energy rose to meet her, making their joined hands glow. Kagome sighed in relief as Inu Yasha stared in disbelief.

"We have our answer, then," Kagome said with a gentle smile.

Aohara cleared his throat. "As fascinating as this is, do you still wish to positively identify the creature that attacked you, Sachiko-chan?"

Sachiko took a deep breath, then forced herself to bring her head up and away from Inu Yasha's side. "Okay."

Aohara brought his sketch up close to her. Sachiko trembled, but made herself look at it.

"Almost," Sachiko said. "It had horns. Spiky ones that curved out." She tentatively moved the arm that spanned Inu Yasha's stomach to make a drawing in the air.

"Ah, something like this?" Aohara quickly turned the sketch around, erased and drew a bit more, then showed the alterations to Sachiko.

"Yeah, that's it."

"Well, that answers our question," Miroku said with a frown.

"What do you mean, Miroku-sama?" Kagome asked.

"Thank you, Sachiko-chan," Aohara said gently, before rising and turning to Kagome. "It means that Tamura's lawyer has just made things a lot worse for her client. I bet no one informed Tsubaki that this family is made up of not only youkai, but spiritualists."

Sango got a predatory gleam in her eye. "Won't she be in for a nasty surprise?"

"Especially when the judge gets wind of this," Aohara replied.

"Mind explaining what the hell you guys are talking about?" Inu Yasha snapped.

Miroku was the one to speak. "That snake was sent by Tamura's lawyer, Tsubaki. Now that we know what we are looking for, I can go and confirm that it was her powers manipulating it. This is witness intimidation, at the very least. It will be even worse, since Sachiko does have some latent miko powers. A dark miko has just attacked a light miko. It's very serious on both the human and spiritualist levels."

"So basically, the bastard's lawyer just screwed him over with that little stunt," Inu Yasha said.

"Exactly," Miroku said. "Especially since that snake could have killed Sachiko. Doesn't look very good for responsible parenting, does it?"

"I'm glad," Kagome said, her eyes flashing. "I wish there was some other way, but..."

"Sometimes the results are worth it," Miroku finished for her.


There was no question whether the pups would spend the rest of the night with Kagome and Inu Yasha. Rather than being sprawled out like usual, they all huddled together in the middle of the bed, Kagome and Inu Yasha wrapped protectively around Naoki and Sachiko. Kagome also set up a barrier around the bed, just in case.

Inu Yasha breathed a sigh of relief as he felt his youki returning, his entire body pulsing as the sun drew his youkai blood back out of dormancy. When he finally opened his eyes, it was to find three pairs of eyes staring at him.

"Wow," Sachiko breathed.

Naoki grinned. "Cool, isn't it?"

"Welcome back," Kagome said.

Inu Yasha felt a flood of warmth for his mate and pups. He gathered them in as best he could, making little inu sounds of greeting. All three of them replied the same way, and Inu Yasha's heart swelled even more. He swallowed in relief as he heard the heartbeat of the fifth member of their little nest again. He couldn't say the words, but he projected his feelings as strongly as he could.

Their morning lie-in was interrupted when the hotel phone started to ring. Inu Yasha bit back a growl as he was forced to leave, wanting to smash the phone instead of picking up the receiver. "Hello?" he snapped.

"I have good news," Aohara's voice came from the other end of the line. "Last night's incident has expedited everything. Tamura's wife is scheduled to leave the hospital today, so the timing is perfect. The judge will be hearing statements from everybody today."

"Hearing statements?" Inu Yasha repeated.

"To determine the severity and punishment for what has happened. Since Tamura's wife is a spiritualist, she and her actions will be judged by other members of that community, rather than a regular trial with a human jury. Tamura had already agreed to such an option earlier."

"I don't know if I like the sound of that," Inu Yasha said.

"Trust me, Inu Yasha," Aohara said firmly. "Harming a child is against every rule there is. Even most who follow darker paths won't go to those lengths."

Inu Yasha let out a deep breath. "Not like we have much of a choice, anyway."

"Thank you for understanding. Miroku, Sango, and I will be there in two hours, so be ready by then."

Inu Yasha nodded, then hung up and turned to his family, giving them the condensed version.

Sachiko shrunk back against Naoki, who gripped her arms reassuringly. "I won't have to see Suzumi-san again, will I?"

"If you do, your Mom and I will be there with you. We're not letting anyone take you, pup," Inu Yasha said.

"You said it," Naoki said, as Kagome nodded her agreement.

Sachiko teared up. "I love you guys so much!"

"And we love you, too, Sa-chan," Kagome replied, hugging both her son and daughter tightly.


Inu Yasha fought down the impulse to squirm, feeling completely out of place in such fancy clothing. When Byakuya had shown up along with Aohara, Miroku, and Sango, he had come bearing gifts. Inu Yasha knew he should be grateful they weren't making him put up with a tie, but he definitely didn't feel comfortable in the salmon-colored button down shirt and crisp khaki pants they had encouraged him to wear, and he had braided his hair back on Byakuya's recommendation. Of course, he couldn't have looked too bad, judging by the heated looks Kagome kept sending his way.

Kagome, on the other hand, was an absolute vision in her vintage-style dress made of scarlet fabric with beautiful pink and white flowers with golden centers patterned on it. The "v" of the neckline reminded him very much of a kimono, while the way the bodice wrapped around her showed off both her shoulders and her bust. It had been altered so that the full skirt started higher than normal, allowing room for the outward curve made by their newest pup.

"You okay, Papa?"

Inu Yasha looked down, and couldn't help but smile. Sachiko was almost painfully adorable in her salmon-colored, spaghetti-strap sundress, the white flowers on it strewn in a more bold, whimsical pattern than Kagome's, and the hem and neckline were trimmed in white lace. She had also decided to forego her crutches for as long as possible, and Inu Yasha had no objection to carrying her in bridal-style.

"Yeah, I'm fine, pup. Just wish I didn't have to wear this stuff."

"But you look so handsome! And so does Naoki."

Both Inu Yasha and Naoki blushed at Sachiko's proclamation, Naoki shifting the crutches he was carrying while Sachiko rode in Inu Yasha's arms. Naoki was dressed in a white button-down shirt and khaki pants, his hair braided back just like Inu Yasha's.

There was absolutely no question that they belonged to each other, and Byakuya reassured them that dressing this way would provide a united front.

Mama Higurashi stayed back with Aohara, Miroku, and Sango, her skirt the same salmon color as Sachiko's dress, along with a matching shawl over a white blouse.

It threw Inu Yasha off a little, walking toward a volcano in what seemed to be the middle of nowhere. And he had thought Japanese traditions could get weird! Although Byakuya had reassured them that this was a special case all-round, Inu Yasha had no basis for comparison, so what was he supposed to think?

He fought off a mild feeling of claustrophobia as they entered, the unforgiving stone walls on either side closing in. Byakuya suddenly appeared in front of them, impeccably dressed, as Inu Yasha had a feeling was always the case. The guy never seemed to have a hair out of place.

Byakuya started to take up the lead, but then a small youkai who came up to roughly Inu Yasha's knees darted in front of them and squeaked, "Stop!"

"Oh no way," Inu Yasha breathed.

"What is it?" Kagome asked, just close enough to hear him.

"I thought those guys were extinct," Inu Yasha replied.

"What is he, Papa?" Sachiko asked.

"That," Inu Yasha murmured quietly, hopefully keeping his voice low enough for just his family to hear, "is a fire rat."

Sachiko's eyes widened. "Like in the fairy tale about Kaguya Hime?"

"Exactly." Inu Yasha had to fight down a wave of sentimentality. He could feel Kagome's questioning gaze on him, but fortunately he was saved by Byakuya's peeved response to the fire rat.

"What is it?" Byakuya asked.

"Hino-sama has requested your presence in the public chambers, rather than her private ones."

Byakuya's eyes narrowed. "Why?"

The diminutive youkai pulled himself up to his full height. "In light of last night's incident, judgment must be handed down, not only for the defendant, but her legal counsel as well. It will still be done by a jury of peers, just a slightly larger one than originally."

Byakuya snorted. "That's putting it lightly," he said, then sighed. "All right, we'll go there."

As soon as the fire rat was out of sight, Kagome said, "Byakuya-san?"

Byakuya turned to them, apologies shining in his eyes. "Looks like Tsubaki's little stunt has taken this very public. Originally there were only going to be three peers from the youkai community, and three from the spiritualist, but if we're going to be in the public chambers, there is going to be.. quite a few more."

"Fine by me," Naoki said, shouldering his way up to the front of the group. "Everyone should know what kind of woman she is."

"Naoki," Kagome breathed, incredibly proud of her son.

"You said it, Naoki," Sachiko said.

Inu Yasha gripped Sachiko just a little more tightly. "The more people who hear both sides of the story, the less likely it will be that she's allowed to hurt anyone else."

Byakuya looked immensely relieved. "Thank you for understanding," he said. "Now, let's go."

They continued along until they reached the end of the tunnel, where they were greeted by the sight of a massive set of intricately carved doors that seemed to have been made out of the original rock wall, and had to be at least nine meters tall.

Inu Yasha opened his mouth to speak, but anything he might have said died in his throat as the doors opened.

"Oh my," Kagome whispered.