Author's Note: Alright folks! Here's the teaser for Book 2 of Inu-Tarzan! Remember, the official launch for Second Chance is on August 7th, 2020 7PM EDT! If you want updates for this new book click the follow button. You will receive an email alerting you of the new chapters. Now onto Book 2! Enjoy! :D
Inu-Tarzan - Second Chance: New Beginnings
[A month and a half later]
"You are certain she will recover?" Professor Porter asked as he and the doctor stood out in the hallway.
"Absolutely." The doctor said as they looked through the doorway to see Kagome sleeping soundly in her hospital bed. "Had you neglected in her care during the journey her organs would have suffered permanent damages and likely lost the baby to infection."
"B-baby?" Professor Porter stuttered as he stared at the doctor in shock.
"I do apologize. I wasn't aware you didn't know!" The doctor apologized.
"No, no! It's quite alright." Professor Porter waved off reassuringly. "The news just caught me by surprise is all. How were you able to tell?"
"During my initial checkup she described symptoms not associated with her condition." The doctor explained as they continued to watch over the blissfully unaware expecting mother-to-be as she slept. "I ran some tests and they all came back positive."
"Incredible…" Professor Porter awed as he walked to her bedside and sat down in his seat. "She and her uh… husband only recently got married."
"Ah! Now I understand why it was so unexpected." The doctor laughed as he scribbled some notes down on his notepad. "My nurses will check on her again this afternoon. If all checks out, she is safe to leave first thing tomorrow morning. If I don't see you again, do send her and the expecting father-to-be my congratulations."
"Thank you doctor." Professor Porter said as he shook his hand. "Thank you so much."
"Of course." The doctor smiled before walking out of the healing wing.
As the professor sat back in his chair he couldn't help but look at his granddaughter in shock. He'd known she and Inu-Tarzan had consummated their relationship from the mark on her neck, but he never thought the repercussions of those intimate acts would resurface almost two months later. He wasn't sure how he felt about it. Inu-Tarzan was half dog. Would that mean his great grandchild would be subject to reticule and endangerment from scientists and the black market dealers its entire life? His heart was already restless for his granddaughter losing her mate. What would become of her now that she was carrying his child?
"Grandpa?" Kagome groaned groggily from sleep.
"Yes, child?" Professor Porter asked as he brushed her bangs back on her forehead.
"Are we home yet?" Kagome asked as she took his hand into hers.
"Not quite. We are still at the hospital in Senegal. If the doctor releases you tomorrow we will be home in little over a month." Professor Porter said as he continued to pet her forehead affectionately.
"That's right…" Kagome sighed as she forced herself to sit up. "What did the doctor say?"
"He was pleased by our swift care and suggested that you take it easy until we return home." Professor Porter said reassuringly. "He also ran some additional tests and they came back positive."
"Positive?" Kagome asked in confusion. "Positive for what?"
"You are with child my dear." Professor Porter said with a soft smile. Upon hearing the news Kagome gasped in shock and clutched her stomach with her hand. "It's a miracle the little one was able to survive the bullet wound. You will need to focus on keeping up your strength more than ever. I'll be sure to handle all of the arrangements for your care once we get home."
"I'm… I'm pregnant?" Kagome stammered with misty eyes.
"Yes, but you need to listen to me." Professor Porter warned her. "If your child has any of Inu-Tarzan's features it could be in very grave danger. We must speak of your pregnancy to no one until it is born. Do you understand me?"
"Yes… we must keep my baby... Inu-Tarzan's baby safe." Kagome agreed as she stared down at her slightly bloated stomach in shock.
"Do not fret. You have your mother, brother and I to help you." Professor Porter reassured her. "We won't let anyone take away your child."
"Thanks grandpa… I just wish… Inu-Tarzan were here." Kagome sniffled as tears began to roll down her cheeks. "He'd want to be here for this."
"I know child, I know." Professor Porter shushed as he pulled his crying granddaughter into his arms. "He would be here if things were different."
"It just hurts… knowing… he'll never know his child. He'll live on… not knowing if I lived… or died." Kagome sobbed.
"He'll know." Professor Porter said, making Kagome turn to look up at him.
"H-how?" Kagome hiccupped.
"I feel it in my heart." Professor Porter said with hope in his eyes.
As planned they loaded the ship the following morning and set sail from Dakar to London. Wanting her baby to stay healthy and strong Kagome followed the doctor's instructions by taking it easy the remainder of their journey and added the vitamin tablets to her daily diet. When they finally arrived in England about a month and two weeks later, Kagome was already beginning to show. Thankfully with the changing of the seasons more layers were needed to keep warm. It made it easier for Kagome to hide her growing belly from questioning eyes. As the months went on Kagome sought the sanctuary of her family home and worked on transcribing her notes and illustrations into rough drafts with her grandpa.
They were already working on their second draft of their project when her final trimester came full swing. Every day her delivery date grew closer Kagome lost herself in her work. It was the only way to avoid the pain of missing her mate while still feeling his heart beating in her chest. No one but her immediate family and trusted friends knew of her situation. Anyone who asked about her health believed her to still be recovering from lingering effects of the gunshot. Everything seemed to be going smoothly until the Hojo family threatened to sue the Porters for the death of their son.
They claimed he would not have committed the crime in shooting Kagome if he had proper psychological and medical care. They believed him being exposed to the malaria fever and the stressful mind games of the jungle stirred him to act irrationally. Many members of the community were in favor of Mr. Hojo's innocents seeing how his reputation preceded him. Thankfully Professor Porter kept tabs with Snipes and Jones after their trip. Having survived malaria and their witness to the crime the case was dropped before Kagome had to show herself before the court eight months pregnant. Life was relatively peaceful after that. Then on the last day of winter Kagome's water broke.
"GAH!" Kagome screamed as she bared down with everything she had.
"That's it honey! Push, push, push!" Kagome's mother Amelia shouted as a little gray crown began to show between her legs.
"I can see the head Kagome! You're almost there!" Kagome's best friend Sango shouted as she held Kagome's hand.
"AHHHH!" Kagome screamed as she bore down again. Her face was beat red, covered in sweat and scrunched up in concentration and pain. She was panting and groaning loudly as the pressure between her legs strained and pulled beyond unbearable. When the contraction subsided she threw her head back on the pillow and panted to try and catch her breath. "I can't do this…"
"Just a little while longer sweetie. Your little one will soon be here." Amelia soothed just as another contraction started. "Just continue to think about that."
"GAAAH!" Kagome screamed again as the head passed through her tight canal.
"Just a little more!" Sango cheered as Kagome's mother worked on getting the shoulders out next. "Push! Kagome, push!"
"Wahh!" cried a little voice as its tiny body was born from her own.
"It's a girl!" Amelia exclaimed as happy tears welled in her eyes.
"Oh mama..." Kagome sobbed as her mother set her daughter onto her chest. "Hi there cutie."
"Wahh!" the little babe continued to cry as Kagome peppered her little head with kisses.
"She's got a strong set of lungs on her." Amelia laughed as they cooed over the little babe.
"Wahh! Wahh!" the little babe cried on as it curled itself close to Kagome's heart.
"Howl all you like little one. Your father would be baying along with you." Kagome sniffled as she ran her finger down her little grey fuzz on her head.
"Does she look like him?" Amelia asked as Sango tied and cut off the umbilical cord and covered her over with a warm blanket.
"She does." Kagome sniffled as her little girl's tiny hand curled around her finger. "Although her father had silver hair, her gray is a good blend of the both of us. Plus, she has his round face, button nose, and…"
"Her eyes!" Sango gasped as two golden orbs stared back at them.
"I'm so glad." Kagome smiled down at her beautiful baby girl. She looked every bit the little angel she'd seen in her dream. She couldn't help but smile knowing at least she had a piece of her mate to have with her from now on.
"What name did you decide?" Sango asked as she placed a tiny hat on the baby's head to keep it warm.
"Izayoi." Kagome said as she tenderly traced her tiny jaw. "Her name shall be Izayoi."
"Izayoi?" Sango repeated in confusion. "That's very unique."
"It was his mother's name." Kagome explained.
"A fine name darling." Amelia said as she kissed Kagome on the forehead. "Your husband would be proud."
"Wahh!" Izayoi cried as she nuzzled her mother's chest.
"Sh…" Kagome soothed as Sango helped her to sit up on the bed. "Just a moment, little one. Let mama get comfy so you can eat."
After pulling down her robe she offered her weeping breast to her pup. Izoyoi smelling her mother's milk quickly latched onto her teat and began nursing away. By the time she'd had her fill and had fallen asleep against her mother's bosom Sango and Amelia had cleaned up the room, said their goodbyes and left. Now, alone with her daughter she silently cried for her mate.
"Oh Inu-Tarzan… I miss you so much." Kagome sobbed as she looked down on her slumbering babe. "If only there was a way we could be together again."
As the months ticked by Izayoi's dog-like characteristics became more and more apparent. Although she lacked her father's dog-ears, her little k9 milk teeth grew in place of human teeth and her dainty fingers and toes developed stronger dog-like claws. As she learned to crawl she hid her toys and snacks under the rug and cut her teeth on the wooden furniture. She also had enhanced senses and began to growl and bark as she learned to speak. The Porters hoping if she were around other human children she might lose these traits took her to the park. As the weeks went by without incident Kagome continued to take her to the park and went on with life as normal.
Then out of the blue Izayoi got into a fight with some of the other children. The fight ended up with one child getting bitten and another one scratched across the cheek. Kagome tried to reason with the other parents but they threatened to sue should she bring her back. Although their threat never happened, Children's Services heard about the event. It took months of brown nosing on Professor Porter's end for the investigation to be dropped. The Porter's kept Izayoi hidden away from other humans after that and agreed that homeschooling would be for the best down the road. Izayoi wanted to play with the other children but it was still too dangerous. She needed to mature, learn how to play gently and control her temper.
When Izayoi's second birthday came around Kagome and her grandfather's books were finally ready to sell. The set had a total of 10 books each filled with invaluable medical and biological research and detailed illustrations and maps. As expected the books quickly became a top selling item and stores had a hard time keeping them on the shelves. Universities from all over Europe requested the Porters to come speak and attend various conventions, charity events, fundraisers for animal conservation and join in on other research excursions across the globe. Afraid to leave Izayoi behind at such a young age Professor Porter attended many of the events and meetings without his granddaughter. Only when the events were closer to home did Kagome attend.
It was at one of these fundraising events in London that everything changed. Kagome and her grandpa were sipping wine with a group of fellow scientists in a grand study lounge when a man dressed in an expensive suit approached them. He introduced himself as Mr. D'Arnot and inquired about where she'd gotten her pink stone necklace. Kagome, caught off guard by the question, simply replied that her departed husband had given it to her as a wedding gift. Noticing Kagome wasn't wearing a wedding ring and dressed in all black believed her story about Inu-Tarzan being dead. She'd asked him why he'd been interested in her necklace and he'd told her that it looked similar to the Earl of Greystoke's lost family jewel.
He told her that the Earl and his wife had been sailing along the coast of West Africa when their ship was lost at sea. Kagome, intrigued by the story, shared that she met her husband while traveling through Africa with her grandfather. She asked if there was any way to get in contact with the Earl's family just in case her necklace was their long lost treasure. Mr. D'Arnot touched that a stranger would be willing to do such a thing gladly offered to get connected with the family and arrange a meeting. Two weeks later a letter arrived requesting their attendance at the Greystoke's estate in one weeks time. It was now where our new journey began and the old world met the new.
[End of Intro]
Author's Note:
So, what do you think? Are you excited about book 2? Let me know what you think in the comment box! I'd love to hear your thoughts! Thanks for reading! Looking forward to starting this next adventure with you soon!
-TG1