Silver Beast: The Meeting
May 24 - Sunday
"You certain you do not need my assistance? It could be another trap." Sesshomaru asked as Inuyasha geared up to ride his motorcycle.
"I need to do this alone." Inuyasha said as he strapped on his helmet. "If shit hits the fan, you'll be the first to know."
"Hm. I better be." Sesshomaru nodded with his hands crossed behind his back.
With nothing more to say, Inuyasha kick started the engine on his bike. As he rode down their mile-long driveway he couldn't help but worry about what he was getting himself into. The last he'd seen or heard from Kikyo was well over five months ago. She only contacted him when she needed something or wanted a quick tussle in the sheets. It was very uncharacteristic of her to call him like this. Her mate Naraku wasn't exactly the nicest of guys and was very protective of Kikyo. He was extremely possessive and controlling, making Kikyo's freedom nearly nonexistent. It was a miracle they'd managed to keep in touch let alone sleep behind his back at all. When Naraku first found out about their affair he'd been livid.
He and Naraku got into a huge fight that ultimately led to Naraku forcing Kikyo to move to Anchorage, Alaska with him. He only got to see her when Naraku was required to attend meetings at the SSFC base near Fort Rupert. It'd been on one of those trips that Kikyo snuck out to meet with him at their secret point and made love well into the late hours of the afternoon. He hoped with them suddenly meeting up like this that she wouldn't get in trouble with Naraku later on. Perhaps that's why she needed to see him? Maybe Naraku did something bad or threatened her life? Naraku's never been violent with her to his knowledge but he wouldn't put it past the bastard to hit a woman. Whatever the reason for needing to meet up with him, he'd be there for her through thick and thin.
He might not be her mate but she'd always be under his protection and hold a special place in his heart. He owed her that much at least since he'd failed her during her life as a human. After he drove down the dirt path he parked his bike behind some bushes and made his way deeper into the woods. The path not having seen usage in months was overgrown with vegetation making it harder to reach his destination. Getting annoyed at the thorns snagging on his jeans he leapt up into the trees. From here, he was able to make up for time lost and avoid the bothersome briers. When he arrived at the tiny glade he sat down on one of the larger tree roots and reclined against its sturdy trunk. Thankfully he didn't have to wait long for Kikyo to show up.
"Kikyo!" Inuyasha exclaimed as he quickly rose from his spot. "Are you alright?"
"Yes, I'm fine. Sorry for keeping you waiting." Kikyo sighed as she stood in the shadows of the thick foliage. "Have you been here long?"
"No, maybe five minutes." Inuyasha said as Kikyo lowered the hood on her black cape. As he pulled her into a tight hug he felt something round press against his stomach. Confused he pulled back and stared down between them. He gasped in shock and quickly stepped away from her when he realized what it was. "Ki-Kikyo… are you…"
"Pregnant? Yes, I am with a healthy baby boy." Kikyo blushed as she rubbed over her swollen belly.
"How… how far along are you?" Inuyasha gulped as his system flooded with an array of emotions.
"Five months." Kikyo said, making his eyes snap up from staring at her belly.
"Five… five months?" Inuyasha paled as he quickly did the math in his head. "Am I…"
"I don't know." Kikyo answered honestly, making his brows furrow.
"You don't know?" Inuyasha asked in confusion.
"The night after we made love I went into heat." Kikyo sighed as she stared off into the woods ashamed. "Your seed could have taken root mere hours before Naraku's."
"Does Naraku know?" Inuyasha asked as she went to sit down on one of the tree's roots.
"He does not and I'd like to keep it that way for as long as possible. I hadn't even considered the possibility of you being the father until my doctor noticed an abnormality in the baby." Kikyo sighed as she pulled out the sonogram photo from her dress pocket.
"Abnormality?" Inuyasha asked as she handed him the photo.
"She thinks it might have deformed ears." Kikyo said as she pointed to the blur on the photo. Inuyasha's eyes widened when he noticed the unmistakable dog-ears on the top of its head. "She tried getting a better image but the baby was being stubborn."
"Keh… that sounds like something my pup would do." Inuyasha smiled softly as he stared down at the blurry image. The potential of becoming a father made his heart race. He wasn't sure how he felt about it all just yet. The idea now that it was a possibility didn't sound so bad. He just wasn't sure how he felt about being a dad to Kikyo's offspring. It felt... wrong? "How big is he?"
"He's around the size of a head of lettuce." Kikyo said, making him chuckle.
"I'm glad you told me this in person instead of over the phone." Inuyasha said as he looked down at her belly.
She'd always been beautiful to him but seeing her like this swollen with child was simply breathtaking. It made him feel more excited at possibly becoming a father but also incredibly jealous and guilty. What if he wasn't the father? He'd never been a fan of Naraku however it was the bastards right to impregnate his mate if he wished. If Naraku wasn't the father however, what was he going to do? How was he going to tell Kagome? What would she think of him for impregnating a woman? She already seemed upset by them meeting today. How would she react when he told her about this unexpected news?
"You deserve nothing less." Kikyo nodded as she looked up at him tenderly. "Do you mind going to the Society's medical unit some time this week to give a blood sample? My doctor back in Anchorage will be able to get the results from there."
"What do they need my blood for?" Inuyasha asked in confusion.
"There are a few reasons my doctor will need your blood. The first is to give my doctor a better idea of your medical history and how to properly care for the baby's health. It will also give the doctor the ability to test your genes and see if you are the father before delivery. If you are indeed the father it will give us a chance to act before Naraku finds out." Kikyo said as he handed her the photo. "No, you keep it."
"Are you sure?" Inuyasha asked hesitantly as he opened his wallet to slip it inside for safekeeping.
"I have more back at home." Kikyo smiled. "So will you go to the clinic?"
"As soon as I can get an appointment." Inuyasha promised.
"Thank you." Kikyo sighed in relief. "I know this is a lot to take in."
"No kidding." Inuyasha scoffed half heartedly as he anxiously knocked his fist against his thigh.
"Would you like to feel the baby?" Kikyo asked as she placed her palm over the spot it had just kicked.
"I… I don't know if that's a good idea." Inuyasha hesitated.
"Why not?" Kikyo frowned. "Your scent is already on my person from when we hugged moments ago."
"It's not that I'm worried about Naraku…" Inuyasha sighed as he ran his fingers through his hair. "It's just that this is a lot to take in right now. I don't know if I can handle getting attached to the baby if he ends up not being mine."
"Even if he does end up being Naraku's son he'll still be in your life. Whenever we meet up he'll be with me. Well, at least until he's old enough to tattle on us to Naraku. Then I'll have to hire a sitter so we can sneak away." Kikyo chuckled, making Inuyasha lower his head in shame. "We will still see each other right?"
"Kikyo… we can't keep doing this." Inuyasha sighed, making her frown. "You'll always be special to me but you're a mated vampiress that may or may not be pupped with my archenemy's spawn. I'm already struggling to hold back my inner beast from hurting you."
"Hurt me? Why would your inner beast want to hurt me now? Our energies were fighting while we made love. My craving for your human blood has died down significantly. What's so different now than before?" Kikyo asked as she looked him up and down suspiciously.
"We aren't mates Kikyo and my beast and I are confused on how we feel about this news." Inuyasha answered honestly. "I never imagined we'd actually have a kid together. Now that you might have my pup growing inside you it's both exciting and upsetting. My beast wants pups but he doesn't want you to be the one to carry them anymore. I know that sounds horrible but it's just how he feels. He wants his mate; not my ex-human turned vampire mistress."
"I thought you didn't want to tie yourself down to a mate?" Kikyo asked as she tried to ignore the sting his beast's rejection had inflicted upon her heart. Her eyes narrowed suspiciously when she noticed a slightly altered scent from her own clouding his own. "You've found her haven't you?"
"What?" Inuyasha blinked in confusion.
"I'm right aren't I? You found your mate! Who is this female that's bewitched you?" Kikyo asked as she got up from her spot to sniff him. "Her scent is very similar to mine. It's no wonder you were attracted to me. The only difference between our scents is that she still holds the warmth of human blood and the faint hint of mint and lavender bath soaps. So who is this human bitch that's taken your affection away from me? What does she have that I don't?"
"You'll stay away from Kagome." Inuyasha growled threateningly. "I don't want her getting mixed up in this."
"Oh, but she already has." Kikyo smirked as she rubbed over her extended belly. "If my babe is in fact your pup, she will eventually learn the truth. Don't be surprised when she leaves you."
"Kagome wouldn't do that." Inuyasha argued. "She's the kindest, most forgiving person I know."
"Your devotion is being wasted on the likes of her." Kikyo scoffed in annoyance. "Her loyalty to you will disappear as soon as she learns you're going to be a father in little over three and a half months."
"Maybe, a father." Inuyasha corrected her. "I can't smell my sent on the pup. For all we know the kid really is Naraku's."
"That's besides the point." Kikyo waved off. "If she is your mate like your beast believes her to be, then you've already betrayed her beyond forgiveness."
"Shut up!" Inuyasha growled as his beast began to lose his patience. "I will never regret being with you Kikyo or conceiving a son but don't you dare use him as a weapon to hurt Kagome. She won't understand our past."
"Of course she won't understand. How can she when her one and only mate chose to impregnate another all while knowing his choices would ultimately cause her pain down the road?" Kikyo chuckled as she watched the misery build in his eyes. "I do not have to touch Kagome or even speak to her to cause her harm. No, our history and this baby's existence alone does enough. You chose to sleep with me instead of waiting for her."
"Leave me before I lose control completely." Inuyasha spat as his human brown eyes began to turn crimson red. "I don't want to hurt you both."
"Fine, I'll go but this isn't over Inuyasha. Kagome will find out sooner or later. When she does, I'll be waiting for you." Kikyo said before wrapping her cloak around herself, vanishing into the shadows of the forest.
"Kikyo!" Inuyasha snarled as the desire to make her pay for threatening what was his flooded through his veins. Infuriated and needing to let off steam he slashed his claws into the nearest tree and yelled. "Damn it!"
Feeling himself losing control of his inner beast he quickly pulled out his cell phone. After a heated discussion with his brother he raced down the hill towards his bike. He knew he was running out of time when his charm began to fail. Already he could feel his fingernails and teeth turning into claws and claws and his vision turning red. If he didn't get home soon he might transform right here. Then he'd really be fucked.
