Chapter Eleven: Telling and Arguments

After Inuyasha and Duncan washed the reminders of their battle off, they all gathered inside the small back room to see what they could do about the trip tomorrow. Their was no leaving anyone behind that meant they would need to be taken with them. Inuyasha was not happy with the situation as it stood but they finally all agreed that the sleeping priestesses would be on Kita in the center of their band. Miroku and Sango would ride the two remaining youkai, Minami and Kirara, to make the journey as fast a possible since they would probably be in a run most of they way. They figured a day there and a day back would be better than two 3 days and two nights out in the open and vulnerable. So as it was decided they all took their place by their significant others and slept till sunrise. Their were thankfully no dreams that night.

The morning brought surprises of its own. Julianna was up before everyone. Minami followed her about the hut as she looked about for food to make breakfast with. She guessed that Inuyasha and Duncan had told the it to protect her for the time being. She had only been up maybe a minute when her husband appeared in the doorway of the hallway. "You are up early koi," he told her in Japanese. It seemed right to just keep their current tongue even though they both knew English. He came up behind her and wrapped his arms about her waist as she stood in front of the food storage cupboard. Julianna leaned into him slightly as he pulled her hair to one side and kisses the side of her neck. The woman giggled lightly and turned to kiss him quickly. Now that he had her attention he looked into her eyes. "How do you feel kobito?"

"Well," she started softly. "My back is pretty tender still and but I can move everything with out too much pain. I know I'm feeling better than I have any right to be. So I'll be alright to travel today. I kinda guessed that we would be going to the river today. Now go on you I have to make breakfast," she smiled at her mate. He looked at her deep in her eyes that always told him what he needed to know with out words. They told him exactly what she had said and he was She started to cook breakfast and slowly the rest of the rest of the troop came into the large room as the smell of breakfast filled the rest of the house. Kagome hungry as usual in the morning came next with Inuyasha blinking the sleep from his eyes and Kita trailing them. Shippo came racing out of the bed room next passed Kagome and scampered up Julianna's soar side to sit on her head as she cooked. She grimaced sharply but held the cry of pain in because the small youkai didn't know any better.

"DID YOU HEAR DID YOU HEAR?!?!" he said looking from Julianna to Kagome seeing puzzled looks. "You mean they didn't tell you about the attack last night??!?! You guys were asleep and..." he was cut off as a hand gripped his tale and he was lifted gingerly off Julianna's head was thrown towards Inuyasha who deftly caught him by the tail. He started wailing for Kagome to help him but Inuyasha was to quick and was looking to Duncan to run interferences from the two women who were trying to get the kitsune back from the dog demon.

"INUYASHA LET ME GO!!!" he cried.

"You have a big mouth for a little fox! Why do you feel the need to worry our women half to death when one is carrying and the other is injured?!?! Stupid runt I aught to cook you for breakfast it would make my life much easier! And Duncan's too I'm imagining." Both males took one look at there pissed off mates and Inuyasha got a nod of affirmation.

"Don't you dare Inuyasha! Or I swear I wont talk to you the hole trip!" Kagome threatened. Inuyasha sighed and dropped the kitsune on the floor. He landed on his feet and scrambled for Julianna as Inuyasha went towards his mate to try and calm her down. He was headed up the new miko's leg when he was caught by Duncan by the tail for a second time.

"OH no you don't you pain in my ass!" Duncan said. Julianna put a hand on his arm and gave him a look. Duncan rolled his eyes and gave her turned to give her the fox. "Alright but damn it if he hurts you again he's cat food on the way to the river!" Duncan told her with a bit of a snarl. His mate was unscathed.

"I'm ok koi," She told her peeved mate. "Just leave the kid alone he didn't know any better ok?" Duncan huffed but walked over to his mate. Her attention went to the fox in her arms. "Alright you, listen, my body hurts and hurts bad so if you want up pull on my pants or something. And I suggest you stay with Sango or Miroku until we get underway." Shippo looked brokenhearted but she took no guff from the youkai and sent into the back room to get the others for breakfast.

The women watched the kitsune leave and then turned to their mates with a poignant look. "Well?" Julianna asked Duncan.

"Ya, me too" Kagome told Inuyasha. He shrugged.

"Ah hell," he gave in. "By all that's sacred woman, I swear you never stop bitching! When Kuma boy over there took baba to her damn friends house to see where her previous body died, two more bastards attack us last night. They are after both of you!" Julianna and Kagome shared a look.

"Both of us??" Julianna asked Duncan.

"Yes, which is why you both will ride Kita in the middle of our group as we travel. We will take no chances with either of you," he instructed both females.

"Ok," Julianna conceded. "But WHY do they want us?" Both were silent not wanting to answer the question. Kagome and Julianna were getting tired of feeling like they were missing a big piece of the puzzle because they went to sleep early to prepare for today.

"Why wont you two tell us?"

"Because it doesn't matter," Duncan answered. His face resolute. He was positive they did not need to know this part. Julianna was about to question him further when she saw the look on his face and felt the determination in their link. Kagome turned to Inuyasha to get the answers but he did the same. They both knew they would have angry mates then have them upset to the point of worry. Anger was easier to deal with. The slightly older woman grabbed Kagome by the for arm to get her attention.

"Come on Kagome-chan, Lets go wash up and change. The boys aren't gonna tell us I have that feeling in my gut. Let them keep their secrets. Breakfast is ready help yourselves," Julianna commented. The pregnant girl sighed and followed the other miko to the back of the house.

"Damn demons are stubborn!" Julianna said loud enough for the men to hear.

"How would you know?" they chorused. Both thinking she had just been introduced to all this yesterday.

"Because I've been married to one for 5 years! Just because I now found out he is part youkai doesn't mean he wasn't stubborn all that time till now!" she called back. They heard chuckles as the door clothed to wash up.

In the entranced room Inuyasha and Duncan looked the way their mates went and then at each other. "Does that little kitsune always get you in to that much hot water?" Duncan asked.

"Shit yes! That damn fox has caused more fights then I can even count!" Inuyasha was thought full for a minute. "They sure took that 'we aren't going to tell you', well. Does your mate always give in so?" Duncan snorted.

"Oh no that wasn't taken well I can tell she is seriously pissed off at us, mostly me. They are probably cursing us up one side and down the other to each other back there. The way I do it and the way you do it only differ in one way. I don't argue with her I just say no and she goes strait to being mad, we just skip the argument." Inuyasha chuckled.

"Hell wish it would work for me." They both shrugged and sat down to breakfast as Miroku, Sango, Kirara, and Shippo joined them. The small kuma had disappeared probably into the back washing room with the women. They all ate and Julianna and Kagome came out, Julianna wearing one an extra set of Kagome's pants and tops. Keade gave Duncan a katana that had been in her family for some time to protect the women with. Inuyasha made sure Kagome brought her bow for self defense. Anything at this point they knew would be beneficial It took them less than a half an hour to pack for the two day trip and once set they were finally moving into the forest towards the Sacred spot down the river.

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My never ending thanks to Purple rose for letting me use her Fading scars as a starting point for my story. She is a talented writer and my story takes place between chapter's 19 after they defeated Naraku and chapter's 20 when the baby is born. My suggestion is read her wonderful works to mine might make more sense.

A few Japanese words I used:
Miko- Priestess
Shukuun no Gyokuei- crystal of destiny
Shukuun no miko- Priestess of destiny (don't know if they are right so bear with me)
neko- cat
Kuma- bear
youkai- demon
hanyou- half demon, or in this fanfic's case part demon. I couldn't find a word that meant part demon so i used it to mean a 1/4th too.
Koi- love
Kobito- lover
And I think that covers it. For give my spelling its not the best ^_^
I enjoyed writing it hope like reading it please Read and Review!
Thanks, LJ