Chapter 8
Inu-Yasha ran through the woods, scouting everywhere for his "daughter". He hopped into trees, and sniffed the air out of habit. He knew the girl didn't have a scent. "NAUKI! WHERE ARE YOU?!" No answer. He ran everywhere in the darkness. At certain points, he stopped as he breathed hard, his ears listening for any sound of her. Inu-Yasha was starting to feel frantic. He desperatly needed to find her. The temperature was dropping. "NAUKI!" Inu-Yasha ran off again, scouting the land. He was hoping to find any kind of footprints, or sign of where the girl had been. If he could just find out where she had been, he could head in the direction of where she might be. Everyone was helping him look. He didn't understand why they were offering their support considering how they seemed to feel about the child. Regardless, he was putting aside his anger for the moment. He just needed assistance in looking for her. "Nauki," Kagome called. She looked everywhere. For some strange reason, she found herself looking up in trees for the girl. There was no answer. Shippo was checking down by the river where Nauki was last seen. "Nauki," he called carefully, afraid he was still bait for her. "Where are you?" No answer. Kaede was checking around the village where she knew the girl had felt most comfortable. She thought the child would have came back to her hut because of the good memories the girl had with Inu-Yasha there. "Nauki child," she called. She went inside her hut. There was no answer. Miroku didn't bother to shout the girl's name. He knew she wouldn't answer. He just quietly walked through the woods, listening. The air was so still. The only sound he could hear was snow crunching under his frozen toes. *Maybe we were too hasty in assuming she has evil tendencies. Still, there is something hidden about that girl.* He walked farther into the forest. Miroku ended up farther down the river near the tree that Inu-Yasha had been bound to. He stopped, listening. He was getting some sort of vibration from the area. *I think we might be using the wrong methods to search for the girl.* He stared up at the tree with the broken vines wrapped around it. *This is the tree that Inu-Yasha was bound to by Kikyo's arrow.* He heard the smallest shift of movement. Miroku turned his head slowly. "He's looking everywhere for you." He heard a small gasp. "Inu-Yasha doesn't hate you, Nauki. It's the complete opposite of what you're thinking, Sunshine." Nauki came out from behind the large tree, rubbing her eyes. She had been crying for a little while. Her body was trembling from the cold. She bit her lower lip, looking up at the monk slowly, then down. "Why are you hiding from him?" He kneeled down trying not to seem threatening to the six year-old. "I'm..nno..t...s..supp-ose...to...be...he-re..yet...," She managed to say. Nauki stayed still. She could see Miroku wasn't going to approach her, and she was comfortable with that. He was confused about what she told him. He didn't understand what she meant by saying she wasn't suppose to be here yet. Miroku wondered why the girl was thinking the way she was. "Why do you think you're not suppose to be here yet?" "I'm...nno..t...s..supp-ose...to...be..he-re..yet..," Nauki repeated. It was the only thing she could say. She wished she could talk more, but she wasn't talking from her brain like they talked. She was talking from her heart. It was more difficult to get out because she was confused, and her emotions were jumbled. "Are you going to come back home," Miroku asked her. Nauki seemed a little shocked when she heard him say the word "home". He smiled at her a little, sitting down in the snow. "Inu-Yasha wants you to stay, Sunshine." He watched her sort out the pros and cons in her mind. Nauki looked up at him slowly. "He's been searching for you for hours. When you left, he pretty much told all of us off." Nauki shook her head not understanding. "He loves you more than you give him credit for, Sunshine. Inu-Yasha just has different ways of showing it." *He...does..love me?* Nauki's heart fluttered back to life like it had been slowly dying since she ran away. She walked slowly to Miroku. Stopping in front of him, she pushed in his nose. "Ready to go back?" She nodded. Miroku opened his arms. He was kind of surprised when Nauki wrapped her arms around him. She was freezing cold to the touch. He lifted her up and turned around to head back to the hut.
Nauki's teeth chattered as Miroku put a blanket around her. He was trying his best to warm her back up. Her lips had turned a light blue color from being outside. He watched as she looked around the hut tiredly. "Ah, you can't go to sleep. Sorry, Sunshine," Miroku said lifting her chin back up. *I'm tired...* She tried to close her eyes, but when she did, Miroku lightly popped her cheek. *Why does he keep forcing me to stay awake?* "If you go to sleep, I'm afraid you won't wake back up. You're chilled to the bone. I still have to get the color back in your pretty face," he smiled at her. Miroku took each one of her hands into his, and started to rub his hands against them. The friction was helping a little. *Too bad I can't start a fire in here. She really needs it.* Kagome was the first to return. She had came back to see if anyone else had found anything. When she saw Nauki, she sat down in front of the girl quickly, examining her. "Miroku, her lips are blue! She'll get hypothermia!" "I don't know what hypothermia is, but we've got to warm her up. She's been trying to," He popped Nauki's cheek lightly,"go to sleep the entire time she's been back." "Too bad we can't start a fire in here. She needs to get warm fast." "That's what I was thinking," he said. Miroku started to rub Nauki's cold feet. Again, she tried to nod off. "Kagome?" Kagome reached up lightly popping Nauki on the cheek. The girl grumbled with her eyes half closed. For some reason, Kagome wanted to hold her. Without thinking, she reached forward, putting her arms around Nauki. She drew her close, laying Nauki's head on her shoulder. Miroku stopped rubbing Nauki's feet, entranced by what Kagome was unconsciously doing. *She's acting just like..her mother.* He thought back to what Nauki had said in the woods. (I'm nno..t...s..supp-ose..to..be..he- re..yet...) Kagome pressed Nauki to her as tightly as she could. Within seconds, Kagome was cradling Nauki in her coat. She started to blow hot air onto the girl's face, trying to warm her up. Miroku just sat and stared. Kagome was only aware of Nauki. She was not paying attention to Miroku, or anything else that was happening around her. Nauki's breathing was softening. Kagome knew she was asleep. She ran her fingers through the girl's silky hair, coaxing her into relaxing. Inu-Yasha came into the hut breathing hard. Snow was all in his hair, on his clothes, and his teeth were chattering. When he saw Kagome holding Nauki, he froze. His heart rate slowed down, calmness flowing over him. He left the door wide open, the snow blowing in the wind behind him. Walking numbly to where Kagome sat, Inu-Yasha slowly crouched down, watching her. He was aware that Kagome was trying her best to get Nauki warm. Nauki's blue lips caught his attention. He panicked. His heart started to race again, his breathing becoming quick and uneasy. He was afraid they had been too late in finding her. Inu-Yasha felt someone grab his arm. He turned around, his eyes wild with fright. Miroku was shaking his head at him. "She's o.k.," Miroku told him. "I found her near the tree that you were bound to fifty-five years ago." Inu-Yasha didn't understand. "Why..would she have been near that cursed tree?" He looked back to Kagome, who was now rubbing her hands up and down the girl's body trying to get circulation going. Miroku let go of Inu-Yasha's arm. He got up slowly. The weather outside was getting bad. Maybe he would make up to Sango. It had been two days since he saw her last, and that had been enough time for her to cool off. He walked out of the hut softly, leaving the two to care for the girl. Inu-Yasha sat down slowly still watching Kagome. He raised a claw wanting to touch her, but didn't dare. Everything Kagome was doing reminded him so much of his mother's love for him. He could see it in Kagome's eyes. She was taking care of Nauki just like a mother would. After a few moments, Kagome noticed he was sitting in front of her. She smiled at him faintly, glancing down at Nauki, then back up at him. "Is she...," he trailed off, afraid to ask. "She's sleeping," Kagome whispered. "I've got her a little warmer than she was when I came in." Inu-Yasha could see Nauki shaking with the chills all over her body. Children were smaller, thus, the cold effected them greater. Subconsciously, he leaned forward, putting his arms around Kagome. He pulled her forwards, pressing his body against Nauki and her. Kagome blushed, her breathing going shallow. She felt like she was panicking. Soon she realized Inu-Yasha was using his body heat to get Nauki warm. She relaxed. Closing her eyes, Kagome breathed in Inu-Yasha's smell. As her eyes were closed, she started to feel a new sense of awareness. They were becoming closer without really acknowledging it. Inu-Yasha closed his eyes, listening. He could hear Nauki breathing, and could feel Kagome's heart start to race, then calm down. He had scared her. Earlier he had followed his heart about the decision involving Nauki. Now he was following it once again. Inu-Yasha was realizing that Nauki was leading him to Kagome, and Kagome to Nauki. The riddles of the six year-old were increasing. Nauki moved her mouth a little, as if she were trying to say something in her sleep. She started to scratch lightly at Kagome, her small fingers brushing up against Inu-Yasha. Even though she was asleep, she was aware. She could hear Kagome's heart, and feel Inu-Yasha's close by. In her sleep, Nauki's heart danced. They were together. Something she had been waiting for, for a long time. The feeling of completeness, washed over Kagome and Inu-Yasha. They were both more relaxed, more mellow. Inu-Yasha didn't mind showing his affectionate side when it was just him and Kagome. He had the strangest feeling that he was opening himself at times when he was suppose to so he wouldn't feel like he had to. Kagome unconsciously laid her head on his shoulder, forgetting for a moment who had his arms wrapped around her. She relaxed so much that she wanted to fall asleep just like the girl in her arms. When Kagome's warning signal kicked in, Inu-Yasha just drew her closer. He laid his head against Kagome's, his mind in thought again. What was coming over him? Feelings that he had bottled up for years were pouring out of him. They weren't exactly rushing out, but flowing out and staying within the same circle he was sitting in. He didn't quite understand it. *It's like Nauki and Kagome are making me feel completely whole.* As he thought it, Nauki moved. She rubbed her eyes, then turned around slowly, laying the back of her head against his chest. All the while, her cheek was still touching Kagome. One hand was still scratching lightly at Kagome's right arm, the other was resting neatly against Inu- Yasha's leg. Nauki mumbled, "I..lo..ve..my..ma-ma..and..pa..pa...," then drifted back to sleep. Both Inu-Yasha and Kagome's ears picked it up. Kagome opened her eyes, staring wide at the little girl. She studied her. *From the side, Nauki looks just like Inu-Yasha...Her bangs, and tresses look just like his..* Inu-Yasha was looking hard at Kagome, reflecting on something entirely different. He was noticing that Nauki's personality was free- spirited like Kagome's. She was also quick to temper, and stubborn like him. If Nauki was an Angel, he was praying she wasn't an Archangel. He didn't want to lose her. Inu-Yasha felt like he was more than just attached to the child. He felt more like Nauki was a missing part of him. Which left two other options: Guardian Angel, or Soul Angel. "Do you really think she's an Angel," Kagome asked, breathing slowly as if she were in total awe of the girl. Inu-Yasha didn't answer right away. He was still thinking of the possibilities. *If Nauki is an Angel, then Miroku is right..I will be raising my enemy. It will put me and Nauki in great danger. I don't want to put her in danger like Kagome is faced with all of the time.* He breathed out carefully watching the girl laying on him. She was fast asleep, her small head going forwards and backwards with the movement of his breathing.
"What are you thinking about," Kagome asked looking up at him with soft-hearted eyes. She was kind of afraid to ask because Inu-Yasha was secretive and reserved about his thoughts. He didn't like anyone to know more than they had to about him. "I keep thinking about what Miroku said about raising my enemy," he answered. He bent down slowly putting his chin on the top of Nauki's head. Kagome watched him. She could see him battling his emotions. He was getting very attached to the six year-old he knew nothing about. She wondered what Nauki had done to change Inu-Yasha so greatly in the past two weeks. "You..care for her, don't you?" She sat up looking him in the face, watching how he closed his eyes when she asked. She already knew the answer. "Why are you so afraid to admit what you feel?" Inu-Yasha sat up straight, looking off to his right. "Because when I do, I get hurt." Nauki stirred a little, her ears picking up what he said. "I..w- won..'t...h..ur..t...you...pa..pa...," she mumbled. She moved her head so her ear was right over his heart, listening for any kind of a reaction. Inu-Yasha heard her all too well. He was surprised that she had heard him, and by what she had said. He moved his head to look at her again. The emotions that were generating from Nauki scared him. He still couldn't figure out how he was able to feel things that she felt. The child in his lap was so full of love and innnocence, something he once was. Kagome smiled faintly at him. She knew he was afraid. He was so afraid of Nauki's pure innocence, that he was lightly shaking. Inu-Yasha was half-demon, thus, half evil. To Kagome, he wasn't evil at all. Just afraid of the truth. "She's not going to hurt you, Inu-Yasha. She's a child. Children don't know what evil is." He gasped, looking at Kagome quickly, having heard that piece of advice before from Kaede. He studied her for a moment. He wasn't sure. Inu- Yasha didn't realize he was shaking. He was too wrapped up in his thoughts to notice. Kagome placed both of her hands on his face, making him look at her. He tried to look away from her, the emotions flowing through his face. She could see it in his eyes. "Look at me." He turned his head. She just turned him back. "Inu-Yasha, look at me." She gasped. His eyes were welling up with tears. "Let go of me, Kagome," he said quietly, his voice kind of shakey. She let go, not realizing how much he was being affected by the child in his lap. "Why are you so afraid of her?" Kagome rubbed her nose up against his cheek, trying to make him feel better. "I'm...not afraid of her..It's just..." He shook his head. "It's just what..?" She leaned back watching him close his eyes again. "You still feel after these past few years that you cannot tell me anything?" She had a hurt look on her face. Inu-Yasha didn't look at her. "It's not..that I can't tell you anything. It's more like..I don't..know how to tell you." He laid his cheek on Nauki's head, looking away. Kagome bent down, caressing his face. "Why not just say it?" She smiled at him. "I don't bite, Inu-Yasha." He slowly looked into her eyes. He bit his lip, looking away again. "Please tell me? I haven't hurt you once," she said. Inu-Yasha swallowed hard. He wrapped his arms around Nauki. He wasn't too sure if he ought to tell Kagome. The past turned its ugly head. She seemed to know what he was thinking about. Kagome sighed. "I'm not Kikyo," she said quietly, closing her eyes as she turned around. "And I do trust you..I know you would never hurt me..." Inu-Yasha looked down. He slowly raised his left arm. *What if she hits me? No! I've...got to stop being afraid of myself.* He lightly put his arm around Kagome's waist and drew her back towards him. "Huh?" Kagome felt herself being pulled back. Her heart started to race, but calmed down again. She turned her head. She could see he was afraid to show the slightest hint of affection towards her. When he had pulled her far enough back, he swallowed hard again. Kagome hadn't hit him. He was relieved. Taking another chance he leaned his head towards her. As he did, Kagome turned around her head in his direction. He laid his head on her forehead. Kagome wrapped her arms around his waist. She knew he was entirely afraid of what her reaction would be. Very gently, she closed her eyes, kissing him on the cheek. She could feel him tensing, not really knowing what to expect. He panicked a little. *O.k...she's not afraid of me. Then, man, what does this mean. I..* He closed his eyes hard, feeling flighty. *I can't run from her. Kagome's..not..going to hurt me. She's..not..going to hurt me.* Kagome kissed him again tenderly on the cheek. She kept repeating what she was doing, until his breathing became calmer. Once he relaxed, Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck. She just wanted to be near him. The years of him rescuing her had caused a fond affection to grow inside of her. He dared to take a chance. Inu-Yasha held Kagome harder with one arm, pressing his cheek against hers. "I...love..you..Kagome," he whispered. She smiled, turning to face him. "I thought as much," she said sternly, putting her hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes. Inu-Yasha had a bewildered look on his face. *Huh? What just happened?! She told me to open up to her?!* His eyes became wider thinking he was going to get smacked. Kagome bent closer to him. Her mood shifted within three point five seconds. She kissed him tenderly on the lips. As she broke away, she looked at him fondly. "Because I love you, too." Now he was confused. "Then why did you just look at me like you were going to beat the tar out of me?!" "Oh, just to mess with you," She laughed a little. "Kagome....that is nowhere near...funny," He gritted his teeth. His anger didn't last long. Kagome kissed him again, but deeper, changing his mood instantly. *She really does love me.* As he was getting into kissing her back, a warning signal kicked in from the back of his mind. He had forgotten about Nauki being asleep in between them. He gently tapped on Kagome's shoulder. She stopped kissing him, tilting her head slowly. "Did I do something wrong?" "No," he shook his head at her. "but um..." He pointed down to Nauki who was still asleep. "Oops. Guess I got kind of carried away," She waved a hand at him, shrugging it off. "Sorry." "You're not the only one," he leaned in, kissing her on the lips again. Kagome closed her eyes, enjoying the moment. Nauki stirred a little, turning around. Both of them froze. "Maybe, we ought to wait when she's not, you know, sleeping on you," Kagome said. "Good idea," Inu-Yasha said. Still, he did like kissing Kagome. He smiled a little, looking at her. "N..o...iss..ing...," Nauki mumbled. She yawned big, stretching, then curled back up. "Have you realized that she tends to talk more when she's asleep, than when she's awake?" "Yeah," he said. "What I can't figure out is where she's learning words. When she's awake, she doesn't try to talk, or bother. If she does, she doesn't say much." "Well, you told me the only thing you've heard her say is "Papa"," Kagome said. "Have you figured out who her dad is?" He shook his head. "Um, she's said another word, too." Kagome blinked. "Mama." "Whose her mother?" "She was referring to you when you left," he told her. "Me? How do you know it was me she was referring to?" "Because it was right after you left yesterday, Kagome. She was looking in the direction of where I had just been. She stretched out her hand and was calling you." "But..Inu-Yasha, I'm not her mother." "And I'm not her father. This is all a big riddle that we have to figure out." "I agree." They both looked down at the small six year-old who was sleeping hard on Inu-Yasha.
Inu-Yasha ran through the woods, scouting everywhere for his "daughter". He hopped into trees, and sniffed the air out of habit. He knew the girl didn't have a scent. "NAUKI! WHERE ARE YOU?!" No answer. He ran everywhere in the darkness. At certain points, he stopped as he breathed hard, his ears listening for any sound of her. Inu-Yasha was starting to feel frantic. He desperatly needed to find her. The temperature was dropping. "NAUKI!" Inu-Yasha ran off again, scouting the land. He was hoping to find any kind of footprints, or sign of where the girl had been. If he could just find out where she had been, he could head in the direction of where she might be. Everyone was helping him look. He didn't understand why they were offering their support considering how they seemed to feel about the child. Regardless, he was putting aside his anger for the moment. He just needed assistance in looking for her. "Nauki," Kagome called. She looked everywhere. For some strange reason, she found herself looking up in trees for the girl. There was no answer. Shippo was checking down by the river where Nauki was last seen. "Nauki," he called carefully, afraid he was still bait for her. "Where are you?" No answer. Kaede was checking around the village where she knew the girl had felt most comfortable. She thought the child would have came back to her hut because of the good memories the girl had with Inu-Yasha there. "Nauki child," she called. She went inside her hut. There was no answer. Miroku didn't bother to shout the girl's name. He knew she wouldn't answer. He just quietly walked through the woods, listening. The air was so still. The only sound he could hear was snow crunching under his frozen toes. *Maybe we were too hasty in assuming she has evil tendencies. Still, there is something hidden about that girl.* He walked farther into the forest. Miroku ended up farther down the river near the tree that Inu-Yasha had been bound to. He stopped, listening. He was getting some sort of vibration from the area. *I think we might be using the wrong methods to search for the girl.* He stared up at the tree with the broken vines wrapped around it. *This is the tree that Inu-Yasha was bound to by Kikyo's arrow.* He heard the smallest shift of movement. Miroku turned his head slowly. "He's looking everywhere for you." He heard a small gasp. "Inu-Yasha doesn't hate you, Nauki. It's the complete opposite of what you're thinking, Sunshine." Nauki came out from behind the large tree, rubbing her eyes. She had been crying for a little while. Her body was trembling from the cold. She bit her lower lip, looking up at the monk slowly, then down. "Why are you hiding from him?" He kneeled down trying not to seem threatening to the six year-old. "I'm..nno..t...s..supp-ose...to...be...he-re..yet...," She managed to say. Nauki stayed still. She could see Miroku wasn't going to approach her, and she was comfortable with that. He was confused about what she told him. He didn't understand what she meant by saying she wasn't suppose to be here yet. Miroku wondered why the girl was thinking the way she was. "Why do you think you're not suppose to be here yet?" "I'm...nno..t...s..supp-ose...to...be..he-re..yet..," Nauki repeated. It was the only thing she could say. She wished she could talk more, but she wasn't talking from her brain like they talked. She was talking from her heart. It was more difficult to get out because she was confused, and her emotions were jumbled. "Are you going to come back home," Miroku asked her. Nauki seemed a little shocked when she heard him say the word "home". He smiled at her a little, sitting down in the snow. "Inu-Yasha wants you to stay, Sunshine." He watched her sort out the pros and cons in her mind. Nauki looked up at him slowly. "He's been searching for you for hours. When you left, he pretty much told all of us off." Nauki shook her head not understanding. "He loves you more than you give him credit for, Sunshine. Inu-Yasha just has different ways of showing it." *He...does..love me?* Nauki's heart fluttered back to life like it had been slowly dying since she ran away. She walked slowly to Miroku. Stopping in front of him, she pushed in his nose. "Ready to go back?" She nodded. Miroku opened his arms. He was kind of surprised when Nauki wrapped her arms around him. She was freezing cold to the touch. He lifted her up and turned around to head back to the hut.
Nauki's teeth chattered as Miroku put a blanket around her. He was trying his best to warm her back up. Her lips had turned a light blue color from being outside. He watched as she looked around the hut tiredly. "Ah, you can't go to sleep. Sorry, Sunshine," Miroku said lifting her chin back up. *I'm tired...* She tried to close her eyes, but when she did, Miroku lightly popped her cheek. *Why does he keep forcing me to stay awake?* "If you go to sleep, I'm afraid you won't wake back up. You're chilled to the bone. I still have to get the color back in your pretty face," he smiled at her. Miroku took each one of her hands into his, and started to rub his hands against them. The friction was helping a little. *Too bad I can't start a fire in here. She really needs it.* Kagome was the first to return. She had came back to see if anyone else had found anything. When she saw Nauki, she sat down in front of the girl quickly, examining her. "Miroku, her lips are blue! She'll get hypothermia!" "I don't know what hypothermia is, but we've got to warm her up. She's been trying to," He popped Nauki's cheek lightly,"go to sleep the entire time she's been back." "Too bad we can't start a fire in here. She needs to get warm fast." "That's what I was thinking," he said. Miroku started to rub Nauki's cold feet. Again, she tried to nod off. "Kagome?" Kagome reached up lightly popping Nauki on the cheek. The girl grumbled with her eyes half closed. For some reason, Kagome wanted to hold her. Without thinking, she reached forward, putting her arms around Nauki. She drew her close, laying Nauki's head on her shoulder. Miroku stopped rubbing Nauki's feet, entranced by what Kagome was unconsciously doing. *She's acting just like..her mother.* He thought back to what Nauki had said in the woods. (I'm nno..t...s..supp-ose..to..be..he- re..yet...) Kagome pressed Nauki to her as tightly as she could. Within seconds, Kagome was cradling Nauki in her coat. She started to blow hot air onto the girl's face, trying to warm her up. Miroku just sat and stared. Kagome was only aware of Nauki. She was not paying attention to Miroku, or anything else that was happening around her. Nauki's breathing was softening. Kagome knew she was asleep. She ran her fingers through the girl's silky hair, coaxing her into relaxing. Inu-Yasha came into the hut breathing hard. Snow was all in his hair, on his clothes, and his teeth were chattering. When he saw Kagome holding Nauki, he froze. His heart rate slowed down, calmness flowing over him. He left the door wide open, the snow blowing in the wind behind him. Walking numbly to where Kagome sat, Inu-Yasha slowly crouched down, watching her. He was aware that Kagome was trying her best to get Nauki warm. Nauki's blue lips caught his attention. He panicked. His heart started to race again, his breathing becoming quick and uneasy. He was afraid they had been too late in finding her. Inu-Yasha felt someone grab his arm. He turned around, his eyes wild with fright. Miroku was shaking his head at him. "She's o.k.," Miroku told him. "I found her near the tree that you were bound to fifty-five years ago." Inu-Yasha didn't understand. "Why..would she have been near that cursed tree?" He looked back to Kagome, who was now rubbing her hands up and down the girl's body trying to get circulation going. Miroku let go of Inu-Yasha's arm. He got up slowly. The weather outside was getting bad. Maybe he would make up to Sango. It had been two days since he saw her last, and that had been enough time for her to cool off. He walked out of the hut softly, leaving the two to care for the girl. Inu-Yasha sat down slowly still watching Kagome. He raised a claw wanting to touch her, but didn't dare. Everything Kagome was doing reminded him so much of his mother's love for him. He could see it in Kagome's eyes. She was taking care of Nauki just like a mother would. After a few moments, Kagome noticed he was sitting in front of her. She smiled at him faintly, glancing down at Nauki, then back up at him. "Is she...," he trailed off, afraid to ask. "She's sleeping," Kagome whispered. "I've got her a little warmer than she was when I came in." Inu-Yasha could see Nauki shaking with the chills all over her body. Children were smaller, thus, the cold effected them greater. Subconsciously, he leaned forward, putting his arms around Kagome. He pulled her forwards, pressing his body against Nauki and her. Kagome blushed, her breathing going shallow. She felt like she was panicking. Soon she realized Inu-Yasha was using his body heat to get Nauki warm. She relaxed. Closing her eyes, Kagome breathed in Inu-Yasha's smell. As her eyes were closed, she started to feel a new sense of awareness. They were becoming closer without really acknowledging it. Inu-Yasha closed his eyes, listening. He could hear Nauki breathing, and could feel Kagome's heart start to race, then calm down. He had scared her. Earlier he had followed his heart about the decision involving Nauki. Now he was following it once again. Inu-Yasha was realizing that Nauki was leading him to Kagome, and Kagome to Nauki. The riddles of the six year-old were increasing. Nauki moved her mouth a little, as if she were trying to say something in her sleep. She started to scratch lightly at Kagome, her small fingers brushing up against Inu-Yasha. Even though she was asleep, she was aware. She could hear Kagome's heart, and feel Inu-Yasha's close by. In her sleep, Nauki's heart danced. They were together. Something she had been waiting for, for a long time. The feeling of completeness, washed over Kagome and Inu-Yasha. They were both more relaxed, more mellow. Inu-Yasha didn't mind showing his affectionate side when it was just him and Kagome. He had the strangest feeling that he was opening himself at times when he was suppose to so he wouldn't feel like he had to. Kagome unconsciously laid her head on his shoulder, forgetting for a moment who had his arms wrapped around her. She relaxed so much that she wanted to fall asleep just like the girl in her arms. When Kagome's warning signal kicked in, Inu-Yasha just drew her closer. He laid his head against Kagome's, his mind in thought again. What was coming over him? Feelings that he had bottled up for years were pouring out of him. They weren't exactly rushing out, but flowing out and staying within the same circle he was sitting in. He didn't quite understand it. *It's like Nauki and Kagome are making me feel completely whole.* As he thought it, Nauki moved. She rubbed her eyes, then turned around slowly, laying the back of her head against his chest. All the while, her cheek was still touching Kagome. One hand was still scratching lightly at Kagome's right arm, the other was resting neatly against Inu- Yasha's leg. Nauki mumbled, "I..lo..ve..my..ma-ma..and..pa..pa...," then drifted back to sleep. Both Inu-Yasha and Kagome's ears picked it up. Kagome opened her eyes, staring wide at the little girl. She studied her. *From the side, Nauki looks just like Inu-Yasha...Her bangs, and tresses look just like his..* Inu-Yasha was looking hard at Kagome, reflecting on something entirely different. He was noticing that Nauki's personality was free- spirited like Kagome's. She was also quick to temper, and stubborn like him. If Nauki was an Angel, he was praying she wasn't an Archangel. He didn't want to lose her. Inu-Yasha felt like he was more than just attached to the child. He felt more like Nauki was a missing part of him. Which left two other options: Guardian Angel, or Soul Angel. "Do you really think she's an Angel," Kagome asked, breathing slowly as if she were in total awe of the girl. Inu-Yasha didn't answer right away. He was still thinking of the possibilities. *If Nauki is an Angel, then Miroku is right..I will be raising my enemy. It will put me and Nauki in great danger. I don't want to put her in danger like Kagome is faced with all of the time.* He breathed out carefully watching the girl laying on him. She was fast asleep, her small head going forwards and backwards with the movement of his breathing.
"What are you thinking about," Kagome asked looking up at him with soft-hearted eyes. She was kind of afraid to ask because Inu-Yasha was secretive and reserved about his thoughts. He didn't like anyone to know more than they had to about him. "I keep thinking about what Miroku said about raising my enemy," he answered. He bent down slowly putting his chin on the top of Nauki's head. Kagome watched him. She could see him battling his emotions. He was getting very attached to the six year-old he knew nothing about. She wondered what Nauki had done to change Inu-Yasha so greatly in the past two weeks. "You..care for her, don't you?" She sat up looking him in the face, watching how he closed his eyes when she asked. She already knew the answer. "Why are you so afraid to admit what you feel?" Inu-Yasha sat up straight, looking off to his right. "Because when I do, I get hurt." Nauki stirred a little, her ears picking up what he said. "I..w- won..'t...h..ur..t...you...pa..pa...," she mumbled. She moved her head so her ear was right over his heart, listening for any kind of a reaction. Inu-Yasha heard her all too well. He was surprised that she had heard him, and by what she had said. He moved his head to look at her again. The emotions that were generating from Nauki scared him. He still couldn't figure out how he was able to feel things that she felt. The child in his lap was so full of love and innnocence, something he once was. Kagome smiled faintly at him. She knew he was afraid. He was so afraid of Nauki's pure innocence, that he was lightly shaking. Inu-Yasha was half-demon, thus, half evil. To Kagome, he wasn't evil at all. Just afraid of the truth. "She's not going to hurt you, Inu-Yasha. She's a child. Children don't know what evil is." He gasped, looking at Kagome quickly, having heard that piece of advice before from Kaede. He studied her for a moment. He wasn't sure. Inu- Yasha didn't realize he was shaking. He was too wrapped up in his thoughts to notice. Kagome placed both of her hands on his face, making him look at her. He tried to look away from her, the emotions flowing through his face. She could see it in his eyes. "Look at me." He turned his head. She just turned him back. "Inu-Yasha, look at me." She gasped. His eyes were welling up with tears. "Let go of me, Kagome," he said quietly, his voice kind of shakey. She let go, not realizing how much he was being affected by the child in his lap. "Why are you so afraid of her?" Kagome rubbed her nose up against his cheek, trying to make him feel better. "I'm...not afraid of her..It's just..." He shook his head. "It's just what..?" She leaned back watching him close his eyes again. "You still feel after these past few years that you cannot tell me anything?" She had a hurt look on her face. Inu-Yasha didn't look at her. "It's not..that I can't tell you anything. It's more like..I don't..know how to tell you." He laid his cheek on Nauki's head, looking away. Kagome bent down, caressing his face. "Why not just say it?" She smiled at him. "I don't bite, Inu-Yasha." He slowly looked into her eyes. He bit his lip, looking away again. "Please tell me? I haven't hurt you once," she said. Inu-Yasha swallowed hard. He wrapped his arms around Nauki. He wasn't too sure if he ought to tell Kagome. The past turned its ugly head. She seemed to know what he was thinking about. Kagome sighed. "I'm not Kikyo," she said quietly, closing her eyes as she turned around. "And I do trust you..I know you would never hurt me..." Inu-Yasha looked down. He slowly raised his left arm. *What if she hits me? No! I've...got to stop being afraid of myself.* He lightly put his arm around Kagome's waist and drew her back towards him. "Huh?" Kagome felt herself being pulled back. Her heart started to race, but calmed down again. She turned her head. She could see he was afraid to show the slightest hint of affection towards her. When he had pulled her far enough back, he swallowed hard again. Kagome hadn't hit him. He was relieved. Taking another chance he leaned his head towards her. As he did, Kagome turned around her head in his direction. He laid his head on her forehead. Kagome wrapped her arms around his waist. She knew he was entirely afraid of what her reaction would be. Very gently, she closed her eyes, kissing him on the cheek. She could feel him tensing, not really knowing what to expect. He panicked a little. *O.k...she's not afraid of me. Then, man, what does this mean. I..* He closed his eyes hard, feeling flighty. *I can't run from her. Kagome's..not..going to hurt me. She's..not..going to hurt me.* Kagome kissed him again tenderly on the cheek. She kept repeating what she was doing, until his breathing became calmer. Once he relaxed, Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck. She just wanted to be near him. The years of him rescuing her had caused a fond affection to grow inside of her. He dared to take a chance. Inu-Yasha held Kagome harder with one arm, pressing his cheek against hers. "I...love..you..Kagome," he whispered. She smiled, turning to face him. "I thought as much," she said sternly, putting her hands on her hips, narrowing her eyes. Inu-Yasha had a bewildered look on his face. *Huh? What just happened?! She told me to open up to her?!* His eyes became wider thinking he was going to get smacked. Kagome bent closer to him. Her mood shifted within three point five seconds. She kissed him tenderly on the lips. As she broke away, she looked at him fondly. "Because I love you, too." Now he was confused. "Then why did you just look at me like you were going to beat the tar out of me?!" "Oh, just to mess with you," She laughed a little. "Kagome....that is nowhere near...funny," He gritted his teeth. His anger didn't last long. Kagome kissed him again, but deeper, changing his mood instantly. *She really does love me.* As he was getting into kissing her back, a warning signal kicked in from the back of his mind. He had forgotten about Nauki being asleep in between them. He gently tapped on Kagome's shoulder. She stopped kissing him, tilting her head slowly. "Did I do something wrong?" "No," he shook his head at her. "but um..." He pointed down to Nauki who was still asleep. "Oops. Guess I got kind of carried away," She waved a hand at him, shrugging it off. "Sorry." "You're not the only one," he leaned in, kissing her on the lips again. Kagome closed her eyes, enjoying the moment. Nauki stirred a little, turning around. Both of them froze. "Maybe, we ought to wait when she's not, you know, sleeping on you," Kagome said. "Good idea," Inu-Yasha said. Still, he did like kissing Kagome. He smiled a little, looking at her. "N..o...iss..ing...," Nauki mumbled. She yawned big, stretching, then curled back up. "Have you realized that she tends to talk more when she's asleep, than when she's awake?" "Yeah," he said. "What I can't figure out is where she's learning words. When she's awake, she doesn't try to talk, or bother. If she does, she doesn't say much." "Well, you told me the only thing you've heard her say is "Papa"," Kagome said. "Have you figured out who her dad is?" He shook his head. "Um, she's said another word, too." Kagome blinked. "Mama." "Whose her mother?" "She was referring to you when you left," he told her. "Me? How do you know it was me she was referring to?" "Because it was right after you left yesterday, Kagome. She was looking in the direction of where I had just been. She stretched out her hand and was calling you." "But..Inu-Yasha, I'm not her mother." "And I'm not her father. This is all a big riddle that we have to figure out." "I agree." They both looked down at the small six year-old who was sleeping hard on Inu-Yasha.