A/N: Well the count is 14. I think I'll keep track just for fun. But I did say that when I got ten I'd make a lemon out of it, and I did. It is called On the River's Bank. I figured I might need it when the count started getting high, so I went a head and started early. Secondly, when I said I'd turn it into a lemon I meant the disclaimer, this story was supposed to be pretty clean with just suggested stuff. However, if you people want I'll put one in. I already have a place for one. So tell me what you think. Lemon or no lemon?

Tinviel: As I see it at four years old she can take travel pretty well, espesally with Shippou around to play with. The killing will involve getting into Rikka's past, a little of which will be shown in this chapter. Besides she and Shippou were hiding behind Kagome so they didn't really see it. As far as why there would be and Arctic Kitsune in Tokyo, once ocean travel got easier, demons, like humans, would move to other parts of the world for a verity of reasons.

Little One

Chapter 3

Kagome yawned as she looked into the campfire. The day had dragged on without incident. Shippou and Rikka had played, Inuyasha had grumbled, Miroku had groped, Sango had beaten the monk, and Kagome had dealt with it all in stride. Now with dinner finished and the two children asleep, she had time to think. Since Rikka had arrived she was seeing a side to Inuyasha she didn't know existed. He was being kind, patient, and tolerant of not only the little girl but Shippou and herself as well. She couldn't believe he said he would give up his food if she was hungry, not that she could see him letting his shard detector starve, but it was the way he said it. Talking as if she was… more then she thought she was. She gave herself a mental kick, she was reading into that way too much.

Kagome looked up from the flames as everyone got ready for bed. Inuyasha jumped into a tree over looking everything. Miroku leaned against a tree on the opposite side of the camp. Sango unrolled her futon out of reach of Miroku's wandering hands. She turned to get into her sleeping bag only to realize a problem. Both Shippou and Rikka were curled up in it fast asleep. The sleeping bag was never meant to be shared, even with one as small as Shippou, but with both of them in there, she would never be able to fit. Kagome frowned. She didn't want to wake them to get in; one of them would have to get out if she was to fit any ways. She sighed and sat back down by the fire wonder if she could sleep sitting up like Inuyasha and Miroku.

There was a soft thump on the ground behind her before she found herself being lifted up into the trees. She looked around to find she was sitting in Inuyasha's lap as he pulled off his top. She blushed. He said nothing as he wrapped her in the large red cloth and turned her to lean against his chest. He rested his arms around her loosely, yet she felt more secure then she could ever remember feeling.

"Inu-Inuyasha?" she asked in a shaking voice full of surprise.

"Shhh, go to sleep Kagome. You'll never sleep down there, and I don't think you're going to get your bedding tonight."

Inuyasha watched as Kagome settled against him and fell asleep without further complaint. He had watched her internal struggle when she realized her bedding had been taken over. In the end she had opted to sleep in the cold rather then taking one of the pups out. It only confirmed what he had thought for some time: Kagome was going to be a good mother. Of course, what kind of mate would he prove himself if he let her do such a thing? So he gathered her up, wrapped her in his clothes for warmth, and brought her to sleep on him. He liked the way her scent was now, she smelled like him and her in one.

The next morning Inuyasha woke to find his lap heavier then it should have been. Looking down she saw not only Kagome, but also Rikka and Shippou curled with them. Rikka had her head next to Kagome's, her thumb in her mouth as she slept. Shippou had chosen to curl under Kagome's shirt, giving her a pregnant look. A jolt ran through him at the sight and a smile crossed his face.

He gently gathered them all into his arms, jumped to the ground, and lay them all on top of Kagome's strange bedding. As much as he liked having the little family with him he really didn't want to listen to Miroku's comments. Carefully he tucked his shirt around them and took a seat on the ground near by.

As the dawn grew old and the day young the other slowly roused. Miroku was the first to wake. Shortly, he was followed by the two demon children and the fire cat, bringing the two still sleepy girls of the group with them. The fire was re-stoked and breakfast was started. Rikka still ate as if the food would be taken from her if she didn't inhale it, but this time only ate what she was given and refused when Kagome asked if she wanted more. Once everything had been cleaned and the fire extinguished, they packed up and headed out.

The day wore on like those before it, with nothing of real note happening. It wasn't until late in the day before things got interesting. The group was just cleaning up from a late lunch when Inuyasha sniffed the air and growled.

"What's wrong, Inuyasha?" Kagome asked looking up from her bag. Rikka and Shippou came running over to her instinctively to seek protection from the yet unknown threat. Sango readied her boomerang and Miroku took up his staff and got ready his prayer beads.

"I smell a wolf." Inuyasha growled.

"Oh." Replied Miroku as he Sango and Shippou all relaxed. Rikka, however, didn't seem so comfortable with the idea and climbed into Kagome's arms and snuggled close. Kagome stood with the small hanyou in her arms and frowned. This wasn't good. She could practically see the waves of energy rolling off Inuyasha.

"Well, where else would a white haired, dog-eared, blue eyed little girl come from, if you and Lady Kagome did not produce her?" Miroku's words rung in Inuyasha's head. Rikka, even though quite obviously a fox, did bare a strange resemblance to both himself and Kagome. He doubting Kouga had the brains to figure out she was a fox before he would do what came naturally. That meant both Rikka and Kagome could be in a lot of trouble.

The whirlwind of dust that always announced Kouga's arrival appeared over the treetops just before he came sliding to a stop in the clearing. He had on his usual arrogant smile as he took in the scene. The monk, exterminator, and Kitsune were off to one side looking exasperated. Inuyasha was standing directly in front of him looking for all the world like a raging demon. Kagome was standing behind him a pace or two holding something, but he couldn't see what.

"I'm here to see my woman. Not play with you, you filthy little half-breed." Kouga scoffed. There was a tiny whimper from the general direction of Inuyasha and Kouga laughed. Inuyasha growled. "What's wrong? Did I hurt the little mutts feelings?"

"Shut up, you bastard!" Inuyasha retorted and moved to cover more of Rikka and Kagome from Kouga's view. With a snort and a cloud of dust Kouga dodged easily around Inuyasha.

"Don't try to stand between me and my woman, dog-turd!" He snapped over his shoulder. Then he turned to look at Kagome, "I'm so sorry I le…what the hell is that!" Kouga shouted and pointed at Rikka like she was something the cat dragged in.

"It's a little girl Kouga." Kagome said calmly.

"I know that! But her ears! And her hair! Dear gods you did sleep with that… that…" Whatever else Kouga was going to say, however, was cut off by Rikka. She had started to scream and the top of her tiny little lungs. Every demon present covered their ears in protest. The tiny fox child scrambled over Kagome's shoulder, cutting into her with her claws in the process, and ducked out of sight still wailing.

"Rikka-chan, calm down." Kagome soothed. She was doing her best to get the little girl off her back, which was now also getting scratched by the panicking child. With Kouga still struck dumb in shock, Inuyasha darted around him and pried Rikka off of Kagome. He cradled her in his arms 'shh'ing her and muttering reassurances. Slowly the girl calmed enough for her words to become coherent.

"Wolf bad… wolf kill… everybody die."

"It's ok Rikka-chan," Inuyasha reassured, "I won't let that wimpy wolf hurt you."

"No, don't fight. Wolf kill you too." She whimpered.

"I didn't kill anybody!" Kouga protested vehemently, "But I don't have a problem ridding the world of a dog-turd like you!"

"Kouga!" Kagome scolded as Rikka took up her wailing again. "I think you should leave!"

"But Kagome…" He pleaded.

"Leave Kouga!" Kagome repeated more firmly.

"Fine. But I'll be back for you." He said before retreating in a cloud of dust. It took the better part of two hours to get Rikka calm again. It was Inuyasha, to everyone's amazement, that suggested just staying where they were for the night. Rikka seemed very closed mouthed about the day's events and no one was inclined to make her talk. As the night drew across the world, Kagome once again found herself using Inuyasha as a bed.

"Inuyasha?"

"Hn?" he said with out turning to look at her.

"What…what do you think happened to her?" He shrugged.

"Hard to say. Kitsune's like to live in communities. Not packs really, but more like a lot of families living close together. Wolves may have attacked leaving only Rikka and her family as survivors." He paused for a moment before adding, "Go to sleep, Kagome. It won't help to dwell on it."

"Yeah… Hey Inuyasha?"

"What?" He asked shortly.

"What you did for Rikka today… it was really good. You'll be a good father some day." Inuyasha didn't reply.