A/N: Count is 19. I'd also like to thank all my wonderful reviews. It really means a lot to me.
A/N2: Ding, dong, the witch is dead! The wicked witch, the mean old witch! Ding, dong, the wicked witch is dead! (I'm sorry I just couldn't help myself… ^_^;)
Little One
Chapter 6
Kagome stood rooted to the ground looking up at the place where Inuyasha had disappeared. He hadn't gone to see the other priestess; he had gone to protect the small hanyou girl. A wave of guilt washed over her and she looked down. She saw Miroku and Sango looking back with identical looks of shock and surprise. Kagome felt a small hand on her leg and turned her eyes to the human girl who had also arrived with Inuyasha. Rikka stood next to Shippou looking confused, while Shippou look upset.
"Sesshoumaru-sama said Rin has to stay with Inuyasha-sama. Where did Inuyasha-sama go?"
"He's just in the tree keeping watch." Kagome answered softly.
"Nee-chan, why were you and Nii-chan yelling at each other?" Rikka asked sadly.
"Don't worry about it Rikka." Kagome softly sat down in the dirt and her two charges crawled into her lap, Rin soon followed.
"I'm sorry Kagome." Shippou said as he looked at the ground.
"It's ok Shippou." For a long time no one else spoke. Sesshoumaru appeared shortly and took Rin away, but left behind the small piece of Kagome's soul she had been missing for so long. He paused only to look up at his brother who sat in the nearby tree but said nothing. The fire had burned low and the two children were asleep before Inuyasha came down again. He didn't even look at anyone, simply took up his share of dinner and headed back for his tree.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered. He stopped but didn't look at her. "I'm sorry."
"Feh!" He snapped, "You're never sorry for sitting me." Sango and Miroku suddenly both excused themselves to do… something, anything.
"Yes, I am." Kagome insisted. Inuyasha looked at her sharply.
"No you're not. You get upset and the first thing out of your mouth is that god-forsaken word! You never stop to listen to me. Then you run off to tell Sango how much of a bastard I am before you go down that damn well, and I can't so much as get near you for three days without risking a concussion. And while you're off at your school or whatever the hell it is you do over there, I've got to wait for your ass to show back up and listen to those three tell me how it's my fault you're gone and what an ass I am. All because you couldn't keep that damn word off your goddamn tongue long enough to actually find out what the fuck is going on around you!"
"But I…"
"God damn it Kagome what do you want from me?!"
"I…"
"I've fought for you, killed for you, nearly died for you! I'd give you my clothes if you were cold and my food if you were hungry! I'd die for you! At the peach man's mountain I threw myself off a cliff, in human form, to save you! But you get half the information and slam my head into the ground without even considering there might be something you missed." He was breathing hard like he'd been running, "So what is it Kagome? What do I do? I protect you, I take care of you, I take care of your adopted pups, I just don't know any more." Tears welled in her eyes, but all the demon did was stare at her coldly.
After a few minutes he sighed deeply and closed the distance between them. He set his forgotten dinner on the ground before gently reaching out and cupping her face in his hands. Even like this she wouldn't look at him, just closed her eyes and let the tears continue. "I made you cry again, I always make you cry." Inuyasha finished in a defeated voice. Kagome shook her head.
"No… you're… right." Kagome whimpered between sobs. "I've been… terrible."
"That doesn't mean I had to yell." He replied. Without another word he scooped her into his arm and leapt into the tree. He set Kagome in the cradle of him lap and began to draw soothing circles on her back to calm her. After that didn't work he took her face in her hands once again, gently leaned in and ran his tongue over the tears' path on her right cheek. Kagome started and looked at him as he repeated the action on her other cheek. Then he rested his forehead against her's. "No more tears Kagome. You know I hate it when you cry." She nodded in silent reply.
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"No Nee-chan, don't go!" Rikka cried from Inuyasha's arms. Kagome sat on the lip of the well ready to jump in. She had to go home for a few things.
"It's ok Rikka, I'll be right back." She reassured. Inuyasha struggled to keep the little girl in his arms. Tears were starting to roll down her cheeks as she reached out for Kagome. Inuyasha and the young miko exchanged looks. It was true Kagome was only going to replenish the Raman supply before they headed out again, but it was obviously becoming a traumatizing experience for her youngest charge. "Ok Rikka you can come." The young half-fox bounded from Inuyasha's arms and into Kagome's.
"I'm going with you too." Inuyasha said with a voice that left no room for argument. Kagome only nodded.
They emerged from the well 500 years later to be greeted by Kagome's Mother hanging laundry. She smiled brightly as Rikka left Kagome's side and ran to her surrogate grandmother. Mrs. Higurashi dropped her work to pick up the young hanyou. She gave the girl's ears a light rub, which had the little girl making a low rumbling noise, before giving her a gentle kiss on the forehead and placing her back on the ground. She took up the sheet she had abandoned and began to hang it again.
"How long to I get to see my daughter and granddaughter this time?" She asked good-naturedly.
"I'm sorry mama, we just came to restock on some things."
"That's alright dear. You know where everything is, do you need any help?"
"No thanks, but I'll call if we do." Kagome took Rikka's hand and started towards the house.
"Oh, and Kagome. You're friend Yuka called; she and some others may be stopping by today. Do you want to wait for them?" Kagome cast a glance at Inuyasha and Rikka. Chances were good Hojo had already told them all about Rikka and, knowing them, they were just dying to see her for themselves. But how would they react and what about Inuyasha?
"Umm… we're kind of in a hurry. If they come by before we leave that's fine, but we don't have time to wait." She replied. Inuyasha shifted his weight from one foot to the other. The prospect of meeting Kagome's modern friends did not sit well with him. He had had too many encounters with humans to feel comfortable around them. Kagome had proved that they weren't all out to get him, and Sango and Miroku had confirmed that, even if it took them a little longer. He was also not sure meeting with this Homo… Hobo… Kujo… whatever person was a good idea. From what Kagome had told him the boy had been courting her unwelcomed for sometime now. That was enough for him to want to kill the whelp, but when he found out about what he said to and about Rikka…
The group made their way inside the modest two-story home and headed straight for the kitchen. Kagome pulled out a 'Drumstick' ice cream cone for each them before beginning to pack Raman, chips, Raman, fresh water bottles, Raman, some fresh fruit, and Raman. Then she started to pack treats and snacks for her two charges.
"Hey, Kagome, can we take some of these too?" Inuyasha asked indication to the 'Drumstick' he was working on.
"Sorry Inuyasha, those have to be kept frozen or they won't be any good." Kagome apologized, "But you can have some any time you are here." Kagome had barely finished the sentence when there was a knock at the door. The two older occupants of the kitchen changed looks, to the obliviousness of the young girl. Kagome took a deep breath and went to answer the door.
Kagome stopped right in front of her front door and said a silent prayer. She prayed that it wasn't her friends. Prayed that if it was, they wouldn't say anything that would cause trouble, for her or themselves. Mostly she preyed it wasn't Hojo, or at least he wasn't with them, and if he was he wouldn't say anything that would justify Inuyasha ripping his head off. She took another deep breath and opened the door. There stood Yuka, Eri, Ayumi, and Hojo. Great…
"Hi guys!" She said brightly, "What are you doing here?"
"Hojo told us about the other day." Yuka said stepping into the house and sounding amazed, "Is it true?"
"Ummm… what did he tell you exactly?" Kagome tried to stall."
"Just what happened." Hojo cut in, "You found some freaky little girl with ears on her head, then slapped me for no good reason."
"I slapped you because you were going to pull her ears." Kagome growled back.
"So it is true." Ayumi gapped. Kagome didn't get a chance to answer because at that moment Rikka came around the corner. She had ice cream around her mouth, on her nose, and above her eye, how was a mystery. She raised her arms in the universal sign to be picked up and Kagome complied without even thinking about it.
"Nee-chan, Nii-chan is making those noises he makes before he tells me I should go to you so I'll be safe. So I came to you." Rikka said very fast before trying to lick the ice cream from her nose. The three girls leaned closer. Rikka looked at them curiously then leaned closer to them as well.
"Ooohhh." Yuka cooed.
"Wow." Ayumi gasped.
"She's so cute." Eri finished. Rikka smiled and all three girls giggled and cooed. Eri reached up and gently scratched behind her ear. Rikka's eyes drifted shut and a purring growl rose from her chest. Hojo was not impressed.
"What's the matter with you! She isn't cute! She's a freak!" Rikka flinched away and tears pricked her eyes. All four girls glared at him.
"Say that again you little son of a bitch." A rough voice growled from behind Kagome. Everyone turned towards the sound, the four new arrivals looked curious, Rikka beamed, and Kagome looked a bit worried. Hojo, Yuka, Eri, and Ayumi looked surprised to see Inuyasha standing so suddenly right at Kagome's shoulder. His ears flickered back and forth in irritation. Hojo opened his mouth to speak.
"Hojo shut up." Kagome cut off whatever he was going to say.
"Humph, I'm not afraid of some freak." Hojo spat.
"You should be little boy." Inuyasha growled, "I could rip you apart were you stand."
"You don't look so tough."
"Looks can be deceiving Hojo." Kagome replied flatly, "I think you should leave."
"Gladly." Hojo spat and did just that, slamming the door behind him.
"He's mean." Rikka said as she popped her thumb into her mouth. This statement was followed by a long silence, no one really knowing what to say.
"So…" Yuka began in a voice that made Kagome inwardly groan, "This is your mystery guy." Kagome gave them her best 'dear-god-shut-up' glare.
"No wonder you have been so hot him since your 15 birthday." Ayumi added. Kagome turned an unhealthy shade of red and Inuyasha suddenly found a portion of the wall incredibly fascinating.
"Yeah," Eri agreed, "Guys like this don't grow on trees." Inuyasha snorted and Kagome recited the urge to laugh.
"I like trees." Rikka added, "Nii-chan and Nee-chan let me stay with them while they sleep so I'll be safe from monsters."
"You're sleeping together?!" All the three girls said at once. 'Dear god, why me?' Kagome said as she turned an impossible shade of red.