Unexpected

An Inu Yasha Fan Fiction by Caitlin M.

Moogleheadgirl@cs.com

Disclaimer: I don't own Inu Yasha or anything associated with it. So don't sic any lawyers on me.

Chapter 2: All in how you say it

I broke the news to Inu Yasha just as he leapt down the well (with me in his arms, which he insisted on doing even when I came willingly). Well, half of it, anyway. At first, I thought he didn't hear me. Then he said, slowly, "That's good." Then we were climbing out the well and he said it again, louder. Then again and again, and faster. We had been walking but now we were running, while he shouted ecstatically, "Kagome, that's great! Great!" He was laughing and hugging and holding me while we practically flew back to Kaede's village. Under his noise, I whispered, "But there's more."

No one else would have heard. Not if they were human. But Inu Yasha's not human, and he did hear.

"Later," he said, dismissive. "There are more important things to be done."

Like bragging to every living soul in the village, apparently. With every surprised villager in whose face I was shoved, with every bark of joy from Inu Yasha, with every piece of hurried and earnest congratulation, I felt my courage shrink. I can't tell him. I'm doomed.

I knew I'd have to say something eventually, but he led me around the entire village before belatedly remembering that I might need rest and steered me into Kaede's hut. There I was sat down and fussed over by the priestess herself until Miroku, Sango, and Shippo wandered in. Everyone was speaking so fast, so loud. I felt sick. I don't want to be here! kept screaming in my mind. From my position seated on a cushion on the floor, I tugged on Inu Yasha's coat

"We need to talk," I hissed.

"Shoot," he said cheerfully.

"Privately."

"Kagome, these are our friends. I think we can trust them… Well, not Miroku. Or Shippo. But the other two, sure."

Friends. It was odd. He rarely admitted having anything to do with them. To call them friends was a big step for Inu Yasha. But I didn't think they'd consider me a friend much longer. "No. I mean it."

"Kagome?" Sango interjected. "Is something wrong? Is it something we could help with?"

Trapped like a rat. I remember speaking to the floor. I remember telling Inu Yasha we couldn't keep the baby. I remember his face in mine as he yanked my head up and stared at me.

"What was that?"

"I can't have it, Inu Yasha. I'm too young."

"I think if there's a pup in you right now, it's safe to say you are perfectly capable of having one."

Pup. Oh gods. "I meant…in my world, it's not acceptable."

"Here, it's fine. You can just stay here…like you're supposed to, anyway."

"I…no. Just…no. I can't keep the baby." I could feel everyone in the room staring at us. I don't know what they were thinking. At that point, I was just trying to get the words out in the right order. I couldn't help but notice how sharp his teeth were. He wouldn't hurt me, I knew. But hell hath no fury like Inu Yasha. Period.

"And what do you suggest we do with it, if not keep it?" he growled. His voice was so low I could barely make it out. Deep breaths, deep breaths.

"There's something you can do, in my world…that makes it like the baby never happened. You go to the doctor and he can…stop it from being born…."

He was quiet for a moment. "I knew there was something wrong with your world," he said at last. "Do the doctors there make a habit of killing pups before they're born?"

I shook my head. Kaede cleared her throat, which I'm sure she regretted when his head whipped around and he focused on her. "Inu Yasha, such procedures exist now…although I dare say in Kagome-sama's time it is less…arduous for the woman."

There was another silence. Then Inu Yasha exploded. "WHAT KIND OF SICK--" here he said something that should never, ever be repeated in the presence of either a) polite company or b) volatile chemicals, "SPENDS THEIR TIME THINKING THIS STUFF UP?!" He knelt by me and grabbed my hands. "Kagome, you can't." He sounded so desperate, but all I could do was lower my head. I felt him squeeze gently. "You can't," he repeated.

"I have to," I snapped. I needed to get out. I wanted to get it over with. "Teen mothers are hardly regarded with warmth and kindness, and anyway, it would be impossible to get through school with—"

He dropped my hands and stood up. "That's it. I've heard enough. You'll keep it. You can go to that damn big school if you want, but you're having the kid." I opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off. "You'll give birth to it, then I'll take it. I'll come back here, and you'll stay there and go to school, since you want it so bad." He hauled me to my feet. "The catch is, you're not coming back. Wave good bye to everyone, Kagome, because you're not seeing them again."

I fought him, but this is Inu Yasha we're talking about. I didn't stand a chance. To stop me from "sitting" him, he held me against his chest. If I tried subduing him, I'd end up under him. The others, for their part, did try to stop him, but they had been caught off-guard. He simply took off for the well, since they'd be unable to follow once he went through.

I hadn't been afraid of Inu Yasha in a long time, but I was now. Part of me hoped he would calm down soon. The other part figured I was doomed.

To Be Continued….

Authors Note:

Eeeeeeeeeeek! Thank you all for the enthusiastic responses. I like to know I'm not the only one who'd read this kind of stuff. You guys make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I'm glad I haven't got any angry letters from pro-lifers…yet. (I'm pro-life, too, but "Walk a mile in another man's shoes," you know?). Keep those reviews coming, and I'll post as often as I can. Whee.