All Fanfics created by Chiruken (me) were written for the
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Inuyasha Fanfic To Lose the One I Love
By: Chiruken
Chapter 29
Rolling her eyes at his impatience she gave Kaede one last hug before climbing onto the hanyou's back. "See you later, Kaede-baachan!" Waving back at her enthusiastically while wrapping her other arm around her husband she grinned. "We won't be long!" It seemed strange to her that she was now married…she'd always envisioned having a large wedding, maybe with a western style gown and veil, flowers, music and all her friends and family in attendance. Now that it was done, she found that she didn't care that she didn't have the wedding of her girlish dreams. This ceremony, though rushed, had held special meaning for her and she was content. "Let's go, Inuyasha." She whispered near his ear, resting her chin on his shoulder.
Heading back in the direction they'd come from earlier that day, Inuyasha grinned, feeling happier than he could ever remember. He still couldn't shake the feeling that some unknown danger was lurking just beyond them, but he wasn't going to dwell on it. He was content that Kagome was now his and he never had to worry about that yaze ookami trying to steal her away from him again.
The scent of his mate curled around him and he smiled, smelling himself on her as well as the pup she now carried. In four months it would be born. He both looked forward to it and also dreaded it. A pup would make things a lot more complicated, but he was willing to face the challenges it would pose. There was no way he'd wish for it to be any other way. Catching a familiar scent he scowled and finally shrugged before dropping to the ground from the trees he'd been leaping through.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome frowned uncertainly, not understanding their sudden halt until she saw a familiar figure step from behind a tree towards them. "Sesshoumaru." She greeted coolly as she slid from her husband's back. She felt a little ill and knew it was only her body trying to adjust to being pregnant.
Sesshoumaru couldn't hide his surprise as he lifted his chin, sniffing in the couple's direction. "I see you've been foolhardy again, Inuyasha." His tone was full of disapproval. Shaking his head with an inward sigh he stepped closer and bowed, more an inclining of his head, to his half-brother's mate. "My congratulations on your mating and…er…expecting."
Kagome blushed and bowed in turn. "Thank you." She whispered, still not entirely comfortable with his lack of hostility and not quite trusting him yet.
Inuyasha scowled but for once held his peace. The youkai lord of the western lands felt a moment of approval for his younger brother's restraint. He decided that the miko was a good influence on his often foolishly impetuous brother, even if she was a human. Turning his attention back to the hanyou he regarded him steadily. "There are rogue youkai in the area. Take care to exercise caution, Inuyasha."
"Keh. Don't I always?" He folded his arms across his chest in a belligerent gesture, chin tilted upwards in a familiar stubborn expression of pride.
Sesshoumaru fought an uncharacteristic urge to laugh. "Indeed." He retorted dryly, his amusement clear. "My memory of your past dealings with such creatures was to behave impulsively and attack without thought or care. Though you may escape relatively unscathed your mate and the unborn pup she now carries may not be as fortunate."
Growling low in his throat Inuyasha narrowed his amber eyes and scowled. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
Shrugging unconcernedly at the younger man's show of aggression Sesshoumaru turned his back and strode away into the forest. "Merely that you should think for once before acting. It is no longer only your life at stake now." He paused and glanced over his shoulder with a narrowed look. "I should not have to remind you of your responsibilities, Inuyasha." With that parting shot he disappeared into the dense foliage.
"Keh." Despite himself he had to agree with the youkai lord, even if it did leave a bitter taste in his mouth. "Come on, Kagome. It's gettin' late."
She nodded, still gazing in the direction her brother-in-law had departed in. "Inuyasha…" She began slowly, hesitantly.
"Keh. You don't gotta say it. I know." Crouching down he waited for her to climb onto his back again. "He's right, as much as I hate to agree with anythin' he says I know that."
Smiling, she wrapped her arms around his neck and snuggled closer, pressing her lips to his cheek. "Do you think he's trying to be nicer for a reason or…"
"Keh." He interrupted her and took off at a dead run, enjoying the feel of the wind blowing against his face at the speed of their passage. "I don't know and I don't care. I still don't trust him." There were too many years of bad blood between them for Inuyasha to just forgive and forget all the times his elder brother had brought misery to him and his friends. "Just forget about him for now, all right?"
Looking up at the sky she smiled, enjoying the way the wind blew through her hair. The speed at which the hanyou moved was exhilarating. She loved it when he carried her like this…always had. "How long 'til we reach the others?" She asked breathlessly, feeling her stomach drop as he leaped across a deep ravine.
"Not long…an hour maybe." He could've easily made the distance in half the time by himself, but despite his strength and stamina he couldn't make as good of time carrying Kagome. She wasn't heavy by any means, but her added weight did slow him down a little.
She laughed, closing her eyes in bliss, loving the way the wind blew through her hair. "I can't wait!"
His ears flattened for a moment at her exuberant shout and he grinned, reveling in her obvious excitement. He felt the same way when it came to running through the forest and over the meadows. It was freedom at its best and he loved every moment of it. Silently he vowed to do it more often once Naraku was taken care of and the Shikon no Tama was complete. Catching a familiar scent…again…he scowled and glanced to his right with a low growl. No way to avoid him…he's headin' straight for us. He thought with annoyance as he slowed and halted.
"Inuyasha?" Kagome frowned uncertainly. "Why are you stopping?" The next instant she had her answer as she saw the familiar whirlwind swiftly approaching. She stifled a groan. As much as she liked seeing her friends, she could've done without him at that moment.
The miniature tornado soon was before them and halted, dissipating to reveal a well-known figure. "Yo, Kagome." The ookami youkai smiled at the young miko and then scowled as he turned his blue gaze to the hanyou. "Inukkoro." His nose wrinkled in distaste as he addressed his rival. He sniffed at the air, a look of horrified disbelief crossing his features. "No! What have you done?!" He took a hasty step back, expression filled with shock and hurt betrayal. The next instant his hair seemed to stand on end as he growled.
Kagome hastily slid off Inuyasha's back and came around, approaching the wolf prince with her hands held up in a placating gesture. "Kouga-kun…" She began before the hanyou grabbed her arm and held her in place before she could move any closer to the other man.
Moving in front of his mate in a protective gesture Inuyasha rested his hand on the hilt of Tetsuaiga. "Yaze ookami…" He began, a definite warning in his tone. "Kagome's my mate now. You have no claim on her…" He scowled. "Not that you ever did." He added in an undertone.
"I can smell that, baka!" Kouga felt as if his world had just turned upside down. "But how…why?" He turned his hurt gaze on the young woman. "Kagome, why? I thought…" He broke off and sighed. "Never mind. I guess it doesn't matter now." His shoulders slumped in defeat. "Well…" He sighed again before turning his narrowed gaze back to the other man. "I guess I should say congratulations, huh?" Stepping closer he eyed Kagome narrowly for a moment before sniffing the air around her. A look of surprise flitted across his handsome features. "Ahhh…" Suddenly he grinned and turned to Inuyasha. "Double congratulations, eh?"
"Keh." Slowly he relaxed, the danger having passed. If the ookami youkai had wanted to, he could've protested a lot more violently. Despite everything, his claim on Kagome, though obviously not returned, had been very real in his mind. All that had been lacking had been a claiming mark and Kagome's consent. He was very glad that she'd never given it.
Peering around the hanyou she smiled at her friend. "Kouga-kun, we're going to have a party later…would you come? Please?" She ignored the way Inuyasha stiffed at her invitation. "And your tribe, of course." She grinned when she heard her mate's growl.
"A party? What for?" He frowned in puzzlement. He didn't understand humans, not in the least.
"To celebrate, baka." Inuyasha rolled his eyes. He may not like the other man, but if Kagome wanted him to be around he wasn't going to risk being 'sat' to protest it. After all, she was his mate now and since Kouga had relinquished his previous 'claim' he really had no reason to be jealous anymore…not that he'd ever admit to being jealous in the first place. When the wolf prince still looked bewildered he sighed loudly before elaborating. "Kagome wants to celebrate the human mating ceremony."
"It's called a marriage ceremony, Inuyasha." She turned her gaze back to Kouga. "Please? It would mean a lot to us if you came." She smiled her sweetest.
Kouga blushed, still affected by her smile more than he liked. "Well…" Sighing he nodded his consent. "All right. We'll come. Where's it gonna be?"
"Kaede's village." She replied promptly.
"The forest." Inuyasha answered at the same time. They looked at each other and he shrugged. "The village." He didn't want to be around so many humans…and he doubted Kouga and his tribe would either…but he wasn't about to argue with his mate. If she wanted to have her party in the village he wouldn't protest. She was, after all, human and he'd have to get used to being around people more now that they were mated. He may not like…or trust…the humans of that village, but he'd do it for her.
"Ano…" Kouga hesitated a moment. He didn't like being around humans…Kagome being the exception of course…and he doubted his tribe would feel much better about it, but if he said to go, they would. Finally he shrugged. "All right. We'll be there. Just don't let them try to attack my people."
She smiled confidently. "They won't." She hoped they wouldn't, at least. Shrugging inwardly she decided that she'd have to talk to Kaede about it and make certain the villagers knew that Kouga and his followers were 'friendly' youkai. She just hoped they didn't have very good memories. After all, Kouga and his tribe had been notorious for attacking human villages when she'd first met him.
"I'll go tell them." With that said he left in a whirlwind, for once not knocking Inuyasha to the ground to run over him. He was Kagome's chosen mate, so he'd have to make an effort to be a little nicer to him he reasoned. Oh well…he isn't so bad…even if he is a hanyou.
Kagome smiled up at her husband. "Thank you." She murmured, reaching up to gently touch her fingers to his cheek.
"What for?" His ears twitched as he turned his golden gaze back to her.
She shrugged with a soft smile. "For being you, I guess." She didn't know how to say that she was glad that he hadn't protested when she'd said she wanted the party to be in the village, that she'd been so afraid that he'd try to pick a fight with Kouga again, and that she was immensely happy that everything seemed to be turning out like a dream come true. Even Sesshoumaru is being nicer…I couldn't be happier!
~~*~~
**To Be Continued…**
Definitions:
Hanyou: Half human, half youkai
Youkai: Demon
-(O)baachan: Grandmother; Old Woman; Grandma
Yaze Ookami: Wimpy wolf
Miko: Priestess
Ookami: Wolf
Inukkoro: "Dog turd", "dog crap"
-Kun: A name suffix used to address people of equal/lower social standing and/or age; more casual than -san, this is applied almost excessively to males. Can also be diminutive, like a male version of -chan.
Baka: Stupid; idiot; fool
Ano: Um…