Chapter Twelve-Shippou's Slip up

Many days passed after Saraku disappeared. Even though Kagome pretended to look for the girl, whenever Inuyasha wasn't looking, she'd looked towards the east, where Kouga's den was. She still fully intended to retrieve Saraku from the wolf demon, but she wasn't exactly sure how to go about it without Inuyasha finding out. Furthermore, she wasn't sure if Kouga would willing give her back! So,she resigned to stay with her group, and hope for the best.

Shippou was in a similar conflict. Like Kagome, he also knew where Saraku really was. It had been his idea to keep it from Inuyasha, to teach him a lesson. However, the fox-demon worried that Saraku wouldn't want to come back with them when he and Kagome finally did go for her. That day, he was playing in the spring where he and Sara had been playing the day Sesshoumaru kidnapped her for the first time. Just thinking about that burns me up! That's how this whole thing got started in the first place! Saraku threw a stone. "I hope we're doing the right thing. Saraku was really terrified of Kouga the last time she'd been taken away. "

"Kouga? What does he have to do with this?" Inuyasha asked him. The hanyou had been about to ask him if he wanted to go help look for the girl again when he overheard the kitsune's lament.

"Uh oh…" Shippou's eyes widened. "Uh…nothing. I was just thinking about if Kouga was the one who kidnapped her."

"Shippou, you said you hoped you did the right thing. Who else was involved?" Inuyasha demanded furiously.

"K-kagome. But it was my idea….I thought if she was missing for a while, you and Sesshoumaru would act more like the grown ups you are."

"Why you….." Inuyasha grabbed him by the tail, and shook him. "Do you have any idea how dangerous Kouga can be?!? He'll use her!"

"He can't. She doesn't have her jewel shard anymore, remember? Kagura gave it to Naraku."

"So what?! I can't believe you guys!" Inuyasha dropped the kitsune child, and stalked off towards camp. He would find out from Kagomne exactly what they were thinking!

****************************************************************************

"Kagome! I can't believe you did this!" Inuyasha flared again. "Kouga is my sworn enemy, and you're letting him take her!"

"I did it for Saraku! Yes, he's your sworn enemy. Yes, he hurt her before. But he's a father now, Inuyasha. That's what she needs. A parent." Kagome replied,fuming. She'd been trying to study for one of her exams when Inuyasha had snatched the book from her hands. How could Shippou have slipped up? This was a bad thing. "Besides, it's only temporary. You and Sesshoumaru need to work out your differences. "

"Then it might as well be permanent! He's not going to talk to me!"

"Then you talk to him! Inuyasha, it was one thing for you two to feud before. But now you've got a child caught in the middle of it! It's not fair to her. You keep talking about us raising her. But it's not going to happen if you don't understand a few things. One is that Saraku is really attached to your brother. The second is that she won't tolerate you two fighting over her anymore. Now,I'm not going to go get her from Kouga until you and Sesshoumaru have a decent,civilized talk."

The hanyou stared at Kagome, jaw dropped. Who does she think she is, talking to me like that?! If I didn't love her so much…"Fine. I guess we'll have to hope Kouga's changed as much as you say he has. Sesshoumaru shows up when he sees fit."

"I know." Kagome took her book back. "Now if you don't mind. I have to study. I can't fail this exam, or I'll never be finished with school."

"Right." Inuyasha sat down beside her. "I'm sorry I got so mad….."

"I guess you had every right to be mad. But you understand why I didn't tell you, right?"

"Yeah." He put a hand on her shoulder. "Kagome, I really do want to be the one to take care of her, you know. Just like you do."

"I know. But I think in the end, it might be easier for her to choose. It's difficult for her right now. She's still young, and she has so many people who love her."

"Exactly." Inuyasha told her. "So how can you think she's got to decide?"

"Because in the end,it's her heart that should matter. Not ours." Kagome replied softly. "And….if she chooses Sesshoumaru……" Kagome broke down,burying her face in Inuyasha's shirt.

"Hey….." Inuyasha wrapped his arms around her, and pulled her close to him. "I'm sure that won't happen." He stroked her beautiful raven hair gently. Damn him…If he had never taken her in the first place, none of this would be happening! I swear, Sesshoumaru. You're going to regret this!! "Kagome? Would it help if I told you I planned on going to see Sesshoumaru before?"

"Yes…" Kagome looked up at him.

Inuyasha wiped her tears away, and leaned in to kiss her. "Anything I can do to keep you from messing that pretty face of yours up is worth doing a thousand times."

Kagome flushed slightly, unaccustomed to Inuyasha's flattery,before accepting his kiss. "Mmm……" She broke it, then smiled. "I've got to get back to work."

"Right. Good luck on your exam…" He got up,and went to his tree.

Kagome watched him,and then smiled to herself. "Thank you, Inuyasha."

************************************************************************************

"She's gone again?" Rin looked up at Sesshoumaru. "She never stays in one place, does she?"

"That girl is more unstable than I thought she was. I never should have agreed to the excursion in the first place." The demon lord replied.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, aren't you going to look for her?" Rin asked worriedly.

"No. I'm through with her."

"What?! No, you can't be! She has to still love you, My Lord!" Rin cried. "Please don't leave her, Lord Sesshoumaru. It's not right."

"Rin, begging me will not work anymore. I'm done." He turned, and walked back into the palace,leaving his first child there, in tears.