Chapter 8
A Trip to The Park
Inu Yasha awoke to the predawn darkness. Unsure of where he was for a moment he remained still. A slight weight curled against his chest reminded him. Looking at the pup sleeping curled in his lap, the black silk of the boys hair covering his slumbering face. From what he'd seen on the TV over the last three days he knew the boy's long hair was rare. Thinking of the boys mother, his doctor, she didn't seem the type to rebel. Her clothes were always conservative, the only exception being the propensity towards extremely short skirts and tight sweaters. A wry grin crossed his face, not that he was complaining, he rather enjoyed her visits. Watching her bend to check a readout. When she would lean over to listen to his heartbeat, wrapping his senses in the fragrance that was hers alone. With a frown he remembered her son, which meant somewhere there was a father.
He watched as slowly the first rays of morning sun began to creep into the den. He growled softly at the invading light. 'Why do I hate the dawn so?' He questioned. He grimaced as the boy shifted grinding a small hip painfully into his groin. Looking down he watched as the black bled from the child's hair and his ears shifted to higher on his head becoming silver white triangles. Hanyou? But he had never smelt a male on the doctor, he remembered the blue tank top she wore yesterday morning, there was no mating mark on her shoulder. Something was wrong, no inu youkai or hanyou would have a pup with a female and not mark her, but what? He had to admit to himself that he was pleased that there was no other male scent and she had not been marked.
Kenmaru stretched opening his eyes he smiled baring his immature fangs. "Hi! See I got claws too." He held out his hands proudly displaying the ten small claws.
"I can see that." Inu Yasha said with a soft chuckle. "Guess you can take care of those mean spider monsters now, huh?"
"Uh huh." Kenmaru sniffed the air, "Momma's up" he proclaimed jumping down. "I'm gonna go ask if you can come to the park with us ok?" Without waiting for a response he was running down the hall. Within moments he was racing back through the door, a huge smile on his small face. "Momma says you can come with us to the park." Message delivered Kenmaru spun and raced back to his room to get ready.
Chuckling Inu Yasha rose from the recliner heading for his room. He smiled as he dressed for a day at the park with his attractive doctor and her son.
Kagome sucked in her breath as Inu Yasha entered the kitchen. The red shirt molding to his chest, the short sleeves leaving the muscular but not bulky arms bare. The black slacks loose but still hinting at the well built legs she knew they hid. Turning quickly she called, "Ohayou, would you like something to eat?" Busing her hands with pouring a cup of tea for herself.
"I'm havin' cereal." Kenmaru supplied over a bowl.
"I'll have that." Inu Yasha said simply. His eyes traveling over the doctor's form. He'd never seen her in pants before. The dark brown slacks hugged her hips and fell in simple lines to cuff at the hem. A short sleeve cream sweater barely touched the waist band of the slacks, giving an occasional glimpse of skin. Nodding his thanks at the bowl placed before him, Inu Yasha began to eat. His eyes following her movements from underneath his bangs.
"Kenmaru, sweetie, why don't you get your new hat and get Inu Yasha-san one too. Since you're done eating."
Inu Yasha waited until the boy was a safe distance before looking up into her gray eyes. "Cute kid, where's his father?" He voiced the question that had bothered him all morning.
Kagome choked on her toast, taking a swallow of tea she coughed for a moment before answering. "He left Japan before Kenmaru was born." she thought for a moment. 'Well, you did go to hell so I haven't lied.' "I haven't seen him in a long time." 'Until they found the crystal you were encased in.' "Kenmaru never met his father." 'Until last night.'
Inu Yasha nodded, he opened his mouth to say something, but heard Kenmaru coming. "Oh." He said instead of asking the questions he really wanted too.
Yoyogi Park was filled with families enjoying it's quiet peace as they entered. Kenmaru walked between the two adults holding their hands. Occasionally he would lift his feet and let them swing him forward. Other than his giggles the three were quiet. Kagome held a blanket over one arm, knowing they would want to sit under one of the many lush trees at some point. Even if Inu Yasha had no memory of who she was or who Kenmaru might be, they were together, for the first time a family.
A soft smile played on her lips as she watched Inu Yasha snatch Kenmaru from the ground and toss him easily into the air. Only to effortlessly catch the giggling boy and toss him again. Moving away from them she opened the blanket under a tree. Allowing herself to daydream for a moment. There had been no promise to Kikyou. There had been no long separation. That this was the Warring States Era. That Kaede was helping the villagers. That Sango and Miroku would soon be joining them. All the lovely sad dreams that could never be.
Inu Yasha had watched her from the corner of his eye. Seeing the smile she had been wearing leave her face, he put Kenmaru down and moved to her side. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She answered quickly.
"No you were thinking about the pup's idiot of a father. What happened to him? You said he left Japan." Inu Yasha asked.
Taking a deep breath, "He went to keep a promise to an old girlfriend." She answered.
"Keh. He didn't owe her anything. He should have put you and his pup first."
"He didn't know. I mean he knew it was a possibility but .... he left before I even found out for sure I was pregnant."
"Then he knew. His pup was more important than some old girlfriend. Does he even know he has a pup?"
"No."
"Then why are you wasting time, thinking about the jerk? He obviously doesn't care about you or the pup."
"You don't know what you're saying. He..."
"I know exactly what I'm saying. If he was any kind of man, or had even the smallest sense of honor, he would have stayed with you. Not.."
"Your the one who decided to honor your promise to that bitch." Kagome slapped a hand over her mouth realizing what she had just said.
"..run off with an old girlfriend." He continued ignoring what she was saying. "What?"
"I think Kenmaru and I should go." Rising she looked for the boy. Panic clutched her heart. "KENMARU!" she screamed causing most of the visitors near them to look at her. She spun to Inu Yasha, "Where did he go?"
Inu Yasha froze as he scented the panic and fear in Kagome's scent. Her scream made his blood run cold. When she turned to him, he grabbed her hand. "We'll find him." He reassured taking a deep breath, he caught the boy's scent and started off in that direction. Kagome squeezed his hand, trusting Inu Yasha to find Kenmaru. It was long till they came across a group of pre teen boys. With a gasp Kagome pointed to the cap one of them was wearing. Inu Yasha frowned at the hat then recognized it. Walking over he grasped the boy by the collar lifting him into the air. "Where is the boy you stole this from?" He asked snatching the cap off the boys head.
"I didn't steal nothin'" The kid said.
Kagome took the cap from Inu Yasha and looked at it's rim. "What's your name?" She asked quietly. Had Inu Yasha not been able to smell her anger he would never suspect her fury.
"Kenichi." The boy spat, at her.
"Then why is the name in this cap Shinwa Kenmaru? My son's name. Now what did you do?" She hissed her anger growing. Inu Yasha put the boy down, recognizing that Kagome had the situation in hand. He took the cap and moved away searching for the boy.
~ Flashback ~
"Can I play too, Onegai?" He heard himself ask as a child.
Harsh laughter sounded in his ears. "Hanyou. Should have been killed at birth." The voice sounded tossing the ball across a bridge.
Running across the bridge he picked up the ball and started back towards the bridge only to see the finely dressed courtiers walk away. "Hanyou?" He asked the now empty courtyard. The wind shifted bringing him a familiar scent. Running into the woman's arms he looked up into her face, "Hahaue? What's a Hanyou?" He watched as tears fell from her violet eyes.
~ End Flashback ~
Shaking the memory away Inu Yasha continued the search for the boy. Finally locating the boy crouched near the large fountain, tears staining his cheeks. Kneeling Inu Yasha held the cap out to him. "You dropped your cap pup."
Kenmaru leapt into Inu Yasha's chest sobbing. "They said I was a freak, that no boys had hair as long as me. Then they took my cap." He explained putting the cap back on his head. "Then they pulled my ears and it hurt." Inu Yasha nodded he knew how much an ear tug could hurt. "I tried to run back to you and Momma but I couldn't find you and I got lost."
Rubbing the boys back comfortingly, "Then I'll teach you how to track. That way you will always be able to follow your own scent back." Kenmaru nodded, relaxing. Rejoining Kagome the two decided to cut their day at the park short.
Finally got the page to load right. If you want to see the clothing... it is at don't forget to remove the spaces:
http : // www . geocities . com / ofclawsandfangs / Delstories / helloagain . html
Songs:
I forgot to give song credits... so let me correct my error here:
From Chapter 3
Song: There You'll Be
Artist: Faith Hill
Album: Pearl Harbor Soundtrack
From Chapter 6:
Song: Never Let You Go Again
Artist: Trisha Yearwood
Album: Where Your Road Leads