Disclaimer: Nope… don't… never will…*sigh*

Chapter 6 – A Father's Wrath

Katin stood, wide-eyed and frightened as she watched her father draw the weapon at his side. She felt her heart squeeze in terror when she realized he meant to attack her Uncle. Why would he want to harm his own brother? Then Sesshomaru was gone. She blinked, how did he…

She looked back to her father. He had the most peculiar look on his face – shock, anger, and so many more emotions fought for supremacy. For a moment she was concerned.

"What did he want with you?" Inuyasha rasped his voice heavy, the effect of screaming, raging and trying his damnedest to regain his usual composure.

Her concern vanished.

"Why did you do that?!"

Her anger did more than shock him. He had been on his way to get Katin for super (not trusting Miroku's boy to safely bring her home) when he had sensed his brother. For the first time since Katin's birth he smelt the vile danger that emanated from his sibling. Careful at first, he'd tested his nose and gathered as much info on Sesshomaru's whereabouts as he could. He was calm and certain the demon posed no more then the normal threat…that was until he found Katin's trail. And smelt her tears.

He sheathed Tetsiaga, avoiding Katin's angry glare. He was very troubled to feel her release some of her unease with his action. She had been afraid of him and not the demon…damn the girl's ridiculous lake of sense!

"How could you put yourself in such danger? Have you listened to nothing I've told you, you could have died had I not shown up!"

Was he absolutely mad?

"What are you talking about? Uncle…"

"You WILL NOT call him that!"

Katin was completely confused. Her father was being irrational and just plain stupid. He was so angry, and not for the first time did she feel a little frightened. She thought that maybe a yelling match wouldn't be the best idea.

"Father I…"

"Of all the stupid, brainless…do you know how much danger you were in? DO YOU?"

"I-I…"

"He could have killed you, he would have had I not…"

"STOP IT!" she cried, her confusion, hurt, anger and anguish melding together to produce an emotion strong enough to break through Inuyasha's tirade.

He blinked.

"He wasn't going to hurt me."

"Keh."

"HE WASN'T! Why do you think everyone will hurt me? Why'd you have to scare him away? I liked him! He was nice to me, nicer than you!" Her temper was peeked. Too tired and overwhelmed, she couldn't – and didn't really want to – stop the words from spilling out of her mouth. "You don't want me to know anything do you? You never told me about Mama, you never told me about the Jewel, you never told me anything!! You didn't even say you had a brother, why didn't you tell me I had more family?! Why do you keep everything from me?!"

He knew he should keep his head, that he should try to explain calmly about Sesshomaru, about everything…but damn-it he didn't want to. He spent all his time watching over her and making sure she was safe and well provided for, why couldn't she show him a little more respect?

"Katin you'd better…"

" 'Better' what?"

"STOP ASKING SO MANY DAMN QUESTIONS!"

She closed her mouth, which had indeed been open, about to ask another question.

They stood staring at each other. Both steaming. Inuyasha's head hurt from all the dramatics. Katin's head throbbed from information overload.

He took a deep breath, "You will NOT leave the safety of the village again, is that clear?"

She ground her teeth. "A good child obeys their father" Sesshomaru's words came back to her, calming her only a little. She wanted someone at least to believe she was a 'good child', even if it wasn't her own father.

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak. I will be good, I will be good…and next time I see Uncle Sesshomaru I will tell him how good I've been and he'll believe me…

"I do not want to hear of you asking any more damned questions. Quit pestering people and be of some use!"

What the hell am I saying?! She's actually agreeing and here I am berating her further…but he could not seem to prevent what he came next.

"Your mother is dead, Sesshomaru is evil, and that is the end of it!"

Her eyes filled with tears. She had with stood a lot from her father, and she had believed his indifference was the worst, but hearing such cruelty nearly broke her heart.

Seeing her tears stopped him and brought what he'd said crashing into his own ears.

Her lip wobbled. She bit it. She would not cry. The same resolve that had kept her from showing Sesshomaru her fear (or trying to at least) kept her from letting her tears fall.

"Hai, father."

She bowed and simply walked passed him, back towards her home. Trying for all she was worth to keep her legs from letting lose and running, as they wanted to, desperately holding onto the fact that she must be good. Then her eyes caught sight of the Bone Eaters Well.

Be good be damned!

She ran to it and launched herself over the rim. She had a grandmother on the other side, someone who loved her and wasn't afraid to show it.

~~~~~~~

Inuyasha watched her throw herself in the well. He knew he should go after her, knew he should say something to ease her tears…he knew a lot of shit, but it didn't mean he could bring himself to do or say any of it.

"Damn-it Kagome why'd you leave me on my own with this!"

He hadn't realized he meant to speak until the words left his mouth. He was surprised that he heard so much anger in his own voice…then again maybe not. Anger seemed to be the only emotion he was capable of handling.

Baka, she's just a child, how could you be so cruel to her? Really, you're no better than that bastard Sesshomaru!

Sesshomaru. Remembering his part in all this brought his worry back full force. Katin could have been killed. The girl was moronic to wander into the forest alone. Did she listen to nothing he said? He had to find some way to make her understand that she wasn't safe out here…that she wasn't safe unless he was with her…some how he had to make her understand that.

~~~~~

Katin sobbed on her grandmother's shoulder. The older woman held her until she had calmed enough to talk about what had happened. They sat under The Goshinboku in silence for a few moments after Katin was finished.

Mrs. Higurashi knew the girl just needed comfort. It had been a very long day for her; the poor dear was exhausted. She wanted to assure her that her father did indeed love her, but knew in her current state if would only make matters worse. Instead the older woman chose to ease Katin's mind on the subject of Kagome.

"Lovely," her grandmother smoothed the hair around her ears and drew her closer for a hug. "I know what happed to your mother. If you are not too tired from all your exertions I will tell you."

It was the happiest thing Katin had heard all day.

~~~~~~~

The summer sun was setting as Katin made her way towards the well house.

Wearily she eyed the well, knowing her father was on the other side waiting to bawl her out for running off.

When is he not bawling me out? When has he ever…

The ghost of her grandmother's words interrupted her thoughts: "Kagome sacrificed her life to save you and you father, to save the world, she chose her fate…"

Yes, she chose to die…I lived, but she is dead…can that be why father hates me?

~@~@~@~@~

Wow, I was so pleased to see some new reviewers! Thanks for the words of encouragement!

I know this installment's a little shorter than the others…but I found it pretty hard to write…probably because I'm in a good mood and this was a little depressing, oh well.

Sherry – I hope this was fast enough for you…haha, it'll probably be the only time I update so close together though.

When the Moron Comes – I'm glad you like it so far. Originally I'd intended to make it pretty angsty and Kagome dying fit perfectly, of course there would be no story at all if she hadn't…well maybe but it would have been completely different.

Thanks for reading!

Later Dayz