~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Lily* This is getting too good for me to waste the beginning of this chapter with nonsense from my mate. He's currently bound and gagged in the other room anyhow. Now, Disclaimer? I don't own anything associated with any Anime in the history of Japanese animation, so get off my back already! *Ahem* moving on, I hope you enjoy this next chapter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keiki de Niyati : Children of Fate
Chapter 22- " River Rescue & Ayame's Arrival"
By Lily:
"Daddy, I can't hold on. I'm slipping." Kaori whimpered, his claws scratching the bark as he slid downwards.
"No. Hold. On. Kaori." Inuyasha demanded, almost frantically as he inched closer.
Then in a blink of an eye, Kaori's grip slipped, his golden eyes widening in terror as he plummeted into the river below.
"No!" Inuyasha cried and was just about to dive into the water head first, when he suddenly noticed a red blur dart out from the trees on the other side of the river and dive into the water.
"KAORI!" Kagome cried, starting to head towards the river when Miroku and Kouga stopped her, both men holding her back as she frantically tried to get to the river's edge to save her pup.
"Damn it!" Inuyasha cursed to himself, angry for even hesitating, and dove into the water from the tree branch without a second thought.
"No. Let me go!" Kagome cried as Miroku shook his head sternly.
"I can't do that, Lady Kagome. If any harm were to befall either you or the pup you're carrying, Inuyasha would never forgive me." Miroku said as Kagome sank to her knees, Kaiya at her side, clinging to her mother in fear.
"Miroku? Did you see that?" Sango asked, looking over at the monk who looked at her curiously.
"What are you talking about? See what?" Miroku asked as Sango looked over towards the tree line opposite the river bank they all were standing on.
"I'm not sure. It looked like someone ran from the trees and dove into the river just before Inuyasha jumped in." Sango said.
"Are you sure?" Kouga asked curiously.
"I said I wasn't sure. But it was something. I just don't know what." Sango replied, looking down at Kagome who was hugging her daughter trying to comfort the child, even when she couldn't comfort herself.
Sango bent down next to her best friend, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as she tried to calm the female hanyou down.
"Kagome, it'll be ok. Inuyasha dove after Kaori. He'll get him, don't worry." Sango said softly as Kagome continued to shake violently.
Five minutes later, a sopping wet Inuyasha came trudging up from behind the group, an equally soaked Kaori in his arms, the little pup shaking in both fear and cold.
"Inuyasha! Is he-?" Kagome cried, jumping to her feet, and rushing over to her mate's side.
"He'll be fine, Koi. Thanks to her." Inuyasha said, looking over his shoulder at the red headed she-wolf standing shyly a few feet behind him.
"Ayame? That is you, isn't it? You saved my little boy! Thank you." Kagome said, smiling at the red head while she took Kaori from his father's arms, rocking him in her arms as she nuzzled his cheek.
"I did not know the pup was of your clutch." Ayame said with a frown as she glared at Kagome, before turning to look at Kouga. "He looks nothing like you."
Kouga looked at the she-wolf in surprise, but was cut off by Kagome.
"Why should he? Kaori is not his pup-" Kagome began as Inuyasha growled at Ayame.
"He's MINE." Inuyasha said, glaring sternly at Ayame.
"But I don't understand....." Ayame said, frowning in confusion as she looked at Kouga.
"Ayame, I tried to tell you before. I don't love Kouga. I never did. He's my friend, and that's it. He knows that....now....but Inuyasha is my mate. He's been for five years. And *these* are our twin pups, Kaiya and Kaori. I believe you've already met Kaori." Kagome said with a smile, as she looked down at the shivering pup in her arms.
"Hai. I see. Please forgive me, I....." Ayame began nervously.
"Don't worry about it. Come on, I'd better get Kaori into some dry clothes before he catches cold." Kagome said, starting to head back to camp when Inuyasha suddenly sneezed loudly.
"And you too." Kagome added, looking sideways at her mate as he frowned at her.
"I don't get sick, wench." Inuyasha retorted.
"And I don't care, Inuyasha. You'll catch your death of cold if you don't get out of those soaking wet clothes and into some dry ones! Come on!" Kagome said, growling softly at her mate, before turning and starting to walk away.
Suddenly, she stopped, and turned around and looked over at Ayame.
"Why don't you come with us?" Kagome asked politely.
"Me?" Ayame asked.
"Sure, you saved my son's life. The least I can do is offer you something to eat or drink. And perhaps something to dry off with? A blanket or a towel perhaps?" Kagome asked with a smile.
"I.....thank you, Lady hanyou." Ayame said.
"Kagome." Kagome corrected with a smile.
"Lady Kagome, I shall accept your offer." Ayame said with a bow of her head.
"What are you doing here anyhow?" Kouga asked curiously as the she- wolf frowned at him.
"Do you not know where you are?" Ayame asked.
"I hadn't realized we were so close to your lands, Lady Ayame." Kouga said apologetically as the red head turned her back on him, and picked up her pace to walk beside Kagome and Sango.
"Well you are." Ayame said coldly as Kouga sighed deeply. Miroku chuckled as he walked up next to the wolf prince, and clamped a hand on his shoulder.
"Welcome to our world Kouga." Miroku said sagely.
Sango narrowed her eyes as she turned around and hit Miroku on the head with her boomerang.
"Kaori, don't you *ever* do that again, do you understand me? You scared Mommy and Daddy to death. What would have happened to you if we weren't there? What if Ayame wasn't there to dive in after you?" Kagome asked the black haired pup crossly.
Inuyasha, Kagome, and the twins sat in the shade of a large tree, several yards from where the rest of the group where enjoying their lunch. Inuyasha and the twins had just recently polished off the ramen Kagome had prepared. She'd be needing to return to her time soon to stock up on supplies again.
"I'm sorry, Mama." Kaori said softly, his ears drooping as Kagome sighed deeply.
"I just don't want anything to happen to you, sweetie. Do you understand?" Kagome asked, hugging the small pup.
"Hai, Mama." Kaori said softly.
"Just promise me you'll be more careful and that you won't do anything like that ever again." Kagome said.
"And from now on, I want *both* of you to promise me that you'll stay with either your mother or myself unless we tell you otherwise, understood?" Inuyasha asked, his arms crossed as he stared intently down at the twins, waiting for their answer.
"Hai, Daddy." The twins said at the same time.
"And you-" Inuyasha began, narrowing his eyes at his mate.
"What?!" Kagome asked shocked.
"The monk told me what you tried to do this morning." Inuyasha said.
"Excuse me for wanting to protect my son, Inuyasha!" Kagome said hotly.
"I understand, Koi, but you have to think before you try something that reckless-" Inuyasha began.
"RECKLESS?!" Kagome cried, her eyes flickering purple.
"Yes, Koi, *reckless*. That current was strong, and I barely was able to keep myself afloat, even with my hanyou strength. I'm greatful that the Lady Ayame was there to help, I have no doubt Kaori would have drowned if it hadn't been for her. She kept him afloat until I got there and I managed to swim him to shore." Inuyasha said, sending a look down at Kaori, whose ears dropped noticebly.
"But still, if *you* had jumped in, you may have lost that pup, Kagome." Inuyasha said, looking his mate in the eye.
"I-" Kagome began.
"I know it's instinct for a female to want to protect her young. But you have me, Koi. And the others too. You don't have to do everything on your own." Inuyasha said softly.
"I was just so worried." Kagome said, looking down when Kaori climbed into his mother's lap, looking up at her apologetically.
"I'm sorry Mama, I'm really sorry." Kaori said quietly.
Kagome smiled as she patted her son affectionately utop his head.
"I know you are, sweetheart. Let's not worry about it anymore ok? It's in the past. The important thing is that your safe. Both of you." Kagome added, looking at her mate.
"You were worried about me?! Have you no faith in your mate, woman?" Inuyasha asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I do, Inuyasha, but I still have the right, as your mate, to worry about you." Kagome said as Inuyasha narrowed his eyes in confusion at her.
"Didn't I say that to you?" Inuyasha asked.
"Something of the sort. See how you like it." Kagome said with a half smirk.
"I.....uh, I'm sorry to interupt....but the others were wondering what you plan to do now, Inuyasha." Miroku said, walking up to the hanyou family.
"What are you babbling about, Monk?" Inuyasha asked.
"Be nice, Inuyasha. What is it Miroku?" Kagome asked.
"The others and I were wondering what we should do next. I mean, will Ayame be joining us, or will we be moving on without her, or will we wait for Myoga to return with the Tirge youkai?" Miroku asked.
"You know, they have a point. What are we going to do next?" Kagome asked.
"I don't care. As far as the she-wolf, if she wants to stay, so be it. And as far as the flea, he can find us." Inuyasha said, rising to his feet as Kagome rolled her eyes.
"Tell Ayame if she'd like to join us, she's more then welcome. The more the merrier." Kagome said with a smile.
"What?" Inuyasha asked confused.
"It's a saying, forget it. In fact, why don't you watch the pups for me." Kagome said, rising to her feet as Inuyasha looked at his mate curiously.
"And where are *you* going?" Inuyasha asked as Kagome tossed a sly smile at him over her shoulder.
"To talk Ayame into joining us. I mean, think about it. She's his intended anyway right? And besides, at least she can keep you and Kouga from each other's throats. I'm so sick of you two fighting over me like I'm some prized trophey. It's sickening." Kagome said, sticking her tongue out at her mate, before turning her back and walking over to talk to the red- headed she-wolf that was currently speaking with Sango. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Lily* This is getting too good for me to waste the beginning of this chapter with nonsense from my mate. He's currently bound and gagged in the other room anyhow. Now, Disclaimer? I don't own anything associated with any Anime in the history of Japanese animation, so get off my back already! *Ahem* moving on, I hope you enjoy this next chapter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keiki de Niyati : Children of Fate
Chapter 22- " River Rescue & Ayame's Arrival"
By Lily:
"Daddy, I can't hold on. I'm slipping." Kaori whimpered, his claws scratching the bark as he slid downwards.
"No. Hold. On. Kaori." Inuyasha demanded, almost frantically as he inched closer.
Then in a blink of an eye, Kaori's grip slipped, his golden eyes widening in terror as he plummeted into the river below.
"No!" Inuyasha cried and was just about to dive into the water head first, when he suddenly noticed a red blur dart out from the trees on the other side of the river and dive into the water.
"KAORI!" Kagome cried, starting to head towards the river when Miroku and Kouga stopped her, both men holding her back as she frantically tried to get to the river's edge to save her pup.
"Damn it!" Inuyasha cursed to himself, angry for even hesitating, and dove into the water from the tree branch without a second thought.
"No. Let me go!" Kagome cried as Miroku shook his head sternly.
"I can't do that, Lady Kagome. If any harm were to befall either you or the pup you're carrying, Inuyasha would never forgive me." Miroku said as Kagome sank to her knees, Kaiya at her side, clinging to her mother in fear.
"Miroku? Did you see that?" Sango asked, looking over at the monk who looked at her curiously.
"What are you talking about? See what?" Miroku asked as Sango looked over towards the tree line opposite the river bank they all were standing on.
"I'm not sure. It looked like someone ran from the trees and dove into the river just before Inuyasha jumped in." Sango said.
"Are you sure?" Kouga asked curiously.
"I said I wasn't sure. But it was something. I just don't know what." Sango replied, looking down at Kagome who was hugging her daughter trying to comfort the child, even when she couldn't comfort herself.
Sango bent down next to her best friend, wrapping an arm around her shoulder as she tried to calm the female hanyou down.
"Kagome, it'll be ok. Inuyasha dove after Kaori. He'll get him, don't worry." Sango said softly as Kagome continued to shake violently.
Five minutes later, a sopping wet Inuyasha came trudging up from behind the group, an equally soaked Kaori in his arms, the little pup shaking in both fear and cold.
"Inuyasha! Is he-?" Kagome cried, jumping to her feet, and rushing over to her mate's side.
"He'll be fine, Koi. Thanks to her." Inuyasha said, looking over his shoulder at the red headed she-wolf standing shyly a few feet behind him.
"Ayame? That is you, isn't it? You saved my little boy! Thank you." Kagome said, smiling at the red head while she took Kaori from his father's arms, rocking him in her arms as she nuzzled his cheek.
"I did not know the pup was of your clutch." Ayame said with a frown as she glared at Kagome, before turning to look at Kouga. "He looks nothing like you."
Kouga looked at the she-wolf in surprise, but was cut off by Kagome.
"Why should he? Kaori is not his pup-" Kagome began as Inuyasha growled at Ayame.
"He's MINE." Inuyasha said, glaring sternly at Ayame.
"But I don't understand....." Ayame said, frowning in confusion as she looked at Kouga.
"Ayame, I tried to tell you before. I don't love Kouga. I never did. He's my friend, and that's it. He knows that....now....but Inuyasha is my mate. He's been for five years. And *these* are our twin pups, Kaiya and Kaori. I believe you've already met Kaori." Kagome said with a smile, as she looked down at the shivering pup in her arms.
"Hai. I see. Please forgive me, I....." Ayame began nervously.
"Don't worry about it. Come on, I'd better get Kaori into some dry clothes before he catches cold." Kagome said, starting to head back to camp when Inuyasha suddenly sneezed loudly.
"And you too." Kagome added, looking sideways at her mate as he frowned at her.
"I don't get sick, wench." Inuyasha retorted.
"And I don't care, Inuyasha. You'll catch your death of cold if you don't get out of those soaking wet clothes and into some dry ones! Come on!" Kagome said, growling softly at her mate, before turning and starting to walk away.
Suddenly, she stopped, and turned around and looked over at Ayame.
"Why don't you come with us?" Kagome asked politely.
"Me?" Ayame asked.
"Sure, you saved my son's life. The least I can do is offer you something to eat or drink. And perhaps something to dry off with? A blanket or a towel perhaps?" Kagome asked with a smile.
"I.....thank you, Lady hanyou." Ayame said.
"Kagome." Kagome corrected with a smile.
"Lady Kagome, I shall accept your offer." Ayame said with a bow of her head.
"What are you doing here anyhow?" Kouga asked curiously as the she- wolf frowned at him.
"Do you not know where you are?" Ayame asked.
"I hadn't realized we were so close to your lands, Lady Ayame." Kouga said apologetically as the red head turned her back on him, and picked up her pace to walk beside Kagome and Sango.
"Well you are." Ayame said coldly as Kouga sighed deeply. Miroku chuckled as he walked up next to the wolf prince, and clamped a hand on his shoulder.
"Welcome to our world Kouga." Miroku said sagely.
Sango narrowed her eyes as she turned around and hit Miroku on the head with her boomerang.
"Kaori, don't you *ever* do that again, do you understand me? You scared Mommy and Daddy to death. What would have happened to you if we weren't there? What if Ayame wasn't there to dive in after you?" Kagome asked the black haired pup crossly.
Inuyasha, Kagome, and the twins sat in the shade of a large tree, several yards from where the rest of the group where enjoying their lunch. Inuyasha and the twins had just recently polished off the ramen Kagome had prepared. She'd be needing to return to her time soon to stock up on supplies again.
"I'm sorry, Mama." Kaori said softly, his ears drooping as Kagome sighed deeply.
"I just don't want anything to happen to you, sweetie. Do you understand?" Kagome asked, hugging the small pup.
"Hai, Mama." Kaori said softly.
"Just promise me you'll be more careful and that you won't do anything like that ever again." Kagome said.
"And from now on, I want *both* of you to promise me that you'll stay with either your mother or myself unless we tell you otherwise, understood?" Inuyasha asked, his arms crossed as he stared intently down at the twins, waiting for their answer.
"Hai, Daddy." The twins said at the same time.
"And you-" Inuyasha began, narrowing his eyes at his mate.
"What?!" Kagome asked shocked.
"The monk told me what you tried to do this morning." Inuyasha said.
"Excuse me for wanting to protect my son, Inuyasha!" Kagome said hotly.
"I understand, Koi, but you have to think before you try something that reckless-" Inuyasha began.
"RECKLESS?!" Kagome cried, her eyes flickering purple.
"Yes, Koi, *reckless*. That current was strong, and I barely was able to keep myself afloat, even with my hanyou strength. I'm greatful that the Lady Ayame was there to help, I have no doubt Kaori would have drowned if it hadn't been for her. She kept him afloat until I got there and I managed to swim him to shore." Inuyasha said, sending a look down at Kaori, whose ears dropped noticebly.
"But still, if *you* had jumped in, you may have lost that pup, Kagome." Inuyasha said, looking his mate in the eye.
"I-" Kagome began.
"I know it's instinct for a female to want to protect her young. But you have me, Koi. And the others too. You don't have to do everything on your own." Inuyasha said softly.
"I was just so worried." Kagome said, looking down when Kaori climbed into his mother's lap, looking up at her apologetically.
"I'm sorry Mama, I'm really sorry." Kaori said quietly.
Kagome smiled as she patted her son affectionately utop his head.
"I know you are, sweetheart. Let's not worry about it anymore ok? It's in the past. The important thing is that your safe. Both of you." Kagome added, looking at her mate.
"You were worried about me?! Have you no faith in your mate, woman?" Inuyasha asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I do, Inuyasha, but I still have the right, as your mate, to worry about you." Kagome said as Inuyasha narrowed his eyes in confusion at her.
"Didn't I say that to you?" Inuyasha asked.
"Something of the sort. See how you like it." Kagome said with a half smirk.
"I.....uh, I'm sorry to interupt....but the others were wondering what you plan to do now, Inuyasha." Miroku said, walking up to the hanyou family.
"What are you babbling about, Monk?" Inuyasha asked.
"Be nice, Inuyasha. What is it Miroku?" Kagome asked.
"The others and I were wondering what we should do next. I mean, will Ayame be joining us, or will we be moving on without her, or will we wait for Myoga to return with the Tirge youkai?" Miroku asked.
"You know, they have a point. What are we going to do next?" Kagome asked.
"I don't care. As far as the she-wolf, if she wants to stay, so be it. And as far as the flea, he can find us." Inuyasha said, rising to his feet as Kagome rolled her eyes.
"Tell Ayame if she'd like to join us, she's more then welcome. The more the merrier." Kagome said with a smile.
"What?" Inuyasha asked confused.
"It's a saying, forget it. In fact, why don't you watch the pups for me." Kagome said, rising to her feet as Inuyasha looked at his mate curiously.
"And where are *you* going?" Inuyasha asked as Kagome tossed a sly smile at him over her shoulder.
"To talk Ayame into joining us. I mean, think about it. She's his intended anyway right? And besides, at least she can keep you and Kouga from each other's throats. I'm so sick of you two fighting over me like I'm some prized trophey. It's sickening." Kagome said, sticking her tongue out at her mate, before turning her back and walking over to talk to the red- headed she-wolf that was currently speaking with Sango. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~