Keiki de Niyati
Chapter 27 "Curiosity"
It had been over seven hours before Kagome decided enough was enough.
They'd been walking constantly, eager to reach the Western Palace before nightfall, with out more then a ten minute rest here and there. The twins had long since given up, falling sleep on top of the backs of the Tirge.
It was strange the bond that Kagome seemed to immediate sense forming between the feline retainers and their young canine charges. Kaiya was taken immediately with the white and black tiger youkai, a female no more than 2 years in age. Yuki, was the name Kaiya gave her fondly.
Kaori on the other hand treated his own tirge, the orange and black striped male youkai he named Neiko quiet differently than his twin. While Kaiya was quickly starting to think of Yuki as a friend and pet, Kaori was soon starting to treat Neiko like his pal and ally. Kagome was certain they would be very close as the two grew up together.
And for that she was more than pleased.
As for the solid black Tirge, she has decided to name the youkai for her unborn child, since Kagome herself would soon start relying on the Tirge to protect her as well as her pup. After debating an appropriate name, Kagome finally settled on naming the black Tirge, Kitara.
Narrowing her eyes as her mate, she stopped dead in her tracks, crossing her arms over her chest as she growled low in her throat. Inuyasha turned around in confusion, having heard the irritation in his mate's growl and now noticing her stubborn refusal to take another set forward, the dog hanyou had no other choice but to stop and see what was bothering her.
"Kagome, what the-?" Inuyasha asked, but was cut off as Kagome shook her head, sighing deeply.
"Inuyasha, haven't you noticed how exhausted everyone is? We're taking a break, and longer than fifteen minutes." Kagome said, turning and walking over to Yuki and Neiko to wake up the pups.
Inuyasha growled as his ears flattened to his head.
"We've already had eight breaks mate. We're wasting time. We could have been at the Palace hours ago!" Inuyasha cried indignantly, crossing his arms over his chest and placing his hands into the folds of his hanori.
"You're exhausting the hell outta your own pups Inuyasha! Look at them! They couldn't even keep their eyes open. What kind of father are you trying to be? Pushing them so hard? They're only children." Kagome said, growling at him.
Inuyasha growled back as he stomped up beside her, his ears pressed tightly to his head.
"I'm doing what I have to make sure that bastard Naraku doesn't lay his claws on *my* pups you stubborn bitch! That's what a FATHER does! Protect his whelps!" Inuyasha cried.
"Inuyasha, look at them. A little break won't kill anyone!" Kagome said, narrowing her eyes.
"And what if Naraku shows up? AGAIN?! That bastard doesn't give up easily, remember bitch?! And like hell I'll be sitting still long enough for him to-" Inuyasha began.
"Inuyasha! Enough! Your mate is right! The pups need their rest, and you exhausting them to the breaking point is not the way to ensure their safety" Sango cried.
"God damn females! Alright alright! We'll take a fucking break! AGAIN!" Inuyasha cried. Kagome growled impatiently at her mate, irritated by his attitude, but deciding to worry about it later, she turned her attention instead to her pups.
Inuyasha snorted before walking over beside his brother. The two said nothing to each other for a few minutes, before Sesshoumaru finally looked over at Inuyasha.
"We're close aren't we?" Inuyasha asked. Looking ahead again, Sesshoumaru nodded as he stared off, his gaze not fixed on anything in particular.
"Yes. We can be there within the hour." Sesshoumaru said.
"Good. It's been a while. I barely remember what the palace looks like now." Inuyasha said.
"I would imagine so." Sesshoumaru replied.
There was silence between the two brothers once more.
"Mama? Why are we stopping? Are we there?" Kaiya asked, rubbing her eyes with her fists as her ears twitched. Kaori yawned widely, his fangs glistening in the afternoon sun. Kagome smiled lovingly at the twins as she scratched one of Kaiya's ears affectionately.
"I think we're almost there sweetheart. It shouldn't be too much longer. Did you have a nice nap? Kaori? What about you darling?" Kagome asked as she smiled looking over at the black haired hanyou pup.
"Yes Mama." Kaori said, still a bit sleepily. Kaiya looked over towards her father and uncle, tilting her head to the side as she scratched one of her snow white ears.
"Mama? How come Daddy and Uncle Sessamu don't play like me and Kaori do? Doesn't they like each other?" Kaiya asked as Kagome chuckled lightly.
"Actually sweetheart, your father and uncle are getting along a lot better than they were a few years ago." Kagome said as she smiled, deciding not to go on as to how bad it really used to get. After all, she didn't think the twins would react well if they found out how their father and uncle where always trying to kill each other until the last couple of years. Perhaps when they were older, she would tell them, if they needed to know of course.
Kagome sighed as she sat down on the soft grass, looking over at her companions. Since Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were busy, most likely keeping watch, Rin was currently sitting in Kikyo's lap, the young girl dozing lightly against the elder Miko. Kagome caught Kikyo's eye and smiled knowingly at her.
What happened next, completely surprised Kagome, but she was pleased none the less.
As she smiled at Kikyo, the elder Miko looked down at the sleeping Rin, before looking up at Kagome. A few seconds later, a warm sincere smile crept across her face.
Kagome smiled back, inwardly beaming with excitement. She wondered if perhaps she had been right about Kikyo. After all, as she started getting to know her incarnation, she began to find herself coming to think of Kikyo as a friend. The miko had been warming up to her steadily since she joined the group, and although there used to have been some unease between the two women, it was clear it was beginning to diminish.
Kagome's thoughts were interrupted as another interesting one began to take its place. Turning her head, she looked curiously over at Kouga, and then to Ayame. Oddly, up until recently, Kouga had always traveled a pretty decent distance from the others and yet, still pretty close in range to the red headed she wolf. She knew Ayame truly cared for Kouga, though Kagome was certain the baka male wolf youkai was too bull-headed and dense to see how deeply her feelings actually delved.
Her heart had gone out to Ayame once she realized the girl was in love with Kouga, and yet afraid he would reject her affection. Perhaps, Kagome feared, Ayame thought she didn't stand a chance in comparison to herself, since Kouga had that silly infatuation with her.
At the same time, the whole situation strangely reminded her of her own at one point. When she came to realize she was in love with Inuyasha, despite his resolve to avenge Kikyo and put her soul to rest at the time. But things had worked out for her and her mate, and Kagome was certain they would for the two wolf youkai as well.
But it still didn't explain Kouga's odd behavior lately. As the day had begun to progress, she had noticed he was keeping to himself more than usual. He had traded him place from walking beside Ayame to walking as far from the others as possible, practically trailing them from a few feet back. Ayame, not knowing or understanding the reason for his sudden desire to be as far from her as possible, had also grown very sullen and quite.
Kagome was certain her mate had noticed as well, but given his aversion to Kouga, she knew he was making it his business not to care. But that still didn't stop Kagome from being both curious and upset with Kouga for being such an uncaring ass.
"Alright bitch. We've rested long enough. You and the pups can sleep when we get to the palace. We'll be there within the hour. Let's move it." Inuyasha said gruffly in impatience. Kagome sighed deeply as she headed past Yuki and Neiko, taking the time to pause and pat their heads before walking over to join her mate, Kitara right behind her.
Inuyasha's eye twitched as he looked down at the solid black tirge at his mate's heel. Growling lightly as he turned around, he crossed his arms over his chest.
"We've wasted enough time."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It had been over seven hours before Kagome decided enough was enough.
They'd been walking constantly, eager to reach the Western Palace before nightfall, with out more then a ten minute rest here and there. The twins had long since given up, falling sleep on top of the backs of the Tirge.
It was strange the bond that Kagome seemed to immediate sense forming between the feline retainers and their young canine charges. Kaiya was taken immediately with the white and black tiger youkai, a female no more than 2 years in age. Yuki, was the name Kaiya gave her fondly.
Kaori on the other hand treated his own tirge, the orange and black striped male youkai he named Neiko quiet differently than his twin. While Kaiya was quickly starting to think of Yuki as a friend and pet, Kaori was soon starting to treat Neiko like his pal and ally. Kagome was certain they would be very close as the two grew up together.
And for that she was more than pleased.
As for the solid black Tirge, she has decided to name the youkai for her unborn child, since Kagome herself would soon start relying on the Tirge to protect her as well as her pup. After debating an appropriate name, Kagome finally settled on naming the black Tirge, Kitara.
Narrowing her eyes as her mate, she stopped dead in her tracks, crossing her arms over her chest as she growled low in her throat. Inuyasha turned around in confusion, having heard the irritation in his mate's growl and now noticing her stubborn refusal to take another set forward, the dog hanyou had no other choice but to stop and see what was bothering her.
"Kagome, what the-?" Inuyasha asked, but was cut off as Kagome shook her head, sighing deeply.
"Inuyasha, haven't you noticed how exhausted everyone is? We're taking a break, and longer than fifteen minutes." Kagome said, turning and walking over to Yuki and Neiko to wake up the pups.
Inuyasha growled as his ears flattened to his head.
"We've already had eight breaks mate. We're wasting time. We could have been at the Palace hours ago!" Inuyasha cried indignantly, crossing his arms over his chest and placing his hands into the folds of his hanori.
"You're exhausting the hell outta your own pups Inuyasha! Look at them! They couldn't even keep their eyes open. What kind of father are you trying to be? Pushing them so hard? They're only children." Kagome said, growling at him.
Inuyasha growled back as he stomped up beside her, his ears pressed tightly to his head.
"I'm doing what I have to make sure that bastard Naraku doesn't lay his claws on *my* pups you stubborn bitch! That's what a FATHER does! Protect his whelps!" Inuyasha cried.
"Inuyasha, look at them. A little break won't kill anyone!" Kagome said, narrowing her eyes.
"And what if Naraku shows up? AGAIN?! That bastard doesn't give up easily, remember bitch?! And like hell I'll be sitting still long enough for him to-" Inuyasha began.
"Inuyasha! Enough! Your mate is right! The pups need their rest, and you exhausting them to the breaking point is not the way to ensure their safety" Sango cried.
"God damn females! Alright alright! We'll take a fucking break! AGAIN!" Inuyasha cried. Kagome growled impatiently at her mate, irritated by his attitude, but deciding to worry about it later, she turned her attention instead to her pups.
Inuyasha snorted before walking over beside his brother. The two said nothing to each other for a few minutes, before Sesshoumaru finally looked over at Inuyasha.
"We're close aren't we?" Inuyasha asked. Looking ahead again, Sesshoumaru nodded as he stared off, his gaze not fixed on anything in particular.
"Yes. We can be there within the hour." Sesshoumaru said.
"Good. It's been a while. I barely remember what the palace looks like now." Inuyasha said.
"I would imagine so." Sesshoumaru replied.
There was silence between the two brothers once more.
"Mama? Why are we stopping? Are we there?" Kaiya asked, rubbing her eyes with her fists as her ears twitched. Kaori yawned widely, his fangs glistening in the afternoon sun. Kagome smiled lovingly at the twins as she scratched one of Kaiya's ears affectionately.
"I think we're almost there sweetheart. It shouldn't be too much longer. Did you have a nice nap? Kaori? What about you darling?" Kagome asked as she smiled looking over at the black haired hanyou pup.
"Yes Mama." Kaori said, still a bit sleepily. Kaiya looked over towards her father and uncle, tilting her head to the side as she scratched one of her snow white ears.
"Mama? How come Daddy and Uncle Sessamu don't play like me and Kaori do? Doesn't they like each other?" Kaiya asked as Kagome chuckled lightly.
"Actually sweetheart, your father and uncle are getting along a lot better than they were a few years ago." Kagome said as she smiled, deciding not to go on as to how bad it really used to get. After all, she didn't think the twins would react well if they found out how their father and uncle where always trying to kill each other until the last couple of years. Perhaps when they were older, she would tell them, if they needed to know of course.
Kagome sighed as she sat down on the soft grass, looking over at her companions. Since Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha were busy, most likely keeping watch, Rin was currently sitting in Kikyo's lap, the young girl dozing lightly against the elder Miko. Kagome caught Kikyo's eye and smiled knowingly at her.
What happened next, completely surprised Kagome, but she was pleased none the less.
As she smiled at Kikyo, the elder Miko looked down at the sleeping Rin, before looking up at Kagome. A few seconds later, a warm sincere smile crept across her face.
Kagome smiled back, inwardly beaming with excitement. She wondered if perhaps she had been right about Kikyo. After all, as she started getting to know her incarnation, she began to find herself coming to think of Kikyo as a friend. The miko had been warming up to her steadily since she joined the group, and although there used to have been some unease between the two women, it was clear it was beginning to diminish.
Kagome's thoughts were interrupted as another interesting one began to take its place. Turning her head, she looked curiously over at Kouga, and then to Ayame. Oddly, up until recently, Kouga had always traveled a pretty decent distance from the others and yet, still pretty close in range to the red headed she wolf. She knew Ayame truly cared for Kouga, though Kagome was certain the baka male wolf youkai was too bull-headed and dense to see how deeply her feelings actually delved.
Her heart had gone out to Ayame once she realized the girl was in love with Kouga, and yet afraid he would reject her affection. Perhaps, Kagome feared, Ayame thought she didn't stand a chance in comparison to herself, since Kouga had that silly infatuation with her.
At the same time, the whole situation strangely reminded her of her own at one point. When she came to realize she was in love with Inuyasha, despite his resolve to avenge Kikyo and put her soul to rest at the time. But things had worked out for her and her mate, and Kagome was certain they would for the two wolf youkai as well.
But it still didn't explain Kouga's odd behavior lately. As the day had begun to progress, she had noticed he was keeping to himself more than usual. He had traded him place from walking beside Ayame to walking as far from the others as possible, practically trailing them from a few feet back. Ayame, not knowing or understanding the reason for his sudden desire to be as far from her as possible, had also grown very sullen and quite.
Kagome was certain her mate had noticed as well, but given his aversion to Kouga, she knew he was making it his business not to care. But that still didn't stop Kagome from being both curious and upset with Kouga for being such an uncaring ass.
"Alright bitch. We've rested long enough. You and the pups can sleep when we get to the palace. We'll be there within the hour. Let's move it." Inuyasha said gruffly in impatience. Kagome sighed deeply as she headed past Yuki and Neiko, taking the time to pause and pat their heads before walking over to join her mate, Kitara right behind her.
Inuyasha's eye twitched as he looked down at the solid black tirge at his mate's heel. Growling lightly as he turned around, he crossed his arms over his chest.
"We've wasted enough time."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~