Just a small note: I don't own legos any more than I own Inuyasha. They belong to the Lego company. I just barrowed it for the story since legos are all over the world.
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Sniffle sniffle.
Kagome sighed and looked over at the still upset child wearing one of her childhood dresses. She sat on Kagome's floor playing with some of Souta's legos. The child had cried for a good hour before settling in to sniffles and just doing as she was told.
When everything had happened, the school girl had been furious. Her anger had only grown when she saw the mess they had made. Yahna's crying aggravated her, making things worse and she kept yelling more. A few times, Inuyasha had protested in favor of giving the child what she wanted just to make her stop crying. When Kagome ignored him, the hanyou had told her she was being too cruel. He had been sat for that and stopped speaking to her. Dealing with her brother when he was younger had taught her that giving in only made him do it more.
Now that things had calmed down, Kagome felt bad. Maybe I was a bit harsh, she thought with a sigh. Her thoughts traveled back to one of Inuyasha's protests. 'It was just playing. I just got a little carried away...' She had needed to be punished, though. If she wasn't taught that such behavior was wrong, she'd just do it again. But he's right. She didn't really understand what she'd done was wrong. Yahna wiped a tear from her cheeks. She doesn't understand. I shouldn't have yelled at her like that.
Giving up her studying, she approached the child. She sat next to Yahna and watched the girl closely. Yahna made no move to acknowledge her. Kagome reached out a hand and the pup jerked away, cradling the legos to her chest. She frowned at Yahna's reaction. Honestly, she hadn't really meant to be so mean. She had just been so angry and for a while, she had forgotten how young Yahna really was.
Kagome held her hand out to Yahna. "I'm sorry, Inuyahna. I didn't mean to be yell so much." Yahna grunted in response and scooted away. "I wasn't really angry at you. I just lost my temper because of the mess you and Inuyasha made."
Sniffle sniffle.
Kagome grabbed a tissue from her desk. Gently, she lifted the child onto her lap. At first, Yahna struggled. Then she curled up in a little ball with her hands over her ears.
"Shhhh," Kagome soothed as she gentle rubbed the tissue over the child's cheeks, picking up the stray tears. "Shh. It's alright now. You're not in trouble anymore." She lifted the child in her arms and gave the girl a delicate kiss on the top of the head. "I'm not mad. I promise." After a few tense moments, Yahna uncurled a little and peered up at Kagome. A soft smile greeted the blood shot azure eyes. Kagome nuzzled against the girl. Yahna finally untensed her muscles and returned the affection. She wrapped her arms around Kagome's neck and whimpered.
"See. It's alright now. Just no more rough housing inside. You have to play like that outside. Alright?" Yahna nodded. Kagome smiled. "Alright." She stood and hefted the child up in her arms. "How about we go have a bath, okay?" Again, Yahna nodded. Another kiss was planted on the top of child's head and she was carried out.
~~~~~
Inuyasha hastily dashed out of sight as Kagome came out of her room. When she was in the bathroom with the door closed, he came back and slipped into the girl's bedroom. He crawled on to Kagome's bed and let out a sigh of relief.
For a moment there, he was afraid Kagome would reject the pup. Sure, Yahna would be fine without him, but she needed a mother. There was no mistaking that. No one else would take care of her. No one would keep her clean and fed, hold her when she slept, or comfort her when she was upset. Only a mother could do that.
When she'd turned away from Kagome, he'd been afraid Yahna wouldn't want anything to do with her again. Having the child reject Kagome would have been just as bad. She needed Kagome, even if she didn't know that yet. He knew personally how hard it was not having a mother and he didn't wish that on anyone, least of all Yahna.
The hanyou sighed again and laid on his back. That could've gone really bad. One hand idly traced down to the munahimo tied around his chest. Next time, don't jump after her-it! It! It's just a tree pup! He rolled to his stomach. The image of her tricking him to get the string flashed through his mind. Maybe there's more going on in there than she let's on... she hadn't been that agile a few days ago... or that clever...
"None of this makes sense," he breathed out. "Just none of it."
~~~~~
A slight moan brought Kagome's attention to the child in her lap. Yahna had settled to sleep shortly after their bath but refused to be put down. Kagome smiled and absently stroked the child's hair as she turned back to her biology homework.
Behind her, Inuyasha grunted from his place on her bed. She didn't have to turn around to know he had that infuriating smug expression he always wore when he thought he was right. He'd better not...
"See. Caring for pups is women's work."
Kagome turned sharply in her chair and glared at him. He just smirked confidently. "Alright, Inuyasha, I have a question for you," she grated out through clenched teeth. "What is men's work?"
"Huh?"
"What. Is. Men's. Work?"
"Men's work?"
"Yes, men's work. You have been telling me all about women's work most of the day. Now I want to know what you think your responsibility to your child is."
"It's not mine."
Yahna squirmed a little in Kagome's lap, reminding the adolescent to restrain her temper. "She's not mine either, but I don't think we exactly have a choice in the matter. Now, I want to know what you think your responsibilities to her are."
"It's not mine so I don't have to do anything for it."
"Inuyasha!"
"Keh!" he snorted and turned up his nose with his eyes closed and hands in his sleeves.
She took a deep breath to calm herself. Then she sat up straight in her chair. The girl's hand's slipped under Yahna's arms and lifted the child off her lap. This caught Inuyasha's attention and he peeked one eye open. He waited for a moment for her to do something.
"Alright. I can be that way to," Kagome grunted. She let Yahna go.
Yahna jolted awake when she hit the ground. The groggy child burst in to tears as she tried to comprehend what had just happened.
Inuyasha leaped off the bed and was at Yahna's side in a heartbeat. He scooped the child up and glared at Kagome. "What the hell is wrong with you, bitch!?! You don't drop your pup when it's sleeping!!"
"She's not mine so I don't have to do anything for her," she stated stubbornly. "I didn't want her sleeping on me, so I removed her."
"Take it back!!"
"No." Kagome whirled around her seat and turned back to he biology book.
Inuyasha whirled her back around and shoved the still bawling Yahna on to her lap. "And keep holding her, bitch!" Kagome moved to lift Yahna again. Inuyasha grabbed her wrists and stopped her. "Don't you dare!"
"Or what? You'll break my wrists?"
"No, damn it! Just hold her!"
Yahna had stopped crying now and was holding her hands over her ears, shivering.
"Why should I?! You don't do anything!"
"I do to!"
"Name five things you've done for her!"
"I gave her a bath!" he snorted.
"And?"
"Brought her here!"
"So you could dump her off on me! That doesn't count! Four more things!"
"... ah... Damn wench!"
"Who's doing most of the work, huh?! You can't even keep her out of trouble!"
"I didn't ask for any of this," he grunted to himself as he turned away from them.
"You think I did!?!" Kagome snapped, hearing every word.
"Keh! What do you know!" he snorted stubbornly. "It all comes naturally to females, and they get to have a say in it," he grumbled to himself.
Kagome's features suddenly softened. "That's it, isn't it."
"What?" he demanded curtly.
The girl stood, lifting Yahna with her. She walked up next to him and looked closely at his face. "You didn't ask for any of this. That's why you're upset." He turned his nose up stubbornly. "That's why you don't want anything to do with her, isn't it?"
"Keh!"
She reached one hand up a gently cupped his cheek. His eyes went wide and he looked back at her. A blush stained his face.
"Inuyasha, gomen. I didn't mean to yell."
"Keh," he muttered as he looked at the now fascinating ground. They were both silent for a moment. "I... I didn't ask for this," the hanyou whispered. "Damn tree never asked me if it could do this. Never said, 'Oi, Inuyasha, want a kid?' It just did it."
"No it didn't," Kagome agreed.
"I... well, I don't really know much about pups..."
"Neither do I. I mean, I use to watch Souta after school, but I never really had to do anything except keep him out of trouble. I've never been completely in charge of taking care of another person before."
He folded his arms together and glared at her. "What are you talking about. Taking care of pups is what women do. You take care of Shippo all the time."
"Shippo's old enough to take care of himself. He has before. She..." Her eyes drifted down to the sniffling child, "...can't. That's a lot of responsibility..."
"Yeah, but you know what you're doing."
"No, I don't. I'm just trying to remember things Mama used to do with Souta and me. I don't really know anything beyond that." Kagome blinked curiously. His parents... he doesn't really remember his otoo-san. She smiled softly. "Here. Take her."
"Huh?"
"Hold her. Just for a minute."
He hesitated, trying to come up with an excuse not to. One look in Kagome's honest eyes and he gave up. The hanyou stiffly grabbed the child and held her at arm's length. She remained curled up as best she could with her hands over her ears.
"Now what?" he inquired.
"Hold her closer," she urged.
Again, he hesitated. Slowly, he pulled his arms closer until the child rested against his chest. She sniffled and snuggled into his haori. His amber eyes quickly turned back to the girl, searching for some sort of guidance or answer.
"What feels right?"
"Huh?"
"What feels right? What feels right to do?"
"I... uh..." His gaze turned to the girl snuggled against him. Her ears were still flattened against her head and a few tears fell from her eyes. Honestly, he just wanted her to stop crying. "I don't know..."
"Just do what feels natural. Instinct. I don't know any other way to explain it."
She snuggled deeper in to his arms and chest. Hold her...? He let his muscles relax and bit, then supported her up a little higher. After a moment, he lifted her higher and nuzzled against her face like he'd seen Kagome do before.
Yahna nuzzled right back, whimpering a little. "Otoo-sama."
A slight smile lifted the corners of his lips. Right...
The light touch of Kagome's hand on his arm brought him back to the rest of the room. He stared down at Kagome. She smiled warmly. The hanyou sighed. "This isn't going away is it?" Kagome shook her head. Amber eyes turned back to the child. "Didn't think so. Guess we'll just have to learn to live with you then..."
"Inuyasha!"
Yahna yawned and stretched her arms up, obviously more relaxed.
"And it's time to sleep."
"I still..."
He snagged her by the arm and dragged her to her bed. "I said it's time for bed. Your pup needs sleep and sleeping with pups is women's work."
"Inuyasha, yo-" The back of her knees hit the bed and she dropped on it, cutting off her tirade. Yahna was placed gently in her arms before she could continue. The hanyou turned around and flicked the light on her desk off the same way he'd watched her do a dozen times. Then, he plopped down on the floor at the side of the bed.
Yahna reached out and snagged one of his ears. Inuyasha let out a strangled grunt as he leaned into the pull. "Oi! Let go!" he snapped.
"Otoo-sama," she whimpered as she brushed a little moisture out of the corner of her eye.
He narrowed his eyes. "You're not going to let me sit on the floor, are you?" She responded by pulling harder. "Owe! Alright! Alright! Let go!" The little girl released his sensitive ear. He snorted and rubbed the abused flesh. He gazed at Kagome, intending to look domineering and in control; instead, he gave her a half pleading, half fearful look while his cheeks turned a cute shade of pink.
The teenager sighed. "I don't think she's going to give in no matter what we say. She's even more stubborn than you."
"Yeah, right on the same level as you," he retorted.
She rolled her eyes and lied on her side. "Go ahead. Neither of us are going to get any sleep otherwise."
"You're not going to push me out of the bed in the morning again, are you?"
"I apologized, didn't I? Besides, I wasn't expecting you to be there. I'm letting you, this time."
He slowly crawled on the bed and settled down so his back was against the wall and her back was to him. After Yahna had settled and snuggled against Kagome, he cautiously, he slid one arm under Kagome's pillow and laid the other over her waist. The school girl was tense for a moment, but soon relaxed. He sighed, then did the same, laying his chin over her head and deeply breathing her sweet scent. Maybe now things'll get better, he mentally sighed. Yahna yawned and wiggled about a little to get more comfortable. One of his hands snagged her ankle and she settled. At least they can't get any worse...
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Japanese words I've used in this chapter
Gomen = sorry
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Alright, before anyone jumps down my throat about Kagome's actions in this chapter, I would like to defend myself. First off, Kagome is 15 and Inuyasha is 16-17 (minus the 50 years attached to the tree). They are teenagers. They are teenagers with minimal parenting experience who have just become parents of an active 4 year old (in appearance). In my experience and education, teenagers tend to not make good parents. It's even harder with a child that is a few years old and you have not had a chance to really get to know yet. Neither of them is particularly ready to be a parent. Nor are either all that willing. Circumstances are working against them, however, so they have to. This doesn't mean they will be good at it or that they will even consider Yahna when they do things. Yeah, they'll get better at this over time but it takes some getting use to.
A few notes, now. For a long time, children use to sleep with their parents. There are many places where they still do. In the show, you'll notice that Shippo is usually sleeping with Kagome and sometimes Kirara or Miroku. Yahna is quite insistent that she sleeps with one or both of her parents. This is very much of a safety issue. Not sure what I mean? think back to when you were little and had a nightmare. Chances are, you went to your parent(s) to sleep with them. It made you feel safer. This is kind of Yahna and Shippo's way of looking at it. They're safe and close to people they care about. There are a lot of interesting studies around parents sleeping with their young children, including a number that show it lowers the percentage of infants who die from SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
Japan is very patriarchal, even today. The father was the head of the household and decided a lot about how the family was run. Every family had to have a male as head of the household. If the father died, his son took over, not his wife. Now, knowing this, why is Inuyasha more concerned about Yahna's relationship with Kagome than with him? ... besides trying to get rid of his responsibilities to her. He never really knew his father. He has no knowledge of that relationship and (in my mind) wouldn't view it as the most important. He lived with his mother for years and I think he would view that as the more important relationship. That was the one that mattered most to him, anyway.
For the things Inuyasha learned last time: 1) When Yahna moves like that, she has got to go and she has got to go now. 2) Yahna is a little more clever than he thought. 3) Don't chase Yahna in the house. You wont win.
Other things people pointed out that he probably at least notice: Yahna like being dizzy (most little kids do) (Sashlea). He shouldn't make Kagome mad (AkuReiX) but I think Inuyasha already knew that. Yahna however, didn't. She's gained some insight. He learned "women's work" is not always easy (Giggles19701)... or at least taking care of children isn't easy.
You don't have to kiss my feet, Pantwinny. I'd continue anyway.
He's gonna learn way more than that from Yahna-chan, Caliko.
Sorry. Didn't mean to get you sat, Leo. Ouch.
Well, that's all for now. See you next chapter, in which Yahna goes exploring and has some interaction with Kagome's mom. Later.