A/N: Right! I fixed poor Tsutaki's name in the previous chapter. Sorry about that. I think I had her confused with another character of mine whose name I was still playing with at the time. I was horrified when I discovered my error, but couldn't find the disk with the story on it and then couldn't find the time to fix it. Well, it's fixed now. Forgive me?
Anyway, I'm still not telling anything about the baby, but I'm sure some of you can get the drift already in this chapter. Also, what happens with Shippou and Kagome here... I'm not sure if I like this chapter period and that's one of the spots I'm really not sure of. Maybe I should've saved it until later. But this is a short fic, so... Maybe it'll change when I get around to revising.
Oh, and I apologize ahead of time for any missing "o"'s. My keyboard is taking turns with which letter it doesn't want to acknowledge.
Enjoy the fic!
"Mama?"
Kagome slowly opened her eyes to see Tsutaki peering down at her, her sweet face tilted slightly to the side. Shippou sat off to the side watching as Jaken scowled at them. When had she fallen asleep? She'd meant to stay up with Rin.
"Mama," Tsutaki repeated reaching out a chubby hand to pat Kagome on her face.
"I'm awake, Tsutaki. I'm awake," Kagome groaned as she struggled upright.
Jaken snorted, "Finally."
Kagome shot a glare over at Jaken as she gathered Tsutaki to her, "Have you and Tsutaki eaten, Shippou?"
Shippou looked up at her, "No. I'm hungry."
"Jaken-san, can we get some food for Shippou and me, please? And some milk for Tsutaki? She'll also need some more diapers, if you don't mind," Kagome told Jaken.
Jaken scowled at her, "And what about the girl? Forget her and Lord Sesshomaru won't be happy."
"I haven't forgotten her," Kagome said, handing Shippou Tsutaki. "But she won't be up to eating much more than broth and watery soup for a while. So go get us some food for me to make it with!"
Jaken scowled, "You think you can order-"
"Go."
Jaken's eyes widened as Sesshomaru stepped out of the trees surrounding their small clearing. The gnat-like demon bowed and began to scurry off, calling behind him as he went, "Yes, Lord Sesshomaru!"
The dog demon ignored his subordinate and stared down dispassionately at the sick child. He stepped closer, sending Shippou hurrying over to hide behind Kagome. She cuddled the two children to her and watched Sesshomaru silently. Sesshomaru did nothing for a moment, then he turned to regard Kagome with his cold gaze.
"She's resting more comfortably now," he said.
Kagome nodded, "Yes. We're keeping cold compresses on her and I made up some medicine Kaede taught me for bringing down fevers."
Sesshomaru nodded and watched the three quietly, his thoughts hidden behind his impassive expression. Kagome tried not to squirm, but as the seconds passed she found it harder to do so. Finally she asked him, "Why did you bring me here?"
"You are a human miko that travels with my brother. With the strays you have accumulated in the past," at this his cool gaze drifted to Shippou and Tsutaki, "I knew you'd help her."
Kagome stared at him for a moment, then nodded, "I understand. Others wouldn't do their best simply because you're a youkai. And even threatening them with their lives wouldn't save her."
"My brother showed some intelligence even if he did choose a human then." The compliment was harsh and softly spoken, but Kagome still felt pride at it. That was the best you could expect from Sesshomaru.
"When she's better, will take us home," she asked him.
For a moment, he didn't answer. Finally he nodded and turned, leaving the way he had come.
"Thank you," Kagome called after him. He didn't stop and disappeared into the shadows of the trees.
"Shippou, why don't you add some more wood to the fire and get it going again," she said, startling him.
"What does 'mama' mean, Kagome," Shippou asked instead.
Kagome blinked at the kitsune child, "Mama means mother."
"Can," Shippou stammered, staring down at his feet. A bright flush was heating up his face. "Can I call you mama?"
"Call me mama," Kagome repeated in shock. She pulled Tsutaki to her as she stared at Shippou with wide eyes.
"That's what she calls you," Shippou replied pointing to the baby.
"But mama means mother, Shippou. Why would you want to call me mother?" Kagome patted down Tsutaki's thin hair.
"Oh," Shippou replied. "You don't want me to call you mother? You want a human baby instead?"
"No," Kagome told him, crawling over to the kitsune child and pulling him against her. "I just- don't understand... Why would you want to?"
"You act like my mom did. You take care of me like her," Shippou replied, snuggling into her, tears filling his eyes. "And you have Tsutaki now. I don't want you to forget me. Mother's can't forget their children, right?"
Kagome smiled, "You're right, Shippou. Mothers can never forget their children and I could never replace you."
"So I can call you mama?"
Kagome kissed the top of Shippou's head, "Of course. If you want to. But I don't know how good at it I'll be."
Shippou smiled up at her, "You're already great at it!"
Kagome laughed. "Thank you. Now, let's get moving. We need to take care of Rin. And Tsutaki and Shippou need to be fed."
Shippou giggled and bounced away to get to work.
"Nii-chan," Tsutaki squealed after him.
Kagome looked at the baby in horror, then sighed. There was nothing she could do about it, so why try? She had enough to worry about than a new found family to care for. But, how was she going to explain this to her mother?
Still, for some reason that eluded her, she felt immensely happy. Maybe even satisfied.
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Inu Yasha sped through the air, ignoring his companions as they flew behind him n Kirara. Every so often, he'd stop to sniff the air, then fly off again.
Miroku and Sango didn't even attempt speaking to him during the journey. They simply made special pains to keep him in their sight.
"Did Kagome say anything to you about abut who the father was," Miroku asked sometime around sunrise. They had started slowing to a speed where he knew the athletic woman in front of him would hear.
Sango turned slightly, "No. She didn't have the chance."
"How old was the baby, then? Could you tell?"
Sango shook her head slightly, "No, I don't know babies that well. But it did look about a year old, if not younger."
"So, Kagome could have had the baby before she came here then," Miroku mused aloud to his companions.
Sango shook her head, "Maybe, but I think she would have had her abut the same time."
"A baby girl," Miroku asked, his eyes widening. "So we may have another little lovely to add to our midst."
"Don't think anything funny, Monk," growled an annoyed voice just behind Miroku.
Miroku jumped and struggled to stay on the demon cat's back, "Inu Yasha! Where did you come from?"
"Heh," Inu Yasha chuckled as Sango laughed. "You didn't notice me drop back?"
Miroku sighed and shook his head, hoping he wasn't blushing but knowing from the heat in his face he probably was.
"Have you found her," Sango called back to the hanyou.
"I lost the scent," Inu Yasha growled, his jaw clenching.
Sango nodded and directed Kirara towards the ground, "Then we'll stop and rest. Maybe then we can figure out where he might have taken her and why."
Inu Yasha didn't look happy, but he stayed quiet. Once Kirara had landed, he jumped off and up int the nearest tree, settling himself in for a good sulk. Miroku and Sango climbed off more slowly and settled in below him for a short nap.
The sun had risen high in the sky when something woke Inu Yasha. He sat up and looked around the area from his perch high in the treetop. Miroku, Sango and Kirara were still sleeping peacefully below him and no one else was anywhere in sight. What could have woken him?
That smell...
He knew the smell that growing stronger and stronger to his nose. He began to growl, not relishing meeting with the idiot again. But then again, what if he was the one who'd done it? For all their speculating, no one knew how old the child really was.
With a growl, he moved his feet under him and kept a careful watch in the direction the smell originated. It was only a short wait before a whirlwind blew in, startling the others awake as well.
"Kagome," Kouga called, looking eagerly around for her.
"She's not here," Miroku told the wolf demon with a nervous look up at Inu Yasha. "She was kidnapped."
"NANI," Kouga roared. He stared up into the growling countenance of Inu Yasha. "I thought I told you to protect my woman, dog turd!"
"YOUR WOMAN," Inu Yasha yelled as he leapt down to stand in front of Kouga, his sword out and ready. "So you admit you did it!"
Kouga blinked then growled, "Don't try to distract me! Who took? Naraku?"
Inu Yasha made to sliced down with his sword, missing as Kouga jumped back. Miroku leaped to his feet and brought his own staff down on his comrade's head. Inu Yasha fell flat, stunned from the unexpected blow.
"No," Sango answered, lifting up her own weapon. "Sesshomaru took her and the children. We're on our way to rescue them."
"Sesshomaru," Kouga asked, growling. "I'll kill him!"
Kouga turned and sped away. Miroku and Sango shared a sigh at his leaving but eeped as Inu Yasha stood.
"What was that for," he screamed.
"She's depending on you to rescue her, Inu Yasha," Miroku said. He stumbled back and raised his hands up to both placate the angry half-demon and perhaps defend himself from the same. "You can't waste your energy fighting Kouga."
"But it was his!"
This time it was Hiraikotsu that flattened Inu Yasha into the ground, "Idiot. The child was too old to be from our world."
Inu Yasha rubbed his head and scowled at the two, "Feh! Let's go then!"
He leapt into the air and started off again. Miroku sighed as Kirara transformed and moved between him and Sango. Sango climbed on and he quickly jumped on behind.
"There goes our rest," he moaned.
Sango didn't answer and Kirara leapt into the air in pursuit of Inu Yasha.
A dark figure stood in the trees watching the group, a small smile gracing his handsome, even shadowed, features. He waited until they had disappeared over the horizon, before stepping out into the sunshine.
His clothing was that of a rich samurai, with a breastplate that reflected the sun and two katanas strapped to his side. The cloth was of a sturdy wool, but it was finely spun and brightly colored. He wore his hair short so that he had no need to pull it back and it revealed a tattoo of a spider's web which stretched around the back of his neck.
"I think I should find this Sesshomaru," the man said quietly. "And this child they mentioned. Inu Yasha's love child would be very valuable to Lord Naraku. Or if it is not his, the death of his woman would certainly be enough to cow the fool."
The man laughed deeply as he imagined handing Inu Yasha Kagome's head - just before taking the hanyou's own. Yes, Lord Naraku would be pleased with him for this. Very pleased.
In a flash of movement, the man disappeared, leaving only the wind to disturb the clearing's peace.
Next chapter: Both Kouga and Inu Yasha get a little surprise and Naraku's henchman makes his move.