DISCLAIMER: I don't own Inuyasha. *heaves a deep sigh* I never thought that would be so liberating to say that. *tears prick eyes* I WANT TO OWN INUYASHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AN: Thank you to: Jupiter's Light, Lil Saiyan, Lily (hey Lily Cap Fridays? I'll join you as long as hot chocolate counts!), and Zonza (Wait till you see what I have planned!)

A Silver Heart

A Fitting Punishment (Part 8/12)

By Wyltk

I jumped at the unexpected feeling of someone's chest pressed against my back and I almost fell over my own feet to get away. Only when I looked up, Inuyasha's hands steadying my shoulders, did I allow myself relax against his chest. Wondering at how quickly he had gained my trust over the past day and night. But before long my attention was drawn back to the howling.

"It's Sesshoumaru." He spoke softly and Shippo let out a small mumble sifting in his sleep. Inuyasha gave the kit a small smile before cocking one pure white ear towards the howl.

"He's saying, 'I'm happy'."

I glanced up at him and tried to decipher that message from amongst the howling surprised when I couldn't make heads nor tales of it like I normally could. Inuyasha leaned down nuzzling behind my ear lightly.

"Don't listen with your ears."

He murmured before throwing his head up and howling in accordance with his brother. I closed my eyes listening to the beautiful sound and before I knew it I could hear the words, no not words, emotions.

'I'm happy for you.' Repeated over in over in Inuyasha's beautiful voice. Something in side of me wondered how I knew it but the rest of my thoughts we're pushed back by the low vibrations that we're coming from Inuyasha's low cry. More cry's joined the air repeating Inuyasha's message with small hints of confusion but I blocked them out leaning closer to Inuyasha so I could hear only him.

~*~

It wasn't long after the howling when Shippo woke up. Which I found slightly weird, I mean what kid that had never heard that type of howling would sleep through it? Then again he was a Kitsune Youkai. My train of thought was broken when Inuyasha grabbed my hand beginning to pull me away from the hill. I noticed he had already gathered all the clothes and had them safely stored in the basket.

He smiled down at me and I felt heat fuse my face from his jaunty look. He quick led me to the cave putting the basket with the clothes down in the entrance before pulling me away and towards the heart of the Inu-Youkai camp. 

"I want to show you my home." He whispered and I felt a small smile curl my lips. I nodded slowly and he grasped my hand tightly my other hand keeping Shippo, whom was just having his bottle, close to me.

"Rin is a seamstress here. She's works on the fancier kimono's and things. We also have a market, some of the families live in the valley a little ways over and grow our herbs and vegetables. That hut there is the hut makers. He sometimes fixes things in caves as well but for any new caves we higher another demon made for stone digging. That large cave over there is the councils' chamber."

He explained this over the course of their walk adding other small commentaries as I looked around. My attention was mostly drawn to the children playing under a parents watchful eye. They seemed to be happy and content, settled in their homes with their brothers and sisters. Sometimes my wandering attention would catch Inuyasha as he acknowledged one of the many people bowing and greeting us warmly.

Large clouds of smoke billowing out of one of the huts caught my eye and I shivered inexplicitly. Inuyasha pulled me closer and I wondered why the smoke scared me so much, even after Inuyasha's explanation that the hut was a bakers hut.

I managed to dissuade him from going in and instead we passed by and kept going. Walking until we were out of the village and going up a sharp incline, Inuyasha make sure he kept a secure arm around my waist steadying me when I slipped. We managed to make it to the top just as the sun began it's slow descent into the mountains, stretching it's flushed hands out as far as it could hoping to leave some legacy that it had once lit the beautiful ravine.

In the center of the ravine was a small cottage notably removed from the others and to this Inuyasha began to lead me. Stopping a few feet away to give me a small smile.

"I have a favor to ask, if you can not do it say so and I will never ask it of you again." he said and I felt my eyes widen slightly before I nodded.

"In this hut lives four, friends. They heard that you were here and I thought they might be interested in the time you spent with the Kitsunes. I wanted to ask you if you would mind sharing your story?"

I blinked my heart stopping in my chest for a second before returning beating all the louder and faster for its pause. I didn't know what to say, on one hand obviously this was important to him, but did I want to dredge my feelings out in the open for a second telling in the last two days?

I met Inuyasha's eyes and they looked down at me seriously, promising to protect me from anything I couldn't handle. Telling me he wouldn't leave because of my decision and should I tell my story he would be right there with me giving me the comfort he seemed to carry around on his sleeve.

"I can tell them the story." I whispered taking courage in his golden gaze.

"Thank you, Kagome."

His golden eyes we're strangely serious as he knocked at the huts door sharply. An answering scuffle went on behind the door.

"It's Inuyasha. I have a lady with me."

Immediately a yip rent the air and a louder scuffle began to take place. I took his words to mean the four friends were guys and at the moment messy guys. Minutes passed and the door was flung open by a hazard looking guy with a lopsided smile. He stepped back enough so we could go through and I caught a glimpse of the other three boys sitting around a fire looking calm and collected, totally unaware that the bed they chose to hide their stuff under had a pair of mens' under things' trailing out the side.

"Come in."

The boys got up bowing at the waist as I walked into the room hesitantly keeping close to Inuyasha. We were asked to be seated and Inuyasha grasped my hand, instantly calming me. I let Shippo crawl around next to me knowing he would go no farther then a few feet with so many people around.

"Kagome has come to tell you a story I thought you might like to hear. I'm sorry for not giving notice."

I watched the four boys exchange nervous glances before mumbling that it was fine. They turned to me and I smiled slightly to the boys noticing they appeared a year or two younger then me, and probably we're in demon standards but in human I would bet they were infinitely older. I smiled slightly back, jumping out of my thoughts, and squeezed Inuyasha's hand. I grabbed Shippo away from the fire before I started my tale.

I began when they found me and continued on through how I had lived with them getting approving nods from Inuyasha. I told them of their kindness and of how they had let me stay even after I was starting to walk again. And I finished the story with their death. Stopping when I felt Inuyasha squeeze my hand and smile at me.

It was then I noticed that my attentive audience were looking at the floor anywhere but at me and Shippo. As if they themselves were guilty of the crime committed. It wasn't a second before I realized they were.

Strangely enough when I gazed at them, the fantasies I had harbored as I ran from place to place faded. I had no desire to kill these kids. Nor inflict the pain they had inflicted upon me. As I watched their miserable expressions I had only the desire to tell them I was alright. That I forgave them that I knew they had suffered as I had. Perhaps worse as guilt is often times a powerful emotion. So I spoke, softly, hesitantly, I spoke.

"I've forgiven them though. Though they were wrong I forgive them where ever they may be. And hope they have learned from the mistake."

My words seemed to cheer their hearts and one chanced to look up at me his eyes becoming glassy with tears I had seldom saw Youkai shed. I realized, as I looked at Inuyasha, that my story was a punishment for them. But I felt no resentment towards him when he turned his sad eyes on me with the knowledge that I knew who these people were. I smiled at him and his eyes sparkled back at me.

"We should be going Inuyasha, Rin will be worried."

We walked back up the incline and through the village in silence. I watched the little inu-children be herded into their homes by loving mothers and annoyed older siblings. I watched as other members of the pack helped find the children who had wandered beyond their mother's watchful eyes and I knew then what had to be done. I looked down at Shippo and kissed his forehead in an effort to hide the tear that had streaked down my face.

~*~

I opened my eyes, thankfully used to dark places, and gazed at Inuyasha assuring myself he was sleeping peacefully. Slowly I shifted from under his arm, which had somehow become wrapped around my waist during the night. Being careful not to wake him I replaced his arm around Shippo before getting out of the small bed and walking over to a shelf of sorts. Quickly I took out the paper I had written earlier that evening and tucked it into Inuyasha's other hand.

Shippo would be safe here, I knew. He would be adopted by a nice family, maybe even Rin would take care of him. She would be a good mother and it would be good practice for her own coming little one.

Whatever the case he would be safe here. Safe and protected like I would be unable to provide. I would be forced to run with him sooner or later. But here, here he was safe. Here he would have a steady home and not want for the food I had trouble finding along the road. Here he would be taken care of. And I would be satisfied if it meant that he would be happy.

I left my own fire rat coat in hope of repaying any of the kindness they had shown me. And I quickly stripped Rin's clothes off putting on my own and folding hers and placing it neatly next to Inuyasha.

In seconds I was out of the sub cave and in minutes I was sliding down a steep slope in a rush to get away least someone wake and find me missing. Finally I was down the incline and managed to make a run for the forest not stopping for anything. I chanted a mantra in my head to keep me going along with the ready pictures of Shippo growing up with brothers and sisters. I ran faster pushing myself harder in an attempt to get away from them. And hoping they wouldn't think to follow me until my trail was cold.

AN: *evil giggle from behind a contently placed couch* I'm going to warn you all, from now on things move fast, really fast. And the Cliff hangers are going to get worse. You thought so far was bad? Prepare yourself….

And the wolf behowls the moon –Shakespeare

Megaera Wyltk