I tried to continue the depth of the story in this chapter, but it was just too consuming. So here's a little light-heartedness. Hope you review cause I'm loving this story. It's my pride and joy at the moment.

No Sanctuary

Chapter Two: Paradise Lost

"Dad, I can explain!" Shippou said quickly, dashing for his shirt on the table.

"Stop right there."

Normally, he would have been quicker in putting on the shirt he held limply, but Shippou was beginning to shake in fear. His father's voice was deadly calm and that was not normal for the moody and emotional hanyou. Inuyasha's hair hid his eyes so that Shippou couldn't read his expression, and his father's scent had something about it that was always in his mother's, and that scared the kit.

"How long?"

Shippou barely dared to breathe. "How long what?"

Stupid was good. It was a great approach. Better than going back to foster homes with Hiten and that dolt Manten. But he couldn't lie very well; his father would soon detect the telling scent and then it'd be over.

"How long," Inuyasha repeated quietly, "has this been going on?"

Shippou gulped.

"Answer me."

"A while…" He whispered.

Inuyasha's fist snaked out from his side and slammed into the doorway. Splinters of wood fell at his feet. "That's not an answer!" He shouted.

Shippou jumped, clutching his shirt to his bruised chest as if it were a shield against the world.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome admonished, "Do not shout at him like that, and would you mind not tearing my house apart?!"

Kagome and Kouga came to stand behind Inuyasha. She tried pushing past to help the kitsune, but Inuyasha didn't budge. In fact, he looked furious when he glanced at her.

"You've known, haven't you Kagome?" The look in the hanyou's eyes was far deadlier than any murderer Kouga had ever arrested or even seen a picture of. "Known all this time that my son was being abused by someone."

Kagome suddenly looked like the guilty one. "Inuyasha, I can explain everything if you'd just--."

"What, calm down?" He said angrily.

Kouga had seen many people look angry in his line of work. Hell, even stoners attempted the angry look. But no one could convey the fear that came with being pegged with aforementioned look. Inuyasha was a little beyond reasoning with those in cahoots, especially her, that hadn't let him in on such important knowledge.

"Who was it, Kagome?" Inuyasha's calmness was worse than the over-emotional drama. Now he was advancing on her, unexpectedly close, and backing her to the hallway wall. "Was it a teacher at school? A friend? Was it that old hag?"

Meekly, Kagome shook her head. "Then who was it?" He demanded. "Was it you?!"

"Inuyasha," Kouga said, careful not to disrupt the hanyou's angry pattern. "Keep in mind that I'm on duty here and could have you arrested for harassment if you carry this any farther with her."

Inuyasha ignored her, his full attention still on Kagome. Behind him, Shippou looked torn between bolting out the back door and helping his would-be helper. "C'mon Kagome," Inuyasha said, "You're not saying anything. Does that mean you did it? Have you been abusing my son in your spare time?"

"No!" Kagome shouted, shocked and revolted at the mere idea that she had been the one to abuse Shippou in such a way.

"You think this is just a game? Why'd you do it, Kagome? Was it fun? Did you like it? Did you like the tearing flesh, tears he might've shed for it? Was it—,"

"Enough!" Kouga growled, trying to step between the two. "Kagome would never hurt a hair on that kid's head and you know it! So stop being a jackass and go tend to your son!"

Kouga knew that anything else would send Inuyasha overboard, and his mental stability would crack just enough to allow his youkai blood to take control. He could never allow Inuyasha to hurt Kagome, least of all in front of Shippou. Inuyasha backed away with a small but violent shake of his head. Kagome placed a shaking hand on Kouga's back, to move him slightly out of the way.

Kagome kneeled down slowly in front of Inuyasha. "I know that you know who did this, and why. I know that it hurts. But please, don't do this. Not in front of your son. Not in front of Kouga."

Previous to her saying this, Kouga had wanted to somehow convey that Inuyasha's youkai blood made him dangerous right now. But Kagome seemed to know it, the way that cops could tell when a lunatic had the capability to blow someone's head off. Not because it was predictable. Not because of the situation. Kagome just seemed to know. This made him curious, but the situation at hand demanded that Kouga be on his guard instead of asking questions.

Funny how Kagome didn't seem to need his protection as she allowed Inuyasha to reach up and nearly crush her in his embrace, muffled sounds of crying coming from the hanyou, and Kagome looking like she would cry as well. Shippo, seeing that all was safe, tenderly put his muddy shirt back on and slowly stepped into the hallway to look upon his crying father.

When Kouga drove Inuyasha and Shippou back to their house, the car was silent. Shippou stared listlessly out the window and watched whatever rolled by. The sky was still dark and cloudy, and a few times small droplets splattered on the windows. Inuyasha sat beside his son in the back, staring out the window as well, but not really seeing anything; the look on his face said that the hanyou was ashamed for having cried in front of Kouga and his son.

When Kouga drove off he could see them walk up to the house, Kikyo running out to greet them as if she hadn't been the reason for Shippou's disappearing act. But Kouga wasn't going to do anything about it. As a cop he was bound to serve the state and his country, but he would not be the one to tear his best friend's family apart.

Shippou lay face down on the bed, trying to block out the silence of his familiar home. It had been almost four days since he'd been brought back to this place with so many bad and good memories. Inuyasha didn't say a word to Kikyo about Shippou, leading his wife to believe that he'd only found his son and not learned of the beatings. But since, Kikyo had remained sober and told them that she had quit the booze. They smiled and nodded, pretended to be happy for her sake.

But really, Shippou was dying inside. The silence was unbearable. No one spoke much, and when they did, it was terse and forced. Shippou for the most part stayed in his room, or at his uncle's house. He hadn't visited Kagome, and Kouga hadn't been over to visit Inuyasha or to see how they were all doing. In reality, it was just a big theater show, and they were all playing their parts as usual. Nothing had changed, and Shippou had convinced himself that much. However, it was hard to keep that façade going when Inuyasha really knew now who had been hurting Shippou. It hadn't been boys at school, like Shippou had lied. It had been his very own mother, the woman who was supposed to love her son so much that she would lay down her life for him.

"Shippou!"

He rolled over lazily and looked at his watch. School would start soon and he'd have to run to make it. "Be there in a minute!"

Shippou tossed on a clean shirt from his closet, careful to put the dirty one in his hamper, lest his mother get mad at him for dropping it on the floor. Once satisfied that he was at least presentable, Shippou tied his shoulder length hair back in the usual pony tail, and ran a quick comb through his now slender and sleek tan-colored tail. Dropping the comb back onto the dresser in the corner, Shippou grabbed his backpack and dashed downstairs.

He slowed to a walk when he saw his mother, knowing that running the house was another of her pet peeves. She handed him his lunch and gave him an insincere hug goodbye, telling him to be careful. In his mind, Shippou scoffed, but left hurriedly.

"What about her?"

"She's ok, I guess…" Shippou said lazily.

"You guess? C'mon, show us a girl you like!" Rin said, ever the outgoing one.

Kohaku grinned shyly beside her, but didn't say anything. Shippou rolled his eyes. The three of them were sitting on their usual table by the fence, shaded by the old oaks that grew there. Rin was stretched out on the bench, her head in Kohaku's lap (primarily the reason for his most prominent blush), and Shippou was sitting on the edge of the tabletop next to Kohaku, dangling his feet between the table top and the bench and gazing down at Rin instead of looking at the cheerleader's practice like he was supposed to be.

"Why? What's wrong with me not liking any of them?" Shippou replied, not caring how stupid the words sounded outside his head.

"Because then you'd be gay." Rin smiled. At Shippou's deadpan expression she quickly amended, "Not that being gay is bad, but if Jakotsu ever got a hold of that news, he'd be after you in a second."

Shippou gave a wry smile. "So we're doing this for my own protection, is that right?"

Kohaku laughed and Rin said, "Yes, that's it exactly. You've caught us in the act." Nudging Kohaku, she added, "Guess we'll just have to cover it all up better next time."

"Next time?" Shippou asked. "Maybe if there is a next time I'll just use my fox magic and escape you loonies."

"Oh there'll be a next time. Rin never gives up, you know that. Find out Shippou's crush or die trying." Kohaku said. Rin slapped him on the only part of him she could really reach, his knee. Kohaku gave her puppy-dog eyes and Rin quickly mumbled a 'sorry'.

The cheerleading practice continued loudly, as did Rin's insistence that he pick at least one girl he thought pretty. This was considered a normal day for Shippou, Rin, and Kohaku. Go to school together, survive the day once more, and watch the world pass them by on a park bench for an hour before each was due home.

Finally looking at his watch, he told them the time. "See you guys tomorrow." Shippou said, giving Rin a hug and waving to Kohaku.

Their goodbyes followed each of them as the trio split ways, and Shippou walked home alone. It seemed like a usual day, but Shippou couldn't help but feel the fear that used to accompany him on his walk home. He knew it was only a matter of time before Kikyo began to drink again, began to beat him again, began to force him to run away to Kagome's every week.

Thinking about it, Shippou thought it was almost funny how he'd never told Kohaku and Rin about Kikyo's abusive tendencies. It wasn't that they hadn't asked how he'd gotten his numerous bruises and cuts. His being a youkai made all of it nonetheless suspicious, and he had a feeling Kohaku really knew what was up. But his friend was timid, and though Kohaku knew he could tell Shippou anything and vice versa, they had not the guts between them to speak the truth.

Rin was technically related to Shippou, being the foster daughter of his father's brother. She had met Kikyo more than Kohaku had, had known the woman as long as she'd known Shippou (which albeit was most of their lives), and knew that there was something altogether not right with her. But she couldn't figure it out. Kohaku hadn't wanted to tell her and Shippou knew it. The fact that he had missed school on Monday and not told them why had only fueled the fire of Rin's curiosity, not something that needed fueling at the moment.

So all that was left for him was to walk home alone, and hope that he didn't meet the fear of his mother somewhere along the way.

Kagome set down her grocery bag and answered the phone tiredly. "Hello?"

"Hey there, Beautiful." Kouga said on the other end. Kagome smiled.

That had been an endearing nickname given to her by both Kouga and Inuyasha in high school, one that had made Kikyo obviously jealous. But Kouga still used the nickname, especially since he'd expressed his equally obvious feelings for her.

"Hey." Kagome said. "What's up?"

"I was wondering if you were doing anything tomorrow night." Kouga replied smoothly. Unlike Inuyasha he had never had any problem asking Kagome out. In fact he'd done it damn near relentlessly.

Kagome continued to put away groceries. "Tomorrow as in Friday? I'm not doing anything."

Kouga's smirk was almost tangible through the phone. "Do you want to see a movie with me?"

"Yeah, sure. What time?" Kagome asked, going through the usual parade of being asked out.

"Around six thirty. I'll pick you up then, that ok?" Kouga asked.

"Yeah, that's great. I'll see you then." Kagome said.

"Bye," Kouga said, his voice still so smooth it ought to have been fined.

Kagome hung up slowly and wondered what Inuyasha was doing at that moment.

"Hey son," Inuyasha called. "How was school?"

"Same old…" Shippou said, taking off his shoes and making to go upstairs.

"Wait a minute," Inuyasha said.

"What?" Shippou asked wearily.

"Just c'mere." Inuyasha said, motioning to him from the kitchen, where he sat at the small oak table with Kikyo, papers crowding the table top.

Shippou sat down curiously, and Inuyasha slid one of the many papers towards him. Shippou read it slowly, at first not really comprehending, but then beginning to smile broadly.

Looking up, he asked, "Is it true?"

Inuyasha nodded, letting a small smile grace his features as well. "Sesshoumaru finally got tired of all those damn people hounding his door to adopt Rin. So he's going to adopt her."

"That's great! Does she know? Can I call her?" Shippou asked.

"Yes, she knows. I believe Sesshoumaru is on the phone with your Aunt Kaede, working out the smaller details." Kikyo said, drinking a cup of coffee in front of her and holding Inuyasha's hand.

Shippou gave the clasped hands a fleeting look, but let the happiness of Rin's adoption overcome him instead. There was no need to be afraid right now, as long as Kikyo kept drinking coffee and Inuyasha kept throwing out her secret stashes of booze.

To Be Continued…