Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha...if I did there would be a lot of things that I would change...a lot.

A/N: I would like to apologize for my lateness, class is back and it's hard juggling classwork (which I have now :gasp:), three days of clinicals besides the usual two, and working on a fanfiction. Plus I'm having a little writers block...I know how it's gonna end, I'm just having a little problem getting there. Just lately my internet decided to be an ass and stopped working, so pick any of the excuses you deem acceptable for my tardiness.

"blah" - talking

'blah' - thoughts

> > > > change in scene

>>>> flashback and end of it


Chapter 6:

"INUYASHA" Immediately the hanyou's ears stood up from the bellows of the demoness whom he knew he would soon face the wrath of. The other two men, Miroku and Houjo, cringed at the sound of her loud screeching voice. "Someone's gonna get it" they both said in a sing-song manner, and they're looking at the guy who's at the recieving end.

Just then the door flew open the sunglight bursting in, obscuring the face of the intruder but showed her shapely figure. Inuyasha stood with determination, he won't go down without a fight. "What do y-"

"Sit" she yelled at the same time gesturing for him to sit down with her finger. At the command the hanyou sat without question, mouth closed shut.

Kikyo and Sango were the other two spectators of the current situation. Both were in the kitchen preparing lunch. They watched as the hanyou followed Kagome's command"Wish I could do that" the miko said voicing her thoughts out loud.

Kagome only stared at him in anger, for the second time this morning Inuyasha was in her people that needs to get smacked list. As soon as Kagome reached the top of those shrine steps Inuyasha was in her line of sight with a nervous smile on his face. He told her early on about his little 'slip-up' concerning Sesshoumaru. Without even saying two words Inuyasha recieved a smack in the head and from the resounding echo that can be heard for miles Kagome didn't hold back. It was definetly a good thing the kids were already playing at the back of the shrine.

He had yet to recover from that injury and already he's about to recieve another one. Within a blink of an eye she held a round pink jewel in front of his face. "Can you explain to me why I saw the children playing with this as if it were a marble" She stared at him waiting for an explanation.

"It's only a stupid jewel" he countered, arms crossed added with his signature 'feh.'

"A. Stupid. Jewel" she repeated gritting her canines"Do you even know what this is! What it represents" She was answered with a dumbstruck face and a shrug. Kagome threw her ams up as if she's given up.

"It's a shikon jewel...but you said that it's safe so what's the big deal" He looked at both Kagome and Kikyo who just glared at him.

Kagome sighed and looked at Kikyo then back at Inuyasha. "My theory of Kikyo's attraction to your looks, rather than your 'winning personality'" she made a little quotation mark gesture"is beginning to be more of a fact" she grumbled, rubbing her forehead of the growing headache.

Inuyasha paused, thinking of what she said but put the thought aside. "You said it's useless, it's not like it's dangerous or anything" the hanyou commented.

Kikyo moved out of the kitchen and in the middle of the living room. She stopped in between of her fiance and Kagome, to prevent the demoness from inflicting anymore damage to the already hurting hanyou"Inuyasha just because you can't feel it's power does not mean it's useless. It's power is mearly locked away to the point that it can't be used by anyone. My ancestors made sure that it was protected as soon as Midoriko and Kaede subdued the jewels abilities so that the troubles it caused won't happen again. It's still important, especially to my family, it signifies my ancestors, as well as our" she looked at Kagome"lineage of possesing such strong spiritual abilities."

All audience nodded their head at the miko's brief family history. Houjo raised his hand, he felt as if he was in college class again"So you still protect it because it's powers can still be unlocked"

"No..." Kagome scoffed"Midoriko and Kaede was the one who subdued it, they made sure it stayed that way. They might be hanyou's but their miko powers are very strong individually...imagine their powers combined."

"It is most fortunate, the shikon no tama is a powerful jewel able to grant one's wishes, increase the power of whomever may possess it, and corrupt the minds of those not pure. I'd hate to die protecting that jewel." Kikyo added.

"Yeah, but there's no chances of that happening" Kagome assured everyone" We guard the jewel to ensure it's safety, I mean can you imagine if the shards are shattered this jewel is priceless, one of a kind. I'm sorry for the individuals who'd have to put it all together." All envisioned what Kagome had just said and shuddered at the thought, walking around looking for tiny shards of jewels and piecing them together.They'd hate to see themselves in that situation.

All this was just making Sango very hungry, plus she's eating for two now ."All right enough of this little family history lesson I'm hungry...and it won't be my fault if there's no food left, remember: first come, first serve" After anouncing she hurried to the kitchen while the others finally got the message and rushed after her as well.

Lunch was un-eventful, Inuyasha was still nursing his throbbing head from the blow he had recieved from Kagome earlier that morning. Miroku noticed and sat next to him with Houjo alongside. "Inuyasha" the houshi began"If you need help I have some old family home remedies that can cure whatever may ail you...even that headache of yours" he pointed at the throbbing red lump situated on the top of Inuyasha's cranium.

"Home remedies? Give me a break..." Houjo said with concern, he paused and scratched his chin. "I say go down the pharmacy, buy some painkillers, and you're done" he snapped his fingers almost as if to demonstrate the quickness of the effect of the drug. "Always does the trick for me."

"Nah, it's nothing" the hanyou rubbed his head. "It'll be gone in a few...doesn't hurt anyway" he lied it still hurts like hell. 'Geez...the wench's been working out or something.'

Outside the children paid no heed to the commotion within the house, with the 'pink marble thingy' gone Shippou and Rin decided to get more acquianted with their new friend. "So...you're an inu youkai huh" Rin asked while circling the little girl almost as if she was being interrogated.

"Uh-huh" the little girl nodded her head, trying her best to keep up with Rin"Mama is too" she smiled, proud of her bloodline."What kind of youkais are you two"

"Who...me, a demon" Rin gasped, fingers pointing at herself, she shook her head"No, I'm a ningen...but Shippou-chan is."

The little girl stared at Shippou silently asking the same question. Shippou puffed his chest"I'm a kitsune" The two girls giggled at his action. "When I grow up I'm gonna be strong, just like Inuyasha"

"He's not that strong, he's a hanyou" Rin commented.

"What's a hanyou, and why isn't Uncle Inuyasha that strong" The girl looked around to see if anyone else can hear her"Is it a disease" she whispered.

The two older children only stared at her then began laughing"It's not a disease! Inuyasha-sama is half ningen, half youkai because his mama is a human and his papa is an inu-youkai. That's why he's not that strong." She then looks at Shippou"he's not as strong as Sesshoumaru-sama" Rin stuck out her tounge, Shippou did as well to retaliate"he's a taiyoukai, he's the strongest"

"Who's Sesshoumaru-sama" The girl asked, the two forgot that she was there, lost in the battle between who's idol is better than who.

"Uh...er...Sesshoumaru-sama...is er...Inuyasha's half-brother." Shippou explained, he scratched his head and begged kami that the girl's curiosity would be appeased.

"That means he's my uncle too" It's not. Rin looked at Shippou as he struggled to find the right suitable words to say to the kid to make it sound like he's not lying.

"He's related to you..."Rin said, the two laughed nervously, their eyes darted back to eachother. She thought that hiding a little secret from her Sesshoumaru-sama was hard. He had asked her about Kagome, the child, and the man with them, mostly about the man. All Rin could say is "I don't know, she didn't tell me." smiled then excused herself because she needed to use the bathroom. Now she finds it harder to keep the secret of the girl's father's identity from the girl herself. It felt wrong to lie to someone that young, innocent, and cute. 'When this is all done...I'm asking Kagome-chan for a garden...with lots of flowers, I'm too young to be this stressed,' she felt like her Sesshoumaru-sama when he was at home dealing with his paperworks.

The little girled laughed"He sounds cool, I wanna meet him"

The girls were setting up a pic-nic basket, Sango came up with the idea. Since they were all going to the park she thought it was best to bring some snacks for all of them to eat"The children can get hungry and dehydrated while playing" she reasoned, but all knew that the food was to benefit her and her ever growing appetite.

"I'm afraid we are out of drinks and fruits" Kikyou announced after raiding her pantry and fridge. She always has a full stock of food

but with Shippou and Inuyasha she can rest assure that everything will be gone. Sango whined, fruits were her absolute favorite, among many others. "I guess I'll go to the store." Kikyo sighed, after seeing the look on the soon-to-be-mother's face.

Sango's face lit up, going to the store means she can pick other food besides something to drink and an assortment of fruits. "Can you get some chips and dips, maybe order some sushi, get some rice crackers, ooohh and I'd love it if you can get some milk tea"

Kagome stared at her with disbelief"you just had lunch...are you sure you're not having twins...quadruplets" Sango just glared at her then stuck out her tounge. "I'll get the stuff Kikyo, with Sango's growing request I don't think you'll be strong enough to cary any of it... just set up the stuff at the same place we met yesterday okay. I'll meet you there in an hour."

> > > > :the supermarket:

The grocery cart was filled to the max, most, if not all, were Sango's request. Kagome was a little mad that she didn't bring Inuyasha along. She remembered the time when she, Kikyo, and Inuyasha would go and get groceries, Inuyasha would often buy boxes of ramens along with other junk food he can think of. The girls were fine with that, as long as he would carry everything he bought home, now Kagome stared at the cart, thinking of ways to carry it all to the park. "Do we really need all these food" She asked mainly herself, she decided to check the list she just remembered she had stuffed in her bag. Feeling for the crumpled piece of paper she careless pushed in her bag, among other things, she felt a smooth round glass ball. Making sure that what she felt was what she thought it was she took it out, the shikon no tama was in her hands innocently staring at her as if to say "you forgot all about me didn't you."

She did, in fact, forget all about the priceless jewel. With all the commotion and Sango's declaration of eating all the food, Kagome threw the jewel in her bag making a mental note to put it back in it's case when they're about to leave. Offcourse as soon as someone starts a conversation with Kagome she instantly forgets such reminders until it was too late. In this case it wasn't, lucky her, she could just go back up the steps of the shrine, a small detour, and rush to the park along with the many bags of foods she has in tow.

>>>> flashback

"No, no more training I'm done, I'm tired, I don't need to do this anymore" she grabbed her bag and slowly ascend the shrine steps.

"You refuse to train because you know you are failing."

Kagome stared at the silver haired youkai in disbelief. "You're soo full of it Sesshoumaru! I did this for Kikyo, now she has Inuyasha to protect her she doesn't need me as her bodyguard.I don't need to train anymore, it's useless now." She continued her trudge, determined to ignore Sesshoumaru and his insults for once.

He smirked, reveling in the way small statemets can always irritate her"And what about you? Will you take the same path as your human relation...seek shelter in the arms of a mate-to-be, that ookami."

She stopped dead in her tracks and slowly turned around, once again he caused something within her to come to life, the spitfire that demands she strike back. "Kouga can protect me if he wishes to, but I don't need to hide behind someone's back, I can take care of myself." One perfectly shaped brow raised"What now"

"So you do not deny that the wolf prince will be your mate" Her whole faced turned red and she immediately covered the shocked look evident in her face. "From what I observed you are lacking in your skills to defend yourself let alone retaliate.How can you be sure that you are well equipped of defending yourself"

"Kouga is NOT my MATE" She fumed, ignoring the steps she took and opted to jump landing right in front of Sesshoumaru. "Fighting is not for me! I didn't want to do this in the first place, I just wanted to protect Kikyo.I don't want to be some barbaric, uncaring, arrogant, youkai who fights for his own pride"

His face turned serious"I fight because everyday my life, as well as those around me are always at a risk, just like any other demons out there. There isn't anything different from me than the rest...your lover, Inuyasha, even your father...they are well versed in proper combat." He watched as her sapphire eyes darkened from the metion of her father. "We risk our life for those we hold dear. What about you Kagome...what would you do if I say that we have a family, said family is at stake and I'm not there...what would you do? Would you cry? Beg for mercy, which I can gurantee you they will show none. What would you do"

She remained quiet and stared at him looking for an answer she knew but just can't seem to say herself. "Fight Kagome...fight to save them...the same I would do...it's not a meaningless action, fighting has it's purpose. It's for honor, for glory, for streght, for security."

Her eyes began to sparkle from the unshed tears, her whole demenour changed as she smiled at him. He just looked at her with confusion, as she began to laugh followed by a sniff. "Who said anything about us having a family"

The womans ability to change emotions so quickly, as well as her inability to stay in one subject never ceases to amaze him. "I merely used that as an example, starting a family, even so much as a relationship with you will drive me to the brink of insanity and beyond." He answered straight forwardly.

She scoffed after hearing the remark"Yeah, like you're any better...can you imagine what our pups will look like" She furrowed her brows and frowned"Just like this...and they would refer to themselves in third person all the time" she laughed.

"Or...they would talk non-stop and trip on any objects imaginable regardless it's size" he responded. "Although I'm sure you and the ookami will have pups that are...tolerable, to say the least."

Her mouth gaped"Kouga is not my MATE" She ran after him and grabbed his hand, he was shocked by the gesture as she made her way to look at him. "I'll continue training" she smiled. "Beside... I don't want "our family" to be defenseless when the youkai yakuza comes and you're not there because you're getting that surgery to remove the stick that's stuck soo far up your ass."

>>>> end flashback

At the time he didn't know what drove him to insist the continuation of Kagome's training. When she informed him that she will no longer train he should have been happy, after all this was the demoness that set his world in a state of restlessness. In the beginning, he waited for the day that she would finally give up, so that he can return to his normal routine life that he nearly perfected. When the opportunity finally arose he found it unacceptable for her to just quit. He told himself that he didn't want to feel guilty or at fault if ever she was in a position where she can be in danger. As time passed the stament was more than true, he didn't want to see her get hurt, to be in pain, he wanted to know that somehow she can defend herself from any danger, he wanted her to be safe.

The irony of it all was that he was the one to deal the damage, he caused her pain. The damage was done and she couldn't defend herself, she might be prepared physically but emotionally she was wide open for the blow. That night when he saw her he can tell that she was still mending the wound he created, if only he can be there to help, but it seems too late.

Sesshoumaru stared at the shrine steps, unsure of whether he should talk to his brother and continue his investigation over a woman who finally let him go. Did she really relinquish any hope she has for him? A fool would think that she didn't, that she still would wait for his explanation and continue whatever it was they had. Then again Sesshoumaru was no fool, Kagome may be a woman of values and strong opinions, someone that can not be held down by any man, but still she is a woman with needs of her own. One that is to finally settle down and start a family. Maybe if he had looked for her, apologized, which is a feat he was determined to overcome, he would have still had a chance. He waited too long, it seems that Kagome had given up all hopes of having a happy ending with him.

"What are you doing here" The voice caugt him off-guar, this definetly was a surprise. He never thought he'd see the inuyoukai around here, then again this is a family shrine.

"Answers" he replied"to questions I am sure you can help me with." Sesshoumaru turned to meet the familiar youkai, prepared to hear whatever tounge lashing he might endure before getting to what he really wanted.


A/N: I'm was having soo much trouble with this chapter. By the way this chapter is not beta'd, I just want to get this out then later on I'll edit it. It's been a month now...too long for me. By the way nominations for the annual awards in A Single Sparks are up, I've already sent my nomnations, have you? (Imagine that picture with Uncle Sam with his finger pointing directly at you)

Thank you for those who read and reviewed my fics and for those who just read it:

Skitzoflame, Tokia, Stacerue , BurningDawn15 (naughty mind!), INUGIRL, SesshiesKamatotoGirl, Noacat, unknownmiko (I plan to keep in past tense now), TheHellChild, michelle (I don't have a mailing list, sorry), go drink pinesol

Inuyashadabest: Well if Sesshoumaru was to have that conversation with Inuyasha in person then he can definetly tell that there's something going on, he can see their facial expression and such. Well there aren't any phone conversations in this chapter, or in the next I hope.

Apri-Chan: I think that reviews written by someone who is hyper at the time is the most interesting don't you think? Anything that pops in their head they write down...I probably did that more than once.

Misviscious: Haha, yeah I know I messed up. I have it all worked out...I think. Thank you again for the summary and title.

Lady Akina: Well more will be explained in the next chapter, I can't just give it to you ya know.

ShadyMinion: I wanna know what happens to your stories! Oooh dark and evil...I wanna know!

mysticalwings: Yeah, violence was ensued in this chapter lol. The poor hanyou is in loads of pain.

Crystal Echoes: I wanted to do the little challenge with the boxers. Next chapter will have more interactions.

Shabopo: Thank you! Wow...I'm getting an ego boost.

Read and Review!