A.N. Well I'm back again with chapter 4 of The Black Haired Hanyou. I have movie two, the castle beyond the looking glass… Inuyasha and Kagome KISS!!!!!!!!! No joke, if I knew how to take images from the screen to the computer I'd do it but you know… Anyway on with my fic… but before that, here is my thanks: Thank you Pia Bartolini, Kaye, Laura571, Miss Pocky Lover, Frisbee, Yuxi, Crystal Twilight, Inuyasha-girly-2007, Lil-kitty-Deamon077, Raven Shadow, Gevaudan, Elysiankiss, Lady Nanshi. Thank you so much, and remember reviewing Helps!!!

The Black Haired Hanyou

Chapter 4

          The air around him was warm still, even in the early months of fall, the sun bright and cheerful in the ice blue sky. His mother's hand was warm and soft as it held his own. Inumaru smiled up into her face and squeezed her hand lovingly. But her smile was small and nearly lifeless.

          His smile dissolved away as he looked into her glassy eyes. Her face was pale and shiny from sweat and her footfalls where like lead. Fear began to crawl up his gut as he looked on worriedly, he could do nothing to help her and Papa was off in the woods somewhere. He was always going off to the woods, Moma always told Inumaru that he went there to speak to a dear friend he'd lost sometime before, someone he loved very much but could never have.

          He never understood that but never questioned it. But now he did, his Moma was feeling bad and his Papa wasn't there to make it better.

          Again he squeezed her hand gently, but she didn't seem to notice his presence at all.

          "Moma, are you alright? Moma?" Inumaru began to tug on her hand gently compelling her to look at him. She seemed to titer back and forth from his efforts. He stopped his pulling and began to gently lead her in the direction of dear Grandma-Kaede. She always knew what to do, when his Papa and Moma fought over something and his Papa ran off into the woods leaving his Moma to cry, Grandma-Kaede always soothed away her fears and his own.

          But the fights seemed small and insignificant to him, what bothered Inumaru the most was when his mother seemed to become most upset or saddened when his Papa ran off. Almost as if the woods would swallow him up, that something inside that place his father loved so much, would take him away forever. But his Papa always came back, with flowers and an apology.

          And then whenever anyone was sick, Grandma-Kaede was always there to make it better. There was nothing she couldn't do, so she could save his Moma now.

          His mother's weight seemed to slow her movements a great deal, His little hands seemed to have faded from her mind as her grip slackened leaving Inumaru to do all the work.

          His nose twitched at the smell of perspiration, and he turned startled gold eyes to her, nearly crying out when her deathly white face, soaked in her own sweat, met his gaze. His heart pounded in his ears as fearful tears welled up and down his cheeks. His whole form shook and he panted wanting to scream out the icy fear that was quickly growing inside him.

          Frantically, he whipped his head from side to side knowing that all the people around him loved his mother, knew her as their Miko, yet no one stopped, no one even noticed. He whimpered, lower lip trembling releasing a small howl of agony. He wanted his Papa, where was he? Where was his hero? Where did he go, and why had he not returned to save him from this pain.

          A scream tore from his throat, burning it from the inside as he threw his head back screaming for all he was worth, screaming out for his Papa, for Kaede, Shippou, Miroku, Sango, even for Kirara. But still no one stopped or even glanced his way.

          "Help please! Moma! Moma, please wake up!" He dared not shake her after seeing her glazed eyes. His fear rose as the over whelming urge to throw up climbed higher into his gut. The strange stench surrounding his mother only urged the queasiness on. His world was falling around him, stuck in a crowd screaming but nobody even turned to look his way, no one.

          "PAPA!" Screaming in anguish he buried his face into his mother's lap shaking his head from side to side rubbing his cheeks raw on the fabric of her clothes. His hands fisted tightly in the rough fabric on the small of her back, clutching her close to him, hoping to wake up from this nightmare safe in his parents bed, tucked snugly between them. His prayers seemed unheard for no matter how hard he tried the nightmare would not end.

          Hopelessness crept into his heart like a damp chill throwing his body into painful spasms and choked sobs.

The surrounding wind turned cold, matching the chill inside his body. His sobs slowed when a deep throaty laugh swirled around him, the laugh crude and vindictive; mocking his pain. The voice vibrated through his head from somewhere above him. Slowly, he pulled back and looked up, the clothes he held where white and furry, no longer the bright color of his mother's attire that day.

Traveling further upward, his golden eyes found the deathly-white face the laugh was emitting from. The man looked down grinning evilly showing his teeth all neatly placed in his cruel mouth. Though the smile showed true malice it was the man's eyes that gave him pause. They where the color of blood, the deep hues of crimson, swirling and morphing like the real flow of life through veins, that held a coldness that froze his very heart.

Startled he leapt back, trying to escape from the evil man, but the man's hands came down like vise on his fore arms restricting his movement. Inumaru twisted in the man's grasp fresh tears propelling down his scared face. But his tears only caused the man more joy as he bent down, his breathe rancid and hot, "She will die. You have failed… you betrayed her…"

          His heart all but stopped at the man's words his eyes widening in fear, his throat strangely dry. The laughter resumed consuming him in a black box, alone.

          Inumaru's eyes shot open in fear, his breath labored and heavy. His eyes locked on the support beams of a room he didn't recognize. The room was dark save for the small bit of light shining through the small opening of the shoji door. The opening created a soft pillar of light that stretched out over the wood roof. Oddly enough the small strip of light and the splintered wood calmed him down, his mind spiraling back down from his panicked state, leaving the dull throb of a head ache in its wake.

Where… am I?

          His brow narrowed down as he tried to remember what had happened. Reluctantly, his mind sluggishly pulled up the memories of the previous day. The images and painful feeling of betrayal and confusion stung deep in his heart. Rolling on to his side he curled in on himself trying to imitate the feeling of his mother's strong arms as she held him close, but it wasn't the same.

          A small pressure about his waist startled him out of his revere and uncurling he found the gauze wrapped around his torso and most of his back.  He blinked several times confused, gently running a fingertip across the scratchy fabric. The burns across his body itched from the herbs and the ruff bandages, the irritation only magnified by the healing his demon blood was quickly working on.

I was saved…

          The muscles on his head pulled taunt as he unconsciously tried to flick his ears forward, the slight ach of discomfort alerted Inumaru to the bandages that covered his head wrapping securely about his injured ear. It all seemed surreal in his mind, the queasy smell of medicinal herbs, the tired ach in his body, even his mind was numb. The small hanyou couldn't find the motive to move, resigning himself to lying in his own misery to numb to cry, too tired to sleep.

The herbs smell like Moma… Grandma Kaede… I want to go home. I hate it here, I hate the people… I hate the smell…

          Lip trembling in the dark the small boy sniffled his tears back, the quickly fading pain from his wounds coming back full force as his mind lingered on his hurts.

          "Moma… I don't wanna stay here…" His body shook violently with his quiet sobs as the tears once again rushed out of his swollen eyes. He blinked rapidly trying to press them back inside, trying to be brave like his mother would want him to be. "But… but I can't come back… I can't come back with out a cure for you Moma… but I don't wanna stay here… no more…"

          His grueling, lonesome, pain seemed to engulf him in a shawl of darkness not unlike the crushing darkness inside the burning cabin. He seemed to stay in his own personal hell for hours. His soul tormented and beat until it was nothing more then a decrepit bundle of smoke.

          When his sobs shallowed out enough for his hearing to come back he became aware of the muffled voices in the room just outside of his own. For a moment his heart stilled in his chest and he refused to breathe, fear creeping into his body as his mind recalled the harsh cruelty of man. The muffled voices where distorted and blurred from his bandages and the distance; their words undeterminable.

They're planning to hurt me some more!

          Panic set in to his body and froze his muscles his heart jumping into action speeding up to an unhealthy level. The voices switched from person to person and finally a soft feminine tone drifted to his numbed ears. Again his breath stalled, golden eyes widening in recognition.

I know that voice…

          The room was dark and burning hot, he couldn't escape couldn't breathe. There was so much pain. His flesh was peeling up and charring but he couldn't pull away couldn't open his eyes, couldn't cry.

It was death, he could see it, but someone called to him… someone pleading with him to open his eyes. He was too tired, to pained to do so. The pressure again began, he couldn't escape it and the voice wouldn't let him be… calling him back to the surface back to the world so hot and cruel. He didn't want to wake up didn't want to return to that place, but the soft voice kept pleading and he couldn't resist it…

          Inumaru was shaken nearly violently from his thoughts as the soft voice was cut short but a gruff, growling male. His timbre one ingrained deeply in the child's physic. The man only spoke a few words before falling silent under the other voices in the room, but those few rumbling moments was enough to make Inumaru practically leap from his bedding and quickly crawl toward the door. His sore limbs making him even more clumsy than his small body already was.

          "… It's called CPR Inuyasha. It's not a secret spell of "Shinigami"." Kagome's voice held a sunny quality that was both serious and jovial at the same time. Inumaru could see only a portion of the room through the tiny crack between his shoji door and the wall. But he could still see Kagome as she sat in front of the fire pit, Shippou resting by her left knee. And just beside her the man Inumaru had desperately wanted to see.

          "Feh. Whatever…" Inuyasha crossed his arms and turned away from her with a pout.

          "What is CPR, Kagome-chan?" Sango's voice drifted somewhere on the opposite side of the fire pit just out of Inumaru's range of view, but he knew Miroku was most likely with her so wasn't surprised when he heard the monk reciprocate the demon exterminator's question from with in the general direction.

          "Well… It's ahh… Well…" Kagome paused placing a finger to her lower lip as she stared up at the ceiling. Inuyasha pretended not to care, but Inumaru had his eyes trained on his Father and saw Inuyasha's tentative flick of his right ear as he tried to hear her better.

          "Ah!" Kagome brought her hand down into her other and held it as she explained the basic steps of "rescue breathing".

          "Well, if a person's heart is stopped and they aren't breathing CPR is a way to try and get the heart to work again before the body truly dies." At the blank stares she received Kagome's cheery smile faded.

          "You pretty much breathe for them until they can do it themselves." Inumaru could hear the registration of understanding from both Miroku and Sango and he could see the slight incline of his father's head proving he was listening avidly to Kagome's words.

          "You lock your arms and hands together and place it in the center-base of the ribcage and press with your body weight fifteen times, that's called a compression." Sango tried to form the word in her moth audibly wrapping it around her tongue and getting used to the term. Kagome nodded and smiled up at her and continued with her explanation.

          "After that you tilt the head back to free the air-way plug the nose and breathe into the person five times then repeat the process until the person gives some sign of life." Kagome smiled but looked a little queasy. She hadn't quiet given them the exact directions but she wasn't sure if they'd understand the full detailed lay out CPR and rescue breathing so figured the quick and simple terms where good enough for the time being.

          Inumaru watched as his father slowly relaxed in the corner after Kagome's explanation but he couldn't figure out why. Or why he was even caring. He was slightly confused, if Kagome was explaining CPR she must have used it on someone and that would mean…

          Kagome smiled and laughed slightly at something the monk had said and the sound sparked recognition in the pup's mind. For a moment he was upset and hurt but quickly he shoved the thoughts aside.

So Papa didn't save me after all… Kagome did…

          He suddenly needed to be held. With out a second thought he slid the door open allowing more of the room's light to spill over his form. The door was rather heavy for him, and his arms burned with their exertions, but Inumaru slowly managed to eased the wooden shoji enough so that his small form could squeeze through.

 He knew Inuyasha turned the instant he moved; he could feel the other Hanyou's eyes on him. He had everyone's attention the moment he entered the room but he didn't respond to their smiles and worried questions. He hardly even heard them, he knew they where talking but it just didn't register in his mind. All he could see was Kagome as he approached her side. She sat with her legs curled beneath her so he was eye level with her eyes. She smiled softly at him and reached out to gently stroke the hair from his forehead.

          "Are you alright, Inumaru?"

          Her soft words broke him and before he could stop it a strangled whimper escaped his throat. Inumaru's legs quaked and then collapsed from beneath him. As he fell, Inuyasha quite nearly leaped to his feet to aid the pup, but Inumaru was unaware of the fatherly gesture. His head felt weighed down and he placed it onto Kagome's lap breathing her in deeply. For a moment he felt cold and alone but as soon as her fingers rose to softly caress his face and hair the cold feeling dissipated like a lost memory. Her warmth and soft scent wrapped around him like a loving embrace soothing away his fear and pain; lifting him into a soft lulling sleepy state. Sighing blissfully he snuggled into her lap and popped his thumb into his mouth allowing her gentle touch to pull him into a dreamless sleep.

… Kagome…

**********

          The pup was asleep with in moments his back rising a falling in a slow even rhythm. Inumaru's thumb slipped into his mouth resting between his fangs his small pink tongue curled around his digit, its tip slightly visible from between his lips. A low rumbled waved off the pup, not a deep growl; the pup couldn't even do that yet, but a small shaky purr of contentment.

          Inuyasha slowly relaxed and sank back down to his seated position beside Kagome, watching as her hand drifted over the Pup's bandaged back. Blood had stopped oozing from his wounds long ago but the dark stains showed clearly through the white wrappings.

          Inuyasha felt the hairs on his back stand on end, and he hunched forward slightly, growl creeping up his insides.

Those bastards…

          "My, Kagome-san, it appears you've won his trust." Miroku smiled warmly across the fire at the young girl and his deep voice caused the sleeping child to twitch burring deeper into Kagome.

          The pup's face snuggled against the softness of Kagome's lower belly as he breathed in deeply letting out a soft yelp of contentment. Neither Kagome nor the sleeping pup had noticed that his claws had snagged in her shirt but Inuyasha had seen it, and his eyes seemed to hone in on the picture they made. Inuyasha twitched, previous anger dissipating as a new annoyance flared. He neither relaxed nor choked back his low growl of authority, as he glared at the pup he'd just previously been angered for.

          The annoyance he knew all to well, as his instincts kicked in alerting him to the intrusion on his property. His eyebrow twitched as the pup continued to sleep peacefully on the lap of Kagome.

Why the hell is he…?!

          Inuyasha barely noticed when Shippou bounded in between his "Glare-point" blocking Inumaru from his sight. The small Kit flicked his tail in curiosity as he watched Inumaru sleep under the tender watch of Kagome. He blinked his large green eyes absently scratching the back of his head.

          "Well, there's no doubt about it. He's Inuyasha's pup alright." Abruptly everyone's attention was brought to the kitsune and Inuyasha abandoned his possessive growl to glower at the smaller youkai.

          "What do you mean Shippou?" Sango asked looking rather perturbed. She sat petting Kirara as the cat demon napped on her lap, her other hand being used as both a brace for herself and a warning to the delinquent Monk seated beside her.

          "Well, he hasn't been here for more then two day's and already he's claimed Kagome." Shippou stated rather bluntly cocking his head to the side with a wide grin.

          Inuyasha jumped his eyes widening as his pupils dilated, a deep blush covering his face. It wasn't like that! Inuyasha shook, feeling violated by the kits accusations.

Just how the fuck does that prove anything?! Besides that... that brat hasn't claimed Kagome at all!

          His glare retuning, Inuyasha looked back at the sleeping pup, contently lying on Kagome. And just as Kouga had a tendency to do, the pup managed to piss him off by just existing.

          Twitching, he swung out, releasing his anger in an accustomed fashion. Shippou was pounded into the floor and with a cry of retaliation, leapt up to scream at the Hanyou.

          "Inuyasha! You big jerk what was that for!?" Shippou pouted holding his swelling head big tears welling at the corners of his eyes. Inuyasha glared at the kit then swung his head in the other direction his hair billowing out and around him for a moment.

          "Keh!" Once again crossing his arms and staring out the window. Shippou snarled at the back of Inuyasha's head his little fists shaking.

          "Inuyasha no baka…" Turning back around the red head walked back over to watch Kagome mother the tiny child in her arms. Her gentle movements and soft caresses soothed his own nerves, although he was not the one being coddled. Briefly, Shippou felt a sharp pang of jealousy and crawled up to Kagome's other side mimicking Inumaru's position.

          Inuyasha watched as the other pup crawled up onto Kagome as well and he snarled and whipped back again to face the window. The low sound of Kagome's humming ceased and until that moment he hadn't been aware of her singing at all. Puzzled for a moment he glanced out of the corner of his eye; Shippou was looking up at her with one eye, his other was squeezed tightly shut. The kit's entire form fit perfectly on one of her thighs, it would have been cute had Inuyasha's territory not been so badly breached.

          With a soft smile Kagome let one had sooth over Shippou's bushy tail, while the other returned to the sleeping pup. Inuyasha felt his hackles rise and his irritation swell. With a snort he rose to his feet as Kagome again resumed her quiet humming, the tune fitting in sounding like any other nightly noise. It both soothed and irritated Inuyasha. For a moment he just stood there letting the barely audible sound wash over him like her presence did, before finally, turning and walking out of the small room.  He was slightly saddened when no one even questioned his movement, and more then a little hurt when Kagome didn't come out to inquire about it.

Feh! Who needs 'em anyway?

          Inuyasha found the nearest tree and leapt up into the higher branches, enjoying the sharp chill of the night air against his face. Dawn would be breaking in less then four hours and then they could finally leave this rat hole.

          Another growl escaped his throat as his muscles tensed in remembrance. He was angry, not just that, he was furious, for the first time in his mind he consciously wanted to rip those human butchers apart with his own claws. To see their horrified faces as they died, to inflict the same torture and fear they'd instilled in his pup.

Inuyasha froze, his heart pounding in his ears. He didn't hear the low croon of the night bird in the distance, nor did he feel the cool breeze that swept by him. He swallowed nervously, afraid of his own thoughts. The thought scared him, more then the thought of loosing to his demon blood, he feared himself, the instincts screaming at him to protect his own.

Sharply, Inuyasha shook his head glaring once again, releasing a low growl as if he could dispel the fear he felt like he could the air he breathed.

          It was too damn confusing! The pup was an intrusion on his space, a bothersome brat that never ceased trying to piss him off. He wanted to blast that rotten kid into outer space, like those ro-ke-to things in Kagome's time that landed on the moon… and yet… at the same time he wanted … needed to protect the brat.

          A pained look crossed the Hanyou's face, it was physically painful. He was not a father and yet, the pup was his, his instincts had accepted it he knew it, deep inside he knew, but the pup just wasn't his!

          Inuyasha growled again shaking his head sharply sitting up from his lounging position to cradle his head in his hands. It wasn't just the small bundle of hanyou, (that recently took the liberty of lying on Kagome), that had his nerves in knots. No, it wasn't only the pup, the danger and cruelty of earlier that night had struck something, and reminded him of somthing he didn't wish to remember ever again. But his distraught mind wouldn't rest. He could see them again clear as day, the angered faces, the sneering jests, the beatings…

          His body felt weighted, but he couldn't stop running. If he stopped now they'd catch him. And if they caught him they'd kill him. It wasn't a question, they'd purposefully pierced his soft side with the arrow, it had been meant to kill him, if he hadn't had his youkai speed he'd already be dead.

          His throat burned, his side stung from where he'd been shot and from them ripping the arrow from him before beating him. His right ear was useless, warm blood still trickled down his cheek from his ear, with out his hearing he was in even more trouble then he'd be in if the human's caught him. The demon's, the big mean ones, would be out soon and they'd smell his blood. Fresh tears coursed down his cheeks and Inuyasha brought one tiny fist to his face to scrub the tears away.

          He wasn't quite sure exactly when he'd stopped, but he was. Suddenly he wished his mother was still alive, that she would appear to him and save him from all this pain. A Small howl of pain ripped out of his throat for the first time in months and he collapse into himself hugging his small six year old self close as if his mother was the one that really held him.

          His throat felt raw and torn after his sobs had soothed over a bit and a cold sense of numbness swept through him. All had gone quiet, the entire forest, his one good ear flicked in all directions searching for the disturbance. But his dulled senses told him nothing, his head felt light and dizzy as his loss of blood caught up to him, he was tired, giving up and sleeping just sounded so nice.

No… Mama told me to survive… I have to ... live…

          Shoving himself back up to his feet he took off again his limbs going numb to the fiery pain that bloomed all over his body, but still he ran. His dirt encrusted hair flowing behind him like a banner. A river came into his view, and he paused, an insane plan forming in his mind; if he jumped in, the human's wouldn't catch him, and the demons couldn't smell him if he was in moving water. And in the next instant he was surrounded by the rushing icy fingers of the river his vision fading into darkness…

          Inuyasha blinked his eyes to clear his mind, his eyes focusing on the night around him. Breathing deeply for several moments Inuyasha repressed his angry and frightened emotions.

I understand him… too well… Inuyasha gazed back toward the hut, his golden eyes clear for the first time that evening, his jealousness all but gone, for the moment.

Kagome saved him… she's still saving him… Inuyasha smiled to himself closing his eyes and tilting his head back against the bark of the tree. He could clearly picture Kagome in his mind, the wind playing with her hair, sakura petals falling all around her as she pushed her pink "Bai-se-ka-lu" thingy. Her words where softly spoken but burned into his memory forever.

          "Don't be afraid to show me your soft side every now and then… after all you're not alone anymore."

          Inuyasha let his eyes ease open; eyes deep and wiser then anyone would have guessed them to be. His eyes fell on the hut, light barely visible through the window.

… Just as she's saving me… Kagome.

**********

            The golden beams of the sun eased through the open shoji door of the small hut the village had given to the traveling group in a form of quiet apology for the misunderstanding between them. The light was warm and comforting even as its persistence drove sleep away from the corrupted Monk, forcing him to open his eyes and awake to the day.

          Blinking his blue eyes leisurely, enjoying the rare moment of waking up when he pleased, Miroku slowly rolled onto his side with a sigh. He'd forgotten how nice it felt to slowly awake to the morning, not having to worry about how pissed off his half demon friend would be that day if he didn't get up, or whether or not they'd find another jewel shard, or whether they'd have another messy encounter with Kikyou. In which case, Inuyasha would do something stupid, hurting Kagome and either sending her back to the safety of her time or make the rest of the group suffer through their long silent battle.

          Miroku sighed in agitation; the hanyou could be so childish at times that Miroku sometimes pondered over whether it was really Inuyasha, or actually Shippou, who was older. Miroku made a soft laughing hum to himself and smiled at his comparison.

          A low growl caught his attention and Miroku almost threw his pillow in its direction, out of habit, when Inuyasha would come in to wake him, but stalled his movements when he opened his eyes and spotted just what had caught Inuyasha's attention.

          Inuyasha was crouched over a sleeping Kagome, his ears laid flat against his scalp. At first glance it looked like Kagome had sat him in her sleep again, but upon further inspection, Miroku found it wasn't the girl at all who had the dog demon's jealous growl, but the two children that seemed to be completely happy snuggled up against her chest inside of her sleeping bag. Miroku smiled knowingly and nodded his head in understanding.

          Inuyasha had confided in him not long ago, after tedious hours of prying, bribing, and threatening, that the close sleeping habits of Shippou and Kagome made Inuyasha… 'Uncomfortable'.  Miroku couldn't even begin to imagine what his thoughts where on his so called child. Personally Miroku was completely convinced the pup was Inuyasha's. Their youki was so similar it was uncanny, and Inuyasha's protective instincts the night before, was more than enough proof that the child was his. Like it or not his body had recognized the child as being his own and had responded to the child's threat like any other demon would.

          But, instinctual or not, Miroku also knew Inuyasha was not prepared to have a child, and was there for not comfortable with him. And Miroku was more then sure that, the fact the pup had crawled his way under Kagome's sleeping shirt during the night, and now rested against, what he assumed to be, her bare chest, was the main cause of Inuyasha's jealousness.

He's such an idiot! Like his pup would really infringe on his father's territory.

          Miroku was somewhat angered by the demon's lack of sense, but had learned long ago that it wasn't worth his time to get involved. It was best to let the idiot learn on his own, he'd been doing it for years, and Miroku doubted anyone could change Inuyasha's frame of mind.

          He meant nothing bad about the hanyou, in fact Inuyasha had become something Miroku had never had before; a friend. Sure he'd had a mentor who stood closer to him then even his father had, which was understandable having been raised by Mushin, but the man was more of a grandfather then a real friend. And Hachii, well he was more of a younger brother type friend, Hachii was a good companion but not one to whom you confided some of your deepest secrets in.  Inuyasha wasn't really the type to talk soul to soul, and at first he'd been down right annoying, but after time Miroku began to find that the over-baring, smart ass, rude, and childish selfishness was a shield for the wounded boy with in. Inuyasha was not so different from him, and although Miroku could never fully identify with him, he could at least understand him somewhat. Sango, too, could relate to the half-man, more so then he. But it was Kagome, as unlikely as it seemed who understood him the best.

Kagome sure is one of a kind.

          Miroku sat up at that thought deciding that enough was enough, and stretched in a very obvious manner, knowing that Inuyasha would back down a bit; once he knew he'd have an audience.

          Inuyasha played his role to a 'T'. He acknowledged Miroku and his growling ceased and he'd turned in the opposite direction feigning unconcern.

Inuyasha, you're just too simple minded sometimes…  

          "Ohiayo, Inuyasha." Miroku said in a softer voice than necessary, not wanting to wake the others. They all needed this extra rest, after the events that had just recently occurred.

          "Feh!" Inuyasha snorted finding a good outlet for his anger.  Miroku rolled his eyes and stood up, completing his stretch, and allowed his sore and stiff muscles to relax.

          "Well, it looks like today's going to be a good day." Miroku smiled cheerily, purposely ignoring Inuyasha's blank stare. Miroku cleared his throat and tried another tactic after Inuyasha continued to glare daggers at his back. "Well, I mean after yesterday, anything would be better than…" He bit his own sentence off at the painful glare that had settled on Inuyasha's face, his golden eyes focused again on the small pup buried beneath Kagome's shirt. 

          The guilty look in the Hanyou's eyes brought Miroku's needling to a halt, and he released a sigh, walking over to sit beside his friend. They sat side by side neither looking at the other; silent.

          Finally, Miroku managed to form the words that tumbled about in his head.

          "What happened?"  At first it looked like he wasn't going to receive an answer, Inuyasha was too wound up in his own thoughts to respond, but Miroku knew better then to press and waited until Inuyasha relaxed beside him.

          From his peripheral vision Miroku saw Inuyasha sag as he released his breath, his silver bangs covering his eyes. Then, he sucked in a great amount of air raising his eyes to stare off into some unknown place, reliving the event in his head.

          "It's my fault the pup was hurt." Inuyasha stated calmly and Miroku raised an eyebrow waiting for Inuyasha to continue. "He came into my bedding again, he … he cried into my … my clothes. Held me here."

          Miroku glanced over to see that Inuyasha's hand had raised to his chest to grasp the fabric of his haiori tightly, Inuyasha's eyes still distant and unfocused. Miroku turned away again respecting Inuyasha's privacy once more. When men spoke to each other there are certain unspoken rules the top one being: you listen but never make eye contact; and with Inuyasha the rule was a life or death issue.

          After a moment Inuyasha continued. "He was just as he is now against Kagome, but… he was damn annoying! So I kicked him out…" Inuyasha's voice seemed strained so he stopped speaking turning back to the child, all wrapped up in bandages.

          Miroku couldn't stop the sudden swell of pain that enveloped him when he looked upon the boy. The cruelty of man was more then nauseating, it made his skin crawl to be apart of them at the moment.

          Obviously Inuyasha felt the same, and Miroku felt that Inuyasha's growl was well deserved. Miroku breathed in deeply, slowly, releasing it on a sigh. The warmth of the sun rising behind him was comforting, and for a moment it was like so many other mornings over the past year, searching for Naraku.

But it's not… Opening his grey eyes again, Miroku looked at their newest companion. The small child was wrapped completely in bandages, and although he was sure that, like Inuyasha, the child would heal quickly, Miroku still felt a bit worried about moving the boy just yet.

          With a gentle smile Miroku faced his Hanyou friend and laid a comforting hand on Inuyasha's shoulder. The growl cut off almost immediately, but the worry was still clear in his golden eyes.

You're more slave to your demonic instincts than you'd like to admit Inuyasha… First Kagome and now your child.

          Miroku sighed in despair at the irony of it all. He asked and asked for a child, a son no less. He needed one badly and who gets the son?

          "Miroku…?"

          Inuyasha was giving him an apprehensive look while scooting away from him looking a bit unnerved. Miroku cocked his head to the side before realizing that his hand was still on Inuyasha's shoulder.

          With his own disgusted yelp, Miroku yanked his hand away and coughed into it while Inuyasha continued to act violated, all previous "instincts" forgotten.

          "Anyway, I think we should stay for the morning, and let them regroup?" Miroku tilted his head in Kagome's direction and was rewarded by Inuyasha's contemplative face again. It was obvious Inuyasha hadn't planned to wake them up in the first place, but Miroku knew he'd never admit to it. 

          With a yawn, Miroku traveled back over to his spot from the night before and curled up on his side, fully intending on falling back asleep.

For while he watched Sango as she sleeped; admiring her feminine beauty, among other things, when he heard the soft sound of rustling clothing.

          Quickly turning back onto his side Miroku glanced over toward the area he'd left his friend in and smiled at the sight he met. Inuyasha lay curled around tetsuiaga, on his side as close to Kagome as possible. And Miroku was sure Inuyasha didn't realize that he'd placed his free hand on top of Inumaru's head, almost as if he where protecting the child from further harm. 

He may not want to admit it but he's scared for that kid.

          With a longing sigh the corrupted Monk reclined back into his bedding and rolled to get into a more comfortable position. Again he was facing Sango, and Miroku found himself humbled a bit by her sleeping face, even asleep she looked sad. She was a strong and brave woman, one of the only ones that truly held his respect, though he'd never let her know that.

          She continued to sleep on, blissfully unaware of his presence, and Miroku shook his head sadly shaking the absurd thoughts from his head. Sleep Miroku, you need sleep… because if you're going to pull off that stunt of yours you'd better have the energy to withstand the punishment.

          "Hai, hai." Miroku sleepily yawned before allowing his perverted mind to fall back into its timeless state of beautiful, naked, women, and Sango carrying her boomerang.

**********

          The sun was shining again, warm and comforting, yet the wind still warned of the colder season soon to fallow, but on the sodden path leading out of 'The Village from Hell', as Shippou was now referring to it, it seemed like it was all just a dream.

But it wasn't…  Kagome looked down at the small boy skittering about in front of her plating tag with Shippou. He'd healed, not completely, but enough that he was walking on his own and running with only a little discomfort. She was sure it was more due to his demon blood then the measly herbs and medicine she'd applied after reaching the hut they'd stayed in the night before.

          The boy's head was unwrapped now but his left ear still hung limply against his head. He'd probably be deaf in it for a while, she wanted to ask Inuyasha about it, but somehow knew his answer wouldn't be nice. She could basically hear his sarcastic voice in her head while he insulted her and her mothering ways.

          Kagome sighed pushing her annoyance back by reminding herself why he was in such a fowl mood, and with that thought came the hilarity from it. Inuyasha had obviously not trusted Seichi-sama's word that the villagers would not attack them again, so he most likely spent the night in a tree, awake most the night, and from the looks of things now, had probably spent most of his time pondering over Inumaru.

          She could read him like a one of her text books it seemed, and Kagome allowed herself a knowing smile, content in that knowledge. But it was after that point, that she drew a blank, at sometime during the night, he'd come back inside, most likely after day break, and fallen asleep beside her.

          Kagome turned a light shade of pink remembering how his hand had rested on her belly then. She couldn't place why he'd have his hand on her stomach, but didn't have the guts to ask him about it. It was after realizing that Inuyasha was touching her, that she'd realized that Inumaru and Shippou where already awake, and the two had decided, that Inuyasha; more specifically his face, was the perfect sheet of doodling paper and where busily inking on circles and lines around his eyes and cheeks.

          The squeaking of the markers she'd brought back for Shippou, after he'd lost his crayons; which Shippou was busily using, mixed with the soft tickling of the ink brush Inumaru used to write the word 'Baka' across his forehead, must have caused Inuyasha to wake up.

          The two boys had frozen on the spot their eyes wide, Shippou looked like he was going to pass out, where as Inumaru just smiled, in an all too familiar way, showing his teeth. Then, they both dropped their utensils, and bolted.

          Inuyasha had sat back and growled menacingly after the two then rolled over, most likely to fall back asleep, and his eyed had locked with her own.

It would have been a romantic moment had his face not been distorted by bright and colorful markers and black ink with baka in bold characters across his forehead.

          Kagome had bit her lip to hold in her laughter, but was loosing the battle against her insides.

          "What the hell's so funny?" He had growled but his annoyed face only made the look even more humorous and Kagome lost it rolling onto her back holding her stomach, and unintentionally, trapped his hand between her own and her belly.

          Inuyasha was then forced to move forward as she rolled and could probably feel her stomach muscles move as she laughed, and the close contact made him blush, his anger melting away. He swallowed convulsively, and breathed in through his nose and finally caught onto the smell of ink, and the burning stench of the marker.

Kagome could still clearly see his face when he'd figured out what the two had been up to. She chuckled under her breath at the memory and received a sharp glare from Inuyasha as he brooded beside her, still pale from the smell.

He had passed out from the mixture of the two smells as he'd leapt up to, "Kill those fucking brats", and Kagome and Sango had to scrub the contents from his face before he could regain consciousness.

He was still red around the eyes and his forehead still had some black residue from the ink. Kagome had to look away and cover her mouth to keep from laughing at him again.

"Keh!" Inuyasha snorted and stuck his nose in the air, obviously insulted by her 'lack of understanding'. 

He's more childish then the kids are.  Kagome looked at Inuyasha's high and mighty demeanor and smiled at him, daring to walk just a bit closer to him then necessary. But I wouldn't want him any other way… Kagome reached out an arm and thread it through his, leaning her head on his shoulder, and continued to watch the children play. Miroku and Sango where a safe distance in front of the kids (sometimes behind them) as they continued their games, so Kagome felt rather safe in being so forward.

          She could feel his muscles clench beneath her touch and knew instinctively that he was blushing and most likely looking at her like she'd just sprouted a second head.

Heheh, and my bizarre illnesses get even more disturbing…

          Kagome smiled to herself, silently promising not to let her grandfather use that excuse ever, and squeezed Inuyasha's arm comfortingly, before releasing it and walking beside him. 

I wish time could freeze in this moment. It's so calm and peaceful now, Naraku seems so far away, my failing grades don't seem to matter… Kagome's eyes rested on Inumaru's dark head as the kid laughed whole heartedly next to Shippou, his bright golden eyes alive with an innocence Kagome sadly knew Inuyasha had been denied as a child. Her heart went out to her companion, and she suddenly realized the importance Inumaru played in the future. Kagome nearly broke down at the moment of insight. The thought of Inuyasha being able to relive his childhood through his own son, and to possibly regain that innocence he'd lost so long ago, made her chest hurt as her heart swelled in hope. For a moment she could see them, Inuyasha and Inumaru together by an old shrine. She stood beside them helping to protect Inuyasha's happiness by protecting their child.

… and I can keep pretending that I'm really his mother…  

          Kagome released her breath in a sigh and bowed her head. It was an odd feeling, knowing that she just might be Inumaru's mother and knowing that at the same time he could also be Kikyou's. Although she wasn't sure how that would be possible, what with her being dead and all.

For a moment Kagome recalled a conversation she'd had with Kaede not to long before they'd left the Village last, roughly, Kagome shoved the memory from her mind and focused back on the picture of her friends walking happily before her in her perfect world.

           Warmth spread through her hand and Kagome gave a sharp intake of breath, as a rough, callused hand slipped into her own, long, sturdy fingers tightening around hers.

          Kagome looked over at Inuyasha and caught his blush as he looked down somewhat, in embarrassment, amazed himself at his bold actions. Kagome smiled warmly at him, touched at his show of affection, and turned back to face the front, giving his fingers a light squeeze in return.

At least for now, I can pretend.

          Inuyasha relaxed at her side his shoulders sagging into a more comfortable position as he continued to walk with Kagome's smaller hand in his own. It was peaceful and nice, and each enjoyed the other's company in silence.

          For a while the moment lingered, the bouts of hysterical laughter from the kids, and the song of an occasional bird, the only sounds around them; the soft sound of their feet as they walked in perfect sync with each other, in no real hurry to get anywhere for the time being.

          Kagome felt her heart lighten and couldn't stop her smile as it grew and as she glanced back at Inuyasha found a similar (if much smaller) smile of his own, his usual proud eyes fallowing the movements of his new family before him. Kagome could almost feel the protective-joy Inuyasha's eyes showed at finding a place to belong in, after so much pain it must mean so much to him to finally have something to rely on, something worth protecting and living for.

Maybe that will be enough to convince him to stay here, and not to fallow Kikyou into hell.  

          Kagome eased closer and placed her head back on Inuyasha's shoulder, breathing in deeply, pulling his smell deep into her self, memorizing the scent of deep forests and the wild wind. She squeezed Inuyasha's hand tightly as her mind brought forth the unwelcome image of bright light and wind, the ground opening up pulling the quiet hanyou down into its depths, threatening to swallow him whole, and Kikyou holding him to her chest a mixture and painful love and hate burning in her eyes.

          Kagome trembled from the memory, the feeling of helplessness engulfing her again causing her grip to tighten even more, as she desperately tried to keep him with her, to find someway to make him believe he had something more to live for, something left to protect.

          "Kagome…?" Inuyasha's soft whisper broke through her thoughts shattering the fading image like his claws had severed through the serpent-like bodies of Kikyou's soul stealers. He'd stopped walking and she'd stilled with him, the others had yet to notice them, Kagome could tell all this by the noise still going on around her.

          Slowly Kagome raised her closed lids her vision clearing to the bright sunny day around her. Immediately her eyes locked on the child as he leaped into the air, arms up and out to his sides, a single leg raised, bent at the knee. The position, so much like Inuyasha's when he felt like being playful, made Kagome's chest tighten painfully in her chest with hope.

Maybe now, knowing he'll have a child someday, perhaps, that will keep him here with us… with me.

          "Kagome?" Inuyasha's voice rose a little and she could tell he was worried at her silence, slowly; she relaxed her tight grip on his arm as his voice caused the rest of the group to stop, noticing, for the first time, that they had stopped fallowing their lead.

          "Kagome-sama?" Miroku's deeper voiced question brought a smile to her face as she felt Inuyasha's arm tense beneath her; their moment had ended.

With a sigh Kagome lifted her head forcing a bright and cheery smile to her face and she waved her hand at the others laughing a little.

"I'm alright, just thinking."

The other's continued to stare at her for a while, and the looks where beginning to make her uncomfortable. Kagome began to nervously laugh and took a step forward; her arm giving a slight tug at a resistance behind her. Kagome's eyes flew open as she realized that Inuyasha had yet to let go of her hand. 

By the time she turned back around, a blush on her cheeks, Inuyasha had realized the fact as well. For a single moment they stared at each other still blushing, but the moment was shattered as a soft weight collided into Kagome's waist jarring both of them. The reaction was instantaneous, Inuyasha blinked, his golden eyes widening in shock before he ripped his hand from hers almost violently.

Kagome cringed slightly hurt at his reaction, he could be a little nicer about it, but this was Inuyasha and this was just the way he dealt with things. Kagome sighed yet again and dropped her head not wanting Inuyasha to see the hurt in her eyes as he turned back around.

Looks like I'll have to make do for now…

          A soft rubbing against her belly and the light tugging on the back of her skirt brought her attention back to the distraction that had broken their moment. Her hands (once freed from Inuyasha's grasp) had come to rest on the soft head and shoulders of Inumaru. The child had his small face pressed against her and was snuggling into her like any other six year old craving attention from a parent. The action made Kagome blush at its implications, it didn't help matters that Inuyasha was growling in the same manner he did when Kouga was around just behind her, obviously annoyed by Inumaru's actions.

It's sad when I can translate his growling patterns and make sense from them.

          Kagome's eyes narrowed at the thought, taking on an un-amused look. Sango laughed behind her hand trying to cover up the fact that she found the whole display humorous and calming. Kagome couldn't help but smile in return; happy at least that Inumaru was up and about and seemed not to remember anything from the horrid event that had taken place. But Kagome knew better, the dim shadows in the kid's eyes was enough proof that he remembered what had happened but was determined to move past it.

This is probably his way of dealing with it.

          Kagome's eyes were tender with affection as she gently stroked the fine, soft hair beneath her hand. It was pitch black shinning with tints of blue in the sunlight, slightly wavy with a life of its own, much more so then Inuyasha's. Inumaru's hair was almost wavy but not quite so, a lot like her own and Shippou's hair.

          Kagome felt rather then heard the soft breathing as Inumaru smelled her pushing his face as close to her as he possibly could his small hands and arms barely fitting around her waist; chubby little hands clenching her skirt tightly as if afraid to let go.

          "Inumaru, daijoubu ka?" Kagome questioned gently coaxing the child to look up at her. Her hand gently passed over his tattered ear and Kagome's face crumpled whishing she could have spared him that pain.

          As the kid raised his face so that he was looking strait up, Kagome saw such a deep affection in his golden eyes it nearly knocked the breath from her lungs. He smiled up at her showing his little fangs as he mouth stretched back in a small yawn. Kagome chuckled at his cute expression, a maternal love warming her insides as Inumaru cut of his yawn by shaking his head from side to side his floppy ear making a soft flapping sound. After he'd finished his yawn he looked back up at her and Kagome smiled patting his head.

          "Better?"

          Inumaru nodded his head enthusiastically before placing it back against her belly, pulling her closer again. The action brought a snort of disgust from Inuyasha as he turned his head away from the touching moment. Kagome was almost certain he was still watching from the corner of his eye as he had a tendency to do after pretending not to care.

          "I'm fine, it's just…" Inumaru's voice trailed off and Kagome tilted her head to the side inquiring as to why he had the sudden urge for attention. She hadn't even finished getting her words out of her mouth then Inuyasha jumped into the conversation, his voice sharp and harsh from his jealous state.

          "Yeah! Why the hell are you clinging to Kagome like that you baka gaki!" His mocking tone made the small boy flinch and Kagome could feel the soft rumble as Inumaru attempted to growl.

          Kagome closed her eyes as malicious thoughts of seriously hurting Inuyasha filtered through her mind.

Do not sit him… can not sit him… Kagome count to ten, do not sit the annoying baka, you don't want to hurt the kid do you? No, so you can not, will not, sit the hanyou.

          Kagome took a deep breath closing her eyes repeating the thought like a mantra even as the phrase burned its way up her throat begging her to say the word.

          "Be-Da!" Inumaru's tongue shot out as he made a face from around her side at Inuyasha, the noise snapping her eyes open and dissolving the urge to say the word.

          Inuyasha took offense at the childish response and stood sputtering behind her as Inumaru scrunched his face up tight and stuck his tongue out as far as he could before burying his face back into the softness of her school shirt rubbing his face into her once more.

          "Because she smells nice, baka!" Inumaru's muffled voice drifted from someplace in her belly but it was loud enough for everyone to hear it. Kagome turned bright red, mind recalling a similar comment made by another hanyou as he lay poisoned in her lap.

          Inuyasha jumped back arms in the air like he'd been accused of the same urges to touch her. Kagome could just imagine the look on his face from the laughing fit Miroku and Sango had fallen into. Kagome couldn't push the blush from her face and blinked rapidly wanting to look at Inuyasha but at the same time not wanting to be anywhere near him in her embarrassed state.

A sharp chill shot down her spine as a familiar throb of power made itself known to her, calling to her like it was a piece of herself. Kagome straitened up all thoughts of embarrassment gone. She didn't notice as Inumaru also pulled away from her going rigid as well before looking in the same direction the pull came from, his single good ear standing erect and tilted in its direction.

          Kagome turned around to Inuyasha her brown eyes dead serious causing him to loose his comedic blush and flustered appearance. His voice was serious as he asked her what was wrong, any other time, the soft caring in his voice would have made her heart flutter, but the insistent call kept her from even noticing Inuyasha's tone.

          "I sense a Shikon shard."

**********

            The midday sun slanted down upon the open valley surrounded by the lush forests of the northern territory of Japan. The leaves beginning to loose their vibrant green color as the cooler temperature from the north and the onset of fall quickly approached. A single spring in the center of the forest fed the small brook that ran through the deep valley giving life to the tall grass that waved gently in the wind. But all of this was over looked by the people and demons locked head to head in a battle in the dead center of this calm and peaceful valley.

          The giant centipede in the center swayed back and forth spewing some sort of toxic acid that melted and or burned all that it touched leaving little time for the small group to fight back as they where kept busy dodging each lethal spray the disgusting creature let loose.

          It was amazing the stupid creature had even managed to get its hands, or rather its pinchers, on a piece of the jewel, let alone hold on to it if the only powers it had gained was the annoying ability to repeatedly hack up over-sized lugies and make a hell of a lot of noise.

          Inuyasha snorted in annoyance as another opening was missed because of the annoying green muck being fired in all directions. Tetsuiaga's weight and the smell of the Kaze no Kizu urged him on to attack but he held back waiting for an opportune moment, in other words; a moment when the damn thing took a break from puking up acid, so that he could cut its sorry ass in two.

          Out of the corner of his eye he kept track of where Miroku and Sango moved and attacked from.

Over the time they'd been together, the three had managed to, unwittingly, form a battle strategy and each played out a specific role giving enough time for each to complete their task. It worked nearly ninety percent of the time, and Inuyasha had come to rely on their working unit more then he'd like to admit.

          Sango blocked a particularly nasty batch of liquid with her Hiraikotsu, as Miroku dashed in to strike at the Centipedes lower body, not daring to attack its head after a near death experience earlier when the demon showed how, exactly, its speed had increased.

          The strike did little but draw its attention away from Sango and over to him allowing Kirara to escape to a safer area with Kagome and the two pups. It left him his opportunity to strike.

Here we go!

          Leaping into the air, Inuyasha swung down with Tetsuiaga. It would have been perfect had the Youkai not noticed his approach. As it was the damn thing turned just before Inuyasha could complete the Kaze No Kizu, instead smacking his precious fang against the armored skin on its sickly-red colored head, sending sparks flying through the air as it flung Inuyasha backward.

          "Inuyasha!" Kagome's worried cry was his only warning to the approaching danger; he took a guess and twisted in mid air, the usual rush of adrenalin flowing through him at the feeling of control he had while in the air. It must have been his human side that enjoyed the power and freedom of movement and control over the elements he had in his demon form that caused that reaction.

The acid burned through his sleeve and stung at his skin as it brushed by him, barely making contact. And Inuyasha kicked himself mentally for not being cautious and letting his mind wander off.

          As he fell through the air, descending toward the ground, Sango took her turn sailing her Hiraikotsu managing to split the centipede's side slightly as it swayed just out of reach. Inuyasha cursed under his breath as Miroku ran to aid the Youkai Taiji tackling her in an attempt to push the both of them out of harms way, the bone boomerang crashed into the ground on its return course, too far out of reach to be any use.

          "Miroku! Sango!" The cry tore from Inuyasha's throat as the Youkai sent out another batch of killer saliva. His heart leaped in fear as he realized that they where open to the attack and he was too far away to aid.

          "Go!" Kagome's voice cut through the air as her arrow flew by, her miko power flaring brightly around it as it struck the ground, imbedding itself just in front of Miroku and Sango. The purification power flared to shield both of their friends as the acid was purified leaving nothing left of the nasty stuff, before the power faded out, its work done,

          Inuyasha swung his gaze back to Kagome as she sat, still posed in the firing shot, her face scrunched into a glare of concentration as she sat astride Kirara.

He smiled in her direction as he landed on the sold ground. She was alone on Kirara's back, probably having climbed aboard in order to get a better shot, leaving the pups safely hidden. She was the other part to the battle plan, the trump card, she was the one left in case of an emergency, the one who covered there asses as well as gave them the opening they needed to attack.

          Inuyasha smirked as the centipede took the bait, shooting streams of poison in her direction. Kirara gracefully dodged each attack, Kagome holding tightly to the fire cat ducking low with practiced ease. Briefly, Inuyasha regretted her action knowing that she'd learned to fight out of necessity, and he deeply regretted having her placed in such danger, but it had been her choice and as long as she stayed he'd be there to help her as well. 

Arigato Kagome!

          Inuyasha rushed forward drawing Tetsuiaga back ready to complete the battle, get the damn shard, and pound the pup into the forest floor for ruining his time with Kagome. Inuyasha snarled as he recalled the lost moment, he'd been glad it had been interrupted, but he was nearly positive the pup had interrupted them on purpose.

Annoying, goddamned little brat! 'She smells nice baka!" suck up! Keh!

          The centipede was still occupied with trying to shoot the flying Kirara and Kagome from the sky, and gave him a free shot for his attack. Grinning in feral ferocity, Inuyasha leapt into the air arching his fang down calling upon its hidden power. He briefly registered on the fact that Miroku and Sango had left the destruction zone, clearing the way for him to finish the battle.

          "Kaze no-" Inuyasha's throat tightened up just as his sword came perpendicular to his body. A small form leaped into his path of travel, the dark haired pup leaped up completely unaware of the danger, bringing his claws down to take a swipe at the monster.

          All sound seemed to drain away as Inuyasha saw the danger ahead. His mind barely registered on Kagome's fearful cry as he drew closer to the child. Her cry must have gotten the pup's attention as well as the Youkai's, for the pup turned around to face him, his small golden eyes going wide in fearful realization, Not noticing as the giant bug swung around, arching its body back, preparing to attack them both.

          Everything happened at once, barely a blur to him; time had slowed down and then sped up till he couldn't even remember throwing Tetsuiaga from himself and incasing the small pup in his arms, pulling the small form close to his chest and twisting in mid air so that he landed on his back first, before he was send rolling for several feet, just barely missing the acid shot their way.

          Tetsuiaga clattered to the ground next to him with a metallic clang, smoke rising from the ancient blade as it transformed back into a rusted piece of metal.

          Although he watched it happen, he didn't see it. Inuyasha was shaking from his efforts his mind focused on the small body held tightly against his own, the soft fluttering of the pup's heart, his pup's heart, beating as fast as his was.

          Slowly his senses returned, until he could smell the grass that had engulfed them completely covering them from the world around them, the pup's scent as he lay curled on his side securely wrapped in Inuyasha's arms. Then his hearing returned bringing with it the heavy breathing, both his own and the pup's. As he brought his ears back up from their laid back position he could hear the battle cries of Miroku and Sango, then the sickening sound of tearing flesh and the dieing shriek as the Youkai died.

          Inumaru jumped and pulled closer to Inuyasha at the hair-raising cry, and instinctively Inuyasha pulled him closer protecting him further. He rested on full alert a few more moments until he was sure the danger was gone. When no noise came Inuyasha released a heavy breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and relaxed his death grip allowing his eyes to close focusing his mind soul-y on the person in his arms.

He's alive, I didn't kill him, he's safe… he's safe…

          The soft sound of Inumaru's heartbeat soothed over Inuyasha's frazzled nerves and allowed him to calm, his instincts releasing their adamant hold on him. He didn't move when the sound of his friend's foot falls grew closer (still in the process of calming down) but as soon as the pup began to push against him, struggling to get up, the content feeling burned away as his anger rose.

          In one fluid motion he'd risen to his feet, Inumaru hanging from the front of his shirt, his small hands resting against Inuyasha's much larger ones, small golden eyes wide in startled fear as he looked up into Inuyasha's angry molten gaze.

          "You god damned, fucking idiot! What in all the seven hell's do you think you where doing?!" Inuyasha yelled at the top of his lungs, not caring if he was scaring or hurting the boy's still healing ear, nor noticing as Kagome stopped her hurried approach (as well as the other's) at his angry outburst.

          Inuyasha didn't care in the slightest, he was scared and that was a feeling he did not like at all. Half of his emotions he couldn't even understand but he knew the cold feeling of fear and it only fueled his anger.  

          Inumaru's frightened face, as he struggled in his iron grip, made Inuyasha's stomach clench and knot up with the conflicting feelings of guilt and gratification. In his annoyance he flung the child to the ground, not caring how hard he did so. The kid landed on his backside, before flopping onto his side from the impact.

          "You could have been killed, do you know that? If I hadn't stopped I would have blasted your happy ass into a million fucking pieces! What the hell where you thinking? You're too weak to fight! Get that?! You're claws barely scratch and your puny size can't do a hell of a lot!"

          Kagome gasped from behind him, but Inuyasha didn't stop, couldn't stop. Someone had to get through to the whelp before he wound up killing himself or worse. Inumaru's eyes where bright with his hurt and glassy with what Inuyasha assumed to be tears. He felt a slight bit of remorse but shoved it aside as his pained and scared heart continued to pound within his chest reminding him of what nearly happened.

          "Inuyasha, stop!" Kagome cried from behind him as she ran forward toward Inumaru, finally regaining her commanding confidence in her need to save Inumaru. Inuyasha growled low and shot her a glare that made her freeze even before he shot his arm out to block her from the pup.

          "No! The whelp needs to know his place, and it ain't fighting!" Again he turned his eyes on Inumaru whose panicked look had morphed in to a look of bitter hate.

          "Look, Pup, stay back out of the way where it's safe! Or next time I won't save your puny ass, I'll let Tetsuiaga carve you up, get it!"

          A collective gasp went up at his words as well as another sharp exclamation from Kagome. Inuyasha all but ignored it and continued to glare at the angry pup.

          He could hear Inumaru's half attempt at a growl as Inumaru rose to his feet, his whole body trembling. He stood his whole height, challenging Inuyasha in authority.

          The action made a sharp thrill of rage well up inside Inuyasha. He released low growl as he rose to his full stature ordering the pup to back down and heed his order. For a moment everything went silent, no one moved and then from one moment to the next, Inumaru had turned and bolted into the forest as fast as he could go, the salty sent of tears wafting back on the breeze to Inuyasha's sensitive nose.

          Inuyasha again felt the sting of remorse, his mind bringing back unwanted memories of similar lessons and hurt, but he didn't back down. His shoulders slumped forward and he lowered his head hiding behind his long bangs.

          His ears flicked forward as Shippou bounded through the grass up to where Inumaru had been standing. The Kit was crouched on all fours, his pale cream tail raised in hope. After a few moments the fluffy appendage sank, slowly, until it brushed the ground in depression.

          Inuyasha had long lost sight and sound of the fleeing pup. He doubted Shippou could fair any better even with his full Youkai heritage. He heard the soft sob escape Shippou's lips as the Kit shook uncontrollably. Inuyasha's shoulders tensed at the sound, finally feeling a little bit of guilt for his actions. If nothing else, the pup had been Shippou's one true friend. Sure the annoying kitsune had Kirara and the rest of their group for company, but it wasn't the same as having someone your age, someone who could understand you and you could understand them.

Gomen ne, Shippou.

          Inuyasha turned as the sobs Shippou made grew louder, head still lowered and walked in the opposite direction. Kagome stood motionless as he brushed by her, her eyes wide in shock. It wasn't till he bent over and wrapped his callused hand around the soft, worn handle of Tetsuiaga that Kagome managed to bring herself back to her senses.

          Inuyasha heard the squeak of her shoe in the grass as she turned around to face him, her voice somewhat less commanding then normal. "Inuyasha! Go after him!"

          He froze a moment before lifting his sword up and sliding it back into its sheath. It made soft keening sound before the soft clack as it slid home, its power concealed in the small form.

          "Inuyasha!" Kagome's voice had gained back its authoritative ring and he cringed at its sound. "He's a kid, Inuyasha! He didn't mean to do anything wrong! We have to go get him before something happens to him!"

          Inuyasha felt a bolt of cold go through his chest in realization, that once again, he'd forgotten how small the child truly was. His own words rang in his ears, their cruelty and similarity to ones he himself had heard at one point in his lifetime, sent his stomach strait through to the floor. He felt violently sick as his mind recalled his first moments on his own.

          The warmth of the fire called him back from the black abyss, and slowly Inuyasha curled toward it realizing for the first time that he was no longer in the tepid waters of the river. His eyes snapped open and slowly focused on a small fire burning before his eyes, the flames dancing high releasing its glowing embers like small fireflies to drift gently to the ground. His golden eyes fallowed their movements tiredly. His body felt tired and weak, but warm, and oddly dry.

          A small movement of his head allowed him to feel the soft brush of fur against his cheek. Surprised he looked down, still too tired to really move. He was wrapped in some kind of white furry blanket. It smelled musky and male, but the scent was oddly soothing and he couldn't place why the smell made him both happy and mad all at once.

          He moved his arm to grasp the warm softness closer to his body and wasn't really surprised to find himself naked. If he'd been clothed he'd still be cold and wet. He barely recalled seeing his clothes hung over the fire on a high spit as if someone was trying to quickly dry the clothing for him, mother often did that with his clothes saying in a calm soothing voice, "The fur of the Fire-Rat, is immune to fire and man made weapons. The only real way to dry the clothes is to hang them above a dying fire to allow the fur to regain its elemental power." The words made little sense to him but the thought had stayed with him.

          He rolled into the fur breathing in deeply his vision blurring out and came to rest on a man sitting by the fire, long silvery hair glowing in the firelight. His royal clothes looked soft and warm even with the harsh battle armaments attached across his chest, claw like protrusions looking deadly in the firelight. He turned to regard Inuyasha with sad golden eyes.

          He rose in a single fluid motion and knelt beside Inuyasha, he could clearly see the dark purple streaks running across Youkai's face as the man reached across him to pull the furry tail closer around Inuyasha's tiny shoulders.

          Inuyasha shivered and the man raised a thin eyebrow and placed a cool hand to his forehead, the action almost kind. After a moment he pulled his hand back and then sighed, his golden orbs closing.

          Inuyasha watched him carefully, trying to recall who the person was some how his presence was both alarming and calming, and he had the bizarre urge to throw his arms around the Youkai's neck and sob.

          But before he could think anymore on it, the man had wrapped his arms securely around Inuyasha's small blanketed body and lifted him into those strong arms. Inuyasha felt warm and safe as the man reseated himself beside the fire still cradling Inuyasha's pale form gently against his body.

          Inuyasha stared at the man even as his body cried out for sleep, he knew this demon but he couldn't place it. He thought the man hadn't noticed him but was proven wrong when a deep rumbling voice told him to sleep, that no demons would find him there. He never looked down when he spoke to Inuyasha, but somehow Inuyasha found himself comforted and curled against the warmth he offered and let himself sink back into the black abyss.

          Inuyasha shook his head violently, throwing the childhood memory back into his subconscious where it belonged, before he could recall the morning after that little scene.

          "Keh!" Inuyasha huffed turning his head toward the open plain with a snort and a glare.

A soft wind made the tall stalks of grass dance slowly on the breeze making the shallow valley look like a small green ocean. The sun had been blocked by the few clouds that dotted the sky, It made the whole picture depressing.

 Sesshoumaru had promptly told him the next morning how much he hated him and how next time he'd let the human's and Youkai tear his hide apart as he'd deserved for being a weak pathetic hanyou. Inuyasha had fled from the sanctuary of the clearing in tears, remembering why he hated his brother so much after Sesshoumaru had finished bad-mouthing his mother. 

Stupid Bastard! …

"You could have been killed, do you know that? If I hadn't stopped I would have blasted your happy ass into a million fucking pieces! What the hell where you thinking? You're too weak to fight! Get that?! You're claws barely scratch and your puny size can't do a hell of a lot!"

"Look, Pup, stay back out of the way where it's safe! Or next time I won't save your puny ass, I'll let Tetsuiaga carve you up, get it!"

          Inuyasha's glare faded away as his own words filtered back into his mind immediately fallowed by guilt for the look on the child's face as the pup had bolted.

… I'm no better then he is… Kuso!

          Inuyasha turned to try and find the pup (before he did something extremely stupid) and came face to face with a glaring Kagome. Inuyasha jumped and stepped back sweat forming on his brow. He knew that look.

          "Inuyasha…"

          With a strangled cry he flung his arms up to try and cover his ears but was a few moments too late.

          "Osuwari!"

          The forest shook with his impact, sending birds into flight, startled by the sudden shifting of their homes and the foul, loud cursing of a mal-tempered Hanyou.

**********

          The sun was setting on the horizon and still they hadn't found any trace of the small child. Kagome hugged her arms tight trying to keep warm and called out again into the forest.

          "Inumaru! Where are you?!" She wasn't shocked that Inuyasha couldn't smell the boy. After his odd behavior and bizarre command, no one dared to chase after Inumaru with out Inuyasha's consent. It was almost like he'd become the pack leader, and his domineering presence left no room to argue. 

          Kagome shivered at the memory, his look had been down right commanding and she found herself helpless against him. Even Shippou had obeyed.

          Kagome looked around the clearing her worry growing with each moment that passed by. It was growing late and Inumaru was a small child, alone in the middle of a forest filled with demons that would like to eat him alive. Somehow Kagome got the impression that Inumaru had grown up spoiled in the form of ignorance, not understanding how cruel the world could really be, and his ignorance could be his death.

          Kagome's eyes were drawn to a flash of red and she focused her eyes on Inuyasha's form. With her heart pounding so furiously in her chest, she felt a deep anger well up and she wanted to scream her head off and sit Inuyasha into doggie heaven.

Or perhaps hell, at least Kikyou would be happy, I'd be doing her a favor.

          With a sigh Kagome stepped forward calling out again. The silence that fallowed made her insides turn to ice as her nerves became painfully sensitized in the cooling night air. It looked as if it might rain, and again Kgome's heart lurched.

 Inuyasha remained in front of her, and Kagome felt more anger rise. They'd split up to cover more ground pairing off into two's Shippou taking to the air with Kirara, Sango and Miroku searching in one direction, and her and Inuyasha searching the other. And Inuyasha didn't seem to care at all that it was getting late and that the kid was missing because of his stupid words.

          "You know, this is all your fault!"

          Inuyasha didn't respond as he stepped around a tree still smelling the forest floor for any trace of Inumaru. Kagome didn't much care either that he'd all but ignored her. She needed to yell at someone, to ease her own fear and at the moment (being able to speak up against Inuyasha on Inumaru's behalf now that she wasn't frozen in shock or whatever had held her in her place).

          "Six years old, my little brother is older then him! He's out here all alone trying to save his mommy, and looks up to you only for you to snap at him and beat him down for trying. My God Inuyasha He's a little child! He's a baby!"

          "I know!" Inuyasha barked out and Kagome jumped at its suddenness and intensity. His shoulder's where tense and he looked like he was in pain.

Kagome placed her hands on her hips annoyed that he had snapped at her, her own temper flaring to life at his challenging tone.

          "Then why'd you do it?"

          For a long time Inuyasha was silent, then as if he was as old as Kaede, Inuyasha sat down his words barely above a whisper. "I was afraid."

          His confession brought her up short. It was rare that Inuyasha ever admitted to being wrong and Kagome let her arms drop to her sides as understanding settled in.

"… It wasn't some angry human or demon… It was me… my sword. I could have killed him…"

          Kagome slumped her shoulder's forward feeling a little reproachful about her words to him. She understood him she'd just done the same thing he had, struck out because she was scared. Kagome walked up behind Inuyasha and sat down, leaning her head on his back, her hands resting in a half hug on his shoulders.

Inuyasha.

          He seemed to lean back a bit, his way of thanking her for her understanding. He didn't seem like he was going to say anything more, but the bitterness in his tone made Kagome certain he needed to get it out.

          "You understand him, don't you?" Kagome gently prodded looking out into the fading sunset, the scenery reminding her of another moment quite like this one: Inuyasha was hurting and denying every bit of it, even as he ripped himself apart for the blood that soaked his claws; human blood.

          "Human's never liked me… after… mother… they chased me down… made me bleed. I jumped into a river to escape and cover my scent." His voice was nearly emotionless as if he was reading the story from a book, but it still made Kagome tense and hold him a little closer in an attempt to ease his pain.

          One of his clawed hands came back to hold her own, as he continued, it was the most detail she'd ever gotten out of him about his past, and the fact he was telling her, trusting her, was not lost to Kagome.

          "Sesshoumaru fished me out and cared for me. But the next morning he threw me aside, telling me he'd never help me again, and that I deserved to die with my whorish mother."

          Kagome gasped at the show of charity from his brother and then from his bipolar words. Inuyasha's hand had tightened painfully around her own, but Kagome didn't say anything. She only bit her lip and held him tightly; tears blurring her eyes for his losses.

          "I'm no better then him." Inuyasha's fierce admonition made Kagome jump. She leaned away to argue but Inuyasha held her hand and wouldn't let her go continuing quickly, so she couldn't say a thing. "I threatened him, and said all those things to him after I let him get hurt. It's my fault he's even in the condition he is in. I kicked him out of my room. I saw him cry … on me and I—I...kicked him out." Inuyasha's hand was shaking on her own, his self-loathing to much for him to bare.

          Kagome's eyes softened and she leaned back against him pulling her free arm all the way around his body to hold him in a tight embrace. She could feel him tense beneath her hold but only squeezed tighter burying her face into his hair and neck.

          "You're nothing like him, Inuyasha. You reacted out of fear, and whether or not you'd sent Inumaru out, he still would have been hurt."

Again, silence fallowed, she could imagine Inuyasha's pained face and knew he didn't believe her words but held him close anyway letting him know with speaking that she was there for him, still. That she forgave him even if he didn't forgive himself.

Somehow she knew he understood.

**********

          The forest was dark; trees taking on the mindless shapes of shadows from the deep recesses of nightmares, their thick branches and wide leaves looking more ominous and foreboding then the demons they housed. 

          Soft forest sounds echoed in the still and swampy air, the pungent smell of mud, mold, and growth hung heavy from the branches like the leaves hugged the tree limbs.

          A sharp splash of water interrupted the stillness of the darkening forest, the muddied water flying up to speckle the soft crimson red haiori and hakama as Inumaru's feet crashed into the muck.

          His lungs burned with his labored breaths, his cheeks where heated as he cried out through his parched throat. Angry tears rolled down his face creating cold streaks. He choked on his own cries throwing his arms out to his sides as he ran, his small size hampering his agility and he tripped over an upturned root. Inumaru flew forward with a sharp cry landing on his stomach on the half sodden path he'd been fallowing.

          The air was forced from his body, and he curled his hands around his head sobbing into the mud he was covered in. His tiny claws dug into his scalp as he fisted his hands in his hair.

Damn you! I hate you, I'm not too little! I will save Moma! I … can do it… I don't need… I don't…

          Inumaru raised his head, his golden eyes bright and glassy. His face was smudged with dirt and red from his crying. Big tears dripped from his eyes and rolled down his rounded cheeks (still plump from baby fat) to gather at the bottom of his chin.

          "Papa…" Inumaru whimpered as his face screwed up into a painful grimace. His eyes closed tightly squeezing more water from his eyes, Inumaru opened his mouth and howled in pain curling up in himself brokenly sobbing reaching out for his father.

          "Papa! Moma!"

          The unnerving cries where swallowed into the forest, now silent, the sky turning a blood red making the trees look black. In the center of this darkness Inumaru cried for all things lost, unaware that he himself was lost. He couldn't hear the desperate cries calling out to him (his good ear pressed firmly to the ground.)

          Moments dragged on for hours, and after a time, Inumaru's sobs calmed until he had no energy left to even move, his honey colored eyes dazed and unfocused, staring into a happier time.

          He'd reached the numb stage when one gives up on everything. Inumaru couldn't see the dark outline of the trees and blood red sky, his mind was engulfed the warm golden memory of summer, he could see his home, its tall warm walls and spiritual ora that surrounded the area of their shrine.

          "Inumaru!"

He could hear his mother's sweet voice as she called out his name, her eyes bright with life as she laughed at his actions.

"Moma…" Inumaru's lips hardly moved as he was trapped in the warmth of his past.

The sun was warm on his back and lit up the forest beside his home. Inumaru was bouncing with energy, ecstatic to be in the forest named after his father. He was hardly allowed to go into the woods at all, and when he did go it as only to travel to the village and back, and he was never alone.

But Moma had given him a great task, he was to go into the forest and find his father and bring him back for lunch. Inumaru practically bounced with joy. There where so many different smells and the wild freedom that surrounded his spirit threatened to sweep him away.

He could hear his heart pounding in his chest as he passed through the dappled sunlight of the god tree. A strong sense of power hit him and he couldn't help but stare up at the giant tree in wonder, eyes lingering on the spot where the bark seemed to be burned away. It would never grow back, he knew that somehow that fact was important but he couldn't place why.

Intrigued, he lifted himself up onto the higher roots pulling his way up to the trunk. The bark was ruff against his skin slightly scraping his skin, but he wanted to touch the tree and by all that was in him, he was going to do it.

          Finally, managing to stagger onto the thick root he sat breathing hard for a moment enjoying the sounds of the forest around him. The soft crooning of the birds made him smile, his tiny nose crinkling up as he made a face.

          He stood back up, dusting his butt off, proud to finally be able to wear his very own fire-rat Kimono, it had taken him forever to grow into it, the last thing he wanted was for it to be ruined.

          He then fixed his gaze onto the dead spot on the tree. Tottering forward, he found it too difficult to walk upright so bent at the waist and crawled up on all fours until his could wrap his arms onto the trunk. He rose to his feet and stretched his arm up. His baggy sleeve slumped back up to his shoulder, dragging his white under yukatta down with it.

          He strained upward pulling his finger taunt and raising up onto his tip-toes. He was still just a few inches short. With a small growl, he stuck his tongue out the side, daring to try and jump that last few inches.

          He bent his knees and then sprang up slapping his palm against the smooth surface of the tree. A grin spread over his face at his triumph, but as he slid back down his hand caught on a sharp protruding sliver of wood.

          His eyes widened in pain as he jerked his hand back, cursing out loud at the pain that coursed through his hand. Inumaru lifted his hand to his mouth sucking on his injury.

          "Inumaru, what did your mother say about swearing?" Inumaru's ears stuck strait up as he whipped around, smiling around his hand.

          "Papa!" Inumaru jumped up and leaped into his father's arms burying his face into his chest and smelling him. He smelled like the old well his Moma and Papa where building the mini shrine around.

          It was an unnerving smell that haunted his mother and father. Inumaru wondered why the well was so important but no one told him why beside the fact that it had the ability to send a young woman through time.

          He lounged in his father's arms for a moment until he remembered why he was alone in the woods. He pulled back a ways a smile on his face, his arms still wrapped around his fathers neck.

          "Moma sent me out to tell you lunch was ready!" Inumaru cried happily cocking his head to one side. His father smiled and shifted Inumaru so that he was sitting on his shoulder. The movement made Inumaru's hand sting and he yelped out in pain yanking his hand to his mouth again.

          "What did you do to your hand?" The deep timbre of his father's voice made his ears tingle, and Inumaru found himself wondering if his voice would one day be that deep.

          "Got a sliver, baka tree!" Inumaru stuck his tongue out at the god tree as if to prove his point.  "Wanna see?" Inumaru shoved his hand into his father's face for him to inspect it.

          His father's hand wrapped around his smaller hand and Inumaru couldn't help but notice how big his father really was. It was a little scary, wondering if he'd ever be able to match up to his father, and if his father would be proud of him.

          "hmm." Inuyasha wrapped his hands around Inumaru's waist lifting him from his shoulder to set him on a stone marker. His parents had set them every hundred feet or so from the well to the house after he was born.

          Again his father inspected his injury, his claw running over the wound, gently pulling the wood chip from the skin. Inumaru watched his mouth open as his father used his claws to remove the offending wood.

          "There." Inuyasha smirked up at his son, turning his hand from side to side. Inumaru smiled pulling his hand back to inspect it. It still stung and Inumaru couldn't help but ease it with his tongue.

          "Hey, if I can't do that you can't either!" Inuyasha gently pulled his hand away from his mouth giving him a stern look. Mother was always complaining about how un-clean it was, to lick your wounds, and she insisted on using her medicine that only made the pain worse.

          Inumaru made a face at his dad, making the larger hanyou laugh. "Trust me, I don't like it anymore then you do." His father then lifted him back up and onto his shoulder walking back toward the house. Inumaru could smell his mother's cooking and his mouth watered. She'd made fried eggs again.

          Inumaru blinked his eyes and focused on his surroundings. The dark trees were not what he remembered in his mind, and the chill air made his body ache. He snuffed back more tears and caught a distant smell. It made his nose burn and his stomach clench.

I know that smell…

          Inumaru froze and breathed in deeply trying to recall where exactly he'd smelt that particular stench before. His heart beat sped up and the hairs on his arms rose, where ever he'd smelt it, it had not been good.

          Inumaru's eyes shot open in recognition as a soft breeze wafted from that direction. The hut! That was the smell that surrounded the hut I was trapped in!

          Panic set in for a moment and all of his muscles locked in place, the pain still to fresh in his mind for him to deal with. He would have stayed that way for a long time had he not felt the faint pull of power, the flickering sensation of battle that always came with the presence of the Shikon shards.

          Instantly, Inumaru's eyes set in a firm glare as he pushed himself up from the forest floor, readying his body for its next move. The need to save his mother outweighed his fear. His small arms shook as he fisted his hands at his sides.

Alright, here I come you bastard! I'll show him! I'll show Inuyasha that I can to fight! I can and will save Moma!

          Inumaru leaped into the air and rebounded awkwardly off of a tree trunk, the wind whistled through his ears his wounded ear flapping lifelessly. The leaves barely made a sound as he fell through them landing on all fours in front of the foul smelling demon.

          The impact on the ground hurt his still aching muscles more then he wanted to admit. Inumaru cringed but shook off the pain looking up at the youkai with more jewel shards then he could count. In fact the youkai, no, hanyou before him had something completely different from a few measly shards. The power felt more rounded, he could almost picture it in his mind, as if the weird hanyou crouched in a white baboon pelt had the whole Shikon no tama.

          The hanyou looked surprised at his entrance, and Inumaru felt somewhat cocky at having caught the creature off guard. The baboon looked at him with wide, blood red eyes and looked back through the trees as if trying to piece together what had just transpired. Inumaru couldn't help but smirk.

Inuyasha, eat your heart out.

          "So, you've noticed me?" His voice as surprisingly soft, like the fur of Inumaru's uncle's Tail. And Inumaru was almost lulled into a calm state by its smoothness.

          At his question Inumaru rolled his eyes. No, you've only been tracking us since we left that damn village, but I didn't sense a thing… Baka!

          Inumaru released a growl, attempting to be intimidating and he raised hackles, the small hairs along his back standing on end. The creature's lip turned up and he lifted his hands up in a peaceful gesture, fully facing him.

          "I'm of no threat, little one, I was merely watching you. I was startled as I was passing through and stayed to make sure you'd be safe."

          Inumaru snorted at the insult to his age and ability, his small ego still wounded from the lack of faith his father had in him. He snorted and stood up unconsciously wiping the dirt from his knees.

          The baboon's smile grew with the action, and Inumaru felt that he was once again being insulted somehow. So, with the speed of a wounded ego the pup covered his nose with both his hands, fisting them together in an attempt to block out the vapors.

          "You smell like crispy-fried monkey."  Inumaru smiled evilly behind his hands as the smile faded from the baboon's face, his eyes looking gravely insulted.

Be-da! I dare you to insult me again Baboon-sama.

          After gloating for a moment Inumaru decided to cut to the chase, saddened that the 'man-in-monkey's-clothing' had regained his smile after a few moments of silence.

          Inumaru's insides were twisting into knots and his throat had dried out, but he didn't know why. He swallowed hard trying to sooth his throat, but the tense and creepy feeling wouldn't leave him. All his instincts told him to run, but like his father he didn't rely on those to often.

          "So, why've you been fallowing us?" Inumaru asked his voice sounding like he'd just swallowed a frog. The baboon smiled at hi and chuckled, his furry shoulder's shaking with his humor.

          Inumaru ducked down and into a semi crouched position, his claws spread wide ready for an attack. His ear folded back against his scalp and he snarled again, looking more like a wounded puppy then a fierce predator.

          "I'm sorry, I should have known you'd have noticed. I'm just shocked that the older hanyou in your group did not notice my presence and yet you did."

          Inumaru raised an eyebrow and lowered his defensive stance, the thought of Inuyasha bringing up more unwanted emotions and Inumaru crossed his arms defiantly over his chest and stuck his nose in the air.

          "Feh! Like my Papa really pays attention to anything that's not beneficial to himself." Inumaru tried not to stumble over the larger word he'd heard his mother use once and hoped he'd used it properly. By the look on the Baboon's face he'd said something right. He was smiling, his white teeth showing clearly in the darkening night.

          Inumaru shivered at its intensity and nearly jumped from his skin as the Baboon spoke again his voice still silky smooth and such a vast contrast to his ora it set Inumaru on edge. Uncomfortable making chit-chat with something with so many jewel pieces, but his mother had always told him knowledge is power, and if nothing else this chit-chat may at least show him how to approach the species-crossing, Cross-dresser.

          "So, he's your father?" The information seemed to bring some sort of satisfaction to the baboon and Inumaru wondered if he should elaborate or not. "Not really, I'm not born for another eight years. I only came back to get the jewel shards." Inumaru muttered under his breath digging his toe into the ground. He wasn't surprised that the Baboon thought he was nuts, and by his expression he either thought Inumaru was insane or he was trying to figure out how all of it was possible.

          "So, your mother would be the young miko he travels with then?"  The baboon asked a sneer on his face. Inumaru Looked at him and had to control his humor. If he hadn't told his own father who his mother was, he wasn't going to tell some psycho monkey lover.

          "So, you would be fallowing us because…?" Inumaru asked purposely being rude, but the baboon got his message and laughed again, the sound slowly easing Inumaru's nerves and blinding him to his instincts.

          "You won't tell me either way, will you?"

          "Does it snow in hell?"

          Again the baboon chuckled again and finally changed the topic much to Inumaru's relief. It was truly annoying, it seemed everyone wanted to know who his mother was, even strange monkey-psychos.

Why the hell does anyone care who my Papa has me with? Geeze it's like grandma-Kaede said, when you grow up you get no privacy at all!

          "Well, I'm from the Village you just left." Inumaru tensed back up and took a few steps back. When they'd left the village he'd promptly hidden his face in Kagome's shoulder and had her carry him out of the place, feeling the eyes of all those people burning holes into the back of his head.

          Baboon kept talking but lowered his voice as if afraid to scare him further. "I was appalled at whet had happened to you while you where there and decided to watch over your group and make sure no other trouble befalls you."

          Inumaru raised an eyebrow. The Baboon nodded slowly his smile still intact. Inumaru smiled back and nodded his head exaggeratedly slow.

What the hell does he think I am, some stupid yearling?

          Inumaru threw his head back and laughed, startling the other demon into silence and stillness. Inumaru held his sides as he laughed somewhat glad to be laughing again.

          "Yeah, sure you are. And Angels will fly from my Papa's ass!" Again Inumaru giggled at the picture that would make. A big golden light filtering from his ass as beautiful angles flew off singing.

          He rubbed his fists against his eyes and settled down as a yawn over took his tired form. The sun had set, and the air had chilled making Inumaru shudder slightly.

          "Tired?"

          Inumaru jumped and stood back up defiantly opening his eyes as wide as he could attempting to look more alert. Again, Baboon smiled and leaned back on his haunches, the blue baboon face looked spooky in the moon light, illuminating the blood red of the creatures eyes and reminding Inumaru of why he'd come here in the first place.

          "You reek of demon and you have a shit-load of jewel shards. So why don't you tell me why you're really here." Inumaru asked fixing the thing across from him with a scowl that proved he was Inuyasha's pup.

          At first it looked as if he'd upset the baboon, then hanyou looking more like a nightmare as he sat crouched in the shadows of a dark tree glaring at Inumaru.

Inumaru felt his stomach flop and his fear rise as he faced the danger before him. Again his gut told him to flee but his bullheadedness kept him where he was. He curled his toes into the dirt in order to ease the tension in his legs.

Suddenly, the baboon broke into a smile and he spoke with the same lulling voice that reminded Inumaru of Kagome's voice before she sat Inuyasha.

"You're very bright, young hanyou."

          Inumaru was puzzled by the compliment but didn't fight back, still waiting for his answer, hoping he'd like the response. 

          "Actually, I am from the village." Baboon spoke with a sadness that Inumaru felt he could understand. He still fixed him with a skeptical look waiting for more information, something he could believe.

          "So why didn't I see ya?"

          He never missed a beat as he replied to Inumaru's challenge, "I was hiding. As you said I too am demon, and as you are well aware, that village does not take kindly to demons. Even half demons."

          Inumaru's breath stalled. He could still feel the pain in his ribs as they beat him over and over again, for no other reason then he wasn't human. Inumaru trembled, recalling Shippou's reasoning for why they attacked demons. He felt pity for the Baboon, understanding why he'd hide benieth such a smelly stupid looking thing.

Most likely mangled from living with the beatings…

          Inumaru was suddenly overwhelmed with a feeling of thankfulness at living in such an excepting village. He suddenly wished to be back at Kaede's hut, the smell of old medicinal herbs and old human surrounding him.

          "My mother had become ill and I tried to get the jewel to save her, but, while I was away she died. And now I'm all alone."

          The words sent a sharp cold fear down Inumaru's spine, the words echoing through his mind.

… While I was away…

          His mind brought forth the unwanted image of his mother as she was taken from him, the darkness pulling her away from him, leaving him alone with his demons.

          He wasn't aware how pale he'd become or that he'd began to whimper until the Baboon calmly asked him if he was all right. The voice snapped him back, but his frantic eyes darted from side to side like a caged animal.

          "M-…My Moma…. I came to save… my …" Inumaru couldn't keep the panic from his voice and started to hyper-ventilate.

          "Shh, calm now." The soothing voice helped ease him but only briefly before sending him back into a panicked state. He turned to the baboon eyes filled with tears, "Is my Moma going to die?!"

          The Baboon seemed taken aback for a moment before raising another hand making a sitting motion, or a gesture to calm down. "Breathe, just breathe for a moment."

          Inumaru nodded his head and complied swallowing big gulps of air and releasing it through his nose. Slowly, bit by bit, he began to calm until he was able to think clearly again. Inumaru was a little embarrassed at his out burst but covered it by looking the baboon strait in the eyes. He shivered at the penetrating gaze, but didn't back down. Surprisingly that fact made the other Yokai uneasy, and he glanced away.

          "You say you need the jewel to save your mother, right?" The baboon asked quietly, Inumaru nodded before realizing he probably didn't see the confirmation and spoke aloud, "Yes."

          "All right then. I can help you."

          Inumaru's eyes brightened at his proposition but still a little wary raised an eyebrow and crossed his arms across his chest.

          "How?"

          "You bring me the jewel shards your companions and you collect and I'll combine them to mine, then once the jewel is completed I'll give it to you." He was smiling again and Inumaru felt oddly like he was being set up and charged in to defense.

          "How do I know you'll really give it to me? You could just run off with our jewel shards." Inumaru asked pushing his nose into the air. He closed his eyes as if the baboon wasn't worth facing.

          A soft rustling of fabric alerted him to the movement and he peeked out of the corner of his eye to see what the baboon was up to, fearing he'd see that the creature had moved closer to him, and would be face to face with him, red eyes burning with hate with vicious fangs and claws.

          What he saw made him turn around completely and stare in complete shock. In the palm of the Baboon's outstretched arm lay more then half of the completed jewel.

          Inumaru blinked, then, blinked again. Looking back and forth between the baboon and the jewel fragments. "What are you-"

          "If you do not trust me, then I'll give you my shards now. I have no more use for them. But perhaps there is still time for you." His voice sounded sincere and Inumaru felt he could trust him, his act showing his truthfulness.

          Inumaru snorted smiling and turned his back on the baboon and took a step away until he heard the hanyou pull his arm back toward his body. The he turned a smug grin on his face.

          "Feh. Alright, I'll trust ya. So what's your name? Monkey-Man?" Inumaru chuckled at his own joke not quite ready to fully trust the youkai before him.

          "Why where you crying?"

Ouch! Well, I guess that makes us even monkey-man.

          Inumaru pouted but excepted that the hanyou wasn't going to be baited and snapped out his own peace offering, "I asked you first."

          The baboon's smile widened and he tilted his head to the side covering him in darker shadows of the night.

          "Onigumo, and yours?"

          Inumaru looked at his foot still a little apprehensive about his decision. Oh stop it! He's going to help save Moma!

          With renewed effort he raised his head and gave his name proudly, "Inumaru."

          Onigumo repeated the Inumaru's name and then leaned back out into the lighted area, his blue baboon-mask shining in the moonlight. "So, tell me, Inumaru, why where you crying?"

          Again Inumaru felt uncomfortable. He wasn't sure if he wanted to share such a deep and painful experience but acknowledged the fact that Onigumo had kept his end of the deal.

          "Well, my Papa—no , Inuyasha yelled at me, and called me worthless and stupid, because I wanted to help them retrieve a jewel shard. Then he threatened to… to …" he swallowed hard feeling very betrayed and hurt, the angry words still ringing through his mind.

"Look, Pup, stay back out of the way where it's safe! Or next time I won't save your puny ass, I'll let Tetsuiaga carve you up, get it!"

          A movement of white caught his eye and Inumaru looked up and saw Onigumo, his hand raised in a gesture of companion ship. "Well, then, Inumaru, it's nice to have a friend."

          Inumaru stared at the hand, his eyes blurred from more tears and he scrubbed at his eyes with the back of his hand sniffling. When his vision had cleared he smiled up at Onigumo feeling for the first time hope that he might actually save his mother.

          "Hai!" Inumaru grasped Onigumo's hand and shook it firmly friendly smile and happy voice bright and unaware of the malicious grin that had worked its way up Onigumo's face, nor did he notice bees hovering just beyond the forests edge.

          The nearly blackened moon rose into the sky, its dark shadow casting a darkness upon the forest below. Standing silent vigil over the partnership that had been made. A shooting star darted through the sky like a single tear of remorse in the quiet night.

A.N. First of all I'd like to apologize for such a late update. I had planned for it to be out before Christmas but was pulled into a lead role in my school's Madrigal Dinner, I was a jester and spend all of my evenings memorizing lines and skits, me and two others had to perform in multiple smaller acts as well as the main story line, so I was beat, then my friend whom I had not seen in a year came out to visit over winter break so again it was pushed back and it took forever to type up. So I am sorry again please forgive me. I extended the end a bit, otherwise it would have been up on Tuesday. But thank you for reading and I would like to say thanks for the reviews, if it weren't for those I wouldn't have even started it after winter break, Thank you so much!

Le-chan