Chapter Two: His Decision
"I have to what!" He shrieked, nearly falling off Goshinboku.
"I know, but it will work. There are two consequences. She'll turn into a hanyou, and you guys will be connected." InuYasha looked thoughtful for a moment.
"You sure it's going to work?" He said silently, and Myouga nodded.
"Right, just make her drink your blood 3 times a day for a month, and she should be good in no time. Just the change from human to hanyou is going to take some adjusting for her."
InuYasha thought how hard his life was, and he didn't want Kagome to live that. She didn't deserve it, not after now, and she wouldn't want to drink a filthy hanyou's blood anyway. He looked off at the sunset, and sighed.
"Myouga. Is there anything else you have to tell me about this?"
"It can also be used as an adoption method. And it seems you two will react to each other as if you two are mated mentally, but now physically. Her scent will alter a little, but after a while we should recognize it. M'Lord, I shall return in a while. I have a journey I must take for a friend. A promise for a friend." InuYasha nodded as Myouga hopped off his shoulder and was on his way. He hopped off Goshinboku and into the hut, where they were circled around Kagome.
"She's almost gone. I can sense it." Kaede said through tear filled eyes. Sango and Shippou were bawling, but Miroku held a conflicted emotion on his face. InuYasha sat behind Kagome, and set Kagome's head on his lap, sitting her up a little bit.
"InuYasha, ye should not disturb her-"
"I know a way I can save her, but I don't have much time. Shippou, wake her." Shippou shook her softly, than a little bit harder when she didn't respond. She opened her eyes, and InuYasha had to keep back a gasp. Her eyes were empty, cold like death, reminding him eerily of Kikyou. He used his fang to slice his wrist, making sure it was deep enough so she can suck enough. He held it to her mouth, and ordered her softly to drink it. She moved her head stubbornly, to weak to talk.
"Kagome, you have to drink it. You can't die." She looked at him a few moments before placing her mouth over the slice and sucking. She closed her eyes as the tangy flavor went down her throat.
"Right. Get as much as you can." He whispered softly, running his hands through her hair. After he cut began healing, he said she could drink some later. She smiled and went back to sleep, and before long he was bombarded with questions.
"What did you do?" Sango and Miroku asked in unison. Shippou and Kaede watched silently.
"Don't worry about it." He snorted.
"What did you-"
"He used his healing powers on Kagome. Giving her his blood will save her life, but she's going to become a hanyou, and they will be connected like they were mated." InuYasha blushed as Sango smiled warmly at him. He looked away, but she keeps smiling.
"So that explains the mood swings." Miroku says thoughtfully, ignoring InuYasha's growling.
"Yes, but will Kagome mind?" InuYasha felt his heart pang, but he showed no sign of it. Instead he slammed his arms in the sleeves of his haori, and put on 'The Pout'. Miroku smiled as he recognized the stance. He was worrying about something. But he would never admit it. It would really kill him. He sighed as he thought of how stubborn he was. Kaede checked Kagome's temperature, and came back frowning.
"Her aura's different. Not a great change, but it's changed." Everyone nodded, and sat in silence. InuYasha suddenly shot to his feet and walked out, without saying anything to anyone. Everyone looked at each other, but nothing could explain what just happened.
The next day, Kaede announced Kagome's temperature had gone down. It didn't go down enough to break the fever, but it was down. Everyone was overjoyed that his tactic worked, and InuYasha found himself with the yearning to be with Kagome. No matter how much he tried to ignore it, his mind kept nagging him. Her scent was changing little by little, and it would take a good nose to realize the change. But of course he could smell it.
Shippou sat on InuYasha's lap on day uninvited. He reached to thump him, took a look at the sad kitsune's face, and thought otherwise.
"What's wrong?" He asked him, full of concern. Shippou shook his head.
"I don't know. Something's nagging at me to try to help Kagome, but I don't understand why. I feel connected to her for some reason, but I don't understand how." InuYasha looked at the kitsune, a disturbed look on his face. InuYasha stood up with Shippou now perched on his shoulder.
"Come one. We're going for a trip. "He said to him.
"Kaede, well be back by sundown." He raced out the house, whizzing by countless trees, until he came to a hill that overlooked the village. The sunset shimmered on the water, and the cool breeze made the grass dance with happiness and joy. The birds song their song of rejoice, and Shippou sighed as InuYasha perched on the ground, and sat Shippou into his lap, holding him into a parental embrace. Shippou said nothing, surprised by the hanyou's sudden show of affection. InuYasha began nuzzling Shippou's hair with his nose.
"I bet you miss your parents." He said softly. Shippou nodded sadly.
"I thought, I thought I lost you all back there. I'll never want to feel that was again." He confessed, shocking Shippou.
"InuYasha, why'd you bring me here?" Shippou asked, breaking the long silence after his confession.
"My mother used to bring me here, and hold me like this. I thought that maybe, if you ever need anywhere to think, you can come to my special spot. But it's me and your secret. Got it?" Shippou smiled and InuYasha began purring, soothing Shippou. As he began nuzzling his hair again, InuYasha smelt blood. Frowning, he looked at Shippou.
"You're hurt." He said. It was more of telling Shippou than asking him.
"I know, but Kaede was busy and-" InuYasha pulled open his shirt, and stared at the huge scratch mark trailing across the young child's chest. It was then he realized he was wearing a different kimono. He frowned and pressed his ears to his head at his ignorance. Letting his instincts control him, he began licking the wound clean. Shippou whined and fidgeted, but InuYasha growled warningly, and all moving stopped. Once he thought it was clean enough, he looked at Shippou, who was on his way to sleep.
"Would you like to sleep in a tree with me tonight?" InuYasha asked, realizing it must have been his bedtime. Shippou nodded as InuYasha jumped into a nearby tree, perching Shippou halfway on his chest.
"InuYasha, can I call you otoo-san?" InuYasha looked at the child with bewilderment.
"You mean, you consider me your-"
"Yes, and I understand now that's what nagging at me. Kagome has been registered in my mind as my okaa-san, so that's what was nagging me." InuYasha smiled down at the sleepy jade eyes that were watching him.
"Sure. Now get some sleep." Shippou nodded and closed his eyes.
"Night otaa-san." Shippou felt InuYasha lick his face affectively.
"Goodnight." He said before closing his eyes.
8:88:888:88:8
InuYasha awoke to find Shippou still resting on his chest. He smiled before nuzzling his hair.
"Time to wake up." He cooed as Shippou slowly opened his eyes. Shippou blinked a few times before they focused. InuYasha looked off into the distance as Shippou yawned. He sniffed the air, and he could smell the villagers cooking breakfast. His mouth watered at the thought of food. He was hungry indeed; he wasn't the type to admit he could eat like a cow. He looked down at Shippou, who was holding his stomach.
"Hungry huh?" He said as he hopped of the tree. Shippou nodded as he yawned again, and InuYasha set him on the grass. He laid out his haori and set Shippou on it, then wrapped him up smiling.
"Go back to sleep while I go and find breakfast. I'll wake you up when I finish." Shippou more than happily accepted as InuYasha zipped into the forest. He hopped quickly from tree to tree silently, occasionally stopping to sniff the air. He watched his prey below him, ignorant that she was the next meal. He watched as she shifted, and her litter was beneath her. He sighed heavily as he kept going, unable to kill the mother.
He found another, and killed it with no hesitation. Just in case, he killed one more, and zipped through the forest, back to the hill as quick as he could. He made a fire, and cooked the rabbit meat, being careful not to wake Shippou just yet. He watched the kitsune sleep peacefully, occasionally snoring. Shippou rolled over, and InuYasha's ears twitched at a sound from the right of them. He jumped to his feet, and bared his fangs. He flexed his claws and growled deeply and loudly.
"Who's there?" He said. Myouga the flea hopped to his shoulder, and bowed with respect.
"I see your hearing has improved my Lord." He said. InuYasha snorted as he sat back down, flipping over the meat.
"Are you willing to adopt the young kitsune InuYasha?" Myouga asked. InuYasha glanced at Shippou, who was smiling in his sleep. He didn't really think about it. He did call him his dad, but still. Will he be willing to be connected to him as a real father? InuYasha was afraid- that he would be a disgrace, that he won't be able to raise Shippou into an honorable man. He sighed as Myouga began speaking again.
"I know it may be a hard decision, but at least he will always be protected. You will have a family M'Lord." He said wisely. InuYasha thought about it again. He couldn't do it without asking permission first. So he had to ask Shippou would he be willing to become part of him, his family. He considered everyone his pack, no matter how strange it was. Even the cowardice Myouga.
"I'll ask him." He simply said. Myouga nodded and sighed with relief.
"If your father was here, he'd be very proud InuYasha. Let me know once everything is done. I have something to show you. Your father wanted me to make sure you see this, when you finally have a pack. I think now is the right time. I shall meet you as Kaede's hut. I have to ask Lady Sango a couple of questions." InuYasha snorted as Myouga hopped off his shoulder, and into the distance. Sniffing the air, the meat was ready to be eaten. He went over and shook Shippou softly, and dull jade eyes glared at him.
"Time to eat runt." He said, and Shippou quickly sat up. InuYasha slipped the meat on a stick and handed it to Shippou. He bit into his meat, and watched as Shippou experimentally bit into his. His eyes widened in surprise, and he took a huge chunk out of it, apparently enjoying it. InuYasha smiled before warning the kid to be careful. Once they finish eating, Shippou hopped on InuYasha's head. Though he wanted to knock him off, he said nothing as they gazed down at the village, watching the children play. InuYasha felt now was the time to see how Shippou felt, and he became very nervous. He never actually knew how Shippou's feelings about him could affect him until now.
"Shippou, how would you feel about being adopted?"
"I don't know, I mean, it'll be great to have a mom and dad again, but-"
"But?"
"I just don't know. Why?"
"I was thinking. Since me and Kagome are connected now, how would you like to join the family. Kagome is technically already your mother, but if you don't want to, you don't have to-"
"Are you crazy! I would love having you guys as a parent. Just as long as you two don't fight anymore. I hate when you guys fight." Shippou wrinkled his nose, and InuYasha smiled.
"Let's get going. We'll talk more about this later." Shippou nodded as InuYasha ran down the hill, apparently trying to scare the daylights out of Shippou. He hopped over the village gates and zipped to Kaede's hut, him and Shippou laughing as they walked in. Wide eyes looked at InuYasha, for they never heard him laugh before. It was quite charming.
"Where have ye been?" Kaede asked confused. Shippou hopped off of InuYasha and onto Kaede, making her smile.
"We were on the hill that looks on the village. We slept there." He said, smiling. Everyone looked at InuYasha as he sat next to Kagome, ignoring all their gazes.
"Her fever broke last night, but her wound is healing slowly." Kaede announced as InuYasha stared at Kagome. He smiled slightly. He was glad she would survive, but she was sure to sit him once she found it she was a hanyou. She was going to be angry and hate him, he could just feel it. And InuYasha was glad Shippou didn't bring up the adoption yet. He lifted her shirt just below her chest, and winced at the bruises and scrapes along them.
She must've fought hard. He though sadly. Something nagged at him to lick the huge gash, try to help it, but he shook it off. It seems inappropriate. He brought her head to his lap, waking her. She looked at her, her big brown eyes looking clearer. It seems she had a little strength to talk now.
"C'mon. You've got to drink some more." He said, bringing his wrists to his mouth and using his fangs to tears the skin so blood oozed out. He brought it to her mouth, and she made a face.
"This stuff taste weird you know..." She said before she began sucking his blood. He smiled and watched her eyes gazed around the hut, seeing Shippou she smiled as InuYasha brought his wrist away. Before he could lick it clean however, Shippou yanked it down and began licking it. InuYasha glared at him with confusion, but smiled when he ceased his ministrations.
"What was that?" Kagome asked, since no one else was going to.
"See, well," InuYasha started.
"He's my new otoo-san." Shippou said proudly. Everyone gasped and looked at InuYasha.
"Well, not officially, but yeah. We talked about it just before we came here." Everyone was looking at InuYasha with bewilderment, as well as the weak Kagome.
"So, this means we are all connected right? A family?" She asked slowly, and InuYasha had to suppress as whine.
She hates me. He thought sadly as he nodded. She sighed and closed her eyes before snapping them open again. Shippou was licking her wound, but it wasn't uncomfortable, she just wasn't expecting it. She growled much like a dog, to everyone's surprise, and Shippou immediately stopped. He whimpered and ran to the safety of InuYasha. Kagome blinked a couple of times while Sango smiled.
"Kagome. I think you are no longer human." She explained, even though Kaede already did. Kagome nodded and smiled.
"Well, that feeling was different." She said as Shippou walked over to her, his ears drooped. She smiled and Shippou licked her face apologetically.
"It's all right." She said. Shippou smiled as InuYasha began to speak.
"Kagome, how would you like it if Shippou joined us. You never stated your opinion." Kagome rolled her eyes.
"You should know I'm ok with it. Besides, he already has some of your blood when he licked your wound."
"Ooops." Shippou said blushing. InuYasha shook his head.
"Dimwit."
"Jerk!"
"Runt!"
"Pup!" Kagome snarled with annoyance, revealing her developing fangs. They both immediately piped down and blushed as everyone laughed.
"InuYasha, does this make us your pack?" Miroku asked, unsure. InuYasha nodded and sighed.
"Technically, yes. Even though it is mixed with demon, and human. But I suppose so." He said, pondering a bit. Shippou played with his ears, and he twitched them a little, giving him something to chase. Sango smiled at the scene, it was pretty cute in her opinion.
"What about Kirara? She hasn't bonded." Sango said, looking sadly at her companion.
"You haven't either, but you're still my pack. It's complicated for me to explain, but all I know is that we have mental bond. But now Kagome and Shippou also have a blood bond. But we're all family, all strays brought together. Even Kaede is part of the family, as well as Myouga." He said, smiling at the startled old woman. She smiled back as she crushed herbs. Kirara mewed happily and cuddled up to Sango, who petted her happily. Miroku watched closely, and sighed heavily. Shippo was still playing with InuYasha's ears, and Kagome had lulled off to sleep. InuYasha smiled as he leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes, making sure not to forget to twitch his ears for Shippou.
So, I finally have a family. He sniffed the air and his eyes shot open. Kagome, smelt different. Her scent was mingled with something spicy, mixed in with her usual scent of jasmine. His eyes widened and his cheeks flushed as he realized what it was. Shippou apparently smelt it to, and hopped down and sniffed Kagome. InuYasha whined and shifted uncomfortably. Shippou wrinkled his nose and looked at InuYasha.
"Why does she smell that way?" He asked innocently. InuYasha's cheeks grew darker.
"What way?" Sango asked, looking back and forth at the two.
"She smells spicy. Different." He tried to explain. Sango froze as Miroku smiled like an idiot.
"Ah Shippou. I see you have come to realize woman have monthly 'changes'."
"Miroku!" Sano hissed as InuYasha bared his fangs. "Not yet. He's too young." Shippou frowned as Sango explained he was too young to understand. He opened his mouth to argue back, but one look at InuYasha's face told him otherwise. He sighed and hopped back on InuYasha's head, playing with his ears once more. InuYasha was still uncomfortable with Kagome's scent. It was stronger than when she was a human, and it must have just started today because it's not as strong as it usually is. It played with his senses, toyed with his sanity, and he knew he couldn't be trusted with her alone. Why didn't he think of this earlier?
He realized soon she would be able to smell, sense his discomfort, and she had the higher possibility of other demons coming to mate her. Kouga wouldn't even mind, and InuYasha's blood boiled at the thought of the wolf youkai. Kagome would be able to sense when he was lying, or hurt, unlike when she was human, so there was no point in trying to lie. If he cut himself, she would be there in an instant, unable to control the blood in her. Same with Shippou. Whenever he was in pain or something was wrong, InuYasha felt like killing someone. Kagome would never the less allow him to thump Shippou, and he a good feeling that her growl would send shivers down his spine.
Me and my stupid concern. He sighed as he closed his eyes again.
