Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha.

A/N: Here's another installment. This chapter got written more or less by itself and I think it serves its purpose well.

Hope you like it.

Chapter 2: Trouble in Paradise

"My daughter is engaged to a dog-eared man?" Amane exclaimed for the hundredth time.

"Look Amane. Inuyasha is a good boy. He loves Kagome a lot. And believe me, your daughter is a lot more mature than she seems and has made this decision after knowing exactly what he is capable of and what he is like. She has taken his good with his bad and they are very happy." Sayo explained trying to make her husband see what she has finally seen after being blind for so long.

She had refused to acknowledge that Inuyasha had claimed Kagome at first. Hell, she had even opposed it. But now, she realized just how precious their relationship was. But now she faced the trouble of making Amane 'see the light' when she possibly couldn't tell him about the well and Inuyasha's demon heritage.

"But… couldn't she find someone better? Some one without dog ears?" He asked watching his wife work in the kitchen with practiced ease.

"Please let go of the ears. They are … a birth defect as Kagome told you." She wiped her hands on her apron and then shuffled past her irate husband sitting on the chair to get to the fridge.

"Look Sayo, I don't know what you take me for… but dog ears? I have never in my life ever come across a deformity as this."

"Are you a doctor?" She asked her head stuck in the fridge.

"No. But…"

"Are you a scientist?"

"No. But I am telling you…"

"Do you have any kind of knowledge about science and medicine?" She closed the fridge with one well-placed swing of her hips and then carried the delicately balanced vegetables and a number of sauces to the counter.

Amane sighed. "No."

"Then you cannot say anything about them." She pulled out a knife, swinging it as though it was her finger, admonishing her husband as though he was a little kid. This of course got him angry.

"You are not listening to me. This is unheard of. Not to mention that it is very odd that no one has taken him in and researched about him. How did he manage to get past all that?"

"It took a lot of effort I am sure. And the cap he always wears is to make sure that his ears are not exposed to public."

"Of course. If I were him, I would go through a lot of trouble to keep my ears hidden too. They are hideous."

"Amane! Don't say something like that. I happen to like his ears a lot, not to mention that Kagome possesses a strange fascination for them." She started cutting the vegetables. The rhythmic sound of her knife hitting the counter continuously started playing on Amane's nerves.

"I am going out for a bit." He said before moving out of the kitchen and leaving to go to the courtyard to get some fresh air.

Sayo sighed. Guilt had been tugging at her ever since she had let Amane back into her house and effectively into her life.

But this is not ten years ago. This time, you are playing with your father's life. Your daughter's life. Your son's life. And a young man's life.

Oh Inuyasha… I hope nothing goes wrong.

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Amane stormed through the house. Who did she think she was? Talking to him as though he was a little boy. He'll show her. He was anything but a little boy. He was a man. That thing was not a man. He was not even human by his standards.

He shouldn't even be in this house. He shouldn't be engaged to his little girl. He shouldn't be… he shouldn't be alive.

He went into the living room and stopped short of opening the door. Someone was outside. He peeked through the window and looked out into the courtyard.

Inuyasha stood leaning on the Sacred Tree talking to Kagome. She suddenly leaned forward with a small smile on her face and reached up to stroke his ears.

Amane continued to watch with interest as the silver haired boy closed his eyes and nudged his ears into her hands as though encouraging her to continue with her ministrations.

He watched as she removed her hands from his ears only to cup his face and kiss him. Inuyasha's hands moved from his side only to stopbehind his little girl's head and then moved steadily downward and one rested in between her shoulder blades pushing her closer to him while the other rested comfortably on her hip.

Disgusting. That thing was ravaging his little girl's mouth. That bastard was in his daughter's mouth.

He rushed out of the house in a mad frenzy and did the one thing that came naturally to him. He pulled his fist back and brought it down on the dog-eared boy with all the strength he possessed. And he was a strong man. He had taken people twice his size with little trouble.

His fist connected firmly with the boy's jaw and Amane felt his knuckles throb with the impact. The boy's head snapped to the side because of the impact. This attack was enough to knock out any normal man.

But Inuyasha was hardly normal.

Rubbing his jaw, the boy turned back to his attacker and regarded him with a cold expression but his eyes were ablaze with fury.

Amane could not believe his eyes. This scrawny thing had taken his punch as though it was nothing. Not to mention just how badly his knuckles were throbbing from where they had connected with the boy's jaw. He had to be careful of this young boy. He might prove to be dangerous.

Kagome had her mouth open, her hand delicately covering it in fear and worry. She was afraid that Inuyasha would hurt her father and since Inuyasha was a lot stronger than her father, the damage could be immense. She was worried as to why would her father attack Inuyasha in the first place.

Surprisingly, Inuyasha did not attack Amane. He kept his fists strictly on his sides and just kept glaring at him.

"Why did you attack me?" He asked in a calm voice, but his blazing eyes gave away his thoughts. He was too afraid of losing control over his strength so he was keeping it in check.

"Dad? Why would you…?"

Amane snapped his attention back to the young girl on his side. He shouldn't have done that. He had to stay on the family's good side. This was all wrong.

He turned to the boy. "I apologize my boy. I just… I wasn't thinking straight… I think I am tired. I apologize again."

He said, plastering a pleasant smile on his face for show. He reached forward and gently hugged his daughter and then turned to the boy. He had to make amends for his mistake.

As he reached for the boy, he swore he heard a growl but ignored it and pulled the boy into an awkward embrace.

"I apologize again. I was not thinking straight." He pulled Inuyasha closer, tightening his arms around his torso. Then he added in a quiet voice, almost a whisper, meant for no one else but Inuyasha. "Next time I will make sure it hurts."

What he hadn't expected the smirk that waited for him when they parted. Inuyasha was grinning, his fangs glinting in the late afternoon sun.

Fangs?

"It's been a pleasure old man. Will look forward to our next… meeting." He said it with an arrogant half smile and then snaked an arm around Kagome, bringing her up right next to him and leading her to the house.

Amane seethed with rage and fury and watched the couple leave.

Old man, am I? Within the hour he had been treated as both a young child and an old man. Things had seriously changed while he was gone. And he was going to set it right.

He was the man of the house. Everyone would listen to him. But he first has to remove the hindrance. Inuyasha threatened him. He was strong no doubt. But he didn't think he could take Inuyasha on in a physical fight and win. No. This will have to be a battle of wits.

And he was the most cunning man they had yet to meet.

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"I don't know why he did that Inuyasha. He's my father. He was probably tired or something." Inuyasha just looked at her. She sighed. Even to her ears it sounded lame. Like an excuse. "I… I don't know why…"

Inuyasha reached out and shushed her. They were in her bedroom… their bedroom. Inuyasha was leaning leisurely against the window while Kagome paced back and forth.

"Don't worry yourself over him, Kagome." He said while examining his claws. "I don't like that man much. I let him go because he was your father, but next time…" He left the sentence unfinished while cracking his knuckles dramatically.

"Inuyasha…" She punched his lightly on the shoulder and resumed her pacing. Inuyasha rolled his eyes and then swift as lightening, he wrapped an arm around her waist and pulling her up by his chest, he dragged her onto the bed. Tucking her firmly on his lap and resting his chin on her hair, put his right hand lightly on her slightly swollen stomach.

"Inuyasha?" She asked softly, his ears turned towards her to center all his attention on her. "I was just wondering… Daddy just came today and… well…"

"You are worried about … well me. Right?"

She nodded her head weakly.

"Look. You are with me. And as long as I am alive, you don't have to worry about a thing. Got that?"

She turned her head such that she could look up at him. His eyes were wide and honest and Kagome suddenly felt like the happiest girl that could ever live. She had everything. A husband, well mate, who loved her. She was going to have a baby. Her father was back, which was part of the problem, and her family was whole now.

Eventually, everything would work out.

He tightened his arms around her, lowering his head such that his lips met with the side of her neck; placing soft butterfly kisses on the sensitive skin.

"Don't worry about a thing Kagome. Just take care of yourself and the pup. And I will take care of everything else."

"But… he doesn't know about my baby."

"So? That is hardly a problem. You can tell him tonight, at dinner."

"But…"

Inuyasha suddenly pulled away from her, turning her around so that he could look at her face.

"Why don't you want to tell him about my pup?"

"It's not that Inuyasha. He was troubled enough with the prospect of me engaged to you. And now…"

"Then tell him the truth. That you are not engaged to me, you are mated to me."

"He won't understand."

"Then make him understand." He said in a slightly louder voice.

"Don't yell at me. I am trying to figure this out."

"There is nothing to figure out. Go downstairs and tell him. If you don't then I will."

"Listen to me Inuyasha. Its not as simple as that."

"Fuck Kagome. You are making it difficult."

"I am trying to be reasonable about it."

"So what do you think we should rather do? Huh?"

"I don't know!"

"Then we do as I say."

"No we don't."

"And why the hell not?"

"Because I know you, you'll probably throw it right in his face and then punch him when he gets angry or upset."

"Damn right I would."

"Inuyasha!"

"What?"

"Stop being such an idiot."

Inuyasha opened his mouth to retort when a voice came from downstairs.

"Inuyasha? Kagome? Dinner's ready."

Inuyasha shot his mate a very annoyed look and Kagome smiled back smugly. She had won this argument.

Unfortunately, it also meant that she was now responsible for breaking the news to her father.

"Coming…" She sighed and then started to get off the bed.

"It would be a lot easier for me to get off the bed if you let me go you know."

"Keh, dream on wench. I'm never letting you go."

She rolled her eyes and redoubled her efforts. "Let me go Inuyasha."

With a smirk, he pulled her up against him and then bounded down the stairs, clearing them in one leap.

"Show off!" She scolded him, smiling at his tactics and then made her way to the kitchen.

"Kagome, have you seen Sota? I haven't seen him since morning."

"I don't…"

"He went to a friend's house to play. Said he'll be back before dark. Which should be any minute now." Inuyashasaid as heentered the kitchen.

Dinner was a tense affair. Sota had called and let them know that he will be coming after an hour and so they had decided to start without him.

Inuyasha was sitting across from Amane and beside Kagome. Sayo was sitting next to Amane, across from Kagome. To say that there was hostility on the table would be an understatement.

"Inuyasha?" Amane asked breaking the tense silence. He wiped his mouth on a napkin and then continued when Inuyasha shot him a questioning glare. "What do you do for a living?"

The question caught the hanyou by surprise. He knew what the phrase meant. Kagome had mentioned it quiet a few times. But what occupation was he adapt at? Killing? Hunting? Fighting? Hmm… stealing…?

"I uh… I hunt … things." He said vaguely.

"Things? Care to elaborate?"

"I find stuff. Things that well…"

"Inuyasha finds items that have been stolen and such." Kagome decided to build on Inuyasha's story.

"Yes, he is a bounty hunter of sorts." Sayo added in.

"I see." Amane clearly didn't believe them. Bounty hunter? Who did they think they were fooling?

"Where are your parents?" He continued his questions. Inuyasha stopped in between his bites and swallowed without chewing.

"They died. A long time ago."

"I see. What did they do?"

Inuyasha growled. He was hating this human more and more with every passing moment. "My father owned land and my mother was a princess or sorts."

"A princess? And he owned land did you say?"

"Are you deaf old man?" Inuyasha said irritably and then stuffed his mouth with food again. He missed his Ramen.

"I believe I am not. Where did your father own this land?"

"Daddy… his father is well… not alive anymore so it doesn't really matter…" Kagome tried to change the subject. "I love the food today Mom. Did you put anything different in it?"

"Oh yes in fact I…" Sayo took the hint and steered the subject.

"That is all well and good. Do you have any family at all?" Amane went back to the topic. Kagome refrained from slapping her forehead with irritation.

"I have none."

"I see. Who took care of you then?"

"I took care of myself."

"When did you parents die?"

"What is it to you?" Inuyasha had stopped eating and was now glaring at the plate as though it would burst to flames from sheer force of will alone.

"Just wondering. When?"

"I was young."

"How young?"

"A child."

"And you took care of yourself?"

"Yes old man. I did. I took care of myself." He said through gritted teeth.

"I would prefer it if you do not call me old man. I am not that old."

"But you are weak, deaf and mentally challenged. I believe you are old, if not by body then by mind."

Amane's face remained impassive but his eyes took a dangerous glint.

"I do not understand why you feel such hostility towards me Inuyasha. I am just a father trying to give my daughter the best."

"Then you can rest in peace. Your daughter has the best." Kagome snapped her attention to the hanyou. This was the first time he had not undermined himself. On the contrary he had defended his honor. "Let's go Kagome."

Without waiting for an answer, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward the door.

"Where are you going?"

"None of your fucking business old man." He answered back without turning around.

"It's late Inuyasha. Shouldn't you be going home?"

"I am home." He said before he dragged his mate towards the door.

"He stays here?!" Amane exclaimed as his eyes flashed with pure insane anger. Sayo recoiled in fear. "What kind of a disgraced creature stays at his fiancé's house?"

What have I done? I knew his coming back would be trouble. Sayo tried to calm herself and decided to take a stand.

"Inuyasha will move out once he finds a steady job." She picked up the dish and started taking some of the food out into a plate for Sota. It seemed as though she was working but she was trying to keep Amane from seeing her hands shaking. She refused to give him such power over her.

"This is unacceptable." His lips were pulled back and he was sneering in disgust at the very idea. Then his eyes cleared and he turned to her with a newfound rage. "Where is he staying?"

"What do you mean where he is staying?" Sayo kept her voice calm, something she was far from feeling.

Amane clutched the sides of the table so hard that his knuckles turned white. "Where does he sleep?" He hissed out.

His wife ignored the question and continued to move around the kitchen.

"I said where does he sleep?" He got up and grabbed her wrist twisting it so that she yelped in pain. "How many times have I told you that you don't ignore your husband?"

"Amane? Amane, listen to me. Look, Inuyasha is a good boy he'll keep Kagome happy." She hissed through the pain.

He suddenly let her wrist go and she rubbed the sore spot, it was going to leave a bruise.

"Inuyasha is leaving. Now." With the final decisive statement, he left the kitchen slamming the door as an emphasis.

"Oh Inuyasha… I'm so sorry." She wiped the few tears that had escaped her eyes with the back of her sleeve and then moved out of the kitchen to warn the two youngsters.

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"That was ridiculous Inuyasha. You could have been more …"

"More what? More civilized? Well guess what, I am a hanyou. I don't do civilized."

"My father is just looking out for me. How would you feel if your daughter got married to a man who had no job and seemingly had no future?"

Inuyasha looked at her as though she had slapped him. "So I have no future, do I?"

Kagome sighed. She rubbed the bridge of her nose trying to find the best possible route to take. "You know that's not what I meant."

"Then explain this stupid, uncivilized hanyou what you meant. 'Coz I am so fucking slow that I couldn't possibly understand your intelligent talk."

"Don't make this difficult for me Inuyasha."

"I am not making it difficult wench. I am trying to understand your father and so far that is proving harder than battling Naraku."

"My father is not Naraku."

"But just as bad."

"Don't talk about my father like that." She yelled at him the loudest she could and Inuyasha smashed his ears against his head against the sound. After she had stopped yelling, his ears didn't perk up again.

In a soft, almost inaudible voice he added, "You didn't yell at him when he called my ears a deformity." Before she could try to fix the damage he added with a rueful smile, "I guess that's because they are a deformity."

"Inuyasha…" She reached for him and he jerked away.

"Yeah, you're right. He just wants the best for his daughter. Who am I to interfere?" He said his eyes turning hard and throwing a guard over his emotions.

"Inuyasha please that's not…"

"Inuyasha!" the hanyou turned away form his mate and looked towards the door. Soon enough the very cause of the problems appeared. "You are leaving this house at once."

"Daddy!" Kagome ran and jumped in between them, placing a hand on each of their chests before Inuyasha took a step back, breaking the physical contact. Kagome ignored the hurt that pierced through her chest at the simple gesture and turned to the problem at hand.

"Dad. Why should Inuyasha leave?"

"He should go back where he came from. I will not disgrace this house by letting a creature such as him live with my daughter and share her bed."

"I'll show you what creature I am you bastard." Inuyasha moved threateningly towards the older man and Kagome planted a firm hand in the middle of his chest effectively stopping him.

"Inuyasha let me handle this." Turning to her father she added, "We have been together for two years dad. He has been a regular visitor here. There is no reason to…"

"Well, now that I am here, things are going to change."

"The only change there is going to be is the change in the symmetry of your body you fucking asshole."

"Inuyasha! Don't insult my father." Then she turned to Amane. "Don't do this Daddy."

"I want the best for you, love. A lot has been going wrong behind me but don't worry. I am here now and I will make everything right again. Starting with this monster."

"Daddy!"

"Amane!" Sayo had appeared in the doorway pulling on Amane's arm and effectively taking him out of the room. She missed how Inuyasha had raised his nose slightly in the air and was sniffing discreetly.

"You're hurt." He stated. Amane and Sayo paused in the doorway.

"What the hell…?" Amane exclaimed. "How can you say she's hurt?"

"I don't have to explain myself to you."

Amane fisted his hands at his sides. "I am the man of the house and you will answer me!"

"You are not the man of the house. I am." A new voice joined their little session.

"Grandpa!" Kagome exclaimed. Behind Grandpa was a very peeved twelve-year-old boy.

"I am the man of the house and I have taken decisions since the day you left Amane. I say that Inuyasha stays. And he has no need to explain anything to you. And as for you Amane, you are our guest… behave as one. You will sleep in the guestroom tonight." He turned to his daughter. "Sayo, I will need to talk to you."

Sayo, rubbing her wrist absently, left with Grandpa. Sota watched his mother leave and then shot the intruder a very poisoned look. No on got away with hurting his mother and then insulting his hero. So this was their guest eh? Guess he'll have to make sure he had a very unpleasant stay. Throwing him another dirty look that went unnoticed by the father, he left for his room.

Amane sneered at Inuyasha once more before leaving too.

Kagome came to Inuyasha and placed one hand softly on his chest, right where she had planted it firmly twice to restrain him.

"I'm sorry Inuyasha." He didn't turn to look at her. With one clawed hand, he gently removed her hand from his chest and turned towards the window.

"I need to be alone. Don't wait up." And he was gone in a flash. Kagome bit back tears as she looked at the open window, the curtains blowing in the wind as though silently reminding her of the damage that had been done that night.

A/N: I am trying to fix my dialogues. I have a tendency to write bad dialogue scenes and this story is more or less told while talking to someone else… don't know what I was thinking to write something that doesn't come naturally to me but oh well! Let me know if there is something that is lacking in the dialogue… are they too vague? Too sudden? Too shifty? Anything that looks out of place.

PLEASE let me know if the characters are OOC. I try not to make them OOC but sometimes it just happens.

Hope this chapter does not disappoint anyone.

Until next time.