Author's Note: Ha! Yes, I updated the day I said I would in my profile. Sometimes I don't and then I feel bad. Because when people look on there and see that I was supposed to update on this day and I didn't. They're like "WTF?!?" And I'm sorry! It won't happen again! Please read and review!
white-fanged -demon: Well thank you so much! That means a lot coming from someone who'd kill themself if I haven't updated soon! lol, j/k. Thanks for your review!
faerie-kittie306 animelover: Thank you! And I guess that guy had his hand on her face was because he's evil and trying to like, take control of her mind or something. Thanks for your review!
erica6060: Thank you a bunches! I hope nothing happens to them too! Wait, I already know ifanything badhappens or not...(looks around suspicously) lol! I ain't tellin! Thanks for your review!
Miru Amai: LOL!! Me either. Chitlins are awesome! Yes, thank you! I liked how I made Inuyasha call Kouga stupid like three times. lol, I love Kouga and all, but I had to make Inuyasha make fun of him, heehee! And yes, a curiosity I shall fill for you! Thanks for your review!
Venusgurl5: Yes, I made it deep, oh so deepish. Thank you! I'm glad you like my stories, yay! Thanks for your review!
Water-Goddess-InuLuver1: lol, I love the ja thing you put! Thanks for your review!
Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha
Chapter Four: A Subtle Dagger
Inuyasha immediately froze in his place and instinctively pulled Rikku closer to him, sheilding her from any sign of a threat. "D-Damn it...What the hell was that?" Inuyasha muttered to himself. 'Why do I feel like we're all in danger? Who was that guy? And why is he here?' Inuyasha wondered as Rikku looked at her father's troubled exression. 'What's wrong with Daddy?' The young girl wondered and frowned. Inuyasha was scared, despite his many years of fighting demons. This creature was not Naraku, that he was sure of, but then why did he fear it so much?
"Daddy? What's wrong?" Rikku asked in a whisper. Inuyasha jumped slightly and looked down at his daughter who was still in his arms. "Oh uh, it's nothing. Come on, let's go back home." He said and cautiously walked back to his home where the rest of his family was.
Rikku smiled then and laid her head on his shoulder. She liked being with her dad all the time and playing with him too. Rikku had always wanted to just spend some time alone with him. She enjoyed being with her other siblings, of course, but she just felt like she wanted Inuyasha all to herelf to play ball or tag with. The young girl knew that she was being selfish, but everyone does once in a while, right?
Inuyasha had other thoughts on his mind than spending time with his family. The feeling that strange man gave him right before he left sent chills down his spine. And what did he mean by what he had said to him and his daughter? Did he mean that he was going to be the last person Inuyasha sees..before he dies?
'What the hell? Does that mean that stupid freak is going to kill me or something?' Inuyasha thought as they neared the hut. It was when Inuyasha reached his other children had he put Rikku down. "You kids come closer to the house and wash up in the stream." He said and didn't wait for an answer as he was already one step ahead of them. Taikan turned to look at his father, "What for?" He brushed some of his silver hair out of his eyes.
Inuyasha turned around, "Because...Because you and your sisters are all dirty from playing out here and now you have to take a bath again." He replied and motioned for his kids to follow him. They of course graoned and complained about having to take a bath again. "And hurry up too, we've got some place to be remember?" He said and watched his children nod.
Inuyasha did not want to tell them the truth. He had to keep this to himself until he got a chance to talk to Kagome alone.
Taikan paused for a moment and looked at his father. 'I think...I think something is wrong? But what?' He thought and furrowed his eyebrows. He had yet to tell Inuyasha of the things he had heard from the bird demon, but now he suddenly had the feeling that his father knew already.
Sudenly feeling the need to protect, Taikan turned his back to his younger sisters as they took a bath in the stream behind that was closest to the house, and kept a look out for anything suspicious. The twelve year old suddenly remebered the promise that Inuyasha had made to him about a year ago on his birthday. Inuyasha had promised Taikan that he would use one of his own fangs to have Totousai forge a sword for him. Taikan had been so excited since that day. Although Inuyasha would have Taikan already training with it by now, he couldn't because of his mother's wishes. Taikan's eyes softened at the thought of his beautiful mother, she was everything to him.
'I promise, once I learn to master my destined sword, I'll protect you all with it and use it for good.' Taikan vowed silently.
"Kagome." Inuyasha said quietly and looked around for her inside. "Kagome, where are you?" Inuyasha called out louder. He grew nervous and was following her scent to their room and burst in their.
"What?" She answered and looked at him. Inuyasha sighed in relief and smiled at her. He would have smelled her blood ar anyting if she was harmed, but he was just too jumpy from ealrier that he didn't want to chance anything.
"Hey uh, what are you doing? We've got to go soon right?" He asked and watched Kagome put clothes away. "Yeah, but when I heard you tell the kids to take bath again, I thought I would get some laundry done." She said and put the last of her clothes in a small closet type room. Inuyasha only nodded and his smile faded, "Uh, Kagome. Once we arrive at Miroku's and Sango's place, we've got to talk about something very important."
Kagome paid more attention at this and turned to him fully, "Something important? Wait, is this a 'good' important or 'bad'?" She asked worriedly.
"Bad, I think we may have another powerful demon on the loose." He said and furrowed his eyebrows. Kagome gasped and was about to say something but Inuyasha spoke first, "Not now, let's wait til we finally talk to Sango and Miroku."
Kagome nodded and followed him out of their room. 'Oh no, another Naraku to fight? What are we gonna do?' Kagome thought nervously. 'I gues it won't matter. All I have to worry about is how we can stop it.'
Kagome didn't want another thing like this to come upon her and her friends once again. But not only are her friends in danger, but her children as well. It was a good thing she and her eldest daughter Sanae have been practicing their archery for quite some time now, because she had a feeling they would need all the skill they had.
Kagome saddened now, all she ever wanted was to live happily with her family and friends forever. But now, with everything that is suddenly taking place, she wondered how long forever truly was.
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Inuyasha and Kagome walked out of their room and into there living area. "Inuyasha, the kids, they don't know, do they?" She asked, hoping that they didn't.
"No, not yet anyway." Inuyasha replied.
Kagome sighed in relief and held a fist gently to her chest over her heart, "Inuyasha, what are we going to do?" Kagome whispered.
They heard the children's voices coming from outside and coming closer as the couple kept looking at each other meaningfully.
"Yeah! Let's go! I can't wait to see Keiko and the others again!" Sanae exclaimed happily as she and her siblings entered their home, washed and dressed. "Me either, Asoka and Teishin invent the best games to play eavery time we go there." Taikan said with a smile at Sanae.
She carelessly brushed back some of her perfectly straight black and slight silver hair out of her face as she began to giggle, "Yeah, that's true." Kaden and Rikku weren't far behind, a moment later they enetered the hut as well to find their oldest siblings talk about someting and their parents just looking at each other. 'I wonder why they are not talkking.' Kaden wondered.
"Mom, Dad, come on already please! We're gonna be late!" Rikku jumped up and down in between them. Inuyasha and Kagome, now 'back in reality', looked down at heir youngest daughter jumping up and down energetically, her adorbale side ponytail bouncing up and down along in the same motion.
"Yeah alright, let's go." Inuyasha announced and they all headed out. Inuyasha and Kagome walked together as their children played tag around them and still walked with them. It was a rather humorous sight, seeing the kids play tag around their parents and getting them annoyed, well at least one of them.
"Kagome, I swear, it's times like these when I really wish you haven't shown Shippo how to play this game years ago." Inuyasha muttered as he and Kagome walked side by side and hand in hand. Kagome smiled and looked at him, "Oh you don't really mean that do you Inuyasha? And besides, look how much fun they're having." She said and looked around to see her children playing.
Inuyasha's eyes closed halfway in irritation, "Trust me, I can think of at least a billion other things more fun than playing this game you call.. what was it, tag?" He asked and watched his mate nod.
"Yeah, and those billion other things are...?" She said and waited for his answer. Kagome watched his expression turn into deep thought and then mischevious, "Well, one thing that's more fun than this happens almost everynight...with you." He said and eyed her with a knowing look. Kagome blushed, "Inuyasha, you are so pigheaded!" Kagome said and angrily looked away.
"Oh come on, you know it's true!" He said and began to laugh. Kagome couldn't look away from him any longer and just decided to laugh with him.
"You're it!" Kaden exclaimed gleefully and ran away from Taikan. The older brother smiled and looked at Sanae, "Alright." He whispered and ran after her. Sanae saw that she was about to be tagged and so ran away from him. They both ran in a circle around their parents as Kaden and Rikku began to giggle with excitment.
Suddenly Sanae tripped and fell on the ground hard, "Ow, damn it that hurt." She muttered and Taikan, Inuyasha, and Kagome all turned around to look at her. "Sanae!" Kagome nearly shouted and was about to tell her daughter to not curse ever again when Taikan began to laugh at her, "Ha! You said damn! You're so stupid to say that in front of Mom and Dad." He said and began laughing. Sanae stood back up, "You just said it you idiot!" She shouted at him and pointed to Kagome and Inuyasha.
"Alright that's it! Don't you ever both call each other names or curse again!" Kagome said sternly and turned to Inuyasha. "And you! They got this from you, you know!" Kagome said and pointed at him.
"Me? Don't go blaming all this on me now Kagome! You yourself aren't an 'angel' of words all the time, if I may recall." He said and crossed his arms over his chest. Kagome narrowed her eyes, "I only say it when I'm angry with you, but you say it all everyday." She snapped at him and looked away angrily too.
"Why are you fighting?" Rikku whispered as she had sneaked her way from Kaden and inbetween her parents. They both stopped bickering and looked down at her.
Her eyes turned very large and watery. It was the cutest thing you could have ever seen, "D-Don't you love each other any more?" She whispered again and had tears rim her gold eyes. Inuyasha and Kagome both looked at each other with guilt and he immediately picked Rikku up. "Of course we do." Inuyasha said and hugged her to him.
"Then.." She sniffed," ..then why are you arguing?" She asked him. Inuyasha looked at Kagome's sad face and then back at Rikku, "Your mother and I have different opinions and things like that, but just because we argue about it doesn't mean we don't love each other anymore." He said and smiled, "You don't have to worry about that anymore Rikku, I love her very much and will never stop loving her." He said truthfully. Kagome smiled at this as she watched her husband and daughter in such a loving embrace.
It was right then that Kagome's heart reminded her again that she belonged here. This was her home to be forever, and she didn't mind that at all. She loved it here and had realized long ago when she was just a young teenage girl that she was only going to school, coping with everyday situations, and trying to find the man of her dreams to marry some day. But here she lived no life of the sort. She lived in a fairytale. A beautiful fairytale of which she was the only girl who was meant to live in, and she was so thankful for that.
Kagome turned to Taikan, "Apologize to your Sanae, now." She said firmly. Taikan blushed vaguely at forgetting that he was in trouble, then nodded. He turned to Sanae, "Sorry." He murmured to her. Kagome smiled and turned to look at her eldest daughter, "Sanae, don't ever curse again, ok?" She asked. Sanae nodded to her very fast, letting her mother know that she would honestly try not to do it again.
"Let's go." Inuyash said and they all walked on again to Miroku and Sango's home.
The kids walked on qiuetly, still somewhat in touch with last moments events. Taikan smirked and looked at Sanae out of the corner of his eye. He chuckled and looked away as he nudged her with his elbow, "You're it." He muttered and dashed to the other side of his other sisters with grace. Sanae smirked like her brother did and chased him.
And soon enough, they were all carrying on as if the incident never happened. How typical.
And finally, after what seemed like forever, which was really only about a minute, they had arrived at their friends' home.
Before they reached the door, they heard an extremely loud slap that echoed throughout the entire forest it seemed. The whole family took on an annoyed expression, knowing exactly what happened. "Why does Miroku even bother." Inuyasha muttered and put a hand on his forehead, "Hey! We're here you guys!" Inuyasha called out and waited for his friends to come out.
Miroku staggered out, with a loving look on his face and a bright red slap mark on his right cheek. "She sooo loves me." He said and placed his hand on the cheek that was slapped by his wife. Inuyasha rolled his eyes, "Yeah, I can tell."
"Oh, hello there Inuyasha, Lady Kagome." He said politely and then looked at the children next to them. They all smiled and ran to him, "Uncle Miroku!" they all shouted with joy and pounced on their 'uncle'.
Miroku fell on the ground, with all the children on top of him. "I-It's nice to s-see you all too." He tried to say.
"What's going on?! Miroku I swaer, if you're planning another trap for me to fall into where you have to grope me, I'll- " Sango yelled from inside and stormed out to find Inuyasha and Kagome smiling like idiots, and their children on Miroku hugging him. Sango stoped and sighed as she ran a hand through her bangs, "Of course, all this noise can only mean that my friends have come for a visit." She chuckled and walked to Kagome and gave her a hug. Kagome hugged back and they both went inside, talking about how Sango couldn't wait to have her next child that she was pregnant with.
Inuyasha sighed now, "Hey Miroku, where are your brats?" Miroku's hand found its way out from the pile of children on him and pointed to the house, "Fer oot bak, pwobly eiver tainy oh pwaing. An I hilly vood consedew eet toe be teh slecon snuggetion." (Translation---They're out back, probably either training or playing. And I highly would consider it to be the second suggestion.") At hearing where all the other kids were, Inuyasha's children ran around to the back of the hut, as he raised an eyebrow, "You know. What scares me the most is that I understood each word you said." Inuyasha muttered.
Miroku stood up and dusted himself off, "So Inuyasha, I trust everything is going well?" The monk asked. Inuyasha looked at him now, "Not quite as well as you would expect, c' mon, let's go talk with the girls inside." He said and walked with Miroku inside the hut. "Talk about what Inuyasha? Is there something of importance that must be conversed?" Inuyasha hesitated for a second, " Yeah and It's not good, I'll explain everything."
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"Yeah! You're finally here!" Keiko shouted with happiness. Asoka and Teishin nodded in agreement. Taikan looked around, "Where's Shippo?" Teishin met his gaze, "He's in the village, helping a family build a home for them that was destroyed by some bug demon." The young boy nodded in understanding and just shrugged his shoulders.
Asoka was the eldest child of twelve years old, just like his best friend Taikan. He had stunnning brown hair like his mother's and eyes like his father's. Much to Sango's dismay, he had also inherited Miroku's...um, 'unique personality', so to speak. He wore his hair just like his father's, but his was a bit messier that it was too cute. He was currently in training with his father on his spiritual powers, and also training with his mother and her weapons.
Keiko was very beautiful for a ten year old. She had her father's deep black hair that she wore in a ponytail like her mother did. And like Asoka, her eyes were the color of Miroku's and they had this certain innocent look to them. Sango had been training her with all her weapons and would soon give her Hiraikostu, when she was tall and strong enough to weild it of course. All in all, she was a stunning young girl and soon to be demon exterminator.
Teishin was a seven year old Kohaku. He was just as cute, shy, and innocent as Sango's younger brother. Of course, he still had some of Miroku in him, but he was an all over good kid. However, because he is only seven he had recently started trainning with Sango, which meant he wasn't too good of a fighter yet. His dark brown hair was worn in a high ponytail, just like how Kohaku's and Taikan's were.
Asoka stepped up with confidence and smiled, "Hey guys, we just made a new game, I'll show ya how to play!" He said and the others cheered. Taikan scoffed and crossed his arms over his chest, "This game better not suck like the other one did last time Asoka, or else my demon intincts will highly encourage me to kick your ass."
Keiko gasped and placed a quick hand to her mouth. Sanae walked next to her and lazily supported her arm on Keiko's shoulder and leaned on her. Keiko took her hand away from her mouth, "I had forgotten how Taikan can be, well...so demanding." The ten year old said. Sanae nodded as she closed her eys, not surprised at all by her brother's behavior, "Yeah, he's not really the easiest person to get along with...There's like a wall there, trust me." She said as she brought up a flat hand and kept moving it up and down in between them, trying to get her close friend to lighten up a bit.
Keiko nodded and giggled at her friend's way of making her laugh.
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Inuyasha sat down next to Kagome, as Miroku sat down next to Sango, and Kaede sat inbetween Sango and Kagome, "Alright, this is very important so listen up." The hanyou said as he sat cross legged and leaned his swod against his shoulder as he always did.
Inuyasha explained everything in much detail, as to not throw anyone off, mainly because he got really pissed off when he needed to explain something for the second time. He told them everything from the time he found his kids in the forest where they were'nt suppose to be, to when he walked home with Rikku in his arms today. He said that the man was, in fact, a demon in disguise and can take on many forms just like Naraku could, but this wasn't him.
"We need a plan." Miroku said and looked down at his one hand in his lap that used to be cursed with the wind tunnel. The monk was very joyous that he had the wind tunnel no more, I mean he would have been long dead if he still had it and not be with his family today. The thing is though, it was very useful in battles and now he felt like there was so much less he could do. There would be more than one time, he realized, that his spiritual powers just won't be enough.
Inuyasha scoffed, "Well no duh monk. I-"
Miroku eyes him knowingly, "I mean a smart plan Inuyasha. It seems as though all our plans from before were just not thought out throughly enough, and we only have ourselves to blame. This is not going to be a mere fight between us and a demon, our children are in as much danger as we are now." Miroku tightened his hold on Sango's hand with his.
Sango nodded, "I agree. If this demon is as powerful as Inuyasha claims, than he surely operates under the darkest veil of corruption, just like Naraku had. We cannot afford to make anymore mistakes that will cost us a life." She said determindly and glanced at the slepping Kilala in her lap. Sango knew of course that there was almost nothing she could do. She was pregnant and Miroku would tie her up in this very room if it meant for her to not follow them and be in danger.
Kaede nodded, "That is correct child, I suggest ye train for the time being before ye meet him once more."
Kagome had said nothing in all this and Inyasha noticed it since they first stepped in the room, 'What is she thinking?'
And as soon as he thought that, Kagome stood up and walked out of the room. Miroku looked up at the younger girl's sudden movement, "Lady Kagome?" Sango looked up as well, "Kagome?"
Inuyasha just stared at her and felt his heart sink. He knew very well what was on her mind now, and it broke his heart.
And so, he stood up to follow her. No one said anything as he left the room and went to Kagome.
Sango had tears in her eyes as she leaned her head on Miroku's shoulder, he brought his hand from his lap to her head and brought her closer to him, "I know Sango, I know." He whispered as she let her tears fall. Kaede had went to the other room, knowing the two wished to be alone in their silent suffering.
Inuyasha saw Kagome sit outside and looking at the hills where sun the was to set in a few hours. Inuyasha soundlessly made his way to where she was and sat down next to her.
Kagome suddenly turned to him and hugged him to her fiercly. He hugged back with much strength and knew she was giong to say someting. So he was quiet, letting her find her voice and say what she needed to say.
Kagome cried against his shoulder and he rubbed her back. They were both silent for a moment until Kagome turned her head to the side after she had cried out most of her tears, "I-Inuyasha, why does this have to happen a-again?" She asked and hugged him tighter. Inuyasha felt himself feel so sorrowful for the both of them and he burried his head in her neck. Inuyasha suddenly felt so helpless, at what Kagome said next, "I wish we could just put away or throw out everything except what really mattered, but life is just so cruel."