Disclaimer: Wow, what a great idea. I could own Inu Yasha. Shoot, Rumiko Takahashi already does.
A/N- Crazed Inu-fans chase author around. "Ahhh! No more cliffys, I swear. I promise! Hey, no biting!" - I'm sorry for the long wait. Really, really bad month. I had to break up with my boyfriend (betrayal is hard thing to get over no matter how old you get), I also had to play hostess to my family twice, and my job kept switching my shift back and forth from day to night. –pulls hair- I'm just really tired and ready for September to be over with!
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WARNING – THERE IS GORE IN THIS CHAPPY SO KEEP YOUR TRASH CAN CLOSE IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH!
Chapter 4 – Trepidation
"Stay close, Kagome." Inu Yasha warned as they proceeded closer to their home and the scent of blood became stronger. As they came into sight of the cave, he spun quickly trying to shield her from the sight. "Don't look."
But it was too late she had already seen the horrific sight that lay at their very doorstep. She felt her stomach lurch as he embraced her. "Shippo? Where's Shippo?" Before Inu Yasha could respond that what lay behind him was not Shippo, the fur ball leapt out of the forest and latched himself to Kagome's leg, trembling. Kagome breathed a sigh of relief.
Shippo was muttering something incoherent at Kagome's feet. He had encountered the scene first and alone. "You two stay here. I'll clean this up." Kagome nodded and took a seat on a log careful not to look in the direction of the cave.
GORE WARNING – WEAK STOMACHS WATCH OUT
Inu Yasha covered his nose and tried very hard not to gag at the stench and the sight. Spread across the entrance of their cave was a bloody mass. The shredded remains of the poor beast was scattered across the stone. Inu Yasha's stomach wanted to twist as the stench seeped through his haori to his sensitive nose. The only remaining piece of the beast that was identifiable was the small white head of a dog. Inu Yasha had realized the scent was that of a canine. He felt his heart lurch into his throat. 'Ishimaru was here. She left this as a sign to me.'
What baffled and horrified him the most was that she would do this to a dog, being a dog-demon herself. Inu Yasha hoped Kagome had not seen the small white head buried amongst the bloody flesh. He stepped over the remains and moved inside. The boar meat from the prior night still hung from its spear, but it was burnt through and through. He noticed the ramen containers were still filled with water and sat where Kagome had left them.
Moving deeper into the cave he found the bucket of water from earlier yesterday morning. 'Has it only been one day? It feels like much longer than that.' He carried the bucket along with a cloth to the entrance, and began the sickening task of clean Ishimaru's mess. After rinsing away what he could of the blood, he placed the remaining entrails and severed head into the cloth. He would burry the parts somewhere far away so as not to draw animals here. He glanced at his mate to make sure she was still safe. After last night, it would be a while before he felt safe, even here.
Kagome still sat with her back to the cave. Shippo was sitting on the log beside her, mumbling something about Kagome being so far away from the village. "Sango says that if anything ever happened to Inu Yasha, you would be out here all alone. We all worry about you two."
Kagome sighed. "Shippo, this is my home and I'm not going to let someone like Ishimaru chase me away from it. Inu Yasha and I will be fine."
"But what about last night, Inu Yasha-"
"Last night was different. Now be quiet, Shippo. You'll wake Inu Denkou."
The fox sulked, but did as he was told. Inu Yasha felt a tinge of guilt. 'Damn fox has a point. If something did happen to me, Kagome would be stranded out here alone. She'd have to make her way back to Kaede's through the forest too.'
With another rag he began to rub at the bloody spots. Most of it was gone by the time his work was done, but the smell still lingered. He stood to carry the bloody cloth with its contents away, but quickly changed his mind. "Kagome, you and Shippo should come with me. I need to bury these remains some place else." She nodded and rose to follow, eyeing the bloody rag.
Shippo bounded after them. "I could protect Kagome."
Inu Yasha scowled. "You? You're just a brat, there's no way you could stand up to Ishimaru. She'd kill you so fast you wouldn't know it happened."
Kagome gave Shippo a quick glance and he bit his tongue against the retort that Inu Yasha had barely been able to stand up to her. They made their way to the stream that was not far from the cave. The babbling brook moved swiftly and coolly, gleaming with the midmorning sun. Inu Yasha leapt the stream in a single bound and found a place in the soft earth of the far bank to bury the dog's remains. He kept a close watch on Kagome and Shippo on the other bank. 'I won't let Ishimaru near her again! No, never!' He dug deep into the dirt venting his anger on the earth. At last he laid the dog to rest. The feeling sent a chill down his spine as he imagined the small bundle being his own son. That had been Ishimaru's intention all along, to strike fear into his heart. He quickly replaced the soil and returned to Kagome's side by way of the stream, so he could wash his hands in the water.
Kagome watched him with a touch of nostalgia. The vigor with which he washed his hands, reminded her of the time he'd killed the bandits. That had been the worst day of her love's life. Before she knew it, he was standing in front of her a hand on her cheek. "What's wrong?"
She shook her head slightly. "Nothing, just reminiscing." She gave him a warm, but tired smile. "We'd better head back, Sango and Miroku will be returning soon."
OKAY GORE'S OVER
Sango, Miroku and Kirara landed outside the cave their friends called home. Kirara wrinkled her nose in response to the smell of blood. "We're back." Sango started for the entrance of the cave. She paused when there was no response. "Hello?"
Miroku looked disturbed. "Where could they have gone?"
Kirara, still in her large demon form, suddenly turned and growled at a bush. Sango moved to her loyal companion's side. "What is it, Kirara?"
A movement in the bush caught the monk and demon slayer's attention. Kirara sprang at the movement. A black creature shot from the safety of the bush and darted toward the deeper forest. Kirara sprang ahead of the creature blocking its path. The black furred creature hissed at the nekoyoukai. Miroku charged forward, sensing that the creature was far more than what it seemed. Hissing the beast turned on him, baring small sharp fangs. "It's a kitsune!" The demon's red beady eyes glowed with annoyance.
"He's probably spying for Ishimaru. We'd better capture him." Sango charged up Hiraikotsu at the ready. The demon though would not be taken that easily. It slipped past Miroku's guard, sensing that he were the least threat amongst its assailants. The monk tried to grab for the little kitsune's fluffy tail, but was rewarded with the sharp pain of fangs. The monk let out a cry as the little creature scurried off into the forest.
Sango immediately went to her husband's aide, cradling his injured hand in hers, putting pressure on the wound. She wrapped a cloth around it tenderly. The kitsune had done its damage pretty good. The monk had a rip in his flesh two inches in length and it poured blood. Kirara growled after the kitsune but didn't budge from her protective position beside her mistress.
A few moments later the bushes to the side of the cave moved and the couple turned quickly ready for another surprise or attack. But the form that emerged made them both release a sigh of relief. Inu Yasha eyed them curiously. Kagome and his pup were taking a ride on his back, both seemed very tired. Kagome had her face buried her mate's long silver mane and she clutched their son protectively. Inu Yasha seemed to prefer them being so close and even stood there staring at their friends for a long moment, before Shippo shot out from behind him and scurried over to Sango.
Inu Yasha gave the air a sniff and eyed the pair once more. "What happened?" He could easily scent the monk's fresh blood in the air.
"A kitsune was spying on your cave. We tried to capture it, but he got Miroku instead." Sango gestured to her husband's bandaged hand.
Inu Yasha snorted. "What a time for you to become clumsy, Miroku. If he was spying, I could have forced him to tell me where Ishimaru was, so I could settle this now."
Sango frowned. "We know that. Why do you think we tried to capture it?"
Inu Yasha scowled but didn't respond. He could sense Kagome about to fall asleep and felt their son squirm slightly, pulling at his hair. "Feh, come on. We might as well just wait this out inside." Kagome's burden didn't really bother him, in fact he was enjoying himself, but her position did. He worried she might fall back and tumble from his grasp with their pup. He moved into the cave, ignoring the stench of blood the lingered in the entrance as best he could. The others followed. Shippo and Kirara wrinkled their noses as the entered. Once inside the kit and neko relaxed. Inu Yasha and Kagome's scent pervaded the cave and nearly drowned the scent of the blood.
Inu Yasha struggled to lay Kagome down without disturbing mother or child too much. Sango came to his rescue and helped tuck in the pair. She saw the look of real concern in Inu Yasha's eyes. She gave him a weak smile. "Don't worry. It's natural for the mother to be very tired for several days, after the baby's birth. She's just resting." Sango smiled down at her friend and her gaze moved to the small bundle beneath her arms. "You should be very proud, Inu Yahsa, he's gorgeous."
"Feh, of course I am."
Miroku was staring at the burnt boar meat above the fire pit with obvious distaste and maybe even disgust. "Inu Yasha, you weren't trying to feed that infant meat, were you?"
The hanyou snorted and flattened his ears in annoyance. "Of course not, do you think I'm that stupid? The kid doesn't even…" He paused and looked down at his slumbering mate. 'Kagome said he did have teeth already.' Then he shook his head. "My son will eventually eat meat. He won't be wimpy like you."
Miroku almost laughed. He'd never expected anything different, but the thought had crossed his mind that maybe being a hanyou, Inu Yasha had a different idea of when his child should start eating meat. Sango sighed, choosing to ignore the two men's banter. She looked about the cave. The place seemed to be in a bit of shambles. Kagome had obviously not had the energy or time before Ishimaru's attack to bother picking up.
Understanding Kagome's exhaustion all to well, she decided to clean up. Besides it would help pass the time a lot easier. After checking Kagome and pup one last time, she began to straighten up.
After a few more minutes of scowling at one another, the two men settled into a quiet state and watched Sango move about the cave. Inu Yasha sat protectively at Kagome's side. He would not leave her for any reason now. Quietly dwelling on the white haired pup that had suffered under Ishimaru, he shivered. 'If that bitch comes back, I'll tear her apart. No one threatens my family!' He growled to himself, trying to shake the image of his son slaughtered by the dog-demon.
Miroku watched the hanyou with interest. He felt pity for his friend. His son had not even been a day old and demons were already hunting him. With a tinge of guilt, he felt relief that his own child was safe and happy and in no way going to attract demons. After Sango had finished picking up the ramen, the dirty blood stained rags and thrown out the burnt boar meat, she settled back beside Miroku on the floor near the small fire pit. She leaned her head on his shoulder.
After an hour or so of sitting quietly, Inu Yasha snorted. "I hate waiting." Behind him came a soft squeal. He looked over his shoulder at his pup. Inu Denkou had his eyes wide open and staring at his father's ears. His arms and legs flailed for a moment and then paused when his father turned toward him. Slightly over a day old now, the babe was finding out how his arms and legs worked. Inu Yasha looked worriedly at Kagome, who still seemed to be asleep, one hand draped over her son's small body. Inu Denkou made a face, almost a smirk. When Inu Yasha caught scent of what the child was doing, he wanted to laugh. His son had made a deposit in his cloth diaper. It had happened before while still in the hollow, but that time he'd been human and unable to scent the change in his son's situation.
Slowly and very gently he removed Kagome's protective hand from their son and slipped the small child from the furs of their bed. Cradling the child in his arms, he crossed the chamber to the pile of cloth diapers. As if with practiced ease he removed the soiled diaper and replaced it with a fresh one. The babe, even as young as he was, seemed to be rejuvenated by the clean adornment. He stared up at his father, amber gaze to amber gaze. Inu Yasha smiled at his son, oblivious to the two pairs of eyes that watched him.
Miroku leaned toward his wife and whispered. "I would never have thought that stubborn hanyou would make such a good father."
Sango muffled a chuckle. "Well, Kagome obviously had more faith than you." Inu Yasha's ears twitched in their direction and both immediately silenced. He shot them an amber glare that glowed in the dim light of the cave, sending shivers down their spines. His nose twitched and a low growl came from deep inside his throat.
Miroku blinked in confusion. "Inu Yasha, its nothing to get upset over, it was meant as a compliment."
"Quiet!" Inu Yasha hissed, his son again in his arms. The baby sensing his father's sudden change in mood, wailed loudly. Kagome shot bolt upright in the bed, her hands franticly searching around her body for her son, fear rushing through her body like ice water. Her eyes locked on Inu Yasha cuddling the pup close to him and trying to settle him. The babe wailed again and her mate's ears flattened at the horrific noise. Kagome rose and took the infant from him gently. She rocked him gently against her chest, he immediately began to quiet. Kagome was about to ask what had happened when she noticed Inu Yasha was snarling at the entrance.
"What is it?" She was frozen in place, she already knew by his stance that something lurked outside. Shippo ran back to her, ducking behind her leg. "Is it her?" The words tasted like ash in her mouth.
He sniffed the air again. "I'm not sure. I'd turned human by the time Ishimaru came last night. But I know it's an inuyoukai. Shippo is the scent familiar?"
The little fox took a tentative sniff. "I can't be sure it's her, it was raining last night."
Inu Yasha growled. "What good are you?"
"Hey! My nose isn't as strong as yours! And I'm just a kid! And-"
Inu Yasha's growl grew as he took a step forward ignoring the kit. Kagome clutched at his arm, fear emanating in her scent and in her eyes. His own eyes softened as he looked down at his mate, the love of his life. He took her gently in a warm embrace, kissing her brow. "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to you or our pup. Just stay here, okay?"
"But what about you? What if she…?" Kagome buried her face in his chest.
He leaned down to speak softly in her ear. "Don't worry about me. I have my powers back now and that means Tetsusaiga will transform. Besides," he pulled back enough to look down at her and brush away the tears that were rolling down her cheeks, "I've gotten through a lot worst, haven't I?"
She gave him a nod. Their son squirmed and whimpered both from hunger and realizing his parents were upset. Inu Yasha stroked his son's black hair warmly, silently promising that no harm would come to him.
Miroku sighed. "It's times likes these I wish the well was still open. We could hide Kagome and your son there."
Kagome scowled. "The well is sealed and besides I have nothing there." She met Inu Yasha's golden gaze. "Everything is here." Her mate then kissed her deep and lovingly. Miroku and Sango suddenly felt like intruders on their privacy and turned their backs on the couple.
Miroku smirked. "I'm beginning to understand Inu Yasha's logic for being out this far."
Inu Yasha pulled away from his wife and went to the entrance. "Come on, monk. Let's take this nosey bitch out." Miroku nodded and Sanog followed after them, leaving Kagome alone with Inu Denkou and Shippo. Kagome still somewhat tired, returned to her fur bed and prepared to nurse the whimpering pup.
Outside the hardened battle worn friends stood and gapped at the creature before them. A large dog sat on its haunches, its tongue lolling out to one side of its mouth. Inu Yasha immediately tore Tetsusaiga from its sheath. "You wont get anywhere near my pup." It was a threat more menacing than any growl.
The beast blinked and tilted its head to one side. Then in a swirl of smoke the beast became a young man. "You are the mongrel Inu Yasha." It was more a statement than a question. "I have come by order of Lady Ishimaru. She has ordered your pup be destroyed, but her ladyship is not cruel and gives you through sundown to be with your child."
Inu Yasha fumed with dangerous rage. "You can tell her she can go to hell! I don't care how long she says I have, because she will never lay a hand on my pup!" Miroku and Sango stood to either side of their companion, weapons at the ready.
The dog demon's features remained stoic but he made a slight movement with his hand. "So be it. Your refusal to accept this will only prove to be the death of you and your mate, as well as the pup." There was a cry from within the cave.
"Kagome!" Inu Yasha spun so fast that he nearly collided with Sango. He sprinted inside his home, as his companions took up a protective position behind him, guarding the entrance.
Inside, Inu Yasha was horrified at the sight of Kagome huddled in one corner of their cave, clutching the pup to her chest. She was kicking fiercely at a black haired kitsune, who was viciously biting at her ankles. Shippo was pathetically trying to use his fox fire on the beast, but it seemed not to have any affect, perhaps because the beast was also a fox. In a flash, Inu Yasha was on top of the kit, his sharp claws slicing through the black fur. The fox tried to scramble away from the enraged hanyou, but Inu Yasha caught him by the tail and slammed the fox into the ground there was the sound of bones snapping and the fox collapsed, its spine broken.
Inu Yasha growled. 'How did he get passed me?' His attention shifted to Kagome, the smell of her blood and tears was nearly unbearable. He rushed back to her side. "Kagome!" His eyes locked on the deep gashes in her legs and feet. There was also a deep gash in her forearm, where she had fought the kitsune off in his first sneak attack. He drug her into his arms, his hands searching their son for injuries. Both Kagome and Inu Denkou were crying hard. And Kagome was trembling fiercely. "Shh, it's all right now, everything will be all right."
Kagome tried to calm herself. Inu Yasha's heart pounded in her ears, nearly drowning the wails from their child. She slowly stopped trembling and tried to calm the babe. "It's okay, it's okay. We won't let anything happen to you. Daddy's here, everything will be all right now."
Outside, the inuyoukai caught the scent of the kitsune he had sent to kill the pup. 'Worthless fox, you couldn't even kill a helpless pup protected only by a mortal. How disappointing. Our lady will be highly displeased.'
"Be gone, demon. Leave this poor family be." Miroku stepped forward brandishing his staff. The wind tunnel had been sealed long ago, but at times like these Miroku truly missed it.
The demon however, though not threatened at all, turned his back on the duo. "Tell the mongrel, my lady will be here at sundown." Then he strolled away into the forest. The demon slayer and monk exchanged curious looks and turned back to the cave. They could hear the wails of the baby and of Kagome. They quickly returned inside.
Kagome was sobbing silently now, clutching her son close trying to soothe him. Inu Yasha was throwing things around in search of clean bandages.
Sango gasped at the sight of Kagome. Her left side was covered in blood. On the floor of the cave lay a dead kitsune. "Kagome!" Sango rushed to her friend's aid.
"Don't just stand there, monk! Help me find the bandages!" Inu Yasha cursed loundly as he came across Kagome's first aid kit at last. Throwing it open he rummaged through it. "Damnit!"
"Inu Yasha, you must remain calm. You'll only serve to upset Kagome further." Miroku pushed the panicking hanyou aside. He found the clean gauze but no bandages. He remembered the diapers then. "These will have to do for now." He ripped a few into shreds.
Sango was trying to coax Kagome into handing over Inu Denkou, but Kagome was refusing. The experience with the kitsune was still fresh in her mind. "Please, Kagome. Let Inu Yasha hold him while I tend your wounds." Sango looked pleadingly over at Kagome's mate. The hanyou was slowly regaining his senses. "Inu Yasha, please."
Slowly Inu Yasha moved forward. Kneeling before his wife, he stroked away her tears. "Come on, Kagome. Let me have him. We need to fix you up." Her eyes glistened with the remnants of fear, but pain was slowly drifting in as well. Her muscles felt stiff, but her mate's gold gaze began to soothe and relax her, and she allowed him to take their son. She shot a glance at the black kitsune and Sango followed her gaze.
"Miroku, isn't that the same demon that was spying on us?"
Miroku, who was returning to Kagome's side with bandages and rages, glanced at the broken black form. "Yes, I believe it is."
Inu Yasha smacked Miroku on the head. "Damnit, Miroku, you let that thing get away and now look what it's done to Kagome!"
Miroku sighed, rubbing the back of his head as Sango began to clean Kagome's wounds. "It was not intentional, Inu Yasha. Lady Kagome's safety is just as important to me as it is to you."
Inu Yasha snorted. "Feh, not likely." He watched Kagome flinch with pain at Sango's touch, but she remained quiet. Her tears were slowly dwindling, but the pain was growing in her eyes. He couldn't stand the sight of her pain, the pain he had allowed to happen, so he averted his gaze to his son. The pup was finally quieting, his golden eyes were red and swollen, and his small face was red from his frustrations. Inu Yasha stroked the pup's black hair again and looked around the cave, as if an attack could still come from everywhere. His gaze fell on the kitsune.
He walked forward and kicked at it. "Damn demon." The beast made no sign of life. Assured the demon was dead, his gaze returned to searching the cave for possible dangers. When his eyes fell on a small trembling figure in the corner, he sighed. "Shippo, what are you doing?" When there was no answer, he approached the young fox. "Shippo, you were supposed to help protect Kagome." Still there was no response. "Shippo…"
The small fox child slowly turned from his fetal position against the cave wall. Inu Yasha could smell the fear from the child, fear and shame. The little fox trembled as he met the older hanyou's gaze. "You're right, Inu Yasha. I'm worthless. I couldn't even protect Kagome from one of my own. I'm a failure!" Shippo whimpered burying his face in his hands.
"You're not a failure, just a kid." Inu Yasha turned his back on the fox, so the kit wouldn't see his expression of understanding. He didn't see, Shippo raise his eyes just slightly to gaze at the hanyou's back in fascination. Instead he looked toward the entrance. It was already midday. "How did that demon get passed me? We were right in front of the cave."
Shippo answered through soft guilty sobs. "He came through the crawl way."
Inu Yasha turned and gapped at the fox with unabashed astonishment. 'The back entrance! How could I have been so foolish! I forgot to block the back entrance! And I knew Ishimaru knew about it! Ahh! I put my mate and pup in danger with my stupidity!' He slapped his forehead and continued to berate himself.
Kagome watched her mate with growing concern. "Inu Yasha?" It was near a whisper, but it immediately snapped the hanyou out of his self-punishment.
He came to her side, watching Sango work on the wounds around her ankle and feet. "What is it?"
She gave him a soft weak smile. "It's not your fault."
He shook his head sadly. "But it is, Kagome. I should've thought of the back entrance…"
"No, it's not. I should have thought of it as well. We're both to blame." Her gaze slipped down to the pup cradled in his father's arms. "We're all alive. That's all that matters."
"But you were hurt and if I had been any later…I'm suppose to protect you, damnit! You're my mate and pup!"
Kagome traced her fingers down his cheek, her expression soft and understanding. "And you did."
Sango's heart melted at this sign of affection. She focused her eyes on her task of wrapping Kagome's wounds. The pup seemed to like this show of affection between his parents as well. He made small cooing noises that sounded almost like a purr. His parents couldn't help the smiles that crossed their faces in response.
Feeling again like intruders, Sango finished her task quickly and went to retrieve Shippo in the corner, where he was still whimpering and trembling. Then she took Miroku by the arm and led him toward the entrance, making him gather up the dead kitsune on the way. "We'll be outside, if you need us."
The couple did not respond, caught up in their own world again. Inu Yasha passed the pup to his wife and then he scooped the two into his arms and carried them back to the fur bed. Once there he set Kagome in his lap and wrapped his small family in his arms. "Kagome, I love you."
She leaned deeper into his embrace, nuzzling his bottom jaw. "I love you, too." She took a deep breath. "You always have protected me and now Inu Denkou too. I'll never doubt that."
His grip tightened on her, possessively. "Kagome, Ishimaru threatened to return tonight. If something should happen to me, I want you to run with Sango and Miroku. I can't bear the thought of you or our son dieing." Kagome was very quiet. "Please, Kagome."
She shuddered and took a ragged breath. "I believe in you, Inu Yasha. I know that you will do everything you can to protect me and our son." She took another deep breath. "But if it makes you feel better, I promise."
He tilted her face up slightly and kissed her. Everything was expressed in the kiss-love, despair, longing, need, dreams, and desires. When they broke apart, Inu Yasha clutched his family even closer, savoring every sound, breath, heartbeat and scent. He would draw strength from these things in his coming battle.
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A/N – I made this chapter extra long as a 'I'm sorry' because of the wait. R&R please.