Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me
Chapter Ten: Crying Wolf
Day Eighteen –
I think that some people are beginning to forget that Mikomi is really a doll. The doll is just too real. Aren't you concerned about traumatizing people? What happens when they get too attached to their 'babies' then have them snatched away from them in exchange for some stupid grade? I will not be happy if I have to send anyone off for some psychological therapy when the doll has to go back.
People think that Mikomi is real whenever they first see her. I've noticed that a lot of people make all sorts of nasty comments about teenage mothers, especially when they don't see a ring on my finger. Even if Mikomi was a real baby it would be a horrible thing to say. They obviously know I can hear them considering they usually say it while looking right at me. That's one reason why the baby and I don't go out much. Usually we go out with friends or family to do things. Most of the time we just go on long walks in the woods or something like that.
Though most people's reaction to the baby irritates me to no end, some of the reactions are quite humorous. The looks on some of their faces when they see she is a plastic doll are just priceless!
Kagome looked over at Shippo who was proudly holding Mikomi up for closer inspection to the pack of wolves. It wasn't going to be easy when the kit had to let Mikomi go. She just hoped that it wouldn't scar the poor kid for life. The last thing he needs is to feel that someone else was being taken away from him.
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"Do all babies eat this junk?" asked Shippo with a sour face as he spoons more 'baby food' into Mikomi's mouth.
"Not that exact stuff, Shippo. That food was made specifically for the electronic dolls so that it wouldn't hurt it's electronic components and still find a way to make the stuff come back out."
He looked at her blankly.
She sighed and tried again. "Since Mikomi is made of the special electronic magic, she has to have special food. It isn't real food. Real baby food is made up out of fruits or vegetables that have been mashed until it is mush. They also drink milk. Really little babies just drink milk until they are old enough for the mashed up food. When they get older they can start having bigger chunks of food when they start getting teeth."
Shippo gasped. "Babies don't have teeth?"
"Not when they are born. It takes a long time until they start getting teeth."
"I had teeth when I was born."
Inuyasha snorts. "That's because you're a fox demon, dummy."
Shippo poked at his sharp teeth, staring down at Mikomi. "Babies… don't have tails either… do they?"
"Human babies don't have tails." Kagome was starting to get a bad feeling about the turn that the conversation was beginning to make. "But fox babies do. I think that they have the cutest tails."
"But human babies don't." He paused. "Your babies won't, will they, Kagome?"
"No!" Inuyasha answers for her gruffly as he moves to sit beside her. "You're the only one of Kagome's babies that will EVER have a tail. But don't think that makes you all that special!" He bonks the kit lightly on the head.
This brightened up the kit's mood considerably. His complaints of Inuyasha hitting him were half-hearted at best. Kagome would have kissed the hanyou if she didn't think he'd jump a mile away and refuse to look her in the eye for the next month or two. She did, however, give him her brightest, most grateful smile. Her smile turned into a grin as the dog demon's cheeks turned an interesting shade of pink.
However, a certain monk decided that he could not leave well enough alone, maybe things were getting too dull, so he adds in his two cents worth.
"Unless she marries a demon with a tail, Shippo. Then her children may inherit some of the father's traits, which may possibly include a tail." This, naturally, had the dog demon spitting mad.
In a mischievous mood, Sango decided to help him along with a deceptively innocent smile on her face. "Like Kouga?"
Kagome sat straight up as Inuyasha began growling viciously at their friends.
"Kouga!" she exclaims.
Inuyasha jumped up from his place beside her and roared. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ARE EVEN THINKING ABOUT HAVING THAT SCRAWNY MANGY FLEA BITTEN NO GOOD WOL…"
"Kouga is coming this way," Kagome says calmly in the middle of the dog demon's tirade, just as a whirlwind came into view.
Anger transfer complete. Instead of yelling at Kagome, Inuyasha concentrated all of his growling and snarling at the wolf demon who was rapidly approaching. His sword was drawn and he was in his protective fighting stance before the dust settled.
Usually Kouga would ignore the group, look lovingly into Kagome's eyes, take her hands, and inquire about her health. He would then proclaim her his woman, insult Inuyasha a little bit, and be on his merry way with a little encouragement from Kagome. But this time the visit was a little different. This time when Kouga came to a stop his ice blue eyes were filled with anger… and they were directed at Kagome!
"Did HE force you?" the wolf asked through gritted teeth without a greeting, not looking at anyone else. Not even Inuyasha.
Kagome blinked. "What?"
"Did. He. Force. You?"
He took a step towards Kagome, and for the first time since they became friends, she was actually nervous. She felt threatened. The young miko was thankful when her red clad hero jumped in front of her. Protecting her. This time she didn't scold him. Instead she studied the wolf demon from her safe spot behind her protector. Grasping the edge of his fire rat robe with her left hand she steadied herself before addressing the demon in front of her again.
"What are you talking about?"
With a look of disgust Kouga looked down at the baby in Shippo's arms back to her face. "I heard about Inuyasha's pup. YOUR pup. Tell me he forced you, Kagome. I will take you back with me. I will protect you. I will provide for you. I will forgive you. But tell me you were not willing."
Inuyasha began screaming some of the most creative obscenities Kagome had ever heard. Some involved Kouga having inappropriate relations with his mother while others brought into question the wolf's heritage. There were also little sounds that almost sounded like yips and barks, that she was sure were curse words in the dog demon language. She made a mental note to ask him what he said later. In addition to the curses, including the ones of fire and brimstone that Inuyasha swore to send him to, the hanyou also mentioned the various body parts that he would be severing then feeding back to him. Kagome was a little disturbed at some of the gruesome images Inuyasha painted. Poor Shippo was actually turning a bit green.
Considering how mad he was, it was a little surprising that he hadn't started swinging his sword at the wolf. He simply stood his ground, not moving from his spot in front of Kagome. His body was literally trembling in rage.
"How DARE you suggest I would do THAT to KAGOME!"
But Kouga's eyes never left Kagome's. He was watching. Waiting. Even though he was being still and silent, she had never felt that he was more dangerous than at that moment.
Kagome was tempted to ask if he planned on taking care of the baby as well. Would he take in a baby that was half of a half demon? With as much as he seemed to hate hanyous, she seriously doubted it. What would he do? Would he leave her child in the care of strangers or try to kill it? Come to think of it… if she had babies with Kouga, wouldn't they be half demons too? Would he love them? Would he care for them? Would he abandon them in the woods to be killed? Or would he kill them himself?
If Mikomi really was her child, and Inuyasha's, would Kouga hate her the way he hated Inuyasha? Was Kouga a threat to her children?
Kagome's eyes narrowed. She wanted to ask the questions, mainly out of curiosity. But she wasn't sure if she wanted to really know the answers. She doubted that she would be able to remain friends with him if she knew. Besides, she told herself, I could be wrong. Kouga might learn to care for those who are not full demons one day. She didn't really believe it, but she hoped.
It took another moment, but it finally sank in what Kouga was asking. She had been so absorbed in her questions about his reactions to the baby that she had almost missed the accusation that Kouga made.
"What…" she asked coldly, "…are you suggesting he did?"
The air began to crackle.
Inuyasha stopped snarling as his ear twitched backwards. He turned his head slightly and saw the now glowing miko. He was certain he saw flames shoot out of her eyes. Quickly he took a step to the side so that should Kagome be in a purifying mood that she only hit the wolf. Yes, he wanted to be the one to kill Kouga, but it would be almost as satisfying seeing her do it.
The sudden change in temperature made Kouga blink. It was at least five degrees chillier than it was a moment ago. Unfortunately for Kouga, he told Kagome exactly what he thought the hanyou did. Too bad he didn't try to sugar coat it a little bit, what happened next might not have hurt quite so bad. Probably adding the extra insults about her friend's heritage didn't help much.
His world suddenly went cold. And pink.
Luckily for Kouga, Kagome wasn't a killer, regardless of how angry she was. He woke up a few hours later in a fair bit of pain and just a bit singed… with a healthy new respect for her. It was actually the baby's cry that woke him up.
Kagome fed the bottle to Mikomi, keeping an eye on the wolf demon who was finally starting to come around. She saw his eyes find her. They turned to ice when he saw the baby she was holding. Slightly amused, now that her anger had been properly vented, Kagome kept watching Kouga's reactions. First he looked angry, then hurt, then angry again. Sometimes his glare would land on her, but it mainly stayed fixed on Inuyasha.
"Inuyasha would never force me to do something like that, Kouga. It is a horrible thing to say about him." She returned his glare. "Apologize to him."
"What?"
"Apologize… NOW." The fire returned to her eyes, and Kouga found himself mumbling a half hearted apology to Inuyasha about accusing him of hurting Kagome. He breathed a sigh of relief when she smiled at him again.
Eventually the wolf demon quit sulking and began to get up. He was curious about the baby. He was hesitant at first, but after assurances that it was indeed a 'magical' doll, the wolf began to poke at it a bit. Inuyasha was quick to remind the demon that he had better be careful of his claws.
"I don't trust it," Kouga growled. "It may be dangerous."
"We explained to you already, Kouga. I need the doll for my class."
"The one that teaches you to be a parent?"
Kagome sighed heavily. "Yes."
The wolf demons suggestion on how she could learn to be a parent by bearing his cubs did nothing in ingratiate himself to the group, especially to the pair of males with demon blood. Inuyasha drew his sword and attacked.
"Sit boy!"
Wham.
Kagome ignored Inuyasha's whining about how she could do that to him, thanked Kouga for his concern and said good-bye as her friends prepared their camp for the evening. She waited for Kouga to leave before starting to get dinner ready. And waited. And waited. The cool blue eyes were beginning to get on her nerves and her eye began to twitch in irritation.
"Oi, what are you still here for, you scrawny wolf?"
Not really the way Kagome had planned on asking the question, but she was still grateful that Inuyasha brought it up. The spell had finally released him and he was once again standing in front of the girl.
"Unlike YOU, I happen to care about Kagome. I plan to keep watch over her. I don't trust that magical doll."
"WHAT?"
Once again, Kagome ignores an outraged dog demon as she tries to reason with the wolf demon. "Really Kouga, that isn't necessary. The doll isn't dangerous. Even if it was I have Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, and Shippo to protect me."
Kouga laughed as he looked at the group. "A child, two weak humans, and a half breed? That's not protection, Kagome." He came towards her and held her hands, not yet noticing that he had once again caused the air to start crackling with her anger. "You are my mate, and only I am strong enough to protect you from it."
It was a struggle to keep her temper under control. "My friends are stronger than you think, Kouga. I appreciate your concern… but we are fine. Don't forget that you have your pack to protect."
Leaning in closely he looked deep into her eyes, causing Inuyasha to forcibly pull him away. "You are my mate." As if that explained everything.
"No, Kouga, I'm not your mate. I'm not your wife. I'm not your woman."
He patted her on the head, dismissing her words. Her friends cringed as they recognized the signs of Kagome losing her temper. A few smooth words by the monk, however, calmed her down a little, just enough for her to lose the slightly scary glow of pink.
There was a bit of an argument about where Kouga would sleep. His suggestion of sleeping with Kagome was immediately turned down by the entire group. Inuyasha also didn't want him across from her. It would be too easy for him to just lie on his side and stare at her all night. It was bad enough Miroku and Sango had agreed to let the monk stay, but there was no way that Inuyasha was going to let the wolf ogle Kagome all night. Eventually the girls voted that Miroku and Kouga would sleep across the campfire from them, with Kouga on the outside. Inuyasha seconded the vote.
During the middle of their dinner of ramen noodles (which, Kouga enjoyed almost as much as Inuyasha) Mikomi began to cry. Inuyasha and Shippo burst out in gales of laughter at the way Kouga had jumped when the doll began screeching.
The doll continued to scream bloody murder as everyone got ready for bed. Kagome picked Mikomi up and bounced her while pressing appropriate buttons. Miroku and Sango decided to alter the sleeping arrangements a bit and got as far away from the screaming baby as they could without seeming rude.
Unfortunately, nothing Kagome did made the baby stop screaming. If anything, it sounded as if the volume had been raised.
"Let's just rip the thing up and get some sleep," suggested the tired wolf demon.
Kagome glared at him. "No."
"Drown it?"
"NO!"
"Isn't there any way to shut that thing up?" Kouga snarled.
Inuyasha snarled back, flexing his claws as a warning. "Leave her alone, you flea bitten wolf! She's doing the best she can!"
As the night wore on, Mikomi kept screaming with only brief moments of silence. At first Kagome thought that maybe there was a loop in the programming that was making it continue to scream the way it was. Kouga glared at the baby from his spot by the fire.
"That thing is dangerous," he said again. "It is a beacon to the other demons. The longer you keep it the more danger you put Kagome in."
"It's none of your business."
"Kagome IS my business, dog breath!" He snarled angrily. "Look at her! She's about to drop dead from exhaustion! When is the last time she slept? That DOLL is destroying her and YOU are LETTING IT HAPPEN!"
Before Inuyasha could answer, he heard a tiny voice.
"I think she's sick, Inuyasha."
Immediately the hanyou dropped down next to her and peered at the baby. "How can you tell?"
"I've tried everything else… everything… and nothing is working.
Kouga watched angrily as Inuyasha discussed the health of the magical doll as if it were a real pup. Fists clenched. As if it was HIS pup. His anger rose when Kagome turned her teary eyes to Inuyasha for help. The mutt's eyes softened when he looked at the woman the wolf had claimed as his own. Kagome was frustrated and tired. Inuyasha was tired and irritated. Neither one's attitude was strange considering the fact that they hadn't been able to sleep because of the screaming doll. What WAS strange was that they weren't fighting with each other. They worked together to try and calm and quiet the doll. They were working together as a team.
Kouga watched angrily as the little fox kit woke up, rubbing his eyes, and wandered over to where Inuyasha was now taking a turn rubbing the back of the magical doll. Kagome opened her arms to the kit and apologized for waking him up. She hummed him a tune and rocked him back and forth, brushing his reddish hair from his eyes. Eventually the kit fell back to sleep and the miko tucked him back into bed, giving him a kiss on his forehead and wishing him sweet dreams.
Kouga watched angrily as Inuyasha stole the family that he should have had with Kagome. It's not too late, he lied to himself. She can still be mine. I can make her love me. But he watched her eyes as she looked at the kit and the hanyou and his heart cried.
Sometime before dawn the baby quit crying. Kagome was fast asleep when Inuyasha informed the wolf demon that his welcome was worn out.
Before yet another fight could break out, Ginta and Hakkaku showed up looking for Kouga. The sounds of the baby caught their attention and they went to inspect it. The sight of three wolf demons poking at Mikomi was the sight that greeted Kagome when she reluctantly woke up.
"Good morning," she said as she tried to cover up his yawn.
"He's leaving." Inuyasha's voice was hard as steel. "Now."
"Can I take some of those noodles we had for dinner last night with me?" asked Kouga as his pack said their good-byes to their 'sister'.
Inuyasha snarled and stood protectively in front of Kagome's yellow bag. "If you touch even one cup of those noodles I will cut off your arms."
With a cocky grin and a careless wave, Kouga told the group, "I haven't given up on you, Kagome. When you get tired of the mutt I'll come back for you."
Inuyasha didn't bother to answer. Instead he stood with his arms crossed and his foot tapping impatiently to hurry the demon along. Sango and Miroku shook their heads sadly while Shippo rolled his eyes.
"Heh..." Kagome laughed nervously as the three demons took off into the woods. "He's not short on confidence is he?"
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I think Mikomi was sick last night. I didn't know it could be programmed to be sick. Another one of your little surprises? All I know is that I don't think I got more than five minutes sleep. I've heard that people can go insane from lack of sleep. Just thought you should know that.
It was scary not knowing what was wrong with Mikomi. Nothing I tried worked, and trust me, I tried everything. I was on the brink of a hysterical breakdown. Partially from lack of sleep, and partially because I had no idea how to fix what was wrong. The cries coming from her were absolutely heartbreaking. I felt like the world's worst parent. I felt so helpless and stupid.
Luckily I had someone to help me so I didn't go entirely crazy. We were both frustrated and our nerves were frazzled, but we made it through the night sane. Truthfully, I'm not sure what I would have done if I were alone trying to figure it out. It's really hard to think straight with Mikomi screaming like that. I felt like screaming myself actually.
Mikomi is just a doll, okay, a really awesome doll, but still just a doll. I can only imagine if she was real. If I'm in that big of a panic with an inanimate object, how can I handle the real thing?
I have to wonder if this class is part of a conspiracy to keep people from ever having children. You do know that if we never ever procreate that the world's population would eventually die off don't you? The human race would be extinct! Are you one of those people who think that people are just viruses on the earth and should be annihilated? Does the principal know about this plot of yours?
Kagome Higurashi
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Authors Notes:
Thanks for your reviews everyone! One of the reviewers suggested the baby be sick, so I hope he doesn't mind that I used it.
I try to answer questions in my story if I can. For example, if a lot of people have questions on a certain subject I may have been too vague on, I try to make it clearer in upcoming chapters. Several people commented on doing a similar project to Kagome's, so I hopped online to check out some of the real programs.
See y'all next chapter!