Chapter 16

That day was hard for Kagome. As much as she tried, she just couldn't stop thinking about Inuyasha, and worrying about him, and calling him a stubborn, ill-tempered, beautiful, baka.

At about noon, her mother had came into her room, saying Kyle would arrive at 9:30 the next morning. And that she would like for her to come down at that time. Noura even had the gal, in an attempt to comfort her, to say that maybe it was for the best that Inuyasha left when he did. At which point Kagome had thrown her from her room, and locked the door.

Inuyasha said his good-byes to the monk, exterminator, old hag, and the brat. Not telling them where he was going, only saying that if Kagome came through the well, they were to send her back. And if they didn't, they'd all meet an untimely death.

Inuyasha sighed as he slowed down, ready to take a short break from his running towards the West. He settled in a tree branch, as thoughts of Kagome reached his mind. How she had looked when he left, how it had felt to wake up with her in his arms, how her soft lips had felt against his own. He shook his head to clear it, before suddenly jumping back up. The quicker he got this done, the quicker he could get back to her. But the place he was going was one he wished he'd never have to go back to.

As he started running, he took a look at the prominent outline of a dark castle, the home of the Lord of the Western Lands. And his brother, Shesshomaru.

It took about two days, but he eventually reached the home of his half-brother. Not even bothering with the draw bridge, he just jumped over it and into the court yard.

The court yard had changed since the last time he'd been here, where once it used to be a dirt lot, with a dirty stream running through it, and a lot of dead plants, it was now similar to a meadow. A place Kagome would have found stunning. With beautiful green lawns, and flowers of every shape, size, and color, and a crystal clear stream trickling water almost peacefully.

Inuyasha laid a hand on Tetsusaiga, as he dashed to the big oak doors, that adorned the front of the castle. He pushed them open to see dozens of Youkai, bustling this way and that. He snorted as he went straight for the staircase, following Shesshoumaru's most recent scent in the place. 'It just figures the bastard would have so many damn servants'

He was half-way up the stairs when a cat-youkai stopped him, he was just slightly taller then Inuyasha, with yellow cat-like eyes. Whiskers, and orange hair down to his shoulders. "Who are you? And what are you doing in the lords home without an invitation?"

"Get the fuck away from me!" Inuyasha said, continuing up the stairs, he reached the fifth landing when his brothers scent went inside a door, Shesshoumaru was definitely in there. He pushed the doors opened without knocking, the cat-youkai right behind him, he spoke the second the doors had opened.

"My Lord, would you wish me to dispose of this intruder?"

They had entered a sort of study, more of an English style then Japanese, it had a large wooden desk, and book shelves filled with scrolls, and books reached from the colorless ceilings to the carpet adorned floors, and sitting at the desk was Shesshoumaru, as emotionless as ever.

"I shall deal with this vermin Hichi, leave us." The Inu-no-tashio said, standing from his desk. The youkai left the room, shutting the doors behind him. "Why have you come to my domain?"

Inuyasha wasn't in the mood to beat around the bush, or to be polite, so he just strode across the room, laid his hands on the desk top, and said "It's not my fucking fault I don't know, you know just as well as I what happened, so I'm asking you something and I expect a fucking answer, What do I have to do to prove to my intendeds family, I can be a good mate?"

Shesshoumaru didn't answer at first, but stood up, and walked over to his window, looking out into the court-yard, where Rin had just recently went out to play. "Be not a fool Half-breed."

Inuyasha clenched his teeth, hating asking his brother something above all else, but he needed to know. "Tell me dammit!" He sneered.

The Inu-youkai turned around swiftly, fixing his younger brother with an emotionless stare, "You must only prove that you can protect, provide for, and love your mate." He said coldly.

Inuyasha was taken aback slightly. He thought there had been some task, or ritual he must perform to prove himself worthy, but maybe the bastard was telling the truth. "That's it?" He demanded.

Shesshoumaru went and stood behind his desk, to glare at the hanyou. "If you wish to make unintelligible remarks, do so in your own land, now leave my home before it forever holds your stench half-breed."

Inuyasha glared at the Youkai for a minute, debating whether to start a fight or not, when he decided against it, he had to finish this quickly so he could get back to Kagome. He turned on his heal without another word, and left the home of his brother, as the said man, had a small smile on his lips, barely distinguishable, but still there.

When Inuyasha was about half a day away from Shesshoumaru's castle, he stopped to think about what his brother had said.

'Protect, provide, and love. Hell, I can protect her! Tetsusaiga is more then capable of over coming anything that gets to close, and I've loved her for over a year now, so I can do that. But, provide? I have always provided her with food when need be, but... shelter? Clothes? Could I do that?'

Inuyasha sat and thought for hours, till the sun had set, and he could smell the stench of smaller youkai's hiding in the shadows around him, before he got up, and started on an all out sprint towards home, with a plan already forming in his mind.

(A/N: It's still the same time with Kagome, she hasn't skipped forward, so it's the day her father is to arrive)

Kagome woke the next morning at 8:30, and got up to take a shower. She was determined to let Inuyasha's departure to soil her meeting with her father. Her real father.

After she had gotten dressed in a pair of blue jeans, and a pale yellow shirt, she went and sat on the bottom step of the stairs, it was only 9:00 o'clock, but she still thought it was better to sit on the stairs, then alone in her room.

She suddenly heard her mother and Souta speaking in the kitchen. And not really having anything else to focus on, she accidentally found herself eavesdropping. They were talking of Grandpas return tomorrow, and then Souta asked of the person who was arriving today. That was when the story began, her mother told him everything, not editing it in the least, she said things she hadn't got the chance to say to Kagome, and Souta reacted a bit like his sister, with comments like "Pregnant? Like, Kagome?" and, "So me and Kagome have different dads?" She even told him that Kyle knew everything of Kagome's travels through the well, and had excepted her story without doubt.

Kagome was so enticed with the story going on in the kitchen, she jumped when someone knocked on the front door. Instantly all conversation ceased, and Mrs.Higurashi was at the door, Kagome took a deep breath as the door swung open.

On the front step stood a middle aged man. Midnight black hair fluttered lightly a few inches above his shoulders, brown eyes, about 6"2. Pretty slim, and handsome. Kagome knew instantly that there was something different about him. His aura was strange, yet familiar, and definitely not entirely human.

Noura stepped forward and hugged him, tears sliding down her face. As she whispered words of thanks, and of apologies.

After several minutes she lead him into the house, to stand in front of Kagome, who gave him a hard glare, before asking, "What are you?"

Mrs.Higurashi made a noise of protest, while Kyle seemed unfazed, he just kept grinning. "I suspected you'd notice. I'm a Kitsune-hanyou." He said, his smile never slipping.

Again, break out those chain saws, but I'm in a remote part of the country, where no one will ever find me! My home, in the city of... Oops, almost gave it away there! Anyway, sorry bout this, but I couldn't resist. I love the cliffies!

What will Inuyasha do to prove his worth? Is Kagome part demon? All will be explained next time! But only, if you people review! Please review, I just love it when you do! Nothing makes me happier then waking up to a full E-mailbox, with comments, questions, and compliments, and even criticisms, from you people! So, see you on the other side of that purple button down there, or is it pink? Who knows? Anyone?

PS: Kind of a short chapter, sorry!

PSS: This chapter dediacted in loving memory to all those lost in Katrina's path of destruction. And I pray for all those who still don't know where there loved ones are.

Till next time! The all Powerful Fu Fu!

I'm the all powerful Fu Fu!
Mwahahahaha!
(Sry, had the urge)

Disclaimer:
Why aren't they mine?
I wish they were
But I'll settle for terrorizing them
(Grin)