Chapter 17
"I want Kagome!" cried the little fox child. "Let's go find her. It's been too long."
"We can't Shippo. Inuyasha ordered us not to search for them. I'm sure he'll bring her back soon." Sango patted the kit on the head in an attempt to comfort him.
"He's doing something bad to her isn't he? I want her back. I want my Oka!" Whined Shippo as he cried on Sango's knee.
"Shippo... what did you just call Kagome?" asked Miroku who was seated next to Sango.
The kitsune looked up at him with large wet eyes, he then looked at Sango. His eyes grew even wider when he realized what he had indeed called her. Before he knew it, he was being hugged by Sango.
"Don't worry Shippo. I'm sure they'll be back soon, even if Kagome has to 'sit' him." She gave the kit a cheerful smile as she set him back on the ground. "Why don't you go play with Kirara for a bit, while I talk to Hoshi-sama?" Sango was relieved hen he nodded and bounded of to join Kirara in attacking butterflies. "Hoshi-sama, do you think something bad might have happened to them. It has been a week, it shouldn't take them this long."
"It's possible, but I doubt it. Inuyasha is an incredible fighter when it comes to Kagome's safety. So I highly doubt anything evil has befallen them, and if it was Naraku, they would have come and got us. I think those two just had a lot of pent up sexual frustration and their taking this opportunity to get it all out...I'm kind of jealous." Miroku cast a glance at her and winked.
SLAP
"Mosquito!" Sango said innocently and showed her hand to him as proof.
"Ehh...even the bugs are against me. Maybe I need to take a lesson from Inuyasha. The fates are definitely cruel, for Inuyasha has a wife now and I'm still trying." Miroku let out a heavy sigh.
"Hoshi-sama, don't worry, maybe your turn with fate hasn't arrived yet. Give it time." She gave him a warm smile before turning to check on the kitsune. She became worried when she saw Shippo staring down the path out of the village. He was like a statue, frozen in place. Sango then followed his line of sight tot he tree line. She squinted her eyes in hope of seeing better, nothing. Soon two figures started to form out of the darkness. One was red and white, the other was blue and black. Both seemed to be arguing. "I guess their back." Before she even finished her sentence, Shippo was racing towards them.
"Oka...Oka!" Shippo practically flew at them. It took him about three seconds to cross the large field and leap into Kagome's waiting arms. "Oka...Okari!" The then hugged her as much as he could.
"Arigato Shippo." Kagome hugged him back and purred for a brief moment to calm him. "Ano...Shippo, since when do you call me Oka?"
He looked up at her with wet eyes. "Gomen, I didn't mean...it's just...I feel...Gomen ne, I won't do it again."
"Shippo its ok, I was just surprised. You can call me Oka if you want." She gave him a bright smile then hugged him again.
Inuyasha watched the whole ordeal cautiously. Making sure the kitsune dint' hurt her when he threw himself at her. He was about to smack the kid but he stopped himself. 'Maybe having the little brat around is a good thing. I can practice being a father.' Inuyasha sheathed his anger and walked up to stand next to Kagome. "Guess that makes me your Otou then, huh?"
"Huh?" In all the excitement he hadn't even noticed the change in their scents. He took a big whiff of the scents then looked at Kagome, surprised. "You mated with this Baka. Naze?"
"Be nice Shippo...I mated to him because I love him and he loves me...What other reason do we need." Kagome told him sweetly before looking up at her new mate.
"Well if you love me so much, then why do I look like a scratching post?" Inuyasha questioned her with a raised eyebrow and a smile.
Kagome blushed slightly before responding. "I said I was sorry."
"KEH! Saying sorry won't make my back feel any better."
He gave her a dirty look, but she knew he didn't mean it. She watched as he crossed his arms and started to walk toward the village. "I'll get some herbs when we get back, ok." She then followed him down the path, all the while listening to Shippo describe his week.
The soon joined up with Miroku and Sango.
"So did you two have fun?" asked Miroku, while showing off a huge all knowing smile. His smile grew wider when he saw the dark red appear on Kagome's cheeks.
"That's none of your business, Bouzo!" yelled Inuyasha. He then grabbed Kagome by the hand and stalked off toward Kaede's.
"My, my. I see all the fun hasn't changed his attitude." Miroku shook his head from side to side in disappointment.
"I actually agree with Inuyasha on this one. It really isn't any of your business." Sango told him then repeated Inuyasha's actions and dragged the monk down the road.
They all entered the hut and took their usual seats, Inuyasha was seated against the wall clutching the Tetsusaiga. Kagome was seated in front of him before the fire. Miroku was on the opposite side, Sango was to his left and Kaede to his right, and all were sitting around the fire. Shippo was sitting on Kagome's lap, smiling happily.
They were all talking about the events of the past week. Sango and Miroku had killed a rabbit youkai, but it turned out there was no shard. The cheerful conversation was thrown for a loop by an innocent comment from the fox youkai.
"Oi...Kagome... Didn't you say you were gonna get some herbs for Inuyasha's back." The simple comment had everyone in the room staring at him then to Kagome, then to Inuyasha.
"What kind of herbs does he need?" asked Kaede as she started to rummage through her selves.
"Ano...something for claw marks." Kagome mumbled as she tried to hide her blush by down casting her face.
"Claw marks? Were you guys attacked?" Miroku questioned the silent Inuyasha. "By who?"
Inuyasha closed his eyes as he tried to think of a suitable lie...nothing came to mind. 'I'll probable get a good laugh, but I could always tell the truth.' He opened one eye half way and looked at the monk. "You really want to know?...I was attacked by my mate!" He then reclosed his eye as he listened to their responses. He heard a few surprised gasps, then a quiet growl.
"I said I was sorry, what more do you want...that I can give you." Kagome had leaned over, pressing her palms to the floor as she yelled at him. Her ears were laid back slightly, plus she was emitting a low canine like growl.
Inuyasha opened his eyes part way and looked her up and down. "You could always do a reenactment, minus the claws." He gave a small smirk when she turned back to the fire ignoring his request, yet her tail was swishing in the air violently.
Kaede walked up behind Kagome and held out a small jar. "Here is some salve, why don't you help put it on your husband."
Kagome took the jar from Kaede then looked over at her mate. He was looking back at her with raised eyebrows.
"After what you did to me this morning, I'd be better off asking Sesshomaru to help me." Inuyasha told her bluntly.
Kagome's right eye started to twitch in annoyance, unlucky for Inuyasha that he couldn't see it. "Inuyasha?" She said sweetly and gave him a cheerful smile.
"Hmmmm?"
She then sang her next word. "O...Su...Wa...Ri!" And the male hanyou kissed wood. In a matter of seconds, Kagome was by his side and trying to pull him out of his haori.
"Oi...Bitch...what was that for?"
"Because you were being a jerk." Kagome told him, her voice slightly raised. She then proceeded to gently rub the medicinal salve on his back.
Quiet chuckling was heard inside the small hut and both hanyous glared at Miroku and Sango, causing them to cease their giggling immediately. Shippo watched, chuckling, but just barely.
"Inuyasha...if this happened this morning, shouldn't the scratches already be healed?" questioned Miroku as he composed himself and watched Kagome rub the salve on Inuyasha's back.
"Not if it's from your mate. The body somehow knows when it's the mate that does the damage and the wounds linger, kind of like a reminder. They'll be gone by tomorrow. It's the mark that won't disappear."
