Chapter Nine: A Pup?

Inuyasha laid motionless on the ground, his eyes focused on his Tetsusaiga. The great sword that was embedded into the soil of the ground. It rested between the elder Dog Demon's legs.

Sesshomaru didn't even blink as he stared down at his half-brother, he emotionless features gave off no signs of relief or anger. Nothing at all.

His eyes were more trained on the young woman who laid on Inuyasha's chest. She fidgeted as she held him tightly, her grasp on the red robe only became more desperate as her ragged breaths filled her lungs.

Slowly, Inuyasha turned, his eyes and connected with the Priestess against him. Her eyes were bloodshot from her tears and her chest heaved from her sprints.

Kagome saw what was happening, she could see Inuyasha battling against the decision to kill Sesshomaru or not. In a split second decision, she chose for him.

Before his blade could reach Sesshomaru's heart, Kagome used all of her might to tackle the half-demon to the ground.

In the rage of it all, Inuyasha had nearly lost himself, but looking into her eyes…everything faded away.

"Inuyasha…" she pleaded "stop…please stop." Inuyasha's eyes narrowed in confusion, but he brought his arms around her. Gently pulling her closer into an embrace.

Kagome nuzzled against his chest, but Inuyasha's looked back to Sesshomaru. He glared down at the two lovers, not with disgust but with an intenseness that his brother couldn't understand.

Then another figure appeared from the right. Rin ran out from the forest, she came at full speed but was not enough to keep up with Kagome. She rushed to Sesshomaru's side with tears streaming down her face.

Her hands hovered over his wounds but they were too afraid to cause him any more pain.

When Sesshomaru looked upon the young girl, his gaze softened immediately. He didn't smile but his eyes said it all. He was so relieved the girl was safe.

Inuyasha stared with an endless array of questions. However, as their eyes connected again, he was hit with Sesshomaru's wave of protectiveness. Baring his fangs, he attempted to stand only to crash back to the ground.

Rin yelped, as though his pain were her own.

"Inuyasha…" Kagome's trembling voice hit him again, causing him to snap his head down to her. Eyes as deep as the sea looked at him with such sorrow as she muttered "You can't kill him…" her voice broke his heart, but her words angered him.

He growled and tightened his hold on her. "I have to! He nearly killed you and I…"

"SHUT UP!" Kagome screamed causing everyone to freeze.

Kagome pushed herself out of Inuyasha's arms to kneel in front of him to be eye level. "We were wrong!" She stated "Rin wasn't abducted or possessed. Sesshomaru has…"

"Hold your tongue woman." Sesshomaru barked, frustration lacing his words. Inuyasha instantly growled and shouted "Show some gratitude asshole! If it wasn't for her you'd be dead!"

Sesshomaru only scuffed as he continued to struggle, each attempt to move only injured him more.

"Enough both of you!" Kagome shouted again, she turned to look at Sesshomaru and begged "Sesshomaru I understand, Rin told me everything."

Sesshomaru glanced at Rin who was looking at the ground. Shame poured out of her. "Forgive me…this is all my fault. It's my fault for being taken by the monks…it's my fault for Miss Kagome watching over me…my fault for my Lord breaking the barrier and my fault for this demon attacking my Lord."

Sesshomaru released an annoyed huff as he said "Don't think so highly of yourself. This half-breed has always wished to kill me."

Inuyasha growled in response "Only cause you tried killing me first!" Sesshomaru refrained from rolling his eyes but was came back with "I've dreamed of killing you from the moment I saw our father holding that woman, with his hand to her swollen whom."

Inuyasha's eyes flared red and shouted: "Don't speak of my Mother!" Kagome was quick to grasp Inuyasha's shoulders, preventing him from moving forward to grab Tetsusaiga.

"Does it ail you?" Sesshomaru asked "He was so worried for his concubine that he forgot his true mate and their son. He gives his life protecting you, and this is how you commemorate his memory? By harboring a Priestess for your own dishonorable pleasures."

Inuyasha continued to growl as he barked "Shut your mouth!" The demon in him clawed at the surface wanting to tear the demon before him to ribbons. Kagome struggled to keep him restrained, she couldn't even attempt to purify him with Sesshomaru at close range, she'd only wound him even more than he already was.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed as he asked "You sought me out tonight, do avenge her honor. However, it is you that has robbed this woman."

Inuyasha's growls grew louder, the accusations tore him apart. Every word that came out hit him like a fire, and it burned with truth.

They were not married, she was a Priestess sworn to chastity, and he was a Half-Demon, a sin in itself. Coming together, again and again, only brought shame to her good name.

Kagome too suffered from Sesshomaru's words, but all she could do was hold onto Inuyasha, knowing that if she let go he would attack without remorse. That didn't, however, stop her voice.

"Your wrong!" She blurted out, turning her head to face Sesshomaru while still holding Inuyasha down. "I feel no shame in the love I feel…and neither do you."

All fell silent, Inuyasha sat stunned at his mate's words. She wasn't ashamed of him? Any normal woman wouldn't dare show her face to the public if knowledge of their encounters were to go out.

But then again, Kagome wasn't any normal woman.

It was the second verse that caused Sesshomaru to still. Quickly he asked, "You believe us to be on similar ground?"

Kagome nodded, she looked straight into his eyes as she said "You protect and look after a human child. A child that by every right belongs to you. She is and always will be yours…"

Kagome glanced back at Inuyasha's face, it was riddled with confusion, but she released his shoulders and turned to fully face Sesshomaru. His eyes bored into her with unquestionable disdain as she hesitantly bowed to the ground. On her hands and knees, she softly said "I beg your forgiveness…you have my blessing to take her back."

Outraged and shocked Inuyasha leaped to his feet and shouted "What?! Kagome what the hell are you saying?!"

Slowly Kagome turned, tears filling her eyes as she looked at Inuyasha. "We can't take her back…it would be wrong."

Frustrations continued to build as he leaned over and grabbed her wrists, pulling her to her feet and against his chest. He couldn't see her in a submissive position to another male, let alone that male.

Kagome could almost feel his distress. After bringing so much hope to him, saying that she would finally be able to break free from the Shrine and go with him, marry him, love him fully. Only to tear the chance out of their hands and present it to a man he hated.

All the anger and sorrow he felt pour out into one soft plead "Why?"

Kagome turned to Sesshomaru who still sat against the tree, Rin glued to his side. Without questioning her actions she stated "Sesshomaru. Tell him what Rin told me."

It wasn't a request but an order. This young woman had no right nor authority to tell a Lord what to do or say. Yet, he could see the urgency and complied.

His body remained still and his voice was monotoned at best, as he began reciting a very old story.

"Nine seasons have passed since that night. The night I found a dead man and a half-dead woman."

The full moon shone brightly over the forest floor, as I moved silently over a narrow path. The scent of my last kill still clung to my clothing.

The group of ogres was simply in my way and I disposed of them, but the aftermath would always stain me with the scent of their deaths.

However, another scent became pungent and caused me to come to a sudden stop.

Human blood and fear were drenched in the air. It didn't concern me in the slightest, humans were nothing more than feeble minded creatures that plagued the world.

I convinced myself to continue on my path, only to hear the cries of an infant. The pathetic wail that echoed through the otherwise soundless night.

Again, not my concern.

Human children were even more useless than their parents. If this ridiculous creature was hellbent on attracting another predator to finish what the previous attacker couldn't accomplish, then so be it.

My mind ordered my feet to continue, yet the sheer curiosity made stall.

With a roll of my eyes, I began in the direction of tears and blood.

Moments later, I came across a gruesome scene.

An entire village had been slaughtered in the dead of night. Body after body piled up across the soil and their bloods mixed, creating a river that flowed downhill. Men, women, children, all torn at the throats.

As I moved, unfazed across the massacre, I narrowed in on the sounds of the infant's cries, they became more desperate and loud.

Softly treading the ground towards the edge of the village, just before a great forest was a clearing. In that clearing, two figures sat alone.

As I neared, the figures became clear. A young woman, with hair black as night and eyes that overflowed with tears, was perched in the center of a grass meadow. On her lap, a man laid motionless.

To the side, an infant wrapped in torn sheets cried out for its mother, but she sobbed harder than the infant.

I steadied my march, the woman being completely unaware of my presence. A large wound rested on her side, the blood quickly pouring from it.

I closed my eyes momentarily as the infant began to squeal louder. Why was this woman doing nothing to protect her child?

Suddenly, she lifted her head, feeling my presence and gasped. Instinctively she clutched the corpse that laid beneath her, as though attempting to protect the soulless being.

I stared down at the woman, she panted with fear and trembled under my gaze. She only stared, unsure if she should act or remain still. My face was stoic but my confusion grew.

"What happened here?" I asked clearly, she was stunned by the sound of my voice. I managed to speak loud enough so that she'd hear something besides her infant's cries.

Her jaw clenched as she looked back down to the man in her arms. "They came...they came just as the sun set." "Who?" I asked, my patience already wearing thin with her clear incompetence.

"I passed through the village. All dead, but there are no traces of demons here."

The woman only huddled closer to the dead male as she whimpered "Not demons. Demons didn't so this to us...Bandits, dozens of murderous thieves came and slaughtered all of us."

She continued to sob as she ran her hand over his pale face.

"He was my husband..." she clarified, roaming his face and taking in his features, this being the last time she'd see him. "He was kind...the b-baker...he fed the whole village, even those who couldn't pay. An honest and good man, such a good man!"

Her cries broke her voice as she pulled her gaze away from the face, unable to look at him any longer. She returned to me only to find the same expression.

"I loved him...and they took him from me. I can't go on without him."

I said nothing, only looked upon the broken woman. Then the sounds of the infant coughing and hiccuping between its gasps made my eyes dart to the bundle.

The woman was hardly fazed.

"What of that? Are " I asked, but she blinked only to realize I was referring to her child. Slowly she looked over to it, her lips began to tremble again.

"My baby...has no home, no father...no future!" She began rocking back and forth, her husband's lifeless body move with her. "If she doesn't die tonight...then she'll die from hunger or infection. And by some miracle that she does survive to adulthood...she will only suffer the same fates as the rest of us. I'd rather have her die now and spare her the suffering."

My eyes narrowed "Then you have failed as a mother."

My words cut her deeper than her wound, she looked back at me in shock, but slowly succumbed to it.

"Yes...I have."

"Will you let it die?" I asked, somehow hoping that she would resolve herself and tend to the child.

She shook her head and whimpered "I can do nothing for her now. I won't be here much longer." She gestured to her wound "Even so...what kind of life will she live with mankind. Live one day only to die the next day...the fear we feel every day...I don't want it for her."

Again my eyes turned to the infant, the cries never ceased as it squirmed in the tight sheets. Slowly, curiously, I approached the bundle.

Leaning down to my one knee, my eyes connected with small watery pools of brown. A tiny face, red with frustration and a quivering lip.

All at once the cries ended (Finally) and after a second of pausing, two tiny hands outstretched towards me. She squirmed harder and released a sound that could either be a cry or a laugh.

I looked at the child with mild irritation, how did such things come to survive in this world? Frail, completely helpless. The idea of it even breathing air is astonishing.

With a small sigh, I outstretched my claw. If this woman intended to have the child die, then I would spare it the kindness of a quick death. However, the infant took a different action.

Without fear the smallest of hands lifted to meet my dangerous claw and grasped my index finger. It didn't even fit in her palm.

She squeezed it lightly and made a joyous sound.

I turned back to the woman again, as though to ask for the command that would have the child release me from its grasp, but she only held a shocked expression.

She had never seen such a display from a demon.

Instantly, her eyes watered at the solution came to her all at once.

"Could you...find it in your heart to...please, take her."

My eyes widened at her request but that was the only shock I managed to tell her. Frantically she began begging.

"All my husband ever wanted was for our child to live, long and happy. The human world is unforgiving and cruel...demons are so much stronger and powerful...you could protect her so that she live, truly live without fear!"

Her pleads were falling on deaf ears, I shut my eyes as aggravation filled me. I stopped her mid-sentence as I barked "You are truly a fool."

She blinked her tears back, but I continued "To entrust the life of your only child to a strange man you've met after a slaughter. Worse than that, you'd leave her to a demon. I have no interest in raising this child."

The woman bowed her head and looked at her deceased husband before whimpering "I know...it's ludicrous, but what choice do I have? Let her die with us...or live with you."

I looked back to the infant, she still clutching me like her life depended on it...which it did.

"I shall not."

With that, I jerked my hand away from the child, which irrupted another loud cry. I then rose to my feet, quickly turning my heel and began marching towards the forest.

"No, wait!" She screamed "P-Please, spare her! I beg of you, save the one thing I have left!"

I paused, first she wants me to kill her and the baby now she wants me to raise her.

Looking her dead in the eyes and said "I am a warrior, not a guardian."

"But your obviously strong, you can but your choosing not to! You'll let my baby die!"

"You are letting her die." I said simply "Humans have no place in the demon world. You wouldn't be giving her a better life, only marking a target on her back."

The woman clutched her head in aggravation as she let out a frustrated cry "I don't know what to do!" I shook my head and growled "Such impudence. If you weak how can there be hope for your offspring?"

She grabbed at the insult, but then she nodded as she whimpered "Perhaps...she is like me. I wanted her to be strong...stronger than I was."

It was then that he hands left her husband's face and reached behind her, she pulled a small knife out from a sheath at her side. With great care, she pushed her lover off her lap and laid him down on the grass.

Next, without meeting my gaze she crawled towards her infant. She groaned with pain at her every movement.

When she finally reached the child, she lifted her off the ground, holding the infant to her heart and cradling it. She sobbed into the sheets that covered it, before turning and heading back towards the corpse.

She gently placed her on the chest of her dead father. "This way..." she cried "she'll never know fear." With ragged breaths, she lifted the knife above her head, clutching the handle tightly, tighter than she ever held anything.

"God...forgive me!" She cried as she slashed the blade forward.

She was prepared to hear the pained cries of her infant daughter, to see her blood out from her chest, but she wasn't prepared for a clawed hand to aggressively grab her wrist. Halting her from reaching the child.

She looked up into my eyes, I stood before her, fury racing through me at her murderous attempt. It took a moment, but her sorrow vanished and a glowing smile claimed her lips.

Tears of relief fell from her eyes as she whispered "Thank you."

Without hesitation, she pulled the knife down and drove it into her abdomen. The woman gasped in agony at the impact.

In shock, I pulled it away from her and through it away, far from her reach. I turned her so that she was on her back, the blood already pouring from two wounds.

She gasped for breath as she clutched my arm. Her eyes stared at me, those pleading eyes called to me as she whispered "p-please...raise her...to be strong...strong and away from t-this cruel...world."

My jaw clenched, her life was fleeting. "You do not have to die...I can revive you and your husband back." I had already grasped the hilt of Tenseiga from my hip.

The woman paused momentarily before she shook her head. "This was m-meant to h-happen. S-She will be...safer with you."

My eyes closed as I felt her breaths become more shallow, then just as she drew her last breath she said "Her...name is...Rin."

Then she was gone. The woman died in my arms.

Slowly, I laid her down, placing her at the side of her husband. The infant stirred at the movement and began her cries.

I looked at the child, unsure of how to proceed. All I managed was lifting it into my right arm, cradling it carefully as I ordered softly "Silence Pup."

Shockingly, she obeyed my command. The infant only wanted to the warmth of another. Which was exactly what I intended to give her. All the warmth my cold heart could muster.

I rose to my feet and glancing at the deceased pair, I turned my heel and headed to the forest.

The group was silent. Inuyasha stared at his brother, disbelief poured from him as he absorbed the tale.

Rin's eyes were to the ground, the story of her parents had always hit a hard spot within her.

Kagome gave her sympathies to the young girl. Her family too was broken...but not nearly as harshly.

Sesshomaru on the other hand sat with a stern expression. His deed was his concern alone.

"After that, I realized I could not provide for her. I took her to a village far in the mountains, hoping that it would be secluded and away from any and all attacks. Placing her in the care of an orphanage. I would return when she was old enough to travel alongside me, which was my intent until your kind interfered."

Sesshomaru all but barked at Kagome, she held back a wince. He had every right to be anger, now that she knew the truth there was no denying what she had to do.

"Yes...I beg your forgiveness. If I had known...I wouldn't have..."

The words died on her lips. Would she have decided not to keep Rin and train her as her replacement? She glanced to Inuyasha who was giving her a solemn expression.

This hit him just as hard as it hit her. With a deep breath, Inuyasha took his place next to his mate, placing his hand on her shoulder to comforted her.

"Miss Kagome..." Rin asked timidly "does this mean...I can stay with my Lord?"

Kagome paused before giving Rin a soft smile, she wanted this and Kagome couldn't bare to not give her true happiness.

"No."

Everything was thrown over the cliff at Inuyasha's intense response. Kagome whipped her head around to him, questioning his word. But Inuyasha remained headstrong as he stated "You're not going anywhere with him until your done this training."

Rin stilled at the statement while Sesshomaru boiled over. "And what right have you to dictate my child?"

Inuyasha growled back and stated, "I'm not saying she stayed there forever, she just needs to finish the training, then she can take off."

Kagome finally snapped and said "No! The whole point was for Rin to stay with the village!"

He only shook his head as he said "That isn't your problem." Kagome sighed as she pulled herself close to him. She gave him a look of understanding but her lips began quivering as she whimpered "They love one antoher...and if we tear them apart then we're no better than my father or the Shrine."

Inuyasha made an uncomfortable sound, about to retort only to drop the words before they were spoken.

"It'll make her stronger, she can defend herself against both humans and demons. Then we could..."

Kagome placed her fingers to his lips to stop his rant.

"It isn't right." She said softly.

He knew she was right, but it hurt him just as much.

Across from them, the young Rin mustered her courage and ran between all three adults. "I'm not little. I understand why you want to take Miss Kagome away...but she is special. I'm not special like she is."

They looked from the little girl to one another, understanding her statement and also at the fact that she wasn't the answer they needed.

Kagome left Inuyasha's embrace to fall to her knees. She smiled at the young girl before enveloping her in a tight hug. She returned it in full.

"You've changed," Kagome said, holding back tears. "You're strong...stronger than anyone could ever imagine." Rin nuzzled her neck and whispered "Only because you made me strong. Thank you, Miss Kagome."

Soon Sesshomaru pushed himself to his feet, and Kagome watched Rin leave with the great demon for the second time that night. Only this time she was far happier.

Inuyasha and Kagome walked the path in silence. Neither knowing what to say or how to move forward.

"So...she's gone." Kagome said blandly, Inuyasha's ears pulled back as he sighed "yeah...what now?"

Kagome stopped abruptly, Inuyasha turned to find her giving a soft smile, she smiled for no real reason because she didn't want to do anything else.

Kagome outright laughed as she said, "I have no idea!"

Inuyasha paused before breaking a smile across his face. He extended his hand to her, a smile that welcomed her into his embrace. He nuzzled her forehead.

Kagome sigh, opening her eyes she whispered "We'll find another way...I'm not giving up."

"Damn right your not." He nearly growled, but Kagome only giggled and hugged him tighter.

"You know Inuyasha..." she said lifting from his chest to look him in the eyes, their faces only a breath away from one another, Inuyasha grinned at her lustfully as he asked, "What is it Kagome?"

She leaned forward, just close enough for the very tip of their lips brushing against the other for her to whisper "I'll race you."

His confusion was short lived as Kagome pushing him back til Inuyasha fell flat on his back. She irrupted in a joyful laugh as she took off sprinting.

Inuyasha growled with excitement as he took off, chasing after his playful mate.

"Sneaky Wench!"