A/N: Thank you all for the lovely reviews. I'm very honored! As my first writing experience I feel that I'm improving while I write more of this story. Keep those reviews coming!

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Chapter 6

It had taken no more than a week for their new home to be finished. All the villagers had helped in some way. If they weren't helping with the build itself, it was by making furniture, pots, beds, whatever was their art or skill.

It had taken Inuyasha quite some time to come to terms with the kindness that was suddenly bestowed upon them. Before Kagome's return the villagers had been accepting of him, respecting him like the protector of the village, a spirit from the forest as he was often called. However the amount of generosity and goodwill now directed towards himself and his new family was somewhat overpowering at times. More than once he had taken some time to himself, far away from the constant kind gestures of the villagers.
They meant well of course, but after a life of living between two worlds, not being accepted by either and having to fend for yourself in a world full of enemies, it was quite hard to adjust for our favorite Hanyou.

"There you are, hiding again are we?" Kagome was the only one who could find him when he went to his favorite hiding spot up high in a tree. He was sure her miko powers were to blame.
Jumping down from his high vantage point he seated himself against the trunk of the tree knowing full well she would join him.

"It's a bit much isn't it, I can't help but feel like we're taking advantage of them."

"You can't feel guilty if they offer it willingly?" His voice giving only a hint of amusement.

"I don't know Inuyasha, after what Kaede told us, I feel like the villagers only do this because they feel obligated." She said with a heavy sigh.

"You think too much." The fist to the arm he received not even hurting him one bit, though it was probably not intended to do so.

"Kagome, they really want to do this, I can see it in their eyes, and on their faces. Refusing their help will only hurt their pride."

"Yeah I know, sometimes by humble modern upbringing gets the best of me. They do often collide with each other you know? My time and your time are just so different. Pride, family honor are still the same, just the circumstances and expectations are so different. " She paused for a second. "But I know I will get the hang of it, even if I could go back, I would never do it." With that she smiled reassuringly.

She knew Inuyasha still had doubts from time to time, especially when she would mention "your time" or "my time". But she would always reassure him of her intensions.

Although she hadn't noticed his shoulders tensing up, she could clearly see them relax as he let out a puff of air. He looked at her with a knowing smile, one he only reserved for her. Laying her head on his shoulder, they sat there for a few more minutes. Enjoying the sounds of the forest before rejoining the work on their house. Today was the final day. The roof was almost done, and tonight would be their first night together as a family, in their own house.

The next morning Gaia and Aiyo had happily followed Kaede to a field in the valley to gather herbs.

"Are we there yet?" Aiyo asked while puffing some hair from her face.

"Don't be so impatient, we'll get there soon." Gaia responded to her little sister.

"Why did we have to go anyway? I could have played with Shippou in the village!"

"So mom and dad can have some alone time. Miroku said they needed it."

A loud sigh from Aiyo told her sister the discussion was over. 'Why the hell do they need alone time?!' But Gaia would not answer her internal question.
The walk didn't take much longer, Kaede setting herself on the edge of the field and setting her basket next to her.
"Would ye like something to drink my dears?"
Gaia and Aiyo rushed to Kaede's side for a much needed cool drink.

After a few minutes rest the 3 got to work and started picking herbs. Kaede would tell the girls which ones to pick before they handed them to the old miko. The energetic young girl were a lot faster at the job then Kaede was, and not much longer Kaede's basket was full of herbs.

"Shall we return home ladies?" Kaede asked as she stood.

The 2 girls nodded their heads and started their climb back to the village.
Gaia raised her nose as a whiff of something caught her attention.

"AGH! What is that god awful smell!" She said while pinching her nose shot. Aiyo responded by inhaling deep herself, nearly vomiting as the scent hit her full force.
Gaia looked around trying to find the source, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The field was quite, no movement she could see in the forest surrounding the valley.
She inhaled through her nose again, trying to find the direction from which it came.
"Right there, to the east. It's coming from there." Gaia said while raising her finger in the direction.

"Children, we must go now, we do not have much protection out here in the open." Kaede said.

"Don't worry Kaede, we'll protect you!" Aiyo smiled towards the old miko.

Gaia stood, still staring in the direction the scent was coming from. Did she just see something move? She tilted her head curiously. All she could see was a large wall of trees, and yet she was sure she had seen movement.
A loud screech alerted the 3 that they were no longer alone. Now Gaia could clearly see something move, and not a second later a huge demon lizard appeared from the trees. The eyes of the monster shone bright red as it's thick forked tongue flicked in and out of its mouth. The demon was at least 30 feet long from head to tip of its tail, green and scaly.
Kaede and Aiyo gasped in horror, while Gaia just stood shell shocked. Her widened eyes fixated on the stationary demon, who stared right back at her. The tension in the air was thick and she couldn't help but shudder slightly. 'Will we be able to outrun him? Can I carry Kaede? What does it want?'

"Aiyo, take Kaede and start walking slowly." Gaia hissed between her teeth.
But no sooner as she uttered the words the lizard screeched again. This time though it lunged at them. It's long claws digging deep into the earth, making flowers and soil fly around it in a tornado of destruction. The demon racing towards them.
Aiyo and Kaede screamed for Inuyasha, but the demon would be on them in just mere seconds.

But for Gaia everything seemed to move in slow motion. The best was thundering towards them at breakneck speed. She needed to do something, she needed to keep her sister and Kaede save.

In the village Inuyasha and Kagome were enjoying a nice morning walk together. Hand in hand they traveled down towards the herb fields to see if Kaede needed any help.
But then their blood froze inside their bodies when they heard Aiyo's and Kaede's scream.

"INUYASHA!"

Without second thought Kagome jumped on Inuyasha's back and raced towards the field as fast as his legs could carry them.

Gaia's body moved on instinct, her right leg moving backwards, knees bent, bracing herself.
Her right arm moving back, making a fist. A power stance fit for any fighter.

The lizard was only yards away when her body started glowing a fierce pink, the center of the glow being her right fist, still clenched behind her, ready to strike.

It was at that precise moment Inuyasha and Kagome raced on the scene.

"GAIA!" Kagome yelled on top of her lungs.

But she didn't hear her, she was ready to strike. Her body moving like it never did before. Her right arm shooting forward, the pink light now so bright everybody had to pinch their eyes. As Gaia extended her arm forward she open her fist and a large energy blast shot from her hand.
The sound hurting the sensitive Hanyou ears, the light bright enough to blind any creature who looked straight at it, the energy blast shot forward. The demon in its path had absolutely no chance of dodging it, but it still tried.
The blast hit the lizard demon full force, immediately ripping through its flesh as it screeched and wailed in agony. The blast shred it's body to pieces before vaporizing it, leaving nothing but a bit of ash in its wake.
As soon as the creature was gone, the energy subsided and Gaia's hand fell limp against her side.

Mouths hung agape on all who had witnessed the power Gaia had just used. They stood silently, staring at the young demon in shock.

"Wow Gaia, I didn't know you could do that! That's my girl!" Inuyasha boomed. But received an elbow in the gut from his mate.

"Not now Yasha, look." Kagome whispered through clenched teeth. She was proud her daughter was able to vanquish a demon at such a young age, however, the girl had never been attacked before, never had to experience the fear of dying, or even the fear of loved ones dying. Kagome remembered the first time she had to use her powers, it was devastating, not the act itself but the emotions she had felt.

Gaia looked at her hand. She could not believe what she had just done. Her knees started to shake, not from cold but of fear and stress. 'Did I really just do that?'
Then her nerves snapped like a twig, tears started to flow down her face, her whole body trembled and she felt the urge to vomit. Swallowing to keep the rising bile at bay, she choked back a sob.
Her vision was blurring from the tears, all her senses had melted down. She could only hear her own heart racing and blood flowing through her body, only smell the salt in her tears. She jumped when 2 soft arms grabbed her and squeezed her tight.
She couldn't hold it anymore and she started crying like she had never done before. Kagome slowly stroked her hair and murmured hushing sounds in her ear.

"It's ok sweetie, it's ok. You did really good, I'm so proud of you."

Aiyo walked up to Inuyasha, looking shocked and scared. Reaching down, he gathered the young Hanyou up in his arms and hugged her. Mimicking the movements Kagome had just used on their oldest daughter.

Together the party returned to the village while still contemplating the things that had just transpired. Kaede looked deep in thought as she led the young family home. Kagome carried a now sleeping Gaia, spend from her use of power, while Inuyasha carried an eerily silent Aiyo.

Silence fell over the village when they made their approach. The expression on the groups faces was enough for the villagers to know something had happened.
Miroku and Sango were the first to snap out of it and rushed to their friends side.

"What happened?" Sango asked, seeing the worry on Kaede's face.

"The girls and Kaede got attacked by a lizard demon, but Gaia kicked its asUMPH". Inuyasha got another elbow in the ribs before he could use profanity in front of the girls. "Sorry, kicked its behind." He continued.

"Really?" Miroku was shocked by the news.

"Yeah she used some energy blast of something, it was awesome!" Inuyasha's enthousiasme seemed to rub off on Aiyo as she started to giggle.

"Must have been scary though, poor thing, she's exhausted." Sango tugged a stray bit of hair that had gotten loose from her braid back behind Gaia's ear. The young demon stirred slightly before relaxing again in her mothers arms.

"Kagome, Inuyasha, we must talk." Kaede said sternly, startling the others.

Inuyasha and Kagome both nodded as the old miko made her way towards her hut.

"Give her to me Kagome, I'll take care of her while you talk. You can give Aiyo to Miroku, Inuyasha." Sango said softly as she gently took Gaia in her arms.

The couple made their way towards Kaede's hut, afraid of what the miko had to say.

"My Lord! I Have confirmed it! The rumors are true!"

"Really?" An amused sounding voice returned.

"Yes Sire, one of our lower level Youkai attacked the young girl when she was unprotected and got obliterated by the girl! It was most glorious Sire! The light was exactly like the jewel!"

"Marvelous, you've done well Hiko."

"Thank you my Lord, shall I send an extraction party?"

"As I recall this child is still very young correct? The jewel has only been destroyed 4 years ago."

"My Lord?"

"I don't see how such a young child could possibly have any control over her powers Hiko. As long as she doesn't, we have no use for her. No…let het stay in that village for a little while longer. Watch her carefully, and when the time is right, we will snatch her from them and use her powers." An evil grin spreading across the face of the demon.

"Yes my Lord, of course my Lord! As always a brilliant plan!"

The ugly imp like creature scurried away as it's master boomed an evil laugh that would chill even the bravest of foes.