I do not own Inuyasha or its characters.

Birth Rite ch19 Betrayal

The sun lit the world around them, and the forest began to stir with life. Inuyasha held Kagome against him, her heartbeat slow and steady, her breath whispering against his skin. How had he become so needy? And he was just that- needy. He needed her near him, needed to hear her heartbeat while he slept, needed her warmth and her smile; he needed her love.

He smiled faintly at the woman sleeping soundly in his embrace. She had entrapped his heart and soul the day he'd brought her into the world- he just hadn't realized it then.

Raising his eyes, his gaze found the red-haired demon resting against a tree a few feet away. He tried to imagine what the younger demon had lived through; he'd lost the woman he'd loved to Naraku, and Inuyasha's heart twisted painfully at the thought of losing Kagome.

He wondered how Shippo had made it all these years without the woman he'd loved. How had he found the strength to go on without her?

Inuyasha's gaze fell to his mate before raising to again study Shippo. No matter how he tried to hate him, it seemed there was something about the man that made that simple desire impossible. He understood in that moment why Kagome had brought him into their pack. He had no one, and she simply wanted to give him a family.

Inuyasha studied him for a moment longer. Long red hair draped over his shoulders, his pale face drawn in worry. His clawed hand moved over Kirara's head, his fingers combing through her pale white hair. It was obvious that Shippo cared for the female; a blind man could see it.

But perhaps he'd had someone after all. The way he cared for Kirara's wounds, and the way he'd responded when Kagome had told them she was in danger spoke volumes about the man's emotions concerning the woman. There was more to their relationship than met the eye.

" So who is she?" Inuyasha asked while moving slightly to allow Kagome a bit more comfort.

Shippo turned his head, his eyes meeting the deep gold of the demon who'd claimed his friend's heart. He held Kagome gently, the tenderness displayed in his soft touches saying more than words ever could; he loved her as much as she loved him. He'd known for years now that Inuyasha had meant the world to Kagome. She'd talked of him constantly in school, and on the track.

He smiled, his gaze moving to rest on Kirara though he couldn't see her face; she faced away from him. He'd known her forever it seemed, but until tonight he'd never realized just how much he cared for the woman.

Sighing softly, he allowed his head to fall back on the tree he rested against. He closed his eyes again to block the memories that threatened to consume him. Their relationship was complex, and it wasn't something easily explained.

" So?"

Inuyasha's voice brought him from his thoughts.

" She's a friend." Shippo replied solemnly.

" Try again..." Inuyasha smirked.

" What are you getting at Inuyasha?" Shippo growled becoming uncomfortable with where this conversation was heading.

" Well, for starters, she's more than ' just a friend '." Inuyasha replied, smiling when Shippo's hand stopped its movement.

Shippo's eyes flew open, their emerald depths clashing violently with the gold of his own.

" What makes you think that?" We go way back- that's all. " Shippo snapped, his hand resuming its previous task of combing through Kirara's hair.

" The way you touch her for one. And then there's your reaction when Kagome told us she was in trouble. "

" She's a friend, nothing more- nothing less. "

" She's a demon..." Inuyasha stated, enjoying the way Shippo's breath hitched in his throat, his body tensing slightly.

" How did you...?"

" I'm not blind. Her wounds have already started to heal. Humans don't heal that quickly, especially after a car accident and being attacked by a Vampire. And then there's this." he said tapping lightly on his nose. " It's kinda hard to mask your scent when you're fighting for your life. Now, are you gonna tell me what's going on, or should I continue making assumptions?" Inuyasha muttered, his hand raising to gently brush Kagome's hair away from her face.

" Does she know?" Shippo asked, his eyes falling to Kagome's sleeping form.

" I don't know for certain. I knew the second I got here. " Sniffing softly, Inuyasha snorted. " She smells like a cat. " Laughing softly, Inuyasha grinned lop-sidedly. " A cat among a pack of dogs. This should be interesting."

Shippo laughed. " She can handle herself, trust me. "

Silence consumed them again. Shippo let out a shaky breath, his decision to tell Inuyasha of his and Kirara's past teetering on doubt and fear. They'd only just met, and somewhere in the back of his mind he wondered if he dared trust him. He didn't want to share these things with Kagome, or with Sango though they were both dear friends. Females were always a bit more emotionally vulnerable, and he didn't want them upset by his past. This was a subject where his own emotions were more than enough to handle.

He glanced down at Kirara who still slept soundly, her head resting in his lap. She knew. She knew of the past he couldn't change. She'd seen it, lived through it. And they'd talked of it. They'd laughed and cried over it, but he just couldn't open up to her, no matter how desperately he wanted to. Every time they talked of Midioriko, Kirara would shut down for days at a time. The past hurt her as much as it did him. No, he couldn't speak even to her of this. Some things were better left unsaid.

" You don't have to talk about it. " Inuyasha muttered. " I can live the rest of my life without delving into your personal affairs. "

It didn't take much for Inuyasha to see the pain hidden beneath the Fox's skin. Memories were a bitch, especially ones that haunted every waking moment, and every night's dreams. Losing someone you cared for wasn't something easily talked about, especially with someone you hardly knew. Some things were better-off forgotten.

He jumped slightly when Shippo began to speak. Inuyasha watched him quietly. His eyes were glazed over, his bright emerald gaze shadowed by years of torment and pain.

" Kirara and I grew up together. Our parents died on the same battlefield fighting the same battle; a war between villagers who were frightened by our kind, and demons who merely wished to live and hunt in peace. The humans hunted us because they feared us, killing even pups who didn't know how to defend themselves.

My Father gathered what remained of us, no matter the breed, and together we fought back. But we were losing. There were so many humans, and we were so far outnumbered. It was decided that those of us who were young enough to reproduce would be paired up and sent deep into the forest while our elders fought a losing battle. They'd hoped that by sending us away it would guarantee offspring, that our kind would live on through our children; it was the only way to keep our kind from being wiped out .

Kirara and I were barely teenagers. No matter how we begged to stay and fight alongside our packs, our pleas were ignored. We were sent away while our families stayed to fight. For our parents it was a war that had to be waged. It was a war that cost Kirara and I our parents, our families. "

Shippo ran his hand through Kirara's hair, his mouth trying to form the words he had never spoken aloud. He'd never needed to. The only other being still alive who knew them was lying, injured, in his lap. The rest were long dead on a battlefield of the past. Dead, but not forgotten.

" I was paired with Kirara. I was to be her mate."

It was merely a whisper, but it was there just the same. Inuyasha was stunned, and deep inside he knew where this story was headed. His eyes fell to the female Shippo held to him, and his heart went out to the young woman. She moved then, but the movement went unnoticed by Shippo who was still lost in his memories. She was awake.

" You don't have to..." Inuyasha murmured only to be cut off in midsentence.

" Oh, but I do. " Shippo challenged, his voice heavy with barely restrained emotion.

" You see, I betrayed her. " Shippo growled, his voice quieting again, his eyes glistening softly beneath the curtain of unshed tears and guilt. " We hunted together, made a home together; a life. Kirara and I were still hunted by those damn villagers, and I was still trying to control the demon inside me. We grew up together, laughed and cried together. She was my best friend. But we never mated. We were still so young, and I could barely care for the two of us, let alone pups. So we settled for being close friends. We never spoke of our parents. We never spoke of our betrothal. And we never spoke of being mates.

One night I'd gone out to hunt, my inner demon still uncontrollable, and I met her; Midioriko. And I fell for her. God- I loved her. My world revolved around her, and somewhere amid all that was happening I forgot about the one person who had been with me from the start. I forgot about my best friend. And still Kirara stayed with me. I was supposed to be her mate, and every time I went to Midioriko she'd smile softly and tell me that it was all right. She'd tell me that in time she too would find someone, that she understood. "

Shippo closed his eyes. Taking a deep breath he started again, still not noticing that Kirara was awake, tears falling unnoticed from beautiful orange eyes.

" After Midioriko died, I wasn't the same. Kirara was there for me, but I couldn't look at her without seeing my betrayal, and even then I couldn't bring myself to regret the love I'd found with Midioriko. It was like a double-edged sword. No matter which way I went it was killing me.

In the end Kirara did leave. Not because she wanted to, but because I asked her to. I was so determined to find the bastard that killed Midioriko, and I didn't want to drag Kirara down with me. She deserved to find someone who would love her as I should have. And I couldn't be that person.

We met again through Kagome and Sango. She'd found herself a guy, and while I tried to happy for her, I couldn't help but feel betrayed. Ironic huh?" He snorted in disgust, and Inuyasha couldn't help dropping his eyes to his mate, only to raise them back up when Shippo started speaking again.

" So when Kagome offered a place here with her family I jumped at the chance. I thought it would be a new start. It would give Kirara the life she deserved as well. And then this..." he said, his hand raising to show their surroundings. "

Inuyasha watched for a moment longer before finding his voice. But what came out of his mouth next was unexpected- for both of them.

" Do you love her?" Inuyasha asked, his head dipping to point to the woman still resting in Shippo's lap. Her eyes jerked to his, and he smiled softly at her. She deserved to know. After all, it seemed they'd both been alone for far to long.

Shippo smiled, a sad, tortured look etched on his face. He never noticed the slight smile on Inuyasha's face, never noticed the wide-eyed expression on Kirara's.

"Would it matter if I did? When I was young, I thought that it was merely an attachment; I couldn't love my best friend in that way. And then I met Midiorioko, and what I felt for her wasn't the same. But when Kagome told me Kirara was in danger ..." he paused, his hand raising to clutch his chest." it felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest all over again. I lost one woman I loved, I couldn't stand to lose Kirara too. It would kill me to lose her."

" Do you mean it?"

Shippo's heart stopped at the sound of her voice, and his eyes closed against the sight of Kirara's head raising from its place on his lap. This can't be happening. Why didn't I notice she was awake...

His eyes snapped open when something soft brushed past his lips. She was there before him, straddling his waist, her face so close to his own; he was caught in the uncertain beauty of twin orange eyes.

He opened his mouth to say something, anything, but words failed to form. His eyes darted to Inuyasha, who was trying his best to untangle his claws from Kagome's hair, then back to Kirara's beautiful face. How had he missed it before? How had he never seen the beauty he'd had all along? He could never regret the love he'd felt for Midioriko, but he wouldn't deny how he felt for Kirara now.

" I should have seen what I had all along. Perhaps then I wouldn't have hurt you...perhaps then Midioriko would have lived, and this whole nightmare might never have happened. " Shippo whispered, his eyes falling from her face.

Kirara nudged his chin up, her eyes shining with tears that streaked one by one down her face.

" You can't help who you fall in love with, or when you fall in love with them. You can only follow your heart where it leads you, and hope in the end that things will be as they should. Don't ever rue the love you had with her. You have to live for the moment, because you never know when that moment will be taken from you." Kirara whispered, her eyes falling to his mouth before moving back up to study his emerald ones. " We were young Shippo. We can't help the position our parents put us in. But we can live for today. We can start over, here and now. No obligations."

With a low growl Shippo reached to embrace her. She fell against him, and in the distance Inuyasha swore he could hear a content purr rumble softly from the woman with orange eyes. Glancing back down to his mate, he returned her smile as she too watched what was happening a few feet from them.

' You did that on purpose, didn't you?" She whispered, slapping his arm lightly when he donned a look of innocence at her question.

" Did what? " He murmured, his lips falling to catch hers in a tender kiss.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Naraku stood in the shadows of the forest. He took first one step, then two making his way into the light of day. He felt the warmth of the sun on his flesh, something two hundred years could never make him forget. The sneer on his face grew when he caught sight of his destination; a cave hidden in the rock wall a few hundred yards away. He'd have never found this place if it hadn't been for Kagome's memories. Masking his scent he allowed his body to evaporate.

He wondered just how much energy it would take to make that cave collapse on itself, and the occupants within it. But he'd have to take it slow, make sure that everything was done perfectly. After all- what good was a housewarming party if all the guests weren't present?

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx\

Hey all. I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO sorry for the long wait. I was hoping that things in my life were becoming less hectic, but it seems I was very wrong. A few more things left to do on the house, and I should be relatively caught up...I hope.

I hope you all are well and happy. I miss hearing from you.. Things are moving along here. The inside of my house is nearly finished, and the landscaping will be finished by next week. All that is left is some new siding, and a new furnace.. I sooo can't wait.

I am sorry for not getting back to you guys on your reviews. Please forgive me? I read them all, and I dearly love receiving them, but honestly the last few weeks have been something else. I do read them, and appreciate each one- so please don't stop sending them.

I hope this chapter was interesting. It most certainly didn't turn out as I had thought it might, but it can't be helped. It should be longer than the last few though. I had the first ¼ of it written about 3 weeks ago, but only just finished the last ¾ today. So please forgive any errors you may find. I am certain there are a few.

I am hoping to get more up soon. I know where this story is headed, I just need the time to sit and write it. But, please stick with me. I swear I will not give up on this fic. When things slow down, and snow starts falling- I will most definitely have loads more time..it'll be to cold to do any work outside...so that leaves me- my computer, and a few hours every day to write...just give me a little while longer. Okay?

Hope you like- please let me know?

Until then...Neisha