Disclaimer: I own nothing from Inuyasha. I make no profit from this story.
By the time they had reached the village, Kaiya had calmed down a lot and was no longer growling. Instead she was relaxing in her hold and observing her surroundings silently. Kagome had also calmed down from the earlier event, however her mind was still going over Sesshoumaru and the confrontation with him. She was still worried, more so about Kaiya than herself. She hated not knowing what to expect and that was exactly how it was with Sesshoumaru. No one could tell what he was thinking or what his next move would be, it frightened her, more so now than before because her daughter was involved.
Sighing softly she shifted her hold on Kaiya into a more comfortable position. Her daughter made a small noise of protest before quieting down once more and again looking at the path before them. Glancing ahead, Kagome could see the hut where her friends resided in the distance and she felt her excitement for seeing them again begin to outweigh her fear from the earlier event. She couldn't wait to see them again, nor could she wait to introduce them to Kaiya. She was sure that Kaiya would love them and that they would love her.
"Oi! Wench! Why are you standin there with a stupid expression? Let's go!"
Kagome blinked in surprise at Inuyasha's voice. She didn't even notice that she had stopped walking, chucking nervously Kagome offered Inuyasha a sheepish smile. "Sorry about that Inuyasha" she stated before her mind registered what he had called her. She then huffed and her eyes narrowed at her friend "Also Inuyasha, it would be best if you didn't call me wench again, you know my name" she warned.
Inuyasha's ears tweaked and he huffed and glanced away from her. "Yeah, Yeah whatever. Let's get goin already." he grumbled. Shaking her head in amusement Kagome nodded and began following after her friend as he lead the way.
It didn't take them long to get to the hut and Kagome tried to restrain her smile and excitement when she noticed that her friends were already outside waiting for them. Picking up her pace she walked up to them with a small smile on her lips. "Hey guys!" she greeted happily.
Sango approached her first and returned her smile. "Hi Kagome! It's good to see you again" she greeted as her gaze went down toward her daughter her friend's smile widened. "This must be Kaiya, she's so cute"
Kagome smiled and nodded, glancing down at Kaiya she noticed her daughter was giving Sango the usual 'inspection' she gave to new people. "It's good to see you too Sango. Thank you, and don't mind Kaiya's look she usually gives everyone she doesn't know that look" she stated as she noticed Sango's worried expression as to what her daughter was doing.
Sango sighed softly and nodded as an expression of relief came to her face. Kagome glanced upward as she noticed Miroku making his way over to them. He stopped before them with a wide smile on his face. "Lady Kagome, it's a pleasure to see you again" he greeted before turning his attention towards Kaiya. "And Lady Kaiya is as beautiful as her mother" he added.
A scoff came from Inuyasha "Yeah pervert, you better stay away from er'" he stated as he looked at the monk with a serious expression.
Miroku frowned as he glanced at Inuyasha. "Come now Inuyasha, this monk does have some morals."
Sango snickered beside her "When looking at you monk, morals is not the first thing that comes to mind" she stated. Kagome giggled lightly at the bickering between her companions. Her fear from earlier was now completely gone.
"Lady Sango, Lady Kagome. Your words and laughter wound this honorable monk" Miroku stated as he held his hand to his chest as though he was actually wounded though the smirk on his face made it obvious that the monk was not serious.
Kagome shook her head in amusement. "Sorry Miroku" Kagome stated with a light snicker. She then glanced around the area and frowned slightly. "Where's Shippo?" she questioned. She didn't get the chance to see him before she went back to her time, she was afraid he would be upset with her not coming back to see him before leaving for such a long time.
Sango smiled softly at her. "Don't worry Kagome, he'll be back later. When he heard you were returning he insisted on going with Keade to catch fish for your welcome back dinner" she stated.
Kagome sighed in relief and nodded. "Okay" she replied and shifted her hold on Kaiya once more. Sango noticed her action and smiled once more. "Let's get inside so you can sit down and rest, I'm sure Kaiya wants to get on the ground too" she suggested.
Kagome nodded "Sounds good to me" she stated with a smile as she followed all three of her friends into the small hut.
As they walked into the hut Kagome noticed that the luggage Inuyasha had brought earlier was leaning against one wall. Walking over to it she grabbed Kaiya's diaper bag and made her way towards where her friends were already seating. Handing Kaiya over to Inuyasha, she settled herself onto the ground and set Kaiya's diaper bag down beside her.
Opening it up she pulled out a blanket that Kaiya favored and laid it down on the floor in front of her. Glancing back at Inuyasha she giggled as she noticed Kaiya was glaring at Inuyasha and pulling on his hair. She knew that Kaiya loved her uncle, but she also seemed to enjoy torturing him more than anything else. "Here Inuyasha, give me Kaiya back" she stated as she held out her hands.
Inuyasha huffed and cringed as he took his hair from the pup in his hold. "Finally" he muttered before handing her over to Kagome. He rubbed his scalp and pouted. "Man I swear that pup takes after her father even without knowing him. She's out to get me"
Kagome shook her head with slight amusement at his words as she settled Kaiya down onto the blanket and handed her one of her favorite toys. "Come on now Inuyasha, she's not out to get you she just likes playing...rough" she replied with a light snicker.
Inuyasha simply grumbled in reply. Kagome's attention was brought away from her daughter and the pouting hanyou when Sango hesitantly began speaking. "About your daughter's father Kagome...Inuyasha wouldn't tell us who her father was and said that we would have to ask you ourselves so.."
Kagome smiled at her friend before looking down at her daughter who was now playing with the toys she had been given "Don't worry Sango, it's better you know now than find out later. Her father is Sesshoumaru" she replied. She didn't have to look up to know her friends were shocked to find out who the father was, and she didn't blame them. "It's not like he did it on purpose though so please, you guys, don't talk badly about him or hate him for something he had no control over"
Inuyasha growled lowly, the noise catching Kaiya's attention. "What do you mean he had no control over it?" he questioned, this was the first time he had ever really heard Kagome talk about it. He had no idea why she was trying to defend his bastard of a brother.
Kagome glanced at him for a second before looking back at Kaiya and frowning. "It's exactly as I said. He had no control over his actions that night. I believe he lost control of himself and in that time is when it happened" she replied hesitantly, this was really the last thing she wanted to talk about with not only Inuyasha and the group, but she knew she had to. She didn't want Kaiya to grow up with people bad mouthing her father, even if he would not be apart of her life. He didn't deserve the hate for something that was out of his control.
"Lady Kagome, when exactly was Lady Kaiya conceived?" Miroku questioned, speaking for the first time since they had entered the hut.
"Spring" Kagome replied, as she watched her friends as they seemed to be studying her daughter. She knew they wouldn't harm her, even if she was a hanyou. She also knew that no one in the village would harm her daughter either as they had, more or less, excepted Inuyasha, Shippo and Kirara with open arms.
Miroku and Sango both nodded as understanding seemed to flash in their eyes. "Ah, that makes sense then" Miroku stated.
Sango nodded in agreement. "Yes, not even Lord Sesshoumaru would be able to withstand the heat." Sango added in.
Kagome frowned at that statement, there had been something that had been bothering her since she had found out why the event that night had happened. Deciding a monk and a demon slayer may have the answer to her question, she decided to ask. Glancing at Inuyasha quickly, she noticed he seemed to be in a world of his own. So she turned her attention towards her two friends. "I have a question about that, why was Inuyasha not affected by the season. When he is technically an 'animal' and a demon?" she questioned.
She noticed Inuyasha blush and huff before looking away and Sango and Miroku hid their snickers of amusement. Miroku was the first to reply. "The answer to that lady Kagome is simple. He did feel the affect of the season but because he is only a half demon it wasn't as strong as it normally is for full demons."
Sango nodded "That's right, Half-demons aren't as affected by most things that bother or affect demons through the seasons. However, Inuyasha also has the help of his sword to repress his demon desires"
Kagome nibbled softly on her bottom lip and nodded. It made sense in a way, glancing down at her daughter she sighed softly. "So you think that Kaiya won't be affected by these things either?" she questioned.
Sango frowned and shrugged. "Demons or half demons, don't usually become affected by these desires until they reach adolescence. So you have awhile before you need to worry about anything" she stated "Right Inuyasha?" she questioned.
Inuyasha glanced over at them and shrugged his shoulders. "Yeah, but inu's usually don't have as much problems as other demon types. If you're worried about it we could go to Totosai and ask him to make something for Kaiya that will repress her demon desires" he stated.
Kagome frowned "Wouldn't we need something from Sesshoumaru for that?" she questioned.
Inuyasha shrugged "Maybe, but I think anything that belongs to an Inu demon will do" he replied with a frown as he began to think it over.
Well that doesn't help much Kagome thought as she turned her attention back towards Kaiya. If she was to be honest with herself, the worry of Kaiya losing herself to her demon half had always frightened her. She didn't know if she would need Sesshoumaru's help to contain it or if there was something else she could do to contain it.
She wondered if Kaiya would end up crazed like Inuyasha was when he did not have his sword with him. It worried her, because she didn't know what Kaiya's future held or how she would be able to help her daughter alone. She shook her head. No, she wasn't alone with Kaiya she had her family in her time, and her friends in this time to help her. But the thought of 'will that be enough' always haunted her thoughts.
Kagome was pulled from her thoughts as the flap covering the entrance of the hut pushed back. Glancing toward it she smiled as Shippo came into view, her smile widened as the small fox kit noticed her and rushed towards her. "Kagome!" he exclaimed as he hugged her stomach tightly. "I've missed you so much. I'm so glad you're okay!"
Kagome patted his head in an affectionate manner. "I missed you too Shippo and of course I'm okay. I heard you went fishing with Keade?" she questioned as she continued to brush her fingers through the kit's hair.
Shippo nodded as his chest puffed out showing that he was obviously pleased with himself. "Yup, I caught a bunch of fish" he stated happily.
Kagome watched in surprise as Shippo jumped and small growling came from the ground. Glancing down she noticed Kaiya had made her way over to them and was grasping Shippo's pants and glaring at the kit as she growled. Kagome frowned, surprised by her daughter's behavior. She unlatched her daughter's hand from Shippo's pants and lifted her daughter up so she too was sitting on her lap. "Kaiya , stop growling" she scolded as she looked between her daughter and Shippo with worry.
Inuyasha chuckled "It's pointless trying to stop her right now Kagome. She's letting the runt now that you're hers and that she doesn't like him being so affectionate with you." he stated, not bothering to hide his amusement at the situation. It didn't help ease Kagome's worry any, she thought for sure that Shippo and Kaiya would get along, but then Kaiya has only been socialized with adults.
Seeing her friends worry at the situation, Sango spoke up. "Don't worry Kagome, once Kaiya gets use to Shippo she will know that he means no harm" she stated.
Kagome still didn't like it, but she somewhat understood what they were trying to tell her. Glancing down at Shippo she offered him an apologetic smile. "Sorry Shippo"
The small kit offered her a shaky smile and got off her lap. "It's okay Kagome, it's my fault for not thinking of this before" he replied as he looked hesitantly as Kaiya before putting some space between them.
Kagome nodded and sighed softly as she rubbed Kaiya's back and waited for her daughter to calm. After a few moments, the relaxing technique worked and her daughter stopped growling but continued to glare at Shippo. Shaking her head, Kagome glanced at the others in the room. "When do you guys want to leave to go search for the jewel shards?" she questioned.
The three adults shrugged their shoulders. "it doesn't matter, but I think Kaiya should get use to this time and the rest of us first" Sango stated "Just encase you need to leave her with us at any time"
Kagome nodded, that made sense. "Alright, I think that's a good idea" she replied. While she did agree with Sango about Kaiya needed to form a bond with all of them before they set out in their travels. She also thought it would be safer for Kaiya right now if they stayed in the village for awhile. She doubted Sesshoumaru would enter a village with mostly humans in it.
Glancing back at her friends, she hummed softly. "So what should we do now?" she questioned.
Inuyasha was the first to answer. "How about some food?" he questioned, "I'm really hungry right now." Turning his attention toward Shippo he smirked at the kit. "Runt, where's the fish you caught with Keade?" he questioned.
Shippo huffed "Keade's got em' She was pickin some herbs and said she'd be here in a little" he replied.
Kagome shook her head in amusement. "Well, while we wait I'll fix some ramen. Do we have any water or do we need to get some?" she questioned as she sat Kaiya back down onto her blanket and stood up.
"We need to get some" Sango replied as she too stood up. "I'll go get that now, monk you go and get some wood for the fire" she stated, Miroku nodded and got up and the two of them left the hut.
When the two of them left, Kagome went toward her other bag and began digging through it to find the ramen she had brought back with her. She really hoped that before they left to go search for the jewel shards that Kaiya could form a bond with the others in the group, mostly Shippo because if not, the trip would be rather difficult for them all especially because she did have a close bond with Shippo she would like for them to get along.