Forever Yours

Chapter Eleven: Challenge to the Hanyou's Legacy

At over 200 years old, Kagome was long past the days of pup-hood. And yet, here she was, feeling very much like a young pup as she sough the comfort that only a mother could give.

Through tears, Kagome broke down and told her mother everything that had happened from the time she left home, up until her eventually capture by the demon exterminators. She left nothing out, except for the intimate moments she and InuYasha shared, of course. Her mother did not need to know that. She made sure to explain the part Kouga played, so her mother understood why Kagome was so dead set on hurting him like she did.

Mrs. Higurashi was surprised to learn all that had happened, and was especially surprised just how much Kouga was involved in what had happened. Once her daughter finished her long tale, a pregnant pause reigned down upon the two female inu demon for some time.

"I'm sorry, Mama." Kagome spoke, breaking the silence. "I know I shamed you and Papa, and I am so sorry!" Tears threatened to spill their way from her eyes yet again, but with great difficulty she held them back.

"No, my child, it is I who am sorry." Tears also threatened to fall from Lady Higurashi's eyes as she spoke. "We forced this on you, when you were not ready. Perhaps if we had given you more time… or more options… I don't know…." She trailed of, unsure of what else to say.

"I don't think there was anything you could have done to make the outcome different." Kagome admitted. "I've grown up a lot in the last few days, and realized my reaction was wrong and immature. Though I can't find it in myself to regret it."

"Perhaps you are right. Though you did create quite a mess of things, didn't you?" The elder woman said with a soft smirk through her chuckles.

Kagome returned the giggles through watery eyes. It was so good to be home again. "I guess I did." She admitted.

Then the somberness between the two changed swiftly, as a mischievous look formed behind Lady Higurashi's eyes.

"So tell me, then, is he quite the looker?"

"Mama!" Kagome pulled away from her mother to look at her with shocked eyes. Was this really the time for such questions?

"What?! I just want to know about the man who stole my daughter's heart!" Lady Higurashi pretended to be indignant at her daughter's reaction. She waggled a clawed finger in her daughter's face playfully. "I am your mother and only want what is best for you!"

"What does how he looks have anything to do with the kind of man he is?"

"A lot! It lets me know when I can expect some grand-pups! If you can't keep your paws off of him, that's usually a good sign!"

Embarrassed, Kagome looked away while trying hard not to smile too broadly. "Then you have nothing to worry about."

Lady Higurashi smiled fondly at her daughter's embarrassment, successfully hiding the worry she truly felt inside. While she watched her daughters emotions swirl at the memory of her mate, the elder youkai recalled her earlier conversation with her own mate, just moments before…

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"Be reasonable about this! You know as well as I do that what's done is done, and can't be reversed! What you are doing, should he fail, is a death sentence for your daughter! Your own flesh and blood! How could you do this?!"

"She chose this path, now she must accept her fate." The demon lord returned coldly.

"Her fate?! This is your daughter for goodness sake! Can you not let go of your pride for even one moment to see what you are doing to this family?!" The youkai lord watched his wife stomp her foot in outrage. It was a true sign that she was upset with him. His mate, always one to be docile and forgiving, very rarely reacted with anger. She always seemed to remain calm, no matter the situation. She believed anger only made things worse, and as such hardly ever raised her voice. It was one of the things he loved about her.

"Do not forget, she went against our wishes!" Lord Higurashi reminded his mate. "We agreed that at her age she was too wild and this betrothal is what was best for her. That it was time for her to grow up and settle down."

"But not like this! I didn't agree to this! I want what's best for her, yes. And I did think that Kouga could have been good for her, but now I'm not so sure." Lord Higurashi watched as his lady's gaze grew somber and she stared off into the distance. "I just want her to be happy! And I thought you felt the same!"

"Of course I want our daughter to be happy! But I also want what is best for her! She needs to know she can't go running off whenever something does not go her way."

Her silver-eyed gaze met his again, fire returning to their depths. "I agree with you. But this isn't the way to go about teaching her a lesson. If you can't see that your daughter is suffering…. Then you're not the demon lord I thought you were."

Shocked at the words that left his mate's mouth, the demon lord could do nothing but watch as she spun on her heels and left him alone without so much as a backward glance.

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"Mama?" Her daughter's tentative voice brought her back from her memory, allowing her eyes to refocus on the worried face of her first born.

"Yes, my darling?" With a soft smile she tucked a wayward strand of her child's hair behind her ear.

"What do we do now?" Kagome chewed her bottom lip in concern. "Daddy must hate me."

"He doesn't hate you. He's just stubborn. Much like you are." Kagome at least had the grace to look bashful at her mother's comment. "I'll figure something out. In the meantime you just try to stay out of trouble, okay?"

Kagome nodded, solemnly. "Thanks, Mama."

"But this doesn't mean you're off the hook with me either! We have things to talk about, young lady. Like your behavior, when things don't go your way. Though, if you can promise me grand-pups in the near future I might be swayed to let you off easy."

"Mother!"

Chuckling at her daughter's discomfort, Lady Higurashi allowed herself this moment to forget about the difficulties that lay ahead.

InuYasha circled the large and domineering Higurashi estate, looking for any weaknesses that would allow him to sneak his way in. He was sure now, that he had found the right place. The wolf's stench hung heavy in the air, as well as that of his distressed mate's and the scent of those of her family.

The sun was beginning to set, alerting the hanyou that he would soon becoming into yet another day without his mate.

His youkai blood within him surged at this realization. He had been parted from her for far too long and without her soothing scent and the concrete knowledge she was unharmed, he would soon be lost to himself.

Already he had great difficulty soothing the beast within, and it wouldn't be much longer until his beast would be set free—revenge the only thing on his mind.

On his third circle around the property, the wind shifted just enough for the hanyou's nose to pick up a strong trail of his mate's scent (he cringed internally at the anguish that radiated from the normally alluring and addicting aroma), that at least indicated the section of the estate where she was most likely located.

Unfortunately, the discovery of where his woman was being held up, also distracted him from learning he was no longer alone until it was too late.

"So this is the mongrel that has ensnared my daughter."

InuYasha spun around swiftly, muscles tense and ready to react to anything that might happen. The half-demon knew immediately that the youkai before him was his mate's father. He smelled as if he were kin to her, and the similar features could only mean they were related.

The male demons circled one another, assessing the other for any signs of weakness.

Lord Higurashi was not at all impressed with the young male before him. His hair was unruly and the jagged purple markings flashing across his cheeks were disgraceful to his ancient eyes. It proved to the elder youkai that the hanyou's youki was unsettled, and unpredictable and therefore he was an unworthy mate for his daughter.

InuYasha growled lowly in his throat, sensing the assessment his opponent was making of him and he did not like it.

The challenged was unspoken, and the hanyou accepted.

"Where is Kagome?" InuYasha demanded. He wanted to rip the throat out of the demon before him, but this man was the only thing standing between him and his mate, and as much as he wanted to go on a rampage to retrieve her, he wouldn't be able to live with himself if she got hurt in the process.

"That is none of your concern at the moment. You should instead worry about yourself, hanyou." Lord Higurashi replied, disdain apparent in his tone. "If I have my way you'll never see her again."

"She will always be my concern!" The half dog demon snapped. "She is mine! You will take me to my mate!"

InuYasha charged forward then, claws extended. Unfortunately, in his rage his movement was clumsy, and the elder youkai was able to avoid the onslaught with ease. Using the momentum the attack created, Lord Higurashi swiftly withdrew the sword from his belt and pointed its sharp end at the hanyou's throat.

"Or else what?" Lord Higurashi snapped, his youki swelling in rage. "You'll see my daughter, when and if I allow you to do so. You are not in a position to make demands of me."

"You can't keep me from her." InuYasha's eyes narrowed, showing no fear despite the vulnerable position he appeared to be in.

"I am her father." Lord Higurashi responded as if that solved everything. He then withdrew his sword to take a step forward and tower over the half-demon imposingly.

"And I'm her mate. You have no authority over her any longer." InuYasha asserted confidently, refusing to allow the older inu to dominate and intimidate him.

The aged dog demon stared the hanyou before him down for several minutes in silence. Though he would never admit it, he was slightly impressed with the male before him. Despite the fact that only half of his blood belonged to that of his kind, his youki was strong. He surprisingly appeared to be in relative control of the large youki surrounded him.

Then Lord Higurashi's eyes flashed as an idea came to him.

"I have heard of an inu hanyou, rumored to be the forgotten son of none other than the late Inu No Taishou." The demon lord began, a smirk lit up his features as if he were about to reveal some great secret.

InuYasha stared his foe down, not knowing exactly where this conversation was going. His father was the last thing on the hanyou's mind. All he wanted to do was kill this bastard that was keeping him from his female. The fact that this demon before him was kin to his mate was the only thing keeping him alive at the moment as far as InuYasha was concerned. He may be preventing him from seeing her, but InuYasha knew the hurt that came from loosing his father, and he refused to be the one to bestow such pain upon the woman he loved.

"Have you now?" InuYasha responded. "And what does that have to do with me?"

"Though I did not know him well, he and I did cross paths a few times during his lifetime. Enough so that I recognize the same determination behind your eyes that I often saw behind his when he was after something he wanted." Lord Higurashi recalled fondly.

"I'm glad to remind you of such fond memories." InuYasha snorted in annoyance. "But what does this have to do with me?"

"It is said that he bestowed upon his hanyou son his most precious of legacies, and in doing so rebuffed his first-born heir of what should have been his birthright. What no one could ever understand is why he would choose to give something of such great power and importance to a hanyou, and not a full youkai like Sesshoumaru." There was a strange look of humor on the demon lord's face as his eyes met the hanyou's.

InuYasha didn't say anything, just continued to stare the demon before him down, not liking the direction this conversation was going.

"It is said you can't even wield it! A hanyou, given the most powerful of weapons and he can't even use it!" A dark chuckle left the dark-haired demon's throat. "It is to be expected, though. What, with your weakened blood, after all."

InuYasha's eyes narrowed at the insult and his fists clenched as the desire to not kill the demon before him grew steadily weaker.

"However, I'm prepared to make you a proposition."

Ears turned forward, the hanyou's attention focused completely on the inu lord's next words. "I'm listening." He allowed.

"If you can wield the sword—at it's full potential—I'll give you my blessing and allow you to be with my daughter."

At the elder youkai's words, (who was he to imply that he could ever be denied his mate, father or not?) InuYasha's inner demon seethed, though he didn't show it on the outside. He appeared calm, as if unbothered by the task presented to him.

Unfortunately, Kagome's father was right—he had never been able to use the old and beat up sword his father has given to him after his death. And so he had cast it aside—having no use for something he could not utilize. Retrieving the cast off would not be easy….

But for Kagome, he would do anything.

"I'll do it." InuYasha gave a terse nod, showing his agreement. "But I demand to see her before I go."

"No. You will see nothing of her until you complete your task, or never again should you fail." The inu lord returned firmly, allowing no room for argument.

InuYasha understood the unspoken threat in the youkai lord's words. Should he fail in his task, he would kill him.

The hanyou would never let that happen.

"Fine." InuYasha growled before dashing through the trees, unable to stand being in the presence of the infuriating demon before him any longer.

The youkai lord watched him leave, a smug look upon his face.

With the day almost at an end, Kagome weakly snuggled deeply into her bed. She felt sick—feverish. With nothing else to distract her—like killing Kouga for his travesties against her—the young woman was overcome with her despair at the uncertainly of InuYasha's fate. The idea that he could be hurt somewhere, alone and with out her made her sick.

Sighing, Kagome focused her attention upon her younger brother, who had come to her shortly after her mother had left, and since then had clung tightly to her side.

Together in silence they hid under the covers of her bed, the younger of the two afraid if he left her he would never see his big sister ever again.

Kagome smiled tenderly as she ran a hand through her younger sibling's short raven-locks. When her mother had left to go seek out her father, the youngest of the household had seen that as his moment to finally become properly reunited with his one and only sister. He clung to her, sobbing, whispering his fears of never seeing her again, of never being able to play their favorite games together.

It was then that Kagome regretted leaving him the way she did. She not only hadn't been the best daughter lately, but also had failed to be a good big sister to her brother. Dog demons were pack oriented. While the older members of the pack were more independent, it was the younger ones that more often felt lost and alone when even one member of the pack was missing. Knowing everyone was together and nearby was heavily engrained in their idea of safety and home.

It was only after she promised they would never be parted like that again and that they would play many more of their favorite games together did the youngest Higurashi heir relax and calm down.

Holding her brother close, Kagome did her best to hide her distress and discomfort from him. She did not want to worry him any more than she already had.

Food had been brought to the siblings shortly after, but Kagome had been unable to eat given the state of stress she was in. Souta, on the other hand, assured his sister wouldn't be leaving him anytime soon, had gobbled down every bit of nourishment offered to him. He was a growing pup after all, and Kagome was glad to see him eat so heartily.

The young woman was glad for the distractions from her dark thoughts her brother offered her. She needed him now far more than he would probably ever realize.

Her brother had already drifted off to sleep, when Kagome heard a soft knock at her door and her mother entered.

The look in her mother's eyes told Kagome that whatever her mother had to say to her was not good news.

"Kagome…."

Kagome ran through the forest, feeling a sense of déjà vu. It wasn't that many days ago that she had been making her first escape from the place that had been her home for her whole life. The only difference this time was she had both her mother and her brother's blessing.

The happiest of news had been given to her. Her mate was alive and well! But then her mother had informed her of what had transpired while she had been holed up in her room. Her father had met with InuYasha…..

"Your mate won't be near for much longer. Your father has made him a proposition…." Her mother's words echoed in her head. "He will honor your mating if, and only if he can prove his worth… The task your father has given him is very difficult, and should he fail…"

Kagome's heart thundered in her chest, knowing the unspoken threat in her mother's words. Her father would kill him if InuYasha failed to prove himself. And if his daughter didn't die of heartbreak, she would be forced to take Kouga as her mate.

Kagome gagged at the mere idea of being bound to Kouga in any way. Like hell would she allow that happen! She had to get to InuYasha, before it was too late.

'InuYasha… I'm coming. Please… wait for me.' The inu female pleaded desperately.

She had finally picked up his retreating scent after several minutes of panicked searching, and her pace quickened in desperation to reach him. Kagome could feel him now; feel his youki calling out for her, as if he too sensed she was near.

Excitement pulsed through her veins in anticipation. As she ran Kagome recalled the rest of her conversation with her mother. It was startling information.

"He has a sword that can kill a 100 demon in a single swing? My mate?" Kagome was awed at the new information. Apparently there was a lot she didn't know about her hanyou lover. Something she would love the chance to rectify.

"Yes. But it is said that he can't even wield his father's fabled weapon. It is said that the sword won't even awaken for him, and that he cast it aside, scorning his late father, and dishonoring his legacy."

Kagome had frowned at her mother's word before she spoke:

"InuYasha will succeed. No matter what they say. I believe in him."

Aw, crap! I'm sorry guys! I know it has been far too long since I updated. I got caught up in life and well… here we are! Months later! I do have outlines for the next few chapters so I can't imagine it taking me that long to get the next updates out. I'll try my best!

I'm actually pretty excited for the next chapters to come. I feel this story coming to an end, though I'm not sure just how many more chapters there will be. We are however, over the hump, and steadily heading to the end!

Please Review! I'd love to hear from you!