Inuyasha's Baby Chapter 13: Big Bad Wolf, an inuyasha fanfic

Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story (and Hikari) belongs to me.

Big Bad Wolf

My sweet Hikari,

I love you, my dear sweet baby. I'm so grateful for every moment you are in my life. You are our treasure.

I see so much of your father in you sometimes. I love you both dearly, and you both put many gray hairs on my head. My hair will be as white as your father's by the time you are grown. You both are so smart, too. You soak up new words with amazing speed. Even some of your father's words that we will work on getting you out of the habit of saying. Of course, it would help if everyone didn't think it was hysterical every single time you say them.

Keeping up with you is going to be a full time job from now on.

Now sweetie, don't' forget that we are always here for you no matter what. Remember that. Wherever life takes you, you can always come home to us.

Your Loving Mama

"You ain't a real demon," scoffed an annoying young wolf demon cub with flame red hair and eyes as blue as ice. Not to mention a rotten personality. The meanie. "You were raised by a human and a hanyou!"

"Shut up!"

"Make me! You gonna go cry to your human, widdle kit?"

Shippo clenched his fists in tight little balls and glared at Kouga's son. The young wolf was always picking fights every time he came with his father to come see his mama. Though the jerk was always sure to speak about Kagome with respect and warmth in his father's presence. Manipulative brat. Unfortunately Shippo wasn't allowed to hit him either. He wasn't supposed to hit kids younger than him, even if they were loud mouthed jerks like Ban. Even in his anger, Shippo snickered at the nickname. Kouga had arrogantly named his son 'Bantan', meaning 'everything', but 'Ban' meant 'barbarian'. His little sister had accidently given the wolf a nickname that he absolutely detested the first time she said his name.

"Come on and fight me!"

"You no yell Pipo!" She came out of nowhere and launched herself at the wolf demon, tiny (not to mention razor sharp) teeth sinking into his arm. Ban fell to the ground and yelped, Hikari growled and shook her head with his arm firmly in her teeth. Eventually (too soon in Shippo's opinion) she let go and he jumped back up and stared at his bleeding arm in disbelief.

"OW!"

"Pipo my brudder! Mine! Bad Ban! BIG BAD WOLF SIT!"

The almost but not quite two year old looked exactly like a chibi angry Kagome as she pointed at him, even with her white hair and puppy ears. He couldn't help grin at her, and at the stupid look on Ban's face when he sat on command when she ordered him to 'sit'. It wasn't magic, he was simply responding to the absolute authority in her voice. Hikari didn't get mad often, but when she did, she practically burned with it. Shippo was glad that Inuyasha liked to tell Hikari the fairytales that involved Big Bad Wolves nearly every night. Kagome may roll her eyes at his choice of bedtime story, but he was glad of it. Ban was nothing but a pain.

Shippo laughed out loud when his little sister grabbed on to him ferociously with her tiny arms, obviously claiming him as her possession. He didn't mind. He hugged her back then stuck his tongue out at the infuriated wolf cub.

Then they disappeared.

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Bantan was in tears when he found his father arguing with Hikari's. They always argued. Just like him and Shippo. Usually the last thing he would do was get in the middle of it the grown ups' fight, he would ignore it like everyone else ignored it. But not this time. He raced right past his mother who was politely talking with Hikari's mother.

He needed his dad.

And possibly Hikari's dad too.

"FATHER!" He threw himself at his father's legs. He hadn't meant to start crying, it just sort of... happened. Good thing his brothers weren't here to see this or he would never live it down.

His father's eyes narrowed slightly, such childish behavior wasn't acceptable, he knew that. Especially in front of the hanyou. Bantan tried to pull himself together, but he couldn't stop the tears or the jagged shuddering breaths he managed to take. Hikari was gone... and it was all his fault. Shame burned in him. Bravely he raised his eyes to Hikari's father. But Inuyasha had already stiffened and was sniffing the air. Then he was gone, shouting Hikari's name before Bantan could even say a word.

He watched as Kagome's head snapped around the moment she heard her mate yell out Hikari's name. The herbs she was gathering fell to the ground with the basket as she leapt to her feet. There was a roar, and Bantan felt like he was shrinking. He wouldn't live to see the sun set... he just knew it. He had expected his father to scold him, or punish him, or even send him out to let Inuyasha deal the punishment. He hadn't expected his father to stand in front of him protectively.

His mother ran to Kagome's side. The women searched the area while Inuyasha... something was really really wrong with Inuyasha. There was a pulsing in the air, and the hanyou seemed to change. The ground around him was suddenly torn and ravaged. Kagome looked pale and stricken. His mother held her... or held on to her. Kagome was shrieking and his ears hurt from the sound. The tears wouldn't stop.

His father frowned down at him.

"Talk."

Bantan shakily took a breath. He tried to be brave. He tried to speak without sobbing. He was failing miserably. "H...Hikari... she's gone."

"What happened? The truth. Every detail. Hurry Bantan!"

As best he could he told his father how he had teased the fox demon. He wasn't proud of it, but teasing Shippo was sort of fun. Usually the kit would get mad then Hikari would get mad and then they'd all end up in a fun game of chase. He showed the bite mark, a little embarrassed that Hikari's teeth had even left a mark at all.

"She just disappeared, father. She was just... gone." Then he dropped to the ground and started sobbing. "I'm sorrrrryyy!"

"Shush!" It wasn't a comforting tone, it was a demand. He shushed when he realized that his father didn't want any attention drawn to him. But the hanyou saw him anyhow and made a horrible sound. Then he was suddenly in front of his father, glaring at him with hatred in his now blood red eyes. Bantan shivered in fear. Was he going to die?

"Where. Is. My. Daughter?" Each word was biting, snarled out between huge fangs that Bantan had never seen on the dog demon before. How was it possible for fangs to grow like that? And his eyes… what happened to Inuyasha's eyes? They were red as blood!

His lip trembled, but his voice was suddenly lost.

"He said she bit him then just disappeared. Now back off, dog. Don't you DARE threaten my son!"

Suddenly Bantan was scooped up by his mother. He was sick with fear. Sure the dog demon was frightening, but he was more afraid that Hikari was gone forever, and that it was his fault.

"No one is threatening anyone," Kagome said, a hand on her mate's arm. She looked terrified, but nearly sounded calm. Though her voice shook a little and her eyes will filled with tears. She might have fooled a human though. Her voice was pleading and strained when she turned to him. "We just need to know exactly what happened. Hikari and Shippo are both missing. So chances are they are together. Please, Bantan, please tell us everything."

He did.

But there wasn't much to tell. Not really. Hikari and Shippo just disappeared in the blink of an eye. They were there, and then they were gone.

Inuyasha leapt away in search of his daughter before he had even finished. Kagome's eyes were never still as she scanned the area as she listened to what he had to say. His mother handed him back to his father with strict instructions that he was not be left alone, then she followed Kagome to hunt for Hikari. His father told the monk and the slayer what had happened as they came running. The destruction that Inuyasha was creating as he searched was not missed by the people in the village. Sango hopped onto her firecat as Miroku went back to the village to get a search party together.

Bantan felt like the worst creature in the world. He cradled his injured arm. The only one who had punished him was Hikari... and now she was gone.

ooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOoo

Kagome had never felt her heart beat so hard. Her chest hurt and her hands trembling. Visions of demons carrying off her children danced through her head. The threat of Naraku may be gone, but he wasn't the only evil out there. She was going to be sick.

But Bantan had seen no monsters. Inuyasha would have smelled a demon from miles away. Hikari had only been a few yards away from them. Her eyes had only been off her for a moment while she was showing Ayame the herbs that she had gathered for her to help with her morning sickness. The boys had been arguing as usual, and Hikari had been coloring on a sheet of paper. Then she was gone. Gone… Just like that.

Her eyes burned with tears as she held the drawing to her chest. Hikari loved to draw, like Shippo. The tears came again.

They had searched for hours. The sun was setting, but there was no sign of Hikari. No sign of a demon attack. No sign of wild animals anywhere near the area they were visiting in. Nothing more dangerous than a couple of foxes. Real foxes, not fox demons.

She felt like she was dying inside. Her heart was grieving and her soul screaming, hating her helplessness. Terror built inside her until the scream bubbling inside of her came out.

Where was her baby?

Where was Shippo?

Were they safe?

Were they... alive?

Please let them be alive.

Please don't let them be hurt or scared.

Please bring my babies back to me.

Kagome held the paper closer and began sobbing out the names of her children, rocking back and forth. She felt the ground move and heard a soft thump. Inuyasha was back. He wrapped her in her arms and held her tight. He was trembling. She held on to him with what strength she had left. She didn't have to ask him if he had found her. It was obvious that he hadn't. Neither could speak. All they could do was hold each other in desperation.

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It wasn't easy convincing Kagome to go back to the future to rest, but he managed to drag her to the well. Neither of them could bear to step foot into their home. Every single thing in their home reminded them of the children who were gone. Kagome's anguished cries were tearing him apart. Her eyes were red and swollen, she couldn't eat, could barely move. He ached for her... and for himself. The loss of the children left him feeling hollow and in pain. He would continue searching on his own, after he took Kagome to her mother to comfort her and make her get some sleep. She needed rest. Three days with no sleep, with constant searching, it was wearing her down. Her voice was raw and hoarse from yelling for the little ones. And from crying. She was scaring him. And he was terrified that he would lose her too.

The only thing keeping him sane was the knowledge that Shippo was with Hikari. He would protect her with his life, Inuyasha was sure of it. The kit was completely devoted to her.

Keep her safe, Shippo. Then he prayed, keep them both safe.

What confused him, scared him, was that there was no trace of them. It truly was as if the children had simply vanished.

Where could they be?

He lifted Kagome and held her close as he leapt down the well. The magic of the well brought them quickly to the future. When Kagome was asleep he would leave and continue the search. Sango and Miroku were continuing on, as well as Kouga and his entire clan, Jinenji (the gentle giant had burst into tears himself before bolting from his home to search for Hikari), and every man and half the women in Kaede's village. Even his own brother was searching for her. Though how the cold hearted demon found out, Inuyasha didn't know.

He didn't have the time or energy to spare to bother knocking on the door. Kicking it open, he went inside. Then he nearly dropped Kagome.

"Hikari..."

The little girl grinned happily from the kitchen doorway and waved her spoon at him. Her blue-grey eyes twinkling as she told them, "Ice cream!"

Inuyasha and Kagome stared at their daughter, frozen. This couldn't be real.

"Save me some!" Kagome and Inuyasha turned in shock to see Shippo leaving the living room and heading to the kitchen. "Hey," he greeted them without looking up from the game machine in his hands. "This place is great! No wonder Kagome keeps coming back!"

The spell was broken, and Kagome leapt from Inuyasha's arms and enveloped her daughter in a hug, causing the girl to squeal (and give her hair a nice dollop of strawberry ice cream shine). Inuyasha watched as Kagome kissed her daughter and hugged her. His knees went weak and he was shaking so badly he could barely stand.

"There you two are," said Mama Higurashi's voice, "We were wondering where you were. We were quite surprised to see Hikari and dear little Shippo in the living room all alone. Where..."

The scolding he was sure was coming stopped when he dropped to his knees and hugged Kagome and his daughter from behind, resting his head on his mate's shoulder he finally allowed his own tears to come in a sob of relief.

His family... safe... they were safe... He reached out and grabbed Shippo to pull him into the hug. He was never letting any of them out of his sight for even a second again.

"Hey! Stop! It's a boss fight! Let go! I've almost got him beat this time." Shippo struggled to keep his hands on the controller buttons, but it slipped from his hands and fell to the floor as Inuyasha hugged a little tighter. "Aw man! I woulda beat him!"

Kagome started crying again. In a way he was glad, because it hid the sound of his own. Safe. They were alive and safe.

Hikari squirmed to be let loose, and Shippo struggled to reach his hand held gaming device. Reluctantly they let the children loose. Inuyasha continued to hold Kagome as she continued to cry into his shoulder. His heart warmed when he saw his daughter stop from her trek to the kitchen and come back to them. She pat her mother's hand.

"Be okay," she assured her mother, then reached up to pat her cheek. "All be okay. Good girl. Good Mommy." The tone was so similar to the tone Kagome used when the little girl needed comforting that he nearly laughed out loud.

So much joy was bubbling up inside him that he felt like he might burst.

Over some warm tea, Mama Higurashi told them how she came home from shopping and found the kids all alone in the living room. Hikari had been showing Shippo the remote to the television when they came in. Shippo interrupted her story and excitedly told them about the game machine his uncle Souta let him have. After talking about the game he was playing, he eventually told them how Hikari had grabbed them, there was a flash of blue, then they were in the living room of Kagome's coolest house EVER! Hikari simply grinned at them as she banged happily on the table with two spoons.

"Hikari brought them here," Kagome said in wonder. "How?"

"Perhaps because of how many times you traveled through the well while you had her inside. It is possible the magic touched her."

"You know Hikari," Souta said fondly as he tied a ribbon at the base of the haphazard braid he weaved in Hikari's hair, "She soaks up everything! Look how fast she learned to walk and talk. She's the smartest baby in the world!"

"Smart baby!" Hikari agreed as she swung her head to feel the braid whip around. She giggled when it hit Shippo, and shook her head harder to make the two braids fly (only making herself a little dizzy in the process).

"Well," said Kagome, "I suppose that's possible. But I've been through that well millions of times, and I haven't soaked up any magic."

Her mother shrugged and sipped her tea. "Perhaps because Hikari was still forming while you traveled."

"Now Hikari can come see us any time she wants to!" Souta said happily as he tied her two braids together, making a hoop. He held it out and Shippo made a basket with his wadded up napkin.

Inuyasha (who grabbed Hikari from her uncle and brother before they could make more baskets) and Kagome looked at each other in horror. Once, their fear had been that Hikari wouldn't be able to time travel... now their fear was that she could apparently travel without the use of the well. How do you keep up with a child who can travel through time at will? Maybe Kaede could make the kid some sort of necklace to put a stop to it, or at least let them know when she leaves so they can track her down.

Inuyasha rubbed a hand over his eyes. Could Hikari take ANYONE through time? She was too young to understand the dangers. What were they going to do? This certainly wasn't covered in any of the parenting books he had read.

"Let's think about it in the morning," Kagome said gently as she touched his hand.

As always, his mate's touch calmed him.

They made a sleeping area in the living room for all of them. Hikari may have her own room, and Shippo may have been bunking with Souta, but Inuyasha wanted his whole family with him. Souta brought his own pillow and blanket and joined them. Even Kagome's grandfather and mother stayed with them for awhile, at least to listen to the story that Hikari had begged her father to tell before bed.

"Once upon a time," Inuyasha said in a low voice, nearly at a growl, "There was a pretty little girl in red and a big bad wolf..."

Hikari,

You are NEVER allowed to do whatever it is that you did to get to your grandmother's without letting me or your mother know unless your life is in mortal danger. NEVER! And you're not to speak with that wolf brat of Kouga's either. He's a bad influence. In fact, you're not to ever leave my sight again. I need to know where you are at ALL times. It is the only way I can keep you safe. And no more taking Shippo to the future. The little runt will wreak havoc on all of Tokyo, not to mention freak everyone out. You have to be careful being a demon in the modern world. You can't just run off without hiding your ears or tail or whatever.

I love you and it would kill me if anything happened to you. I would do anything to keep you and your mother safe.

Daddy

P.S. Your mother reminds me that it isn't polite to call your brother a runt. And that I'd do anything to keep him safe, too.

ooOOooOOooOOooOOooOOoo

Author's Note: Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a nice holiday and made their resolutions for the New Year. One of mine is to finish two of my current stories before I post any new ones (though it is tempting since I've been jotting down more ideas).