A/N: A thanks to Akiko Rainleaf Kayla for adding this story to her/his favorites list. Thank you to the reviewer who signed his/her comments "InuyashaAndIchigoFan." I hope you continue to enjoy this story. I got another review from metalcherry the other day wanting to know what "future Kirara" looks like. Can you all wait until the end? I've given hints in previous chapters but she won't make another appearance until then.
Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et. al.
Her Knight
Ch. 6
When Inuyasha and Kagome finally ate breakfast, it was going on noon. Dr. Kintaro made a brief visit to check on both of his patients and promised to return within the hour to remove the IV from the hanyou's arm. Mama had gone home to get some much needed rest only after the demon nurse swore on her life to watch over the two shard hunters like they were her own children. As Inuyasha had been present for the vow, she knew the nurse was telling the truth. Souta and her father-in-law were eager to hear news and it was with an easy smile that she told them the truth. Both adolescent heroes would be just fine.
Getting dressed after a shower, Mama stopped brushing her hair abruptly when her gaze fell on the well house. "Oh, dear, I wonder how the others are doing. They must be extremely worried. And poor Shippou-chan; he's got to be absolutely terrified that something's happened to his adoptive parents."
The matriarch would never know exactly how right she was.
Kirara stretched and wandered over to the three humans who were sitting in a half circle over cups of tea. Her kitten Sango had a frown on her lovely face while worry etched the monk's brow and the elderly miko gaze off into space with her one good eye. She brushed against each reassuringly, hoping to relieve their minds. Whatever was going on with the half demon and young priestess would soon sort itself out. She had lived long enough to know these things. With one more pass at the humans, the nekomata turned her attention to the youngest member of her new litter. "Meorow!" she let out, startled that the cub had escaped without her noticing. More than just a little chagrinned and embarrassed, she pounced once on Sango's lap before dashing out the door.
"Kirara, what's the matter?" Coming out of her daze, Sango looked around the hut. Not seeing Shippou, she got to her feet. "C'mon, monk. We've got to go find Shippou. He's gone off on his own again."
"I'm sure he's just by the well, waiting for the others to come back."
"Do you want to be the one to tell Kagome her adopted son got hurt if something happens to him while she's gone?" Sango had a point. There was no way Miroku was going to face an angry miko from the future if her little darling had been harmed in her absence.
"Aye, she's right, Miroku. While we are very much convinced something has happened on Kagome's side of the well, it would greatly distress her to find out that her little cub was hurt. You know she and Inuyasha will return, but Shippou is still a child, and needs reassurance."
"Yes, Lady Kaede," the young man agreed before following his intended out of the hut. Kirara was waiting for them at the edge of the path to the old well. Her glare was enough to shame both humans. It made the monk sometimes wonder just how much she understood.
Shippou was sitting on the lip of the well, his head bowed so that he could see the dirt bottom. "Shippou," Sango called softly, not wanting to surprise him into losing his balance.
"Something bad happened, Sango. I feel it."
"Yes, my young friend, we all did. Inuyasha is with her and that should be enough to reassure us that Kagome will be all right. And if either did get hurt, you know that there is very advanced medicine in Kagome's time." The kitsune child turned around to look at the other members of his new family. He hopped down and went over to hug Sango's leg. She picked him up, hugging him tightly. Dropping an affectionate kiss on his auburn hair, she began making her way back to the village. The emerald eyes that looked up at her were filled with tears.
"It will be all right, Shippou. Did Inuyasha not sense something wrong even though he was on this side of the well?"
"That's cause a demon can sense when his mate's in danger no matter where he is. I don't think Time would matter either, not when it's those two."
"So they are mates," Miroku said, a lecherous gleam in his eyes. He was surprised when it was Kirara who slapped him, not Sango. Her claws gently raked his cheek. Not to leave any marks but hard enough for him to know he was being reprimanded. "So they're not?" Her answer was a slight hiss before she jumped off his shoulder and walked back to Kaede's hut in high dungeon, her tails pointed straight up in the air.
Sango and Shippou giggled, the cub relaxing a bit. "She's still mad I slipped out without her noticing."
"And she took it out on me?" Miroku asked in a plaintive tone.
"Well, you did ask a question about a very private thing. Demons don't always, you know, to mate." Shippou took on the air of a teacher lecturing his students. "A pair can be unofficial mates if they love each other and intend to become mates in the future. Kagome and Inuyasha are like that. That's why he's so overprotective and jealous when other male demons take an interest in Kagome. He tries to keep his scent on her without telling her why. I don't think he's really aware of what he's doing though. Or at least half of him is and the other is clueless. Mating is something that's taught from father to son or mother to daughter."
"Ah, so his actions are the demon half's way of claiming Kagome as his. The only thing he's consciously aware of is that his instincts are telling him that he needs to spread his scent over her as much as possible. She's not old enough to claim physically and there's too much danger around to risk getting her with child." The demon slayer was fascinated by the insight the kitsune was giving them about demon pairing. It was something not even the most experienced slayer in the village had known.
"Yeah, demons sense these kinds of things. That's why I said I didn't think Time would matter if Kagome was in danger there and Inuyasha was here. Some part of him would just know she needed him." Shippou became sad once again. "Inuyasha was human last night. Do you think he got into trouble?"
"That is a possibility, Shippou. It is also a possibility that Kagome convinced our half demon friend to spend the night and let her go to school today. If she got in trouble the other night, Inuyasha might not be willing to leave her side. Let us wait until this evening to truly be concerned."
"I hadn't thought of that. Do you think she'll bring more treats back?"
"No doubt, Shippou. Whether you get them is another story. You didn't even tell Kirara where you were going," Sango scolded. "You know better than that. We don't mind you going off on your own so long as we know where you are. Kagome would be very upset if something happened to you and we couldn't get to you in time. I don't know about you, but I don't relish the thought of trying to explain my way out of that situation."
Miroku hid his smirk as the kit looked properly chastened. It would do the boy good to get into trouble once in a while. With Sango doing the disciplining, Kagome wouldn't believe Shippou if he ran to her with a sob story about Inuyasha or Miroku being mean to him. Shippou would be on his best behavior for the foreseeable future, if only to make sure that the demon slayer he considered a type of aunt didn't rat him out to his adoptive mother. This was a piece of information he was quite happy to pass along to Inuyasha when he returned. The half demon would enjoy hearing about Shippou finally getting his due when it came to his mischief. And if Kirara's reaction was anything to go by, it wasn't only Sango the cub was going to have to answer to.
Kaede was waiting for them when they returned, rice and dumplings set out for lunch. She smiled at Shippou fondly, apparently knowing he'd gotten in trouble. "Lunch is served, if anyone is hungry. Shippou was by the well, I take it."
"Yes, Lady Kaede," Sango answered. "He's learned his lesson; haven't you, Shippou?" Shippou was busy looking for something among the items Kagome had left the last time she was here. He came up holding a lollipop, a triumphant grin on his face. "Shippou! Give me that."
Twice in the span of five minutes, Miroku thought and didn't bother to hide his grin this time. Inuyasha was going to love this.
