A/N: Thank you, LogicalGoth and Inu'sgirl4ever for the reviews. And for those of you who've added this story or I to their lists, I add my thanks.
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. 14
The rest of the week progressed much as the first two days had. Inuyasha made a concerted effort not to make Kagome mad so as to remain within arms' reach of her at any given moment. After the incident with the baseball, he wasn't willing to go any farther than necessary. Thankfully, the teacher didn't get it into his head to ask him anymore questions. The half demon thought that the man was too leery of whatever might come out of his mouth. While the guys in the class showed him a level of respect he'd only ever gotten from Miroku, and now Shippou, the girls were starting to get on his nerves. Despite the fact that he and Kagome were obviously "together" the wenches were becoming increasingly bold and indiscreet in their actions towards him. A couple had even gone so far as to bend down in such a way that if he'd been staring down instead of outwards in that direction, he would have seen their underwear. Several more had flirted and another had addressed him as "Taisho-kun" as they were leaving school as if she'd known him more than just a few days.
Unfortunately, that was the source of Kagome currently foul mood. While he hadn't given the girl leave to call him that, he wasn't bothered by it in the same way his miko was. All the way home she had ranted and raved about the girl's gall, making him concerned for her health. When they reached home, he slid the door open and allowed the young priestess in first. Mama had come to greet them so was present for the last part of Kagome's diatribe.
"Where did she get off calling you so familiarly? And those other girls, acting as if you're without a girlfriend. It's bad enough that I have to share you with Kikyo back in your time, but I don't have to put up with it here." She huffed and, snatching her bag from his hands, marched up the stairs angrily despite the pain her incision and rib was causing her.
He stared after her, the urge to defend the dead priestess on the tip of his tongue but wisely held back when a look from Mama indicated he should keep his opinion to himself. Silently he followed the older woman when she gestured for him to come with her. Accepting the cup of tea she offered, he inhaled reflexively to take in the scent of dinner before slumping in his chair. The old man and Souta weren't around so he figured this was the best time to voice his confusion and ask for advice. At any other time he'd keep his own council but he was truly at a loss. Kagome had never so openly complained about having to share his attention with or apparent affection for the resurrected miko. "I don't get it."
"Well, dear, I suppose it's because after what happened in this time and how you've been treating her, she feels as if she can openly claim the right to your affection." Mama substituted the word for what she really wanted to say. "Before she felt that because Kikyo is in essence dead, there wasn't any way that she could compete for your attention and win. She's never had to here in the present. And it is considered impolite to call a peer you hardly know "kun" without his permission. If you'd been friends with the girl, that'd be different."
"Kagome's never added any honorific onto my name, just as I've never added any onto hers."
"Ah, but you did attack her after the centipede demon was killed. That tends to negate any formality."
"She told you, huh?" Ears drooped in contrition.
"Yes, she did. Don't worry dear; I know you were angry and confused after waking from an enforced fifty year sleep. You believed you'd been betrayed by the woman you'd loved."
"Then why does she add the honorific to Kouga's name?"
"Probably because she considers him a friend and since he doesn't have a last name, has to make do with his first. Had she known yours was Taisho, she would have probably called you 'Taisho-kun' had the roles been reversed."
"How could she have known? I didn't. Why is she angry at me though?"
"A girl's heart is a complicated thing, dear. Since you didn't correct the girl, Kagome may think you are allowing liberties. After all, this is the first time you've gotten to really use your family name. She wants everyone to respect you and for you to take pride in your noble heritage. It could be seen as you not caring what people call you." Mama smiled at the look she got. He was thinking her words over and she knew the moment they sunk in. "There is also the possibility she's just jealous." This was likely the case since her daughter was mad at her protector.
"What does she have to be jealous about? I want nothing to do with those other wenches."
"Did you tell her that?" His slumped shoulders were answer enough. "Go talk to her, dear. I'll let you know when dinner's ready." Inuyasha went upstairs, hoping to win over his miko. Kagome was stretched out on her bed, her forehead wrinkled with pain.
"Kagome, what's wrong?"
"Do you have my pain meds, Inuyasha?" Without answering, he dug the bottle out of his pocket and gave her a pill to go along with the glass of water on her nightstand. All thoughts but to make sure she was okay left his head.
"Why didn't you say something, Kagome? I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong." Tears pricked her eyes as she swallowed the medicine.
"I'm sorry, Inuyasha, I was just so angry."
"Your anger covered the scent of your pain, Kagome. I had no idea you were hurting. There's no need for you to be angry. I got no interest in those wenches." He sat down on the edge of the bed and gently lifted her shirt. Carefully he traced the stitches, checking to make sure nothing had been pulled. Next the broken rib was examined to make sure it hadn't fallen out of alignment. Her wrist, kept secure in a splint was safe so he didn't bother checking it for damage.
"Do you mean it?"
"I'm half dog demon, not half dog. We don't keep harems. Our pack consists of you, me, the runt, the monk, and the slayer. No one else, not even Kikyo."
"What about Kirara? You left her out." Kagome's eyes drooped as the powerful drug started to come into effect. "And Kaede."
"All right, the babaa too. As for Kirara, she sees us as her kittens. She'd be greatly offended if you considered her part of a dog demon's pack. Besides, she's older than all of us combined, even when you add in Sesshoumaru's advanced age." His miko's lips quirked at the mention of the discussion with Yuka at the beginning of the week. Seeing that she was almost asleep, Inuyasha tucked her in and returned to eat dinner with the rest of the family. Mama gave him a benign smile when she saw he was alone and promised to send a tray upstairs with him afterwards.
He was returning to Kagome's room when two unknown human male scents reached him as they climbed the steps to the shrine. Back tracking, he entered the kitchen and placed the tray he'd been holding back down onto the table. "We've got company," he stated, looking at Mama. "Two males, human."
"All right, dear. It could be representatives from that task force coming to talk to you and Kagome. Bring her dinner and then come on back down." He nodded to show he understood and went to see to Kagome. His miko was resting in bed, reading from her literature book. Other notebooks and school paraphernalia was spread out around her.
"Time to eat, Kagome. There are a couple of men downstairs who might want to talk to you. People from that 'task force' in charge of those bandits."
"Thank you, Inuyasha. I'll be down in a little while." He set the tray down on her desk then moved over to the bed. Plucking the textbook out of her hands, he merely snorted.
"Eat, wench. I'll see you in a bit." Without looking back or responding to her indignant protest, Inuyasha walked out of the room to join Mama in the kitchen with the two strangers. He quickly assessed the situation as having no danger, then took a seat next to the older woman.
"Inuyasha, dear, this is Agent Kimko, and Agent Daiku. They work as liaisons between the Japanese law enforcement agencies and your family."
"I see."
"Lord Inuyasha, we need to get your statement for the record. And Lady Kagome's too."
"I came to check on her, I heard her scream and went to save her. What else do you need to know?" Mama hid her smile and cleared her throat.
"I think they want details, dear. Like, how did you save her, and what did you find when you reached Kagome?"
Inuyasha wanted to spare Mama the "details." What he'd done hadn't been pretty and he was quite sure the leader had died from the injures he'd given him. "Are you sure you want to hear this, Higurashi-san?"
"Yes, dear." Mama listened with mounting horror as the half dog demon described how he'd found Kagome, how the thugs had attacked him and how he'd gotten shot before taking care of the leader of the group.
"Thank you, Taisho-sama," Agent Daiku said. "The leader did die of his injuries. Lady Kirara wasn't able to get him medical attention in time. You won't be charged of course, as it was clearly self-defense."
"Keh," was the hanyou's only comment. He shifted his gaze onto the woman next to him, smelling the tears running down her face. "Higurashi-san?"
"I'm okay, dear." She patted his arm and rose to refill tea cups while they waited for Kagome to come downstairs. She patted his arm again and ran a hand down his silky hair. Unable to resist, she placed a kiss between his ears, despite not being able to see them. "I'm thankful you're safe."
Not knowing how to respond, Inuyasha stayed silent. Kagome entered a few minutes later, and he gladly gave his seat next to her mother up. Mama's concern had touched a chord in him that hadn't been strummed since his own mother had died. Somehow she always managed to surprise him with the tenderness and love she showed him. It was clear where Kagome got her kindness and easy acceptance of people different than she.
He stood behind his young priestess, making sure the humans understood that he wouldn't allow either of them to upset her. His hands gripped the chair tightly, splintering the wood when Kagome came to the part where they'd actually attacked her. Had he come a few minutes earlier, she wouldn't have been hit at all. This time it was Mama who comforted him, placing her hand over his and squeezing the strong fingers. Meeting her eyes, he saw she understood his feelings.
Inuyasha was barely aware of the agents leaving, consumed by his thoughts and recriminations. A small hand slipped around his arm and a soft body leaned into his side. "It's not your fault, Inuyasha."
"I should have come sooner."
"You were five hundred years away; I still don't understand how you knew to come in the first place."
"Something wasn't right. I checked the village but there wasn't anything there. Not at the shrine or well either. When I got to the Sacred Tree, the feeling was ten times worse. When I came, your mother was under the tree. She said she'd been hoping I'd come or that she could come get me." Burying his head in her fragrant hair, he inhaled, using her scent to calm down. "There's more than just that tree and this rosary connecting us, Kagome. Didn't you know when I needed you?"
"You always need me, dog boy," she tried teasing, hoping to break the tension of moment.
"Keh, got that right, wench." Kagome tilted her head up at the same time he lowered his. Lips brushed in a tender kiss. Unlike the time in Kaguya's castle, there was no urgency or desperation. Breaking apart, both blushed but stayed silent. Neither ruined the moment with unnecessary words. For once, everything was perfect just the way it was.
