The Lucky Ones
Chapter Twenty
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The Lucky Ones
By Terri Botta
Disclaimer: I don’t own
Inuyasha. Sole copyright belongs to Viz and Rumiko Takashi. I’m poor so don’t
sue.
Rating: R for later chapters.
Pairing: Inuyasha/Kagome,
Miroku/Sango
Summary: Sometimes Fate hands
you a gift you never thought you’d ever get, and it’s up to you to accept it
for what it is.
Feedback to:
tci100@psu.edu
Website: http://www.wordsmiths.net/Botta
*******
Chapter Twenty
“
stepping into the genkan. She was carrying Yukio
because his sling was still broken, and he was sleeping peacefully.
Inuyasha
closed the doors behind her and they both entered the house. Suddenly he
sniffed loudly, began to growl and raced towards the kitchen. She barely had
time to register what was happening before she heard his angry snarl and a
woman’s scream. Running to the kitchen, she found Inuyasha crouched on the
table, his hand around the throat of the good doctor who had hurt her. Her
mother was standing up, her eyes wide and frightened; a set of photographs of a
damaged car were scattered on the table.
“I told you
I’d kill you if you came anywhere near Kagome or my
son again, bitch!”
“Inuyasha!”
she cried.
Yukio, who
had begun to awaken the moment his father started growling, came to full
consciousness and wailed in terror. He’d been extremely on edge and sensitive
since the incident with Kouga, and Kagome feared he’d
been traumatized by it. He’d clung to her and started crying at the slightest
upset from either her or Inuyasha. It made for some very long and sleepless
nights of rocking and comforting him when he went into one of his fits. Both
she and Inuyasha were exhausted and on edge. Another altercation with the
doctor her mother had taken her to was the last thing they needed right now.
“What the
Hell are you doing here?” Inuyasha demanded.
“
He ignored
her and shook the woman roughly by the neck. “Answer me, bitch!”
“Inuyasha,
don’t make me subdue you! Let her go right now!” she threatened.
Still
snarling, he let the woman go, dropping her back down
to the chair she had been seated in. The doctor grabbed her throat and gasped
for air.
“Kagome,”
her mother said worriedly.
“What’s
going on Mama?” she asked, bouncing Yukio to calm him. He sniffled and let out
a whine. Inuyasha barked something back in inu-youkai
and the baby quieted, his golden eyes red and watery.
“Dr.
see,” her mother answered guardedly.
There was
something in her eyes, a warning, and Kagome grew cold.
“What?”
Inuyasha growled, still on the table, his hackles still raised.
“You
damaged my car,” the doctor replied, picking up a photograph of a white car
with huge gashes across it.
that to your…”
“Inuyasha!”
she yelled warningly, and amazingly Inuyasha heard the note in her voice and
stopped, his head coming around to face her.
“What?”
“Don’t say
another word,” she told him seriously.
He looked
at her, confused. “Why?”
He blinked
at her but stayed silent.
“Here, why
don’t you hold Yukio. You cank tok to him and keep him
calm, alright?” she said, offering him the baby.
He hopped
down from the table and took Yukio from her, still quiet. She smiled and
realized he was taking her seriously about not saying a word.
“You can
talk. It’s okay. Just don’t talk to her and don’t answer any questions she
might ask you, okay?”
“O… okay,”
he agreed but she could tell he was confused. She put a hand on his arm to
reassure him and also rubbed Yukio’s ears to comfort the still worried and
whimpering baby.
She turned
to the doctor. “What do you want?”
The doctor
held up a picture. “Your… thing did this to my car.”
/spa/span>“I don’t
know anything about that,” she answered honestly. ‘I don’t. I had no idea he’d done that. He must have done it after I
went back to class.’
“And he’s
not a thing, as you put it, he’s a hanyou,” she added angrily.
no use in trying to lie about it. Besides, truth is stranger than fiction,
right?’
Ishimoro scoffed.
“Seeing
that there are two of them right here, I’d say you’re wrong about that.”
:1'> The doctor
looked in the direction of Inuyasha and Yukio.
“The infant
is one of them too?”
She gave The doctor “You “What kind “One who “Safe? He’s “You hurt Throughout “Inuyasha, “He can’t “What “Coming “Hey!” the “Inuyasha, “Smash it?” “Yes. “O… Okay.” He took it “Be careful “ He dropped “Watch the The sword “It’s okay, “There! “Has it “Good. Now Inuyasha “You can’t “You also The doctor She sighed “I’m sorry “You really “Are you She sighed
in. in. “No. I’m explaining how things are to you. Inuyasha is my protector. “She’s “I can’t “Which you “Don’t make The doctor “For your “You’ll be “Again, The woman “You should “Hah! You “I’d like “And you, Kagome “I warn you Kagome “We’ll see With that, “What am I “Kagome, I “That won’t “What are Mama turned “You The old man “You know “You are “At the “Me? Mama gave Her mother “You have?” “Cursed She looked Mama stared The hanyou “I was “But when “Back in She smiled Finally, Inuyasha “Inuyasha, Mama shook Inuyasha She leaned Yukio He flicked Then she Mama smiled “Okay,h “I’ll She paused “I know,” “If ever “I know “She shouldn’t. “I don’t Sighing, ******** Kagome She yawned She sighed. She shifted Snuffling She patted Yukio Behind her, Yukio “What did “He wanted “Don’t even He barked a “He doesn’t She sighed. “So you He growled “Well, “That’s “Damn,” he He sighed She reached Inuyasha “Yes, I “We’ll see He “I’ll want “Horny Yukio asked “You know I She smiled. “I love She nodded.
the woman a tolerant look. “Isn’t it obvious? I would think the
looked at Mama Higurashi. “You let your daughter
cavort with these things?”
yourself me me Kagome is still a virgin so that means her honor is safe with
him. As for letting her be with him, I don’t have much say in the matter,” her
mother answered coldly.
of a mother are you?”
understands that sometimes things happen that you can’t control, and that you
can make matters much worse by trying. I trust my daughter and I trust this
boy. I know Kagome is safe with him. ”
threatened to kill me twice and nearly destroyed my car!” Dr.
my daughter. She came home sobbing from her visit with you. Inuyasha is
extremely protective of Kagome. I would say you were lucky to have escaped your
first encounter with him at all,” Mama replied matter-of-factly.
all of this, Yukio kept sniffling and whining, and his noise was an unwelcome
distraction. Finally, Kagome turned to Inuyasha and looked at him holding
Yukio. The adult hanyou looked as irritated and frustrated as the baby.
what’s wrong with him?” she asked.
help it. It’s that damn noise,” Inuyasha complained.
noise?”
from the black bag…” she repeated, then grabbed the
doctor’s purse, zipping it open.
doctor protested.
A digital tape recorder with an extended microphone sat nestled in the purse,
recording light flashing. She grabbed it and tossed it to Inuyasha who caught
it in one hand with his superior reflexes.
smash that,” she said calmly.
Destroy it.”
in one hand and crushed it easily, the plastic snapping and the internal
circuits shorting out.
you don’t get shocked,” she warned just as it zapped him.
the recorder, drew Tessaiga with his free hand and
rammed the tip into the piece of equipment.
floor!” she said.
pierced the recorder and the tatami as well.
sorry, mama.”
honey.”
Take that!” Inuyasha announced proudly, sheathing the sword.
stopped making noise?”
rip it up and make sure there is nothing of it left.”
obeyed, stomping on the recorder until it was in very many tiny pieces.
do that. That belongs to me,” Dr. Ishimoro
complained.
have no evidence. You think anyone will believe you when you tell them a hanyou
destroyed your tape recorder with his hand and sword? Do you think they’ll let
you keep your medical license once you start telling ies ies like that?” she
replied coldly.
had no answer.
heavily. She was tired and stressed out. She wanted a bath, a hot meal, her bed
and her man, not necessarily in that order. She put a hand to her forehead and
took a deep breath.
about your car. I didn’t know he was going to do that or I would have stopped
him. But you really need to consider yourself lucky that he didn’t use his
claws on you. Inuyasha is my protector, and he doesn’t live by the same moral
code we do. His world is simple and violent. You hurt me, you die. He’s very
straightforward that way,” she explained patiently.
need to go away and not come back because I can’t guarantee that I’ll always be
able to stop him from seriously hurting you. In fact, if you keep bothering us
there’s a good chance I won’t be able to stop him because he’ll see you as an
even bigger threat than he already does.”
threatening me?” the doctor sneered.
Inuyasha’s morality is different from ours. Inuyasha would not think twice
about killing you, ripping up your body and feeding it to the crows.”
but I really want her to go away!’
right,” her mother confirmed. “I’ve seen what he can do. You’re taking your
life into your hands if you pursue this.”
believe this! First he threatens to kill me, then he
gouges my car! Now he threatens me again and destroys my recorder!”
no doubt intended to use to gather evidence to take us to court,” Mama noted.
thought.
killing you the easiest way to get rid of you. He’ll do it without a second
thought,” her mother went on, reinforcing Kagome’s earlier words.
stood up abruptly. “This isn’t the end of this,” she warned.
sake, I hope it is,” Mama replied.
hearing from me and my lawyer!” she threatened.
don’t make trouble for my daughter. It can only go badly for you.”
snorted, but kept a good distance from the hanyou. “I’m not afraid of
be,” Inuyasha growled. “There’s nowhere you can hide, bitch. I’ve got your
scent now. I could track you through a blig sng snow atilltill rout you out of
whatever rock you crawled under.”
think I don’t know a few priests? Things like you can be banished!”
to see any of your modern priests try, woman!” he countered.
little girl, I’ll be talking with your high school administrator about your
the doctor sneered.
blanched but did not reply. ‘If she gets
me kicked out of high school, my future is ruined. But… aside from telling the
truth or killing her, I don’t know what to do.’
again. Don’t make trouble for my daughter,” Mama said very seriously and very
calmly.
looked at her mother and saw something in her eyes. There was peace about her,
and she was completely unruffled by the doctor’s accusations and threats.
realized.
about that. I’m not someone who takes threats lightly.”
the doctor stormed out. No one lifted a finger to stop her. When she was gone,
Kagome let out a heart-broken moan and dropped down into a chair.
going to do? If she talks to my school administrator, I’m done for!”
know you wouldn’t like it, but the only way to deal with her is to kill her or…
or I could give her a head wound. Head wounds can make a human forget. I could
thump her right on the back of the skull…” Inuyasha offered tentatively.
be necessary,” Mama replied calmly.
we going to do then?” she asked.
her head to look towards the dining room and they looked to see
his face.
heard?” Mama asked.
folded his arms and nodded.
what to do then.”
alcove with the telephone.
about to witness the power of the Higurashi name,
Kagome. Your grandfather’s ofudas and seals might not
work as well as those of priests and mikos in the
Sengoku Jidai, but I think that has more to do with
people’s lack of faith in this time than an actual loss of spiritual power.
What we do have is connections in some very high places. The
willing to intercede on our behalf. We do not like to abuse this power and we
don’t ask for favors often, but in order to protect you and Inuyasha we will do
what we have to do. I would not be surprised if the good doctor finds herself
out of a job very soon, but I hope it does not come to that,” her mother
answered seriously.
of power!’ she thought, stunned.
very least, you will not have to worry about her bothering you at school or
damaging your chances of getting into college. Nor will we have to worry about
her trying to get to us through the police or the courts. As for Inuyasha, I
doubt any of the priests she knows would be able to do anything to him,
especially since you have a great deal of spiritual power and he is under your
protection,” the woman went on.
Inuyasha’s under my protection?”
her a calm look. “Of course. You protect each other.
If someone tried to seal or banish him, I have no doubt that you’d prevent that
from happening. You’d probably even throw the seal back at the caster and hit
him with it.”
I did that with the black miko Tsubaki!’
Inuyasha said before she could speak.
blinked at her and she blushed.
ago. A… umm… a black miko cursed me.”
you?”
away uncomfortably. “Um, yeah. She cast a curse that
corrupted the shikon shards and made them go into my
neck. I… I couldn’t move and then she tried to make me kill Inuyasha by
shooting him with a miko’s arrow.”
at Inuyasha, aghast. “She tried to kill you?”
shrugged. “Well… she
trying to fight it and that, thankfully, affected my aim,” she explained
sheepishly.
that bi… uhh… black miko
sent her Shikigami after Kagome while I was fighting
a youkai, she just swung her bow and slapped it right
back. It flew right into Tsubaki’s eye,” Inuyasha
said proudly.
escaped certain death,’ she thought worriedly. ‘But he always sounds so proud
when he tells her how I survived.’
her eye…” her mother repeated, fixing a serious gaze on her.
shyly.
Mama sighed and rolled her eyes. “This is why I never ask you about your adventures
over there.”
looked at her, then at her mother, his face confused. “What? Why? What’d I do?”
if Yukio was risking his life and almost dying, would you want to know?” she
replied reasonably.
Besides, it doesn’t matter. You’ve lived so far haven’t you?”
her head helplessly, trying to hold back a chuckle. “Inuyasha, there are just
some things a mother doesn’t need to know.”
blinked then snorted. “Right.”
over and kissed him on the cheek. “While you regale Mama with stories of my
near-death, I’m going to go take a bath.”
burbled at her, making the noise for ‘mother-female’ and reached out one little
hand. She nuzzled him and replied in inu-youkai.
his puppy ears, looked disappointed, and shrank back against his father’s
shoulder.
turned to her mother. “Thank you, Mama, for everything.”
gently. “You’re welcome, Kagome.”
th
time!” she enthused, leaving the room, but not before she heard Inuyasha’s
serious voice.
always protect her.”
and stood just out of sight, listening.
her mother answered.
there is a time when Kagome does not live; you will know it is because I am
dead.”
that too, and that frightens me because I know that it means if I lose one of
you, I’ll probably lose both because Kagome will do the same for you.”
She has to take care of the pup.”
think she could ever make that choice.”
choose who to save? I... I couldn’t. I’d probably die with them. Please,
Inuyasha, don’t ever let it come to that.’
shaking away the dour thoughts, she headed upstairs. The hot bath was calling.
greeted the next day with no small amount of trepidation. While she trusted her
mother’s assurances that the doctor would not be a problem, she was still
worried. What if the doctor came to her school while she was there? What if she
brought people up to the roof during lunch time to see her feeding Yukio? She
made a mental note to tell Inuyasha that they had to meet somewhere else.
and stretched, jostling her bedmates slightly which caused both to wake. One
made a noise of protest and nuzzled his nose into her shoulder. Inuyasha always
hated to be roused out of a warm bed when he was cuddled with her. The other
made a very clear sound.
to give him access to her breasts and opened her nightshirt for him.
at the nipple, Yukio latched on and began to feed.
when he sucked ttlettle too hard.
his back and soothed him. :Forgiven.:
med med nursing but more gently and slowly this time.
Inuyasha chuckled softly. “Good pup. The longer you take, the longer we get to
keep her here with us,” he murmured, licking the back of her neck.
stopped feeding and looked up towards his father, making a sound Kagome didn’t
recognize, but Inuyasha laughed outright.
he say?”
to know if I wanted the food. He knows he’s low in the pecking order compared
to me and when I said I was hungry, he thought he had to give up the milk to
me,” he answered.
think about it,” she warned.
response to Yukio that told him it was okay to eat and licked the back of her
neck again.
know it isn’t milk I’m hungry for,” he whispered, nibbling at her earlobe.
“Insatiable.”
keep reminding me. Don’t I satisfy you?” she teased.
softly. “Always, but then I just hunger for more.”
you’re gonna have to stay hungry because I have to get ready for school in
fifteen minutes.”
enough time, isn’t it?” he whined.
said with a sigh. “Are we going back tonight?”
again. “Okay.”
a hand behind her to pat him comfortingly. “I’ll make it up to you tonight.”
brightened. “Promise?”
promise.”
if I’m still conscious.” ‘FOUR
times?’
chuckled. “I’m kidding.”
it five times,” he corrected, snickering into her hair.
dog,” she chided.
to be switched and she put one arm under him to lift him up so he could reach
the second nipple. She found that if she let him try to do it himself when she
was on her side, he would scrabble at her ribs in order to lift himself up and
he’d scratch her with his claws. She already had several healing wounds from
his previous attempts, and she found it easier, and less painful, to just prop
him up herself.
am kidding, right?” Inuyashpan pan class=GramE>said, a hint of concern
in his voice.
“I know.”
what we do together, even if we only do it once.”
“Maybe twice.”
He nuzzled her ear. “I’ll make
them both good for you.”
wishing she could stay in bed with him. “You always do.”
“I do my
best.”
She tangled
her fingers with his and held his hand in silent response. He sighed and
cuddled up, resting his forehead against the back of her neck. It was amazing
how important touch was to him; even the slightest, simplest caress could make
him shiver.
do. Even before we... were lovers, I would touch him all the time. He’s never
said it, but I know he isn’t used to anyone being willing to touch him because
he is a hanyou. Horrible, prejudiced people. Makes me
so mad...’
“
tense?”
“Just how
touch means so much to you and how I’m the only one who’s ever really done it,
and how horrible the people of your time are to shun you because you’re a
hanyou. They really don’t know what they’re missing.”
that? They aren’t worth your time. Besides, you said it yourself, you touch me.
That’s good enough,” he answered, licking her neck to soothe her.
“But it’s
so wrong. There’s nothing wrong with you. You’re good and kind and strong and loving.
It’s not right for them to hate you because of how you were born.”
“It’s just
how they are. No sense in worrying about it.”
“But...”
He stilled
her with a light nip at the nape of her neck. “Kagome... if they hadn’t hated
me, and if I hadn’t been shunned, and if things hadn’t happened the way that
they did, I would never have met you, and as hard and lonely it was, I wouldn’t
change a thing because I wouldn’t give up knowing you for the world.”
“But you
and Kikyou...”
He sighed.
“I would have become human for Kikyou, given up my hanyou powers and my
strength. And I would never have known what it’s like to be loved as I am, as a
hanyou. No Kagome, I don’t ever wish things had been different... no, that’s
not true. I wish I hadn’t said Kikyou’s name when
“But then
you wouldn’t have her now,” she said.
“I don’t
have her now. Sometimes I think I never really did.”
“You have
me.” ‘For as long as we can stay
together.’
He nuzzled
her ear. “I know.”
Yukio
finished and she sat up to burp him, ignoring Inuyasha’s whine of protest.
“I’m sorry.
I have to get ready for school. I’m just going to change him then go get
washed. You’ll bring him at lunch right? We need a different meeting place
because I’m worried Dr. Ishimoro might try to ambush
us.”
“I’m
worried about that too. That’s why I’m coming with you.”
“Coming
with me? To school? Oh no, no, no.”
“Oh yes,
yes, yes. You think I’m going to give that bi... wench a chance to corner you
when you’re away from me?”
“But
ca
can’t come with me. What about Yukio?”
“I’ll have
him with me.”
“I’ll just
put him in that new carrier your mom bought yesterday and keep him with me.”
“He’s spent
all day in his sling before. He’ll manage just fine.”
“But where
will you stay?”
“Yeah,
what’s wrong with that? I can sit right above your classroom and listen for
you.”
“But...
but...” ‘It’s too dangerous! Someone
might see you!’
“No buts.
I’m coming. I’ll wear one of those cap things over my ears.”
“What if
something happens?!” she cried.
“What if
something happens to you and I’m not there? I’m not willing to take that
chance. It’s not that I don’t trust your mother and the old man, but I’d rather
not take the risk,” he countered.
“I don’t
like it.”
“You think
I do? All day out in that noise and stink, with the pup no less? But I’d rather
that, than have something happen and me not be there to protect you. Ple
Kag
Kagome. I need to be there to protect you.”
His
sincerity and heartfelt plea made her give in. “All... alright. But you run at
the first sign of trouble coming at you.”
“I promise.
I’ll smash through your glass window, grab you and go. We’ll be through the
well before they have a chance to even think about chasing us.”
but... Oh it’s useless arguing. He’ll just follow me anyway.’
She sighed
and changed Yukio, who batted at her hands and burbled at her, chattering away
in inu-youkai, three-quarters of which she didn’t
understand. She cuddled him and blew raspberries on his belly, making him
giggle, then gave him to Inuyasha with a :Stay with
leader-male.: and went to take her bath.
True to his
word, Inuyasha went with her to school. In fact he carried her
the majority of the way there, dropping her off three blocks away. She
kissed both him and Yukio then told him to meet her in the basement of her
school for lunch rather than on the roof.
“There’s a
door at the bottom of each staircase. Go through it and wait for me to come
down. I’ll call for you. Don’t come into the school unless there’s no one in
the hall,” she told him.
He had
agreed then bounded off with Yukio while she walked the rest of the way to
school. Her friend Ayumi was walking in at the same
time and the other girl saw her.
greeted.
“
The girl
came close. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m
alright. I’ve come in to get my assignments and to turn in my homework,” she
answered as they walked into the school together.
“You’re
looking very well. Much better than before. I remember
when you were so sick. You looked so tired and worn out.”
regular basis.’
schedule have really helped.”
“How is
your aunt in
She nodded,
well familiar with the “cover story.” Her grandfather had told everyone that
she spent the majority of her time at her aunt’s house on the outskirts of
“She’s
doing very well. I think the fresh air and the closeness to the ocean are
really good for both of us.”
“Well, you
certainly have benefited from it.”
“Thanks.”
“I’m glad
to see you. When do you have to go back?”
“But I’ll
be back in two weeks for five days because of our exams,” she offered.
Kagome-chan. I miss spending time with you. Since
Yuka and Eri went to Waseda
and went to Tokyo Metropolitan, you and I are
the only ones left from our group.”
“I know. I
miss you too Ayumi.”
“How is
Inuyasha?” the girl asked suddenly.
“He’s doing
well.”
“Still
two-timing you?”
“Not as
much.”
“That’s
good. He seemed okay the one time I met him at your house.”
She nodded,
remembering the day Ayumi, Yuka and
impression on them.
“Yeah, he
is. And he’s getting better.”
“I’m glad.
You deserve to be happy, Kagome.”
She gave
her friend a fond look. “Thank you, Ayumi. That means
a lot to me.”
They went
into their homeroom class together and took their seats. Kagome turned in all
of her homework and made arrangements with each of her teachers to pick up her
assignments after school. At lunch, she slipped out of the room and headed
quickly for the basement.
“Inuyasha,”
she called when she reached the bottom of the basement stairs.
It was dim
and cool down there and reminded her a bit of the den- without all the metal
and machine noise. Inuyasha materialized out of the gloom, his bare feet making
no sound on the concrete floor.
“Kagome,”
he greeted as she hugged him and gave him a kiss.
Yukio
gurgled at her and smiled.
his haori over her shoulders before she settled down
with her back against the wall.
She lifted
up her shirt and pulled down the nursing flap on the bra, giving him the
nipple.
“How is
your day going?” Inuyasha asked as he crouched down next to her.
“Okay. I
have to see all my teachers after school to pick up my assignments.”
He nodded.
“How is
yours?” she said as he handed her one of the two small bento boxes her mother
had made for their lunches.
He opened
his lunch box and started eating. “I’m bored. Nothing good happening and all
your teachers talk about is f I f I don’t understand.”
“I haven’t
even heard a rumor that Dr. Ishimoro caused any
trouble,” she admitted, opening her own box.
“I guess
so,” she agreed.
“Kagome-
stairs, followed by tentative footsteps heading down. “Kagome, are you down
here?”
She
Before
either of them could do anything, the girl had reached the bottom of the stairs
and rounded the corner where they were. Her eyes searched and then found them
sitting against the wall.
here. Inuyasha-chan what…”
The girl
stopped dead in her tracks when she realized what Kagome was doing. She gasped,
her eyes opening wide and took a step back.
“Kagome…”
“
but the girl was already backpedaling.
“I… I’m
sorry. I’ll… I’ll get out of here...”
“Inuyasha,
stop her! Quickly!”
Inuyasha
obeyed, leaping over the girl and blocking her path to the stairs.
going?” he demanded.
me!”
“Huh? Why
would I hurt you?” he asked, blinking at her.
She stared
up at him. “Be… because Kagome says you’re reckless and violent and…”
He gave
Kagome an angry glare and she shrugged sheepishly. ‘Oops.’
“Hey. I’m
only violent to those who hurt Kagome. Are you gonna hurt Kagome?”
“Then you
got nothing to worry about. Kagome just wanted me to stop you,
“How’d you
move so fast?” the girl asked, starting to overcome her fear.
was fast? You haven’t seen anything.”
“Inuyasha,”
Kagome warned and he quieted his boasting, then she turned to her friend.
he’s not human. Ayumi may not have gotten into
the one that was the most sympathetic to Inuyasha. Maybe she can be trusted
now. And even if she can’t, it’s too late isn’t it,’ she thought sadly.
“Kagome-
and facing her. “I… I didn’t know you had a baby. If the high school
administrator finds out…”
else, right?”
You’ll be expelled!”
n stn style='mso-tab-count:1'> The girl
came over and knelt by her as Inuyasha returned to his place next to her and
resumed eating his lunch. Kagome blushed and Ayumi
stared.
“When… when
did you have him… her? I never even knew you were pregnant.”
“Him, and I
wasn’t. This baby is an orphan.”
“But…”
“A woman
can make milk and not be pregnant. It’s called induced lactation and you can
find out about it on-line,” Kagome explained.
She
shrugged. “I wasn’t actually planning it. It just kinda happened.”
“Anyway,
you won’t tell anyone, right?”
I promise!”
“Good.
Thank you.”
Yukio asked
to be switched so she moved him over, giving Ayumi a
good look at him. The girl gasped.
“Kagome…
the baby…”
“Has puppy
ears, yes I know.”
She saw
smiled to herself as Yukio took the second breast, mumbling a
barked back a soft, :Good pup.: to him and he sighed.
“Where did
you get him?” the girl asked timidly.
She
chucked. “It’s a long story.”
tail too?”
Inuyasha
nearly choked on his food and coughed. “A tail??”
“Well…
yeah, if he has dog ears couldn’t he have a tail too?”
The hanyou
sputtered and Kagome held back a laugh.
“No, he
doesn’t have a tail. He does have claws and fangs though. Fangs he’d better be
careful not to use on his mother when he feeds,” she warned gently, tapping
Yukio on the back of his neck when he grazed her nipple with a canine.
She cuddled
him and rubbed his back. :Forgiven.:
“Kagome…”
“No.
The girl
tittered nervously, but nodded. “Yeah.”
“Yukio is a
hanyou. An inu-hanyou to be exact.”
repeated.
“His mother
was human, but his father was…”
“A dog
demon?” the girl finished. “But Kagome… demons don’t exist…”
“Inuyasha,
will you take off your cap, please?” she asked.
always wear it when I’m here in your blasted world and now you want me to take
it off?” he complained.
She gave
him a tolerant smile. “It’s okay, really. Go ahead and show Ayumi
your ears.”
He gave her
a confused look, but obeyed, taking off the hat. Ayumi
squealed when she saw his dog ears.
“OW!”
Inuyasha yelled.
“Inuyasha
is an inu-hanyou too,” she explained.
“Are they
real? Can I touch them?”
“Inuyasha?”
she asked.
The hanyou
bent his head so Ayumi could inspect his ears and the
girl rubbed them lightly.
“Be
careful. They’re really sensitive,” Kagome warned.
“They’re so
soft…”
“Is this
why he’s so angry and violent all the time, Kagome?” Ayumi
questioned.
“Hey! I am
not,” he snorted, offended.
“No. He
just puts up a front so no one will figure out he’s just a big fluffy puppy
inside,” Kagome teased.
an inu-hanyou and so is the
baby… is this baby yours? Are you two-timing Kagome again you big jerk?! And
then you ask her to raise it for you after you had a baby with your old
girlfriend? You’ve got some nerve buster!!”
“Eh??
the girl was off on a roll of indignant rage.
“You better
treat her right! Kagome’s too good hearted to tell you to stuff it, but I know
how much you made her cry!”
He looked
at her, aghast. “You’ve been talking about me?”
“Of course
she’s been talking about you! I’m her best friend. Who else is she going to cry
to when you cheat on her again? And now you bring her your illegitimate
half-demon baby to raise. You… you…
HORRIBLE, TWO-TIMING, VIOLENT, SELFISH JERK!” Ayumi
yelled.
Inuyasha
cringed and tried to hide behind Kagome.
“
She patted
his hand comfortingly.
he’s done to you?!” Ayumi demanded.
“Because
the baby’s not his,” she said calmly.
“He’s not?”
“No.
Yukio’s parents are dead. Inuyasha and I adopted him after his mother died.”
blushed with embarrassment. “Oh. Sorry, I just thought…”
Inuyasha
snorted. “That’s right. You
such a thing to Kagome.”
“Inuyasha…”
Kagome warned.
“What? I’m
not allowed to defend myself?”
“Of course
you are, but Ayumi doesn’t understand about you and
me. She made a wrong assumption, but now we’ve fixed it. It’s okay.”
“
“I really
am sorry,” Ayumi apologized. “I shouldn’t have said
those things to you.”
Don’t worry about it.”
and had to smile. ‘He’s so forgiving. He
wants everyone to think he’s hard and cold, but he isn’t. He’s so sweet. I love
him so much.’
Yukio
finished eating and she burped him, giving him a few extra cuddles because the
yelling had upset him.
“How much
time is left for lunch?” she asked.
minutes.”
“That’s
enough time,” she commented, taking one of the clean diapers Inuyasha had
brought with him and a cleaning cloth. It always amazed her just how much he
could carry stuffed in his haori.
She laid
the haori on the concrete floor and put Yukio on it
so she could change him, taking care not to dirty the red cloth. Then she put
him in the clean diaper and re-dressed him in his snap-on sweat pants, giving
his belly a little tickle. He giggled and kicked.
“It looks
like everything is quiet here. You should take him home,” she said, giving his
“I’m not
leaving you,” he refused, putting the garment on.
She handed
him Yukio when he was ready for him.
“I don’t
think anything is going to happen. Really, it’s okay.”
“
say when it’s okay, woman, and I’m not convinced. I’m
staying and that’s final.”
She sighed,
rolling her eyes. Ayumi looked to them.
“Is
something wrong?” the girl asked.
“Someone
else knows about Yukio and we were worried she would make trouble for us today,
but it doesn’t look like it.”
“A doctor
who examined me when my mom found out I was lactating. She came to the house
yesterday and caused a scene,” she explained.
“Oh how
horrible!”
She nodded.
“But it’s okay. My mom and grandfather took care of it.”
“Oh.”
“Anyway, we
need to get back,” she said, eating the last of her lunch quickly,
kissed Yukio.
“I love
you,” she told the baby. He burbled back at her.
She kissed
Inuyasha on the cheek. “I love you too.”
He blushed
but gave her a small smile.
“I’ll pick
you up after school and take you home,” he told her.
“Okay. Be
safe, put your cap back on and stay out of sight.”
“Yes, yes,
wench, get going or you’ll be late.”
“And stay
out of trouble,” she warned as she and Ayumi headed
for the stairs.
“Me?
the trouble maker!”
“Be lucky
you’re holding Yukio or I’d ‘s’ you.”
She giggled
as she and Ayumi went up the stairs.
“’S’ him?”
her friend asked.
“Oh.”
The rest of
the day passed without incident and Inuyasha was true to his word. He met her
as soon as she was out of sight of the school and carried her home on his back;
leaping from building to building and making her laugh with the rush of
excitement and joy she felt whenever she was with him. That night she did her
homework, ate dinner with her family, played with her son and made love with
her man- twice as promised. In the morning they returned once again to the
Sengoku Jidai and resumed their hunt for the