Bloodborne Duties

Bloodborne Duties

An ancient curse was placed upon the Inuyoukai family: if the youngest born heir does not produce an heir-apparent before his 205th birthday, the Dogs will surrender to the Panthers. Inuyasha is the youngest heir and it is his duty to avoid the curse.

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Shippo scowled nastily sitting crossed legged beside Inuyasha. His hair was braided and he had the make-cup thing that Kagome wore on occasions. His half-demon companion and father figure wasn't in any better state than he was. Inuyasha had his hair tied up into two high pigtails and sported a very natural looking application of make-cup. Rin was doubled over in laughter and Kagome stood in front of her and Rin's masterpiece, grinning superiorly.

"My brain hurts, wench." Inuyasha snarled. He still didn't know how he allowed his mate and the wenchlette to torture him and Shippo, but he did. It probably had something to do with their impeccably good puppy-dog eyes. That was probably a skill they mastered by spending years with him and Sesshomaru respectively.

"A pair of cute pigtails never hurt anybody, Inuyasha." Kagome grinned. "Besides, the both of you look so cute!"

Inuyasha growled. "Men don't look cute, Kagome. Men look manly!"

"Yeah!" Shippo piped. "Manly. Right now we look like a pair of Jakotsus!"

Inuyasha shuddered at the thought of looking like Jakotsu. He was only member of the Band of Seven that Inuyasha dreaded bumping into for reasons other than engaging in battle.

"I think the both of you look really beautiful." Rin said after she got over her bout of laughter. "Any man would be lucky to win your affection, Inu-onii-chan."

"Any man would be lucky to be alive after looking at me the way I look at Kagome. Keh." Inuyasha scoffed aloud. Kagome maintained the sudden desire to squeal really loudly but Rin didn't have as much control as she did. The young girl let out an ear piercing noise which made Shippo cover his ears and Inuyasha lower his.

Rin had her hands clenched in front of her mouth as she stared, googily-eyed, at the dog-demon. "That is so cute! Awwwwweee!"

Because Kagome knew Inuyasha for so long, she didn't miss the rise of heat to his cheeks before he covered his blush up with faux-anger. "Shut up, wenchlette. Your stupid shrieking is gonna make my ears bleed, keh!"

Rin harrumphed. "You can be so mean sometimes."

"And you're annoying all the time."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome used her infamous 'angry' tone. "Don't be mean to Rin."

Inuyasha took one look at the glare Kagome was shooting at him and knew that it was in his best interest to shut his pie hole. He was man enough to admit that his mate was extremely frightening when she was pissed off. That didn't happen to often anymore, but when it did Inuyasha knew it was in his best interest to not say anything.

"I'm not being mean." Inuyasha rolled his eyes and began to save his behind. "I was helping her grow a backbone."

His response was met by Shippo doubling over in laughter, Rin shaking her head in amusement, and Kagome glaring viciously at her mate. Inuyasha's eyes drooped before he stood up with an equally angry look on his face.

"You don't have any right to be mad at me after putting me and Shippo through this!" Inuyasha used his hands to usher to the obvious makeover that he and Shippo had to go through. "We are men. Not geishas!"

"Or Jakotsus." Shippo piped. Kagome's eyes flashed to Shippo and back to Inuyasha. She stared at him for a brief moment before howling in laughter. Her response was met by confusion—Inuyasha was sure his mate had lost it. Chasing demons for three years had finally taken a toll on her sanity.

"Oh- my- God!" Kagome heaved. "Do you know how ridiculous you look?! You're yelling at me with lipstick and eye shadow on." Kagome gripped her sides, sat down, and laughed some more. "You look worse than your brother!"

Inuyasha and Shippo looked at each other before silently deciding that Kagome was right. It was a sight definitely worth seeing. Rin couldn't breathe from all the laughter; she was glad that Kagome and Inuyasha dropped by once in a while (although in this case it was because Shippo was dying). It served as a great change of pace and added spice to Rin's daily life.

Sesshomaru was nice and all… and he recently had begun to show emotion but…

He wasn't as outgoing as his younger brother and sister-in-law.

Shippo was the first to compose himself and suggested that he and Inuyasha wash off the shit that Kagome and Rin caked onto them. Inuyasha agreed and raced out of the room before Kagome or Rin could argue against it. The two girls looked at each other, shrugged, and decided that they were going to get the demon chefs to prepare them a meal. In the infamous words of Kagome: "A growing girl needs her grub."

Rin asked what grub was.

Kagome just ended up laughing.

All in a day's work!

.xx.

Sesshomaru and Daiki arrived at the location of the so-called attack. As the Western Messenger (a well-trained meerkat demon by the name of Miakyatto) had informed them, the village had been wiped out of existence.

As had the previous village.

"This is strange," Daiki murmured as he scanned their surroundings. "There's not even a scent trail."

Sesshomaru remained quiet as he, too, scanned their surroundings. Daiki was right; there was no scent trail, there weren't any remnants, no people, no demons… nothing. It was as if the village had never existed to begin with. Sesshomaru took a few steps into the clearing and tried to locate any remaining auras or power sources.

As he predicted, there was nothing.

"This is so strange." Daiki whispered. "There should be something here that indicates there was a village here previously. How can anything be wiped out of existence?"

Sesshomaru turned to look at Daiki. "I haven't a clue. But it's clear that whatever this is, is out to get my brother. Or else why would it attack the fox demon? And why is it destroying everything that is within Inuyasha's lands."

Daiki frowned. "Inuyasha's lands?"

"Come. I'll explain when we return to the castle." Without waiting for Daiki to respond, Sesshomaru was off. It's piecing together slowly. Sesshomaru thought. This demon is out to get Inuyasha. And probably his mate too.

Although Sesshomaru didn't want to admit it, anybody or anything that was determined to hurt his brother and his brother's mate would have to go through him first. Apart from the fact that his brother was closer to deferring their familial curse, Sesshomaru had come to care for him.

After all, Inuyasha was family. And if Sesshomaru wasn't there for his brother, than who would be?

.xx.

Inuyasha, Kagome, Shippo, and Rin finished their lunch and decided to relax under some large trees in Sesshomaru's courtyard. Rin was laying her head on Kagome's lap as she ran her fingers through the young girl's hair. Inuyasha was sitting beside Kagome, his arm wrapped around her shoulders and Shippo was just a few inches away from Inuyasha with his back against the massive tree trunk.

"You know we have to head out soon, right?" Inuyasha said regretfully. "The runt is okay so we gotta find out what the hell wants to kill us. Again."

Kagome wanted to laugh at his tone but knew he was being serious. The whole thing got really old: kill a bad guy, find a new nemesis, kill the nemesis, find another nemesis, kill the new nemesis, find a newer nemesis. And so on.

"You're right," Kagome sighed. "We do. Did you talk to Sesshomaru about getting me robes?"

Inuyasha nodded. "Yeah. He said he'd send word to the mountain witch and get her to make you some. I don't know how long it'll take—give it a week or two."

Kagome was satisfied with his answer. It surprised her how civil her husband was; she remembered when he was ready to chop off unmentionables if anybody decided to look at him funny. He's come a long way. Kagome thought happily. Inuyasha hadn't changed, he simply matured.

And she guessed it came with the territory of being the saviour of the world, the appointed saviour of the dog-demon race, a husband and mate, and a (hopefully) father. It was as if Inuyasha had much more to be responsible for after the death of Naraku.

"You going back to fox demon training, runt?" Inuyasha glanced at Shippo. The fox demon stopped chewing on his blade of grass to look at his adoptive parents.

"I don't know," he seemed uneasy. "What if the demon gets me again? I was actually kinda hoping you guys would let me tag along… until you kill the thing that's threatening the world. And I'll stay out of your way, I mean I'm older now and I completely understand that as mates you two want some alone time and I won't bother you or rub anything in your faces and I certainly won't talk your ears off—especially you, Inuyasha—and I'm so much stronger and I won't whine or complain or—"

"Shut up." Inuyasha snorted. "You're already talking my fucking ears off."

Rin and Kagome giggled. Inuyasha reacted so typically Inuyasha.

"The reason I asked is because Kagome and I already decided that we aren't letting you off on your own for a while." Inuyasha revealed. "We want you to come along with us until we kill this thing; it's the only way to ensure your safety."

Shippo blinked, slightly confused, before throwing his arms around Inuyasha. Slightly taken back, Inuyasha returned the hug and Kagome was fighting the temptation to squeal super loudly. The two main men in her life were simply adorable—especially when they were displaying their affection for one another.

"I wanna come too!" Rin declared and the attention of the three shard hunters turned to her. "You guys killed Naraku and found the jewel shards and get to explore the lands. I'm stuck here now because Lord Sesshomaru doesn't take me on rounds anymore." Rin frowned. "Something about men and staring."

Kagome and Inuyasha exchanged knowing glances.

"You guys must have so much fun, especially when Lady Sango and Master Miroku were with you." Rin sounded wistful. "I want to explore and be responsible for the destruction of demons that threaten humankind."

"It's fun," Kagome had to agree. "But it's tough. And scary. It took me sooo long to get used to it, but I knew Inuyasha was always there for me. It'd be great if you joined us but—"

"But you're Sesshomaru's ward." Inuyasha interrupted. "And he has to allow you. Besides, you're another runt for me to protect."

"HEY!" Shippo blared. "I can protect myself!"

"Keh. When you're with me, you're my responsibility."

"I'm responsible for myself." Shippo argued.

"No! I'm responsible for you."

"Self!"

"You!"

"Self!"

"You!"

Rin sat up and stared confusedly at Kagome. "I don't get the point behind this argument."

"I don't get the point behind any of their arguments." Rin and Kagome watched them yell at each other for a few shouts longer before Kagome decided to intervene. She knew if she let them continue their battle it would end up with Shippo using his fox magic and Kagome having to subdue Inuyasha for trying to bury Shippo six feet under.

"Alright! Alright! Both of you be quiet!"

Inuyasha and Shippo whirled unto Kagome who was not affected by their dual glares. Shippo's glare was at a lesser magnitude; she was actually surprised that he was glaring. He definitely took after Inuyasha that was for sure.

"You." She pointed at Shippo. "Come along. You." She pointed at Inuyasha. "Stop fighting with him. There will be a time when you're probably gonna have to save the both of us so when that day comes, rub it in. As of now, let him win."

Inuyasha was about to vehemently oppose to what his mate said, but decided to shut his mouth before he even opened it. Kagome was radiating a no-argument aura and he knew better than to mess with her. For some reason, she got a hell of a lot scarier after they got married.

Or was it because Inuyasha got wimpier?

I'm getting so wimpy. He concluded. I gotta up the manly; being married is making me fucking weak, keh!

Rin was watching the entire showdown unveil. She loved how the three interacted with each other and her desire to be a part of their group was growing stronger and stronger. What Inuyasha said did stick, though. She was under the care of Sesshomaru and it would be entirely his decision on whether she could tag along with Inuyasha and Kagome, or not. And the likelihood of him agreeing to something like that was about as likely as Inuyasha willingly putting on makeup himself.

Never going to happen.

"Asshole's back." Inuyasha said rather suddenly. His comment was met by Shippo chortling and Kagome frowning.

"His name's Sesshomaru."

"We went through this already," Inuyasha grinned as he stood up and held his hand out to his mate. Kagome grabbed his hand and allowed him to pull her up. "Asshole and Sesshomaru are synonymous."

Rin clamped a hand over her mouth to stop herself from laughing but Shippo had less control. He howled.

Like a dog.

Which made Kagome and Inuyasha laugh a little. He was definitely influenced by his father.

.xx.

"Nothing?" Inuyasha repeated after his brother told them of what he and Daiki saw when they arrived at the location of the village.

Sesshomaru nodded. "Correct. Wiped out, as we were informed."

"But that can't be possible… can it?" Kagome asked. "Nothing left behind?"

"Absolutely nothing, my lady." Daiki sighed. "We looked around for even a strand of hair, but it was as if that village had never existed."

Kagome and Inuyasha glanced at each other, both thinking the same thing: what the hell?! Shippo and Rin were sitting off to the side and listening intently to the conversation. Shippo was a bit more interested than Rin was and that was only because he had spent many years with Inuyasha and Kagome fighting the type of beasts that could be responsible for the wipe-outs.

"But there's a pattern that I've realized." Sesshomaru admitted. His eyes locked with Inuyasha's. "Everything that this demon attacks belongs to you." Before Inuyasha could express his confusion, Sesshomaru continued.

"Father divided the lands so that some areas are under my guardianship and others are yours. Since you haven't been around," Inuyasha glared at his brother at the last bit but chose to keep his mouth shut. "I've done the duties that should've been performed by you and watched over those lands. There is a signed document that indicates which areas are yours and which areas are mine."

Kagome clued in. "The areas that belong to Inuyasha are the ones being attacked."

"Yes." Sesshomaru nodded. "The areas are under your guardianship… as is the fox demon."

Inuyasha glanced over at Shippo before turning back to his brother. "You're saying that this thing is only after the things and people that are mine?"

"Correct." Sesshomaru heaved a heavy sigh and that slightly worried the younger brother. His brother never sighed, let alone heave a heavy one. "And it'll only be time before it comes after the most important person in your life."

All eyes landed on Kagome.

"Your mate."

.xx.

Sorry for the late update!

Two things:

One: I have commissions open for those interested in having stories written for them. More info on my deviantART homepage (link found on my profile!)

Two: I'm thinking of publishing an e-book. If I do, would anybody purchase it?