InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Batsu ❯ A New Life ( Chapter 10 )

`No! This can't be happening!'

 

In Kanna's mirror, he had seen everything. Oh, he had seen everything all right. From the moment Kagura attacked to Sesshomaru reviving Kohaku with his sword to Kagura's death at the hands of the taiyoukai and Kouga using his own body as a shield for Inuyasha. Everyone had banded together. The number of deaths had been at a minimum. If anything, he had been the one to suffer the greatest losses. In a tiny fit of rage, Naraku hurled his sake cup across the room and watched it as it shattered into a thousand pieces.

 

For a moment, he just stood there, staring at the pieces and breathing heavily. As he gazed at the shattered cup, a sense of peace came over him. Though Kagura had died in that final battle with Kouga and Sesshomaru, she hadn't truly failed him. Thanks to her manipulations of the dead, Kouga had raped Inuyasha and brutally so. The inu hanyou had also been crippled in that confrontation with the wolf and to the point where he'd never be able to defend himself or wield the Tetsusaiga ever again. Inuyasha had been his greatest threat. With the silvery white-haired male pregnant and somewhat crippled, Naraku had more freedom to do more as he pleased. Then there was the fact that a rift had been created between the wolf youkai and the young miko. It would be a while before she ever trusted Kouga again. Quite a while.

 

`And it isn't like I can't recreate Kagura,' he smirked to himself. He pulled the nearly complete Shikon no Tama out of his kimono, his smirk getting even bigger. `Definitely not like I can't recreate her. And then . . . revenge shall be mine.'

 

A chuckle bubbled to the surface. Before too much longer, his laughter echoed throughout the entire castle.

 

* * *

 

A week had passed since Kagura's attack and since Sesshomaru had left. Kouga had recovered a day and a half later, and had once again taken up residence in the same cave as Inuyasha. Inuyasha rarely came out of the cave, only when AoiAme insisted. The hanyou remained skittish around others, especially most members of the wolf tribe.

 

During that time, Kagome kept debating within herself as to how she was going to approach the silver-haired male. If he came out of his cave more often, it wouldn't have been a problem for the teenage girl. He'd have been in a public place, so to speak. With him sequestered in the cave . . . well, she wasn't sure of what to expect. And she never knew if Kouga would be in the cave with Inuyasha or not.

 

`It shouldn't matter,' she told herself as she gazed at the cave where Inuyasha was staying. `Inuyasha's my friend . . . and I need to talk to him.'

 

For several more moments, she stood there and stared, trying to work her courage up.

 

`Funny how I can stare down Sesshomaru in the face of battle but I can't even go in and talk to Inuyasha . . . that's it. I'm going in there.'

Determination finally steeled in, Kagome marched towards the cave. Nothing was going to stop her. She had to talk to Inuyasha, to apologize . . . and to give him a gift. Something that had become long overdue.

 

`I can't be selfish about this . . . not anymore . . . I want Inuyasha to live . . . and to be happy . . . no matter who he's with.'

 

It felt strange, the thought of giving up her hopes for a future with Inuyasha. She never even realized that she had been hoping for such a thing, not until Sango had made it clear as to what would happen to Inuyasha and his child if the silver-haired male didn't mate with Kouga and soon. But, as she realized what she had been hoping for, she also knew what it was that she wanted. Inuyasha's happiness and state of mind came before her desires.

 

`Besides . . . I'm not sure how it would have worked out once the jewel's completed. I can't stay here, though I would love to . . . and I'm not sure how he'd handle living in my era. He's already called it strange.'

 

As she reached the living area of Inuyasha's cave, Kagome slowed her pace down. Ahead of her, she heard Kouga and Inuyasha talking. The hanyou was upset about something and the wolf was doing his best to soothe the silver-haired male. Peeking in, she saw Kouga sitting with his back against the far wall and Inuyasha cradled in his arms. Crimson tears were streaking down the inu hanyou's cheeks. Worry surged through her when she saw that. She'd been told that, when a youkai was innocent of a crime, they cried the tears of blood, and it had frightened her. To actually see it downright worried her and she narrowed her eyes at the wolf tribe leader. Kouga glanced up as she stepped in.

 

“Is everything all right?” she inquired coolly.

 

“Yeah,” the wolf youkai nodded. “Everything's all right. He just had a nightmare not that long ago. He's just now calming down.”

 

“Oh . . .”

 

“Is there anything I can help you with, Kagome?” Kouga murmured. “Inuyasha really needs to get some rest.”

 

“I came to talk to him, actually,” she replied, fidgeting some. Now that she was there, she found herself at a loss of words, and her courage wavered.

 

“What is it, Kagome?”

 

His voice had become so soft, she barely recognized it. Kagome glanced at Inuyasha. He didn't completely raise his head to look at her. Rather, his eyes moved.

 

And it was looking in his eyes that truly pained her. So haunted, so pained . . . so devoid of life.

 

“I . . .”

 

For a moment, Kagome couldn't find her voice. The pain in Inuyasha's eyes made it nearly impossible for her to find the words she needed to say.

 

“Kagome? Are you . . .”

 

“I'm fine,” she shook her head and offered the two a faint smile. “I'm fine. I just wanted to say I'm . . . sorry, especially for what I did when we first found you. I jumped to the wrong conclusion when I saw you.”

 

“It's okay. I . . .”

 

“No,” Kagome interrupted. “You didn't do anything wrong, Inuyasha. You couldn't help being here. I know that.”

 

“Kagome . . .”

 

“There's one more thing,” she continued, kneeling in front of the two. “It's something I should have done the moment Kouga told me what had happened.”

 

Both males gazed at her, curiosity in their eyes. Kagome reached forward, her fingers grasping the rosary around Inuyasha. With a slight tug of her hand, the beads fell to the floor and scattered. Inuyasha's eyes widened in surprise.

 

“Kagome . . .”

 

“I don't want to say that word accidentally and end up hurting you and your baby, Inuyasha,” she murmured. “It's one of my gifts to you.” She raised her head to Kouga. “Take care of him for me, okay? I wouldn't want to have to purify you should you end up hurting him again.”

 

“I won't hurt him,” Kouga vowed, nuzzling Inuyasha's hair. “Not ever again. You can count on me, Kagome. He'll be well taken care of. I swear it.”

 

* * *

 

“Are you sure you're ready to leave?” came Miroku's inquiry. “We should at least stay for the mating ceremony.”

 

Sango watched as the two talked while Kagome packed up a few of her things. Personally, she felt Kagome's desire to go back to her own time had rotten timing. The young miko had stated there were some things she wanted to take care of but that she'd be back in time for the mating ceremony between Kouga and Inuyasha. The taijiya felt it was just an excuse to get away from the two. The idea of two males mating still had the girl unsettled, Sango felt. She and Miroku, along with a few of Kouga's wolves, were going to escort her back to the well. Shippou was staying behind. At AoiAme's insistence. The kitsune, she felt, needed more of a youkai influence than what he was receiving with just having Kirara and Inuyasha around. No one counted Myouga as an influence. The flea often ran off in the face of peril. Kirara was also staying per Inuyasha's request. Apparently, he had missed the fire neko and was finding a solace in her that he didn't seem to be getting from anyone else.

 

“I'm sure,” Kagome replied. “Besides, the ceremony's a week away. I'll be back in time. I promise.”

 

“Won't leaving send Inuyasha the wrong message, though?” Miroku frowned. “I mean, this is a very critical time for him . . .”

 

“Guys,” the young miko chuckled. “Relax. I've already told Kouga and Inuyasha that I'm heading home for some more supplies, and they're okay with it. Besides, there are a few things that I want to get for them, especially for the baby.”

 

“For . . . the baby?” Sango echoed, not believing her ears. Kagome nodded.

 

“Yeah. In my time, there are all sorts of things for expecting mothers and newborns. Everything from formula for the baby to clothes to diapers . . . things that Inuyasha's going to need. I just need to let my mother know what I need that stuff for.”

 

“I must say that I'm surprised, Kagome,” Miroku stated. “I would have thought for sure you would have been against this, especially from what you've told us about your time and how an all male relationship is viewed.”

 

“It is a little odd,” she confessed. “I mean, before the whole castle incident, they were fighting over me . . . and now they're together. But I've seen them . . . I've seen the way Kouga holds Inuyasha and watches over him . . . he really is trying to make things right with Inuyasha. And as long as Inuyasha's happy, that's all I care about. Now . . . let's get going. I've got some shopping to do.”

 

* * *

 

Shippou waved as the forms of Kagome, Sango, Miroku, and a few of Kouga's wolves vanished into the distance. He waved even after he couldn't see them then let out a heavy sigh. They'd be gone for an entire week. Because of the wolf tribe's healer, he was being left behind. Something about needing more of a youkai influence that what he'd been receiving.

 

As he stared in the direction everyone had gone, a strong arm wrapped around his middle and pulled him into a firm hug. He glanced up to see Inuyasha's face staring in the same direction as he had been.

 

The hanyou had changed since he'd last seen Inuyasha. He was no longer brash and loud-mouthed. He no longer bopped him upside the head or shouted at him. Shippou missed that part of the hanyou. Deep in his heart, Shippou knew that Inuyasha was preparing him for an uncertain future. Every hit, every snide remark strengthened the kitsune's will to survive and to fight. It was something that their human friends didn't really understand. Sure, he wailed about it every time Inuyasha was mean but that was just the pampered part of him. It made him feel loved, cared about. Now the dynamics of that had been upset. Thanks to Naraku.

 

`Some day, when I get stronger, I'm going to make Naraku pay,' the kit vowed to himself as he scampered up Inuyasha's shoulder. The two headed back for the main part of the den. Several wolves had come back from hunting and from gathering wild fruits. The mating ceremony was going to be soon and the tribe was preparing for a feast.

 

* * *

 

Kouga smiled softly at the tired form he carried in his arms. Another week had passed, bringing the night of the mating ceremony to them. Kagome and her friends had come back the day before the ceremony, bringing the priestess from Edo with them and a few carts laden with gifts. He and Inuyasha would have opened them once the ceremony had been completed . . . except the hanyou had become increasingly tired as the days had passed. Both AoiAme and Kaede had assured him it was natural from the pregnancy, that the more rest Inuyasha got, the better.

 

`They'll still be there in the morning,' he told himself as he set Inuyasha down on a pile of fur pelts. The hanyou instantly snuggled deeper into the furs, his eyes closed. Kouga chuckled then settled himself behind his new mate. They weren't done with the mating ceremony just yet, but he wanted to give the hanyou a chance to rest up a bit.

 

The past two weeks, in Kouga's opinion, had shown a considerable improvement on Inuyasha's part. He had agreed to become the wolf leader's mate some time after Kagura had attacked and Kouga had healed. It had improved his health some but not entirely. Not until Kagome took the rosary off and the hanyou had spent some time alone with the kitsune. After that, Inuyasha started to smile a little and his nightmares lessened. He'd still have them, Kaede had told him, but it was to be expected. Inuyasha had had a hard life, having had to fight just to survive. Not everyone had been kind to the hanyou.

 

`But that's going to change,' Kouga thought, kissing his mate's neck. `Anyone that insults my mate is insulting me and my tribe. It won't be tolerated. Not anymore.'

 

“Go to sleep, Kouga,” came the hushed and sleepy murmur. “`m tired.” Weakly, Inuyasha batted at him with one hand.

 

“But I'm not,” the wolf whispered back. “And there's one more thing that we need to do, Inuyasha. Then you can sleep all night long. I promise.”

 

Sleepy golden eyes turned to gaze at him.

 

“You promise? I can sleep all night? No interruptions?”

 

“No interruptions,” Kouga reaffirmed. “You can sleep all night.”

 

He ran a clawed finger along the hanyou's jaw before catching him in a heated and passionate kiss, a kiss that Inuyasha slowly returned. Kouga's hands ran down Inuyasha's sides until they reached his waist. Finding where his hakama and his kimono met, Kouga slowly slipped his fingers in and began to pull up the clothing covering Inuyasha's torso . . .

 

* * *

 

Inuyasha moaned softly into Kouga's kiss as the wolf slowly began to disrobe him, his own fingers working on the formal kimono the wolf wore himself. Thanks to the mating ceremony, the wolf leader was not allowed to wear his armor. With the way his wrists still bothered him, Inuyasha didn't think he'd have much luck in removing it. Working with the fabric at hand was a chore in and of itself, but he managed. Soon, both males were naked with their heated groins pressing against each other. Inuyasha wrapped his arms around Kouga's neck, his legs intertwining with the wolf's while Kouga trailed his tongue along his jawline then down his throat. He paused for a moment, his blue eyes gazing into his own.

 

“How are your wrists, Inuyasha?” Kouga inquired softly, his heated shaft rubbing against him. Inuyasha fought back a groan as he tried to form a reply. He knew why Kouga was asking. In order for the mating ceremony to be completed, he, as the submissive, had to be in the proper position when Kouga took him.

 

“They're . . . fine . . .”

 

Kouga caught him in another heated kiss, eliciting a second moan from him.

 

“Are you sure? The last thing I want to do is hurt you . . .”

 

Inuyasha placed his hands on either side of Kouga's face, in hopes of reassuring the wolf.

 

“I'm fine . . . I can handle this, I swear.”

 

The wolf smiled warmly then placed another kiss on his lips. His hands reached behind Inuyasha and grasped his buttocks. For several more moments, their lips remained locked together as Kouga's tongue explored every inch of his mouth. Their bodies continued to touch each other's as they explored every inch. Before too much longer, they were both fully aroused. With the greatest of care, he was placed on all fours and Kouga was sliding in . . .

 

* * *

 

“Get the hell away from me!”

 

Kouga dodged another swipe from Inuyasha's claws, his expression becoming more and more concerned. The half-demon was hunched over and breathing heavily, his arms wrapped around his swollen abdomen, his face pained and fatigued. Weeks had gone by since the mating ceremony, and Inuyasha had shown a great deal of improvement. He had begun to venture away from the dens little by little but not too far, at Kouga's insistence. Given the half-demon's delicate nature, the last thing Kouga wanted to do was lose his mate and his child. Still, it had been enough to please the hanyou. The nightmares had become less of a nightly occurrence, and the tears of blood had ceased. Better yet, pieces of Inuyasha's fiery personality had begun to resurface. Sometimes at the most inopportune of times but he was gradually becoming the half-demon Kouga had first met. Now there was something wrong with his mate. Terribly wrong. He was hurting and refusing to let anyone get near him. Not even Kouga could get near him without being attacked.

 

“Inuyasha . . .”

 

“Go away . . . leave me alone . . .” Inuyasha groaned, slumping to the floor and panting heavily. “Just . . . leave me alone . . .”

 

“What's wrong?” Kouga inquired as he crept forward. “Something's wrong . . . I can tell . . . you're hurting . . . Is it the pup?”

 

“Leave me alone,” the hanyou whimpered once more. “Just go away . . .”

 

“No,” the wolf shook his head. “Not with you hurting like this. Come on . . . I'll take you to see AoiAme . . .”

 

Before the hanyou could protest or lash out, Kouga grabbed a hold of him and scooped him up. In a flash, they were out of the cave and heading for AoiAme. The moment he was cradled in his arms, Inuyasha latched onto him. Tears welled up in his mate's eyes as he ran.

 

“It hurts, Kouga . . . it hurts . . . make it stop . . . please . . . just make it stop.”

 

“I'll try, Inuyasha. I'll try.”

 

* * *

 

AoiAme had just stepped out of her cave when Kouga had rushed towards her, carrying a whimpering and moaning Inuyasha. She really needed only a moment to catch her breath - her cave had started to feel stuffy, after all the births she'd been attending lately - but had not expected Kouga to come dashing up with the silver-haired male. One sniff of the air, however, told her everything she needed to know.

 

“AoiAme, he . . .” her leader began.

 

“Bring him in,” she commanded, turning on her heel and re-entering her cave. Kouga traipsed behind her, doing his best to keep Inuyasha calm. Once they were inside, she pointed to a fresh pile of pelts that one of her assistants had just laid out.

 

“Set him down right there, Kouga, then step outside,” she ordered. “I'll let you know when you can come back in.”

 

“But . . .”

 

“Outside, Kouga, and wait for me to call for you.”

 

“Yes, AoiAme . . .”

 

As soon as her leader had left and she had the herbs she wanted mixed and brewed in a tea, AoiAme turned her attention back to the panting half-demon. Pain-filled golden eyes gazed at her. Already, her assistants were at his side, holding him up and preparing him for the process. She gestured with her head to the one not holding him, a silent indication for what she wanted done. Immediately, the assistant got up and set about mixing up some more herbs for her. All three of them knew the half-demon wouldn't be able to deliver naturally. He'd have to be cut open along his abdomen and the pup removed, a very dangerous procedure, even for a youkai.

 

“It hurts,” he whispered. “It hurts.”

 

“I know, sweetie,” AoiAme soothed, brushing back his hair. “I know. I'm going to help make it go away. Just relax, all right?”

 

“Why does it hurt?”

 

“Because . . .” she swallowed then continued, “it's time for the pup to be born. That's why. Here. Take a drink. It'll help ease your pain.”

 

“It will?” Hope had tinged his voice.

 

“Hai,” AoiAme nodded. “It will.”

 

He drank the tea that she offered him. Moments later, his eyes drooped and his breathing relaxed. AoiAme glanced at her assistants.

 

“Is that ointment ready?”

 

“Almost, AoiAme. Just a moment more.”

 

“Hurry, and bring a knife with you on your way back,” she stated, picking up a piece of leather. Carefully, she placed it between the hanyou's teeth. In case he felt any pain while she worked and felt the urge to bite. Years of experience had taught her the value of leather as compared to wood in treating someone. Leather, unlike wood, didn't splinter.

 

“It's ready.”

 

Once the ointment had been smeared across the hanyou's belly, AoiAme raised the blade.

 

`Kami, keep the child still while we work. The last thing we need is for Kouga to lose both his mate and his child.'

 

“Hold him still to the best of your abilities, you two. Now we begin.”

 

* * *

 

Kouga paced anxiously outside of AoiAme's cave as he waited for the demoness to call him back in. Everything inside had gone quiet. Deathly quiet. He couldn't even hear Inuyasha whimpering anymore. For a moment, he thought it might have been a good sign. AoiAme had somehow gotten the hanyou to calm down when no one else could and had eased his pain. And then . . . he had smelled blood. Inuyasha's blood. It took everything he had in him not to rush in there and demand what was going on.

 

`Easy, Kouga, easy,' he told himself. `Everything's going to be all right. Inuyasha's in safe and capable hands. AoiAme wouldn't do anything to jeopardize him or the baby. Just relax.'

 

Still, he couldn't help but worry. For all he knew, Inuyasha's life was in considerable danger and he wanted nothing more than to be at his mate's side. Why else would he be smelling Inuyasha's blood? It felt as if Inuyasha had been in AoiAme's cave for hours, and not the mere minutes it truly had been.

 

So wound up in his worries, Kouga failed to notice as Ginta, Hakkaku, Kagome, Miroku, Sango, and several other members of his tribe approached him . . . until one of the wolves whined. It startled him and he whirled around to face the group that had gathered around. The young miko was the first one to venture to speak.

 

“Is everything all right, Kouga?”

 

“Y-yeah,” he nodded, not feeling that certain. “Just waiting to hear how Inuyasha and the pup are doing . . .”

 

As if on cue, a wail emanated from the cave, followed by another and then another. But they weren't from Inuyasha or any of the healers. They sounded almost . . . like newborn pups.

 

Kouga turned slowly to face the cave's entrance. Inuyasha had . . . had the pup?

 

`Not pup,' Kouga idly reprimanded himself. `Pups.'

 

Without waiting for AoiAme's call, the wolf leader dashed into the cave just in time to see Inuyasha open his eyes and AoiAme and her assistants cleaning off three healthy looking pups. The children were handed to his mate and AoiAme glanced up at him. She offered him a warm smile.

 

“Congratulations, Kouga. You're a father.”

 

He blinked.

 

“I'm a father?” Kouga whispered, not quite believing what he was hearing. That was why Inuyasha was in so much pain?

 

AoiAme nodded, and her smile grew wider.

 

“Hai . . . two boys and a little girl. Now go. Your mate and your children are waiting for you.”

 

Hesitantly, he approached his mate and his offspring, not quite believing his eyes. Inuyasha lifted his head so that their gazes met, smiling wanly. Kouga wrapped his arms around the half-demon and his children.

 

“I don't hurt anymore,” Inuyasha whispered, offering a weak smile. His head rested against Kouga's shoulder. The wolf smiled at the simple statement.

 

“No,” he chuckled. “I don't suppose that you do. I don't suppose that you do. Now get some sleep. I'll watch over you.”

 

“You're always watching over me,” Inuyasha yawned.

 

“Can you blame me?”

 

“No.”

 

With that, Inuyasha's eyes closed and his breathing became steady and even. Kouga nuzzled him and let out a soft sigh.

 

Things in his life had changed drastically. He now had a mate and three pups, coming at a time when he knew he wasn't ready for them and didn't really want them. They were unexpected changes but there wasn't anything he wouldn't do for them. He'd fight for them, he'd live for them . . . he'd die for them.

 

`And if Naraku tries to attack once more, he'll die. I will kill him with everything I have. Nothing will harm you again, Inuyasha, or our children. I swear it.'

 

~Fin~