InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dubious Relations ❯ Chapter 9 ( Chapter 10 )

Dubious Relations

Chapter 9

His mouth fell open in silent confusion. What was this? How… Odd.

Naraku's emotionless, crimson eyes narrowed, his coal eyebrows drawing themselves down into the centre of his head. He was watching the most peculiar scene from the still intact shadows of the second building of his somewhat mobile home. His frown deepened as he continued watching his prior captives and Inuyasha talk, or yell as the case was, at each other. However, he wasn't examining Inuyasha and Kagome as he usually did when they were together, attempting to find holes he could poke and stretch, because Inuyasha and Sesshomaru were glowing, and his mind needed to decipher why.

There wasn't any reason for it. Not one that Naraku could dream up right then and there as he examined them from afar. It was as though they were deities walking on earth with how they were glowing. How befitting, Naraku decided that that metaphor came to his mind; as the blue shimmering was brighter around Sesshomaru - wait! - Was that string? Naraku's eyes widened. The brothers seemed to be joined by the thinnest, gleaming piece of string. The strangest thing was that it seemed to flow right through Kagome whenever she crossed it. Was it not actually present? Was he finally losing his mind? Inuyasha tended to do that to a person…

Suddenly, as though someone had pegged a rock at the back of his head, Naraku was hit with an epiphany, one that caused his frown to crack and morph into a very smug smirk. Oh how much fun he'd have toying with Inuyasha now; mated to Sesshomaru yet in love with a human girl of whom he travelled with? And the baby Sesshomaru was carrying was Inuyasha's? A wicked gleam appeared in his crimson eyes; Naraku couldn't ask for a more entertaining plaything. He'd have fun tearing the other half-breed's life to shreds before he killed him and took his mate as his own. It was only befitting after all the ingenious plans Inuyasha had aided his friends in foiling.

“You are free to go this time, Sesshomaru. But remember, I will be back for you. You will mother my heir, with your consent or not.” He then started to fade away, with a sickening shade of purple as his miasma swirled about him. A smirk grew upon his face as he noted the slight turn of Sesshomaru's head: an acknowledgement of being heard. “Goodbye, my Lord.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sesshomaru blinked slowly, his vision becoming fuzzy from malnutrition. With a slow, jerky movement he stepped out from behind the rubble he'd been standing by. He could feel the pup pulse happily, from his father's presence, managing to find its way over the ache that was using Sesshomaru's abdomen as a nest. His stomach flipped and tap danced in his abdomen telling him to eat something or to rid his body of the small amount that was left in there. Behind slightly down turned lips, Sessomaru clenched his teeth, willing the feeling to leave him; he would not disgrace himself any further in front of the half-breed. His temporary weakness from two weeks before was to be the last time.

In order to distract himself from his own feeble and still weakening limbs, his mind replayed the moment before. What a strange power the Priestess possessed: to make his brother `sit' with a simple command. His voice erupted from his throat out of habit, “It is befitting a disgrace like you would fall victim to such a simple command. How embarrassing it must be.”

As if remembering he was there, Inuyasha jumped to his feet, his front caked in soil, most of which fell back to the ground like putrid purple rain when he raised his right hand for a threat, “Oi, shut up! I'm only here so I could rescue you!” The remark earned a glare from the human girl, who seemed to be balancing a precautious command much like the one before on her lips. Inuyasha's slight cowering, made Sesshomaru's gaze narrow; what a strange power indeed. Was it love that made his younger brother recoil?

“I was not aware I meant so much to you,” Sesshomaru replied bitterly, as the mating mark that adorned his neck throbbed pleasantly, as the realisation Inuyasha may care flew through his mind. He attempted to ignore its very existence, however difficult the human in Inuyasha was making his goal.

With a snort, Inuyasha replied obnoxiously, “Don't let it go to your head. I promised the Brat I'd help, she's worried about you, you jackass.” Despite Inuyasha's turning towards the human girl, Sesshomaru heard his continued muttering, his words far more tenderly spoken than what they were to Sesshomaru, “Are you alright?”

The Priestess nodded and replied just as kindly, “I'm fine. But you should know better than to break down the wall like you did. Even if you didn't know I was there, you could have really hurt Sesshomaru.”

“He would've lived.” Sesshomaru watched as Inuyasha turned his back to him, “Come on. Everyone's somewhere in that direction.” He motioned broadly north east of their location. Sesshomaru filed the information away within his head for future use; before he reunited with his own companions, he needed to capture a meal.

With a step much like his prior ones, and with careful, noiseless sniffs, Sesshomaru attempted to track down a hare or some other vegetation eating animal. Anything would do, he decided, even a rat, should that be the first thing he caught, as long as he could catch it and eat it quickly. The demon Lord stumbled with a hop and a skip, managing to hold himself upright by grasping at the remaining wall.

The priestess' voice managed to find his ears over the shroud of anger - at his own stupidity, at his own weakness - Sesshomaru had allowed to fall over himself, “Er… Inuyasha,” Sesshomaru heard the girl say from in front of him, as he managed another awkward step whilst leaning heavily against the wood-coloured plaster, “You really need to help Sesshomaru walk. I would, but I can barely manage to hold him up, let alone move.”

“Why? The bastard learnt to walk, you've seen him.”

“Inuyasha! Will you look at him, he can barely stand!”

Sesshomaru bristled at the truth behind the Priestess' words. He could stand straight (should he really feel the need to), just as he was taught so long ago. It hurt to do so, most likely because of his long bouts of sitting. He hadn't sat still for so long in years. Not since he was being tutored daily, over two centuries ago. He was incredibly stiff, but his joints and muscles would ease with time. He was perfectly capable of caring for himself. He had done so for centuries.

With a grumble, Sesshomaru heard Inuyasha turn. When an angry demand - of which he would ignore - wasn't thrown in his direction, the demon Lord's eyes rose to meet Inuyasha's face. The half breed was blinking at him unabashedly, as Sesshomaru once again stepped forward. Inuyasha's mouth fell open, however he uttered nothing. Sesshomaru glared defiantly, as if daring Inuyasha to attempt to aid him; he would cut the half-breed into tiny pieces before he allowed him to touch him again!

“He hasn't eaten in three days.” The human explained when she rounded Inuyasha in order to look him in the eye. Sesshomaru bestowed a glare upon her as well; had she no knowledge of warrior rules? Never allow your foe to learn of your weaknesses, it was the first rule he'd been taught (right after his painful lesson on how to dodge attacks).

“What the hell do you mean he hasn't fucking eaten?” Inuyasha asked incredulously as he looked down upon the human girl. Sesshomaru frowned at his brother's crude language, even more so when it was used to insult him as Inuyasha's head tilted up to look at him once again, “You're pregnant, you bastard!”

Sesshomaru's golden gaze narrowed with annoyance, as he leaned heavily on the wall, stopping as he forced breath into his lungs as quietly as he could and attempted to stretch his stiffened muscles, “I am well aware of that, little brother.” He replied blandly, “It does not allow me to forget.” As if agreeing with his statement, Sesshomaru felt the pup's life force jump, before it settled as though it were attempting to fall asleep again.

“So why'd you not eat? Are you stupid, or are you attempting to kill yourself?”

“I do not eat human food.”

“That's no reason! Think of the pup you jackass!”

Sesshomaru watched keenly as Inuyasha stomped over to him, and snarled as the half breed began to raise his arms. The demon Lord automatically assumed Inuyasha wished to hold him around the waist, “Do not think to lay a finger on this Sesshomaru.”

Even the Priestess standing a small distance away blinked at his command. Before her temper flared. Sesshomaru's eyes flicked between both lesser beings, “Don't be so stubborn! Inuyasha's stronger than me, there's no way I could support you! I'm sure your mate will understand!”

Inuyasha blinked foolishly, “His mate? You know that he has a mate?”

The human smiled sheepishly and scratched her cheek idly, an action Rin used often, Sesshomaru recalled, “Well Kanna told us, and then Sesshomaru told me so!”

“I did no such thing.” Sesshomaru had done nothing other than deny the mark that adorned his neck. He would not acknowledge Inuyasha as his mate. He vowed he never would.

The Priestess planted her hands on her hips and frowned, Sesshomaru scowled in response, “You did too!”

“You are as delusional as my brother, should you think that I ever confirmed such nonsense.” From the corner of his eye, Sesshomaru saw that Inuyasha appeared to be insulted, and was about to comment on how foolish the half breed looked before a small, brown insect caught his golden gaze, “Myoga, you are still alive?”

With a jump and a wail, the elderly demon revealed himself from behind Inuyasha's horrendous hair, and bowed low to the demon immediately after from where he was standing on the half-breed's shoulder, “Yes, m-my Lord!”

Sesshomaru inclined his head, “I am surprised. I had expected you to have been killed much sooner than you are to be. My brother's recklessness predicts it.” With a small quirk of his lips, Sesshomaru continued, “Or perhaps you are still as cowardly as I remember you being?”

“Hey-!”

The flea cut Inuyasha off, “I am a busy demon, my Lord. I only leave Master Inuyasha's side during battle because I am needed elsewhere.” When Sesshomaru didn't weaken his hard gaze, Myoga continued in a slightly higher pitch, “Er, ah. I suppose congratulations are in order, my Lord? You are bearing your first heir.”

The flea's gaze was scrutinising him, Sesshomaru realised immediately. It was impossible for his father's old advisor to not recognise the mark that adorned his being, or the supposedly obvious glow that would surround him and his mate: a symbol that told of their union.

Sesshomaru's expression turned bitter, “I think not.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Inuyasha frowned as he watched Kagome run about, collecting water and setting up a fire, whilst she ushered and demanded that Sesshomaru remain where he was whenever the stubborn ass attempted to stand and move towards the water. Did she really think he wanted to help? What had Sesshomaru done to make her think that? His brother, much to Inuyasha's glee, looked miffed at having been ordered around and by a mere human no less! Inuyasha almost couldn't hold back his snickers.

“Inuyasha! What are you doing? Get going and find Sesshomaru something to eat! You said so yourself: he's pregnant!”

With a snort, Inuyasha turned and headed to the forest that the river they'd stopped by ran past and through. Huffily, he called back over his shoulder, “Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first time.” As he cleaned out his ears, Inuyasha's eyes scan the foliage, and - once he was done cleaning his ears with each of his pinkies - listened for the slightest of footsteps or the scratch of foliage being eaten.

It wasn't very easy when every third second Inuyasha found his mind being filled with questions. Did Sesshomaru like hare? There was little chance he didn't, but the ass seemed to enjoy making his life tougher than it already was for him. How many critters would Sesshomaru eat? He didn't want three or four, did he? Was it better if he killed a hare, rats and a couple of other meaty animals, just to make sure Sesshomaru would eat? He was pregnant. Inuyasha supposed he could give the bastard a break until he'd talked to him about the whole mating mess…

Or better yet, perhaps there was a chance that Sesshomaru wasn't mated to him and that the possessive feeling that had over taken most of his smaller body had not been because Sesshomaru was his mate and that he was hurting. Or that the kid could have been harmed and that the father would…

Inuyasha blinked stupidly, pausing in his sniffing as a thought struck him like many of Kouga's kicks to the head had, “There'd be no way that kid isn't mine if I'm mated to him! I'm the fucking alpha, he'd be dead if it were someone else's!” His pulse raced, causing the blood pounding in his ears to temporarily deafen him as more and more realisations and consequences bashed against the inside of his thick skull, “I can't raise a kid! I can barely stand Shippo!” Inuyasha's rushing blood froze, his mouth unable to vocalise the images of pure, unadulterated violence that flashed through his head.

Inuyasha couldn't raise a child. There was no way. As many people enhoyed pointing out to him, he was impatient (and he doubted he'd change for some runt, even if it was his own), swore a lot, rude, a half-demon, unsociable, obtrusive - the list went on! He couldn't just let Sesshomaru raise it; no matter how cold his brother was his treatment of Rin had shown them all just how good a parent the bastard would make.

Inuyasha's head began to hurt when it took a turn down an even scarier path. “How the hell am I supposed to explain this to Kagome?”

Inuyasha's mind continued to war against him as he squatted and attempted to catch the scent of potential prey. Inuyasha remembered that he really ought to hurry, because damn it, the kid - his kid - might not be receiving the nutrition it needed to remain healthy. Especially with Sesshomaru's four day famine and his utter dislike for anything human (bar Rin of course, the miniature wench).

Then, a moment later, the half demon's mind attempted one last bout of mutiny as it returned to one of the points he'd come up with earlier: he was half demon. That meant the brat would be a quarter human. Sesshomaru hated humans. This realisation's appearance within his mind's eye caused Inuyasha to go rock still as he whispered, “Sesshomaru might want to kill the kid.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

With a withered sigh that bordered on boredom, Chiyo allowed herself to inspect her Lord's swords yet again; Tokijin. It was laying on a cloth in her chambers, two scents wafting around it. Other than the scents, there was something else that was odd about her Lord's disappearance; it went against the rules of etiquette he placed on himself. Never before had Sesshomaru not left through the front gates, a pet peeve the young demon had carried with him since his childhood. Chiyo felt she had every reason to be worried, considering the guards couldn't recall their Lord leaving at any stage in the last five days.

A sharp series of three knocks came from the door, “Lady Chiyo, there is a visitor waiting in the entrance hall. They have requested to speak to our Lord.” A deep voice called into her chambers. He was tall, near her Lord's height with hair darker than the night's sky. His eyes weren't so different, though his irises were a light blue, not inky black.

It was most likely another arrogant Lord either seeking Sesshomaru's hand or a trading agreement of sorts with the near silent demon, Chiyo reasoned. With a nod and a brief reply of gratitude, the elderly demon wrapped her Lord's sword gingerly in the midnight blue cloth, before she returned achingly to the grand hall at the front of the castle. She motioned the messenger away with a wave of her hand, asking him to finish the few errands she wasn't able to.

Then emerald eyes examined the newcomer. Surprisingly, Chiyo found a young demoness waiting, her seemingly long hair pulled back into a bun that was held at the back of her head with feather adorned sticks. Her lips were hidden behind a red elaborately decorated fan, whilst her crimson eyes took in the grand architecture that surrounded her. Her clothes were of good quality, not the best, but they made the demoness look respectable. Perhaps the other Lord's sought for a new way to approach Sesshomaru's matelessness (though he was no longer so, but Chiyo wasn't going to tell them that).

Chiyo didn't welcome the guest with a smile as she stood in front of her. Chiyo looked up from where her head halted, parallel with the demoness' abdomen, “I apologise, but my Lord is out. Is there anything I may assist you with?”

The pretty demoness smiled, a small almost giggle reaching Chiyo's aging ears from behind her fan, “I was hoping that our Lord would mind sharing information about his mother. My master,” Chiyo heard the bitterness that the word held and managed to keep her growing suspicion from her face, "Aims to find out more about our Lord.”

“Is there any reason for this, child? My Lord doesn't appreciate sharing his knowledge with just anyone.”

With a slight flick of her fan, the woman inclined her head, “He is attempting to write a history of the Western land's rulers. Lord Sesshomaru is his first subject of interest. My master is in need of background information, preferably about our Lord's mother; I presume you know of Myoga, the flea demon?”

“Aye, I do. He is an old friend.” Chiyo replied slowly, with a nod. She lifted a bony hand to her face in order to wipe dark green, streaked silver strands of hair from her forehead.

“We are receiving information on our Lord's father from him.” The demoness clipped.

Chiyo regarded the demoness with critical eyes. She frowned to herself, as she asked with a suspicious undertone, “Why is it that your master has sent you to gather such information? Why did he not wish to meet with our Lord?”

The demoness flicked her fan again. It seemed she had made a habit of it, Chiyo mused idly, “My master is very self-conscious. After his accident a few years ago, he hasn't met with anyone. He trusts me because I care for him and have since the accidnet.”

“Are you certain your master is capable of documenting such important figures in our lands' history if he is harmed?” Chiyo's asked quickly, hoping to catch the demoness off guard. She had found many spies by doing just that in the past.

The demoness' crimson gaze narrowed, “Do not mistake his fears for stupidity. He is a very knowledgeable man.”

The elderly demoness nodded and paused, allowing an oppressive silence to fall upon their ears. Sesshomaru wouldn't mind his family's history being documented, even if this demoness' master was human as her scent told her he was. The young Lord had a strange fondness for literature and history, she remembered. Surely he would not mind her divulging a few facts about Lady Satori to this attractive demoness.

With a small, almost sigh, of breath, Chiyo spoke into the silence and motioned to the door she'd entered from, to her right, “I am sure our Lord will not mind. I will share what I can with you. However, questions I cannot answer, will remain unanswered. Do you understand?”

The demoness nodded and felling into pace behind the elderly demon as they began their short walk to Chiyo's study, “What is your name, child?”

“I am Kagura.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The sound of tearing flesh erupted over the sound of the gurgling stream and the whisper of the wind as it played with the leaves on the trees surrounding them. It was a peaceful scene, almost like a painting in the way it was so tranquil in appearance. Until one's eyes caught sight of a demon Lord in white cutting and tearing at a bloodied hair, every few seconds placing another torn piece in his mouth.

Sesshomaru couldn't get enough of his meal. Its blood smelt and tasted rich, metallic, like that of a perfectly healthy hare. Inuyasha had done well in his hunting, Sesshomaru admitted. Much better than what the half breed used to, whilst he was a child. The demon Lord had many stories to tell of disappointment and humility when it came to Inuyasha's training as a child.

The said half breed was sitting across from him, his being laid hazardously out and over a log, his being flickering gold and orange because of the fire that separated them. Inuyasha's eyes were closed, his breathing even as he slept. Sitting beside him was the human girl. Sesshomaru's chest filled with mirth at her traumatized expression, as he tore and cut at the hare lying by his legs on the ground.

“I don't understand how you can eat that.” She said in a whine, as she buried her face in Inuyasha's shoulder, “That poor rabbit.”

“I was under the impression humans ate rodents much like demons do.”

“Well yeah, but,” Sesshomaru watched as she cringed as his meal squelched loudly as he turned the hare over, in order to strip the flesh from the other side. Carefully he tore it's fur from the red and bleeding flesh, right down to its now bloodied red tail, before using his claws to start stripping the succulent flesh from the bone, “At least when we eat it, it doesn't look like a cute, defenceless bunny! I can recognise it clearly!”

“Hn,” Sesshomaru hummed in acknowledgement as he slowly savoured the warm blood running down his throat as he swallowed. He lapped contently at his teeth, “I see no difference, Priestess. They are still food, cooked, as you humans consume them, or raw, as I do.”

“Yeah, but-“

“Will you two shut up? I'm trying to get some sleep before I take our first and only watch! Considering Sesshomaru is pregnant and Kagome's too weak to do anything other than scream her head off. Naraku should have been back for you two hours ago, something's up!”

Molten gold eyes turned from Sesshomaru's meal onto Inuyasha, narrowing as they did, “I am able to care for myself, half breed.”

Inuyasha's torso surged up into an upright position as the half breed pointed and yelled, “Like hell you are! That kid's been through enough already and it hasn't even been a month yet! You're a terrible mother!”

His younger brother's insolence sparked an angry glare from Sesshomaru. “I am no such thing, Inuyasha.” He nearly snarled. How dare the disgrace call him female? He was a male of noble background and Sesshomaru would not stand for being called a woman! Idly, with a frown, he supposed he ought to be used to the insinuation; he'd been called feminine since he was very young, “I may be bearing this child, but I am still to be known as its father.”

“What the hell does that make m - er - its other parent then? It can't call both of you dad, you'll confuse the brat!”

“The child's sire will be known as father. I will be known as the child's Ninsoku.”

“Ninsoku?” The priestess echoed with one of her petite, slender hands raised to her cheek. She looked confused.

Sesshomaru placed another slice of meat in his mouth tidily. After a few careful chews he swallowed, and then spoke, “I am carrying the child. Therefore I am the child's carrier, its Ninsoku.”

The girl looked pleased with her self as understanding dawned on her far too emotive face, as Inuyasha nodded. Their conversation shrunk away to silence swiftly after that. One that felt comfortable in relation to the human girl (who had fallen asleep a short while ago), yet awkward when Sesshomaru watched his brother with critical eyes.

Not long after that, Sesshomaru finished his meal, having left a pile of clean bones and a pelt of fur. His own thick, white pelt, was wrapped around him momentarily as his eyes began to feel heavy and droop shut. He hadn't felt so full in quite some time and now he was feeling sleepy because of it. His gaze returned to Inuyasha, as the half breed got to his feet and found himself a tree, all the while grumbling to himself. Sesshomaru let his eyes close; Inuyasha was part human and the human girl that held his heart was with them. Inuyasha wouldn't allow harm to befall any of them.

As his breathing evened out, Sesshomaru laid his only hand on his stomach, the prickle of energy he could feel beneath the skin and his kimono causing his hand to heat pleasantly. Chiyo would be angry should he miss his next check up, Sesshomaru's mind offered fuzzily, he would need to hurry back tomorrow.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

“He certainly looks peaceful. Don't you agree, my Lord?”

Inuyasha grumpily allowed his eyes to flicker down to where his brother was sitting. However, the quick glance Inuyasha had hoped for was rapidly swapped for a long, wide eyed stare. Just as the flea claimed, Sesshomaru looked peaceful and far less untouchable. Much to Inuyasha's surprise, when his eyes slid down Sesshonaru's form and found his hand resting on his stomach.

“When should the pup start to show?” Inuyasha whispered, still somewhat shell shocked by the realisation that the said pup was more than likely his.

Myoga hummed from on his shoulder, “The pup makes itself known at about a month, in normal, healthily progressing pregnancies, my Lord. However, it is usually near the end of the second when the pup is clearly visible whilst the carrier is clothed.”

Inuyasha nodded. That was good, that meant that soon he'd be able to see the pup and that he would be constantly reminded that it existed. Inuyasha had found that he procrastinated when it really counted - his promises to himself to actually tell Kagome how he felt seemed to disappear from his memory when they really counted - though a bloated Sesshomaru would successfully knock him around the head hard enough to get his mouth and voice working. He really needed to talk to him about the pup. And if there was any way to undo the mating mark he'd placed on him.

“I'm guessing that his pregnancy last nine months?” The half demon inquired, hoping it to be so or perhaps, should luck be on his side, longer.

“Actually that is incorrect. Humans may carry for nine months, but dog demons tend to carry their children for five.”

Suddenly Inuyasha found Myoga clenched in his fist, the tiny demon's head turning the shade of a radish, “What do you mean it's five months?! How can a kid be created in five fucking months?”

Myoga choked out a reply, “It would be unplausible for a demon to be in such a fragile state for so long. Five months is a suffiecient amount of time for the pup's skin and bones to grow. Only the child's main organs would have developed by this time, such as its heart, stomach and lungs. Everything else will develop whilst it is fed its parents, or in this case, my Lord's and Lord Sesshomaru's blood.”

Inuyasha immediately decided that luck, Buddha and every other deity hated him; Sesshomaru having found his place at the top of the rather long list easily. The half demon swore, then did so again, as he rubbed at his temples and allowed Myoga to fall to his lap.

He felt Myoga hop back onto his shoulder once he'd managed to choke in a few breathes of cool air. With an inquisitive tone, the flea remarked, “If it is troubling you my Lord, you may always terminate the child.”

“What!? No! The kid hasn't even lived yet!”

Myoga nodded wisely, “That may be true. But as you have already told me, you did not mean to mark Sesshomaru. You love Kagome and the child will have to endure a lot of hardship. There is little room amongst the Lords of japan for a bastard child. Sesshomaru may lose his position as Lord of the Western Plains.”

With trouble filled eyes, Inuyasha lifted his face to the stars, attempting to ease the muscles in the back of his neck as his headache grew and began to pound at his temples, “Whatever. I'm still not killing it.”

“It's a very honourable act, my Lord. But what will you tell Miss Kagome otherwise? I assure you, Sesshomaru has already thought of the consequences this child's existence has brought upon him. He will see your reasons, should you decide to.”

Inuyasha shook his head, “I don't know. I doubt she'll understand that I did it for hers and everybody else's protection. The bastard and I made a deal that night.”

“A deal, my Lord? Were one of you unwilling to participate?” Inuyasha felt two pairs of tiny hands press against his neck.

In a quiet voice, Inuyasha explained, “Sesshomaru's heat was a day away and he said I could help him halt it by having sex with him.” The half demon's cheeks warmed, as he swore and abused his older brother in his head. His voice was brattier and louder when he continued, “He said he didn't want to go through heat because it was like hell for him. So, we agreed that if I did have sex with him, he'd protect Kagome, Sango, Miroku and Shippo, starting from the next day. The stupid, fucking bastard left the next fucking morning.”

His ears flicked with annoyance at Myoga's thoughtful hum, “Sesshomaru must have been relying on your feelings for Kagome to keep you from marking him. I suppose he was had the impression your mother had explained demon mating to you.”

“The bastard was using me?”

“To be blunt, my Lord: most likely.”

With a dark scowl, Inuyasha snorted, flashing an angry glare down at his still sleeping brother, “S'not like I expected much else. Fucking jackass.” He muttered bitterly.

Inuyasha settled himself on the branch again, one leg up against his chest, the other hanging from the thick branch he was perched on. The wind rustled the leaves playfully, as Inuyasha's ears caught the hoot of an owl. Myoga spoke up once again, “Considering you are going to allow the child to live, my Lord, have you thought of any potential names?”

Inuyasha replied immediately, “It's not even been a month, Myoga. Just shut up and go to sleep.” As if waiting for that order, the flea demon hopped into Inuyasha's hair, whilst uttering a quick and quiet goodnight. With Myoga's swift dozing off, Inuyasha found himself making an important decision: he was going to help take care of the kid, even if Kagome or Sesshomaru killed him!

“But first thing's first. I need to work on being a father.” Shippo immediately came to mind with this utterance. The small fox demon was the closest thing he had to a son right then, and he was sure - as annoyed as it made him to realise it - Shippo wouldn't mind him practicing how to not hit him whenever he annoyed him, or how to be kind and share things with him.

It wasn't going to be easy, Inuyasha realised, but he was going to keep the kid. Even if Sesshomaru made him use the mating mark against him. Now when to start? It would be better if he started sooner rather than later, so that he got really used to being patient and being fair and passive - Fuck, Inuyasha was wondering how he was going to survive already. Decking Shippo, as he'd found out when he'd first met the runt, was very, very therapeutic and Inuyasha knew he was going to need something or someone to let his stress out on.

But when to start his practicing how to be a father? He hastily decided that next month would do. That would give him enough time to talk to Sesshomaru too.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Woffy: x.x Wow… I've been brain dead all week. Which is the reason why this wasn't posted sooner. Oh, and my `h' key isn't working properly. Annoying ass, it works every three or so hits… XP

Review Responses:

Polka dot: We hope he does anyway. I'm thinking Inuyasha's got a good few more sits until he realises that. Thanks for the review!

gen50: I think I sent you an email regarding your review, but just in case: I was just wondering. You mentioned her in one of your earlier reviews and I forgot to mention her. Mating is special, how? I picture it as being like the ancient Egyptians, with one main mate and other lesser ones. And I still haven't reviewed my older chapters (well, not fully), but I'll let everyone know when I do. Once again, thank you for your thoughtful review! :D

asialisek: That we does! It's too bad Sesshomaru's so stubborn; I don't think he'd hesitate to bite off the person who tried its hand. XD Confrotation happens when Inuaysha's finds the balls to start it. Or when Sesshomaru gets sick of Inuyasha and D. Thank you for reviewing! ^_^

I'm still taking names, as D is still nameless. I'm currently looking for some free online Japanese to English dictionaries to see if anything should inspire me. Again, D's gender is a surprise. And please, review!