InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Falling For the Baby Sitter ❯ Scolded Child ( Chapter 23 )

A dark look passed over her features as she looked up towards the house seeing the same car that had been parked in the driveway of her mother's house. She stormed up there, out of earshot of the other three. The guy kept gesturing toward Mayu and kept yelling, so loudly that the rumble of his voice was heard all the way down at the stables.

Inu Yasha clicked his tongue and spurred Cole's flanks and rode up towards Kagome and the man she was talking to. Kouga hopped up onto Bonnie's back with the leads of the ponies and the buckskin in one hand he followed Inu Yasha. The younger rider sat up tall in the saddle and looked down at Kagome. "Kagome, let's get going the kids are waiting on us." Inu Yasha's eyes glanced over to the man as Cole snorted and shook his head.

Hojo's eyes darted up to Inu Yasha and narrowed. "Excuse me, but you are currently interrupting a discussion between me and the bitch who bared my child."

Kagome's eyes flashed and she glared at Hojo. "Hojo, go! This is a closed subject! I don't know HOW you find me here but I promise you that you will never get Mayu!"

Mayu was cowering behind Souta, looking up at the man who had been yelling.

Hojo snarled. "I don't believe I was talking to you! Now shut your trap before I shut it for you!"

Inu Yasha growled and spurred Cole causing the horse to lunge towards Hojo. "I advise you to leave my property before I run your mother fucking ass into the god damn ground." Kouga moved his horse closer ready to jump off if need be.

Hojo took a few steps back away from the horse, and then shot a look to Kagome. "This isn't over. I promise you that." His eyes gleamed dangerously in a way that made Kagome remember the night she had decided to leave him. Her face paled and he spun away, hopping into the car and slamming the door.

Inu Yasha raised a hand and flipped him off before turning to the kids. "Ok, who is ready for some horses?" he asked with a smile.

Souta jumped up and ran over to the black pony and put his foot in the stirrup "Me! Me! Me! Me!" Souta squealed as he got onto the pony.

Mayu ran over to her mother and hugged her leg tightly. Kagome looked down at her and she scooped her up, hugging her close. The little girl sniffled a bit and leaned back wiping her eyes. Her mother sighed. "Do you really want me to ride with you?"

Mayu nodded.

Kagome raised her eyes up to Inu Yasha.

"Which horse should I take?"

"We have to go back down and saddle you another one, unless Nazuna doesn't want to ride hers," Inu Yasha said as he looked over at Kagome.

Muuona looked up at the boys, confused. "Nazuna isn't here. She went out with some friends to go to the mall a while ago."

Inu Yasha nodded, "Alright, Kouga, give Kagome the reigns to Brandy."

Kouga leaned over and handed her the reigns to the buckskin. "That right there is Nazuna's prized horse, I would be careful with her," Kouga said.

"She can get over it." Inu Yasha said with a snort.

Kagome smiled and looked at Mayu, who threw her arms around her and hugged her neck tightly. "Thank you, Kagome!"

Kagome blinked and looked down at her, then over at the two boys, remembering that she had introduced Mayu as her niece. She smiled a bit and set the girl down, walking over with her to make sure she got on her horse ok. "You'll owe me, Mayu-chan." Mayu giggled and watched Kagome as she walked over to Brandy and swung up into the saddle. The look of apprehension never seemed to leave her face.

Inu Yasha turned Cole around and headed down a worn path. "I think we need to let the little runts ride in the ring since they aren't use to trail riding." He ran off at the mouth as he urged Cole in a trot with Shippou at his side doing the same actions.

Kouga followed in behind them keeping an eye on Mayu, making sure the pony didn't get out of hand.

Kagome pulled up the rear, guiding the horse cautiously. She knew everything there was to know about saddling horses, getting them ready for a ride, feeding them, what to do if they were sick, but the one thing she hadn't done in over ten years, was ride one.

Kouga trotted by Inu and Souta and opened the ring gate. Souta spurred the little mare and galloped through the gate. Inu Yasha smirked. "Someone has been riding his pony and practicing," he said as he entered the ring.

Kouga rode his horse up next to Inu Yasha. "You know he wants to act just like you," he said with a small nod. Souta trotted the pony around the ring with a proud smile on his face.

Mayu fell back by Kagome, slowly walking her pony along side her. "Mommy?" she asked in a small voice, "Is Daddy going to hurt you again?"

Kagome's eyes flew open, and then she looked over at Mayu, a soft look in her eyes. "Your daddy can't come back. Remember what Inu Yasha said?"

Mayu nodded a bit, a look of relief crossing her face. She smiled up at Kagome, feeling as if nothing could go wrong now. Kagome, however, wasn't so sure, and as she watched Mayu trot up to the ring ahead of her, she frowned.

Inu Yasha sat on Cole's back talking to Kouga. Cole snorted and shook his head and started pawing at the ground. Inu Yasha glanced over at Kagome. "Can ya ride any slower there, grandma?" he asked with a raised brow.

Kagome looked up and glared at him, spurring the horse into a canter. She pulled up behind the two men and Brandy stomped her front hooves, snorting and throwing her head. Kagome scowled and patted the horse's neck, gazing at her dark mane. "Thank you," she grunted.

Cole craned his neck and friendly nipped the buckskins neck. Inu Yasha motioned for Kouga to watch the kids. Kouga nodded and trotted around the ring after the kids. Inu Yasha looked at Kagome. "Was that Mayu's father?"

Kagome stiffened, and then nodded slightly.

Inu Yasha scowled. "If he comes back, he will regret it," he stated in a dangerous tone as his eyes landed on the kids who were having fun giving Kouga a hard time.

Kagome's head dipped, and her braided pigtail fell in front of her face. "I'm sorry I brought your family into this mess," she muttered shamefully.

Inu Yasha laughed quietly. "My family is used to it, don't worry," he said as he adjusted himself in the saddle. "Just don't be mad if I kick his ass next time he shows up acting a fool like that." Cole pawed at the ground and pulled at the bit. "I wasn't joking when I said I would make Cole run him over," he stated in a cold tone.

Kagome looked up at him, her eyes shimmering with worry, "I don't want you to get hurt."

Inu Yasha rolled his eyes as he made Cole walk forward. "It doesn't matter about that; I won't let a kid be scared half to death like that...not in front of me I won't."

Kouga broke away from the kids and trotted his horse over to Inu Yasha. He leaned over and whispered into Inu Yasha's ear which caused him to become flushed. Kouga smirked as his horse danced about excitedly shaking her head.

Kagome blinked slightly and turned away, looking at the kids and watching Mayu laugh and having a good time. A sad smile crossed her face and she looked off into the woods.

"Kagome, we are cooking out after we get done here," Inu Yasha called out to her. "Hot dogs, hamburgers, you know the works."

She nodded and smiled. "Sounds like fun."

Souta galloped his pony around the ring, slowing down as he approached Kagome. "Are you and Mayu going to stay and eat?" he asked out of breath.

Kagome smiled and nodded, "Looks like it, Souta-san."

Souta smiled. "Yay! You're going to stay Mayu!!"

Kouga and Inu Yasha laughed. "Souta has a girl friend," Inu Yasha teased the young boy. Souta stuck his tongue out at him and rode off.

Kagome smiled and leaned back in the saddle, looking around. A movement off to the right caught her eye. She looked over and saw what looked to be a small pipe slithering across the ground. She frowned and looked back to the kids. 'Wait a second...slithering?' she looked back over seeing it drawing closer. "Shit!" She exclaimed, "Inu!"

He spun his horse around and looked at Kagome. "What is it?" he asked excitedly.

She pointed at the snake that had gotten to the edge of the pen right beside her at the same Brandy saw it. The horse whinnied and reared. Kagome screamed, lost her grip on the reins and leaned forward and gripping the saddle tightly. As the horse lowered back to the ground, the snake rose up and Brandy bolted off into the woods, with Kagome clinging to her for dear life.

Inu Yasha yelled, "Kagome, hang on!!" he spurred Cole forward, taking off at full speed as Kouga herded the kids up and moved them down to the barn. Inu Yasha and Cole tore through the woods after Kagome and Brandy. He saw them in the distance and urged Cole to go faster, the briars and thorns cutting into his face. "Kagome, grab her reigns and pull her up!!" he yelled out.

She looked down at the reins that were hanging down and dragging in the dirt beneath her. The ground speeding past beneath her made her queasy and she snapped her eyes shut again, whimpering, "They are too far away!"

Inu Yasha galloped up beside her. He knotted his hand into Cole's mane and reigns as he kicked one foot out of his stirrup. He leaned over from the still galloping horse and he grabbed at the reigns a couple of times before grabbing a hold of them. "Whoa!!" He pulled back on the reigns causing the horse to pull up and slow down to a walk.

Kagome breathed heavily and sat up slowly, her entire body quivering. She looked over at Inu Yasha with wide, wild eyes. The bandage must have come loose and she ripped open the wound in the excitement as blood was trickling down her neck and soaking the collar and shoulder of her shirt. The top buttons had come undone and it was hanging open, and her hair looked like she had had an electric shock. She panted and swallowed heavily trying to calm down.

Inu Yasha grunted and held his side. "Can you ride her back, Kagome?" He scanned her over and noticed the wound reopened. "Oh shit, your neck!" he pointed out.

She reached up her hand and touched her neck, pulling back and finding her fingers slick with blood. "Kuso!" she swore she grunted and clapped her hand over her neck and looked over at Inu Yasha's bleeding face and saw him grip his side. Her eyes flicked ahead to a small creek that ran through the woods. She nodded but swung down off of Brandy and walked over to a tree on shaky legs and tied her. Walking back over to Inu Yasha and Cole she looked up at him.

"Let me check your ribs first, I don't want you riding back there with them if they are too banged up. Plus, your face is a mess and the horses probably need something to drink anyway," she reasoned.

He nodded and slowly lowered himself to the ground. He walked Cole over to the creek and let the horse get a drink of water while he sat down on the ground.

Kagome crouched beside him and slowly, carefully lifted his shirt up over his head. She unwound his ribs and gasped at the massive bruises that covered his torso, "Inu Yasha..." she muttered.

He grunted. "It's nothing..." He closed his eyes and took a shallow breath. "They have been broken before…"

She sighed and balled his shirt up, and placed it on a rock behind him, pushing him back. She shed her own flannel shirt and laid it in her lap, straightening out the fabric then raised it to her mouth and ripped a piece from it. She leaned over and soaked the cloth in the cool water, then lifted it to his face and gently wiped away the blood and pressed it gingerly against the scratches. She tilted his head to the side and inspected his stitches carefully. "Gods, you're a mess..." she muttered.

Inu Yasha smiled sadly. "I am always a mess." He ran a finger across an old scar on his chest. "Too many fights over the years."

A frown etched itself deep on her face. 'And now I've brought on the possibility of another one to him...' she thought morosely. Her eyes flicked across his face then dropped to the ground.

Inu Yasha lay on the ground looking up at her. "Kagome, we need to be heading back before Kouga comes looking for us." His chest rose and fell fast from having to take shallow breaths. "I'm sure Mayu and Souta are scared to death."

Kagome shook her head, "You aren't going anywhere with those ribs until you have rested a bit." She reached into the pocket of the flannel and pulled out her battered cell phone. Flipping it open she looked over at him, "What's your mom's house number?"

He groaned. "533-8578 ..." He sighed and looked at the sky. "Just tell Kouga to ride out here and he can help us get back to the house."

Kagome dialed the number and listened for Muuona who picked up after the first ring.

"Hello?"

"Hey, It's Kagome."

"Kagome, gods, where are you guys?"

Kagome looked over at Inu Yasha and smiled wryly. "Somewhere lost in the woods. Inu-kun busted his ribs up pretty bad and I'm making him rest up a bit before we attempt to head back. Is Kouga there?"

Muuona sighed in relief glad they were both at least alive, "Yes, hold on."

Kagome's eyes flicked over Inu Yasha's face and she dabbed at it with a wet cloth waiting for Kouga to pick up.

Kouga went over to the phone and answered. "Where are you guys? How's Inu Yasha?"

She sighed, "We are out in the woods. He'll live but his ribs got busted up pretty badly. I'm making him rest a bit, we will be back there in a while, but I don't want him riding until he has relaxed for a little bit."

Kouga sighed. "Alright, if you're not back in about an hour I'm coming out to get you guys."

She nodded, "Are Mayu and the boys alright?"

"They both just stopped crying. I took them to the barn and we cleaned up the horses and fed them, but they were pretty upset when you guys didn't come back."

She smiled slightly, "Can I talk to Mayu for a moment?"

"Yes, hold on a minute," he said as he handed the phone to Mayu. "Mayu, its Kagome. She wants to talk to you."

Mayu rushed over to the phone and grabbed it. "Mommy??" she squeaked.

"Hey baby," Kagome said softly.

"Mommy where are you guys???"

"We are out in the woods. Inu Yasha is going to sleep for an hour, and then we are coming back. Ok?"

Mayu heaved a huge sigh, "Ok. But remember that we have to eat hotdogs!"

Kagome smiled. "Ok, I promise I won't forget. Now let me talk to Souta really quick."

"Ok!" Mayu ran off to go get him.

Souta sat by Kouga on the couch sniveling and wiping his nose on his shirt.

Mayu tugged his shirt. "Kagome and Inu Yasha are on the phone. They want you Souta-kun."

Souta bounded off of the couch and to the phone. "Kagome!!" he squealed over the phone, "When are you guys getting back?"

Kagome laughed, "We will be back in about an hour. Your uncle hurt his ribs. Do you want to talk to him?"

Souta sighed. "No its ok let him rest...as long as he is ok;" he said, "Did the horse runaway?"

She smiled, "No we have them both, but I have to rewrap Inu Yasha's ribs. I'll talk to you guys when we get back, ok?"

Souta nodded. "Ok, Kagome...see you later," he said as he hung up the phone. "

Are they ok?" Inu Yasha asked.

She nodded and leaned over his head, wadding up her shirt and stuck it beneath his head as well. "Yea, they were just worried about us." Standing up, she kicked off her boots and socks and waded into the stream. She washed the blood off of her and unhooked her bra, and leaned over, scrubbing the stains off of it as well, her back to Inu Yasha.

He closed his eyes. "Well, at least it wasn't one of the ponies the got startled." He yawned, "That would have scared the hell out of me."

Kagome nodded and stood back up, re-hooking her bra. She walked over to Inu Yasha and splashed him with a bit of the cool water, smiling gently.

"That feels good," he said with a sigh. "I'm starting to get hungry..." he said as his stomach growled.

Kagome smirked, "Well too bad, cause I'm not letting you eat me." She stood over the top of his chest and rung her shorts out, letting the cold water drip onto him.

Inu Yasha glared up at her as he sat up slowly. "Don't flatter yourself." He stood and walked over to Cole.

She laughed, "I do so hope you know you aren't getting on that horse yet." She walked over to him, ready to yank him back off of the horse if need be.

He grabbed the horses reigns, "I'm ready to go back home. I want some food and I want to check on Souta and Shippou."

Kagome scowled and grabbed his hand, making him drop the reins and pinned him against the tree so he couldn't make another grab for them. "You aren't going anywhere, you are still..." she trailed off suddenly as she noticed that she was leaning right up against his bare chest, with her own barely covered torso. "...hurt..." she finished quietly.

Inu Yasha closed his eyes and licked his lips. "We really ...should go back..." he said quietly.

She swallowed heavily and moved a bit, trying to get a better footing, but the action only made her hips press up against his. A soft blush spattered across her cheeks as she swallowed again, staring up at him.

Inu Yasha's breath caught in his throat. "It's time to go back." He grabbed her arms and pushed her back gently making sure she wouldn't fall. He walked back over to Cole and hopped up onto his back. The horse shook his head snorting as he turned to head back for home.

Kagome blushed darker and walked over to where she had left the shirts. She turned back and tossed Inu Yasha his shirt, pulling her own on. "Sorry," she said hoarsely, refusing to look him in the face, and swung up onto Brandy.

He caught his shirt and threw it over his shoulder. "It's ok…" Inu Yasha said as he rode off, shirtless, his hair blowing all around him. "I'm just tired and hungry."

She nodded following behind him quietly, keeping her head down.

Inu Yasha looked back over his shoulder. "Stop pouting like a scolded child."

Her head and eyebrows shot up, then her eyes narrowed and she nudged Brandy and galloped past him, heading in the direction of the house.