InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Falling For the Baby Sitter ❯ Jin ( Chapter 74 )

A/N: I have to say thank you very much Morgan for betaing this. And for a certain couple reviewers, I have this to say: My life does not revolve around updating these fics to please your asinine selves, I have a life and problems and issues that I have to deal with. If you do not like how I got about updating my fics, then stop reading them.

With that said, thank you very much to the rest of our readers for being so kind and understanding. THE SHIKON PRIESTESS TEAM IS BACK!!!

 

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The morning was filled with the smell of bacon, eggs, biscuits and gravy cooking and Kagome showing the kids how to help her in the kitchen. Shippou was at the sink washing vegetables and Souta and Mayu were peeling oranges and grapefruit. Kagome was humming and smiling strainedly, moving from one end of the kitchen to the other to get plates and silverware enough for the entire crew.

Mayu ran over to the doorway of Inu Yasha's room, and pounded on the door to wake him up. "Puppy!!!!"

Inu Yasha groaned and rolled over in his bed, mourning the soon to be lost comfort under the blankets. "I'm up, I'm up," he muttered as he opened tired eyes and looked up at the ceiling. His nose wrinkled at the smells floating back to his room from the kitchen. Inu Yasha got up and pulled on a ragged pair of carpenters jeans and white t-shirt before walking out of his room. "Good morning," he mumbled as he walked into the kitchen.

Kagome looked up from the gravy to glance at him warily incase he bit her head off again this morning and quickly looked away back to the biscuits. She wasn't going to start being like she used to be, now that he was finally back. The kids had to come before her, and she was sick of just waiting around for something that she knew wouldn't happen. "Breakfast will be done in a few minutes," she said, still dancing around kids and other obstacles, making her way around the kitchen

Inu Yasha shook his head and rubbed his eyes. "Don't worry about getting me anything," he said as he fumbled around in his pocket to get his cigarettes. "It smells good, but I don't feel like eating this morning."

Kagome painted a smile across her lips. "Oh come on, Takahashi. The kids are working hard to feed you." She took the pan of gravy off of the stove and took the biscuits out of the oven.

Mayu jumped up and down. "Yea, daddy, we made biscuits! And there's fruit too!!" She said, bouncing around and giggling.

Inu Yasha smiled sadly, as he looked at the boys and Mayu. "Who could resist those adorable faces? I guess eating a little wouldn't kill me," he said as he lit a cigarette. Dark eyes widened as he heard the cell phone in his pocket ring.

"Ummm… go ahead and get me a plate, I will be right back, I have to do something really quick,” Inu Yasha said in one breath as he got up and rushed to his bedroom.

Kagome stared after him strangely and watched him bolt. Shaking her head, she turned back to the kids. "You heard him, get him a plate, you bums, this is my sweatshop I'm running here!!" she said and cackled evilly, getting a mom-you're-retarded look from Mayu.

Shippou and Souta set out to fix Inu Yasha's breakfast when Miroku stumbled out of the guest room looking like something the cat dragged in.

"Any coffee?" He asked as he flopped down at the kitchen table. He raised a brow when he heard a few choice curses come from behind Inu Yasha's door followed by a loud crash. "I take it he is still in a pissy mood?" Miroku asked as he looked at Kagome.

Kagome smacked down a cup of coffee in front of him, silently shrugging, still bitter towards him for the time he had made it hell for Sango if she so much as called her. As soon Inu Yasha had shown back up, Miroku had reappeared as if nothing had happened, but she remembered, and she had not forgiven him yet. Her hair was tied back and she had on baggy camo pants with a wife beater on, creating an imposing figure in the house, with a no-nonsense attitude, expressing exactly how she felt about Miroku being back in what she now thought of as her home.

Miroku eyed the woman in front of him. "I'm not gonna die if I drink this right? I mean, by the look in your eyes you seem to want to string me up by my heels," he said as he picked up the coffee and took a sip.

Inu Yasha looked around his room and sighed silently cursing Jin into the dankest pit in hell. “I will just have to fix it later," he said as he opened his door and headed for the kitchen.

The woman in front of the stove did not turn around. "Your heels? No. Now, if you'd said that I wanted to cut off your dick, stick it in a blender and feed it to you, you might have been more on target." She took the last of the bacon off and moved to the fridge to pull out the orange juice.

Inu Yasha paused at the doorway to the kitchen when he heard Kagome and the pervert talking. He decided it was best to stay out of the crossfire for a minute because he had enough to deal with right now.

Miroku's eyes widened. "Now, why would you want to do that?" he asked in shock.

Finally, the woman turned around her eyes flashing with anger. "I'm just going to let you know one time. The only reason I'm permitting you anywhere near this house is because Inu Yasha is back, and he doesn't need to know all of the shit that went on while he was gone. Just by looking at him, you can tell he's been through enough these past months that he doesn't need more bullshit on top of it." She put the food down on the table. "Trust me, under any other circumstances; I would have let the dogs loose on you."

She poured a glass for everyone, and then shot Miroku a very sweet smile.

"Breakfast?"

Miroku hung his head out of shame "I didn't come around here because I felt like I ran Inu Yasha off," he muttered "I felt guilty ok."

Inu Yasha raised a brow as he secretly listened in on their conversation, thinking that both of them were dim wits, he rolled his eyes.

Kagome watched him quietly. "Is that why you wouldn't even let Sango talk to me? Don't get me wrong. I made it just fine on my own with out any of you, but she's my best friend, and I got to speak with her twice the whole time he was gone." She dished up even portions on all of the plates, strands of hair in her eyes, obscuring the view of them. "The kids took it hard with no one coming around."

He shook his head "I didn't tell her not to call or come over. She has been busy with work and the wedding coming up." Miroku's eyes went wide as a blush crept up onto his face. "Damn it." He cursed himself and covered his eyes with one hand. "I'm a moron."

She stared blatantly. "The what?"

Inu Yasha went pale. 'Did he say wedding? Nahhh, I have to be hearing things,' he thought and went back to listening. Miroku smiled "Nothing, it's nothing of importance.''

The girl felt completely thrown. She felt like she had been the one gone for almost a full year. "I think we need to sit down and catch up sometime later. No more early morning impromptu confessions; my brain can't take it." The kids rushed back in, Sango in tow.

Miroku laughed, "Will do. I don't think mine can take it either." Shippou tugged on Sango's arm "Come on, Aunt Sango, time for breakfast." Souta laughed as he pushed her from behind "You need to eat so we can watch you hit Uncle Miroku.''

Mayu danced around and giggled, dancing back and forth on the ground. Kagome laughed and shook her head. Wiping her hands off, she walked out of the kitchen and turned to go wake up Kouga, but found herself running face-first into the wall that was Inu Yasha.

"Owwww!" Inu Yasha said as an unseen force came out of now where and knocked the air out of him. He opened his yes and blushed when he saw it was Kagome "I can explain," He stammered as his face turned ten shades of red at being caught in the act of listening to her and Miroku's conversation,

The woman stared up at him, through her bangs, not lifting her head. "Inu Yasha...." she said through grit teeth.

Inu Yasha looked away and rubbed the back of his neck "Ok, ok, I was spying on you and Miroku..." He said with a small smirk. “I didn't plan on doing it but I figured I might see you deck him one and get a good laugh."

A stress mark appeared on her head, and her fist flexed, clenching and unclenching. Her eyes were darkening with irritation that had been building up for quite a while. "I'm gonna deck YOU!!"

Inu Yasha scrambled into the kitchen and jumped over the kitchen table. After clearing that he grabbed Mayu up into his arms and laughed "Now you wouldn't hit a man holding a child now would you?" he asked as he tickled Mayu.

Kagome ran after him, putting her hand flat on the table, and pole vaulting over the table, successfully kicking him in the back of the knees, bringing him to a kneeling position so she could snatch Mayu away from him and bolt back through the kitchen. Mayu squealed and giggled. "Nooooo!!! Daddy, save me!!!" Sango stared at the spectacle.

"What... the ... hell..."

Inu Yasha flinched at the pain shooting through his knees from them hitting the floor but smirked as he bolted after Kagome and Mayu. "Hey, Mayu's mine, give back!" he yelled and grabbed Kagome by the back of the shirt and yanked her back to him. Inu Yasha grabbed Mayu and ran through the living room. "Keep-away from Kagome!" he said as he bolted over the couch with the girl in his arms.

The woman cackled evilly, and darted after him, leaping over the gaming systems and cords, making a dive and wrapped her hand around his ankle. "MINE!!!" She pulled herself up and grabbed his hair, tying it around the arm of the rocking chair quickly, and then grabbing the girl and rushing off to hide her.

Inu Yasha growled and began to go after them again when the alarm on his wristwatch went off. He scowled as he finally got up "We will have to finish this later." Inu Yasha said as he walked towards the hall that led to his room. "I have some things to take care of and I might be gone for a few hours."

Mayu ran over and pinned his leg. "No! Daddy I want to go with you!!"

He smiled and ruffled her hair "Not this time munchkin. I promise to take you and the boys out to the park later and we can build a snowman."

Mayu wrinkled her nose and nodded. "Ok..." she let him go and walked back into the house. Kagome led her into the kitchen and nodded goodbye to Inu Yasha.

"Be careful," she said, knowing it had something to do with how he was so tense.

Inu Yasha smiled as he waved and went out to his car. He opened the trunk, pulled out a long black bag and black leather trench coat, and threw them in the back seat. The young man slammed the trunk shut and closed the car door before he walked around and got into the drivers seat. Inu Yasha cranked up the car and cast a sad glance towards the house before pulling out of the driveway.

 

Sango looked around the kitchen and smiled. "I have to say, Kagome's really kept this place in good condition," she said as she leaned back against the chair after dinner to Miroku.

Miroku smiled "Yes, she has. I am surprised she has done so well with the three balls of energy running wide open all day long."

Sango looked up at Miroku and smiled at him, wrapping her fingers around his, the gold band flashing. “Miroku, I have something I want to tell you…”

 

Inu Yasha sat on the hood of his car at the drop off place waiting for Jin to get there. He glanced down at his watch and growled, "Tell me to be on time and here he is an hour late." Inu Yasha tugged the leather coat around tighter around him trying to block out the cold wind.

A flashy BMW whipped up next to Inu Yasha's car and a man stepped out, with dark silver hair that was tied back in an intense braid. He looked over at Inu Yasha and smiled, removing his shades. "Good. You still behave, as you should. I should have brought a treat for you, but then I thought you might do something stupid... like... not show up."

Inu Yasha narrowed his eyes as he placed a cigarette between his lips and lit it. He reached down, picked up a bag full of money, and tossed it down by Jin's feet.

"Your payment from Yoshiro. I will tell you he was highly reluctant on handing it over so I had to do some persuading to get it,” he said as he exhaled his cigarette smoke towards Jin.

Jin stared at him through the smoke. "As was to be expected. Now, what's this I've been hearing about you actually having a woman at your house that supported those children through your absence?" His eyes glinted with malice as he watched the boy start to squirm under his penetrating gaze. Jin's insides clenched with excitement and anticipation of his answer. This would be the something that would finally set the forever stoic Inu Yasha off. The thing that made him tick. His woman and children.

A while ago, Jin had made it his project to find out how to jar emotion out of his point man. And here it was. The reason he began working for him in the first place.

Inu Yasha took another drag off his cigarette, as he looked over at Jin. "I am here just to work for you; not to be interrogated about my personal life."

The man dodged his smoke again and glared at him. "I am your personal life. Everything you do for me comes before anything else. Have I made myself perfectly clear?"

His point man rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Can I go now?” He jumped off the hood of his car, dropped his cigarette to the ground, and ground it out with the heel of his boot.

Jin straightened up again his look chilled. "Yes, you are dismissed." The man turned to open his door but paused. "Oh, and Inu Yasha?

Inu Yasha grunted as he opened his car door. "What now?" he asked in disgust.

Jin smirked, looking over his shoulder at him. "Your insolence is starting to become most taxing. You may want to watch your attitude, or your precious children and woman will ... let's just say...feel the brunt of your actions." He opened the door and got into the car, shooting Inu Yasha one last dangerous glance and severe smirk.

Inu Yasha's face paled and his shoulders slumped. "All right, Jin, I'm sorry,'' he said as he got into his car and cranked it up.

Jin smiled and drove away; leaving Inu Yasha to ponder whatever it was that occupied his mind.

Inu Yasha scowled as he drove home "Damn bastard wants to threaten me. He sure as hell doesn't know what he is dealing with." he said to himself as he sped down the highway. "And he made me break my promise to Mayu and the boys."

 

Shippou tugged on Kagome's hand. "When is Yasha gonna be home, Kagome?" he asked as he rubbed his eyes. "He promised to take us to the park and now it's dark out."

"I'm sure he just got tied up with something, Shippou. He can always take you kids to the park tomorrow," she said gently, trying to hide her worry, as she smiled and glanced about the now quiet house since everyone had left around noon.

Kagome yawned and finished tucking Shippou in. She smiled at him softly and kissed his forehead. "Now go to sleep squirt." She stood up and patted his stomach, and turned to check on the other kids one last time, stretching.

 

Inu Yasha's car pulled up into the driveway. He sighed as he cut off the engine and got out. Dark eyes scanned around the property making sure no one was around before he walked up to the house. He opened the door as quietly as he could and walked in. Then he noticed no one was around, and that the house was quiet. "Hey anyone here?” he called out as he walked to the kids' room.

No answer. Inu Yasha opened the kids' bedroom door cautiously with his hand shoved inside his jacket ready to draw the butterfly knife that he had hidden there. "Kagome, you in here?” He asked quietly.

Kagome stopped stretching and lowered her arms. When had he gotten home? Moreover, where was he? The girl blinked and walked out of the door, looking for where his voice had come from.

Inu Yasha got frightened when he did not get an answer and he pulled the knife out of his pocket. With a click of his wrist, it opened to reveal a razor sharp blade.

"Kagome! Shippou! Souta! Mayu!" he called out with a voice laced with panic. "Answer me!"

Kagome turned around and jumped nearly four feet in the air when she saw Inu Yasha and he yelled. "Shhh! The kids are in bed, what is wrong with you?!" she snapped. Her eyes fell on the blade in his hand and she backed up a bit, tripping over the basket of laundry in the hall, and fell on her ass.

Inu Yasha dropped the blade when Kagome appeared out of nowhere and he grabbed his chest. "Damn! Give someone a heart attack why don't you?!” he snapped. He looked down at the knife and quickly closed it and pocketing it. “Are you ok?” the man asked. "And why didn't you answer me when I first called out for you?"

She stared at his pocket blankly. For a long time she just looked at his pocket until she finally shook herself, and looked up at Inu Yasha. "Why do you have a knife?"

"I always carry something on me just in case something happens," Inu Yasha said in a flat out lie. "I called for you and no one answered so I brought out the knife just in case someone broke in.” He walked into the kitchen and began looking through the fridge. "I'm sorry I didn't get to take the kids out to the park."

Kagome eyed him carefully. "You're taking them tomorrow. Why would someone break in, Inu Yasha?"

"Sesshomaru might come after the kids. You know he is capable of doing it,” he said as he pulled some food out to make a sandwich. "After what he has done in the past, you never can be too careful of what he might pull next."

Kagome slammed the fridge shut, tired of guessing what had gone on with him in the past months and if it had followed him back. "Stop lying to me!" Her eyes flashed. "Sesshoumaru is in JAIL. Do I need to take extra precautions with the children? Are my kids going to be safe?!" she pleaded, not realizing exactly what she just said.

Inu Yasha's eyes snapped to her face, baffled at this new development. "They are fine Kagome. They are and will be so calm down,” he ordered softly. "All I was trying to say is, I know how Sess is, he has lackeys that will do anything for his approval, and I know that they aren't in jail." he turned and finished his sandwich and took a bite. "I was just making sure." Inu Yasha said with his mouth full.

She watched him in silence for a bit longer, knowing he was still lying to her. Finally, she just told herself that she would take more caution with the kids anyway. "Kouga wants you to meet him tomorrow at his house," she said quietly, reluctantly delivering the message.

Inu Yasha rolled his eyes and placed the rest of his sandwich down onto the plate. "Alright, well I'm going to get a shower and then head to bed.” He ran a hand through his thick hair as he headed for the bathroom. "Enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasts,” he said with a laugh as he entered the room and closed the door.

 

Kagome yawned again and went to Inu Yasha's bedroom and started picking it up again. She sat down on the bed and leaned back. The day had been thoroughly exhausting and there was nothing more that she wanted to do than to fall asleep. However, she still had stuff to do.

A few minutes of rest would not kill her though...

 

Inu Yasha took a quick shower and bandaged up his ribs. "Damn that Yoshiro...” He flinched as he tightened the bindings. Quickly, he pulled on some clean clothes and then picked up his dirty ones. He looked at the red splashes on his t-shirt and wadded it into a ball for him to wash later. 'That's all I need, is for Kagome to find blood on my clothes, especially since the blood isn't mine.' he thought as he walked into his room.

On his bed was the very girl in question, sprawled half-off the bed and nearly looking dead. The moonlight hit her face at an angle that made it glow with an eerie yet strangely alluring light. Kagome's hair fanned out on the bed like the wind was blowing it. He sighed as he threw the balled up clothes into the darkest corner of the room. He would worry about washing them tomorrow. The man leaned over, pulled the blankets over the girl, and left the room to go sleep on the couch.

Something crashed in his bedroom and a yelp filtered down the hall, followed by another cry of pain, breaking the silence of the house.

Inu Yasha turned and headed back to his room. "Hey, Kagome, are you ok?"

"Get off of me you ass!" Kagome's voice snapped down the hall followed by another crash. A strangled cry followed it, soon muffled by something.

Inu Yasha rushed into the room. "Kagome!” he cried out. "What the hell is going on?!"

A man of considerable size was holding Kagome down, with a hand across her mouth and nose, and a knife against her throat, but despite all of this, she was still squirming and trying to get away, accidentally cutting herself on the blade a couple times.

Inu Yasha's eyes landed on the couple struggling on the bed and that was when he snapped. He reached a hand out and grabbed a katana that he had hanging on the wall. The sound of the sword being drawn from the scabbard was all the man heard. He never saw Inu Yasha coming all that saw was the light shine off of the blade as it was brought to the mans neck. "Let her go, or I swing" the man's target said in a low tone.

Slowly, the man released his hold on her and pulled his knife away, eyeing the blade.

Kagome gasped for air, and clutched at her neck, trying to stop the blood flow with her hands. It had not hit her vein, but the knife had bit deep into her flesh.

"Yoshiro's unable to come himself so I have for his revenge," said the man at the end of Inu Yasha's sword-point.

"Shows what a fucking coward he is." Inu Yasha retorted as he sank the sword point into the mans neck. "Do you know how much trouble you are going to be in when Jin finds out that you broke into my house?” he questioned. "You and Yoshiro will be lucky if you see day break tomorrow."

The man glared at him, still sitting on top of a very confused Kagome, his eyes full of hatred and malice. "An eye for an eye..." the man muttered. "Jin will die by my hands, and if not by mine, then Yoshiro's, and if not his, then some other Takagawa's! We will not be made fools by that drug dealer!" he spat.

Inu Yasha sneered. "Well, I can guarantee it won't be by your hands. Since you have threatened my family, I plan on taking your hands,” he said with a cold laugh. "That is the payment you will pay for trespassing.” Inu Yasha raised the sword and with one smooth swing, he lopped of the man's right hand." I don't like being fucked with and I will not be fucked with. Do you understand me?"

The man's scream of pain shook through the house. He gripped his arm and tumbled off of the bed.

"Daddy?" Came a small voice from the doorway.

Inu Yasha turned and saw Mayu in the doorway. He rushed over to her and gently pushed her out of the room. "Mayu I want you to go and stay with the boys don't come back here until I call for you, ok?"

Mayu looked up at him with a scared look on her face. "Was that the boogeyman, Daddy?"

Inu Yasha ruffled her hair. "Yes it's the boogeyman. That's why I want you to go and stay with the boys.” He smiled as he nudged her to go down the hall. "You go and stay with them while Daddy deals with the boogeyman."

Kagome screamed and after a loud thunk, was suddenly silent. "He's got mommy!" Mayu cried. "Hurry Daddy, get him! Get mommy back!!" She said, starting to go into hysterics.

Inu Yasha rushed back into the room and tackled the man that had his hold on Kagome. "You guys don't learn very well do you?” he asked as they tumbled to the floor.

The man reached up and threw Inu Yasha off him, grabbed his appendage, and dove through the open window in an all out run, disappearing into the woods.

Mayu was still crying down the hall, scared to death for her mother and Inu Yasha.

Kagome was knocked out, probably by the glass candleholder that lay beside her.

Inu Yasha groaned from his head hitting the dresser when he was thrown. "Kagome..." he mumbled as blood dripped into this left eye. "Kagome, answer me,” he said as he crawled towards the bed on his hands and knees.

The girl was silent as a tomb and blood still trickled from her neck, and now also from her head, staining the blankets around her a burnt crimson.

Inu Yasha reached the bed and hoisted himself onto it. His eyes went wide at the sight of Kagome unconscious and bleeding. The boy ripped of his shirt and placed it over the wound on her neck. "Mayu, get the phone and call Sango! Hurry!” he yelled as he applied pressure to the wound. "Don't you dare leave me, Kagome! I love you, don't you dare leave!"

The girl didn't move or answer him, only the sound of her very shallow breathing came forth. Mayu rushed to obey him and called Sango, telling her that the Boogeyman had hurt mommy and daddy. Sango promised to be right over and hung up the phone.

Inu Yasha watched as the blood poured out from under his hands. He began to shake; the blood of others never bothered him before, but it was hers, and he was the cause of it. "Don't leave me! God don't leave me alone again!" he howled.

His screams woke up Shippou and Souta and they ran to his room to see what was going on. The boys went pale at the sight before them and Shippou burst into tears.

Mayu came running back into the bedroom and screamed when she saw her mother. "Mommy, Mommy, no!" she cried and hugged Shippou tightly. Kagome's blood stained hair matted against her face and hung in her eyes, blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.

"She's gonna be ok..." Inu Yasha said trying to reassure himself and the kids. "She will be fine it's just a little cut that's all."

Mayu looked at him in disbelief, staring at all of the blood spilled in the room.

 

Sango burst through the door, not even bothering to knock and called out for Inu Yasha. "Where are you at?" she called, shucking her coat.

"We are in the bedroom!” he yelled. "Hurry! Kagome's bleeding pretty badly; I can't stop it!"

Sango ran back to the bedroom and pushed past the kids, staring at the two on the bed in shock. "Oh my god..."

Inu Yasha looked up at Sango with blood streaked across his face as if it were some kind of morbid war paint. "Come on, help me!" He ordered. "Don't stand there and gawk."

Sango rushed over and looked at all of the blood soaking through his shirt. "Oh my god," she whispered, trying as hard as she could to stay calm. She grabbed up another shirt and placed it over the other one, taking up his position. "You go get water. Hot water. NOW!" she snapped.

Inu Yasha rushed out of the room and into the kitchen to get the hot water. He filled a large bowl full of hot water and rushed as best as he could back to the bedroom without spilling it "I got it now what?" Inu asked as he sat the water down.

Sango looked around the room and spotted his katana. She nodded at it. "Heat that." She removed the second shirt and carefully pulled back the first, to gauge how deep it was.

Inu Yasha grabbed the sword without hesitation and started heating the end of it with his zippo. "This is gonna take too long Sango," he said as he turned up the flame on it. "The sword is too thick."

Sango looked around. "Do you have any other knives or blades?" She carefully sat Kagome up, trying to ignore the damp, cold skin she encountered, knowing it was sticky with blood.

Inu Yasha closed the lighter and dropped the sword. He rushed into the living room, grabbed his butterfly knife, and rushed back to Sango. "I got one here,” he said as he knelt down and started to heat the smaller blade with his lighter. After a few minutes, it glowed red and he handed it to Sango "Here get it before it gets cold."

Sango snatched it and pulled away the shirts, pressing the knife to her flesh, the skin searing shut as she continued cauterizing the wound. "He didn't hit her carotid artery, but I still don't know if this will work," she told him, carefully melting the skin back together.

He stood there with his hand over his mouth, the sickening smell and visuals of Kagome's marred skin being repaired in this rancid way. He was shaking like a leaf in a full gale wind. "It has to work, it just has to,” he muttered to himself. "I can't lose her now, not like this."

The girl's hands were trembling as she finished searing to wound shut and started cleaning it carefully with the hot water. "Inu Yasha, you should take the kids to their room," she said quietly as she stared down at the girl.

Inu Yasha stared at the girl on the bed. "Sango...is ...is she alive?” he asked as his voice quivered in fear of getting the answer he didn't want to hear. "Tell me she is ok? Please, I beg you, tell me she is ok?"

Sango looked up at him her eyes dark as the pits of hell. "I don't know. I can't find her pulse."

Inu Yasha just froze but the tears in his eyes fell. "No, no, no,” he muttered, "Check again! Do it, check again!” he roared. "Check for it again!"

The woman lowered her head. "I'll take the kids..." she murmured and stood up, trying to hide her own pain. Mayu screamed and screamed, reaching for her mother as Sango guided them out of the room, leaving Inu Yasha alone with Kagome's prone figure.

He slowly moved towards the bed. "Kagome, come on now, this isn't funny...” Inu Yasha said as he lay down next to her. "Wake up and look at me please? Just wake up and bitch at me, curse me, anything. Just wake up," he sobbed as he hugged her body close to his. "Mayu and the boys need you. I need you. Wake up for us, Kagome."

 

Something was dragging her backwards. Kagome stared at the bed of oblivion she wanted to lay down and sleep in, but something was not letting her.

Something wet spilled down her cheek and she reached up and touched it, finding it to be...tears? She turned around and looked at the scene played before her.

Inu Yasha was lying besides her, begging her for something... but what?

She was tired. So tired. She just wanted to lie down and rest. She started to towards the bed again, but she realized Inu Yasha was crying…

 

Inu Yasha held her close with his eyes shut tight tears rolling down his face. "I love you, Kagome, don't leave me, please? I'm sorry, I am so sorry, just don't leave us," he pleaded to her, not knowing she was awake. "I wont let anyone ever hurt you again, I swear, just come back."

Kagome's hands made their way around him and she held him close. She was still very tired, but she did not want to see Inu Yasha cry anymore, so she would make the effort.

"Inu Yasha," she mumbled hoarsely.

His heart stopped for a brief moment; did he just hear what he thought he heard?

"Kagome?" Inu Yasha said as he opened his eyes and looked at her pale face. The brightest smile spread across his features when he realized she was alive! "Kagome!" He yelled. "You're OK, thank god!” he said as he leaned over her and placed a kiss onto her lips.

Kagome's eyes went wide as his lips hit hers. However, she soon closed them. His warm lips thawed her near frozen ones and she wrapped her arms tighter around him. He was so warm, strong, and safe. More than anything else, she felt safe.

Inu Yasha rested his forehead against hers. "Kagome, I'm sorry.” he whispered, "It won't happen again. I won't let it, this guy will be taken care of." he raised his head and yelled for Sango. "Hey Sango, we need you back here!"

Kagome winced at the loud noise as Sango rushed into the bedroom. She saw Kagome's open eyes, and she gasped and then laughed in relief. "Kagome!” She ran over and fell to her knees in front of her, the strength leaving her just to be replaced by relief. "Oh god Kagome, I thought you were gone!" she cried, tears in her eyes.

Mayu rushed in after her. "Mommy!!" she yelled. She darted over and threw her arms around the woman. Kagome smiled softly and patted her head, looking up at Inu Yasha.

Tears streaked down Shippou's face as he and Souta ran in and got onto the bed. "Kagome," he whimpered as he wiped his nose on his sleeve. "We thought...we thought...” The boy choked on his words as he began to cry harder. “We thought we lost you, Kagome," Souta said as tears built up in his eyes.

The woman on the bed hugged all her children, wiping noses with a clean fraction of her sleeve, and kissing their foreheads, brushing tears away. "Why would you think that?" she asked softly. "I won't leave you, ever." Her eyes lifted to each person before finally settling on Inu Yasha. "Never ever."

Inu Yasha smiled, tears still staining his face, despite his return to his usual self. "Yeah, I am too stubborn to let her go,” he said trying to be a smart ass. "Besides she was sent here to torment me, and I know her job isn't over yet.” He reached into his pocket and clutched his cell phone in his hand. "Sango, I have to make a call, help Kagome get ready to go to the hospital." Inu Yasha gave Kagome a stern look. "You're going, so don't even open your mouth to object."

She opened her mouth and huffed, closing it again. She got up, assisted by the children tugging on her arms and Sango helping her stay steady since she was still very, very weak.

 

Inu Yasha walked into the kitchen and dialed Jin's number. "If he wants me to work for him he is going to give me some damn protection for my family," he said as the tap his foot against the floor impatiently.

Jin picked up the phone answered with a grunt. "What do you want, puppy?"

"I want some protection for my family. I just had one of Yoshiro's men break into my house and almost kill Kagome," he said calmly. "He said that you and I are next on the list to kick the bucket."

Jin arched a brow. "Not my problem. Remember, you told me you didn't want me in your personal life," he said with a smarmy look.

“I can't take on twenty guys at once!" Inu Yasha said, frantic. "Jin, imagine, if it was your family what would you do?" He asked, "I know how you are, you would do what you had to no matter what the cost." Inu Yasha smirked. "I'm the same way, remember that. You can either help me or lose me."

"Oh I won't lose you. If I do, believe me, it's going to be me you need to protect your family from. Think about that." He hung the phone up.

Inu Yasha growled and clinched the phone so tight in his hand the casing cracked "Fuck!" he shouted as he drew back his foot and kicked a nice sized hole in the wall.

 

Jin glared at the man in front of him. "She didn't die. Yoshiro, you have one more chance, and then I'm going to kill you myself."