InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Fang of the Father ❯ To Lead or Not to Lead ( Chapter 15 )

[ X - Adult: No readers under 18. Contains Graphic Adult Themes/Extreme violence. ]

LES: Hamlet referenced title… But, rest assured, I'm not killing everyone off in the end.

People Who Haven't Read Hamlet: … O.o

Muse: `The Lion King' was based on Hamlet and only Scar died in the end.

LES: Great. Now a Lion King reference. Let's get back to dogs!

Muse: O! Wherefore art thou dog? Sweet canine lover! You shall lick my face, and I shall lick your snout!

Inuyasha: (freaked out) Um…

LES: Dumb `Bewitched' remake.Okay… I think if I've possibly screwed myself on this story, it is during this chapter. I've never been good at adding OC's to my stories. And, as usual, their names are stolen from somewhere else. In this case, Rurouni Kenshin.

Chapter XV: To Lead Or Not To Lead

Several weeks later, and everything almost seemed normal. With the end of Miroku and Sango's engagement approaching, Kagome poured her heart into preparing for their upcoming wedding. She wasn't going to expect Inuyasha to care about having a human marriage, so she was pouring her own wedding dreams into Sango's wedding.

This, unfortunately, left Inuyasha to baby-sit the kitsune, Shippo.

Inuyasha was napping in the top-most branches of a tree, with the bored kitsune sitting on the ground below him. “Inuyasha! I'm bored!” Shippo called up at him.

Inuyasha growled in annoyance. “Shut up, runt. I'm tired.”

“Only cause you were up all night with Kagome.” Shippo grumbled.

“Oi, runt! If I mouthed off like that when I was a pup, I wouldn't have lived this long!” Inuyasha growled.

“So, what, you'd run away from stuff?” Shippo mocked.

“Sankon-tesso!” (Translation: Iron-Reaver-Soul-Stealer.) Shippo barely managed to leap out of the way as Inuyasha's deadly claws tore into the ground uncomfortably close to where he had been sitting.

“Inuyasha!”

Inuyasha snatched up the kitsune by his tail and brandished his deadly claws. “Listen, runt, I never ran! By the time I was your age, these claws had already tasted real blood!” He let that sink in to the young kitsune. “I didn't let being a pup stop me from defending myself.”

“But I'm just…”

“You are not a helpless human child.” Inuyasha hissed. “It's the first law growing up. Grow up quickly, or die.”

“Maybe for a hanyou.”

“Feh.” Inuyasha sniffed. He began to walk off back towards the village, hoping to pawn off the kitsune on someone else. But he slowed to a stop, sniffing at the air. “Oi, runt… you smell that?”

Shippo sniffed also. “I only smell normal things.”

Inuyasha sniffed again, and then apparently disregarded the mystery smell. “It's not that strong… it could be really far away. Then it's not my business.” He continued to head back towards the village.

From the shadows of the forest, a pair of dark chocolate eyes watched the hanyou leave. He is powerful… able to smell me even from downwind. The mystery figure thought. It seems the rumors were true. The mystery figure easily faded back into the darkness of Inuyasha's forest.

Inuyasha came to the clearing that had been set aside for Miroku and Sango's marriage. Despite all his vocal distain for human marriage ceremonies, which lacked the true bonding of a Yokai mating, he was curious about the whole thing.

Kagome had told him that marriage ceremonies differed greatly depending on culture and religion. Since Miroku was a Buddhist monk, they would be having a Buddhist ceremony. Kagome told Inuyasha that this was a good thing because the more common ceremony of the time included a ritual purification ceremony. This definitely wasn't going to be a good idea with a Yokai and two hanyou attending the ceremony.

At the time, Kagome was working with Lady Kaede on Sango's new robes, while Sango was back in her hut working on Miroku's.

Inuyasha crouched down next to Kagome, staring at her. “I still think this is foolish.”

Kagome sighed. “Inuyasha, I know that human marriages don't share the same un-ending commitment that our mating does, but it still has its own appeal.”

“Like what?”

“Well… a Yokai mating ceremony is a private ordeal. But a human ceremony allows all of the couple's family and friends to celebrate with them. Why? Do you want to have witnesses to our bonding?”

“Hell no!” Suddenly, he froze, his nose twitching.

“Inuyasha?” Kagome asked.

“I knew it!” He stood up and faced the forest, digging his claws into the palm of his hand, covering them with his own blood. He slashed and threw his blood into the trees. “Blades of Blood!” The hanyou's blood turned into deadly daggers of blood.

A dark blur dodged the blood daggers and leapt out into the open. :Wait! Mean no harm!: The stranger barked.

Both Inuyasha and Kagome froze, recognizing the Inu language. Judging by his appearance, the stranger was an Inu-hanyou like Inuyasha and Kagome. But he didn't look nearly as shocking as Inuyasha did with his silver hair and golden eyes. In fact, with brown hair and chocolate eyes, he could have passed for a human. But his ears gave him away. He had chocolate dog ears that were a shade darker than his hair.

His ears were pinned down as he approached Inuyasha, crouching down slightly. When he reached Inuyasha, he pressed his nose against his chin.

Any modern human's `gay-dar' would be going off at such a display, but the stranger, Inuyasha, and Kagome were fully aware of what he meant. It was a submissive Inu greeting. The stranger was submitting to Inuyasha's authority as `Alpha', and showing that he had no wish to fight.

Kagome also noticed that this hanyou appeared to be younger than Inuyasha, perhaps not long out of puppyhood.

“Inuyasha… I have heard a lot about you.” The stranger said.

“Who are you? What do you want?” Inuyasha asked bluntly.

“Oh. Forgive me. I am Kenji of the Inu-Yokai clan, a banished hanyou, like you.” He looked Inuyasha up and down. “Once again, I see that I got off easy when it came to hanyou features.”

“You look almost human.” Kagome pointed out. She only knew three Inu-Yokais, and they all had silver hair and golden eyes.

“Lady, it is because I am the product of an unusual mating. My father was the human, and my mother was an Inu-Yokai.” Kenji said. Then he turned to the forest and howled. :Come!:

Two more figures stepped out of the forest, both of them Inu-hanyous. A female and a pup. Both had silver hair and golden eyes.

Oh my God! “A hanyou family!” Kagome gasped.

:Use your nose.: Inuyasha growled at her. “Kenji and this bitch aren't mated. They are both too young to have gone into heat, and the child smells like neither of them.”

“Yes. We are simply a few hanyous that have joined together to survive.” Kenji said. “This is Megumi.” The female nodded her head.

“And the pup?”

“We don't know his name.” Megumi said. “We came upon his village a week ago just as a mob was forming. We only managed to get him out. His parents did not survive. He hasn't said a word since we rescued him.”

“So… Pup, then?”

“Oh, you poor thing!” Kagome moved over the hanyou boy who looked like he was about Shippo's age, but much larger. The pup shivered in fear, but she cooed to him. :Pup safe.:

“So, why come to me?” Inuyasha asked. “You must've worked hard to survive this long. My life is constantly endangered, even more so than a normal hanyou. Why put your lives in danger by coming to see me when you must know who my half-brother is?”

“Because, even face such hardship, you lived to maturity.” Kenji said. “And we've heard the rumors. The winds say that Lord Sesshomaru, your half-brother, is in a rage because he's lost a great deal of his power. Yokai power, especially a Yokai Lord's power, just doesn't disappear. It is passed on to its heir. And if that's not Sesshomaru… You are the only other heir of the Great Dog Yokai. We've come to join your pack.”

“You realize the dangers of such a choice.” Inuyasha said. “You are right. I have gained my old man's powers. But Sesshomaru is livid about it and is sure not to give up until he had killed me and regained those powers.”

“But… if you have your Lord Father's power…” Megumi began.

“My old man and Sesshomaru never fought, but they were almost equal in power.” Inuyasha said.

Kenji sighed. “I am nearly mature… perhaps as soon as next year. The people of the village I lived next to would tolerate my presence no longer. I have nowhere else to go. Then I heard of a powerful hanyou living as an equal in a human village. And, not only that, but he had taken a real mate… not the fake `life-partner' crap most hanyous are forced to take. I know the smell of greener grass when I smell it.”

“It certainly smells a lot nicer than the half-life we've been forced to live for our births.” Megumi said.

“Inuyasha, you can't blame them for wanting a better life.” Kagome said.

Kenji stared at Kagome. “Uh… I thought that Inuyasha was the only hanyou living here? Are you also a traveler?”

“Oh? No. I am Kagome, Inuyasha's mate.” Kagome said.

“Kagome? That was the name of your pack's miko?” Megumi asked Inuyasha, who didn't answer. “Forgive me, but I thought mikos were human.”

“Yes, I was human. But the power Inuyasha gained from his father allowed me to share a hanyou life-span.” Kagome said.

“And your miko powers? You still wear the robes of a Priestess.” Kenji prompted.

“My powers are stronger than ever.” Kagome answered.

“You can stay if you wish.” Inuyasha said. “But you do understand the dangers my pack faces?”

“No human or Yokai understands danger like a hanyou, for we are born with a death sentence.” Kenji said. “We do the best we can with what we can tear out of life with our claws. I would rather live in happiness for a few months than centuries on the run.”

“I feel the same.” Megumi said.

“I see no objections.” Kaede said. “Ye three certainly seem tamer than Inuyasha was.”

“My father's human blood is more domaninate than my mother's Yokai blood.” Kenji said. “I am a bit more reasonable than most male Inu-Yokai.”

“And females are always somewhat more laid back than males.” Megumi said. “The pup is too young to cause trouble that four hanyous can't handle.”

“You can fight?” Inuyasha asked. “Well?”

“No hanyou could live as long as Megumi and myself without being able to hold our own in battle.” Kenji said. “We can fight.”

“Very well, do as you wish.”

:Thank you Alpha-male and Alpha-female.: Kenji growled. Kenji and Megumi bowed low and retreated back into the safety of the forest.

“It seems that our pack just got bigger by three Inu-hanyous.” Kagome commented. “Judging by what you said about how hanyous are treated, I never thought we'd see three new hanyous during the same day, especially three Inu-hanyous.”

“Living Inu-hanyous are the most common.” Inuyasha said. “The pups aren't usually killed at birth because the parents were mates. As you can imagine, other Yokai tribes make fun of the Inu-Yokai clan about it. Saying things like: Dogs are man's best friend. You know, that sort of thing.”

So… Inu-Yokai are more likely to take a human for a mate than any other Yokai clan?

“We should go tell Miroku and Sango about the new additions.” Kagome said.

“Yes.” Inuyasha agreed, setting off to find the two humans in their pack. “Kenji is a very strange Inu-hanyou…” He mused as Kagome followed him.

“Why?”

“Inu-Yokai have silver hair and golden eyes. Period. There isn't a lot of diversity among us. Even when they mate with humans, the Inu-Yokai blood usually dominates the human blood, and the Inu-hanyou will look almost like an Inu-Yokai.”

“Except for your ears…” Kagome said, tweaking one of Inuyasha's ears.

“Well, yeah. I've never seen an Inu-hanyou born who had colorings other than silver and gold. It's… unusual… like he's got a little wolf mixed in there somewhere.”

“An Inu-Yokai and a wolf Yokai could mate. They are both canines, after all. But maybe he's right.” Kagome said. “You're father was a Yokai and the natural dominate one. But his mother was a submissive female. Maybe that's why his human traits are more visible.”

“That hardly ever happens either.” Inuyasha said. “The male is the one who traditionally initiates the mating ceremony; and what human male would have the courage to make clear his intentions to a female Yokai? And no human could rape a Yokai. She would just laugh and tear the offender to pieces.”

“So… our pup… was it pointless for us to argue about coloring?” Kagome asked. “You said that Inu-Yokai and hanyous are born with silver hair and golden eyes.”

“I don't know. Your blood is now hanyou blood and carries almost the same weight as mine.” Inuyasha said. “Anything could happen.”

“And you are a Yokai Lord, so that makes it even more unpredictable… like our mating.” Kagome mused, and the two stared at each other. “Watch. We'll probably end up getting actual puppies.”

“Don't be ridiculous. We are both hanyous, despite the fact that I'm a Yokai Lord. No matter what happens, our pup will be hanyou. Not one hundred percent human, and not one hundred percent Inu.” Inuyasha said.

Kagome sighed. “That's good. I don't know how my mom would react if your grandchildren were puppies.”

Or… maybe she would love it. Ugh! That's even creepier! Kagome thought to herself.

They approached the village and ran into Miroku. “Hey, you two. Kagome, Sango wanted me to ask you how her robes are coming along.

“They'll be done by the time of your wedding. But we have some news. Where's Sango?”

Miroku indicated his and Sango's hut, and they crowded in. “Sango, Kagome and Inuyasha are here.”

Sango looked up and set the robes she was working on aside. “Kagome!” She stood up and embraced her best friend.

Inuyasha growled; not a threatening growl, but a `be careful' growl. He had gotten a lot pickier about their friends `man-handling' Kagome since he found out she was expecting a pup. Of course, their friends didn't know yet, so they chalked up Inuyasha's behavior to him being over-protective and stupid.

“Inuyasha, stop! I'm not a China doll!” Kagome spat at him.

Inuyasha sat on the floor with a resentful sigh. “Bitch, just sit down and stay still for Kami's sake!” He turned his attention to Miroku and Sango. “Three Inu-hanyous stopped by just now and asked to join our pack.”

Kagome sighed, not at all surprised by the looks of shock written on the human's faces. Inuyasha was never one to beat around the bush on matters such as these. Brash until the end…

“A young adolescent male, Kenji; an adolescent female, Megumi; and a young pup who hasn't revealed his name.” Kagome explained. “They heard of the life Inuyasha had built here in the valley, and wanted their own chance at such a life.”

“And the adolescents… they are mated? And the child is theirs?”

“No.” Kagome said. “The child was orphaned a week ago, and hasn't spoken a word since.”

“Neither Kenji or Megumi are mature, so they have little interest in mating. They aren't mates.” Inuyasha said. “Though Kenji says that he's close.”

“Well, as long as they are tame, I see no problem in letting a few more hanyous join our… err… pack.” Miroku said.

“Well, if they aren't tamed, I'm sure Kaede and I could make some more rosaries.” Kagome said thoughtfully. Inuyasha stood up and began to leave. “Inuyasha? Where are you going?”

“To find those hanyous and tell them to run for their lives.” Inuyasha said. “Hanyous look out for each other, and I won't let them fall under a Subjugation spell like I have.”

“Come on, Inuyasha! I was only joking!” Kagome said, chasing after him. “Inuyasha, come back! Sit!”

“Augh!” Inuyasha howled as his face was introduced to the ground forcibly once again. “Kagome! Stop doing that!”

“Um… are we interrupting something?”

Inuyasha groaned into the ground. So much for being Alpha-male!

It was the hanyou group, and they stared down at the prone hanyou.

“Um…” Kagome laughed. “I'm just… disciplining my mate.” She smiled sweetly.

“What sort of disciplining is that?” Kenji asked, crouching next to Inuyasha, who started growling threateningly into the soil.

Kagome pulled Inuyasha up and pointed out the rosary on his neck. “This was the very first gift I ever gave him; on the day I met him. He was trying to kill me, so the miko here conjured this around his neck. Now, whenever I say a certain `s' word, this happens.”

“What `s' word?”

“She is referring to the word `sit'.” Miroku spoke up, as he and Sango exited the hut. “Welcome to our village.”

“Thank you.” Kenji quickly replied.

“Sit?” Megumi asked. “You chose that word because he's an Inu-hanyou, didn't you?”

“It was kind of spur-of-the-moment.” Kagome said.

“Worst moment of my life…” Inuyasha grumbled.

“That was when we first met, you jerk!” Kagome hissed. “Sit!” The rosary forced the hanyou to eat dirt all over again. “I happen to remember that moment rather fondly.”

“Well, you're not the one who gets his face slammed into the ground whenever your mate says `sit'.” Inuyasha grumbled.

“I love you too.” Kagome said with a hint of sarcasm.

“Bitch.”

“But, if you are tame, then this won't happen to you.” Kagome said. “If he hadn't tried to gut me, his neck would be a little lighter.”

“Why didn't you just leave well enough alone when the damn thing broke?” Inuyasha asked.

“Because you're not trained yet.” Kagome said, smiling brightly. “Don't worry, my big dog, when you are tame, I'll take it off.”

Inuyasha glared at her. “I'll hold you to that, mate!”

“This pack is kind of scary.” Kenji commented.

“Well, what do you expect when a pack's members consist of an untamed hanyou, a miko-hanyou, a Yokai Taijiya, a perverted monk, and an annoying kitsune?” Sango asked.

“It's still a scary pack.” Megumi said.

LES: Inuyasha's rosary has been broken before. Inuyasha Movie 3: Swords of an Honorable Ruler. When Kagome sat the Sounga-possessed Inuyasha, he withstood it until the rosary broke. Then, during the movie after the credits, she binds him to the rosary once again. Boy, was he pissed!

Inuyasha: Sure, mock my suffering.

LES: But it's a lot funnier to mock your suffering than to angst it to death!

Inuyasha: (snarl)

LES: Down, boy!