InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Intended Mate ❯ The Attention of Two Princes ( Chapter 10 )

My brain is spinning from all the Inuyasha episodes I've seen. So near to the end now…and it looks like Rumiko's people are finally closing to some sort of resolution...without ending WITHOUT an ending. I like a definite resolution, such as Maison Ikkoku. That's probably why that's my fave series of hers. We'll see how Yash ends…if it ends well, or and at all, it will tie with Maison.

(SIGH) But I hope you enjoy this. Some filler traveling stuff, because I think some things need to be done. Then….well…we'll see… (Evil chuckle)

 

Place of honor for reviewers….

Inugrrrl, what can I say. You're becoming one of my favorite people. Thank you for continuing to read (Bows deeply)

Andrea Moon Dog, again, love your words! Thanks for talking with me on the show!

Cherished Agony, I love your frequency. Thanks for boosting my spirits!

Hitomi Daremo, Tosuko Higurashi, thanks for reviewing again!

Kawaii Bell, you've been constant as well. My deepest thanks for keeping up.

Silver Magik 131, same to you!

Shina Shatten (laugh) that's you ,Shannon, you're a sweetie.

Ittlebit Inufan, I haven't forgotten you.

Inu-osuwari and all you funny Inu named people like me, I thank you as well.

 

Zabchan, Sapphire Blade, thanks again! I get it , Sapphire ^_~

To answer your question, Jodibetz, it will be an Inu-Kag story! It will always be an Inu-Kag story. Things may take twists though ^_~

One more to honor! Syko on AFF said my story was one of the best they had read. I may be on a Pavlov's Dog Reflex for reviews, but that deeply touched me. If you enjoy my stories so much, it means a lot, and inspires me to keep you entertained so to speak (laugh)

 

Anyways, if I forgot to name someone, I haven't forgotten you, I was too stupid to list everyone and make the reader NOT want to get to the story ^_~ Hope you enjoy!

 

Disclaimer: Penpaninu does not claim to own the series Inuyasha, animated or otherwise, but does claim to be Inu.

 

“Intended Mate” chapter ten

The Attention of two Princes

 

The Inu-tachi set out the next morning, resolute in their travels and unknowing of Kagome's meeting with the Lord of the Western Lands the previous night. Kagome had hinted that perhaps they should head north and the group merely agreed, content in Kagome's `intuition' on the matter. Inuyasha was simply happy to have been intimate with his pregnant mate, and was almost skipping along, humming an old tune his mother used to sing to him. Shippou merely sighed and shook his head, walking beside Kirara.

 

Kagome had been convincing in tiring her lover out the night before, and had slipped into a nearby stream to wash Sesshomaru's scent away at first light so Inuyasha wouldn't find out. There was no need to stress him out and the two would wind up injuring each other when they had a goal in sight.

 

Kagome took Inuyasha's hand, letting his soothing warm claws encircle her smaller digits, content in his gentle touch. Sesshomaru had been intrusive and…. frightening. Still warm, but the look he had given her put Kagome in mind of a small creature about to be hunted down by a very large dog and devoured.

`That was a little too much to learn information on where Naraku is,' Kagome thought to herself, sighing. Inuyasha looked down at her, eyebrows raised.

 

“Are you all right?” he asked inquisitively. Kagome smiled in reassurance and squeezed his hand.

“Of course! Let's keep going. There's a lot of youki in that area…” she confided and Inuyasha nodded, confidant in her abilities. Kagome sighed again. Once again, getting help from someone else. At least her purifying powers were increasing. That might help once they reached Naraku.

 

A tornado cloud sped towards them from the horizon and Kagome smiled, expectant as Inuyasha groaned in horror.

 

“Isn't that Koga-san?” Sango asked. Shippou looked apprehensively at the hanyou. While he had cheered on Koga's antics seeming to win in the `Best Demon wins Kagome' contest, he was a little nervous as to how this meeting would go.

 

Inuyasha slung an arm around Kagome's waist and held her softly as the tornado cloud cleared, and the Prince of the Wolf Tribes stepped out. He crossed his arms over his broad chest and grinned, showing all of his fangs.

 

“Thought this was where you went! Kagome, it's good to see you again!” he laughed, completely ignoring Inuyasha although they were currently joined at the hip. Inuyasha growled and his fingers splayed across Kagome's hip in possession.

 

“Uhm hi, Koga-kun! Inuyasha, you're squeezing me too tight,” she murmured, wincing. Inuyasha stammered an apology and loosened his hold but didn't let her near the Wolf prince.

 

“Uh oh, I smell yet another fight,” Shippou muttered in a stage whisper Miroku and Sango. The monk nodded, leaning back against a large rock.

 

“I suppose this will be a break of sorts while they sort things out,” Miroku said. Sango nodded and sat on the rock he leaned against. Kirara meowed at Shippou and the two darted behind Sango's legs for protection.

 

Koga snuffed at the air, flashing the space around him with a clawed hand. “Hey, Dog Shit! What are ya doin hanging on MY…..” He paused and sniffed again, deliberately. Kagome stammered, frozen and sweating. Inuyasha and Shippou and Sesshomaru and Myoga-jiji and apparently every hanyou or youkau they had come across could smell her bond with Inuyasha and the baby she carried. She could only imagine what conclusion her erstwhile crush would have and she paled, holding onto Inuyasha's arms.

 

As Koga's face darkened in a scowl at her mate, Kagome's legs wobbled. There could only be a fight from this outcome. Inuyasha stood waiting, baiting the Ookami with a self-satisfied smirk instead verbal taunts and barbs.

 

“You fucking Dog Shit!” Koga snarled in genuine rage and pain, brandishing his fists and leaping across for Inuyasha. Inuyasha let go of Kagome and leaped away, leading Koga from her.

 

“Heh! What's the matter Koga? Mad she picked me instead of you?” Inuyasha barked, dodging a fast kick from the wolf youkai. Koga snarled and launched a series of kicks from both legs as the two leaped in high arcs that made the humans dizzy to watch.

 

Shippou was secretly impressed. Inuyasha was looking like he was coming out to be almost as fast as Koga, and that wolf traveled in a cloud of wind! He watched, fascinated, and ran to hug Kagome's leg as she watched, in awe and sadness.

 

“Oh Inuyasha… Koga-kun,” she whispered, hands pressed against her chest. Her stomach roiled and twisted in anxiety.

 

The two young men snarled and twisted in midair then landed hard, Koga on top of Inuyasha, pressing him into the dirt with his knees on his shoulders.

 

“You fucking piece of dog shit! You must have made Kagome do it, how else would you get HER to mate with you??” Koga snarled, punching Inuyasha in the face. Inuyasha spat and howled, bringing his hands up to push at Koga's chest.

 

“She chose me an that's that, mangy wolf! Hell, she's better off with me, and ya can't change that!” Inuyasha barked, slamming his fists into the wolf's chest. Koga hissed and crashed his knees on the hanyou's shoulders and chest for good measure, listening to Inuyasha's small stoic hisses of pain.

 

“The fuck I can't! Kagome needs better and you're not it, dogshit!” Koga yelled, slamming down on Inuyasha again and again. Kagome cried out, feeling Inuyasha's pain in her shoulders, and saw splotches of darker crimson stain his red haori.

 

“Koga-kun! Koga, stop it!” she pleaded. As Koga was too far gone in his rage against the hanyou for claiming what he wanted, he didn't pay her any attention until Kagome's soft hands touched his arms. His actions stilled and he watched Kagome with half-slit hurt eyes.

 

“Kagome…” he muttered, love and hurt flashing in his eyes as he and the girl faced each other. Inuyasha wheezed under Koga and Kagome pulled Koga to get off her of her lover, and knelt down to investigate his hurts.

 

“Oh Inuyasha, did you have to fight him…” she gently chided. Inuyasha coughed and laughed, grinning.

 

“Only for you, Kagome. He wanted to get this off his chest.” Inuyasha said, sitting up. Kagome hugged his shoulders, sighing.

 

“I need to talk to him, Inuyasha…. you understand, don't you?” she whispered. Koga's heart broke further as he saw the connection spark between the two and he felt his reaches of a future with the strangely dressed human girl fade then disappear within his reach.

 

“Ah…I understand, Kagome,” he whispered, kissing her brow softly. Kagome sighed happily and kissed her mate's hands.

 

“I'll be back…Koga-kun?” she stood.

 

Koga nodded numbly and followed her at a close distance.

 

Sango and Miroku darted up to Inuyasha's side, Shippou clinging to Sango's leg. “Inuyasha, are you sure you're okay with Kagome going off with him?” the kitsune asked, looking up at the hanyou.

 

Inuyasha rotated his shoulders and grimaced.

“Keh. She needs to talk to him. I know my mate is loyal,” he declared.

 

Across the road, Kagome's heart beat hotter and she smiled over her shoulder. She and the wolf demon sat down across from each other. Kagome twisted her hands together, trying to think of a delicate way to speak to her crushed companion.

 

“Koga-kun…I….” She started, mouth dry. The ookami sighed and shook his head.

 

“If you just say it was always him, you'll kill me, Kagome,” he tried to joke. When his eyes met Kagome's, they weren't smiling. Kagome took his hands.

 

“But it has always been him…. I'm sorry, Koga-kun… I love him,” she said softly. Koga sighed and sat still. The harsh words spoken in a loving tone hurt far more than if she had screamed them at him. The wolf demon lamented the day he gave his heart to a human he respected up and down. He wasn't strong enough to win her heart, but the Dog Shit was.

 

“Kagome…you were the only one for me…that I thought I could….” He murmured, looking over her shoulder. Kagome's hand touched his cheek.

 

Koga's startled eyes met her teary orbs. “Kagome….” He said in wonder.

 

Kagome stroked his cheek softly, sniffling. “If there were no Inuyasha, I would have…. been free to love you. But I don't, Koga,” she said. That was a little better. If there was a universe where Inuyasha didn't exist, maybe….

 

Koga gave a rogue's grin and tried to laugh. “Can't say I like being in second place. He finally let you in his heart, huh?”

 

Kagome nodded.

 

“Good, cause he would have been a bigger asshole if he hadn't.” Koga declared. Kagome giggled in spite of herself.

 

Inuyasha sighed, his sharp ears catching his mate's gorgeous laughter. One ear twitched. Just let them talk…. Kagome's laying it out straight for him….

 

“Ne, Inuyasha, it looks to be going well…” Sango offered helpfully. Inuyasha nodded, his eyes still closed as he sat cross-legged in apparent meditation.

 

“Course it is, Sango. I can feel it.”

 

* * * *

 

Kagome and Koga stood side by side, watching the sun arch it's way across the sky.

 

“Koga-kun…will you be all right? I would feel terrible if you didn't still want to be my friend,” she confessed, tracing her hair behind her ear.

 

Koga nodded, arms crossed over his breastplate. “I'll survive. It's only my heart,” he teased. Kagome shook her head, smiling. He was trying so hard to lighten the mood.

 

“Koga…you always make me smile,” she laughed. Koga's face turned serious and he took her hand and trapped it against his chest between his.

 

“Just think of me if anything happens…I'll be a good father to your pup,” he promised. Kagome blushed. Damned youkai smell…. she should have expected it, but she blushed just the same. He essentially put himself up for second proposal! What was it about her anyway? Was it really just her scent? Ever since she became pregnant, Inuyasha seemed to get friskier.

 

“I'll…Koga, I can't think about that possibility,” she whispered. Koga kissed the back of her hand, eyes meeting hers. He acted every bit of the prince when with her and it didn't cease to flatter her. Inuyasha acted a lot sweeter now they were mated, but sometimes he was still so uncouth.

 

“I'll be close, Kagome. Naraku is near,” he said simply, his eyes lighting with anger at the mention of his foe. Kagome squeezed his hands.

 

“Please be careful!”

 

“Hah, I will be… maybe we'll meet you there,” he winked and waved at the apparently sleeping hanyou.

 

“Hey, Dog Shit! Better watch her, or I'll steal her from you again!” he yelled. Inuyasha growled in response. Kagome sighed, sweatdropping.

 

“Not while I'm here!” Inuyasha called back. Koga waved to the rest of Kagome's humans and spun off in a cyclone of air, kicking up dust in his wake. As the group watched him speed away, two lone figures jogged up to meet them from the opposite direction.

 

“Koga! Koga! Where is he? Oh, Kagome-nee-chan!” One of Koga's right hand wolves called, as he and his companion bent over, hands on knees to catch their breath. Kagome pointed at the trail of dust, and giggled as the two groaned and took off running again.

 

“Bye, Kagome-nee-chan!” they called out, ignoring Inuyasha. Just as well, the dog hanyou stood at attention behind his mate, irate as all hell. Kagome turned and hugged his waist.

 

“Thank you, Inuyasha,” she smiled. Inuyasha hugged her softly and kissed her neck.

 

“We should get going,” Miroku suggested. Inuyasha put Kagome down and they walked hand in hand into the sunset.

 

* * * *

 

“We are so stopping for the night,” Kagome groaned, rubbing the small of her back. Sango nodded in agreement and Kirara and Shippou, hitching a ride on Sango and Miroku respectively, yawned widely.

Sometimes the group could have gone on all night depending on the situation or exorcism they were on, but for tonight leads were slim and the women needed rest.

 

Miroku watched Sango stretch her back out as Kagome pulled out the bags holding their tents. She had acted abit more…tired lately. Could she be…also? Miroku was somewhat pleased, but knew he'd have to get control of his lusts before they defeated Naraku. Sango was a strong hand in their fighting group and if she carried his heir…. Well, take it each day at a time, Miroku thought to himself. He set to collecting stones for their campfire and kept one eye on his fiancée.

 

Sango watched Kagome rub her back, wincing.

 

“Do you still feel ill, Kagome-chan?” she asked curiously. When she became pregnant herself, she wanted to know what she was up against. Kagome groaned and rubbed her belly.

 

“A little…. my stomach's just so upset. Breakfast is okay now, but sometimes I want to throw up around lunch now,” she confessed. Inuyasha's ears twitched and he rubbed his belly in unconscious imitation of Kagome. Kagome giggled as she erected the tent.

 

“But is it too much? You are carrying a quarter demon baby,” Sango watched her friend inquisitively. Kagome sighed and shook her head.

 

“I know I want it. That's enough,” she blushed. Sango smiled.

 

“Just be careful, Kagome-chan.”

 

“Oh, I`ll have you and Miroku-sama and Inuyasha to help me,” she grinned. The two women shared a laugh and joined the men for dinner.

 

* * * *

 

Naraku pulled his pelt around himself and leaned back regarding his offspring amusedly. Hakudoshi reformed his body and sat naked across from his `father.'

 

“We have almost all the shards to the Shikon Jewel,” Naraku purred, eyes slit in laughter. Hakudoshi crossed his thin legs and sighed.

 

“Of course, Naraku. We merely need the shard carrier and the remaining two from the wolf.” Hakudoshi demurred.

 

Across the shrine room, Kagura looked over her shoulder at her `lord' and his offspring, eyes narrowed in anger. They considered the boy Kohaku nothing more than a shell to carry out their deeds, and to carry one of their last shards. It was the only thing keeping him alive, and they would collect it at their own leisure. Why Naraku put so much trust into his offspring infuriated the wind demon, but she was resigned to her duty to obey and pretend to be loyal.

 

`He knows. He knows I am against him, and yet he keeps me alive. Like he keeps Kohaku alive,' Kagure thought, tapping the end of her fan against her shoulder. Kohaku was scouting the area around the shrine the group of hanyou and offspring inhabited. `They can't know he has regained his memories and will. Or they would have taken his shard,' Kagura strode outside under the stars, looking around for the young exterminator.

 

Kohaku walked up the path, and met Kagura halfway. He looked genuinely surprised to see her alone without orders to retrieve him cross-country, but immediately covered it up with a blank expression. Kagura smirked. `You better try to save that face for Naraku and Hakudoshi. They're the ones you don't want to know,' she smirked.

 

“How did it go, Kohaku?” she asked casually. The night's breeze flew between them, carrying scents of flowers and incense on the young man. So he was doing something other than Naraku's orders. If only Naraku knew….

 

“Naraku's will be done,” he said quietly. Kagura laughed and walked to his side, looking out over the land.

 

“He's waiting for your report, then. You know, Kohaku. The days are growing shorter,” she commented offhand. A chill swept through Kohaku. Was this her way of hinting the rebellion she knew he harbored also? So far she had not told Naraku his awakening of memories…. Only she had witnessed his suicidal jump from her feather.

 

There was a hidden message in her words, now and lately. Kohaku had the feeling she was telling him that time was running out. Kohaku walked to the shrine house, chilled to the bone. He would have to kill Naraku soon, or he wouldn't be alive much longer. The Shikon jewel was almost complete. And they needed the shard holding him together.

 

Kagura watched Kohaku slide the house doors open and walk in, bowing down to their patron and enemy. She hoped he would do what she wanted him to do. Kagura couldn't do this alone, not without hopes of living as well. The jewel was growing darker and needing the last few shards. And the pieces were all coming together.

 

Inuyasha and his group were drawing near. As were the wolf and his last companions, and Sesshomaru. Kagura's chest ached in place of her heart there. The lord she had grown fond of was coming, and she hoped he would be the one to kill Naraku. He was the only way she could be free.

 

It was all coming to a head soon. And Kagura only hoped things would go as she hoped.

 

“The wind needs to be free to live,” she muttered. The night's breeze took her words and carried them away lest Naraku hear. She sighed and turned to join Kohaku in the shrine house.

 

* * * *

 

Kanna carried a wrapped bundle in her arms towards the shrine house set in the mountains. The heart of Naraku struggled in her embrace and snuggled close. His tiny hands held onto a shimmering blue globe and he stared up at his sitter in amusement. Kanna regarded the offspring emotionlessly and stood in front of the shrine house. Her master and the other half of the baby were inside waiting for her.

 

A figure jumped down from the shrine roof to greet her. Kohaku stood up tall over her and regarded her silently. Kanna's lips didn't move to smile or greet him. Kohaku turned to the side to let her pass. His shoulders tensed, feeling the ghost-white child's energy signature wash over him in an intimate pass, hinting at vestiges of her power. There were opportunities, like this, to get rid of the heart of his family's enemy.

 

But he couldn't…he couldn't give his position away… and Kanna's unseeing eyes promised only death should he step out of line at her important duties to the offspring. Kohaku watched the path, his mouth dry as the house doors slid open and Kanna padded inside lightly.

 

Kagura had said the heart to Naraku's demise was literally in that offspring, his discarded heart. But every opportunity and chance they had to get rid of it, Naraku showed up in person, or Kanna's mirror flashed into sight at her side. Both knew what that meant, and had kept their place and ideas in check.

 

The meek might inherit the world, but they don't kill demons by waiting. When? When would be the perfect chance? When his sister lay dying in Naraku's grasp? Kohaku gasped and closed his eyes. He would do it before things came that far. He would kill Naraku for betraying his family. And his sister would live.

 

Kohaku's fingers circled his scythe and gripped the hilt of the curved sickle. He would need all the help he would get…. There wasn't much time.

 

* * * *

 

Kagura drifted lazily in the air on her giant feather, and felt the left side of her chest over her breast. Naraku was squeezing her heart again, commanding she return to the hidden shrine. She was running out of time.

 

* * * *

 

Sesshomaru stood at the edge of his campfire and gazed up at the mountain. Naraku's youki was drenching the top of that peak and he knew he was obviously there. Was he baiting this Sesshomaru? Either way, he would indeed come for he had no reason to ignore such a blatant invitation. The Inu lord sniffed the breeze, feeling content to sense Kagome Woman's energy pattern a few miles away.

 

She and his half brother were close with their humans. They all were coming to Naraku. It would begin soon. The days felt shorter.

 

Small wisps of the night's breeze tickled his ears and carried small locks of his hair over his shoulders. Sesshomaru shook his mane and stood vigilant. He wasn't coming at some woman's behest. But if Kagura had the inclination to help damage her master, he wouldn't stop her from trying.

 

* * * *

 

Koga and his comrades camped out at the foot of the mountain peak, watching the top in interest.

 

The wolf prince was sure Naraku was up there. He could smell him and his body cast-offs from a few miles away. That hanyou was going to pay for killing his clan off! And he would protect Kagome if her travels took her to him.

 

Tomorrow they would follow the nauseating stench closer. Koga watched his comrades on their backs and snoring loudly. They would need their rest. They would take the fight to Naraku and defeat him. His time was over.

 

* * * *

 

The next day dawned a beautiful morning. There wasn't a cloud in the clear perfect blue sky and each party prepared to come to the youki gathered intensely in one spot. Each came from a separate direction to the foot of the mountain path. A group of small figures stood to meet them, blocking the pass.

 

Kohaku, Kagura, Hakudoshi, and a few of their lesser youkai stood in a row, casually waiting. Kohaku and Kagura looked nonchalant but deep inside both felt a slow yearning to break formation and strike at the figure floating above head in his barrier bubble.

 

Naraku floated over head, waiting, a slow smile pulling at the corner of his lips.

 

They were coming. Soon, the Shikon Jewel would be complete. And it would grant the wishes of the heart that held it close. The almost complete orb hung over the hanyou's breastplate, pulsating.

 

His opponents were moving in his direction. Time had run out.

 

End for now

 

 

 

 

Why did I name this chapter the way I did? You're probably saying `Inuyasha's a bastard, he's not a prince.'

Well I disagree. True, he was fathered by InunoTaisho in what could only be seen as a mismatch; but Inuyasha was not regarded as merely an aftermath of an affair with the Lady Izayoi. InunoTaisho considered the pup she carried to be his son in every way. Why else give him an important inheritance, the Tetsusaiga. A sword of power that Sesshomaru originally coveted far more than the Tenseiga.

And why else entrust a portal to his grave, embedded in the black pearl placed in his child's eye? Why else do these things if he didn't consider Inuyasha a royal son? Hence I term him Inu Prince.

 

There are a few spoilers mentioned throughout the story. Sorry if you haven't seen all of the eps! I try to write it so you wouldn't need the episodes to get it. However, I have a new twist than the series ending…. I will be writing some of this tomorrow as I'm on my second wind.

It must be the Legend of the Five Rings fan in me that digs a huge battle with Japanese figures. I can almost see the players in my head, scattered in formation. If I start spouting card titles, ignore me….

 

But please review. The Final Battle is shaping up, and I hope you like the outcome.

 

Peace, love and Big Battles

Penpaninu 9/23/05