InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lost Hopes ❯ Chapter 11

Author Notes: Wow you guys! I never thought the chapter would generate such positive response. HaHHHH! *Melts and ends up in a puddle before the computer*. You people are so sweet. Thanks! *Bows gratefully*

 

My special thanks to my lovely beta for bearing up with me!

 

Reviwer Thanks: InuYasha's Arm Candy, KawaiiJade, lil2, moongoddess101, faelaine, klairna, Lil_Kag, mist7,  Nanashi1 and karamellow. To all of you and others who have kept reviewing, my sincerest thanks to you all. As don't worry thing will get better for Inuyasha and Kouga…soon.  

 

Chapter 11

 

~*~Kaede's village~*~

 

The sun was about to set, painting the distant horizon in crimson. The dark clouds, which had brought a heavy rain with it, during the early afternoon, had fled leaving the ground moist and the air cool. Sango stood on the edge of the village, gazing worriedly at the thickets that she stretched before her. It had been hours since Inuyasha had left the village with Kagome. She shifted from one foot to another. She had specifically instructed the hanyou to return straight to the village, so where was he? She knew how reckless the hanyou could be and how thickheaded. She sighed; she shouldn't have listened to Inuyasha and should have gone with them.

 

Beside her, Kirara mewed. Sango picked her up, petting her gently. The purred happily nuzzling her hand, the fire-cat could the sense her friend in turmoil and offered what little comfort she could.

 

“You know about Inuyasha don't you?” Sango asked.

 

Kirara mewed in response, curling up into a fluffy ball in her arms.

 

“I am worried about him Kirara.”

 

“Then why don't you go after him?” Came a curt suggestion.

 

Sango turned to see the monk walking towards her, his face hard.

 

“Umm…Yes, maybe I should.” She replied, glancing worriedly at the forest once again.

 

“Um...hmm seeing that you two have grown so close and all.” He added sarcastically.

 

This caught the taijiya's attention. She turned, studying him through narrowed eyes. Miroku had been behaving quite strangely since this morning. The monk had been awfully quiet and seemingly in a less cheerful and flirtatious mood. She hadn't had the time to think much of it with Inuyasha not returning and Kaede worrying herself sick over it, but now that she thought back, the houshi hadn't, for once, tried to feel her backside and that was extremely unusual and unlikely of Miroku. Something was up.

 

Miroku noticed the calculative look on his taijiya and immediately switched to defensive mode. “Well, I was merely trying to say that you have become good friends in a short time. I could see that last night. And…well, Inuyasha is long due to return so that it would…” he trailed off when a mischievous smirk appeared on Sango's lips.

 

“You don't say.” Sango smirked, as she walked closer to her monk in a seductive manner. “If I didn't know better houshi-sama I would say you're jealous or something,” her eyes glowed more fiercely as a rosy blush appeared on his cheeks.

 

“N-no, now w-why would I be jealous?” He countered, albeit weakly, scratching the back of his head.

 

“Hmmm… I don't know, but your tone says so,” she added, winding her arms around Miroku's neck.

 

“Well…”

 

Resting her head on Miroku's chest she sighed, her expression grave. “It's not what you think Miroku.”

 

“Then tell me what is it? Something is very wrong with Inuyasha and no one has the explanation why and with Lady Kaede acting so strangely around him these days…”

 

“Miroku, Inuyasha is expecting…” she informed, still not looking up.

 

“What is he expecting?” Miroku asked confused.

 

Sango looked up at his face, a brief expression of amusement passing over her facial features, before she grew serious again. Miroku could be thick headed sometimes. She released the monk, pulling him by his arm to sit on a fallen tree trunk nearby.

 

“Inuyasha is pregnant Miroku,” she clarified, watching as the houshi blinked dumbly a couple of times before he burst out laughing.

 

“That…that was really good Sango,” the taijiya tried to protest, but was cut off. “No, you really had me for a moment there. Inuyasha pregnant! … hehehehe… oh Buddha I haven't heard such a dumb thing in all my life,” he laughed some more, resulting in a very agitated taijiya. Soon the laughter died out, a painful lump sitting on his head and Sango began to yell with all her might.

 

“So you think I am stupid houshi and I am joking!?” She shrieked.

 

“Y-you…you're not joking?” Miroku looked at her unbelievingly.

 

“You're damn right I am not. Inuyasha is one of the rare male demons who have the capability of breeding bestowed on them upon birth and he is pregnant…”

 

Miroku was listening to her when suddenly, he remembered something. “But then, that would mean Inuyasha would have to submit…oh my god….”

 

“Hai Miroku, it happened during the mating season.” She continued, watching as Miroku put two and two together.

 

“It's Kouga right? He is carrying Kouga's pup.”

 

“Hai. He was the one, he…umm… coupled with and submitted to.”

 

“But then why is he not with his mate. Kouga wouldn't want to leave his breeding mate alone and if I know correctly, being without his mate would seriously harm his health and the baby's.”

 

“Yes, but Kouga didn't mate with him.”

 

“WHAT?! What do mean Kouga didn't mate with him? He is carrying his child and…” he stopped, when Sango raised her hand.

 

“I talked to Kaede this morning. Apparently Kouga put a possession mark on him instead of a mating mark. And yes, that would mean he was stripped of his status,” she added, seeing the question on Miroku's face.

 

“Oh my god… why didn't he… or you tell me?” Miroku was horrified, so much has happened and he hadn't had an inkling of it. Fingers tightened around the golden staff as he closed his eyes trying to process the information he had just received.

 

“I only got to know yesterday, though I had my suspicions for a long time. And Inuyasha asked me not to tell anyone, he didn't want to trouble anybody.” Sango answered sincerely.

 

“Well, that's so like him.” Miroku said with a sad smile. “Wow, I didn't know he was going through so much and here I was thinking all sorts of crazy thing about you two. I am so sorry Sango.” He apologized, sincerely.

 

Sango smiled. “Well little houshi, you see there's nothing to be scared of.” She said, placing a soft kiss on his nose. “But we must go find Inuyasha, he was supposed to back by now. I thought the rain slowed him down, but it's growing too late. And he is not exactly fit right now, Kirara!” Miroku nodded, pulling Sango for a quick kiss, while Kirara came out of the bushes mewling.

 

Soon the duo was airborne, searching for their possibly lost friend.

 

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~*~ Wolves' Cave~*~

 

Kaiya stood at the doorway of the healer's chamber; watching her brother, sitting beside the listless hanyou; holding onto his pale hand. It has been three days since Inuyasha was brought here and the hanyou had not woken since the last outburst, slipping rapidly into a coma-like state.

 

Kaiya and Kohana had worked non-stop, for hours, to bring him back to consciousness but none of their medicines seemed to work. It seemed the hanyou had given up, the pup's death ripping off any desire he had of living. The hanyou was withering away slowly and if they failed to do anything soon, she knew that Kouga would soon follow. The ookami okashira had hardly left Inuyasha's side and sat there like that, holding onto his hand; apologizing repeatedly for his actions. Kaiya was growing increasingly concerned, Kouga had neither eaten nor slept for hours, sitting like a statue beside his inu. He would stroke the pale skin occasionally, kiss his cheek, urging and the begging the hanyou to forgive him and give him just once chance to make everything right, but Inuyasha didn't respond.

 

She sighed, walking soundlessly into the room and tapped on Kouga's back. Kouga looked up and Kaiya frowned. She hated that look, that helpless hopefulness in Kouga's cerulean orbs took on every morning, that perhaps they had some good news about Inuyasha's health and recovery; the way it died, replaced by emptiness and boundless pain, when they informed that the inu showed no change.

 

She had never felt so helpless in her whole life. She couldn't watch her little brother suffer so much in front her eyes and so she turned to her last resolve for help, Okaasan. The wolf she had sent to her mother had returned early this morning with specific instructions and she had a meeting with the whole clan, discussing the matter. They had agreed on the same thing and now she was here to convey the message to Kouga.

 

“Kouga, we have to return to the mountains,” she sated firmly. “I have written to mother, and the wolf came back this back morning, mother wants you back home and Inuyasha too. Perhaps she could do something about him.”

 

Kouga nodded silently, but she could see a small flame of rekindled hope burning in his eyes. “We must make preparation, we are to leave today,” She announced.

 

Kouga sighed, turning to his intended lying covered in soft furs, brushing aside a few strands of ivory locks that had fallen on his face and stroked a pale cheek with his thumb.

 

“But what about the clan. Would they want to live here without me?” Kouga inquired quietly.

 

“I have already talked to them. They want to return too. They are not happy with what you've done Kouga but they are loyal, nonetheless. Moreover, most miss their families and would be glad to go back.”

 

Kouga nodded, not taking his eyes off Inuyasha. “All right then, I guess we will leave for the mountain.”

 

For the first time in two days Kaiya allowed a small smile to grace her lips. Perhaps things would get better when they go back, she prayed it got better.

 

Hours later, the cave entrance was filed with wolves; demons and animals, wanting to begin their journey back home. Ginta and Hakkaku stood talking to the guards quietly, as the others waited for their leader. Suddenly, a hush fell over the crowd and turned to see Kouga coming out of the cave, accompanied by Kaiya and Kohana. They stood outside the caves, the clan ready for the journey. The crowd watched warily, as Kouga stepped outside carrying Inuyasha on his back, wrapped in thick furs. The hanyou looked worse than ever. Ginta and Hakkaku stared at their friend for a moment, sighing silently at his tired and dejected demeanour.

 

Their eyes met and they nodded, a silent understanding passing between them, before the two wolves began gathering the rest of them.

 

Kouga walked to the front and turned, informing the rest of the wolves that he'll run forward with his intended, and that Kaiya and Kohana will lead them, along with Ginta and Hakkaku. Some remained silent, while others protested weakly, but Kouga remained immune to them. He turned, calling at the wind feet, disappearing in the tornado; running at top speed towards his homeland, with the hope that perhaps mother could bring his love back, from the dark, lifeless abyss in which he was drowning.

 

“Hold on Inuyasha….”

 

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Author Notes: Hmm… I know this is not much after the last blast but this chapter was important. Hope you people liked it.

 

The next chapter will be up soon. (I am have already written half a page and it is the beginning of a chapter that takes time.)

 

Till then

 

Ja Mata!