InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Lost Hopes ❯ Chapter 26

Author Notes: Here I am again! With a brand new chapter. Hope you like!

 

Reveiwer Thanks: Moreta, MsKittyKyo, Chrys, Starfall, Rii-chan, sesshys numba1 gurl, Bibi11, Kitsunesan nsi, Kogas Hentai Luver

 

Also my Bets Molly And Silence for helping me so much!

 

Chapter 26

 

To say Mi-chan was annoyed would be an understatement. Every year during this time, the adults all around her seemed to go crazy. There would be a strange scent lingering in the air that she had come to notice recently, and it made her feel funny.

 

A giggling female demoness whizzed past her with her mate in hot pursuit, all the while giggling like an idiot, and she frowned. Just what the hell was wrong with these adults! Hurrying through the corridors growling and muttering to herself, she threw the door to the infirmary open startling the single young male occupant as she stomped inside and plonked down unceremoniously on a nearby bed.

 

“Damn fucking hell Kai-chan, what the hell has happened to the castle?” she asked not once looking at the wide-eyed male who gulped and was staring at her silently. “Everyone's been acting crazy. They chase each other, make gooey eyes and act all childish and whenever I ask them about it they act all embarrassed and secretive, Che! Even nee-chan is acting strange. I went to her for today's lesson and she just closed the door in my face without an explanation telling me talk about it after a week! What in the world could she be doing so important that she doesn't have time for her sister? Maybe I ought to have peeked in.,” she added thoughtfully.

 

The pestle slipped off Kai's hands, hitting his toe, and he howled in pain holding to the abused leg. “Aaaahhh…Ittatatatatatatata…!”

 

“What are you doing there, baka?” Akemi shouted as she crossed the room to sit before him. “Here, let me see. Gods, you can be such a klutz sometimes.” She reprimanded him, carefully prying Kai's hands off and taking a look at the reddened area. Sighing, she reached for a small jar nearby and took out some green paste and began rubbing it on a hissing Kai's leg. “For a person who acts all grown up, you sure howl like a cub. Anyway, as I was saying, then I went to mother but she was too busy with god knows what and Nii-san… well that another story” satisfied with her work, she let go of the foot “no matter how many times I knock there's no answer! Tsuki tells me it has been like that for four days. She misses Nii-san's classes, I do too. I mean, really! What the hell could the possibly be doing?! Doesn't anyone care about me?! They hate me!” she concluded with a sniffle.

 

“Ummm, Mi-chan I don't think it's about hating you.” Kai began in a small voice his cheeks burning, “it's…uh… something… they… uh… go through every year”

 

Teary eyes looked up at once in question. “Well, I figured out that much… they always act this way around this time of year. What I want to know is why. Why do they act so crazy and stupid?”

 

Kai blushed again. Lowering his eyes to the task at hand, he picked up the pestle with trembling at hands and began to grind its contents into powder. “I don't think I am the best person to explain that to you, Mi-chan. You must…”

 

“Oh Kai! Please tell me what happens to them. It is a disease? It's gotta be a disease, no one would act so strangely on purpose! Is it serious? Do they need medicine? Can I help?” she jumped off the bed and padded towards Kai, kneeling before him to stare at him with wide frightened eyes. “Is Nii-san sick again?”

 

The grinding grew noisier “No, no… it's not a sickness. It's… well.., you are still a kid and it's a matter of the adult.” he tried to tease her again desperately hoping she would take the bait and start fighting him and forget about the matter altogether. Damn it was embarrassing! However to his great distress Mi-chan failed to notice the barb.

 

“Please, Kai-chan. Tell me!” she pouted giving him the best puppy do eyes she could muster.

 

“Mi-chan! Well… I-it's… it something to do when you grow up and… well… they feel they should spend time with their mates.”

 

Oh.” Akemi nodded. “But what do they do?”

 

“Ehh?”

 

“You are such a baka Kai. If you grind that too hard, you will spoil the medicinal qualities of that root.

Even I know that.”

 

Kai nodded dumbly and put the mortar aside and stood up nervously. “Well, Mi-chan, I am busy as you see and if you want to now all about them you must ask Oba-san. I think she may be the best person to let you know about it. I…I have to go now.”

 

“Oh, okay” Akemi sighed. “Thanks anyway. But can you help with the lesson this evening? Everyone else is so busy…”

 

“Okay.” he agreed, still not looking at her.

 

“Thanks.” she beamed and before Kai could leave she jumped him, placing an innocent kiss on his cheek. “Bye Kai. See you in the evening!” with that, she bounced out of the rooms leaving a very red faced Kai behind.

 

“Stupid girl!”

 

****************************************

 

~*~ A week or so Later~*~

 

“Mother!” the young demoness burst into the room, her cheeks flushed. “Would you just look at it?”

 

“What is it Kaiya?” Keiko looked up calmly setting aside the cloth she had been mending. Many had protested of this habit of hers but she only reasoned that it made her think better and she hated sitting idle handed.

 

“It… Well, the two of them.”

 

“Who dear?” she inquired again. “Why don't you sit down and explain. It's not good for you to stand there and howl at the door, dear.”

 

The demoness grumbled before she trudged into the room and plopped down on a nearby cushion. “That stupid son of yours and Inuyasha, who else?”

 

“Language, dear.” Keiko reminded calmly.

 

“But mother, it been over a week. The season is over for god's sake and they are still…”

 

“Still what, dear?” she asked again amused watching her daughter blush beautifully.

 

“Well… you know, mother. They still haven't come out of their room. If I didn't know better, it would that my little brother is trying to create a whole army of pups.” She grumbled.

 

Keiko smiled. Perhaps the symptoms were appearing early for her. “Now dear, leave them be for a while more. They'll be out. They just need some time together.”

 

“But how much longer could they possibly need?” she yelled. “I…I have to tell them. I…”

 

“Yes Dear I know. And they would be happy to know about your pregnancy but you must have patience. They will be out soon, now calm down. You know it's not good for the pup.”

 

Kaiya huffed a bit but slowly seemed to calm down. Keiko smiled. The brother and sister were not much different when it came down to hotheadedness, though Kaiya was usually more in control. However, the pregnancy seemed to weaken the self control which she so strongly practiced. “Now go your room and rest. I will be there in a while for your test.”

 

“Hai mother.” the demoness sighed dejectedly getting up to proceed to her. Now that her mother had mentioned it, she did feel a bit sleepy. And with Katashi being at the stronghold to boast about his greatness and not hovering all over her like a possessive freak, she would use the time to get true rest.

 

“And dear?” she turned to her mother slightly “tell that mate of yours not to bang on their door; I don't think that would work much.” Kaiya blushed again and nodded slightly, leaving for her chambers.

 

“Kids these days…” Keiko muttered silently picking up the forgotten work again.

 

* * * * ** * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

 

“Inuyasha, get up.” a small whine was heard followed by a growl and then everything was silent. Kouga frowned. What was wrong with his mate?

 

“Inuyasha?” he persistently shook the white mass lying in a boneless sprawl beside him seemingly dozing. The week had been…ah… interesting, to say the very least, and Inuyasha was… well, he didn't really have words to describe it. It was all explosive and hot and sweaty, just the way he liked it. But now this… this morning he had found the hanyou strangely in his bestial form, with no response whatsoever. It was as if Inuyasha was deliberately ignoring him. Had he worn the inu out again? Was that why Inuyasha was acting like this? “Please Inuyasha, I promise no more sex today.” Heh… can't say he didn't try.

 

Another growl, a golden eye opened a slit, carefully accessing his mate and then closed and Inuyasha turned his face away burying his muzzle on his front paws.

 

“Damn it, mutt face.” Kouga cursed. “We are a week and a half behind already. Would you get your ass up and come with me?”

 

Inuyasha ignored him.

 

“Ahhh…. Baka!”

 

A tentative knock was heard on their door and Kouga sighed pulling himself away from his mate and crossed their bedchamber, to their living leaving room. The knocked was heard again and he slowly pulled the door opened. “Mother.” he greeted with a smile. “Please come in.”

 

“Kouga… we were worried, dear. It's been too long.” Keiko smiled stepping into the room with a smile.

 

Kouga blushed at that. “Yeah well…er…”

 

“Where's Inuyasha dear?”

 

“He's being stubborn again, mother.” Kouga grumped and Keiko raised an eyebrow. “He's transformed…” suddenly he clamped his hand over his mouth his eyes widening. His mother did not know!

 

Sensing his son's slip Keiko smiled. “Don't worry Kouga. I know of it,” she informed simply.

 

“You do? I mean you knew beforehand?” Keiko nodded “Was I the only one who didn't know it, then?”

 

“We will worry about that later dear. Now tell me about your little mate.”

 

Kouga frowned a bit, yet continued. “Oh… well, he's transformed into his dog form and refuses to respond to me. He is been lying around like since this morning. I don't know what to do mother…” then a sudden idea struck him. “Mother!”

 

“Yes dear?” she waited patiently watching a thousand emotions cross over Kouga's face.

 

“Could… could he be pregnant?”

 

“We cannot be sure dear. I will have to have a look at him.”

 

“All right, this way.” Keiko silently followed her son to the inner chamber, her eyes widening slightly in awe as she gazed at the white form lying on the bed. Not overly large, but he was big enough for the giant bed. As if sensing another presence, two puppy ears twitched a bit and then golden eyes opened, accompanied by a happy whine as the tail went straight up in the air, waving to and fro in a warm welcome.

 

“Hello, dear.” Keiko smiled as she sat down beside him, running her hands through luscious furs and earning a soft purr in return. “Now would you turn back for me?” Keiko asked softly.

 

A soft bark was her answer and the image before her shimmered, a golden glow engulfing the form, contracting into a small ball and then expanding to reveal a more humanoid Inuyasha. Kouga moved swiftly, pulling a nearby sheet to cover his mate. Inuyasha ignored him again.

 

“How do feel dear?” Keiko asked putting her hand on his forehead to check his temperature.

 

“I'm okay.” Inuyasha answered softly

 

“Well then, let me see. Lay for me a bit, Inuyasha.”

 

Inuyasha nodded slightly lying silently as Keiko poked and prodded, closely watching her reaction. However, he was disappointed at finding none. After a few minutes she smiled at him, though the slight disappointment in her eyes didn't go unnoticed by the other two. “It's just fatigue, dear. You need to sleep it off. And don't transform back. It'll make you more tired. Now take this.” she handed him a small vial, which he immediately downed grimacing at the foul taste, Kouga handed him a glass of water and he drank heavily. “Now you must rest and when you wake up I want you two to pay a visit to Kaiya. She has been dying to talk to you.”

 

“Hai, mother.” both nodded in unison.

 

Inuyasha smiled smiling when a loving kiss was placed on his forehead and closed his eyes. A strange feeling of disappointment welled up in him (something that he wished yet not received) but he pushed it aside, letting himself slip into peaceful slumber.

 

Kouga waited silent and impatient wanting desperately to know the results. So when his mother gestured him to follow, he nearly leaped across the room after her. “Mother?” he asked hopefully his facing falling a bit at her seriousness.

 

“I am sorry, Kouga. I haven't detected any change in his body.” Keiko sighed sitting herself in a nearby chair. Kouga's heart fell. “However it's too early for it. A male's body is not similar to that of a female's and with Inuyasha being a hanyou, things will probably work differently for him.”

 

Kouga nodded in understanding but remained silent.

 

“Moreover, the trauma he had suffered may cause some delay. But not to worry, dear. We will have pups running around in no time. If not this year then the next.” She assured with a smile, but she knew how her son felt.

 

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

 

Inuyasha growled as he banged the door, stomping out of the council room, enraged though a bit satisfied to have promptly and effectively parted a few of the elders with their aging teeth. He hated those damn fools, he hated his father-in-law and he hated his mate. How dare they try to dictate his life? He would live it the way he wanted. He would do whatever he wanted. He had taken enough of their crap, and now he was going to put his foot down. Kouga was not going for another battle. Something prickled at his eyes and he growled fiercely making a few passer-bys jump in surprise.

 

He glared at them and hurried towards his chamber. He didn't need their looks, the looks that held pity and, and… He sniffled. Oh hell!

 

This has been going on for a week. Everyone seemed nervous around him, walking on eggshells, giving him strange looks. He had been asked for several check ups but promptly refused taking on his job more seriously. He knew he was not with child because he didn't feel any different. He knew Keiko was worried of the effect it would have on his psyche. He knew everyone was just being careful not to hurt his feelings but he was strong. He could face it. He didn't need pity he didn't need to be coddled and he definitely didn't need to have his life dictated to him!

 

“What was he thinking?!” he growled to himself. Mashiro had declared today by the joint decision of the council that Kouga would lead the army to help another group of wolves somewhere. Since Kaiya is pregnant it was not be adequate for Katashi to leave his mate, so Kouga would have to take his place. He wasn't angry at Kaiya or Katashi, on the contrary he was more than happy for them yet he couldn't help but be enraged about the fact that not one them had felt the need to consult with him beforehand, not even his damn fool mate! `He didn't even look at me when he said yes!' he thought. `Does he hate me because…' An unfamiliar pain shot through his heart and he clutched at it, refusing to cry. Throwing the doors to his chambers open he rushed inside. Despair surrounded him like a dark poisonous mist more foul than Naraku's miasma and he began to drown in it, with no one to pull him back.

 

A small knock on the door jolted Inuyasha out of his dark thoughts and he growled ready to bite the head off of his intruder, however as the little head peeked in he was forced to relax.

 

“Nii-san?” Akemi's eyes searched for the inu and she smiled when they settled n him. “Nii-san, can I come in?”

 

“Hai.” he nodded watching as the girl bounced into the room before plopping herself down right before him.

 

“Are you okay? You seemed so angry just now. I tried to call you but you didn't hear me.” the little girl studied him in concern and he sighed.

 

“I am fine Mi-chan. It's just…”

 

“Don't lie to me, Nii-san. You are not all right. I can tell. Did Onii-chan do something to you? Did anyone say anything to you? Did father scold? I am not a child you know, you call tell me.” she rushed through her speech. “Should I call mother, or perhaps Kaiya-neechan?”

 

Inuyasha couldn't help but smile at the young demoness, though it soon turned rueful. “Mi-chan, it's nothing you should worry about. I… I just had a bad day at the council, that all.”

 

“But Nii-san…” Akemi began but before she pressed Inuyasha for more information, the door burst open and a fuming Kouga entered the room.

 

“What is the meaning of this?” he roared. “Why did you hurt the elders, Inuyasha?”

 

The deep sadness burning is soul morphed in raging hot ire and Inuyasha growled back, causing Akemi to shrink away form the two demons. “You… you ask me why!? Your elders clearly have no sense of social deportment, Kouga. They call me a member of the council yet they fail to include me or rather, they `forget' when they make such important decisions.”

 

“But Inuyasha, you know it was important.” Kouga protested. “You know about Nee-chan…”

 

“Yes I do.” Inuyasha interrupted “and I have nothing against Katashi-san staying with his mate, but Kouga, I refuse to let them dictate my life and don't you dare interrupt! This is not about personal feelings, Kouga this about ethics. They should've informed me, or they should've asked you if you were willing. We are not their slaves and for you to have agreed to them! Didn't you ever think of me once, of what I would want?”

 

“Inuyasha, stop being selfish!” Kouga snapped taking a step towards Inuyasha.

 

“Selfish? I am selfish Kouga! I didn't totally refuse the idea of you leading the others; I had proposed that I could join you. But no! They will not have me go. They praise me unnecessarily of my strength yet they do allow me to show my skills.”

 

“You cannot hurt the elders just because you disagree with them. I agree they must have involuntarily insulted you, but it happens all the time. Inuyasha, you must understand. There are rules to be followed in the council room and violence…”

 

“No Kouga, you must understand. I grew up alone I have always made my own rules…”

 

“But you belong to the clan now.”

 

“Does that make me their slave?”

 

“Inuyasha!”

 

“Oh stop it with your hypocrisy, Kouga” Inuyasha spat “you may show that you are opposed to their orthodox way yet to follow their decisions blindingly, waging your tail, yipping pathetically at their call.”

 

“Inuyasha!” Kouga warned his eyes burning.

 

“You don't even have the backbone to stand up to your own father, Kouga. Why Kouga, you're all bark and no bite?”

 

“So are you challenging me Inuyasha” Kouga asked darkly.

 

“Oh now the wimpy pup wants to fight me. He doesn't have the courage to do anything to them yet he has the courage to raise his hands against his mate. How brave!” Inuyasha mocked.

 

Perhaps this was the last straw as Kouga having lost to his temper rushed towards the hanyou intent on teaching him just who the was alpha here. However Inuyasha sidestepped swiftly, landing a well-aimed punch to Kouga's abdomen. A shrill scream echoed through the room, yet none of the two demons paid attention to the little child who shrank away in a corner and they fought each other viciously snarling and cursing taking out all frustrations they that bottled up for so long.

 

Furniture was tossed like papers, the pillows were torn, their feather askew and raining all over the chamber, curtains hung haphazardly, half-torn as the battle raged on with Inuyasha mocking and egging and Kouga snarling out expletive and yelling at Inuyasha barbaric mode of behaviour.

 

“I hate you mutt, I despise your very being.” Kouga snarled as he rushed again towards his mate.

 

Perhaps it was these words that cut like sharpened and poisonous daggers or the wave of dizziness the suddenly swept over that Inuyasha stilled in mid attack, his fist raised and his eyes wide. The fist that contacted to his abdomen dragged a choked gasp out of him before he dropped on his knees, and then fully collapsing on the floor.

 

“What mutt-face, gave up so early?” Kouga mocked as he stood a few distance away, wiping the blood off his eyes that bled from a cut near his brows and heaving, wincing from the bruises that marred his body. “Come hit me some more.” he urged, fuming. However no answering barbs were obtained as the hanyou simply struggled to stand up again.

 

A pitiful whine slowly began to emanate from Inuyasha as he tried to support himself on his forelimbs to stand up but his hands gave away and he crashed onto the floor. Sudden pain rippled through his body making him cry out but it only came out as whimpers.

 

“Inuyasha?” Kouga called concern dousing the fire of rage.

 

Said inu whimpered once again, ears flattened on his head he curled into a tight ball.

 

“Inuyasha!” Kouga ran towards his fallen, picking up. “Inuyasha what's the matter?”

 

“Hurts…” the hanyou managed to his clenched teeth.

 

“Where?” Kouga tried to locate the source of pain, checking for any major wounds that he may have might caused.

 

Another wave of pain shot through his body and Inuyasha arched painfully (his face twisting gruesomely as tears leaked through his closed eyes) before falling limp in Kouga's arms.

 

“Inuyasha!” Kouga panicked before another screech echoed through the room.

 

“Aiiii, Oneechan killed Nii-san!”

 

Kouga looked up to a trembling Akemi standing at a distance tearing rolling down her eyes and hands clamped over her mouth in shocked horror.

 

“Mi-chan!” Kouga called but the demoness took a step back shaking her head furiously before she turned suddenly sprinting out of the room. “Mama!!! Oneechan killed Nii-san!” echoed through the halls.

 

“Chikuso!” Kouga cursed as he hurriedly gathered his unresponsive mate in his arms and ran as fast towards his mother's chamber. He was dead; he knew that, if not of the guilt for stupidly hurting his mate then by mother and sister for sure.

 

Author Notes: Cliffy again? *grins evilly*. Oh I just love these things. Anyway hope you've enjoyed this chapter as for further info on our favourite inu, you'll have to wait for a week. HeHEHHEHEHEHEHE!