InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Love is What Keeps Us ❯ Love and War ( Chapter 4 )

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

Disclaimer: I do not now, nor have I ever, owned any part of Inuyasha or his world. This is a work of fanfiction made entirely for the fans of Inuyasha to enjoy. This story is based off of Inuyasha characters that I do not own.

This is also a work of fiction. Any simularities to any real person, dead or alive, is completely coincidental.




Love is What Keeps Us
by: Tassana Burrfoot

Chapter Four: Love and War



"Protect me? Care about me?" she questioned. "Those are fine words, Shippo. But, the real question is, do you love me? Without that ingredient, we will never be able to convince him."

Those words plagued the fox demon. At first, he had been ready to shout out to her, "Of course I love you! What kind of question is that?" And then, he thought about it.

Did he really love her? How did he know? Did demons even really know what love was? Shippo knew he cared about people. He cared about the humans he had been with, his adopted father. He had even cared for his parents when they were alive. He could even admit caring about the students he taught and the demon lord who fathered Rin. But, love?

He wasn't even sure if he understood the concept of love. He knew it had a lot to do with feelings and those things. He thought he might know what love was, but he wasn't sure.

Did he love Rin? Sure he cared about her. He wanted to protect her. He wanted her. And he would trust her with his life. Weren't those the ingrediants for love? Or, was there something else?

He thought about those words for days, but never came up with an answer. He thought about going to Inuyasha with it, but dismissed that idea. Sure, go to the one hanyou who threw love away to be with a dead woman. That would've been real smart.

Then, the kitsune smiled. He knew of one person he could go to. One person who knew more about love then anyone else. He called the school and told them he wouldn't be able to make it today. Then, he grabbed his keys and headed out the door.

He was lucky Hokochi had gotten a car. Lately, the wolf demon had been wanting to pick Rin up for school. At first, the kitsune had protested, but, after seeing Rin's pout, he gave in. Today, he was glad he had given in.

He pulled up to the mansion and got out his car. He didn't bother knocking on the door. Knocking was for people who weren't related. He found the miko sitting in the library. Her small babe was playing with his blocks.

"He really does like those blocks," the kitsune commented.

Kagome looked up and smiled. "Shippo, you just missed Rin. She left with her friend Hokochi," she told him.

He nodded. "I'm not here for Rin. I took the day off from work to come talk to you," he informed her.

That got a startled glance out of her. She patted the chair next to hers and waited for him to take a seat. She studied him as he moved to the cushioned chair. It wasn't like Shippo just to take off work to come see her. She knew something was wrong and expressed her worry.

He gave a nonchalant rise of his shoulders. "I was hoping you could tell me a bit about this thing called love. I've heard people talk about it, but I'm unsure what it is exactly."

Her worry changed into happiness. "Do you think you are in love with someone?" she asked with a smile.

Again, he shrugged. "That's what I'm trying to find out," he answered truthfully.

She gave a nod and thought about his question. "Love is what keeps us," she spoke finally. "My father had said that to me once. At the time, I didn't know what he meant, but as I've grown, I've learned the meaning."

He looked at her curiously, waiting for an explanation. To him, it didn't make sense. Keeps us? Keeps us from what?

She continued, "I can honestly say that I love my family and I love my friends. I loved Kaede as well. But, there are different kinds of love.

"The most common kind is the one you feel towards your family. All love is special in it's own way, and this love is no different. I would give my life for my children, my mother, and my little brother. They are what make me who I am.

"You see, a family defines you, which is why it's so important that everyone has a family. And your family doesn't have to be blood. Blood is just an ingrediant, but it isn't necessary for the concoction to remain sustained. A family can be anyone. During my time travel, my family was my mother, grandfather, and little brother. Your family was Inuyasha, Sango, Miroku, and me. And Rin's was Sesshomaru and Jaken.

"And yes, families change all the time. Some are born and some die. We learn to cope with the dead while we rejoice with the new. I miss my father very much. When I was a child, he was everything to me. But, it's ok, because I have InuTaisho now. And he has become my everything. I have Rin, who is also everything to me. And when the new babe is born, he or she will be everything."

"I understand, I think," Shippo stopped her momentarily. "My dad and mom were my family when I was real little. And I cared about them a lot. They protected me and kept me from harm. At least, the best they could. So, that must mean they loved me? And I loved them as well."

At Kagome's nod, Shippo continued, "And then I met you and Inuyasha. And you became my new family. My parents died and I got two new family members. Sango and Miroku added to that, giving me four new family members."

Kagome smiled. "And you loved all four?"

He thought about it and then nodded. "Yes, I think I did. I was just a kid when we travelled, but I wanted to help. And I did the best I could. It was hard at times, but I tried."

"We never asked anything of you. We knew you were still young and none of us wanted to pressure you into doing something you were incapable of doing," Kagome whispered.

Shippo sighed, "It's amazing you kept me around. That must have meant you loved me as well?"

"I still do, Shippo. You are one of my dearest friends, which brings me to my next type of love. Friendship," she told him. "The love two friends share can run deep. It is a lot like family, in a way. Friends are usually considered 'family without blood.' A sibling from another family, if you catch my meaning.

"Friends are important because they help give us character and personality. They help us decide what we do like and what we don't. They give us new perspectives on the world in which we live. For, friends come in all shapes, sizes, and backgrounds.

"And then there is the one friend that gives us more," she uttered. "This friend brings us to our final kind of love. A love much deeper then friends or family. This person is someone who touches us in a way that others haven't. They make us feel special, unique. They give us a reason for living."

"Like you and Sesshomaru?" he asked. With her nod, he proceeded, "But, I don't understand. What makes love? How do you know if you love someone?"

"There are basic ingrediants for love," she answered. "The most important are trust, care, honesty, and loyalty. You have to love them for who they are. Everything about them, from their toes to their hair. Their annoying habits and their not so annoying habits. You have to be willing to make sacrifices for them."

"Sounds complicated," he murmurred.

She laughed, "No one ever said it was easy. In fact, love can be quite hard at times. Especially if the love is one-sided. You have to be willing to take the challenge head on."

"What about that special friend? How do you know that the love you feel for them is different from what you feel towards other friends?" he pressed.

She gave a smile and answered, "Because you just loving them suddenly becomes not enough. You want more. You desire more. You find yourself unable to eat, drink, or sleep without thinking about them. They remain in your thoughts even when you shouldn't be thinking about them. You are unhappy until you see them. You want to remain close to them all the time. The mere idea of them leaving chills you to the bones. Only their touch can bring you life: a touch that is seering, burning. It feels as if you could either melt or catch on fire with that touch."

His eyes widened. "That's how I feel about Rin," he whispered without thinking. He realized what he said and clapped a hand to his mouth.

Kagome just gave a knowing smile. So, that was why he came to her? She had guessed it had something to do with her daughter. And his deep interest in love had made her more certain. She let her eyes fall to her hands, pretending there was something interesting there.

"Ever since her fifteenth birthday, I have noticed a change in how the two of you acted towards one another," she whispered. She knew he was gazing at her curiously, so she enlightened him, "I am no fool. I have watched the two of you and have seen how you are. The slip of a glance, the look in your eyes, the way you speak. All these things are noticable to anyone paying attention. It didn't take me much to know the two of you had an interest in one another."

His eyes widened. "How noticable is it?" he asked, fear going down his spine like melted ice.

"Noticable to have caught the attention of a demon lord," she clarified.

That set the kitsune back on his heels. It had been the last thing he had wanted to hear. His worst fears were realized. "What do you suggest I do?" he asked her, desparately. "I'll admit it. I love Rin. And I want to be with her. I can protect her and provide for her. She'll never want for anything. I..."

"You do not need to tell me these things," Kagome interrupted. "I know this already."

She turned to him and met his eyes. She wanted his full attention and demanded no less. "I know you fear him, but let me assure you. All he cares about is what's in the best interests of his daughter. He loves her very much, though he'll never admit it. Telling him you want her won't be enough. But, it is a good start. He won't do anything to you, for he knows what it would do to me. If worst comes to worst, he'll forbid you to have anything to do with her. Might even forbid you from the mansion. But, I doubt it'll come to that.

"He wants to see his daughter happy. She's turning sixteen soon, and for humans, it's an age where they start looking for mates. They don't usually find one right then and there. For some, it takes years. And these days, many humans do not start looking for mates until they are well into their late twenties or early thirties.

"If he doesn't accept you, see if she will. If she does, that's all you need. My lord will not deny her anything. No matter how much he may dislike it," she finished.

Shippo nodded. His stomach was doing flip flops and tying itself in knots. He had to speak with Sesshomaru? Well, at least he had lived a good life!



After kissing Kagome on the cheek and leaving her to attend to InuTaisho, Shippo made his way down the halls of the mansion. It wouldn't be hard finding the taiyoukai's office. The kitsune had spent many days in there.

He could feel himself grow nervous about the meeting. What would he say? What could he say? Why did it matter so much? Why should he care if he had Sesshomaru's approval?

He knew what the taiyoukai was capable of and he did not want to see such effects on himself. He knocked on the office door.

"Come in," came the deep, soft voice of the demon lord from behind.

The nervous fox carefully turned the door handle and walked in. Sesshomaru was sitting behind his desk going through paperwork. The demon lord did not look up as he asked, "What do you want?"

Shippo had a giddy insight of him bursting out with 'your daughter,' but he thought twice about that. Such a statement could prove disasterous. "I wish to speak with you, my lord. About your daughter, Rin," the fox decided to say instead.

"Is she having problems in school?" Sesshomaru asked, finally looking up from the papers.

The fox wanted to say yes, but he remembered his promise to Rin. He wouldn't be the one to tell her parents about the kids at school. "No, my lord. Rin is an excellent student," he informed.

The demon lord raised a single eyebrow. "Then, why are you here?" he inquired. "I can smell your fear, fox. I ask again, what do you want? I haven't the time to play games with you."

Shippo almost laughed at that. Sesshomaru? Play games? Highly unlikely. "No, my lord. I would not ask you to play games," the fox assured him.

The taiyoukai looked a little amused... or annoyed. Shippo couldn't decide which. The lord had always been hard to read. Deciding now was not the time to determine facial expressions, the fox demon continued, "I... have taken... an interest in your daughter."

Now Shippo had Sesshomaru's full attention. If looks could kill, the look the taiyoukai had shot him then would have severed the fox demon in half. "What kind of interest?" the older youkai growled, his fingers lightly tapping the surface of his desk.

"Um..." where did Shippo go from here? What could he say? Suddenly he burst out, "I love her, my lord."

There! He said it! Shippo admitted his feelings for Rin right in front of Sesshomaru! There was no turning back now.

The fox demon almost wished he could turn back. Resigning himself, the fox stood his ground as the dog demon stood up from his desk and began moving around the younger youkai.

Sesshomaru studied the foolish demon. He wanted to swipe the being off the face of the earth. Love makes us do foolish things he remembered his wife telling him once.

The kit certainly was foolish enough. "What do you intend to do about this 'love'?" he inquired, studying the kitsune's every move.

Shippo racked his brain. He had seen Sesshomaru size up his enemies before. He had seen the demon lord fight incredible battles. He had always prayed he would never be on the recieving end of that. Now that he was, he was terrified.

"I... uh..." the kitsune stuttered, "....uh... I would like... to... um.... uh... be... come..."

"Spit it out!" the dog demon snarled. "I am tired of your imputance. It matters not what you wish, for you will not have her. You are a coward, fox, and I will not allow my daughter to be with the likes such as you."

That set the kitsune off. "You really think I care what you think of me? All that matters is what Rin thinks of me," he retorted. "And from what I gather, she thinks a lot of me. I love her and I want to be with her. I don't care if you approve or not!"

Kagome came running into the office. "What is all this yelling about? I can hear you all the way in the library," she scolded.

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed as he moved to his wife. "The fox claims he wishes to be with Rin. He even spoke of loving her."

Kagome nodded, but was not satisfied. "That still doesn't explain the yelling. If the two of you wish to fight over possession of Rin, be my guests. But, let me warn you, no matter what the two of you decide, the choice is Rin's. If you decide against her wishes, she will fight both of you. I suggest you wait until she gets home," she advised.

The dog demon nodded in agreement before giving the kitsune a low growl, "This is not over, fox."