InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Probably Wouldn't Be This Way ❯ The Family's Reactions ( Chapter 3 )

Disclaimer:

Vbollman: Guess what? I’m here to stay!

Turtlequeen2: We’ve already established that…

Look what we did. Everyone is confused about the hair thing. -laughs-

Vbollman: *smirks* That was our intention…

Turtlequeen2 & vbollman: Since last chapter was the one we started working together on, we both thanks reviewers now. So thanks for the review inuyashaloverr!

We do not own Inuyasha. Only Rumiko Takahashi does and we thank her for creating such wonderful characters.

WARNING: Shippou and Sesshoumaru may seem OOC!

We apologize for our delay! We know how late we are.

Turtlequeen2: I would have gotten this chapter up a lot sooner, but my computer broke and it took this long to fix the damn thing!

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Chapter 3

The Family’s Reactions

Kagome was still pissed at Sesshoumaru to say the least. He actually cut off her hair! What was worse was that the lord had the gull to taunt her afterwards! The miko was currently huffing, her arms crossed as she sat on a tatami mat around the dining room table.

Shippou and Sesshoumaru were also seated about the table, both highly amused by the miko’s actions.

Having the silence overwhelm them, Kagome felt nervous again. “I can understand Shippou-chan wanting to visit me, but why would you want to come here?” the miko asked Sesshoumaru, not able to hold in the question any longer.

Sesshoumaru gave the miko a look that said that the answer should have been obvious. “Miko, have your forgotten what lays beneath the Goshinboku? I come every ten years to make sure that he is undisturbed,” he told her, the coldness creeping back into his voice.

Noticing the look of sadness, he held in the regret. “I also came to see you,” he told her, knowing that she would take this the wrong way.

Her eyes widened. “To see me? Why?” She found it hard to believe that the Cold Lord she once knew him as, wanted to personally come to see HER!

Sesshoumaru just smirked at the slip of the girl’s calm. He knew his next words to her would sound cruel. He also knew that Shippou would get him back for them, but he had to say it. “But of course. How else would I find out how a human, who has not mated with a demon, managed to live for over five hundred years? I would be remiss in my duties as Taiyoukai of the Western Lands, if I did not question you on this.”

Kagome’s eyes narrowed. Of course it was something that stupid! “So,” she began bluntly,” You only came out here after five hundred years…to ASK ME THAT?!” she finished in fury as she glared back at the Taiyoukai.

Shippou let out a small growl. Before Sesshoumaru could reply, he interjected with a small smirk as he thought of something suddenly. “Father! That wasn’t very kind of you. What will Rin do if she finds out?” he taunted.

Sesshoumaru’s head snapped around so fast that Kagome was brushed with the tips of his hair. “Shippou…” he growled out. “There is absolutely no need for Rin to ever find out about that comment.” Turning his head back to Kagome, he gave her a slight nod of the head. “My apologies Miko,” was all he would say on that subject.

Kagome’s jaw dropped before she could control herself. “R…Rin is alive?! You mean that little human girl that traveled with you?!” she demanded, her eyes wide in amazement. She then looked at Shippou. “Why did you call him father?”

Shippou let out a small laugh of nervousness as he absentmindedly scratched the back of his head. “Um…yea about that. Sesshoumaru is my Father-in-Law,” he answered honestly.

“Father-in-Law?” she murmured. “…Wait. You mean that you and Rin are…”

“Yes,” the kitsune grinned. “Me and Rin are mates.”

“M…MATES?!” she exclaimed. Then she suddenly smiled brightly. “Oh how Kawaii! For how long? Are you two already having children? How is Rin-chan doing? Why isn’t she here with you?” The miko kept droning on and on in questions, making the poor kitsune feel dizzy.

“Miko Enough! Seize your insistent chatter. I know you have five hundred years to catch up on, but allow the pup to catch his breath,” Sesshoumaru bellowed over the miko’s ramblings.

Kagome instantly stopped in mid-sentence, casting an embarrassed look at Sesshoumaru. “Um…gomen, Shippou-chan,” she replied sheepishly.

The kitsune let out a small sigh of relief.

Smirking at the miko, Sesshoumaru was just about to say more on her “ramblings,” when a new smell came to his nose. Standing up, he turned to the open kitchen window and took a deep breath. “Miko, did you want to tell your family about us? If you don’t, we will have to go now,” he told her, giving her a penetrating look that forced her to think hard and quick on what she wanted to tell her family right now.

Kagome sighed. “Why hide it? It’s not like they haven’t heard of you and Shippou already,” she stated in concentration.

Sesshoumaru nodded his head. If the girl had said anything else, he would have left and never returned, thanking who ever would listen, that the girl had more common since than his brother. He then sank back down into his spot and calmly sipped his tea while waiting for her family to arrive. “Miko, just what have you told your family about us?”

She suddenly stiffened up and mentally cursed herself as a bead of sweat ran down the back of her head at her stupidity. “Uh…about you, you ask?” she stuttered nervously. ‘Great going you baka! What are you going to tell them? Oh yea, meet Inuyasha’s full-demon brother. Yes, the same one who tried to kill me on more than one occasion. Like that will go over well…’ she mentally panicked, rolling her eyes at her sarcasm.

Sesshoumaru gave her a knowing look. “Miko? I can tell when you lie to me, so I suggest you don’t even try. What does your family know?”

Shippou groaned, knowing what Kagome was thinking. “Perhaps she told them about the numerous times you tried to kill us in the past?” he suggested bluntly.

“Indeed, pup,” Sesshoumaru snorted. “And how are they going to take to finding me here?”

The kitsune cast a regretful look at Kagome before continuing. “All I know is that because of Inuyasha’s constant yelling, you should stay away from Kagome’s jii-chan.”

Kagome’s eyes softened from hearing Inuyasha’s name mentioned. However, she quickly recovered by sighing.

“It’s not like he could hurt you. It’s just that he’ll annoy you until you want to kill him…” she warned.

Sesshoumaru paused in thought for a moment, before giving Kagome a very small smirk. “I do believe at the moment the question is... Do I really want to meet them?”

“That’s for you to judge,” she replied simply.

“Kagome, we’re back from the store!” came the woman’s mother’s cheerful voice from the entrance of the house.

Kagome took in a breath before walking up to her mom. “Mama, we have a few visitors…”

“Oh? Who?” she asked.

Before Kagome could reply, her little brother’s yell interrupted them. “Kagome nee-chan! Are you still moping?”

Kagome shot her brother a glare. “No,” she replied simply. Her lips curved into a small smirk. “In fact the people I want you to meet are in the dining room.”

“Kagome, dear? Are you sure you’re ok?” Ms. Higurashi asked in a worried tone.

The miko flashed a small smile. “I’m fine.” ‘Oh yea, I'm fine for a girl who has two demons showing up at her doorstep; one who is like a son to me and another who attempted to kill me numerous times...but sure I'm just peachy!’ Kagome replied, using bitter sarcasm in her mind.

“Kagome? You look nervous,” came the elderly voice of her grandfather.

“Eh?” Kagome asked, surprised from her grandfather’s voice. “Jii-chan, I’m ok,” she replied quickly. ‘Jii-chan, that was the understatement of the year…’ she replied in her subconscious.

After her mother was finished putting the groceries away in the kitchen, the family proceeded to follow Kagome into the room. The miko crossed her fingers. She hoped that there would be no decapitating today...

“Kagome, who are these men?” her grandfather asked her in confusion as he caught sight of the two men; one with auburn hair and the other taller man with smooth black hair.

“Um...this is Sesshoumaru and Shippou,” Kagome said, trying to make her voice sound confident, but failing miserably.

Mama Higurashi went pale. She remembered the stories about Sesshoumaru. Taking a close look at the two men before her, she shook her head. “Sesshoumaru...Inuyasha’s brother? I thought you said they looked alike?”

Kagome nodded her head. “He does. They are both under disguise so no one will notice that they are youkai,” she explained. She then looked at both youkai with a small smile. “Will you both be so kind as to remove your concealing spells?”

Shippou and Sesshoumaru exchanged looks. Letting humans that had no spiritual energy see them was really risky. This case was different. Giving a small shrug of his shoulders, Shippou closed his eyes and concentrated on the brand on his arm. Feeling a slight tingle on his skin, he reopened his eyes, just in time to brace himself for Kagome’s mother’s reaction.

Ms. Higurashi’s eyes widened. A huge grin began to form on her face as she seen the tail that appeared behind Shippou. “KAWAII!” she squealed before stopping herself as she stared at the kitsune. Kagome stifled her laughter as the kitsune held down a small blush.

“Mama, quit pestering him,” she warned, trying to stop herself from grinning.

Souta turned towards Sesshoumaru and he raised his eyebrow. ‘He doesn't look much like a dog,’ the boy thought in confusion, used to seeing Inuyasha’s dog-like ears.

Souta smiled as he looked at Shippou. “Cool! I finally get to meet the guy who annoyed Inu-no-nii-chan to no end! Though...you look nothing like the Shippou, nee-chan described…” he trailed off. The kitsune let a smirk through as he reminisced about his good times; making the hanyou go nuts.

Souta looked ready to ask another question before Kagome stopped him. “Nii-chan, you can ask him about his kitsune magic later,” she smiled.

Sesshoumaru watched the miko’s brother with barely hidden shock. “Inu-no-nii-chan?” he asked. “You actually got away with calling Inuyasha ‘brother‘?” For the first time ever Sesshoumaru let someone other than Family hear him laugh. “Please Miko, tell me, did the whelp madden Inuyasha the same way Inuyasha use to irritate me when he was young? I remember the first time he asked me about females…” Sesshoumaru asked after finally managing to control himself.

Kagome grinned, never before seeing this side of the once Cold Lord before. Shippou also looked startled. “As a matter of fact yes. I remember one specific incident when he asked Inuyasha for love advice…” she teased, casting a look at her brother.

Sure enough, the poor boy’s eyes widened, shocked that his sister would tell that to this guy! “Shut up!” he grumbled, trying hard to cover the crimson on his cheeks. Kagome only giggled in response.

Sesshoumaru raised an eyebrow at that. Looking directly at Souta he said,“ You asked my brother for love advice? What where you thinking?” amusement still clearly heard in his voice along with the shock of anyone asking Inuyasha for love advice.

For once, Shippou agreed with the Taiyoukai. Only until he died, did Inuyasha confess his love to Kagome. How was he to give out love advice when he couldn’t even deal with his own love life?

Souta felt his cheeks flame up even more. ‘Kagome, I’m gonna get you back for this..’ he vowed as he glared at his sibling. He then came up with an idea. “What are you talking about? He wasn’t the only one I asked advice from. It was you too sis.”

Kagome gave a small nervous laugh at that remark. Shippou raised his eyebrow and tried his hardest to hold in his laughter. “…you two gave him advice about love?” he barely managed to get out before breaking out into hysterics.

Sesshoumaru was also trying to hold back more laughter. Those two gave out love advice? What was the world coming to? The miko was more believable, but not Inuyasha by a long shot.

Shippou smirked and muttered,” That’s like Jaken suddenly stopping at being annoying. Never gonna happen,” he got out before more laughter consumed him.

Finally back under complete control, Sesshoumaru nodded his head. “Indeed,” was all he could make himself say without laughing again.

Kagome looked back to see her grandpa pull out a scroll. She rolled her eyes. Here we go…

“Jii-chan? What do you think you’re doing?” she asked, clearly annoyed.

“They are demons!” he shouted in worry and irritation. “And didn’t that one over there try to kill you?” he demanded, looking at Sesshoumaru.

Kagome groaned. “Jii-chan, Sesshoumaru wouldn’t dare touch me now. Would you please calm down?”

He was still stubborn and didn’t look to relent anytime soon. “But Kagome, how are you so sure? He’s tried it at least twice before…”

Sesshoumaru could sense that the old fool had no real spiritual energy, and therefore was no danger to him. Growling deep in his throat, he used his speed to step between the old man and Kagome,“ Yes I’ve tried to kill her. She was in the way of something I truly wanted at the time.”

“The first time I tried, I lost an arm. The second time was after she tried to kill me. If she would have been stronger at the time, I would not have survived her purifying arrow.” Taking a deep breath, Sesshoumaru stepped closer, towering over Kagome’s grandfather. “Did she tell you that Inuyasha also tried to kill her? Or how about the time that I brought Inuyasha back to himself after he transformed and lost his mind? He could have killed her then also. If it where not for me, she would have died from an undead poison user. Do not try to use your ineffective purifying charms on This Sesshoumaru. Not only will they not work, but you would most likely be dead first.”

With each sentence Sesshoumaru said, his anger grew greater. It wasn’t until he felt the slim point of an arrow filled with the miko’s purifying force that he forced himself to calm down. Backing up, he kept one eye on that arrow at all times until he was on the other side of the room. “I, Sesshoumaru, Taiyoukai of the Western Lands, give you my pledge that I will not harm your family,” he said, wrapping Mokomoko-sama around his body to keep it under control. Turning to Kagome, he bowed his head slightly, “Miko you have my apologies. It was not my intention to lose control.”

Kagome lowered her bow and arrow, glaring at the Taiyoukai. “I’ll make sure that you don’t,” she said dangerously, her purifying powers still flaring.

Ms. Higurashi was in shock. Where did her daughter have her arrow hiding for all that time? “Kagome? Those were your powers?” she asked in shock, never before witnessing her daughter’s abilities. They must have been great enough to get the lord to back off so quickly.

Jii-chan looked a little startled at Kagome’s sudden flare of powers he witnessed. He beamed as he thought secretly,’ Ah, the sacred abilities passed down the Higurashi family line.’

Souta’s eyes widened. “You never told us that Inu-no-nii-chan tried to kill you Kagome!” he exclaimed.

Kagome heaved a sigh. “Why the heck do you think Kaede-sama put the beads on him in the first place?” She continued in sarcasm,” It wasn’t just a fashion statement, ya know.” She then turned her glare at her grandfather. “I TOLD you not to bother Sesshoumaru! I should have known by now that you would never listen to me…”

“Kagome--” her grandfather began before he got cut off.

“Don’t ‘Kagome’ me! If I wasn’t here at the time, you’d be as good as dead by now!” she shouted in fury. “As a matter of fact, if I wasn’t here to hold Inuyasha back the first time you tried that on him, he would’ve done the killing instead!”

Shippou looked at Kagome, for once not cringing because it was the first time in literal centuries that he seen this from her. He actually missed it. Noticing the way Sesshoumaru stayed silent, a smirk crept to his face in amusement. “Now this is ironic. It seemed only yesterday that you were calling Kagome a weak and annoying wench. So here you are now, falling prey to this same woman’s temper as did Inuyasha before you…”

By then, Kagome stopped scolding her grandfather and looked upon Shippou’s statement with new interest.

Sesshoumaru growled at the kitsune, only to be faced with an arrow again. Giving in to the fact that his Son-in-Law was right, he smirked. “Ah, but Shippou, what would your mate say if I told her that you meet your adopted mother without her by your side?”

Shippou visibly cringed. He crossed his arms and huffed,” Hey, at least I admit when I fear women.” He paused. “...especially when they are human,” he finished in a slight smirk once again.

Sesshoumaru just sighed before replying. “I cannot wait until I can hand you over to Rin. Then I can inform the children that the woman you have called ‘Mother’ for the past five hundred years is still alive. I won’t have to worry about being annoyed by you or the pups for at least a week.”

Shippou’s eye twitched. That was not a good thing to think about. For the first time since Kagome seen him, the kitsune looked as frightened as when he was as a small child.

Kagome couldn’t help the grin that formed its way on her face. Still one thing bothered her. “So how many children do you have Shippou-cha---I mean Shippou-kun?” she quickly corrected herself as she asked him.

Shippou’s mouth dropped in shock. “K…Kagome?” he asked incredulously at the change in honorific.

She kept her smile in place. “Well, you are grown with your own family now, so it wouldn’t be right if I kept calling you Shippou-chan,” she explained. She took a deep breath as she finally lowered her bow from Sesshoumaru’s way. However, her glare told him that she wasn’t afraid of putting it back into use if needed. She then proceeded to throw a glare at her family at the same time. She dared her grandfather to try another stunt because the next time she wasn’t even sure if she would hold back Sesshoumaru or not.

Sesshoumaru, trying to hide just how glad he was that the miko was no longer pointing her arrow his way, cleared his throat to get the others’ attention. “Miko, as much as I would love to stay and chat with your family, I do believe that we should take this outside. I still have to check and make sure my brother’s grave has not been tampered with recently.”

Kagome’s happy expression dropped almost immediately. Shippou heaved a small sigh, but nodded at Sesshoumaru in agreement.

“What do you mean by tampered?” she demanded.

“Miko, how can you be so dense after what happened with your former self? Many demons know where the Son of the former Inu-no-Tashiou lays. I check it every few years to make sure the protections guarding him remain intact, and strengthen them if necessary,” Sesshoumaru growled softly. Honestly, humans could be really annoying at times.

“I thought you hated him…” she gasped. “And how come I couldn’t sense you before if you always came around?”

Sesshoumaru sighed,” I don’t hate my brother. I never really have. And the reason why you didn’t sense me is because you were not trained yet and didn’t know what to look for.” He really hated to admit that he didn’t hate his brother, but he really didn’t want the miko to start crying. He could already smell the tears that she was trying to hold back.

Kagome’s mother hated to get in between the two, but she felt it was necessary. “Kagome, dear. Why don’t you take these men out to the Goshinboku so you can all catch up on things?” she suggested warmly.

Kagome nodded her head and forced a small smile towards her mother. “Hai. We can do that. Thank you,” she said, hugging her mother for a few moments before straightening herself out once again and staring after the two youkai. She opened the back door and looked back at them, waiting for them to follow her.

When the three of them reached the God’s Tree, Kagome dropped to her knees and gently touched the place where her hanyou laid resting. The tears started to fall once more as she became lost in her memories, completely forgetting about the demons that followed after her. It wasn’t until a hand was placed on her shoulder that she snapped back to herself.

Thinking that Shippou was the one trying to comfort her, she placed her hand over top of the one on her shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

Even though it was spring, and a warm day, the breeze that past over Kagome was cool and made her shiver. It wasn’t until the hand was removed and a length of fur was draped over her shoulders that she realized that it was Sesshoumaru and not Shippou. Looking up, she met a set of golden eyes, that glittered brightly in a ray of sun. “Thank you Sesshoumaru,” she said softly,“ I’m sorry for breaking down like this. I just miss him.”

“It was not my intention to bring back sad memories for you,” Sesshoumaru told her just as softly, kneeling down beside her. “Inuyasha would not want you to mourn for him so. Instead of remembering him with your tears, try to remember him with laughter. It would honor him more.”

Kagome wrapped Mokomoko-sama around her tightly before giving the Taiyoukai a small smile. “I will try,” she whispered.

Shippou seen the two and he looked confused. Since when Sesshoumaru show feelings towards Kagome? Nevertheless, he agreed with the lord’s words.

“Kagome, for once I agree with Sesshoumaru,” Shippou replied, casting a look at both of them. “I would think that Inuyasha would put you through hell if you continue to let yourself hurt because of him,” he replied in a small smirk, remembering the hanyou’s temper.

Kagome wiped a few more tears off of her face as she gave a small laugh. Yes her hanyou would give her hell. “Thanks Shippou,” she said with a genuine smile. It felt like the first smile she had given out in a long time. Seeing an hand held out to her, she glanced up at Sesshoumaru before taking it and standing. With a sigh of regret, she started to unwrap the fur from around her shoulders.

Sesshoumaru seeing what she was doing, stopped her. “Miko, it is still cold out for a human. I know that humans can get sick even in this warm of weather. Leave Mokomoko-sama on,” he ordered her before turning his back and walking over to the bench sitting under the Goshinboku.

Kagome glared at the Taiyoukai. “What is that supposed to mean?” she demanded to the lord. The miko took off the fur in defiance, but decided on holding onto it to just in case another breeze came by. She then paused as something clicked in her head. “Wait a minute…I see what’s going on here!”

The lord showed no emotion to her words.

She continued,” You think that I wouldn’t get it did you?! You’re playing bad ass, but I know better. You’re just wanting to help me, making sure that I didn’t know that you were trying to help!”

Shippou gave Kagome a small smile. “I always knew that Kagome was a smart girl,” he mumbled, snickering when Sesshoumaru growled at him.

Kagome pulled herself up to her full height. “Sesshoumaru, you are such a baka. Did you know that your brother use to do the same thing to me? Now I see how you two are related. Always so stubborn…”

Sesshoumaru’s growl turned into a full out snarl. “I have nothing in common with that Neanderthal,” he started, only to have Shippou and Kagome break out laughing.

“Yes you do,” Shippou managed to get out. “A lot in common, but you will never believe us.”

“You might as well have been twins! With your silver hair, gold eyes, stubborn pride, and ego problems…” Kagome trailed off before giggling again.

Sesshoumaru glared at the two before him, wondering if he should deem them worthy of a response. After debating with himself for a moment, he settled himself comfortably on the bench, and muttered something that sounded an awful lot like “keh” under his breath.

“IF the two of you are finished, we do have a few things to discuss before I have to get back to work,” he said instead.

The two of them began to calm down after a few minutes. Kagome’s smile was still in place as she asked,” What types of things?”

“Miko. Do you know what happened to Tessaiga?”

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It’s a cliffy! Once again, we are so sorry for the longest wait ever! We will try to be more on time from now on! I hope you enjoyed it even though Sesshoumaru was OOC. He will be a lot more IC as we go on! I promise!

Translations:

Kawaii - Cute

Gomen - Sorry

Jii-chan - “Gramps,” grandfather

Nee-chan - “Sis,” sister

Nii-chan - Brother

Inu-no-nii-chan - What Souta calls Inuyasha in the anime. It literally means “Dog Brother”

Hai - Yes!

Next time on Probably Wouldn’t Be This Way: What DID happen to Tessaiga?!

Please review!

Ja ne!