InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ The Bastard's Gift ❯ Chapter 8

Katsutoshi shook his head as he struggled to stand up. Being slammed into a tree really hurt and he could barely see straight. All he knew was that he was angry and scared, and he wanted to run back and bite the dark skinned wolf in the tendons. But his legs weren't moving so well.

His vision began to clear up first, but what he saw made him freeze in horror. Arashi was raising his hand like a blade and bringing it down towards his father.

"Daddy!!" the young demon screamed, preparing to unleash his tentacles.

Two figures dashed past him, leaving his hair whipping in the passing wind.

For one moment, Katsutoshi thought that maybe the demon slayer Kohaku had realized the danger they were in and came by to help them. But the figures were too tall to be Kohaku, and as far as he knew, there was no second human that would be brave enough to challenge a demon.

"You traitorous bastards!" Katsutoshi heard Arashi yell.

He found himself able to move and rushed over to his father's side, worrying about the pained look on his face as he remained sitting on the ground, clutching his stomach.

His father's face was pale and he was sweating.

Katsutoshi grabbed his father by the shoulder and leaned into him, looking out at whomever it was that leapt to their rescue.

One figure was sent sprawling to the floor, leaving the other one grappling against Arashi, shoving him away from them.

"Ha…Hakkaku," his father panted out.

"Lord Inuyasha." Katsutoshi was surprised to see a familiar face. It was one of the wolf demons that always followed Kouga around. "Stay down," the wolf ordered, far from the nervous and almost childish ways he used to act.

"We are not the traitors!" the other figure shouted. Katsutoshi recognized that one as being Ginta. "Lord Kouga was dead for only three days and you tried to take his position through underhanded means!"

Hakkaku launched himself from the floor and tackled Arashi, bringing the wolf demon down.

Katsutoshi hugged his father, feeling a bit shaken by the sounds coming from the fighting demons. Snarls and blows could be heard, and the scent of blood began to fill the air as claws raked across skin.

From what he recalled, Hakkaku and Ginta were not weak warriors. Cowards, but not weak. But right now they were fighting with such desperation and anger that it seemed nothing like the wolf demons Katsutoshi remembered.

But even though they were not weak, they were nowhere near Kouga's skills, and Arashi was.

Despite the difference, Katsutoshi saw that the two betas were gaining the upper hand on the dark wolf.

Arashi's face had claw marks across his face, and his chest plate was scratched up.

Hakkaku had a bite mark on his shoulder, and several gashes across his other arm. Ginta had a claw mark across his stomach and several bruises were forming on his face and arms.

It was also clear that Arashi was going to refuse to back down. At least until a pack of wolves surrounded them.

Hakkaku and Ginta didn't spare a glance at them, and so Katsutoshi knew that these wolves must have been following the two. Arashi glowered as he stood down, relaxing his fighting stance. "I hope you know what you are doing," he growled. Several more wolf demons appeared, standing behind their four legged cousins.

"Consider yourselves banned from the clan," Arashi said. "You can thank these two for that." Arashi turned and ran away from the group, heading towards the only section that wasn't covered.

"Ginta?" one of the wolf demons asked, looking nervous.

"We knew that was a possibility when we chose to come looking for Lord Inuyasha."

The sound of a pained cry grabbed their attention.

During the battle, Inuyasha had gotten worse.

Katsutoshi looked up at them, scared for his father. "Someone, help him!" he cried.

"What's wrong?"

"The puppy!"

"You're carrying?!" screeched Hakkaku, regressing back to his high panicked personality that Katsu clearly remembered.

Inuyasha was pale and sweat was now running down the sides of his temples as his eyes were clenched shut. He had rolled over into a fetal position, and was sobbing from both pain and fear. "No, no, no," he was whimpering. "Please, help."

"The human village!" Ginta whirled around to a couple of the other wolf demons. "There's a human village with friends of Kouga and Inuyasha that way! Look for a girl named Rin and a boy named Kohaku!"

"On it!" Two of the wolf demons took off running, a couple of the four legged brothers accompanying them.

Hakkaku knelt behind Inuyasha, drawing him up so that his head rested on his lap.

"Try to calm down," he was murmuring. "It'll only make it worse if you panic. If you calm down it'll have a chance to stabilize, Lord Inuyasha."

But Inuyasha could not hear as the fear that he was losing Kouga's pup was too great in his mind.

Katsutoshi felt a pain in his heart that he had never felt so extreme before. He had felt something similar when he learned that Kouga was never coming back. And he didn't understand the emptiness that had been in his father's eyes during that time.

But seeing his father in this state, he wondered if this pain was what his father had felt.

How unbearable!

A shadow flittered over them, and Katsutoshi looked up to see something large flying over them and circling back around.

Ginta took a sniff at the air. "Is that..?"

Katsutoshi was awed to see a carriage being pulled by a two headed dragon land near them.

A small green demon leapt from the driver's seat and scuttled towards them.

"What is going on?!" he cried in a voice that made the wolves and Katsutoshi wince.

"Who are you?" asked one of the other wolf demons.

"I'm Lord Sesshomaru's retainer, Jaken! I was sent here to locate and return with the filthy hanyou Inuyasha."

Some of the wolves growled.

"Lord Inuyasha is far from filthy," another wolf demon said, as Ginta and Hakkaku glared at the little green demon.

Katsutoshi was torn between ignoring everyone and focusing on his father and absorbing the creature that dared to insult his father. However, he was afraid that the little creature would taste foul.

"I… " Jaken looked frightened at the ferocity the wolves displayed, and he quickly changed his tune from haughty to concerned. "What's wrong with him?" X

Two samiyoshi hovered at a distance, relaying what they were seeing to their master. Several miles away, Naraku was moving as fast as he could, eyes narrowed.

It seemed that there was one more group that was looking for Inuyasha and that they had found him first. And now they were talking with the little green minion that worked for Sesshomaru. No matter.

He would arrive shortly and easily get rid of his opposition and claim what was his. X

Jaken unleashed a wave of fire from his staff, bringing the water in a small kettle to a boil. He barely acknowledged the arrival of Rin and Kohaku as he threw in a mixture of leaves into the water.

He glanced back at the hanyou, unsure if he was doing the right thing. He had heard stories, and he knew of the risks most demons ran with unborn offspring. The first month was critical, and he knew that the chance of Inuyasha losing his pup was high.

He also knew of what potions to brew that would cause the fetus to bleed out.

But if that was what Lord Sesshomaru wanted, he would have had him take those leaves instead of the medicinal ones that he made a list of.

Was this his way of saying should the pup fall in danger to save it?

Jaken was tempted to let this remain as they were, for if Lord Sesshomaru was still interested in using the hanyou as a mate and heir maker, then to abort the child meant that he would sooner be able to start.

But the past seven years seemed to have soften Lord Sesshomaru just a bit, and now Jaken didn't know what he thought.

If Lord Sesshomaru wanted his half brother to lose his child, he would not have sent Jaken out here with his herbs. That much Jaken could determine. And so he would work on trying to calm the hanyou down to give the demon child inside him a chance to stabilize.

"Drink this," Jaken ordered, holding up the cup with the brew.

"What is it?" asked Rin, taking the cup and bringing it to Inuyasha's lips.

The wolves were crowded around him, worried.

"It's a powerful, yet safe, sedative."

"It won't hurt Inuyasha or his baby?" asked the dark haired child that was glued to Inuyasha's side.

Jaken looked at the demon child. He could see so much of Naraku in him that it left him feeling unnerved. But seeing how protective the spawn looked against his father, Jaken also understood the connection between child and birth parent.

He wondered if Lord Sesshomaru would allow the child to come back with him.

"No. It won't hurt either one," Jaken responded as Rin coaxed Inuyasha to drink.

After sipping the brew in between sobs, Inuyasha became limp.

"What happened?" asked Ginta, looking alarmed.

"The sedative is taking effect. It will force Inuyasha to calm down, and if things aren't too late, the babe inside him will settle without any repercussions."

"What do you mean?" asked Hakkaku.

Jaken shook his head. "Don't you two know anything about births? You've only lived in a pack how long?!" The little green demon waved his staff around in irritation. "Once a babe like that goes into distress, there's a small chance that things will be okay. We'll only know if we were on time if Inuyasha does not bleed the infant out while asleep."

"Poppa!" cried Katsutoshi as he looked upon his sleeping father's face.

"Get him into the carriage," Jaken ordered, pointing to it.

Ginta and Hakkaku carefully lifted the hanyou and carried him to the carriage. "Where are you taking him," Hakkaku asked, pausing at the entrance to the transport.

"Lord Sesshomaru asked that I bring him."

"Then we're coming too."

"What?! Just him and the brat. No one else!" snarled Jaken, or at least what was his attempt of a snarl.

Hakkaku removed a scroll that was tucked in his waist band. "I have a message for Lord Sesshomaru. Kouga's final words."

Jaken reached for it, but to his annoyance, the wolf demon kept it out of the little green demon's reach.

"Ginta and I will go. One of our final orders were to always follow Inuyasha and protect him until we were deemed unnecessary by him. "

"Fine!" shouted Jaken. "Just hurry up and get him in! We don't have time to waste!"

"What about us?" asked Rin, motioning towards Kohaku and herself.

"There's no room!"

"We'll ride on the back of A-un," replied Kohaku.

Ginta turned to the other wolves. "Gather those still loyal to Kouga and head to the west. We'll be waiting."

One of the human-like wolves nodded. "Long live Kouga," he responded. "And Lord Inuyasha. We will meet again, brothers."

The wolves ran back from the direction they came from as those left behind got into the carriage.

Katsutoshi immediately sat across from his father, knowing he was much too small to grab his father and hold him protectively as the carriage began to move, tilting upwards as it began to go into the sky.

Instead, he did his best to help Ginta wrap up the wounds he had sustained while battling Atashi. Hakkaku, in the mean time, had one arm around Inuyasha's chest, supporting him as he lay on the seat, head resting in his lap.

Katsutoshi could see the small wrinkles on his father's forehead, showing that he was still in some pain. But what gave him hope was that the only blood he smelled was that of Ginta's and Hakkaku's. X

Naraku watched as the carriage lifted into the sky. He stayed put, waiting until the wolves were far away before moving. While under normal circumstance he wouldn't have hesitated in moving forward and decimating the group, he knew didn't have his full strength back.

He did have enough to follow the carriage, and if the opportunity arose, attack it.

He quickly dispatched a couple more samiyoshi to follow the wolves. At least by keeping an eye on them, he would know how far away they would be from the castle.

When he deemed them far away enough, he took into the sky, trailing the carriage. X

Katsutoshi found himself nodding off. The gentle rocking of the carriage in the air was soothing, and there were no sounds of pain coming from his father.

The lack of blood indicated that the possible danger had passed, and his little brother or sister was safe.

He heard a small moan come from his father, and his sleepiness went away in an instance.

His father stirred and his eyes fluttered open.

"Lord Inuyasha?" the two wolves softly murmured.

"Ginta? Hakkaku?"

"Lord Inuyasha!"

"So it wasn't a dream," Katsutoshi heard his father say. Then his father gasped as he sat up and felt his abdomen. "The pup!"

"I think it's fine. Jaken gave you a tea to calm you down and so far everything seems to be fine."

"Jaken?" It was clear from the confused expression his father had that Inuyasha really didn't remember much after the arrival of Ginta and Hakkaku.

"It's a funny looking toad thingy that's driving the carriage right now, poppa."

"Katsu! Are you okay?"

Katsutoshi nodded. "My head hurts a bit, and I think I have scratches on my back. But it only hurts a little! I was more scared when I saw you hurting."

"Come here."

Inuyasha opened up his arms and Katsutoshi vaulted off of his seat and into his father's arms, not caring that there were other demons present. His father was okay and hugs proved that.

Inuyasha turned to Hakkaku. "How did you guys find me?"

Hakkaku's face went dark. "It wasn't easy."

"But what about your clan?"

"Civil war broke out," responded Ginta.

"What?"

"We found out what happened when we got back from leaving Kouga's remains at our ancestral grave. We would have just gone after you to bring you back, but then some of our brothers overheard the council and found out that they had been planning on forcing you to mate with Arashi. That didn't go over very well and everyone started fighting."

Ginta nodded. "And then we also found out that Arashi has already left to track you down. But we knew your old stomping grounds better so we just sort of headed to each spot and then started tracking your scent once we were certain which way you were headed."

"I still don't understand. Why are the wolves fighting each other? I thought that was normal for the alpha's mate to go to the next alpha if they were wanted? I thought you guys would have been here to bring me back."

Ginta shook his head. "We knew you were near your heat cycle. Most of us could sense it. Of course, when we got back from the battle… we were too shocked to say anything about the lack of scent. We noticed… we just didn't have the heart to comment on it."

"The council jumped the gun," added Hakkaku. "We talked about it while we were on our way to our ancestral burial land. We were to confirm if you were expecting Kouga's heir. If so, since Ginta and I were Kouga's second in command, we would watch over you as surrogate mates until the heir was born and go from there. Raise the future alpha or scout for a strong alpha mate, depending on whether it's male or female."

"For the council to try to force you into submission to Arashi while we were gone is what broke the trust from us who were loyal to Kouga. If it was done fairly, with all of us present and a genuine battle to determine the new alpha, it would have been a different story."

Silence reigned in the carriage for a bit, as Inuyasha stroked the head of Katsutoshi.

"How was the ceremony?" Inuyasha asked softly.

Hakkaku sighed.

"It gave us time to properly mourn and bid him are farewells. Inuyasha, have you had time to properly grieve the loss of your mate?" This question was posed gently, as if he knew the answer but just needed to ask.

Inuyasha turned away, a small tremble going through his shoulders.

Katsutoshi let out a small whimper. He knew his father had been hiding his pain. He'd seen a few tears escape, but he was certain that his father never really mourned for Koga. His attention was all on him. And while he didn't mind one bit, if the pain was anything to what he felt when he thought he was going to lose his father, he couldn't believe his father was strong enough to hold in that pain all this time.

"It's okay, Poppa," he murmured. "You don't have to hide it anymore."

He felt his father's arms tighten around him, and he felt his father's body begin to shake. He could feel the tears wetting his shoulder. A few seconds later, a choked sound escaped Inuyasha, followed by a genuine sob. Katsutoshi closed his eyes and held on, as Ginta and Hakkaku huddled around them, embracing them.

Several minutes later, Inuyasha's sobs were reduced to sniffles.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"We're honored that you trust us enough to let go," murmured Hakkaku.

Ginta and Hakkaku loosened their hold and pulled back, the two wolves moving across from them.

Inuyasha rubbed at his eyes with one hand, still holding on to Katsutoshi, who held one hand on Inuyasha's abdomen.

A sharp pain was felt to the lower left, making Inuyasha gasp as he slightly buckled, fear clear on his face.

"What is it?!" the wolves cried out.

Inuyasha looked up at them, fear giving way to confusion, and then relief.

"Poppa?"

Inuyasha began to laugh, almost hysterical.

"It's kicking again!"

"How can you tell? It's still so small!" The two wolves moved back to where Inuyasha was, staring at his barely noticeable stomach in awe.

Inuyasha rubbed at his lower side.

"I usually feel it fluttering about, but sometimes it's like it settles to one side and then kicks itself off," Inuyasha said, trying to describe what he was feeling. "He or she must be hitting some nerve, 'cause it always hurts in the same spot. I'm almost afraid of how hard the pup will kick once it gets too big to move around!"

The three adults laughed in relief as Katsutoshi smiled and hummed a sound of satisfaction.

So his brother or sister was definitely okay.

A sudden sensation of descent could be felt, and Hakkaku peeked out of the carriage window.

"What's going on?"

"We need to make camp," Kohaku's voice trailed through. "A-un can't pull any further."

The carriage soon landed on the ground.

The wolves and Katsutoshi stepped out of the carriage first, allowing Inuyasha some time to completely regain his composure.

The sun was setting, casting a dim red light and dark shadows around them. It also covered the fact that Inuyasha's eyes were still very much red from releasing his tears without holding back.

"That's okay, A-un," Rin was saying as she patted the heads of the dragon.

"To be honest, I'm surprised that he lasted this long," Jaken was saying, as he hopped off the seat of the carriage. "He flew top speed nonstop to the village which is why we made it in three days time. To be pulling a full cargo would be too much to ask of him to do the same."

"That's fine with me," responded Inuyasha, picking up Katsutoshi. "I wasn't expecting to get to Sesshomaru's that easily. It would have taken us a another month on foot. A week by air won't matter to me."

"Hmph. Ungrateful hanyou… ouch!"

"Katsu!"

Katsutoshi looked at his father in guilt. The second he had seen the way the green demon look at his father while he was talking, he had used one of his tentacles to pick up a stone. No one noticed, but his father did notice when he threw it. Wasn't that hard. He had used his hand to throw it after all, so even if his father hadn't been looking at him at that exact moment, he would have felt Katsutoshi swing his arm.

"Sorry."

"It's not me you should be apologizing to."

"Sorry I didn't knock you out."

All but Inuyasha and Jaken burst out laughing at the petulant tone in Katsu's voice and look on his face.

"Annoying or not, Jaken is your elder, Katsu. And he's one of your uncle's advisors. Show at least some respect."

Jaken looked on, astonished that Inuyasha, of all people, had stood up for him. For one brief moment, he had seen the same regal look that Sesshomaru carried. The scrawny looking half demon child had changed in the seven years, acting a bit more subdued and level headed.

And then a small stone flicked him on the forehead, knocking him on his back.

"And you! Don't go insulting me in front of my son!"

"I take it all back, you're nothing at all like Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken shouted.

"Keh! What are you talking about? And as if I'd want to be." X

Naraku could catch a faint trace of their scent. They were camping for the night, and with their numbers, they were probably thinking they weren't in real danger.

Careful to stay downwind, Naraku noiselessly moved his way to where the group was. The moon was already high in the sky, providing enough light to cast shadows that he could stay in avoid being seen.

In the center, a small fire was going.

And there, huddled in a ball of bodies, was his prey and child.

For one brief moment, Naraku couldn't help but look on in wonder that the small dark haired being tucked in Inuyasha's arms was something that he helped create. It looked like a smaller version of his current form, only he had the birthmarks pure demons seemed to have.

He supposed it was a good thing he looked nothing like Onigumo. His old human body was such an ugly thing.

The scant few years had been too kind to Inuyasha. That childish face he so loved to watch in pain had become a bit narrow, giving him a more mature look. His silver hair looked a bit tamer. In another couple of decades, he would probably look as regal and refined as his brother.

And he imagined Inuyasha would actually look beautiful writhing in pain, sweat, and semen.

Naraku felt the lust stir within him.

Having Inuyasha throw himself on him when he was caught up by the heat's thrall was intriguing seven years ago… to have him do the same with this more mature look was appealing.

He couldn't help but think of that night when the sun rose and Inuyasha's human side faded away, leaving nothing but a bearer suffering his first heat in the presence of a demon that had already dominated him.

Seven Years Six Months ago

Naraku laughed to himself as he saw the desperate look Inuyasha threw towards the small window that showed the sun peeking over the edge.

He let out a groan as he collapsed to the floor, inky black hair turning white, and his human ears shifting back into dog ears.

The pained moans became more breathy, and Naraku knelt to the ground to get a better look on Inuyasha's face.

Glittering eyes looked up at him from behind the curtain of hair, and they looked so lost and dazed.

Naraku gently pushed the hair aside and caressed the hanyou's cheek, amused at how Inuyasha leaned into his touch, eyes fluttering.

He then grasped the hair roughly and tugged upward, earning a growl from Inuyasha, whose eyes became red as he became more demonic.

"I am your dominant," Naraku hissed, before leaning forward and capturing Inuyasha's lips with force.

Naraku laughed internally as he felt Inuyasha give in. Oh, how Inuyasha would hate himself when he regained his senses.

He let himself drop on top of Inuyasha as the hanyou writhed and turned around, wrapping arms and legs around him, invitingly.

Naraku touched Inuyasha's body with hands and tentacles as he bared the hanyou's flesh. He felt himself hardening, not completely out of lust, but of the knowledge that he had completely won over Inuyasha.

Within moments, he found himself releasing his dripping cock, positioning it and plunging it deep into Inuyasha, relishing in the hanyou's howl as Inuyasha's claws scratched at his back.

Naraku found himself pounding viciously into the smaller male, lost in the pleasures of the physical sensations as the hanyou attempted to thrust back into him, his hole deliciously tight.

He came quickly the first time, which was somewhat surprising. After all, he had already enjoyed Inuyasha's body several times before.

He didn't pull out of the half demon.

Instead, he rolled them so that Inuyasha was straddled on him, still impaled.

Inuyasha looked down at him, eyes still red, and faint marks appearing on his cheeks.

He was letting out a soft sound that sounded almost like a growl and a purr.

Naraku felt himself hardening again and he thrust upwards.

Inuyasha's eyes fluttered closed and the hanyou began to grind against him, rolling his hips.

Naraku dug his claws into Inuyasha's hips and pushed upwards, urging him to move.

Naraku couldn't help but groan as Inuyasha rode him.

His own vision began to cloud as Inuyasha's heat triggered his own, and Naraku could only recall flashes of memory. At one point he knew he had Inuyasha against the wall, pounding hard enough into him that the stone wall was scratching up Inuyasha's back.

But Inuyasha showed no pain. Instead, he urged Naraku on with moans and grunts, and the clenching and unclenching of his thighs and ass, legs wrapped around his waist.

At another point, he had Inuyasha on the side, one leg lifted high over his shoulder.

And then he had the hanyou on knees, face against the ground, ass high in the air, as if to make sure any semen released would stay as long as possible inside the hanyou.

There was also a moment in which Inuyasha was milking him with his mouth.

When Naraku finally regained enough sense to know what he was doing, he was slowly sliding in and out of Inuyasha's body, resting flush against his back, on the floor.

Inuyasha's face was turned to the side, and he was able to watch as the red faded from his eyes. Gold eyes stared out towards the wall in confusion before closing.

The hanyou had fallen asleep.

Naraku released his seed once more, and he just lay there, catching his breath. He couldn't be sure on how much time passed, but judging by the amount of dry blood and the lack of many wounds, at least two days had passed since the heat frenzy began. One thing he could see was that there was a distinct bite mark on Inuyasha's shoulder.

He chuckled to himself.

So he had marked Inuyasha as an intended. Judging by the lack of pain on his own shoulder, the half demon did not return the favor.

No matter. No one would find him to challenge for him. Inuyasha belonged to him.

Present

That was the only time Naraku held Inuyasha gently in his arms. He had to admit, physically, it felt nice. But it wasn't something he wanted on a daily basis. He much preferred to have Inuyasha struggling against him and reaching completion against his will, which he did enjoy when Inuyasha woke from his sleep.

He was looking forward to enjoying that lithe body once more.

It would have been easier to reach his goal if it weren't for the fact that the hanyou was currently surrounded by the two wolf demons.

Movement near the carriage caught his attention.

He could see one of the heads of the two headed dragons sniffing the air.

Naraku decided it was best to back up and let things be for now.

If anything, he would have a better chance at attacking if the carriage was in the air, and most of the occupants were unable to fight back.

And so Naraku faded back into the trees to wait.

To Be Continued