Disclaimer: Ah... Alas... Inuyasha does not belong to me.
wk: Whoo Hoo! Lookie here! It's the first chapter to the sequel!
Just a warning to you guys: I'm not too sure I like this version... I might be changing it later. So tell me if you guys like it or not, okay?
Chapter One
The Family
Two years later
"Inu-chan!" Kagome growled, running after the diaper-clad almost-two-year old. Inu-chan giggled when she caught him, pulling on her hair.
"Mama!" Inu-chan stated. Kagome rolled her eyes, and brought Inu-chan back over to the playpen. It had walls, but it did no good against Inu-chan. If he wanted out, he was going to get out.
Inuyasha walked in then, grinning as he saw Kagome's state. "Inu-chan causing trouble again?" he asked, affectionately patting the boy on his head. Inu-chan laughed, pulling down the arm and latching on. When Inuyasha retracted his arm, the little toddler came with it. Inuyasha mock growled at the child, and Kagome only shook her head as the toddler growled back. Leaving them to their own antics, Kagome started to walk into the kitchen to start making lunch. "You're home early," Kagome said, glancing at a clock. "Like… three hours early."
"Yeah… They said they didn't mind if I took half a day today." Kagome frowned.
"If you get fired—"
"Aw, babe, you know that they would never fire the famous Hanyou. I'm a sexy voice that they dare not touch."
Kagome snorted, pulling out some kitchen utensils. She was about to pull out other various items, but a sound had her rushing into the bedroom. There, in the crib, was the newest addition to the family. Inuyasha was right behind her, holding Inu-chan.
"Inuyasha," Kagome murmured while patting the crying baby on the back. "I'm getting nervous…"
Inuyasha's face soured. "I've been nervous ever since they announced they still couldn't find him. Kagome…" Inuyasha took a deep breath, walking nearer and drawing her closer. The children cuddled between them, they embraced each other.
The baby started to cry again. When Kagome and Inuyasha looked down, Inu-chan had the baby's cheeks in his hand, frowning when he couldn't reshape them the way he wanted to.
"Inu-chan!" Kagome scolded, wagging a finger at him. Inu-chan looked properly chastised. He even started to cry a little. Kagome looked at Inuyasha exasperatedly, and he laughed, pulling her close to give her a kiss that had them both humming.
"Why don't I make dinner tonight, baby? You can take a nap with Aiko," Inuyasha said.
"Really? It won't just be ramen, will it?" Kagome asked, teasing. Inuyasha looked sheepish as he shook his head.
"Well, maybe I'll make one for myself," he said, and was hit on the head. Kagome scoffed at him.
"As long as you make me something good, I don't think I'll complain." Kagome yawned, and crawled onto the bed, carefully holding Aiko. She was asleep within moments.
Carrying Inu-chan, Inuyasha walked out, mumbling incoherent phrases to the small child. Inu-chan did his best to stuff his entire fist in his mouth.
"You want to eat ramen, don't you?" Inuyasha asked his son, tweaking one of the dog-ears on the top of his head. The child was human in every aspect, except for his ears. He had brown eyes like Kagome, and black hair. Aiko had silver hair like her father and had more of the hanyou's attributes, rather than human ones. However, to Kagome's dismay, the girl didn't have the ears. Inuyasha snorted. It was one less thing that her peers would make fun of her about.
"No," Inu-chan declared. "Sangwhid." Inu-chan pouted and pumped one fist up and down. "Sangwhid!"
"Calm down, kid. I'll give you your sandwich," Inuyasha grumbled. There went his idea for cooking ramen for the both of them. If he cooked it only for himself, Kagome would cook his hide for sure.
Inu-chan giggled and gargled, as if he knew he had gotten his way. "You want to make a sandwich for Mommy?" Inuyasha asked.
Inu-chan seemed fascinated with the prospect, and bounced up and down in Inuyasha's arms.
"Sangwhid! Sangwhid!" Inu-chan clapped his hands. Inuyasha walked into the kitchen, thinking of Kagome's statement to him.
I'm getting nervous…
Inuyasha handed Inu-chan a piece of bread, which the boy automatically stuck in his mouth. "Whoa there, Tiger. Slow down, or you'll choke and leave Daddy sad." It had been two years since Naraku disappeared, and although Inuyasha had made every effort at the station with the connections that he had to discover the whereabouts of Naraku, he just couldn't be found. At first, Kagome followed him to the station everyday, but as days, weeks, and months passed and nothing happened, they both unconsciously relaxed. Moreover, when she became so pregnant she couldn't even see her feet, she grew restless, and wanted to stay home instead of following him everyday. It was taxing for her body, and he understood. He cared about her health, and wanted her to stay in bed the whole day. Of course, she never did, but he felt she was resting more at home.
However, with his new family, Inuyasha felt caution. With each passing day, Inuyasha felt more and more wound up. Naraku still hadn't been found, and Inuyasha didn't understand how a person could disappear so completely.
"Mo!" Inu-chan pouted, rubbing his hand on the counter as if he could conjure up a piece of bread that way. Inuyasha gave him another slice, watching carefully as the boy eagerly engulfed it.
Now, with the new addition to the family, Aiko, he was afraid again. He had been… okay before, because he felt he could handle it. However, the months passed, and now… with two years under the belt, he was growing even more wary. He could almost feel the bad clouds gathering on top of his home.
"Mo!" Inu-chan demanded, his fist curling and uncurling, indicating that he wanted the bread in his palm now.
"Don't be greedy," Inuyasha scolded, and watched his scowling son. "You said you were going to make a sandwich for Mommy. Mommy will want a sandwich. Don't you want to give her one?" Inuyasha coaxed. He handed the boy another slice of bread. He took out a butter knife with the peanut butter and jelly. "Now this is how you do it." Head bent, he painstakingly showed Inu-chan how to apply the peanut butter and jelly as if it was a surgery instead of a meal.
When it was Inu-chan's turn to make a sandwich, more peanut butter and jelly made it on the counter than on the slice of bread. Inu-chan folded it over, and held it up to Inuyasha, beaming. Inuyasha laughed, shaking his head and looking at the mess a bit skeptically. "Are you gonna clean this, Inutaisho?" Inuyasha asked sternly.
Inu-chan stuck out his tongue, and ran off. Inuyasha sighed. "I figured as much. Don't bother Mommy! She's taking a little nap," Inuyasha called after the little boy. Ever since the small child had learned to use his legs, he was off like a shot, giving Kagome more than necessary exercise. It kept her mostly in shape, even after two years and two babies. When she was able, she jogged, and when she couldn't, she tried to eat healthy.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. She had a great body no matter what, so it wasn't as if he cared. As long as she didn't die from cholesterol clogging, or something ridiculous, he was happy.
Inuyasha set the sandwich his son made and a glass of milk next to it on a tray. He made two more sandwiches since she should have a hearty appetite after waking up, and then made a couple more for himself. Sighing and looking longingly at the box of ramen, he started to carry the tray into their room. When he saw that Kagome was curled around the baby protectively and still asleep, he wanted to curl up behind her, hold her, and join her in slumber. The radio today had been frustrating, as it usually was. What worried Inuyasha increasingly was that Naraku knew his real identity, and at any time, that information could be unleashed.
Maybe he should ask for a week off. He felt he could use a break from the strain. In addition, with Miroku and Sango's first baby on its way, he was sure that Miroku had plenty of things to talk about. Kagome did seem to be a bit hassled, too. He knew she loved the children more than life itself, but it must be hard, taking care of a crying baby and a hyperactive toddler. He decided that he would ask for a week off. Besides, he could keep an eye on Kagome and his kids that way, and calm the growing unease inside of him.
He set the tray on the bedside table, and gently shook Kagome's shoulder. Her eyes snapped open, and she bolted up, but fell back against the pillow with her arm still protectively around her daughter. Inuyasha seemed a bit startled, but laughed when he saw her exasperated look.
"Geez, don't surprise me like that!" Kagome mumbled, rubbing her eyes sleepily. Aiko awoke, and unlike most babies, didn't cry. She looked at her father, gurgling softly. Inuyasha held out his arms to hold his daughter, and Kagome passed her over. Inuyasha smiled at his little girl, stroked the soft, downy silver hair on the top of her head. She grabbed Inuyasha's hand, bringing it to her mouth to suck on a finger.
"There's your dinner, sunshine. Guess which one Inu-chan made for you?" Inuyasha said, his brow arching in amusement. Kagome smiled.
"Could it be the one with finger marks deep in the bread, and jelly spewing out of the sides?"
"Nah. That's the one I made for you. He made you the clean ones," Inuyasha said. Kagome laughed.
"Oh, you're so valiant; taking the blame for your son like that," Kagome teased. Inuyasha grinned.
"What can I say? A father's got to do what he has to do," Inuyasha said, nodding as if it was the most profound advice he could have given himself. Kagome gave him a kiss, and started to eat the sandwiches.
"And here I was, thinking it was some kind of gourmet meal," Kagome said.
"Well, I'm saving that one for later. Namely, this Saturday." Kagome blinked at him.
"What?"
"Ah… Miroku made discrete reservations at this fancy restaurant… They know that Hanyou will be there, but they won't know which customer. Miroku made sure there would be more than one hanyou there, giving out free reservations, and uh… Well… Do you want to be my date?" Inuyasha asked, acting like a shy teenager. Kagome laughed at his ridiculousness. He was being outrageous, trying to act shy with her when he had their daughter in his arms.
"The kids…" Kagome stated slowly.
"Miroku said he'd watch them. With Sango to chaperone, of course," Inuyasha said. Kagome beamed at him. She leaned over to kiss him again, and he tasted the peanut butter and jelly on her lips. It was almost sexier than the taste of strawberries and wine on her lips, but all the same, it was intoxicating to him. If Aiko hadn't been conveniently in his arms…
"It's a date," she said huskily."
"Daddy!" Inu-chan shrieked outside. Inuyasha felt alarm race through him, was out there in a flash after depositing Aiko quickly into Kagome's arms. "I hurted it!" Inu-chan cried out, his tears evident.
"What?" Inuyasha asked, crouching so he could communicate better with the crying boy.
"I hurted it!" Inu-chan repeated, big fat tears rolling out of the side of his eyes. "My fingwa!"
Inuyasha sighed, relieved it was nothing more serious. "What happened?" he murmured, feeling Kagome's hand squeeze on his shoulder. She was relieved as well.
"I fell on it."
"Fell on your finger?" Inu-chan let out a sob and nodded. Inuyasha easily picked the little boy up.
"Well, no need to cry about it. If you don't think about it, and think of something good instead, the owie will go away," Inuyasha crooned. Inu-chan seemed doubtful of this. He squeezed his little eyes shut, concentrating so hard he was practically vibrating. "Whoa there, Inu. Don't hurt yourself," Inuyasha laughed.
"It didn't work," Inu-chan declared, opening his eyes and landing an accusing gaze at Inuyasha.
"Oh, then it must be serious," Kagome said, taking over. She gestured to Inuyasha to follow her. "We'll have to bandage it, like the doctors do on TV."
"TV?" Inu-chan repeated, catching the one word in the sentence that he was fascinated with.
"Yeah," Kagome said, taking out a first aid kit. She handed Aiko to Inuyasha, and Inuyasha watched as she wrapped an impressive looking bandage all around his hand. "In thirty seconds, the owie will be gone!" After half a minute passed, Kagome unraveled the hand. "See?"
"Owie feels badder," Inu-chan said, his chin wobbling. Kagome looked incredibly perplexed, and Inuyasha snorted.
"Oy! Be a man! You can take a little owies," Inuyasha said. He puffed out his own chest. "Big strong man!" he punctuated this archaic statement with a fist to his chest like King Kong.
Inu-chan seemed to consider this. "Okay," Inu-chan seemed to agree reluctantly. Inuyasha beamed, and Kagome only rolled her eyes.
"Trust testosterone to call to testosterone," Kagome murmured. "I want the only sane person in this house." She held out her arms for Aiko, and Inuyasha carefully handed the infant over. "Inuyasha, can you change Inu-chan's diaper? He has that look in his eyes," Kagome said, walking into the room. Inuyasha scowled down at the small boy.
"When are you going to be potty-trained?" Inuyasha asked the boy. Inu-chan shrugged at his father, and obediently lied down on the sofa so Inuyasha could change his diaper. The moment Inuyasha got the Velcro together, there was a ring at the door. As always, Inuyasha tensed, and looked through the peephole before opening the door.
Shippo was standing there, cooing at Inu-chan. "Hi, Inuyasha!" Shippo said cheerfully. "Where's Kagome?"
"Hi, Shippo," Kagome said, smiling. Shippo grinned.
"Hi, Kagome! I'm back from school!" Shippo stepped into the house, taking off his shoes.
Kagome and Inuyasha had adopted the little tyke when the other family moved away and decided that Shippo would not belong into the community they were going to. Shippo was now part of the family, and Inuyasha thought wryly that it was one more hungry mouth to feed.
"I'm hungry," Shippo declared, heading to the kitchen for a snack.
"Oy! Don't be rude and say hello to your siblings," Inuyasha growled, hitting Shippo over the head. Shippo grabbed his head, instantly starting a wail that made Inuyasha receive a hit from Kagome over the head.
"Don't be such a jerk, Inuyasha," Kagome muttered, holding Shippo's hand and guiding him to the kitchen where she gave him a snack.
"You spoil him. I won't let you spoil my kids like that," Inuyasha growled, and was instantly pinned with a glare that rivaled the sun's intensity.
"Your kids? I'm sorry, I didn't see you push them painfully out of your vagina through hours of labor and excruciating pain," she hissed.
"Uh…" Inuyasha seemed uncomfortable with the subject, although he had been there when she went through it all. Hell, he had sat behind her and held her hand through it all. He was the first to hold his child. He remembered the ecstatic feeling, the surprising feeling of love course through him immediately. But he also remembered when he had given Inu-chan to Kagome. Her face had been sweaty and messy, but she had a soft smile that glowed as she held her child. It had been reverent, and Inuyasha watched the instantaneous bond between mother and child form. It had been a breathless moment.
"Okay, you win," Inuyasha grumbled. Kagome smiled, and led Shippo to the kitchen. Inuyasha heard Shippo briefly ask, "What did you push them through?" Inuyasha had to suppress a laugh as he heard Kagome's stutters.
Inuyasha sighed. With two kids, one in the crib in their room, it was hard to make love to his wife, and he wanted to sorely everyday. Maybe they could have one more child…
Jesus Christ, he was obsessed with kids. He never thought he was fatherly in any way, nor did he think he would enjoy kids so much, but now… With three under his belt, he just wanted them until he was hip dip in the cute suckers. Well, seeing as you needed two to make a baby, he needed to ask Kagome first.
"Daddy!" Inu-chan pouted, tugging on Inuyasha's pants.
"Huh? What?" Inuyasha snapped out of his reverie, looking down at the small boy.
"Scawy!" Inu-chan said, pointing at the window.
"What's scary?" Inuyasha asked, picking up his little boy and walking to the window.
"Scawy!" Inu-chan declared again, pointing at a specific spot. Inuyasha looked from the left to the right, and froze. There was a man walking down the sidewalk, and he was afraid he knew who it was.
He had reappeared.
wk: Okay! End of chapter one! Remember to tell me what you all thought, okay? Oh, and I'll give two guesses as to who reappeared. (Grins) I'm just so evil sometimes I scare myself.