Venerable Cede

Chapter 2-Retriving a mate

The next morning was quiet. Sango, Miroku and Shippou sat inside the hut with Kagome while Inuyasha, who had left the hut last night, sat in the tree and refused to return all morning. No one seemed to have anything to say to Kagome, who looked pale and sickly, as she worried about her life and the situation she was in.

She was being targeted by snake youkai and the only way to save her own life was to loose her virginity, but she didn't want it to be just anybody. She wanted it to be someone who would at least had some feelings for her and since there was a possibility that she could get pregnant; she wanted someone who would care for both of them.

Kagome sighed as all these things went through her passing thoughts.

I don't believe this, why does this have to happen to me? Inuyasha doesn't care enough for me to help, and I don't want him to, the JERK! I don't know who's going to help me...no one loves me enough to care if I live or die...

Tears started to form in her eyes but she held them back before standing.

"I'm going to go to the hot springs...Sango will you please go with me?" she asked.

Sango stood. "Of course Kagome-chan"

Kagome grabbed all her bath supplies and the two left the hut only to be stopped by Inuyasha as they neared the edge of the clearing.

"Where the hell do you think your going!?" he asked

Kagome scowled, "Sango and I are going to take a bath" she said with determination in her voice.

She walked past him only to be stopped again and pushed back slightly. Sango stepped in front of Kagome defensively as he continued to make an ass of himself.

"Oh no your not, you're still being hunted! You're not going anywhere!" he said sternly.

Kagome looked to the ground and the tears formed back into her eyes. Sango scowled at the hanyou.

"No, Inuyasha. She and I are going to the hot springs whether you like it or not! Need I remind you that because you won't help her, she's in danger! So I'm goin with her to at least ensure I can do what I can!" she half yelled placing her arm around Kagome's shoulders.

Inuyasha's face slacked as he frowned before Sango pushed Inuyasha to the side and dragged a crying Kagome to the hot springs.

Sango did the best she could to comfort her crying friend beside her. When they reached the hot springs, they undressed and got in with Sango was still comforting her crying friend.

"Kagome please don't cry, he's a jerk we all know that." she soothed.

Kagome cried harder into Sango. It took several minutes for her to calm down enough to be able to speak.

"I-It's not that..." she said with a heavy heart

Sango was confused. "Then what is it Kagome?"

Kagome let silent tears roll down her cheeks as she thought more. "No-No one can every love me, can they?" she asked.

Sango took in a short breath of surprise. "What?"

Kagome looked into Sango's face, "I thought Inuyasha was m-my friend, maybe even more, but he shot me down like I was the ugliest thing he had ever seen! Inuyasha knows me more than any other male does and he doesn't even care for me! How can I ask someone to help me when what I need is something too precious to be taken lightly? No one else loves me or cares for me like I need."

Kagome began crying once again in huge, heaving sobs. Sango hugged her closer and rocked her gently, caressing her sister's dark hair in an attempt to reassure her. Her heart ached for Kagome's misery, and she wished she could do something, anything to help her, but who would love Kagome enough to....

Her eyes widened as the thought of a certain person crossed her mind. Sango smiled into Kagome's hair.

"Yes Kagome they can. In fact I know a certain someone who has already claimed their love for you" she said bringing Kagome's eyes her hers.

The miko was deeply confused. "Who?" she asked.

Sango smiled as she decided to play with her friends mind. "Well he's arrogant, cocky, has black hair and calls you his woman every chance he gets."

Kagome's face took on a hopeful look as she remembered him, "Does he really feel that way about me though? I always thought it was a trick to get me to mate with him"

Sango smiled and let out a small chuckle. She placed a hand on Kagome's shoulder and spoke softly to her.

"You know I really do think he does, the asshole wouldn't be so protective if he didn't. I really think we should send Shippou to get him before...before it's too late. I don't want anything to happen to you Kagome."

Kagome's frown turned into a smile as she hugged Sango. "Thank you Sango, I think you're right. Ever since he said it something in his voice told me that he was serious, I guess now would be a good time to see if it was true..."

Sango and Kagome smiled as they dried and dressed before headed back to camp. Happily, they didn't run into any attacks during or after their bath.

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Later that night they rested inside a hut they had found abandoned by the riverside.

Inuyasha had, once again, taken refuge in a nearby tree to get away from the nagging of the others to help Kagome.

Sango, Shippou, Miroku and Kagome sat idly by waiting for the hanyou to fall asleep before they sent Shippou off to fetch Kouga. As they sat they reminisced about the day's events.

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There had been four attempts on Kagome's life by the snake youkai during the mid hours of the day, but they eerily stopped as it got closer to daybreak. They weren't sure why the attacks had stopped but they kept a close eye and ear out for trouble just in case of a sneak attack.

Inuyasha had ignored Kagome all day. Despite how much Kagome disliked it; she saw it as the opportunity she needed to talk to Shippou. Miroku had been informed of their plans while Inuyasha had been hunting and was to be the distraction while the girls rode on Kirara. They made a the excuse that Kagome was so mad at him that she refused to ride on his back, so Miroku would have to ride on Inuyasha's back no matter how much the hanyou argued.

When they were all situated in their new traveling arrangements they had set off. Miroku gave Kagome the signal and started talking to Inuyasha so he couldn't hear them with his hanyou ears.

"Shippou, can you come here for a moment please?" Kagome called.

Shippou looked back from his seat atop Kirara's head and smiled

"Of course mama" he said as he rushed over to sit in her lap. For a moment there was silence until Sango broke it.

"Shippou, how would you like to help your mama save her life?"

Shippou smiled. "I want to help!"

Sango smiled, and Kagome looked at her son gratefully.

"Well then Shippou let us clue you in. In order to save Kagome she..." Sango stopped trying to figure out how to say this to a child.

"Your mother needs to take a mate, Shippou and since Inuyasha has no interest-" Kagome flinched at her words but she continued, "-we thought of another person who might be willing to take her, but we need someone to go and fetch him."

Shippou looked ecstatic. "I'll go! I'll get him!" He looked at Kagome, still smiling. "Does this mean I'll have a new papa?" he asked.

Kagome was surprised by his question but smiled. "Yes you'll have a new papa Shippou"

He jumped up and hugged Kagome. "Who is it? Who might be my new papa?"

Kagome and Sango exchanged smiles and they said in whispered voices.

"Kouga"

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They watched Inuyasha carefully from the hut while at the same time Kagome carefully watched him for hours and watched him slowly fall asleep from his perch.

Kagome gave Shippou a hug, which he returned. "You be careful ok?" she whispered.

Shippou nodded his promise before taking off into the night. Sango smiled at Kagome before they all settled down into their bed rolls to sleep.

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Shippou ran through the brush as fast he could towards the eastern territories where Kouga's den was when he kidnapped Kagome.

"How far away were we geeze I'm so tired" he whined to himself.

He stopped just short of a river so he could rest. He had run for the last hour and now his body's exhaustion was creeping up on him. His breath was ragged and sweat practically poured off his face; his body collapsed to rest for moments, he knew his demon blood would help him gather his strength back quickly.

Growl

Shippou sat up straight looking around the clearing into the bushes for the source of the growl.

A pair of yellow eyes were staring him down as he started to back up until he reached a tree. A lizard demon crawled its way out of the bushes and continued to keep his gaze on Shippou.

Oh man I don't want to become lizard food!

With that thought Shippou ran. He could hear the demon behind him. His body was still tired out from his previous running. His breath was hard coming in as he wheezed for air.

Through bushes and branches he ran just to get away from the demon that was practically breathing down his neck.

"AHHHHHHHH!!" he yelled trying to get someone's attention.

"I'm going to eat you kit! I'm going to digest you whole!!" the demon yelled.