Disclaimer: Wow, what a great idea. I could own Inu Yasha. Shoot, Rumiko Takahashi already does.

A/N- I'm writing two at the same time this time, so bare with me for updates. I'm pretty reliable and there won't be more than a few days in between updates.

In the Rain

Chapter 1 – New Life

Kagome awoke with a sharp pain in her stomach. The pain quickly diminished, but it had waked her fully. She opened her eyes realizing how cold she was. Looking next to her she discovered the reason. Her mate was missing. She sighed and rubbed a hand across the taunt skin of her swollen belly. 'Daddy's gone off hunting again.'

"Are you awake?" A familiar voice came from the doorway and she turned her head to look at her mate. The sight made her smile. His amber eyes glowed in the dimness and the light from the entrance gave his silver hair an iridescent glow.

She nodded. "Yes."

"Good, I brought you something." He tossed a large boar on the floor of their cave.

Kagome couldn't suppress a soft giggle. "Inu Yasha, I may be pregnant, but I'm not a pig. There's no way I could eat a whole boar."

He smiled and moved to sit beside her on the furs that were their bed. "I know that. I'll salt the meat and it will last for a while longer. Besides I'll help eat it of course."

"In that case, it probably won't last us more than two days."

He laid down beside her and pushed a stray hair behind her ear. "Don't worry, I've already eaten today." He kissed her deeply and wrapped his arms around her. She snuggled into him, enjoying his warmth and closeness. Then she felt another of the pains. This time is was deeper and lasted longer. Kagome made sure not to show any outward sign of pain. She knew her mate would quickly become concerned and begin fussing over her. She didn't enjoy seeing him frantic like that, so she tried to hide the pain.

Inu Yasha's keen sense hand picked up on the slight increase in Kagome's heartbeat, but she hadn't made any other movements or sounds. "Is anything wrong?"

She shook her head against his chest. "Guess I'm just a little hungry. Do we have any berries left?"

He smoothed her hair and gave her a kiss on the brow. "I think so." He moved away. And Kagome hated the loss of his warmth. She watched him as he crossed the chamber and picked up one of the ramen containers. It had long since been cleaned of ramen, but she had chosen to use the containers for storage. After glancing inside, he brought the container back to her as she pushed her 9-month swollen body to a seated position. He handed her the container and sat down behind her, letting her lean against him.

"So, why did you go hunting this morning? You usually wait till night fall." Kagome ate the few remaining berries slowly savoring their taste.

"I can't tonight, it's the new moon."

"Oh, I didn't realize. I guess I've been cooped up in here long enough to loose track of time."

He brushed her hair from her neck and laid a few kisses there. "It won't be long now." His hand stroked her belly gently. She leaned into him, enjoying the sensation. She suddenly gasped and dropped the cup of berries. The pain had returned, far more intense this time. "Kagome, what's wrong?" She pulled herself to her feet, the sudden urge to walk overcoming her. She walked to the cave wall and leaned against it. She groaned as a new pain arose. Inu Yasha was at her side in a matter of seconds. "Are you in pain? Kagome, please talk to me."

The pain subsided and she gave him a weak smile. "It's all right." As she spoke the floor beneath them became damp with water. Kagome leaned into him once more. "It's time."

Inu Yasha's heart leapt into his throat. "Now, but I thought Kaede said it wouldn't be for another week or so."

Kagome chuckled. "These things don't always happen on schedule." She winced as another pain shot through her. This time it was lower and an urge to push came with it.

"I could get Kaede or even Sango."

"Inu Yasha this child is coming now. You'd never make it there and back in time. By the time you returned the whole thing would be over." He was about to protest again, but paused when she looked up at him, pain in her eyes. "Don't leave me."

He scooped her up and carried her back to the bed. "Never." He laid her gently down as she tensed again in pain. The contractions were coming quicker now, less than three minutes apart. "What do I do?"

She instructed him to gather the rags, a small blanket, and fill a small bucket with water. He did this quickly and returned to her side as another contraction struck. She panted as he stroked her hair and whispered reassuring words in her ear. The next few minutes came and went in a blur of pain as Kagome gave birth to their first born.

"It's a boy." Inu Yasha stared down at the little miracle in his hands. The child squirmed in his palms. He marveled at how small the child was, neatly fitting in his hands. The boy had raven black hair and when the child blink he showed his golden orbs. Inu Yasha felt his heart swell with pride. "He's perfect."

Kagome lifted her head to look over at the child in her husband's arms. Inu Yasha brought the child to her and she smiled as she took him in her arms. The child opened his eyes and looked up at her. She gasped. "He's beautiful."

Inu Yasha leaned down and kissed her. "Of course, he is. You made him."

She giggled slightly. "We made him." Both the child and Kagome yawned. Their exertions taking hold.

He laid down beside her. "Rest now, I'll watch over you both."

Kagome closed her eyes finding peace in his embrace and the warm bundle beneath her arms. Sleep overtook her and she dreamed deep dreams. Inu Yasha lay beside her, holding her close and watching her and his son breath. 'My son, I like the sound of that.' He smiled down at the tiny boy. 'I'll always protect you, my son.' His gaze rose then to Kagome, his Kagome, his mate, the mother of his son. She had been so strong, never even making fuss through the pain, and when it was over she had smiled so beautifully. He stroked her hair and she cuddled closer to him. He laid his head beside hers, taking in the sensation of the two heart beats and his son's scent. He sighed and let his mind drift through the memories over the last three years with his mate.

For several hours Kagome slept and Inu Yasha kept watch. Nothing would harm his family, nothing. Kagome at last stirred near dusk as the baby let out a soft whimper. Inu Yasha watched in slight amazement as Kagome sat up and allowed the infant to suckle at her breast. "Is he all right?"

Kagome smiled at him with such love it made his heart melt. "Yes, he's just hungry." She smiled down at the babe. "Aren't you little one?" The child was busy feasting and made little other noise.

Inu Yasha smiled. "How did you know that is what he wanted?"

Kagome thought about that for a long moment. "I don't know, it was just instinct, I guess."

He sat up beside her and kissed her cheek warmly. "I bet you're hungry. I'll go cook up some of that boar."

Kagome grinned, finding her stomach rumbled at the thought of food. "That sounds great." Inu Yasha rose and began to cross the cave to the entrance. "Inu Yasha, why don't we have some ramen tonight as well?"

Inu Yasha rubbed his chin and gave the last box of ramen and critical gaze. "There's not much left."

"But it's a special occasion." Kagome grinned again as Inu Yasha raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah, it is, isn't it? But I'll cook the boar too. I know I'll still be hungry after only one cup of ramen and we don't want to eat the whole box."

Kagome chuckled. "No, we don't want to do that, just one cup for me and one for you." She smiled down at the babe again. "But none for you, young man, you'll be quite full by that point."

Inu Yasha chuckled lightly as he went out to prepare the boar. After the boar meat was salted and divided into chunks, he returned inside. Kagome stifled a yawn as he entered. She still seemed a bit tired to him, but she continued to smile lovingly up at him. She had switched breast and the child was now suckling at her right. As he knelt to start the fire he heard a muffled 'ouch'. He looked over to see Kagome's face twisted just slightly in pain.

"What's wrong?"

She grinned. "Oh, it's nothing, don't worry."

"Kagome…" He warned.

"It just seems our son has teeth already." When Inu Yasha's eyes widened with what looked like fear, she hastened to amend what she meant. "He just pinched me. That's all, I promise." That seemed to satisfy him and he went back to placing the boar meat over the now roaring fire. His ears twitched from a sound outside and his nose wrinkled as it caught a familiar scent.

"Kagome stay here and keep our son quiet." He rose and took a few steps to the entrance.

"Is something wrong, Inu Yasha?" True worry permeated her voice.

"Just stay quiet and be ready to go out the back way, if I say to." He glanced over his shoulder and gave her a small smirk. "Don't worry this shouldn't take long." He pushed aside the vines and stepped out into the open. The sun was beginning to set and the world had gone quiet. "I know your there. Why have you come here, Sesshomaru?"

Sesshomaru appeared a few yards away, stepping slowly into the clearing. He looked past his half-brother at the glowing light within the cave. "Rumor has it, little brother, that your mate has bore you a child. Is it true?"

"Yes, what of it? If you're worried my kid will try to become your rival to be Great Demon of the West, then you have nothing to worry about." Sesshomaru looked thoughtfully at the cave entrance and even took a few steps toward it. But Inu Yasha quickly blocked his path. "What the hell do you think you're doing? This is my home and I have no intention of letting you near my family. You'll only upset Kagome and my son."

"Your son?" Sesshomaru stepped away a few paces. "Beware Inu Yasha, there are those who do not desire another heir to our father's lands. And they will stop at nothing to insure you and I are the last of our father's line."

"Feh, as if I care who doesn't want our father's line to continue. It doesn't really matter, because I won't let anyone get near my son or Kagome."

Sesshomaru turned and began to walk back into the forest. "I came to ascertain the situation myself and I have warned you. There is nothing more I can or will do." He disappeared from sight, but his words lingered in the air. 'Would someone really try to kill my son?' Inu Yasha turned to see the sun set and felt the beginning of his body's transformation. He reentered the cave, where he felt more secure.