Three Months Later……….

"Kagome!" Inuyasha's golden eyes flew open as he sat up, his skin damp with sweat and his breath came in small pained gasps. He looked around the hut wildly until his eyes fell on Kagome's face, sleeping soundly beside him. He tentatively put his hand on her bare shoulder, as if he was still unsure she was really there. He slowly traced his hand down her naked form to rest on her hip, leaving in its wake a trail of goose bumps. Inuyasha smiled as he closed his eyes and breathed a sigh of relief.

Kagome is safe. Why do I have to have these nightmares? We haven't seen Naraku for almost a year. Inuyasha gently traced his hand along Kagome's side while he was lost in thought. A cool breeze drifted across the floor of the hut and Kagome shivered, Inuyasha noticed it and cuddled closer to her naked body with his, pulling their blanket over her shoulder to help keep her warm.

She fit snugly against his side as if she was always meant to be there. He rested his chin on the top of her head, and she pulled him closer without stirring from her sleep. His breathing was still irregular; he closed his eyes attempting to block out the image from his dream. I finally claimed you as my mate. He held her to him even tighter. The image came back to haunt him, her body lay in front of him broken and bleeding, Naraku stood over her laughing. He growled and his ear flicked as he forced the image away again. I will never let that happen. Inuyasha was unable to sleep the rest of the night, so instead he kept watch over his mate as she slept soundly in his arms.

OoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

As the morning sun came over the horizon, Inuyasha and Kagome were walking over the last rise before leaving the village. Kagome was wearing her now usual Miko robes; her hair was longer and she wore it loose, as she had always seemed to prefer. Inuyasha liked her this way and he loved accompanying her wherever her priestess duties took her. Though he did make a fuss about it, Kagome knew he loved it and she knew Inuyasha thought it was great fun to argue with her. Inuyasha grinned as they crested the hill, they made sure to have a good argument this time too, Inuyasha hid his smile from her as she glanced at him with an icy stare over her shoulder. She really does smell wonderful with that hint of anger to her. Kagome turned away from him hiding a smile of her own.

Inuyasha went back to his thoughts as he watched Kagome walk, her hips swayed in their usual, enticing way. She had become a powerful priestess, even more so than Kiyko. Kaede had once told him that Kagome was unique since priestesses lose all their power when they fall in love, but Kagome had become even more powerful by being his mate. Kagome had also decided to stay here in the feudal age to be with him. He didn't know why exactly but she did love it here. He sighed as he attempted to clear his thoughts reaching out to hold her hand while walking. Kagome smiled and hugged his arm to her. Inuyasha suddenly tensed as he heard a slight rustle in the bushes behind Kagome, he swiftly maneuvered her to the side as a ball of orange fury sprang out of the underbrush and hit Inuyasha full in the chest sending him tumbling backwards into the bushes on the other side.

"Inuyasha! You're late!" A young very loud voice cried out. There was a muffled grunt and a few curses, the sound of snapping twigs announced their return as Inuyasha and Shippo both stumbled back out onto the road.

"Inuyasha you big bully!" Shippo cried out as he was pinned to the road by Inuyasha's foot.

"What the heck do you think you're doing Shippo? You almost hit Kagome that time" Inuyasha's voice had the hint of a growl.

"Well I wouldn't have if you were paying attention! It's YOUR fault Inuyasha!" Shippo yelled out while grunting in his effort to escape from under Inuyasha's foot.

"How is it my fault you mangy fox?" Inuyasha picked up the small demon and held him at arm's length. Shippo's feet still did not reach the ground and he kicked helplessly held there by Inuyasha. Kagome just giggled as she watched them, acting more like brothers every day in her mind.

"Soon you will be the one that gets pinned down Inuyasha" Miroku's voice rang out as he and Sango came walking down the road. Miroku looked much the same in his usual monk robes; he yawned and waved to everyone in greeting. Sango was not wearing her demon slayer outfit; today she had traded it in for her traditional kimono.

"Miroku are you sure you want to join us for this trip? I am sure Kagome and I can gather any herbs you need." Inuyasha fixed his friend with a golden stare.

"No, I am alright. There are some rare herbs that I need." He seemed to blush a little. "It's not a problem. Shippo will stay behind and watch Sango for me." Miroku winked at Sango and she giggled. "Kirara will be here too." A little 'Mew' from the two tails said she agreed.

"We had best get going then, Shippo you are in charge until I get back." Miroku said as he suddenly grabbed Sango and kissed her. Sango was so shocked that by the time she recovered enough to slap him, he had already had made his escape and was well down the road. Kagome and Inuyasha both burst out laughing at Sango's expression of annoyance.

"Wait till I get my hands on you monk, you will be sorry!" She clenched her fists. She was blushing so much that even Shippo couldn't help giggling at her. Sango glared with impotent fury at everyone and proceeded to storm back towards town, cursing under her breath.

Shippo stuck his tongue out at Inuyasha as he ran after Sango. Inuyasha turned away with a 'keh' so the little fox couldn't see his smile.

"We will be back in two days Sango. I will keep Miroku safe for you so don't worry." Inuyasha teased as he took Kagome's hand and began walking away from the village. The sound of Sango cursing the monk echoed from the direction of the village.

The journey to the half-demon Jinenji's farm was uneventful, but quite relaxing Inuyasha thought, the evening was fast approaching but there was a storm on the horizon. They would be home sometime late tomorrow, he mused as Kagome and Miroku were discussing the different medicinal properties of the herbs they had gathered. The wind suddenly shifted direction because of the brewing storm and Inuyasha caught an unfamiliar scent in the air. He cocked his ears up and stopped in the middle of the road, signaling for Kagome to stay behind him. She immediately did so, and he sniffed the air trying to catch the scent again to determine if it was dangerous. His eyes widened in surprise just as a great clawed hand came out of the ground beneath his feet.

Dodging to the side he managed to get Kagome away, he felt the claws tear into him as they grazed his leg. The moment he put Kagome down she drew her bow and took a defensive position behind him, Inuyasha drew his sword as the clawed hand disappeared once more beneath the earth leaving no indication as to where it would attack next. Miroku joined them and put his back to Inuyasha and kagome.

"To the right!" Kagome's voice broke the relative silence and Inuyasha turned just in time to block the claws. The air rang with the sound of the attack hitting Tetsaiga as Inuyasha deflected the blow, out of the corner of his eye, Inuyasha noticed Miroku and Kagome were also fighting off attacks, Are there more than one, Kagome watch out! Inuyasha twisted his stance and deflected the blow aimed at her from behind. Suddenly Inuyasha's vision blurred and he cursed as he shook his head trying to clear it. The creature burst from the ground and launched a flurry of attacks at Inuyasha. Kagome could see that Inuyasha was beginning to struggle under the relentless attacks.

Is it getting faster? I can barely keep up Inuyasha thought to himself.

His vision blurred again, searing pain blossomed in his chest as he was struck to the ground by the creatures' massive claws. He could hardly hear Kagome as she called his name. Sounds were distorted. The ground seemed to move of its own accord. Poison! Damn. Inuyasha tried to get back on his feet but his body felt heavy, and slow. He could see the demon, for that was what it was, his scaly arm reaching out for him. Unable to move, he realized too late that the demon was not aiming at him but at Kagome. She was beside him trying to help him get up, defending him as best as she could.

The demon laughed with a voice that sounded like grinding rocks, he grabbed her by the throat and pulled her towards his hideous face. His large red eyes glowed as he hissed at her, putting her face only inches away from his jagged teeth. The demon took in a deep breath, smelling her, Inuyasha was furious, his body disobeyed his every attempt to rise and strike the demon away from Kagome. She coughed as the demon's foul breath wafted over her.

"Give me the jewel shard" grated the demon his words slurred through its fangs.

"Miroku help Inuya-" Kagome's voice was choked off as the demon tightened its grip around her neck. Miroku was unable to do anything to the demon while he held Kagome close to its body, indecision crossed his face but then he ran towards Inuyasha and examined the wounds.

"Poison?" Miroku whispered. Inuyasha was able to give a small nod, never taking his eyes of the demon holding Kagome. Inuyasha burned to destroy the demon that dared to hurt his mate, his fury the only thing keeping the pain at a dull roar within his body.

"Give me the shard, he is already dead. My poison will kill him soon enough. If you give me the shard I will let you go priestess." The demon promised. Kagome knew the demon lied, he was going to kill her anyways, and even Inuyasha couldn't save her in time. Kagome closed her eyes for a moment mentally preparing for what she was going to be forced to do.

"Alright monster, you can have the shard." Kagome managed to pull the shard out of her robes and held it out as close to the demons face as her arms could reach. The demon chuckled as the shard rose from her hand and floated to the center of his forehead to be slowly absorbed. Kagome with her eyes closed gathered all her spiritual energy into the center of her being as the demon tightened his grip cutting off all of her air. She struggled to breath, could hear her blood rushing through her veins, felt the icy fear solidify into a lump in her chest.

At the last possible moment when the shard was almost completely absorbed and everything was going black for her she released her power directly at the shard. The air crackled and for a heart beat nothing happened. Then with a tiny pop the shard exploded into dust, the demon screamed in agony as the force of the explosion disintegrated his head and flung his body into the air. Kagome was blown in the opposite direction; the air where the shard had shattered made a snapping sound as the shard dust reacted and exploded into a raging inferno. The force of this new blast, that blazed brighter than the sun, gouged the earth to ribbons and decimated the trees. Miroku and Inuyasha were both tossed into the air by the blast to land far off in the rubble of what was once the forest.

Inuyasha woke as Miroku was putting some sort of salve into his wound. He hissed in pain and sat up. His eyes found Miroku's, his golden ones asking the unspoken question.

"I don't know where she is. I stumbled into you first." Miroku stood and began searching through the rubble again for any sign of Kagome, Inuyasha had not heard his friend voice, he got to his feet unsteadily and began looking for Kagome, and fear gripped his heart at the destruction he saw around him. There was a huge crater where the explosion was centered. The trees had been uprooted and still smoldered. Where is she! Look at all the damage, how could she survive that kind of thing? His eyes burned with the smoke and dust in the air but he forced himself to look even if all he found was her body. His sense of smell was useless, nothing but charred wood and smoke.

Miroku was searching for Kagome, his arm was covered in blood from a long gash and his robes had been torn but if it hurt him he did not seem to notice. Inuyasha's ears flicked suddenly what was that? He signaled for Miroku to stop moving so he could listen. Inuyasha closed his eyes and focused on the sound he thought he heard. The sound came again, a muffled voice. It whispered his name.

"There" he leaped to a log a little ways to his right his heart pounding as he grabbed the tree and braced to shove it as hard as he could.

"Inuyasha wait! Let me use the wind tunnel, if that log shifts she could be crushed!" Miroku moved Inuyasha aside, removed his prayer beads and opened his hand. The tunnel swirled to life and absorbed the tree that had pinned Kagome. Miroku closed his hand again quickly. There in a little pocket under the log was Kagome. She was in between two other trees that had protected her from being crushed. Her skin was pale, she had large bruises forming on her throat from the demons hand, but she was breathing if somewhat shallow.

"Kagome" Inuyasha was at her side instantly. He touched her face as Miroku landed softly beside her so he could check her for injury.

"I need to see if we can move her Inuyasha" he stated in the firm voice he had come to gain over the last two years. He had a serious expression while he examined the extent of the damage; he was gently placing his hand along her body using his spiritual sight to assess her injuries when he stopped over her abdomen. Miroku's brows furrowed in concentration and he turned his head to the side as if listening to something.

"I can sense something, but it is faint."

"Miroku!" Inuyasha growled attempting, and failing, to be patient. Miroku closed his eyes to help him focus. Immediately his eyes flew open and he realized what it was.

"Inuyasha." Miroku's voice was soft as he spoke. "Kagome is with child."

Inuyasha froze and his heart skipped a beat. He closed his eyes as his body relearned how to breathe. When he finally opened his eyes he saw Kagome's eyes wearily open, gold met Hazel.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome's voice was strained and she began to cough.

"Kagome! Are you alright?" Inuyasha found his voice at last. He gently brushed her cheek with his thumb and Kagome hissed in pain when she attempted to move.

"Be still Kagome." Miroku told her placing his hand firmly on her abdomen. Inuyasha watched as Miroku then moved his other hand down her side checking under her and winced. Miroku took back his hand, fingers coated with blood.

"We have to move her Inuyasha. It looks as if something has punctured her side. I do not know how bad it is so we have to move her so I can see." He spoke softly, pulling off his outer robes. He tore the robe making a bandage to stop the bleeding.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome spoke softly and she sucked in her breath, Miroku shifted her hip to get the bandage in place causing a cascade of pain to radiate from her side. Kagome stopped speaking in favor of trying to breathe through the pain once again.

"I am sorry but this is going to be painful Kagome." He winced himself knowing just how bad it could be. Then with Inuyasha's help he lifted her up out from in between the trees and laid her down in an area that had more room to look at her. For a moment Kagome didn't really feel any pain, she heard Inuyasha curse but could not see how bad it was. Then she felt the warm flowing sensation followed closely with a pain so blinding that she couldn't even suck in air to cry out. Kagome's vision blurred and the pain began to subside from her, the world became dark, and Inuyasha's voice seemed to be drifting farther away. She was floating in a world where she could not feel her blood spilling into the earth, where her torn body could not torture her with pain. She could only vaguely make out Inuyasha's voice as she slid into darkness.

Inuyasha sat close to the fire, deep in thought. Kagome had passed out from the pain when they moved her and she was lying by his side, still unconscious, wrapped in his outer kimono. He could still smell Kagome's blood on his hands from bandaging her side. He felt as if a block of ice was where his heart should be. She was very pale and he wanted to get her to Kaede but she had started to shiver, and so they were forced to stop and make a fire to warm her. He closed his eyes as tears tried to fight their way out of him. Miroku was gathering more firewood because Inuyasha had refused to leave Kagome's side.

She may lose the child if we do not get her to Kaede soon. Miroku's words echoed in his head. If they couldn't keep her warm his unborn child might not survive the trauma to her body. Again the tears threatened to overflow. Inuyasha was holding Kagome's hand staring blankly as Miroku returned with the firewood. He placed the large pile within reach and gently patted Inuyasha on the shoulder as he sat down beside him. Miroku immediately checked Kagome to see how she was doing. Her breathing was better now and the shivering had stopped.

"Miroku?" Inuyasha tentatively spoke. "How can you tell?" Inuyasha's voice was soft. Miroku placed his hand over Kagome's abdomen again.

"I can feel a demonic aura, but only if I focus, and even then it feels very similar to yours." Miroku smiled then while holding his hand over Inuyasha's unborn child. "I think they will be alright Inuyasha, Kagome has stopped shivering, and she is strong." Miroku sighed in relief as he took his hand off of Kagome so he could tend the nearby fire.

"I only hope the child is no longer in danger. We should rest here for tonight. In the morning we can try to move her again." Inuyasha gazed down at Kagome as his vision blurred. He placed his hand on Kagome's abdomen and closed his eyes. For a moment he felt nothing, his heart felt heavy, then there was a small twitch and he felt the barely perceptible aura, so much like his own. Inuyasha smiled to himself, a small niggling of excitement escaped him and he allowed himself a moment to enjoy the knowledge that his mate was with pup.

"What the hell happened Miroku?" Inuyasha whispered more to himself than to Miroku.

"Kagome did it. Though I believe it was more or less an accident." Miroku threw another log on the fire. "She destroyed one of the jewel shards."

"What? How is that even possible?" Inuyasha's momentary excitement was replaced by his surprise.

"I am not sure. Kagome has become exceptionally powerful since becoming you mate. I believe that if anyone else had tried that, they would have died before the shard broke." Miroku sighed and settled himself more comfortably. "Kagome had no choice, that demon was going to kill her regardless of what it said. She must have forced her power into the shard before the demon could absorb it. That explosion was amazing! To think if the demon had decided to place the jewel anywhere else in its body it might not have killed it." Miroku's voice trailed off into the night air, the occasional chirp of a cricket and the crackling of the fire the only thing to disturb the silence. "Do you realize what this means Inuyasha?"

"Just spit it out Miroku!" Inuyasha was getting agitated, he needed to get Kagome home so Kaede could give her some herbs, tell him to stop fussing, and make her better. His irritation made him fidget.

"The Shikon Jewel can never be whole again. Naraku can never use it to become a full demon… and neither can you" Inuyasha stopped fidgeting, looked at Miroku, and his grin was strange but still enough to show fang.

"I don't need to be a full demon, Kagome helped me see that. As for Naraku, that monster can rot for all I care."

"I fear it may not be so easy Inuyasha" he said gravely. "Once Naraku discovers that Kagome has destroyed the jewel, he will hunt for her." Miroku voice betrayed that he was worried.

"What do you mean Miroku?" fear was creeping into his heart once more.

"Now more than ever we have to be ready for Naraku." Miroku closed his eyes and continued. "We should be able to keep everyone safe if we stay within your territory."

"My territory?" Inuyasha flicked his ear in response. My territory the words sounded strange to him but he knew what Miroku meant. He still kept his hand over his pup. Its presence brought him some comfort.

"Yes, for the last two years, while looking for the shards, revisiting villages looking for information, even the regular rounds to the nearby villages with Kagome. The demons in the area have determined that those villages and the area in between them are yours. Actually it has been good, the villagers no longer live in fear because you and Kagome have, in essence, been protecting them." Miroku opened one eye to look at Inuyasha. "You did notice that the demons have not been entering the area right?" An irritated flick from Inuyasha's ear confirmed that he had not.

"I have been a bit distracted" Inuyasha grinned wickedly as he shrugged.

"Never would have guessed." Miroku said with a blatant glance towards Kagome, and the place Inuyasha's hand rested. Inuyasha immediately blushed and looked away. Miroku chuckled at Inuyasha's expression as he continued his thoughts out loud.

"They avoid this area because they know that you protect it. No one in his right mind would mess with a powerful demon that has a priestess like Kagome as his mate."

"Is that why you and Sango decided to live in Kaede's village?" Inuyasha asked is face still burning with his embarrassment.

"Yes, I needed to know that if I was unable to be there for her, she would still be safe." Miroku thumbed with his prayer beads while he spoke.

"So what should we do now Miroku? We can't just stay in Kaede's village until Naraku decides to wipe everyone out just to get to us." Inuyasha's voice was quite, his thoughts becoming dark.

"I hate to suggest it but perhaps you and Kagome should go through the well. Naraku can't hurt her there; your child will be safe." Miroku refused to look at Inuyasha while he suggested this.

"She won't" Inuyasha admitted, with a hint of anger. "She will not leave you to your fate here with Naraku, and neither can I." His voice was harsh, as if he had already thought of it but dismissed that option. "We just have to find Naraku and kill him, sooner rather than later." Inuyasha stated the last and shrugged his shoulders at Miroku's look of disbelief.

"If you and Kagome suddenly stop searching for the shards, Naraku will not be the only demon to think that you are vulnerable." Miroku sighed again as he thought out loud. "This means we can't let anyone know either. If any demon discovers this they will definitely attack her when she is unable to defend herself. Even if their goal is you, they have learned she is your mate and believe hurting her will make you weak." Inuyasha's growl rumbled from his chest and his eyes flashed red at the thought of his mate and unborn pup being hurt. His claws lengthened as his demon side slipped out while his hair floated on the wind generated by his demonic aura, his fangs extended to their full length.

"Inuyasha!" Miroku's voice was edged with alarm as he slowly edged away from Inuyasha's very sharp claws.

"Dammit!" Inuyasha's voice was deep with the growl "the blood-lust was nothing compared to this instinct to protect Kagome." He closed his red eyes and breathed deeply for a few moments trying to subdue the surge of protective fury from consuming him. "I can't stop; I smell her blood on me." The air around Inuyasha grew thick, as his aura grew in strength.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome whispered his name, her eyes fluttered open and her hand shakily rose to rest over his. Inuyasha's demon abruptly halted and his red eyes looked down at her, his aura dissipated from around him and his features slowly returned to normal. Inuyasha whispered her name, and gently squeezed her hands in return, his eyes were back to their golden color as he looked down at her. She was still pale and she began to shiver once again, causing her pain as her shivering pulled at her bandaged wound. Despite her discomfort, Kagome smiled at him brightly, he smiled at her in return and cuddled down closer to her so he could hold her as she closed her eyes against the pain. It seemed, to Miroku, almost as if she felt Inuyasha losing control of his demon and woke so she could help him. The look Inuyasha gave Miroku said he thought the same thing. Miroku settled back down on the ground, mindful of his own injury as he braced himself for a long, tense night, of watching over his friends.