PART 3 TELLING HIM

One week later

Kikyo sat in her bedroom contemplating whether to tell Inuyasha about the baby or not. She knew he'd eventually find out anyway so why should she keep it a secret?

How will he react? she wondered looking out the window toward the field where they had first admitted they liked each other. What will he do? Will he leave me or will he take up the role of father?

Kaede came into the room. "Sister," she said. "Inuyasha is here. Should I send him away again?"

Kikyo shook her head and sighed. "No. I'll see him," she said standing up and putting her coat thing on over her shirt thing. "I can't avoid talking to him forever."

"Would it be wise for ye to tell him?" her little sister inquired.

Kikyo looked at her sister and gave her a hug. "Yes. He has to know sometime," she told her. "It might as well be now."

"Good luck," Kaede said nodding with understanding.

Kikyo stepped out of the house and faced Inuyasha who stood right outside, leaning against the wall of the house, waiting for her. When he saw her exit the little building and walk over to him, his face lit up. "Kikyo," he said taking her hand. "Are you all right? I was so worried about you."

"I'm fine," she said squeezing his hand and beginning to walk away from the house. "Let's go."

The two walked out of the village. Once they were out of town Inuyasah asked. "Kikyo, is there something wrong?"

"No," she said nervously, playing with her raven black hair. "Why do you ask?"

"I haven't seen you in a week. I'm beginning to think you're avoiding me," he said putting a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm not avoiding you," she said looking away. "But... I..."

"What?" he asked turning her toward him. "What is it?"

"Well... I...," she closed her eyes. You have to tell him. If you don't he'll find out anyway. You have to tell him now. If you don't tell him now he'll think you were being unfaithful when he does find out... The Priestess opened her eyes and looked right into the half demon's golden ones. "Inuyasha, there is something I need to tell you."

"What?" he asked his face worried. "What do you have to tell me?"

She took his hands and took a deep breath. "Inuyasha, I'm pregnant."

The half demon's eyes filled with surprise and he took a step back. "Pregnant?" he asked. "You're... pregnant?"

She nodded. "Yes, Inuyasha," she replied. "You're going to be a father..."

Inuyasha let go of her shoulders. He turned away from her. His mind raced as he tried to make a reality out of what she had just said. Could he really be the father? They'd only done it once. That was two months ago...

"How far along are you?" he asked slowly.

"Two months," she replied holding her stomach.

Two months... damn it! He looked back at her. "Are you sure?"

The Priestess nodded. "I am positive and so is the doctor," she answered.

Inuyasha froze. "Does he know?"

"Know what?"

"Who the father is?"

"No," she said. "Only you and I do."

He turned around and walked up to her. "What..."

"What should we do?" she asked.

Inuyasha hugged her. "We won't tell anyone," he said. "Not right away anyway. We'll wait. Everything will be okay."

Kikyo hugged him back and closed her eyes. "They'll find out anyway," she said. "You're the only man I love. They will figure it out but for now... I think Kaede already knows. She won't tell anyone, though. I made her promise."

"Okay," he said.

She opened her eyes. "Will you be there for us?" she asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Will you be here to help raise the baby?" she asked "Or are you going to leave me now?"

"No," he replied moving away from her. "I won't leave. I'll be here for you and the baby. I promise."

Kikyo smiled in relief. "Thank you, Inuyasha," she said her eyes glistening with tears of relieve. "I thank you with all my heart."

A few months later

Inuyasha sat in a tree in the forest around the village where Kikyo lived staring at the sky. He was waiting for Kikyo to meet him at their usual place, or here where he was sitting now. He hoped she wouldn't forget to come. I hope she hasn't gone into labor yet, he thought. I'd like to be there when the baby is born.

He had something he needed to discuss with the Priestess. Something very important that could change his whole destiny as well as shorten his life span. He wanted to discuss becoming human.

She had been the first to mention it but she had always reminded him that it was his descition and she would stick with whatever descition he made. She said she loved him as a half demon and would still love him whether he became human or full demon. He'd always told her he wasn't interested and she would drop it only to bring it back up when he mentioned it. If he never mentioned it she would never say anything. She tried to be sensative of his feelings. She wasn't being selfish she was just worried. Worried about various things that she shouldn't have been, especially now. But he'd noticed lately she wasn't talking about it anymore. Infact she'd dropped the whole discussion over a month ago, saying she didn't care about that anymore and just wanted to be with him.

That's what got him thinking about becoming human. Now that she didn't care what he did with his life, he could think it over. It seemed to be an okay idea. He just wondered what she would say now.

"Inuyasha!" a voice called.

The half demon looked at the ground. Kikyo was running toward him. He smiled at the sight of her. Her stomach had gotten bigger in the past few months and he knew that the baby was due any day now. It could even be tomarrow...

"Kikyo," he said jumping out of the tree. "You did come after all."

"Yes," she said holding her stomach. "You said what you wanted to talk about was urgent so I came even though the doctor and my sister adviced against it." she walked over to him. "What do you want to talk to me about, Inuyasha?"

"Well I've been thinking about some things and I have to ask you. How would you feel if I became human?"

She looked at him sharply. "Why are you asking me?" she inquired. "I told you I don't care anymore what you become."

"But would you be happy if I became human?" he presisted.

She sighed and looked away. She knew she had to be honest with him. "It would make me happy," she replied. "But even if you don't I'll love you anyway. You don't have to become human just because I want that."

"But I want to become human for the baby," he protested.

She took a step back. "What?" she asked surprise by the tone of voice he used. "You would become human for the baby?"

"Yes," he said nodding. "That baby it only 1/4th demon so it is unlikely that he or she will have any demon traits besides unusually long life," he explained touching her hand. "I don't want him or her to be made fun of because his or her father is half demon. I want him or her to have a normal life without that problem."

"Is that what happened to you?" she asked.

He nodded and looked away. "So, Kikyo, if you are willing to accept that," he went on. "I would like to become human."

Kikyo nodded as she understood what this ment. He was giving up all the privliges that being a half demon, brought to become a mortal human like her. For the baby and probably for her too. "If this is what you really want," she said closing her eyes halfway as she looked at her stomach.

"Yes," he said putting his hands on her stomach. "This is what I want."

"Okay," she said looking at him with that descisive expression. "I'll bring the Skikon Jewel to this spot tomarrow and you can use it to become human. Will you remember this place?"

Inuyasha looked around. He spotted a huge tree that had some of its bark gone right in the center of the trunk. "If I look for that tree I will," he promised pointing at the elm. (Or whatever the Sacred Tree was)

"Yes," she said nodding at the tree. "All we have to do is remember that tree. Remember that tree and we'll always find each other."

"That's exactly what I was thinking," he said smiling at her.

"Okay," she said smiling back. "I'll see you then."

The two parted company.

A/N

I'm not exacly sure whose idea that was about becoming human but I don't think I care. Inuyasha could have said no but he didn't. So he was also responcible for that little incident. heheheh. That is just how it goes. Love can be a frickle thing especially when a baby is involved. lol.