Sorry, I accidentally uploaded chapter 8 before saving the changes so go ahead and re-read it if you need to, I didn't notice until later so thank you Diane for helping me there. Sorry about the blooper! Oh and really… some of those reviews made choke on my laughter at the unexpected comments… I think you will be happy to see what happens.

It was just sex… 9

"Fucking bastard where did they take her," InuYasha growled. He was not prepared for the level of protectiveness and anger Gaara is about to unleash on him.

"I thought I made myself clear," the sand began whirling around InuYasha in warning of the coming attack, "my family is now in the protective custody of some of the most elite shinobi I have, meaning they are away from here and safe from harm." Eyes taking on a cruel light he continued, "I know much about your strengths and weaknesses InuYasha. You have a high tolerance for pain and a fast recovery rate meaning I can take some of my anger out on you for the pain you caused her. Kagome is mine, you lost your friend, the very one you promised to protect and casted her from your side meaning she holds no promises to you… not after you betrayed her." The sand was coiling around him like a serpent about to strike and strangle its prey. Between one second and the next Gaara manipulated the sand to attack.

Standing in a dimly lit room Kagome didn't know she is actually below the Anbu headquarters in one of the below ground safe houses. The guards were stationed around and shortly after arriving she was given Kichiro as she felt anxious while she held him close. Gaara wouldn't go back on his word with her but he still didn't want her around to witness whatever he has in store for InuYasha. She also worried that InuYasha might use the wind scar to destroy Gaara and end up taking out a few buildings.

Trying to keep focused on Gaara promising to not kill him this time she held on to the hope that he knows what he is doing. If InuYasha was labeled a possible threat to the village then she can only assume Gaara was informed of his strengths and weaknesses to ensure he can protect everyone from him. With a weary sigh she sat down in a chair and thought back on her life. Where did everything go wrong between her and InuYasha? She must have tried to figure that out over a thousand times but never bore any fruits of success for her labor. He was just simply out of reach from her friendship and heart she once kept out there freely until it became too battered and bloody.

~"InuYasha," she called out to her friend as he sat in a tree looking out at the sunset over the rice fields. "I have food the village gave us for saving them from that demon," she showed him the basket, lifting the cloth from over it. "Here catch," she tossed him a persimmon to munch on before settling down under the tree. "Eat up and get some rest, I will stay out here a while with you," she decided, wanting to keep him company while he relaxed in a tree where he felt more comfortable rather than back in the hut.

"Thanks Kagome," he relaxed back taking a bit, "I owe you one."

"That's what friends are for," she smiled up at him and relaxed as well between the roots of the tree.~

Memories of better times always made her wonder once again where things went wrong. She shouldn't at this point but she couldn't help it. They were once the best of friends and she thought her future lied with him but now days she is certain it is with Gaara. Never has he made her feel any less of a person and he was always eager to spend time with her, not just Kichiro. Her happiness means something to him and every day she wakes up to find him ready to greet her with a kiss before he heads into work.

The lonely person he looked like when he gazed out across the village seemed to have vanished and now she has been lucky to see him smile after he gets home. He is almost like a dream come true as he had no problem helping out with taking care of Kichiro and was more or less eager to do so. Never did she meet a guy as caring or thoughtful as he is. She doesn't want either hurt but if she had to choose between them it would be Gaara she wants to be with. He makes her so happy and is such a great father. At this point she already cannot imagine living life without him or going to bed without him there holding her tight.

Getting up and beginning to pace she now felt worried about Gaara and the village rather than worry about InuYasha. "Don't worry Lady Kagome, Lord Gaara would not go back on what he says," one of the Anbu members said to her as they faced her.

"It's not that, I just am worried about InuYasha destroying the village or something. I'm not sure if Gaara knows the destructive capabilities of Tetsuiga…" she began to fret over it since she wasn't sure when Gaara labeled InuYasha as a threat, before or after he learned of the diminished relationship between them. "He could even rip open a portal to send him straight to hell."

"We are well aware of what he is capable of; we were briefed before you were released from the hospital. Lord Gaara is well aware of what he is dealing with and will take it all into account. Never has he let harm befall the village since he became the Kazekage," he felt proud of that fact. Being one of Gaara's personal Anbu it also meant he is one of the many who hold a strong loyalty to him and the village. Now they will also have to keep an eye on his Lord's woman and child to ensure their safety.

"Is Gaara truly that strong," she asked, having never seen him in battle, just sparring a couple times with his brother and attacking InuYasha today.

"The strongest of us all, no one in this village is as strong as he is, I doubt even InuYasha could hold a candle to him since Lord Gaara is also very analytical and strategic," he informed her not taking any offense since he also knows she isn't from this era so she has little knowledge on things here.

"Faith, I need to have faith in him," she said quietly gaining a nod in agreement from the Anbu member.

"The majority if not everyone in this village trusts him with our lives and we now have strong ties to the other four shinobi villages that make up the five great shinobi nations; you can't go wrong when it comes to Lord Gaara." He was absolutely sure of himself in all of this, not an ounce of doubt in the tone of his voice. The other three Anbu gave their varying forms of agreement with his words about their leader the Kazekage.

She smiled, they respect him so much. "I have never known anyone else to have this amount of respect. InuYasha could learn a lot from him I guess but then again I feel like I hardly know either of them even though I should."

"Was InuYasha the leader of your group," another male voice asked.

"Well…" she thought it over for a few seconds, "he tended to act like one but we all took charge in certain instances. I could detect the jewel shards and was an archer so I was usually in the back of the group with little Shippo, an orphaned fox demon. From there I could pick up on things the others might have trouble distinguishing. The others varied from close combat to long distance and everyone did their fair share for the most part."

"How many were there, we know about the demon Naraku you destroyed along with the jewel but nothing about anyone else other than Kikyo as well," they grew interested as they are not all that familiar with the whole time travel thing and actual demons, not chakra beasts.

"Oh well I suppose I could tell you more, even a few stories about our travels that you might find amusing since we certainly had an interesting group." As a smile lit her face she began thinking of better times with InuYasha. "I can say one thing InuYasha was always so brash and a bit on the grumpy side but until a couple years ago he was my best friend and I thought he was the one. We met on my first day of being 500 years in the past from my era. I was quite clumsy, had no idea that a powerful jewel was reborn inside me and really didn't believe what was going on around me. I kept trying to convince myself that I was dreaming and that resulted in some big mistakes, like the jewel shattering after a centipede demon bit it out of my side." She still felt embarrassed and bad about how naïve she had been back then. "In my era you were just a regular human, nothing special and all this stuff were things thought up by your imagination and put in books and movies. Really I thought I hit my head really hard when I was dragged into the well by that weird centipede woman."

They all nodded agreeing as it would be strange coming from an era like hers. Even to them it sounds a little strange but not overly so since they have seen a lot and done a lot with the chakra they have compared to the way regular citizens live their lives. She began by telling them everyone's back story including her short one as they gained an understanding for everyone's circumstances and how the group came to be together, recognizing her as the glue that brought them to becoming a force to reckon with. They learned about the lecherous tendencies of the monk in her group and the tricks the kit liked to play on the half demon and his own tendencies with younger girls. It was amusing and they could see why she is averse to seeking her former companion's death even though he is basically seeking hers. These stories were all filed as information in their minds to use later if needed as they became quite aware to who this woman is who seems to have stolen the heart of their Kazekage. Before long they were greeted with the beginning of Kichiro fussing for his bottle and that signaled to Kagome just how long she has already been in there.

"Be right back Lady Kagome, I will seek out Kankuro to retrieve the baby's items," one of the Anbu left quickly.

She tried to soothe him the best she could but like any baby they get to a point where they will not stop crying until they have what their little body is demanding and Kichiro was no different. He screamed his little lungs off and she felt bad they had to listen to the wailing baby in the enclosed room. She wished she could be a baby right now since she really needs to use the bathroom but she has held her bladder for hours before, she can do it again though she really isn't sure what is taking Gaara so long. It had to have been at least an hour since Gaara ordered the Anbu to take them away. Biting her lip she really hoped something bad didn't happen.

Kichiro persisted in crying out his demands and she really hoped it wouldn't be much longer. Really it has probably only been a few minutes but they tend to go by slowly when you are waiting on something. A series of knocks sounded at the door before it opened and the Anbu member returned with Kankuro coming in to give Kagome the bottle and drop off the diaper bag.

"Talk about overkill. Why are they in here," he asked the guys thinking it was a bit silly that she is all the way below ground for one half demon that Gaara is wiping the floor with.

Another Anbu showed up, "A second intruder is over the village with white snake things," he informed them.

"Kikyo," she knew it to be true. Just then she felt a pulse with her soul and they could see blue light glow around her making the same pulse. Her arms loosened a little as her eyes lost focus.

The Anbu all looked at her sharply as Kankuro called her name getting no response. The same blue light came out and pulsed again as she grew even more unfocused, barely able to keep with it enough to hold her crying baby. Thinking quickly Kankuro grabbed his nephew from her arms, feeding him the bottle as they tried to figure out what was going on with Kagome. With another pulse it was joined by another and then her soul emerged from her body causing her to arch back with her mouth wide open before it shot out of her. She collapsed to the floor like a lifeless doll causing them to panic. Pushing the baby into the arms of an Anbu member and dropping the diaper bag he rushed off after it with the two Anbu members that just joined the room.

"Gaara is going to be pissed," they tried to keep up with it and grab it but their hands went right through it.

Gaara threw InuYasha out the front door before making the sand spike out to draw blood. With Kagome and their son safe he could now focus on his enemy. "Have you no care that you would be robbing a child of their mother's presence," he watched InuYasha grunt in pain trying not to scream out as the sand soaked in his blood. "I will teach you a lesson that should make you hesitant to ever think about returning here."

Using his sand like a lasso he spun him around in the air before throwing him into the wall of the valley. Riding his sand he was there before InuYasha could remove himself from the impacted area punching him in the gut. He will be happy to spend his sweet time taking his anger out on him.

As it turned into a battle InuYasha did not hesitate to send a windscar right at the village. With no amount of hesitation Gaara protected it with a large amount of sand before he directed it to attack his opponent. Regardless of the attacks sent towards Gaara, even the meidou was useless against him as he merely did a substitution jutsu and took InuYasha by surprise when his hands shot out of the ground and pulled him under up to his waist.

"You frickin sand freak," he yelled at Gaara as he tried to push and pull to get out of the sand.

Kicking the Tetsuiga out of his hands he gave him a penetrating look. "I have a feeling you would only be a worthy enough opponent as a full demon. Now that your sword is gone let your demon blood take over and come at me InuYasha with your full potential and amuse me." He floated on his sand as more of it was weaved around them, picking the sword up to hold on to.

"You want full demon then you got one," he smirked figuring Gaara has bit off more than he can chew. Soon he will realize how wrong that statement was, it was more like in the reverse.

On top of the valley edge Gaara was going at InuYasha with taijutsu, the sand blocking the swipes from the claws if he didn't with his hands. Though stronger physically, InuYasha was barely more than a wild animal with the messier attacks and animalistic growling accenting his looks. Guards stood by watching their Kazekage as he kneed InuYasha in the face before giving him a kick that nearly crushed his ribs. Seeing the demon form of InuYasha hit the ground in a skid he looked unimpressed and let the sword drop on him. Back into his normal state his breathing was labored as he tried to get up.

"I was hoping for more of a challenge but you are even worse as a full demon," he stated as his blood cooled off. "Get out of my sight and never return," he ordered.

Shouting from the village caught InuYasha's ears first as he turned his head to see Kikyo up there calling the soul into her false body. "Looks like you're too late," he somehow pulled off a smug look for all the wincing he is doing.

Turning his head towards the village as well he could see a woman matching the description of Kikyo with a pulsing blue power wrapped around her in a soft glow. Whitish-blue orbs came streaking through the top of the village before slamming into her. With a good punch in the face to the half demon he took off to see what was going on as he felt his heartbeat pick up in the sudden anxiety he felt. Not breaking pace he formed his desert suspension technique easily spotting his brother below with two Anbu, one of them had been assigned with Kagome's protection. Flying up to hover in front of her he could hear the shouts below.

Kikyo looked victorious as the soul she just stole was settling inside her body. Seeing the male that had been attacking InuYasha now in front of her she studied him as the shouting down below continued. "Unless you have something to say I already have what I came for," she remarked feeling better already.

He stared at her in disbelief as he realized she somehow claimed her soul back even with Kagome nowhere in sight. "Kagome," he mumbled as it occurred to him she might be dead or close to dying without her soul back in her body. The idea of her being dead terrified him and he began to tremble with the mixture of emotions until he focused it into the only avenue that will get him some relief. From one blink to the next he shot forward and punched her in the chest right where the soul had shot into her. Her false body gained a hole in it just like if he punched a hole into some pottery. "The dead has no right in stealing the souls of the living. It is time for you to get reacquainted with the afterlife," he swarmed her with sand as she looked at him terrified as souls began escaping her chest but not the one he is looking for. With her captured inside of his sand he heard InuYasha call out to her right before Gaara closed his fist and ended that false life with the crushing power of his sand. "Enjoy hell," he could hear the half demon in the background rushing towards him howling in rage as Kagome's soul emerged. Hearing the attack coming, the sand he just used to crush Kikyo back into the earth and graveyard soil was used to stop the attack just as swiftly before he used it as a whip right on his ribs. "If she is dead I will tear you from limb to limb," he glared at the dog-eared fool. "Keep him here," he ordered out and looked expectantly at the Anbu and his brother since he doesn't know where they put her.

Once he was led to the Anbu headquarters he sped past them already knowing where she is being held. The door was ripped open alarming the three remaining Anbu inside, spotting his son being taken care of while his girlfriend was unresponsive on the floor. They calmed down and stepped back as he fell to his knees next to her putting his hands on her shoulders and leaning down to listen for a heartbeat or her breathing. Her body pulsed and he pulled back just as it did it again. He was on the verge of yelling at her when the soul came shooting into the room and right as she pulsed a third time in front of him it slammed home lifting her body off the ground making her bend forward. Gaara grabbed her before she could hit her head on the hard floor. "Kagome," he whispered worriedly as she went limp in his hold. "Please love, wake up," his voice was near breaking as she failed to stir and her chest failed to rise and fall with an indication of breathing.

Bending down he put his ear to her mouth feeling hope at the shallow breath still going in. Bending down further he tried to distinguish a heartbeat as a frown grew on his face. With a split decision he got up and took off to the hospital needing to get her help. With the use of his sand he flung the doors to the hospital open and called out, "Her heart is failing!" The shout got everyone's eyes on them and then in seconds she was on a stretcher with a medic pumping on her chest to give her CPR as they rushed her off getting an oxygen mask strapped to her head while Gaara was on their heels. No one dared to say anything as he went right into the room with them watching with baited breath for a sign of her going to pull through.

The sand swirled in the gourd as his anxiety took hold. He wasn't sure how much more he can take of this as he squeezed his eyes shut and clenched his fists, his whole body rigid with tension. 'Why isn't she waking,' he needed to know, needed to figure out if there is something he can do to help her.

Kankuro had grabbed the baby stuff and his nephew, heading to the hospital where he will need to change the diaper and check on Kagome. If this keeps up he will not know what will happen. Gaara might snap and rip her former companion to shreds. Really he isn't sure how this might affect him or if he will change permanently. Gaara loves her, he knows this. Looking down at the grunting baby as he worked on a diaper he hoped for both his nephew and brother's sake she pulls through yet again.

The hours went by and Gaara sat in a chair at the waiting room down the hall holding his head, fingers gripping his hair as he tried to keep it together. Her life energy had taken another sharp blow before fully recovering. It was the whole reason she had lived that long without her soul but she could have gone longer had she recovered more. Once again she is in the same condition but now she is hanging on by a thread. Tears gathered in his eyes until the rage began to set in. She wouldn't approve he is sure but he is not about to let the remainder of the duo get away with this. Storming from the hospital he went to where they kept InuYasha on top of the valley trapped in a large block of dirt with only his head visible. With a well-aimed punch he made it crumple to the ground before capturing him with his sand in a similar position.

"Fucking dirt bag is back," InuYasha spat out as he struggled to get free.

Narrowing his aqua eyes he knew exactly what will make him feel even a small fraction better. "I hope you enjoy pain on the receiving end as much as you enjoy being on the serving end. Once again her life is on the line and you are partial to blame. Don't hold back because I won't be," he charged using flash step, appearing behind him as he swung his leg around with a kick that sent him eating dirt worse than when Kagome would sit him.

That is the turn Gaara took until he took a good look at the bloody body before him and felt guilt and a bit like the monster InuYasha is. He didn't feel any true relief, if anything he felt worse because as much as he hates this guy, Kagome still somehow cares about him and torture like this is not him. No, he is a leader of his people and he refuses strike fear in the hearts of the village ever again. With his sand he gathered the unconscious male and after going through the village he put him in a holding cell making sure he is restrained before leaving him there. Outside he looked up at the moon and dreaded going home. He didn't want to shower alone, sleep alone, or eat alone, not after he got so used to having her there with him. His son's face came to mind and he knew that he won't be alone. He still has his siblings, nephew, brother-in-law, and son so he isn't alone but minus the company of Kichiro at home, it will be silent.

Never did he think the quiet would bother him so much but it does now. Even when Kichiro is sleeping he could usually come home to hear her humming before she flashed him a smile in greeting. At night or in the shower he could hear her moans in between their kissing and when their son was awake she would be entertaining him in some form. Closing his eyes he opened the door with a sigh. In the dining room ahead of him his brother sat in a chair helping Kichiro sit up on the table as he helped support his head. It brought a small smile to his lips and that was the first ounce of relief he truly felt.

"This dude doesn't want to sleep yet," Kankuro said conversationally as he watched his younger brother shut the door.

"He must be turning into a night owl," he halfheartedly replied.

Seeing his disheveled clothes, the blood on his knuckles, and dirt Kankuro nodded. "Go take a shower; I'm in no hurry to head home yet. I'm going to busy myself with brainwashing your kid into saying uncle first," he joked even though they both knew he wouldn't be talking for a few months yet.

"Thanks," he headed down the hallway and paused in the doorway of his room feeling the ache in his chest. Tonight he won't be able to sleep in that bed or any bed if at all. Almost like he was on autopilot he entered the bathroom beginning to strip his clothes while his mind remained on his girlfriend in a coma hanging on by a thread. She could be out for days again if not weeks. Turning the hot water on, he took his shower with sluggish movements feeling the dull thudding of his heart pumping in his chest.

It took Kankuro a couple days to finally send news to his sister about the events that took place. Since Gaara got home that first night he has hardly been there since, choosing to rest in the hospital holding Kichiro if has to but refused to sleep or stay at home any longer than he has to. The swing was now in his office behind the desk and the bassinet at the hospital where he slept in a chair by the bed usually slumped over resting his head on her bed. A reply came back from Temari as she decided to leave first thing the following morning to help out even though Kankuro said she doesn't have to this time. After seeing the damage done to InuYasha he was surprised and partially relieved that Gaara didn't return to beat him into a bloody pulp again. It was thankfully not in him to be that type of person.

For now InuYasha was being given at least one meal a day consisting of plain white rice and a glass of water. He sat in his cell listening to the guards who may or may not know he can hear them as they spoke their concerns for the Kazekage, which turns out to be the father of her child. One time InuYasha had met the brother and for how much he tried to ignore him the scowl on the guy's face grew annoying.

"Why is it so easy for you to betray her?" The question went unanswered as those dark eyes tried to pierce him. "You chased after Naraku for years trying to get revenge for what he did to you and Kikyo yet you come after her reincarnation even after she found a man that loves her and a child that needs her. How is what you did any better than Naraku?" He closed his gold eyes and didn't grant him an answer once again. "If she dies I will be surprised if Gaara lets you leave with your life. He may be holding back just in the off chance that she will wake once again but if she dies there will be nothing and no one to hold him back for what he will do to you. She was already robbed of enjoying her pregnancy, even gave birth prematurely with a cracked skull and fractures all over her back, now she is once again missing out on seeing her son grow. Does it make you feel good to know she is suffering and so are the people who love her?" With no response the man left calling him a low-life.

Not even Sesshoumaru beat him this badly to where he is still healing a couple days later. In his mind a part of him thought he should be thinking about his friends back in his era or guilt over his actions towards the last friend he had left but primarily he still thought about Kikyo as if obsessed with her. The warm and welcoming smiles of a girl he promised to protect could no longer reach him. It was only Kikyo.

Looking at how withdrawn his brother has become Kankuro knew by the time two weeks passed that it was a slim chance of Kagome waking up. Even now on day 18 she is still being supported by a breathing tube and fed through a feeding tube, an even worse state than what she was in before. It was upsetting for him and Temari to see their little brother go from being the proud Kazekage with a happy home life to this barely motivated man. He only did as much as he was required before he was right back at the hospital with her again tending to Kichiro.

Walking down the hall of the hospital on the twenty-second day Gaara has once again become a familiar sight to everyone there. Right now his brother and sister had Kichiro so he went to visit Kagome by himself today. In his mind he figured it could be a few more weeks before she came out of it but he didn't want to think like that, it hurt enough to know that the smallest of things could happen and she would wind up dead. Just last night he could hear his siblings discussing any other avenues they have not taken to try and help Kagome. From what he could tell they sent a letter to Shikamaru with instructions to give the previous letter to Lady Tsunade, Sakura, or Shizune. It was all they could think of doing.

"Lord Gaara could you please wait a moment," a medic crossed his path, "a doctor and medics are in there right now with her," he felt his anxiety begin to soar.

"What's wrong," he was tempted to blow right by him and see for himself but the small smile held him still.

"She is breathing on her own now so they are taking the breathing tube out," he gave him news that helped to lift his spirits.

"And Kagome," he hoped for more.

The smile dimmed a little, "Sorry but she is still in a coma. This though is a sign that she is getting stronger." It was uplifting to hear even though it wasn't the greatest news he could live with her making any small amount of progress. "I just request you wait until they are done so no one gets startled," he explained.

"I will, thank you," he headed to the waiting room now anxious to see her without the breathing tube.

At day 27 he once again made his way to the hospital room and found Lady Tsunade as well as her two apprentices leaving the room. It surprised him but he quickened his steps to greet them. "Lady Tsunade, Shizune, and Sakura, thank you all for coming here," he greeted.

Tsunade looked him over and could easily see the stress that clung to his every pore. "Lord Gaara it has been a long time since we have seen one another," she remembered the days of the war where he proved to everyone how capable he is for being so young. "We just got done looking her over so we haven't come up with anything yet. I heard this is not the first time she has ended up like this. I would like to see the medical files she holds here and anything else that might be of help including your son's," she requested, being careful to not diminish or increase any hope in his chest.

You can have full access, I wasn't aware of you coming otherwise you would have had it by now," he explained. "Follow me and we can get everything taken care of," he turned around heading to the reception area. "I will cover your lodging as well," he informed them. Right now he has the best medical-nin known to the shinobi world. They might find something that others could not, he really isn't sure if they could do anything even if they did but they are his best shot at getting her back, taking her further away from death's door.

*no you guys might want to strangle me instead lol