Disclaimer: If Romiko Takahashi ever gives Inu to me, you'll be the first to know, 'cause I'll rub it in everyone's faces. Hahahaha!

A/N: Well, it was a little faster anyway….

Last time: Inu Yasha turned human and Uenho found himself a new 'pet.'

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Chapter 8 – The Price

Inu Yasha spread Kagome's sleeping bag and took a seat on top of it. His mate slid close the door behind her. Kagome stood gazing at her husband for a moment. Inu Yasha taking on his human form never ceased to amaze her. He looked so different, yet the same. But when he raised his gaze to meet hers, there was no doubt he was the same man. His eyes burned with that hidden fire even in their dark brown state. "Well, it's about time? I thought I might have to come find you."

Kagome smiled. "Well, I wanted to be sure to wash up well, so I didn't smell like Kyouko anymore." She had bathed and changed back into her modern clothes. The kimono and haori were being washed, and the maid had said they should be dry by morning.

He snorted, but his eyes twinkled. "Feh, come here wench."

Kagome's smile broadened as she moved to sit beside him on the sleeping bag. She reached out and wrapped a lock of his dark hair around one finger. He responded in kind by cupping her chin and lifting her eyes to his. His thumb idly stroked her cheek as he spoke. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm fine, really. I still can't eat breakfast. But I'm sure that'll go away after a while. Besides that, I feel fine."

Inu Yasha inhaled deeply instinctively searching for the scent of his pup, only to realize in his human form he couldn't possibly smell it. He frowned and Kagome touched his cheek. "What's wrong?"

He groaned. "I hate being human. Humans have such dull senses."

Kagome's smile didn't waver. "Well, I have something that will make you feel better." She pulled the Shikon Jewel from her shirt and over her head.

Inu Yasha blinked at her as she laid it in his palm. For a moment he was puzzled and then he realized that the jewel was flawless. "It's whole. But where did you find the last shard?"

"Yukkana gave it to me. She said she'd been holding for me since I shattered it three years ago."

"She's had it all this time?" Inu Yasha stared at the jewel. It was the source of a great deal of pain in his life. 'So, we've come full circle once more. I wish I'd never heard of this jewel sometimes. If I hadn't, Kikyo might still be alive.' He looked up at Kagome, his love, his mate, his wife, his life, the mother of his unborn child. 'But then again without it, I never would have met and feel in love with Kagome. My life might still be empty and without purpose.' He offered it back to Kagome.

She shook her head and folded his hand over it. "I told you, when it was complete it was yours to do with what you want."

He stared at her for a moment. "In that case, I want to give it to you." Kagome opened her mouth to protest, but he placed a finger on her soft lips to silence her. "You said it was mine, right? Well, I don't want it anymore and besides it really belongs to you anyways."

Kagome smiled and pulled his hand away gently. "I knew you would do the right thing. I always had faith in you."

He blinked his deep brown eyes. "Really? Because I really had no idea what I'd do until you handed it to me just now."

Kagome's smile widened. "I'm your mate. I'm supposed to know these things."

He returned the smile and then sighed. "We'll have to purify it soon. We can't risk carrying it far. If a demon gets a hold of the whole jewel, we could have a real fight on our hands, worse maybe even than Naraku."

Kagome looked down at the jewel. Once it was gone, she would have no way to return to her time. Yes, she'd come to accept the idea mostly and had even said so from time to time, but the real prospect of not seeing her family for five hundred years was a little overwhelming. And a part of her, no matter how insignificant or irrational it might be, still worried that somehow the jewel might send her back to her own time without Inu Yasha. At this point that seemed like a fate far worse than death. She couldn't imagine waking even one morning without him wrapped securely around her.

Inu Yasha's hand gently lifted her chin so she would look up at him. "We could wait until-"

Kagome shook her head. "No, you're right. It's stupid really. Even though I know we'll be together, a part of me is still scared that I could loose you. That somehow I'll be thrown back into the future without you."

He pulled her against him, running his fingers through her long black tresses. "Kagome, you know we'll be together. We saw our son. Spoke to our future selves." He sighed and held her tighter. "I wouldn't let anything separate us in any case. And even if you somehow did get taken from me and sent back to your time, I would be there waiting for you, even if takes five hundred years, a thousand, or even forever. I'll be there waiting for you."

"Oh, Inu Yasha." Kagome lifted her head and captured his lips in a passionate kiss.

Inu Yasha's hand cupped the back of Kagome's head as he deepened kiss. Even without his demonic senses he could sense his mate's heart race and he could almost feel her desire pulsing within her. 'This is going to be tougher than I thought it would be. Even if it is only for a few weeks, until the pup is strong enough.'

"Kagome!" The door slid open suddenly revealing Shippo. He blushed deeply and took a step back. 'I didn't think they'd be….not here anyway…' He had learned some time ago not to disturb the couple when they were in their room with the door shut. However it had been after several poundings from his adoptive father. The hanyou turned human turned to glare at him, but he didn't say anything. "Um, Kai's mother said she had to go home."

Kagome smiled slightly. "It's all right, Shippo. Besides, its time to get some sleep." She paused to yawn. "I'm a bit tired myself."

Inu Yasha watched her with concern. "You should tell me if you're tired."

Kagome patted his hand. "I'm fine, I promise. Don't worry so much, okay?"

He made a face but nodded. "Fine."

Shippo grinned and ran forward to climb into bed with Kagome. He squealed when the hanyou caught him by his tail. "Hey, what's the big deal!"

"We've already had this discussion runt. I sleep with Kagome now."

Shippo's bottom lip poked out as he pouted, but he knew better than to argue with Inu Yasha. Sango had, had a talk with him earlier. She'd told the kit that Inu Yasha would become even more possessive and protective of Kagome now that she was with child. She'd even made him promise not to provoke his surrogate father for Kagome's sake. The little fox was still a bit upset that he no longer got to sleep beside his 'mother' but he wasn't foolish enough to fight for dominance in the situation with a male that had proved time and again that he was a much stronger demon than him. Besides in some strange way, perhaps through instinct, he understood the hanyou's possessiveness of his mate. Shippo's own father had been much the same way over his mother, and had nearly died himself when his mother had been killed.

Shippo decided not to argue and found a comfy place on a folded up futon to sleep. Inu Yasha meanwhile lay down beside his beloved and nuzzled her neck. As he began his soft rumble, Kagome smiled. She fell quickly into dreams wrapped in the warmth and security of Inu Yasha's arms.

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Kagome sat watching Shippo and Kai run circles around Yukkana in the late morning sunlight as she held a ball above her head and grinned as the two kits tried to jump high enough to get it. She felt Inu Yasha's presence before she felt him physically sit behind her. She immediately leaned into him, relaxing as he wrapped his arms around her. "Where'd Miroku and Sango run off to?"

"Feh, who knows. That lech is probably hiding from Sango while he flirts with the maids."

Kagome elbowed her mate. "Inu Yasha! Don't say stuff like that. They're married now, remember?"

Inu Yasha snorted. "And you think that would stop the monk from flirting?"

Kagome frowned and then sighed. "I suppose not. But if he hurts Sango, I swear I'll make her a set of subjugation beads that are even stronger than yours."

Inu Yasha felt a certain pity for the poor monk because he had a feeling that was no idol threat coming from his miko mate.

Kagome turned back to watch Yukkana playing with the two youngsters. The scene tugged at her heart. An idea struck her as she watched them. She pulled the jewel from beneath her shirt and gazed its flawless surface. "Inu Yasha, I think I know how to purify the jewel, a wish that is completely selfless, but will really do some good."

Inu Yasha blinked down at her as he watched her raise her gaze to Yukkana playing with the two kits. He smiled slightly and nodded when Kagome glanced over her shoulder at him. She smiled too, her eyes sparkling with joy and anticipation.

Inu Yasha held her tightly as she clutched the jewel in one hand and prayed.

'Please, Midoriko, hear my prayer, heal the wounds that Yukkana's father inflicted on her and allow her to bear Kyouko's children. Please, Midoriko, hear me and be at peace.' Kagome prayed with all her heart and soul.

The jewel became scalding hot and Kagome loosed her grip on it. It floated free of her hand and for a moment showed a blinding white light, then it shattered into sparkling dust that sprinkled down over them. A soft voice whispered into the wind. "Thank you, I am at last free."

Inu Yasha and Kagome both gasped as they both recognize the voice of the long dead miko, Midoriko.

Across the courtyard, Yukkana suddenly cried out in pain and collapsed. Kyouko, who had been watching from the other side of the yard while talking with his captain, bolted off the porch and to his mate's side. "Yukkana!"

Shippo and Kai jumped away from the unconscious form of their companion as her irrational mate scooped her into his arms. Inu Yasha and Kagome rushed from their place on the other side of the yard. Kagome knelt nearby, but when she attempted to touch the unconscious hanyou the bear demon growled and his eyes flashed green.

Inu Yasha went rigid behind his mate. He wouldn't allow anyone to harm Kagome, even a male full-blooded demon clutching his injured mate.

Kagome set her jaw and narrowed her gaze. "Kyouko, you know very well, I won't hurt her. I'm trying to help."

Kyouko took a deep breath, obviously trying to control his demon urges. He stared down at Yukkana as he shook her gently. "Yukkana, Yukkana, please! Speak to me!"

Kagome attempted again to touch the unconscious woman. This time Kyouko allowed it, though he trembled all over. Kagome gasped. "She's burning up. Lets get her inside, I'll get some water."

Kyouko frowned and then nodded, before standing and carrying his mate into the house.

As soon as they were out of sight, Kagome began to sob. "Kami, what have I done?"

Inu Yasha knelt beside her. "Kagome, don't blame yourself. She'll probably be fine, once her body adjust to what's happened to it. And besides," he lifted her chin so she would look at him. "We made the decision together. It is our responsibility." He wiped away the rolling tears from her cheeks. "Now stop crying. We have to help Yukkana. I'll go get the water." He stood and headed for the well several yards away.

Shippo took the opportunity to question his adoptive mother. "Um, Kagome, will Yukkana be all right?"

Kagome's eyes filled again with tears.

"Shippo!" Inu Yasha snarled and the kit squealed as he was lifted by his tail. "Leave Kagome alone and make yourself useful. Go find Sango and Miroku, let them know what's going on."

"But I don't know what's going on!" Shippo struggled, trying to free himself.

"Feh, ain't it obvious. Yukkana's sick."

Shippo blinked at him. "Oh. Okay."

Inu Yasha unceremoniously dropped him back to the ground. Kai grabbed Shippo's hand. "Come on, I'll help you look for them."

Inu Yasha watched the two scurry away and sighed deeply. "Do you think we did the right thing?" He turned to look at his mate as she stood wiping away her tears. "Was the wish not pure enough? Do you think Midoriko is punishing us for using the jewel?"

Kagome sighed deeply as well as she considered his words. Finally, she shook her head. "No, I think Midoriko was grateful to us. What's happening to Yukkana is probably just some strange side-affect of the healing process." Kagome's heart clenched and she lowered her gaze once more. "This is our fault. I have to help her."

Inu Yasha nodded. "Alright, let's go."

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Deep within the forest in a cave hidden far from prying eyes Uenho sat across the chamber from his new 'pet'. It seemed the creature preferred the dark as it shrunk away from the fire light. Uenho steeped his fingers in thought. 'He will do well indeed, if I can only tame him.' Reaching down to the plate of raw meat before him, he picked up a particularly juicy piece of flesh. Bright gold eyes followed his every movement. Uenho meet the gaze with a steady one of his own.

"Do you want this? You must be very hungry, you have been chained away in the dark for so long. You were forgotten." He methodically ripped the rabbit into strips. "I will feed you. I will remember you. You will never know hunger or loneliness again, if you serve me." He tossed a chunk of meat over the fire and into the darkness beyond. The golden eyes flashed to the meat and then to the demon who had given it to him. In a flash, a pale hand darted out of the dark and snatched away the meat.

Uenho grinned. 'Yes, you will come to worship me.'

Golden eyes again watched him. "Yes, I have more. Do you want more?"

There was a sound like a low growl that emanated from the darkness.

Again Uenho tossed a chunk of meat to his 'pet'. "You will have to speak in order to serve me." Another chunk. "And the rewards will be much greater than mere food. Would you like a mate?"

There was another growl this one deeper and stronger. Uenho laughed aloud. "Although I do not speak dog, I must say that sounded suspiciously like a yes."

He tossed another chunk over the fire. 'This may take some time, but there is great potential in this beast. By the time I'm done with him, he will be a man.'

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It was nearing late afternoon when Yukkana's fever finally broke. Not long after she woke to find herself surrounded by distressed faces. Miroku and Sango stood a few feet away, while at her bedside Kagome and Inu Yasha sat to her right. Her eyes immediately sought out her mate. "Kyouko…"

Beside her a deep sigh of relief was let out and she turned her gaze to meet the very troubled green eyes of her mate. "Yukkana, you're awake. I was so worried. What happened to you?"

She placed a hand to her forehead and closed her eyes trying to recall what had happened earlier. "I don't know…there was so much pain and then….nothing." She tried to sit up, but a small gentle hand forced her back down.

"You shouldn't move yet."

Yukkana quickly agreed with the voice as the room began to spin a bit. She tried to register the voice, it sounded cracked but familiar. "Kagome?"

"Yes, we're here too. Don't try to move around too much, you've been very sick." The sound of soft sobbing came from the young miko and Yukkana tried again to see those around her.

"What's wrong we me?"

"I'm sorry, it's all my fault." Kagome sobbed.

"Kagome don't…" Inu Yasha tried to sound harsh but it came out half choked.

"What! What do you mean it's your fault?" Kyouko glared at the young couple.

Kagome, who'd held her tongue all day, couldn't hold it any longer. "It's my fault. I made a wish on the Shikon no Tama. I wished that Yukkana's scars would heal and that she could bear your children. But I didn't know this would happen. Yukkana, I'm sorry, please forgive me."

Kyouko growled. "You shouldn't interfere in people lives like that! Yukkana knows that I-"

Yukkana's hand on his arm made him stop. "She also knows the pain I have felt at not being able to give you children, my love." He opened his mouth again to protest and again she silenced him with a touch of her hand. She turned her weak gaze to Kagome's watery one. "And the shame and guilt I have felt; the inadequacy as a woman and as your mate. Oh, Kagome, there is no forgiveness to give, instead I should give you all the gratitude in the world. I could give you that and more every day for the rest of my life, and I shall never be able to repay this debt."

Yukkana closed her eyes and a small smile crossed her lips. Kyouko made a gesture and the others stepped outside. After putting a good distance between them and the room his recovering mate now slept in, he turned to glare at Kagome.

"Why didn't you tell me what you had done? Did you think I would not understand?"

Kagome blanched and took a step back. Inu Yasha growled as he stepped between them. "Don't blame her. It's as much my fault as it was hers. And all we wanted to do was to help Yukkana. Neither Kagome, or me would ever hurt her intentionality. So back off fur ball!"

Kyouko's eyes flashed green as he snarled. "If it weren't for Yukkana, I'd snap you in half pup! How dare you think you can interfere in our personal lives like that! You'd better hope she recovers and quickly, for your sake!" He shoved Inu Yasha aside and stormed off toward the mountainside.

"Yukkana wasn't kidding when she said he had a temper like Inu Yasha's." Sango blinked after the bear-demon as he disappeared out of sight around the edge of the house.

Miroku sighed. "What do you expect? Kagome and Inu Yasha put his mate into danger." He put up his hand to stop the three protesting voices that rose up. "Don't get me wrong, what you did was a noble and generous gesture, and a good use of the jewel. But would you like someone interfering in your private affairs with Kagome, Inu Yasha?" The hanyou glared but didn't answer. "You see how he must be feeling. In a manner of speaking, you invaded his territory."

Inu Yasha frowned, his ears folding back unhappily. "I guess I didn't think of it that way."

"Maybe we should have talked to them before making the wish." Kagome twisted a lock of hair around her finger as she pondered Miroku's words.

"I'm sure he'll come around, but let's give him some time." Miroku sat on the edge of the porch and gazed out over the lovely garden in the courtyard.

Sango sighed and sat beside him. 'Miroku's right. I think even I might be a little upset if someone just assumed they could do something like that for me, even if it really was something that in the end would make me happy.'

Kagome frowned. "I'm going to watch over Yukkana."

Inu Yasha's frown was deeper as he watched his rather depressed mate reenter the house. 'Damn that bear. If Kagome stays upset like this, it could hurt the pup.' He growled in annoyance and walked off to sit outside Yukkana's room.

Shippo, who'd been forgotten in the chaos, touched Sango's arm. "Sango, will Yukkana be okay?"

She smiled at the kit, who looked rather lonely. "Yes, I'm sure she will. I don't think Midoriko would ever let anything bad happen to her."

"I don't think Kyouko should be mad at Kagome. She was only trying to help. And that's what your supposed to do, right? Help your friends."

Sango smiled gently. "Yes, Shippo, it is. Kyouko just got his feelings hurt."

"Oh." Shippo looked over his shoulder to where Inu Yasha sat outside the shoji screen leading to Yukkana's room. His adoptive father looked more like he was ready for battle than sitting in the safety of a friend's home. 'Kagome and Inu Yasha are pretty upset too.' An idea struck the young kit and he bolted off the porch and into the yard beyond.

Sango frowned. "I wonder what he's up to."

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Shippo hopped along the path, stopping every once in a while to check the scent he was tracking. His prey was just ahead, unaware and just as volatile as had been a half an hour earlier. Large boulders were overturned in the path and a few had been smashed to pebbles. Shippo paused, half reconsidering his idea and the purpose of his trek. He dug deep down inside him and decided that he had to talk some sense into the rampaging bear. He bounded ahead and stopped short as he found Kyouko sitting quietly on a boulder with his head in his hands.

Shippo approached the large demon slowly. He knew by experience that his presence was already known, so there was no purpose in turning back now. The kit moved to a spot near the bear's foot. "Um…Kyouko?"

A heavy sigh came from the bear. "What is it, kit? Shouldn't you be back with the others."

"Maybe, but I wanted to talk to you."

Kyouko finally looked up. After a few moments of waiting, he growled. "Well, what is it?"

"Um, I just wanted to tell you. Kagome didn't mean to hurt your feelings. She just wanted to help. She didn't think she was doing any harm. Inu Yasha either. He may be a bit rude and an idiot a lot of the time but he didn't mean to be mean. I promise."

Kyouko stared down at the small boy with the fluffy fox tail. Although the boy said it in such a childish way, Kyouko understood that Inu Yasha and his mate really had never meant Yukkana any real harm. He sighed again just as heavily as before. 'The truth is that they've made it possible for Yukkana and I to finally have cubs. How could I be angry with them when they've given us such a wonderful gift? I will have an heir now and I know my aite has worried herself about that, even if she hasn't said as much in years.'

Slowly he returned his gaze to the kit that sat near him. He smiled. "Thank you, Shippo. I think maybe I just needed to hear that."

Shippo glowed. "So you're not mad at Kagome anymore?"

Kyouko chuckled. "No, but aren't you worried that I might be mad at Inu Yasha?"

Shippo smirked. "Nah, you can stay mad at him if you want."

Kyouko chuckled again this time louder. "I think I like you, kit." He stood up. "Come on, let's go find something to eat."

Shippo grinned and hopped to the bear's shoulder. "We don't have to share with Inu Yasha do we?"

Kyouko laughed again as they headed back to the castle.

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A/N: Sorry if this chapter seems short. I felt it was good stopping point though. Hope you all enjoyed it as usual.