Soft voices awoke her from her impromptu nap and she struggled to bring her consciousness around to the surface to understand what they were saying. She felt the bed lean slightly to one side as some one sat down silently beside her and brushed her bangs from her face. The same warm hand gently touched the side of her face and she couldn't help, but lean into the touch with a whimper, slowly allowing her eyes to flutter open. She locked eyes with a pair of worried golden eyes being the only emotion shown on a cold stoic face of the demon lord leaning over her.

"You have finally awoke," he stated obviously. "You've had everyone worried about you, little sister."

"I'm sure they're in a right panic, huh?" she asked with a sigh, realizing that she was back in that room at the temple and the voices outside her door stopped almost as soon as she had spoke.

Not even a moment later as she attempted to sit up in the warm bed by herself was her mate sliding the door aside with a small clack and at her side to help her. She smiled at him while he breathed a sigh of relief holding her small hand in his own while the other hand cupped her face lovingly.

"We were so worried," he breathed leaning over to give her a kiss on the forehead. "I'm glad to see you're okay."

"I'm fine," Kagome said with a smile as Sesshomaru disappeared from her side to sit in a reclusive corner. "What happened?"

"You passed out," Yukina said walking around the bed and taking up the spot that Sesshomaru had just occupied. "I hate to tell you this, but you have almost all the symptoms of mild preeclampsia, so from here on out it's bed rest."

"What?" Kagome gaped. "What the heck is preeclampsia and I can't be on bed rest! I have too many things to do before the kits come to be on bed rest!"

"Kagome, calm down," Yukina soothed with a smile. "Preeclampsia is a fairly common condition that typically develops in the later trimesters of pregnancy. You may also know it as toxemia of pregnancy, but it's an immunologic rejection of the pregnancy, causing the body to have a hostile tissue-graft reaction to the babies. While the exact cause of this condition is unknown I think that you've developed it due to the amount of stress you've been putting on your body in the past few days especially combined with the fact that your human carrying half demon kits. As I'm sure you already know, halfbreed pregnancies hardly make it to term so you need to be especially careful when using your powers in such a draining way, like last night."

"I can't believe you spent an entire night healing a demon!" Kuwabara exclaimed from the open doorway. "That's pretty impressive considering you've only just gotten your powers back!"

"He's right, you should know better Kagome," Kurama scolded gently. "You can't exhaust yourself like that. The kits rely on you for more than nutrition and development, but also your energy."

Kagome sighed, "Look I'm fine, the babies are fine, everyone is fine! I did what I had to given the situation and there's no changing that!" she said sending a pleading look to Sesshomaru to save her, but he simply folded his arms over his chest. "So, I'm on bed rest, big deal? I'll just have to make due all over again!"

"Kagome it's not that simple," Kurama said sternly. "This is serious and could get worse than it already is."

"So yeah, sit there and make her worry about it is really going to help," Yusuke snorted standing next to Kuwabara.

"Yusuke, stay out of this," Kurama sighed glaring over his shoulder at the black haired man.

"Hey, don't get mad at him just because he's got a point that you don't agree with," Kagome snapped. "Look, Kurama, I understand, this sucks, I get it, but sitting there and freaking out over it isn't going to help the situation," she said more softly than before, putting her hand on his arm before turning to Yukina. "Is there anything else I can do to help?"

"You've got to go on a low salt diet and enjoy some peace and quiet, but other than that, there isn't much until you're able to deliver," Yukina answered honestly. "If it gets any worse then we'll have no choice, but to induce labor, but as long as you're doing as you're told I don't see us having a problem."

"Great, see?" Kagome asked looking at Kurama smugly. "No worries, I'll just have to get a baby sitter and lock my Grandpa and brother into a closet for the next couple of months."

"Well you could just come and stay at my apartment like we were originally planning," Kurama suggested.

"Yeah, but if I stay at home then Mama will be there to take care of me," Kagome replied with a shake of her head. "I'll just have to use ear plugs or something to relax with."

"Woman, this Sesshomaru will see to it you are taken care of at the fox's place," Sesshomaru said flatly. "You will stay where it's best for you."

"You're not seriously trying to pull alpha on me, are you?" Kagome questioned disbelievingly.

"This Sesshomaru does not try, only succeeds," was his only arrogant reply.

Confused Kuwabara looked the strange lanky man over, "What the heck is pulling alpha?"

"He's a dog demon," Yukina explained gently turning towards the ignorant boy. "Kagome and Sesshomaru are pack to one another and in a pack there is always one alpha and all others in the pack are forced to listen to that alpha or suffer the consequences."

Kuwabara couldn't help but laugh at the recently malnourished Sesshomaru attempting to pull alpha on a strong and powerful Kagome, earning him a glare and a low growl.

"Do you have a problem, human?" Sesshomaru asked threateningly.

"No, not at all," Kuwabara snickered.

"Sesshomaru, please don't maim the stupid," Kagome said with a sigh.

"Hey I resent that!" Kuwabara frowned.

"Come on buddy, let's go grab a beer," Yusuke said when he saw Yukina's shoulders slump slightly in agitation.

Kagome didn't miss how she looked gratefully at Yusuke dragging his orange haired best friend away, but she kept her comments to herself in favor of waiting until they were alone. She relaxed against the pillows as Yukina and Kurama discussed exactly what she could and could not do which was pretty much everything except going to the bathroom on her own which she was thankful for. Sesshomaru was watching them indifferently, but she knew that he was soaking up all that they were saying despite his outward appearance. Finally after a few more moments Yukina declared that so long as someone monitored her for the rest of the night that she would be okay to go home with Kurama. Kagome sighed with relief and moved to stand up only to be stopped gently in favor of being carried in Kurama's warm embrace. For the moment she enjoyed the pampering though, she knew by the end of the week she was going to be absolutely insane. When he had taken her back to the car, she put on her seat belt and turned with an apologetic look to Sesshomaru camped out in the backseat.

"I'm sorry we didn't get to buy you some clothes today," she said with a frown that earned her a very flat look. "Don't look at me in that tone of voice, mister! Ugh, what happened at the museum, then?"

"The halfbreed wrote you a check she said would take a few days to process at your bank, but otherwise shouldn't give you any problems," he replied shifting his gaze out the window dully where Kurama was discussing something with the dark haired boy from earlier.

"Do you know how much she wrote it for?" Kagome asked uncertainly.

"The same amount quoted on the slip of paper you fainted with."

"Jesus Pickles! That much?!" she shreiked causing Sesshomaru to flinch slightly. "Ohmygosh! That's like a million dollars!"

"Yes, I believe that's what Kurama explained to me," he nodded. "We've agreed that in exchange for my care and rehabilitation in to society that the money would be split. One half will be for you and the kits, the other half will be to cover my living expenses."

"Sesshomaru, I highly doubt your living expenses could ever amount to that much," Kagome said with a shake of her head. "Heck I don't even know if we'll be able to spend all of that, so I'm sure some of it will go into savings to draw interest and build us up a good retirement fund."

"Little sister, you are rambling," Sesshomaru said with a sigh.

"Sorry," she said as Kurama slipped into the car.

"Though I would make the suggestion that you invest in a larger vehicle," Sesshomaru added as an afterthought.

Kagome giggled, "I had already planned on it."

"What's wrong with my car?" Kurama asked as he started the engine.

"Honey, it's tiny, and we have a big family now," Kagome answered still laughing slightly. "I'm not going to attempt to fit both Sesshomaru and the twins in that back seat when Sesshomaru alone can barely fit."

"Then we'll just have to get you a van," Kurama nodded. "I'll still have to have something to get back and forth to work once I start at the company."

"So we're building then?" she asked hopefully.

"Yes, I spoke to the contractor that Hojo recommended and he gave us a very reasonable quote for a house as I described to him, though he said that could raise given how much land he and his team would have to clear," Kurama replied backing out of his parking spot.

"We're moving out here right?" Kagome asked curiously, looking around sensing for the first time the small demons and creatures hidden in the forest. "Well, I mean not right here, but somewhere out here right?"

"Yes," Kurama nodded. "We'll drive by our protion of land on the way back into town as a matter of fact and I think you'll like it."

"Really?" Kagome asked excitedly.

Kurama nodded and pulled out onto the highway. They didn't say much as Kagome just hummed with the radio. Sesshomaru was silent as always, but being ever so watchful. The world as he knew it had changed so drastically. He knew that he had been imprisoned for almost five hundred years for his pack sister to be here, but it hadn't seemed so long. In reality he knew this was because he was partially insane for the majority of his incarceration, thinking himself a pup again. Thanks to her, he was on the mend, but at what costs? Selflessly she had put herself at risk as she was prone to do, but at the same time she had put the lives of her children growing within her. Granted, that it wasn't a risk she was fully aware that she was taking, because knowing her, she thought her kits energy separate from her own.

So in all he couldn't fault her, but he certainly couldn't understand her either. Even when he first made her pack he didn't understand her. Her compassion for all creatures was so great that it often got her into trouble with those who she sought to protect, the humans. She cared for demon, human, and halfbreed alike, caring not for their blood ties, but for their souls, the essence that made them an individual. Which was how she had gotten herself transported back to this time where she was struggling to fit in, while the instincts that had been honed in the feudal era to keep herself alive told her everything was a danger. Mentally he rolled his eyes. That would be just like her to keep her real feelings hidden from everyone while plastering that infuriating fake smile on her face that he doubted even her mate had a hard time seeing around as he was.

Just like his Rin... He tried to shove the thoughts away before they could assault his mind, but he failed miserably. Her smiling face, her sweet laughter, her warm loyal nature. It seemed despite her rough childhood she was always so happy, especially when he came to love her. Unconsciously he tightened his fist damning himself for not being there for her. For not being able to save her, because of allowing himself one moment, one precious moment of happiness with her. She cried for him of course when they came to take him away for killing the pathetic mortals who would dare touch what was his. She pleaded for him, begged them not to take him away from her, she screamed and tried to fight them off herself when it seemed the fools weren't going to listen had he not been there to stop her. Knowing the fight would be futile and ultimately result in his loss, he had held her close in a rare fit of emotion that caused him to temporarily take leave of his senses. He had kissed her before sending her away on a cloud of his own power smiling at her happily, the only time in his life to have done so before facing what he thought would be his death. He fought until he was sure she was safe back at his palace, before unleashing his beast and taking down as many officers as he could until finally they took him down. He barely remembered being held on trial with the arrogant King Enma before he was beaten savagely while bound and then tossed into that damn warded cell.

Watching the budding trees as they passed he remembered the pathetic officers who would taunt him, until his beast raged and he charged the barrier keeping him sealed giving them the excuse to beat him mercilessly. He growled remembering the wards served a double purpose, to not only confine him but to also drain his strength and lock away his demon energy inside him, making even something so simple as using his poison claws useless. So lost in his memories he never realized that they had stopped until a warm hand on his leg and a soft voice brought him from his reverie.

"Sesshomaru, look we're here," she said with a smile that made his heart hurt.

He gazed out at the dirt road they were parked on on the crest of a hill over looking the outlying land with an uninterested expression. In truth he recognized this place even with both the natural and man made changes made to it. This was his home. For once since he had been out in the real world again he perked up looking around before he almost clumsily clamored out of the tiny death trap Kagome called a car. He sniffed the air tentatively, for just a moment before he took off like a shot into the woods. Before Kurama could stop her Kagome was out of the car, though she didn't go far, calling after him. With a sigh Kurama simply picked her up and carefully took off after the once mighty demon lord.

Wrapping her arms around his neck Kagome sighed, enjoying the rushing wind as it blew her hair from her face. The big difference between Inuyasha and Kurama that she enjoyed imensley was the grace with which they ran. Inuyasha had not a graceful bone in his body while Youko had always just screamed with nobility even in this form. Her trip was stopped short when they came to a large clearing with the decaying foundations of what looked to be a once great castle. Sesshomaru wasn't in sight but she doubted that he was very far away even without using her senses. The crumbling fortifying wall that was built around the compound was missing in places and though the huge opening frame still stood, the once carefully crafted doors were gone.

Kurama readjusted her in his arms holding her closer when she gasped before he stepped through the gate opening to see the full extent of damage of what he was sure was once the Palace of the Moon. The palace itself had been built on a grand hill that had been shaped into three round pavilions, each level holding another level of his palace, the dog demon family's original den before the elegant palace had been built by Sesshomaru's grandfather on top when their family had grown into a small army, though it was his father who took control of the territory, claiming it from the other feuding demon lords of the north and south. The Palace of the Moon had been once a center of all demon commerce for those of the Western Territory. With its towering pagoda structure it had been an inspiring sight of power, wealth, and elegance for all those who saw it while the vast landscaping inside its strong outer walls had been like the arms of a protective mother securing the inhabitants that had filled the valley with a feeling of safety.

Ahead of them they could see Sesshomaru standing where the pagoda palace had once stood. Over looking everything that was once his to protect and preserve. His hands became like fists at his sides and shook with fury at the egregious wrong he had suffered in coming to love something outside of himself. His eyes turned red as he snarled seeing for himself just how far he had fallen. He cursed his own stupidity, because despite his own strict code of honor he had allowed one simple human girl to cause the downfall of an empire. His face elongated where clothing had once adorned his body, fur took it's place. Where once stood a lanky and haggard man became a large shaggy white dog. He raged slamming his paws to the earth before circling the area his home had once stood while Kagome and Kurama watched from just inside the gates.

One girl, one human girl, one pathetic mortal had ruined him! Here he was with nothing! Weakened by years of malnourishment and ill treatment, a far cry from the Lord he once was! He howled to the setting sun, letting all those who could hear him know of his torment. It was enough to bring tears to the eyes of his pack sister and yet he found he didn't care. Nothing mattered without Rin to be by his side. Panting he collapsed on the top pavilion taking up almost the entire space with his enormous body facing the setting sun, his back to the rising moon. As much as he blamed Rin for everything, for his downfall, he loved her despite it. Whimpering, he realized that he hadn't lost everything when he was incarcerated.

He had lost everything when he lost her.