And here it is, chapter 25! Criticize without flaming, give me your opinions and enjoy the story!

-Jack Knights

"Alright Sesshomaru, what do you want to do today?" Kagome asked the demon lord. He looked at her and shrugged. She frowned at him and rested her chin in her hands. After nearly three straight days of being cooped up in her house without being able to leave, she was feeling the strain and found it hard to keep her cheerful demeanour up.

The fact that Sesshomaru was as bored, more so than she was,wasn't helping any. She sighed and looked around the kitchen. She had already baked her fair share of cookies, cakes and muffins to last until next year. She had no school until mid July, nearly two months off, and yet her homework was already finished, thanks to Sesshomaru. Television and Internet had lost their appeal; there was nothing exciting about either of them anymore. Her friends had gone on vacation and her mother was spending nearly every night at the hospital.

"Look, I am trying to keep things interesting here, but it's not easy when I've got a sulking demon to deal with," she said, sounding bitchy. Not to mention I'm bored out of my freaking mind!

"Sorry," he murmured, turning around to face her completely. He was dressed like a human; jeans and a graphic t-shirt, sneakers that were no doubt to small for him. It was a strange contrast to his silvery hair, away from his face in a long tail, slightly pointed ears and demon markings on his cheeks and wrists. He looked so out of place and she sighed.

"No, I am; I didn't mean to snap at you," she said and he nodded, the only sign he accepted her apology. "You've been really quite, wanna tell me what's up?"

"Something has been bothering me," he said slowly, narrowing his eyes. "About that night… the dead woman, she had the Shikon Jewel around her neck."

"Yeah, I saw it," Kagome muttered, thinking back to the scene when the black pitiless orb swayed in front of her face, taunting her. "Look, I don't know how she got it, and to be honest, I don't want to. She can't keep it though, so we have to find a way to take it from her and set things right."

"I already tried hunting her down," Sesshomaru said, shaking his head. "I can't sense her, or my half-brother anymore. They've both vanished."

"Do you think it could be a Fuyoheki that's stopping you from sensing them?" she wondered out loud. "Naraku pulled the same stunt, remember?"

"True…" he said, rubbing his chin.

"Too bad it's not like we can go back and get some of those shards to detect one, huh?" she said, feeling counterproductive again.

"Even if we could," Sesshomaru said, surprising Kagome by including her, "we would have no idea where they might have gotten it from. Hence, those jewels from the mountain demon wouldn't work anyway."

"I know, just thinking out loud here," she muttered. Way to make me feel stupid… "Look, InuYasha can't come through the Sutras and Kikyo is probably still healing herself after that blast you gave from the Tetsusaiga, so we do have some time to think this through."

"I don't like it," he said suddenly. "She was human, wasn't she? And then she became my brother's undead mistress…"

Kagome cringed at his referral to what Kikyo was to InuYasha. Not that she hadn't expected it by this point, but hearing it was still a sting. "And now she's a… well, she's a demon, isn't she?"

"I couldn't tell," he said, shrugging.

"If she isn't a demon, or a human, then what is she? Kikyo's not a half-demon, that's for sure."

"But then, what is she? And how did she come across the Jewel?" he said, looking her in the eyes. Kagome shook her head, feeling confused. I don't think it's really a matter of what she is, but who she is now.

"Hey, Kagome, wake up already! You're gonna be late!" came a voice on the edge of her dreams. She rolled over, not really caring about school work anymore. Wait a minute… I don't have classes right now, she thought as her mind began working despite her need for more sleep. Kagome rolled over, eyes closed and tried to sleep again.

Someone roughly shook her shoulder and Kagome's eyes flew open. Annoyed, she rolled over, and nearly off the bed when she noticed InuYasha was sitting on the bed, his hand on her shoulder. What the hell?! How did he get past my Sutras? I have to scream, something! Sesshomaru, where the hell are you?

"Come on, get dressed, we've got things to do today, Kagome," he said, looking at her. She blinked again, her mouth hanging open when she realized she was looking at a very human InuYasha. His black hair was short, modern cut and he wore a brown suit. "Hey are you OK?"

I'll be better when you get the hell away from me and Sesshomaru kicks your ass out of my… bedroom? Her thoughts trailed away when she took in her surroundings. She was in a large bed, pale orange sheets around her, modern fixtures around the room. Pictures of her family adorned the walls, along with those of her friends from the Feudal Era, now long dead.

This isn't my house! Bewildered, she looked back at InuYasha, not bothering to try and hide her fear. He returned her gaze, and he put a hand to her forehead.

"What's got you so spooked?" he said calmly, his features pinched in worry. You and the fact that I'm in some stranger's house!

"N-nothing," she managed and she threw the covers off and jumped off the bed. Kagome stood in the middle of the room, feeling utterly lost when a sharp pain hit her spine and she double over on the soft carpet.

"Hey! The doctor told you not to over-exert yourself, Kagome!" he said, his voice loud with concern. The doctor… bullshit! My foot is fine, no thanks to you snapping it! A hand went to her belly and she jerked back, slapping InuYasha's hand.

"What the hell has gotten into you, Kagome?" he said sharply, pulling her up under her arms. "Are you crazy? Do you want something to happen to the baby?"

Baby? The word hit her like a ton of bricks and she looked down, letting her hand fall to her stomach. It was swollen, not overly though, but the beginnings of a pregnancy were obvious. Kagome shook, unable to deal with it all. A human InuYasha, a stranger's house, a baby in her womb; it was too much and she collapsed.

"Dammit Kagome! Stay with me!" InuYasha shouted as he stopped her from falling. "Someone get a doctor, call the hospital!"

Kagome looked at the ceiling, feeling her mind go numb so she wouldn't have to think. The black edges on the border of her sight grew and she let the unconsciousness take her under.

"Stay with me," came InuYasha's voice as her mind went blissfully blank.

"Stay with me, Kagome," Sesshomaru was saying, repeating himself as he watched her convulse in his arms. When he had heard her thrashing in the middle of the night, he left his room without a second thought and went to her. He was joined shortly after by Kagome's brother and the two men watched in horror as she battled with her nightmare.

"Leave her alone!" Souta said loudly. "You're gonna hurt her!"

"Touch me and die," he warned, and Souta backed off, but not out. He stood as close as he dared, arms crossed, looking thoroughly angry and worried at the same time. Kagome screamed, pulling their attentions back to her. A quick harsh yelp escaped her and she went limp in his arms. Panicked, Sesshomaru pulled her full into his arms, cradling her like a child.

"What the hell! Is she…" Souta nearly screamed himself.

"No, she's breathing," Sesshomaru answered, feeling no more assured than Souta. Kagome groaned once and her eyes fluttered open. She turned to look at Sesshomaru and she screamed in surprise.

"Don't touch me!" she shouted, pushing away from him. She scrambled into the farthest corner of her bed, hugging her knees to her chest, shaking violently. Sesshomaru looked at Souta, confused; the young man returned the look in turn.

"Kagome, it's me… Sesshomaru," he said, putting his hand out, palm out. She shrieked and shook her head.

"You left me with him," she said, babbling. "I live with him, but not here, not now or then. They're dead, he's dead," she said looking at Souta, "you're gone and I'm…" a hand flitted to her stomach and she sobbed.

"Kagome, I haven't gone anywhere; I never left, not even for a second," Sesshomaru assured her. She looked up at him, her eyes clear of the irrational fear they had held a few moments ago. "It was a nightmare, nothing happened to you. You're fine, you're safe."

She nodded, seeing the reality of the situation. The adrenaline left her and her shoulder's sagged. Inching forward, she swung her legs over the bed and put her head in between her knees. Unsure what to do, Sesshomaru put a hand on her forearm, and when she jerked away, he pulled back, hurt.

She honestly thinks I did something to her, to hurt her…

"Kagome," Souta said, dropping to his knees in front of Kagome. "Everything's fine, you had a bad dream, that's all."

"I know," she whispered. But she didn't sound convinced. "Go, please."

"What?" he said, looking her in the eye when she lifter her head again. She was pleading with him, Sesshomaru realized, but Souta remained where he was.

"Leave me alone with Sesshomaru," she said quietly. "Please, Souta," she added when he went red in the face. He got up quickly and with a nasty look thrown at Sesshomaru, he left, slamming his door shut. Sesshomaru sat next to her, feeling awkward. When he motioned to leave, she grasped his hand in an iron grip, her eyes pleading with him to stay. He reluctantly sat back down.

"Don't go, please," she muttered, bowing her head. "Promise me you'll stay."

He nodded and she sighed in relief. Kagome leaned against him, and her light weight felt stifling to him suddenly. He forced himself to relax, unsure why he had suddenly grown tense.

"You didn't leave me?" she asked softly.

"Not for a single moment."

"Then," she mumbled, a hand going to her stomach, "I was dreaming? None of it was real?"

"Yes, nothing was really happening to you," he assured her and he tried to jerk back when she suddenly sobbed against him. As quickly as it had came, she calmed again, slumping even more into him. He shifted, trying to make her comfortable, despite him not liking the situation one bit.

"Don't let me fall back asleep, 'K?" she said.

"Of course," he said, wishing she would anyway.

"Don't… let the dreams… come again, please," she begged as she fell back asleep.

"They won't come," he muttered. Not tonight they won't.

"Good… thanks, Sesshomaru… for not leaving me behind."

"How is she doing?" Ms. Higurashi asked Sesshomaru. She came home from the hospital early that morning, and despite looking worse for wear, she was alert and worried.

"She had a traumatic night terror," Sesshomaru said, looking over his shoulder at Kagome's sleeping form. She had finally fallen into a deep enough sleep for him to lay her down. "She seems alright now, and I don't think she'll have another again."

"Thank God," said the relieved woman, a hand going to her heart. "I worry about her so much…"

"It is what a mother does," he commented. She looked at him, not surprised, but more understanding, and nodded. Kagome breathed deeply and she moved under the sheets. "I'll leave you two alone."

"Thank you, Sesshomaru, for keeping her safe," she said as he walked away. He nodded once in return and she went to her daughter, speaking in hushed tones. Sesshomaru blocked out their conversation, going down the stairs. He met Souta on his way down, the young man looking weary and sleep-deprived.

He looked up at Sesshomaru and his face pinched in loathing. Sesshomaru blinked and tried to walk around him, but Souta stood his ground. Looking down at him through narrowed eyes, Sesshomaru noticed uneasiness cross his face, but he made no comment.

"What do you want?" Sesshomaru said, tired of his attitude. Souta at his feet, his face hidden by his pillow hair. "Fine then," he said when he got no answer, heading for the door.

"Sesshomaru," Kagome's brother said without turning around to face him. "I wanted to…well, thanks," he said, clearly battling with himself.

"What?" Sesshomaru said, surprised.

"I won't say it again," Souta said, going up the stairs hurriedly. The demon shrugged to himself, unsure what to make of Souta anymore. Grabbing Tetsusaiga, he opened the door, the smell of spring heady in the air. He breathed it in and smiled inwardly. There is no day like today for training.

Ha! You thought I was going to continue with the chapter, didn't you? Well, too bad, so sad; there's more than enough to keep yourself occupied with for now.

I actually don't have much to say about this one, I kinda liked it, mostly didn't, but it got the points across well enough without muddling up the purpose. Hope you enjoyed it!

-Jack Knights