Chapter 51: Stolen Moments


Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha. I am merely borrowing him and toying around with the poor thing.


Guys, I'm sorry that this chapter was such a bitch to post. And I'm fully aware of how long you've had to wait, and I apologize for that, too. I'm sorry. Really sorry. I'd hug you all if I could, but... Anyway, things are kind of busy for me. I haven't had much time to write, and I can't promise that the next chapter won't take a little while, but it'll but much sooner than this last one took. Sorry again! And Love to all!
This chapter is dedicated to -Just a Random Person- --because I love "ridiculously long" reviews! You rock!
Also, someone asked if I winged it--my writing--and the truth is...sorta. When I first got the idea for the story, it was the next chapter. I wrote the next chapter I'm going to post first, and then went back and created points that I -meant- were going to be addressed (Sesshoumaru saving Kagura, Kagome "killing" a human, pregnancy, etc.). Later I went back and hopefully connected those points smoothly. If not, sorry again. Now, on with the story! I think you've certainly waited long enough...
Kagome winced at the sun's overwhelming brightness as her feet touched the grass and watched her mate reposition her bags on his shoulders. With a sigh, she began walking away from the well. "For the last time, Inuyasha, I did not let Kouga put his hands all over me."

"That bas—"

"—It was just a routine exam. Just like the last time. And the time before that. And the time before that."

The look the hanyou shot her told her that he was clearly displeased.

She simply could not deal with this right now. She tried to walk away, but suddenly Inuyasha was in front of her, bent on finishing the argument (apparently he thought he could win), a bad judgment on his part. But then he saw the warning look in her eyes, and, with an angry sniff, turned back around and walked with her.

She loved her mate. Undoubtedly, unquestionably, truly, head-over-heels, you-make-me-melt loved him. But right now she didn't like him. The finely woven threads of her patience had been slowly unraveling as of the past several months, and now they were irreparably frayed. And she wanted to blame Inuyasha, who had coddled her, and sheltered her, shielding her from virtually all contact from anything that breathed. Or was sharp. Or even remotely interesting.

Suddenly she wasn't allowed to go on walks through the village anymore. Not without her mate, who glared at anything or anyone that approached too fast. She now looked forward to the rare attacks on the village, hoping that Inuyasha might be a little too preoccupied to dote on her—this also proved to be false, as Inuyasha quickly eliminated every assailant with almost feral strength and deliberation. Nothing foreign ever came within a hundred yards of her. Her bow remained unused, except for sparse practices—which have become more and more frequent within the last couple of weeks. Remedy for her frustration.

As much as she loved it when Inuyasha was around, she hated being smothered. She hated having to be escorted to the hot springs, no matter if Sango and Hiraikotsu were with her. She hated being under constant surveillance—as if she was a helpless child.

Her brow furrowed.

Inuyasha had forgotten how strong she really was, and now she felt like she was crumbling.

A jolt in her stomach caused her to start and retreat half a step. For a moment, she didn't know if it was her own reaction to her thoughts, or if it was the baby.

Inuyasha, sensing her surprise, turned on his heel, his eyes resting on her swollen stomach before flicking to her face. His hand instinctively reached for Tessaiga—a symbol of his control over things around him.

'Great—he thinks I'm going into labor and his first thought is "Ooo, grab the big sword!"' She knew that it wasn't entirely fair of her to ridicule her mate's deep-seeded paranoia, but at the moment, she honestly didn't care.

The initial surprise that had registered on his face disappeared completely as he faced her, full-body, with knitted brows. "Kagome?"

She frowned crossly at him, rubbing her stomach placatingly. "You upset the baby, Inuyasha." She walked past him toward their house.

"How did—" he began angrily, then thought better of it, lowering his voice. From the corner of her eye she watched him clench his fists, trying to calm himself. "How did I upset the baby?"

She stopped. Turned. Faced him. Studied him with an inscrutable expression. He grew uncomfortable under her unwavering gaze. Finally she said, "Inuyasha. Sit."

Reigning in a stream of curses, he was pulled into the ground as gravity betrayed him. After a moment when the spell began to wear off, he glared at her, still struggling not to upset her further with his angry words. "I'm sorry," he gritted out as she continued to watch him expectantly. It actually hurt him to say that.

With a disgusted sigh, she grabbed at her hair. "You are driving me crazy, Inuyasha! Do you hear me? Crazy!"

His eyes widened as he pushed himself to his feet. He hadn't seen her like this since his fight with Kouga about a year ago—shortly after he'd asked her to be his mate. He tried to pull her to him, but she shoved him away, her face twisted with something he couldn't comprehend. Not from Kagome.

She stilled suddenly. "Call me a bitch."

"Kagome…what…?" He was confused, and even appeared to be frightened for her, his ears plastered to his scalp.

An aggravated growl escaped from her throat. "You treat me like I might break at any moment! You won't let me go to the bathroom by myself anymore! You won't even yell at me! What's wrong with you? I'm pregnant, not terminally ill! This baby is not killing me—nothing else is either. But it feels like you are. You're smothering me! I can't breath, Inuyasha! I can't…"

With a sigh, the hanyou's eyes softened, and he pulled his protesting mate into his arms. She continued to push weakly at his chest, but he didn't release her, though he did pick up on the faint scent of tears.

"I hate you," she murmured in her upset, wincing when she felt his body stiffen against her. She could only see his chest, but she was sure she didn't want to see the look on his face. "…That's not true…you just…I can't live this half-life, Inuyasha. You have to trust that I can protect myself and our baby. I won't let anything happen to him." She relaxed a little when she felt his lips brush her forehead.

Silence reigned in the meadow for a few minutes until her mind calmed, brushing against her mate's apologetically. Her fingers slowly unclenched, releasing his fire rat robe. She felt better than she had in weeks, now that she'd released all of her anger that had been building upon itself, though she was a bit ashamed of herself. Inuyasha had yet to say anything to her.

"Fine."

She looked up at him, but he was gazing over her head, still holding onto her waist. "You can go to the bathroom by yourself…I guess." He grinned warily at her, and she hit him one more time for good measure.

"Baka."

"At least take Sango with you when you go to the hot springs. And carry your bow. At all times. And so help me, Kagome…if you get hurt, I'll never let you out of my site again. Ever."

She smiled up at him, grabbing his hand and dragging him toward their house. "I know." Suddenly she felt as though she hadn't spent the last several weeks under constant serveilance.

"You also know that I don't like this at all?"

"Yeah, I know it."

He frowned, planting both feet on the ground and twirling her around to face him. "I mean it, Kagome. Don't make me regret this."

She saw the unconcealed worry in his amber eyes, and tried to understand what her newfound freedom was costing him. He'd been relying on his instincts before, but now, he'd have to battle them every time she felt like taking a walk through the village. Her smile was sad and small, but genuine, as she placed a hand on his arm. "I won't," she promised.

He remained quiet, even as they walked into their house. Kagome immediately began unpacking her things while Inuyasha slumped against the wall, the Tessaiga resting in his lap.

Setting aside a cup of ramen, she stood, offering him her hand. "I feel terribly dirty," she said a little too softly.

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow, but grabbed her hand nonetheless, lifting himself to his feet.

"But I don't want to bother Sango at the moment," she told him, a small pout claiming her lips. "Maybe you could walk me to the springs?"

When a hand rolled down his chest, the eyebrow lowered again in favor of rolling his eyes. Trust Kagome to try to seduce him after her nervous breakdown. This happened the last time. And at the hot springs, too. He humored her. "So we'd be alone? At the hot springs?"

She smirked at him, a hand clenching his obi.

If she could play the pregnant seductive mistress, then by God, he could play the coy innocent. He frowned, glancing down at her hand and then back up at her. "Are you sure you don't want me to get Sango? I didn't think you wanted me to follow you around anymore."

"Inuyasha…" The hand lowered a little, and he tried not to gasp.

"I mean…after that argument back there…I'm not sure I feel comfortable being alone with you in the forest. They'd probably never find my body—"

"Inuyasha!" She thumped him on the arm and he laughed, leaning forward to kiss her lips.

"Let's just go, wench."


Inuyasha sat silently with his back against the sturdy tree trunk, one leg stretched out in front of him, the other dangling off the limb. A hint of a smile played across his face as he watched his comrades, his friends, work outside in the autumn heat, and a small breeze carried laughter to his ears after Miroku apparently told a joke that both Kagome and Sango found funny.

His mate had tied a piece of twine to two trees, and the two women were hanging clothes on it while Miroku stood, leaning against the wooden walls of his hut, and making comments to Sango, which were perverted, in Inuyasha's opinion. Kagome, however, found it "oddly romantic".

"He can't change who he is, Inuyasha. Those comments are how he tells Sango that she's beautiful. It's sort of sweet. …And oddly romantic."

The slayer wasn't nearly as optimistic about the monk's intentions as Kagome was. She'd slap him or threaten his manhood if he touched her in public. Still, Inuyasha saw her smile when she would turn her back on him, and it confused the hell out of him. Not to mention that her smile is a little scary after witnessing her glare day after day. And the boomerang…that was scary, too. Sango could easily kick the monk's ass—Inuyasha had no doubts about that. It didn't matter how skilled a fighter Miroku was; Sango was a demon slayer. Yet she put up with his endeavors, as Miroku called them.

He watched Kagome, who was deep in conversation with Sango now, fold another piece of cloth over the twine, her yellow sundress ruffling in the continuing breeze. A sense of complete satisfaction settled upon him, and he didn't miss her hand roam over her swollen belly. Only two more weeks…or so Kouga claims. Actually sixteen days. …Inuyasha was counting, which both future flea bag-bastard (Kouga) and future ass (Shippou) found amusing and incredible.

Counting or no, he was happy.

And it scared him.

The sense of complete satisfaction wasn't the only thing that washed over him. Apprehension had seized him, too. Things had been quiet for the last several months. Too quiet. After the whole ordeal with Kagura being abducted, Sesshoumaru almost kicking it, and Kikyou shooting Kagome, things appeared to be settling down, the exception being a few minor demon attacks. Nothing to work up a sweat over. Inuyasha found it kind of disappointing—especially after fights with Kagome. He sometimes wanted an unsuspecting youkai to come across his path then.

There had been no sightings or even rumors of Naraku ever since he'd walked through that portal that day.

Kagome's nightmares seemed to have stopped, as well, and though she never mentioned them, that didn't mean a damn thing to Inuyasha. Things were going too well—something was up. And then he remembered Kagome reading one of her school books aloud while she was studying. She thought he hadn't been listening.

"For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction."

Now Inuyasha wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but he could grasp the meaning of equal and opposite. And after Kagome's near-breakdown four days ago, he'd promised to try to give her more privacy—something that didn't help his apprehension in the least, though they'd been closer in the past few days than they had been in the last two months.

It was strange, the feeling that things were about to change. It had even bothered him to the point that he'd confronted Miroku about it—not that the damn monk had been of any help. His remedy was a pat on the shoulder and the quip that "having a child is nothing to take lightly".

Inuyasha frowned.

Sometimes he really disliked the monk.

Brows furrowing as the strangeness of it all returned, the hanyou repositioned himself, seeking out Kagome's scent once again, trying to comfort himself.

He carefully reached into the folds of his haori and fingered the tiny piece of jewelry resting against his chest. White gold, with a solitary diamond—he'd demanded that the woman sell him that one the moment he saw it. He knew that this was the ring he wanted to give Kagome. And though it was unwanted, Sesshoumaru had even given him his opinion.

"You seem to have an affinity for jewelry, brother. The miko will be pleased."

He was about to tell Sesshoumaru to shove his opinion up his ass, but decided that he'd let it slide just this once. …For Kagome, of course.

He was going to give the ring to Kagome the day he'd gotten it, but at her mother's insistence, he was waiting for the right mood, whatever the hell that meant. But Mai was a woman, so he chose to go with her on this one. However, Inuyasha's patience was limited, and he'd been looking for the mood for two months now. If it didn't show up soon, he didn't give a rat's ass—he was giving the ring to Kagome before something horrible happened…like loosing it. Or more likely, his mouth.

'It's so tiny,' he mused, holding the ring up to squint at it. Was this what was making him so anxious? This tiny…piece of jewelry? He was mated to Kagome—something far more binding than her human marriage, so why should this frighten him?

No, it wasn't Commitment that was weighing down on him. He was relieved that soon Kagome would be his in every way possible. No more Kougas. No more Houjous. No more male anythings.

But still…something was happening—he knew it. Something in his gut was preparing him—for what he didn't know. There was a certain thickness to the air that he couldn't explain; it was almost desperate…smothering.

"How long are you planning on sulking up there?"

Startled, he jammed the ring back into his haori, and scowled at his mate. She stood with one arm wrapped around her stomach, the other hand shielding her eyes from the sun as she peered up into the branches at him. Lifting himself with a grunt, he walked off the limb and landed a few inches from her. "Don't sneak up on me like that, wench."

She rolled her eyes at him, placing both hands on her stomach. "Oh, I'm sorry—I wasn't aware that I could sneak anymore. I'm as big as a house."

With a snort, he smirked at her. "You're not as big as a house, stupid. Maybe a hut, but not a house."

He was rewarded with a smack on the shoulder and a half-hearted glare. "You made me this way," she readily reminded him.

"Of course I did." His eyes drifted closed as she began to rub an ear; he fought for lucidity. "Don't see why you're complainin'. It ain't like you're not still beautiful."

The only sign that she'd heard him was a slight pause in her gentle ministrations and the pleased blush that dusted her cheeks.

"And what makes you think I was sulking?" he pointed out, cracking an eye open.

She leaned against him, pressing her belly into him and wrapping her arms around his neck. "You disappeared after I told you I ate the last cup of ramen," she reminded him with a small frown. "I'll pick up some more tomorrow, okay?" She kissed him quickly and waited for his answer.

"Will you feed it to me?" he teased, a wicked grin spreading across his face. To be honest, he hadn't even given the ramen a second thought. And he'd come to the branch only to watch Kagome.

'Do you realize how that just sounded?' his conscience mused.

'Shut up…'

She was his mate, so there was absolutely nothing creepy or stalker-ish about that.

"Only if you'll let me rub your ears some more."

He gave a show of mulling it over. "Fine." He nearly laughed outright when her eyes brightened, and she clapped her hands together. "It is amazing the things that can make you happy," he muttered.

She bunched her shoulders together and let her arms fall to her sides as she walked to the tree her mate had just been resting in and sank to the ground against its trunk. She patted the ground beside her, and Inuyasha joined her.

He watched as she repositioned herself so that she was more comfortable, shifting her stomach. He watched her pensively, then said, "It won't be long now."

She smiled at him.

"The doctor's are better in your time. They know more about…this kind of thing." He watched her carefully, looking for any reaction. "I think we should go to your time until the pup is born…"

She was frowning now. "Inuyasha—"

"It will be safer that way, Kagome. And you can spend time with your friends there, too. You'd like that, right?"

He looked so hopeful, that she smiled sadly and nodded. "Of course, Inuyasha."

Releasing his breath, he slumped back against the tree again. A few hundred yards away Miroku ducked away from the blur that was Hiraikotsu, a lecherous grin on his face.

"What if…" Kagome shook her head, looping an arm through her mate's before resting it on her belly. "What if the baby can't get through the well?" Her eyes left the laughing couple and fell upon the hanyou.

"Then we'll make a life in your time," he said wistfully. "You think I haven't already considered this?"

"But…you hate my time. And your forest…Inuyasha, you'll be miserable there."

His smile—meant to be reassuring, she was sure—was more like a grimace. 'Kagome and the pup always come first.' Careful not to make her uncomfortable, he pulled her into his lap. "I won't be miserable," he told her carefully. "And maybe the pup will be able to get through. I mean…your bag makes it through every time."

"A baby is hardly a bag."

He gave her a look that informed her that he already knew that, too.

"What about Miroku and Sango?" she asked quietly. "They're strong, but…we can't leave them to destroy Naraku on their own. I won't."

"Don't be stupid, Kagome. I'm not stopping until that bastard is dead. They won't be alone."

"All right," she said softly, watching her comrades with a determined light. "The baby stays with Mama whether it can come through the well or not. Until Naraku is gone for good."


As was normal for the odd gang, they spent their evening sitting around the fire pit in Kaede's hut, empty bowls placed to the side.

"I hate that we'll miss the baby's birth, but I think it's for the best."

Kaede agreed with Sango. "Aye, child. I know ye are strong, but I've delivered too many infants into this world to take that chance with ye. Not if it's safer on the other side of the well."

Kagome blanched. Only a little over a month ago, a fifteen year old girl had delivered a still born, nearly dying herself.

The click of beads drew her to Miroku, who had leaned over the fire, a gentle, reassuring smile on his face. "You will be fine, Kagome." His smile managed to quell her doubts and worry. She grinned back at him.

"Look at what I drew, Kagome!" A little paw, innocent and not capable of wrong, curled around her elbow and tugged lightly. "It's a going away present," he announced, smiling smugly because he was the only one with enough foresight to bring a gift. She took the paper, prepared to lavish the young kitsune with praise, but once she realized what it was, she burst into a fit of giggles. Months ago she would have been mortified by the picture. She would have blushed; she would have stammered; and she would have glared at Miroku as though it was all his fault. Especially since he was the one that talked to Shippou—her sweet little Shippou.

"Oi! What're you laughin' at, wench?" Lying on his side against the wall, he lifted his head off his cupped palm to scowl curiously at her back.

She shook her head, snorting into her palm, and using her other hand to thrust the picture at Inuyasha.

He warily took the paper she offered him, watching Shippou the whole time. The kitsune had never appeared to be more innocent than he looked now. Wide green eyes stared at him, waiting for praise with his tail wagging softly. Any ordinary human would have been left defenseless by his palpable cuteness, but they were far from ordinary.

'Fucking kitsunes,' he grumped, and looked down at the drawing. His mouth opened, and then snapped shut, jaw clenching. It was a crude picture of Kagome and himself rolling down a hill. Literally. He had a mouthful of dirt and he continued to roll, Kagome by his side, her mini skirt flapping around her. Her face was colored with a red crayon. Inuyasha, who's head was about as big as his torso—'I do not have a big head, dammit!'—was glaring up at him from the paper. Miroku stood at the bottom of the hill—eating a dried fish.

The hanyou sputtered a bit before he managed, "My head ain't big, mangy brat! And you!" He pointed a clawed finger at the monk. "I think it's time you told me about your talk with Shippou! …and my head is not fucking big…"

Kagome's giggles escalated again.

He glared at her, then at the doorway, "Oh, for the love of—how many bastards do I have to deal with tonight?"

The laughter ceased immediately. "What?"

A green flash cut through the dim hut, severing the hanging doormat.

Kagome was the first to react. "Shit!" she offered.

Inuyasha was inclined to agree. There in the doorway stood the famed Inu no Taisho himself, looking impeccable and bored as always as he glared off into the night. At his side stood Kagura, a glower of her own in place, as she, too, stared to her right. Unfortunately for Sesshoumaru, this meant she was glaring at him.

Kagome was on her feet in an instant—as were the rest of them, though Kagome alone stomped over to him to poke him in the center of his chest. "What in the—you are unbelievable! Why in the hell did you feel the need to use your poisonous energy whip on a shack that we are inside of?" She poked him with each word that she felt needed to be stressed.

Sesshoumaru was not used to being touched, let alone poked. By humans. Especially angry humans. Sesshoumaru considered killing her—if only to piss off his brother. He settled for a glare that had, in fact, killed lesser beings. His mate would not be happy if he spilled the miko's blood. Sometimes he considered it a pity that Kagura no longer enjoyed killing humans and youkai alike and playing with their bodies.

He failed to see the complete wrongness of this thought.

"—and don't think you're just going to leave that mat lying there, either! You're going to put it back up yourself, mister! And if you ever—"

He once again looked to the side. This was getting tiresome. And the poking really was getting annoying. He'd killed greater people than she for lesser offenses.

"—see if I don't purify your—"

He leveled a glare at her. "Enough."

He had not raised his voice, but the finality of his tone was enough to make her pause with an 'eep'. It was then that she realized she'd been jabbing her finger at a man who tried to kill his own brother for a sword. The spark of anger that ignited from that memory was quickly tamped out, and her hand fell to her side, though her marked frown remained. "I can't talk to you right now," she reasoned, throwing her hands in the air.

"Is that supposed to upset me, miko?" He lifted an eyebrow and watched her stare at him before choosing to ignore him in favor of Kagura.

"Sesshoumaru has been a little tense these past couple of weeks," his mate explained. "There's once again trouble in the Southern lands. They have been without a leader for too long."

Bowing her head and hunching her shoulders, the young woman kept her back to her mate. "You're not leaving me again, Inuyasha."

"Wouldn't dream of it, wench," he replied without taking his eyes off of his brother. He could see what Kagura was talking about. His brother was wound up. You had to look really, really closely to see it, but Inuyasha had been close enough to the Great Youkai to have his pupil torn out of his eye, and a hand plunged through his gut.

He could see it.

"What'd you need me to do?"

Sesshoumaru tensed, turning his scowl toward his brother. "What makes you think I need anything of you? This is none of your concern, Inuyasha."

"Keh! Wanna explain to me, then, why you felt the need to stop in my village? I don't think it's because you missed me."

The youkai sniffed. "Hardly, but very well. We came to talk to your miko."

"Me?"

Kagome was flattered.

Sesshoumaru stared down at her. She got the distinct feeling that he was unimpressed. "I do believe," he replied, "that you are the only miko that belongs to my brother. But I have been wrong before. …Once."

Arrogant bastard.

She bit back a retort. It would be hypocritical of her to be baited into an argument with Sesshoumaru after chiding Inuyasha all those times. "What do you want to talk to me about?"

"As you well know, the Southern Lands are in turmoil, and until this Sesshoumaru can restore order and elect a new taisho, it will remain dangerous."

"You have the power to elect the taisho for the Southern Lands?" Miroku asked.

"Not I alone. The Northern and Eastern taisho will be there as well to review the candidates."

Sango bit her lip. "But…don't the people of the lands have any say in who rules them?"

Sighing irritably, Sesshoumaru glowered at her. "They place support in different youkai. The one that we deem strongest and most intelligent will gain reign of the falling territory. Anything else I can do to appease your sudden interest in the politics of our kind?"

Miroku looked thoughtful, but waved a dismissing hand at the inu youkai. "No, that will do."

Kagome hid a grin when she heard Sesshoumaru sniff again. Either the monk had missed his sarcasm, or he had ignored it. The latter was far more likely. "Anyway…what was it you wanted me to do about this?"

A smirk graced his lips. This human was somewhat amusing. "Nothing. Unless you feel you can produce a suitable candidate from that large yellow pack you carry. I merely wish for you to keep Rin while we are gone."

"You want me to watch Rin," she repeated.

"That would please me, yes."

Inuyasha, who Kagome didn't fail to notice had been oddly calm and quiet through all this, began to sink back into his old roll. "Find someone else to baby-sit your brat, bastard."

Kagome ignored him. "Where is she?"

"She plays with your kitsune as we speak, miko."

Kagome looked around. Shippou was indeed missing. An annoyed voice tore her out of her musings.

"Ain't going to happen, wench. Get it out of your head now." The hanyou was suddenly by her side, arms crossed over his chest.

"Inuyasha…they can't take her with them. And she's no trouble at all," she assured Kagura.

"You're leaving tomorrow, Kagome. Or did you forget your promise so quickly? Oi! Bastard—she ain't watching the squirt."

"The baby's due in a couple of weeks," she explained, placing a hand on the hanyou's arm. "I'm going back to my village to have him. We're leaving tomorrow night."

Sesshoumaru once again looked irritated, but didn't say anything as he stared out the door.

Sango and Miroku exchanged looks. "Why not have her stay at your castle?"

They were both quiet for a long time, and the couple thought they wouldn't get an answer, when Sesshoumaru said quietly, "She is human."

"And?"

Sesshoumaru tore his gaze from his lands and stared at the belligerent miko. "I would have thought you understood the dangers facing a human, who is neither a slave nor a servant, under the protection of the Inu no Taisho. You are, after all, mated to Inuyasha." It was incredible, the speed at which her face fell, the taisho noted.

"Oh," was all she said, her voice a tangle of emotions. Truly this was an interesting human.

Inuyasha's own face was haggard as he carefully wrapped an arm around Kagome's waist. They heard what Sesshoumaru wasn't saying.

I cannot be sure that all those around me are as loyal as they claim to be. I will not make the same mistake Father made.

"We'll watch after her," Sango volunteered. She felt the powerful golden gaze on her while she waited for Miroku's nod.

"We have room in our home, and are willing to protect her. She will be safe with us, Sesshoumaru," he promised solemnly.

The youkai stared hard at him for a long time, unsure as to whether he should be insulted that this human presumed to take Rin off his hands, or to be grateful that he had.

Sesshoumaru was never grateful. But he decided that he wasn't insulted either. This meant that he would maintain his impassive façade. It was troublesome to decide which expression to wear.

"Very well, monk. You and the slayer will watch her." Gold narrowed to slits. "Very carefully."

Miroku laughed nervously and scratched the back of his head. "Of course, of course."

"Inuyasha! Lady Kag—ack!" A young man running toward the hut was stopped in his tracks by Sesshoumaru's newly fixated scowl. On him. "Y-youkai!"

Kagome stuck her head out of the hut, frowning in concern. "Is everything all right?"

"Uh…" he sent one more nervous glance to the towering tai youkai. "We've just received a message from a village 8 kilometers East of here. The messenger didn't say much, priestess, but…his arm had been ripped off."

"Take me to him." Sesshoumaru stepped aside to let her by.

The young man paused, fidgeting. "Uh…there's no need to, priestess. He is dead now."

Inuyasha gave Sesshoumaru a knowing glance. "Youkai."

"That much is obvious, brother."

"Do you think it's Naraku?"

"I do not know. But I will not tolerate that hanyou on my lands. I shall look into it."

Inuyasha looked from his brother to his mate. She was staring off into the woods, a tremulous frown on her face. "Kagome?" She looked as if she were about to cry.

"Take me to him," she repeated.

The boy straightened, and nodded. "Of course, priestess."

Inuyasha grabbed her arm. "Kagome…there's nothing you can do. You'll only upset yourself."

She bowed her head, placed her hand over his own. "He was innocent, Inuyasha. He probably had a family, a wife…kids," she murmured. "I can't take this lightly. Not when I'm the one that broke the Shikon no Tama. Not when I'm the one that started this. I'll bless him. Then he needs to be returned to his village to be buried." She pulled his hand off her arm. "You can take his body when you go to the village with Sesshoumaru."

"I can't le—"

"We can leave when you get back…I'll be ready." She surprised him with a bright smile. It faded quickly.

"Fine. But we leave in the morning," Inuyasha informed her. "I'm not leaving you alone at night. This could be a trap."

Sesshoumaru didn't say anything. He stared into the dark. If it was Naraku…

"We leave in the morning," he agreed.

888888888888

Inuyasha leaned against the Goshinboku, Kagome sitting between his raised knees as she continued to sing softly to her swollen stomach. "…when you wake…you shall have…all the pretty little horses."

Inuyasha snorted, wrapping his arms around her safely and grinning against her neck. "You'd think you had mated a stallion youkai with that song, wench."

The moon speckled there legs beneath the leaves, and Kagome snaked an arm around her to try and catch an ear. He twitched it away as soon as her fingers brushed it. "Of course I didn't mate a stallion—but I might as well have mated a mule youkai, you stubborn baka." A shiver ran down her spine. 'Deja vu...'

She was smiling again. Good…

He kissed her shoulder and closed his eyes. She'd been so upset when she'd seen the dead human. He'd had no chance of survival; Inuyasha knew this. 8 kilometers is a long ride when you're missing an arm. Even if he had bothered with a tourniquet. Had she always been so sad? She'd come across entire villages—all slaughtered in their homes, in the last couple years. Had she always been so sad?

He could see her, staring at the stars after one of their encounters with Kohaku and Kagura. He could almost see her crying, though she wasn't. Was that her first village? Or the second? Maybe even third? Hell…why couldn't he remember?

Yeah. Inuyasha supposed she had always been so sad.

He pulled her closer. "I love you."

Her smile faded, and she wrapped her arms around his arms, fingers gripping as though she were trying to hold back the ache. "Inuyasha…I love you, too." Suddenly the smile was back in place. "Get some sleep now. You'd better not come back to me hurt because you were too tired to pay attention."

"Keh. Like Naraku could injure me…"

"Like he could..." she agreed.

Inuyasha shifted, rearranged himself before settling back into the exact same position. "Kagome?"

"Mm."

"Marry me."

Kagome was quiet as she stared at the ring lying in his flat palm, which he held in front of her. Several moments passed, and Inuyasha grew uncomfortable. Yeah...this wasn't how he'd thought this would go at all. 'Damn...this was a bad idea...'

Finally she said, "It's beautiful..." Her voice was thick, but he smelled no tears.

"Kagome?"

"Yeah?"

"Just say 'okay'."

"...Okay...of course I w--" She stopped when he slipped the ring onto the finger Mai told him to. She smiled, and it trembled. "Married," she said finally.

Inuyasha held her. Kagome kissed him. They were happy. Morning came. Inuyasha, Miroku, and Sesshoumaru left.

They were happy.

And then...


Darkness, death, lust and greed, and a hatred that burned all. In the shadows, thin lips contorted into a smile that promised pain.

"It's time… Bring me the last shards."


Woot! I'm finally finished! yeeeeah, so...it's 3:30 in the morning...I'll check you cool cats later. Hope you enjoyed it, and that it was worth the wait!

Quotes of Randomness:

"Only after disaster, can we be resurrected." --Fight Club

" I felt like putting a bullet between the eyes of every Panda that wouldn't screw to save its species. I wanted to open the dump valves on oil tankers and smother all the French beaches I'd never see. I wanted to breathe smoke." --Fight Club