Hello Guys! Sorry you are getting these a little late today. Life didn't let me get these chapters ready to be posted last night. But you still get your updates on Monday. I have a question. As I'm sure a lot of you have noticed that my stories do consist of Kagome getting pregnant. I've always been about Kagome and her pairing learning to love one another and building a strong relationship. Adding a baby to that mix offers a challenge for the couple to overcome, which is why I had it. Now for my question, are you guys okay with that? Does it bother you that Kagome almost always ends up pregnant, or would you rather she didn't? The stories that I'm working on now can't really be rewritten to take out her pregnancy, but in the future, if you would rather her not, then maybe I can work something out. I hope you all enjoy, and I look forward to reading your reviews.

Chapter 33

Kagome yawned, leaning against Sesshomaru's side. He was propped against a tree, face gazing out towards the forest around them. They had settled making camp for the night after a tiring day of traveling and battling a demon for the Shikon shards it had in its belly.

So far, Kagome hadn't gotten hurt at all. She listened to everything Sesshomaru had to say when it came to them fighting, and he had kept his promise and kept her safe. Not even one scratch had fallen on her since they left. She hadn't even needed to pick up her bow.

Sesshomaru suggested that she didn't even need to carry it, but she refused to give it up just yet. She wanted it just in case it was needed. She knew she was pregnant, and she would do everything in her power to make sure her baby was safe, but she didn't want to be shoved in a bubble just yet. She wanted to feel needed, and until she could no longer walk, or safety move away from trouble, she would be right there with the others.

"Have you two thought of names yet?" Sango handed Kagome a bowl of stew, who gladly took the offered food. Kagome was starving.

Taking a bite of delicious food, Kagome shook her head. She didn't bother elaborating, instead choosing to quickly shovel the food in her mouth. She didn't notice everyone's stares, or the way Sango tried to hide her laugh behind a hand.

"We have not yet discussed it." Sesshomaru turned his gaze to his little mate, eyes soft and gentle. She still hadn't noticed those around them looking at her with amusement.

When she finished off the bowl, she held it out to Sango asking for more. It was only then that she realized the slayer was still passing out the food. She blushed, folding over on herself slightly. She had just eaten like a pig. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it. You're eating for two now." Sango held out her hand for the bowl, but Kagome was embarrassed and shook her head. Snatching it from her, Sango filled the bowl once more and then handed it back to a shy but grateful Kagome. This time she ate slower.

"Hmm. Sango, would you like to join Kagome in motherhood? The two of you can raise your babies together, and I would be more than happy to p-" Miroku held a hand to his red cheek, a not so innocent grin on his lecherous face. It was worth the slap to see Sango blush.

Chuckling, Kagome looked up to Sesshomaru who sighed in exasperation. No one else was able to tell aside if her, and she leaned deeper into his side. He still didn't let the group see that much of his emotions, but she could see them easily.

"I miss our dreams." It was whispered, and he looked down at her, blinking. "It was our own little world, and it was where we got to know each other. Plus, you would train me there, and now you won't train me at all."

When the curse broke, the dream world Sesshomaru and Kagome had shared was gone. They no longer met each other as they slept, and he could admit that he missed it too. "We have our own little world here." His eyes flicked to her flat belly, and she glowed at his words.

"Such a romantic. Why do you hide it?" He reached up, cupping her face and she turned into his hand, kissing his palm. She met his gaze and realized he was answering her. He did show it, just not in the way normal people do. His actions would always speak louder than his words. She smiled, closing her eyes in happiness.

"How is the pup?" Leaning over, he sniffed her neck, smelling their baby within her womb.

"Great as far as I can tell." Running her fingers over her belly, she smiled. "I can't wait to feel them move. Oh! And I can't wait until I start showing. Then there's when they are born, and I finally get to meet them."

"So basically, you're excited about everything?" InuYasha smirked, though his gaze held sadness. Kikyou had never acted as Kagome did, and now he understood why. When Kagome blushed, nodding frantically, InuYasha looked away, his heart cursing Kikyou for playing him the way she did.

He still hurt. He had loved Kikyou. A part of him still did though he was getting over that real fast. He had wanted the baby that she claimed was his, had started planning for it. He saw a future with the three of them, and Kikyou had snatched that away, destroying what InuYasha had gotten excited for. With a shake of his head, he pushed those thoughts away. He didn't feel like thinking about them.

"I will be back." Kagome stood, only taking one step before Sesshomaru grabbed her wrist. He was looking at her with narrowed eyes, and she sighed, patting his hand. "I am just going to relieve myself. I will be quick, and you will still be able to hear me."

He hesitated for a moment, sending out his senses to make sure there wasn't any danger around. When he was sure she was safe, he let her go slowly, watching as she left his sight. He didn't like it when he couldn't see her. His beast became restless.

"Never thought I'd see the day when the ice prick wasn't so cold. I still ain't used to it." InuYasha scoffed, crossing his arms as he looked away. "Figures it was Kagome who would thaw your icy heart. I think the only one she can't get through is Naraku."

"This Sesshomaru would not allow her near Naraku to try." Sesshomaru looked to the sky, reminiscing about Kagome. He couldn't help but wonder if he would have ever given her a chance had his mother not had Wakanda place that spell. He had a feeling she would have found a way.

Kagome chose then to come walking back to them. She sat down beside Sesshomaru but kept herself from touching him. He narrowed his eyes at her, noticing the way she was distancing herself from him. She looked up to him and smiled tightly. "I am tired, Sesshomaru."

Something wasn't right, but he couldn't place his finger on it. Still, if she was tired, then she would sleep. Allowing his Moko-Moko to uncurl from his body, he created a fluffy bed for her. She looked at it with wide eyes, and then cautiously laid on it. It wrapped around her and she snuggled into it.

Discreetly, Sesshomaru smelled the air around him. Kagome smelled the same, their pup's scent was just as strong. However, she was acting strange. Thinking it was just due to her pregnancy, he let it go. When she succumbed to sleep, he relaxed and looked back up to the sky.

Slowly the camp around him began to wind down. The others cleaned up from their meal and then settled down for the night. As they wound down, Sesshomaru also closed his eyes. He would sleep lightly, still able to hear everything around him. It was what he always did.

When morning came, it was more of the same form Kagome. She acted off. Even Sango had asked about her behavior, and Kagome blamed it on the baby, claiming it has her acting strange. She almost seemed annoyed to speak of the baby, and Sesshomaru knew something was off.

He just hadn't figured it out yet.

As they began their travels again, Kagome put as much distance between herself and him as possible. She walked towards the back of the group, her hands fidgeting. More than once he heard her talking to herself, and when she realized she was being watched, she stopped and tried to play it off.

It was mid-day when Sesshomaru realized something was really wrong. He put her to the test, stopping in the clearing and turning to look at her. Her eyes widened as he stalked towards her, and the smell of her fear reached his nose.

As soon as the scent touched his sensitive nostrils, he lunged, slamming his hand through her abdomen. He would never admit, but seeing her like that, bleeding over his arm, and looking at him with fear would forever scar him.

He heard the others yell but told them to stay back with a snarl. "Where is my mate?" He pushed his hand deeper through whoever it was that was in front of him. "Kagome has never feared this Sesshomaru, she would not start now."

Letting out a sick and demented laugh, Kagome coughed up blood. Her face began to melt, twisting between different features. The person was a shapeshifter, able to mimic the shape and smell of whoever it copied. "She's dead by now. Her and that abomination."

"What does the council want with my female?" Shapeshifters were rare. The only one Sesshomaru had ever heard of was the one he had just run through. It was known that the council enslaved anything that was rare or valuable and used them for their own desires. It also explained why Sesshomaru hadn't noticed the difference in scent. Shapeshifters copied everything about their victim. Scent, looks, and aura.

"Why would I know. I just do as they bid." The creature shuddered, his body melting around Sesshomaru's hand until it was nothing but a puddle at his feet. The lord let out a roar that had the forest around them vibrating with fear. If anything touched Kagome, if there was one scratch on her perfect body, he would go on a rampage.

…

Naraku looked at Kikyou, disappointment filling him. He had given the woman one job to complete and she had failed. "You were supposed to give birth to my incarnation, Kikyou, around the group I wish to see killed. Did you forget."

"Sesshomaru told them everything. I didn't have a choice but to leave." She ran a hand over her bulging stomach. "Do not worry, whatever you created will still be born and serve its purpose. They will all die, especially my copy."

"Why is it that you think Kagome will die?" Naraku stood, walking to a window in his Shiro. He looked out of it, grinning as he thought of all the plans he had tumbling around in his head. "Kagome will be the only one to survive. She will become mine."

"You already have me. Why do you need her as well?" Kikyou was bristling, once again having the younger Miko thrown in her face. She couldn't escape Kagome, no matter what she did.

"Isn't it obvious. Kagome is better than you in all ways." Naraku walked up to her, grabbing her chin in a tight grip. "She will be and has always been your superior."

"You won't have her either. Sesshomaru has claimed her, filled her belly with her seed. She is sullied and pregnant with another male's child. Even you cannot go against Sesshomaru." She yanked her chin away from Naraku, seeing the rage that surged through him at the news.

He called almost immediately, taking a deep breath to clear his thoughts. This did put a wrench in his plans, but he knew a way around. "Sesshomaru will be dealt with. There are those that wish for his death, and I will use them to my advantage. As for Kagome, she will not have that half-breed in her belly for long. I'll replace it with my own." Naraku's laugh echoed in the room, sinister and dark. He had no plans to fail, and soon Kagome and the Shikon no Tama would be his.