I am sick… again. As is winter, my daughter. We can't stop coughing unfortunately. Luckily that's not enough to stop me from writing. I am ready for the cold weather to be gone though. Coughing up a lung while typing causes a lot of mistakes. That means more editing for me. Lol. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter 36

Sesshomaru pulled Kagome into his lap, wrapping his arms around her and placing a hand over her belly protectively. It had been a few days since they had rescued Kagome, and Sesshomaru refused to leave her side. He was worried about their pup. Fearful that the stress of being captured could harm it.

Fear and worry was not a new emotion. Not since he met Kagome. She always put herself in danger, especially if it meant saving those she cared about. He had worried for her while still in the form of Titan.

However, now that she was pregnant, it was a new type of fear and worry. Was this a father's love? This deep connection he felt for one that he had never met before. Leaning down, he pressed his nose against her neck, breathing in the healthy scent of her and their pup.

It was a foreign feeling, but not unwanted. It would take some getting used to, but if this is a part of being a father, then he didn't mind it at all. Thinking of his pup, and the future they may have swelled his heart, and he nuzzled Kagome's neck, purring as she leaned back against him and placed a hand over his.

The sound of bickering broke into his peaceful silence, and Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, looking towards InuYasha and Lyra. Lyra had been a help. Since Sesshomaru had allowed her to join the pack, she had proven useful. A demon had been brave enough to attack, and Lyra had used her plants to both protect Kagome and fight off the demon. Sesshomaru hadn't even needed to lift a hand.

Still, Lyra and InuYasha argued and bickered constantly. It seemed the two hated each other. InuYasha was too brash and crude and Lyra wasn't yet trusted. The rest of the group could be civil with Lyra, but not the hanyou.

Sesshomaru assumed InuYasha got enjoyment out of riling up the elemental. However, it annoyed everyone else. Kagome sighed, leaning her head back onto Sesshomaru's shoulder in exasperation. Sesshomaru nipped at her neck, and then soothed it with a lick. He would calm the situation so she could relax more. "InuYasha."

InuYasha stiffened, looking over to his brother. The two boys barely tolerated each other, only being civil for Kagome's sake. There was still too much history between the two for them to want to be in the other's company. InuYasha flattened his ears to his head, noticing Kagome looking tired, and then crossed his arms, looking away. "She started it."

"Now I have finished it." Sesshomaru growled, looking between both of them. Lyra was pouting, also crossing her arms and looking away. The two were so alike, it was ridiculous. They just didn't realize it because they were too busy fighting all of the time.

Sesshomaru stood, holding Kagome to him. Without a word, he walked out of the camp, Kagome closing her eyes and trusting him. She trusted him with her life, and hardly questioned his actions. Especially when she remained in a constant state of exhaustion. The baby was sapping her energy. A full day of traveling had her almost asleep by the time they stopped for the evening.

Finding a secluded place to sit at a base of a tree, he settled himself, once more placing her in his lap. This time, however, she moved, straddling him loosely, her head resting on his shoulder, her arms around his waist.

"Allow me to remove my armor, Koneko." She grunted, but sat up, giving him enough time to take off the hard metal that she had been ignoring. She pressed herself against him once more, getting comfortable. Raising a hand, he ran it through her thick hair, looking up at the starry night above him. He had a lot on his mind at that moment. The decision to move from the others hadn't been solely for Kagome.

"Do you think InuYasha and Lyra actually like each other?" Kagome yawned; her eyes still closed as she spoke.

Sesshomaru hummed, closing his own eyes. His senses were trained on his surroundings, making sure both Kagome and the pack were safe. "I am unsure. This Sesshomaru has not smelled any arousal or other scents that would suggest otherwise."

"Dang. I was hoping their arguing would stop."

"This One would be more than willing to sew the half breeds mouth shut if you would like." Sesshomaru grin at the thought, relaxing more at the quiet that would come with such a thing. Kagome weakly slapped his chest, so tired it was more of a pat than anything else.

Sesshomaru grabbed her hand, and she smiled, opening her eyes to look at him. He was gorgeous, head leaning back against the tree, the light of the moon illuminating him. She could look at him like this all day. He must have felt her starring, because his eyes slowly opened, head tilting down to meet her gaze. "Can you even sew, Sesshomaru?"

"Skill is not needed for such a task. General knowledge will suffice." He smirked, and Kagome chuckled, snuggling into him more and kissing his neck softly. Sesshomaru frowned, watching as she breathed deeply, sleep on the edge of her consciousness. "Kagome, would you be angry if I asked you to return to the castle with mother?"

Eyes snapping open, she sat up, looking at him cautiously. "It depends. Why are you asking? If it's because I was taken, I can understand your fear. Though I'm not worried. You won't leave my side anymore, and I know that means I am more than safe."

"You are tired."

"Well, yea. We do a lot of walking during the day." She chuckled and then frowned as she realized what it was he was trying to say. "You want me to go back because I'm pregnant. Sesshomaru, I don't want to be tossed aside. Soon enough, I'll barely even be able to walk. I'll be a burden to everyone, and I don't want that to start before it has to."

Grabbing her chin, he brought her mouth to his, kissing her gently and tenderly. "You are the mate of the Western Lord. A lady held in the highest regard. You could never be a burden."

Kagome scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Saying I'm not a burden because of the title you gave me doesn't work. That is just taking advantage of a title that I only accepted because I wanted to be with you. I know I can't fight and have to be more careful, but I want to stay with you, I want to help how I can, whenever I can. Please don't send me away."

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes, looking her over. She was giving him those big wide eyes again, the ones he couldn't say no to. With a sigh, he nodded, and she smiled, kissing the corner of his mouth in appreciation. "This One hopes you carry a boy. If you were to birth a girl, I would lose all ability to say no…"

Kagome chuckled, running her fingers through his silky hair. "A boy can be just as bad Sesshomaru. He will want to spend all of his time with his daddy and learning to be just like him. I think it doesn't matter. Boy or girl, you will be wrapped around their finger. An excellent father."

"There are those who claim I am heartless. They feel sorry for the babe." Sesshomaru ran a bent finger over Kagome's stomach, the whispers he had heard from both staff and villagers that knew of him and Kagome rushing between his ears. He would never admit to himself, or anyone else how much those words had hurt.

"Who said that!" Kagome was angry, furious that anyone would talk about Sesshomaru like that. "Point them out to me, and I'll tell them how wrong they were. Ignorant jerks. That's all they are."

Sesshomaru smirked, hands going to her hips and squeezing. "That would be a sight to see. My little pregnant Koneko taking both staff and villagers to task. They wouldn't know what little ball of fury hit them."

"Are you making fun of me?" She pouted, pushing out her bottom lip, and he leaned up, nibbling on it. His shimmering eyes told her that he was playing with her, and she reached behind him, fisting his hair at his scalp, and tugging. He growled as his head went back, his entire body stiffening beneath her.

"You play a dangerous game, woman. You are far too tired to tease me." He shifted beneath her, his arousal pressing against her womanhood. She smirked, leaning down to bite his ear gently. Another growl forced its way out of his throat.

She leaned back, that smirk still in place. His hand was still rubbing over her belly, and she looked down at it. "Sesshomaru. You are going to be an amazing father. You aren't heartless. You're controlled. There is a difference. If a person hasn't taken the time to get to know the real you, then their words and their opinions don't matter. Our baby is lucky to have you. A strong and protective father who will love them."

Sesshomaru's eyes bore into hers, and then he was on her, kissing her deeply and passionately. She returned the kiss, showing him that she wasn't that tired. At least not anymore. When it came to affection and intimacy with the male she loved, she would never be too tired.

"You and our pup are my weakness, and This Sesshomaru does not care." She would understand exactly what that meant. He loved them. More than his words could say. He would tell her occasionally, but he showed her every chance he got, and that was something she understood. She knew what he was saying through his actions. She was perfect for him.

Laying her back gently to the ground, he hovered between legs and kissed along her neck. She was tired, even if she didn't want to admit it, but after her words, her assurance that she fully believed he would be a good father, he needed her. She would just have to sit back and relax and let him please both of them. It was a challenge he could more than handle.

…

"Lyra has turned on us." The oldest council member scowled, waving off the crow that was their spy. "Our back up plan was killed, and our first plan failed."

"We need something more. This is Sesshomaru, the strongest demon in the lands. If we want to go against him then we need to think of something that he wouldn't be able to fight against." The youngest council member said, but no one replied, none of them able to come up with an idea.

Naraku chuckled, getting their attention. "The shapeshifter would have worked had he been able to act like Kagome more. I say we use a variation of that idea. After all, Sesshomaru would be unable to fight his own mate. His deeply buried heart wouldn't allow it."

"Then what do you suggest. He will be on guard now. We cannot separate the human from him so we can send in another shapeshifter."

"Plus, we only have a few shifters left. We need to save what we have."

Naraku held up a hand, once more silencing the council. "Leave it to me. Kagome will be the one to attack Sesshomaru, and this time, it won't be a copy." Looking to Kagura and Kanna, Naraku grinned. "Go. Do not fail me."