The blanket covering the door to Kaede's hut swayed gently as the priestess exited and Inuyasha came in. He sat down cross-legged next to Kagome's bed. The girl was staring down into her cup still.
"Kagome," spoke Inuyasha gently.
She looked up at him and smiled nervously, cheeks red.
She's got some color back to her face, at least, thought Inuyasha. But her eyes are still so tired. "So… Kaede said you had news. Was she able to figure out what's wrong?"
"You could say that," said Kagome with a little anxious laugh. She placed her mug on the floor beside her cot and started to play with the blanket, twisting it in her hands.
Inuyasha took note of her anxious behavior. Fear started to grip at him once more as he began to imagine the worst. He reached over and placed a hand on her hands causing the girl to stop wringing the cloth. "Kagome...what is it?"
"I...uh, well…" the girl stammered.
"Kagome…" Inuyasha was growing impatient. He'd been on edge for a few days now watching as the woman he loved grew weaker and sicker. And even though he was far stronger than any human, the lack of sleep for two nights in a row was starting to have an effect on him as well.
"I...I...I'm having a baby. We're having a baby," Kagome finally managed to stammer out.
Inuyasha's eyes went enormously wide. "A...baby...us?"
"Yea, you do know how that happens, right?" Kagome deadpanned. She sighed. She wasn't sure how she'd expected him to take the news, if she was being perfectly honest with herself. But a little more excitement on the boy's part would have been nice.
"Shutup, of course I do!" countered Inuyasha.
"Well, then, why are you acting so surprised?" she yelled back.
"Because I am surprised! Heh, like you felt any different," Inuyasha huffed, knowing that he'd gotten the upper hand on the argument. "Bet you didn't even know…" his voice trailed off as he remembered Kagura's words from the previous day: But, surely, you must know? Oh, isn't this just delightful! You don't know yet!
The color drained from Inuyasha's face. All of the emotions he had been feeling-excitement, irritation, anticipation, pride-were all fading away leaving only terror.
Naraku knows your secret.
"Inuyasha, what is it?" Kagome asked the boy. Why does he suddenly look terrified? I'm nervous about the idea of having a baby too, but this...this is something else…
Inuyasha looked at the girl wide-eyed and serious. "He knows, Kagome. He knows our secret."
Miroku, Sango, Shippo, and Kirara were walking back to the village with more firewood. The group had been anxious for Kagome since waking that morning and were eager for news. Yet, despite it being on the forefront of all their minds, no one had dared to bring up the subject of their sick friend yet this morning.
Finally, Shippo couldn't stand it any longer. Hesitantly, he asked, "do you think Kagome will be okay?"
Sango looked down at the fox demon child and smiled. She understood his concern but had no good answer for the boy. She looked to Miroku who, in turn, looked to Shippo. "Kaede is one of the most knowledgeable priestesses I've ever known, Shippo. I'm confident that she will be able to help Kagome."
Shippo smiled at the monk's encouraging words. Sango smiled as she noted that a slight hop had returned to his steps.
As the group entered the village, they saw Kaede on the path ahead of them carrying cooked fish. Raising a hand in welcome, Miroku called out to her. Kaede waved back and made her way to the group.
"Good morning, Lady Kaede. How is Kagome this morning?" asked Miroku.
"Is she awake yet?" added Sango.
Kaede smiled and replied, "she woke just a little while ago. Her body is still weak but her spirit is strong. She will be just fine."
"Inuyasha must be so relieved," said Sango, her own relief evident on her face.
"Yes, he must be," agreed Miroku. "Is he with her now?" the monk asked of Kaede.
"Yes, he is. Why don't we head that way and join them? I'm sure that Kagome will want to speak with you three," said Kaede with a slight twinkle in her eyes.
Sango, Shippo, and Miroku all nodded and walked with Kaede back to the hut, Kirara following behind.