Welcome back, Folks! I know it's been a while, but I promise this comes with a long ass chapter 64 to follow! Please for the love of all that is good and holy, wash your hands, wear a mask, and for the love of God, I hope you all wore condoms this Valentine's day.
Love and Sploosh goodness,
archersploosh xoxoxoxoxo

"I wish Sango was here." Kagome relaxed back into the hot spring, speaking without reservation now that she'd grown more comfortable with Sesshomaru.

"Hn." Said demon Lord was sitting with his back to the spring, close enough to carry conversation, but far enough that had he turned to look at her, the steam billowing over the spring would easily disguise his naked companion. "She would be a liability."

"Admit it, you miss her too."

"I do not miss your friends." Sesshomaru had become accustomed to her pointless chatter. It seemed to ease her anxiety when he entertained her constant monologue with a word in here or there.

"You miss Rin." She read his aura, catching a flash of coloring that spoke for him.

"She is my ward." He confirmed.

"It's okay to miss Sango, you know." Kagome was splashing around the water behind him. When she spoke next, he realized she'd moved to the edge of the spring nearest to him. "She's your friend too."

"I do not have friends." He denied it.

"One day you will." Kagome leaned her elbows on the rim of the spring and laid her chin over folded hands. She inspected his long, flowing hair, shining beautifully in the moonlight. When he wasn't facing her, it was easier to pretend he was the version of himself she had come to love. "One day," Her voice grew soft, and he could smell tears, "You'll have so many friends you won't know what to do with us."

"Woman." He reprimanded her tears.

"I know, I know!" She backed up from the edge of the spring and swiped at her eyes. It seemed that in her tenth week of pregnancy, her hormones decided to up the ante. "I'm sorry."

"How long is human gestation?" Sesshomaru wrinkled his nose, disliking her frequent and pointless crying. She would weep over just about anything these days.

"Roughly nine months," She sniffled, "and I'm only ten weeks in."

"It's possible you will deliver early." It occurred to him that Kagome might not know anything about his demonic race's biology. He heard her go still behind him. "Demons have shorter gestation than humans, it seems."

"So then what about human women birthing half dog demons?"

"Inuyasha was born after seven months, I believe." He tried to recall exactly, but it wasn't as if his father had been entirely open about his affair. It wasn't until Izayoi was showing that Sesshomaru had been informed of Inuyasha's existence.

"You're kidding."

"I am not."

"Well," Kagome put aside that little factoid for now. She needed to get out of the hot spring before she pruned. "I'm through here. Would you mind catching something for us to eat?"

He knew she wanted privacy to dress, and nodded. "I'll return shortly. Head back to camp and wait there."

Sesshomaru took off ahead of her. Once he was sure she couldn't sense him, he turned back, and stayed hidden in the bristled trees. He wanted to witness her belly's growth.

Kagome was drying off on the shore of the spring, right where he had been. She was already semi dressed, with what he presumed was underwear. Watching her bare back, he looked for signs of development.

Last week they had begun sleeping together. The shared body heat between them was enough to comfortably maintain her safety throughout the night. While she slept, Sesshomaru would investigate. His palms would almost always wander to her slightly protruding belly, holding and pressing to feel for the infant inside. Despite his best attempts, calling the child with his youki turned out to be fruitless. Sesshomaru chalked it up to the slowed progression of its growth. A full blooded demon would have responded to the gentle wave of it's father's youki by now.

So he sought a hot spring for the last two days, knowing he could catch a glimpse of her bare belly. Kagome had been complaining of aches and pains anyways, so it ended up benefiting them both.

She bent over into her bag to pick out something to wear, and that's when he finally saw. At that angle, her belly seemed rounder, and her breasts fuller. Her arms blocked the full view of her chest, but the swell was undeniable. Still, thankfully, she was small enough in the middle to disguise her figure under clothing. He knew it wasn't long before that changed.

Sesshomaru left, having seen enough. He needed to hunt something for them both. Sleeping less meant needing to eat more. That, and he wondered briefly if maybe Kagome wasn't growing simply because she wasn't eating enough.

After indulging in too much venison, they stomped out the bonfire and took up residence in an old bear's den. A snow storm was rolling in, and Kagome was grateful for the refuge. Their only other option was to fly through it, but Sesshomaru insisted on preserving his energy.

The entrance was low and they both had to crouch to enter, but once inside, they were protected from the elements entirely. Huddled shoulder to shoulder, Kagome shivered.

"Come here." He was almost exasperated by her reluctance to be close to one another. Settling her between his legs, Sesshomaru reclined against the stone wall and wrapped his arms around her. Mokomoko behaved on it's own, always inching across Kagome the moment she was engulfed by Sesshomaru's arms.

"I'm sorry," She nuzzled into the fur on her shoulder, "I just hate being a burden."

"Tell me how this happened." Sesshomaru palmed her bump as he said it. He hadn't shown interest in her pregnancy while Kagome was awake. Not once while they slept together did he freely hold her stomach before she'd actually fallen asleep. He always kept her arms, hands, and Mokomoko as a barrier between his own hands and her belly.

Kagome wasn't sure how to proceed. Her brain was malfunctioning. Her face flushed just knowing he undoubtedly heard her heart flutter at his touch.

"I ask because you don't bear a mating mark." He removed his hand from her belly, not wanting to distract her.

"I know," Kagome cringed at admitting to Sesshomaru exactly who was behind their poor decision making. She didn't want to put a wedge between mother and son when they already struggled with their differences. "It was a difficult situation."

"Tell me."

"We were starting to have feelings for one another, I think." She blushed heavily at saying it out loud, "We had kissed before, too." Taking a deep breath, Kagome relaxed herself against his chest. "Ultimately, your mother took advantage of a situation and provided us with what you called 'mating wine.' After a couple of glasses, we had no reservations."

"I resisted." He came to his own conclusions, but Sesshomaru was still curious. "Why did my mother pick you, a human?"

"She's very different in my time." She explained, "Despite what she did, she's only ever thought of you."

"Even now she pushes for grandchildren."

Silence sat between them. There wasn't much Kagome could say to defend his mother, nor did she want to, but his frustration was evident. "When you see her next, tell her you didn't need children to become the King of all demonkind." She hoped it was enough to alleviate his ire. Dismissing further conversation, she closed her eyes and relished the warmth of his body.

Sesshomaru let her drift off. He didn't know what to make of that statement. It was another fact about his future that Kagome had revealed over the past week. Despite expressing he didn't care to know the future, she continued to share pieces of his life in the twenty-first century.

He still couldn't comprehend how he ended up with his brother's priestess, but knowing he'd accomplished ruling all demonkind meant something to Sesshomaru. One does not risk their station to procreate with a controversial choice of mate, unless one is sure there isn't anyone to challenge for one's station.

Perhaps he didn't despise his future self afterall. He had to admit, if anything, having Kagome for company was at the very least amusing. That much he could appreciate.

They chose not to risk traveling in the storm that stretched through the following day. Instead, when Sesshomaru woke, he promptly closed his eyes again. He would rise when Kagome woke naturally. At least when she was asleep, she was quiet. Mostly. He'd come to know many of her quirks, sleep talking included.

When she did finally wake up, Kagome was still dazed from dreaming. Snuggling into the arms wrapped around her, she held the hand that cradled her baby bump, not thinking anything of the fact that Sesshomaru had slept holding the bump of their infant. She spent the next hour in and out of sleep, having always been a slow riser. She preferred to start her days like this. To Kagome, people who just opened their eyes and jumped out of bed were sociopaths.

It wasn't until Sesshomaru's thumb lazily stroked her belly did she put two and two together. He was awake, and being affectionate with their baby. Her heart ached. Sesshou was still just Sesshomaru, only older. He may not have wanted this, but he was becoming attached regardless. Kagome only hoped that fondness extended to herself as well.

Something Inuyasha had said came to the forefront of her mind as she let Sesshomaru bond with her belly. He'd said she should consider staying. At the time, she thought that idea was ridiculous. She could only picture the Sesshomaru she'd come to know in their quest to defeat Naraku. Now, knowing this Sesshomaru, who awkwardly befriended her, came to her rescue, and held her throughout the night, Kagome had to admit she was wrong. Maybe she could stay.

His thumb stilled when he recognized her wakefulness. Kagome knew she was playing dirty with his instincts, but she had to try. Lacing her fingers over his against her belly, she held his hand in place and shifted her weight onto her hip, leaning just enough to nuzzle the base of his neck with her nose.

When Sesshomaru didn't scowl or shove her away, she opened her eyes to peek at his aura. The fuzzy off-white of drowsiness had been present in the past few days, growing with every sleepless night. She knew the stale flow of indifference and irritability that came and went daily. When Kagome witnessed the hints of amusement that ranged in multi-saturated tones of salmon to coral, she'd considered them friends.

Now with her nose to his skin, she felt it more than she saw it. Coursing through them both was longing, an overwhelming desire for acceptance, and feral possessiveness.

Mine.

She could almost hear it, the sensation was so deeply felt between them. Sesshomaru sought out her nose with his own, his eyes shut. Kagome shivered in the warmth of his breath, tingling all the way down her spine and into her toes. His bicep flexed under her hold as he firmly pressed her closer.

Her breath was fast, but her heart was faster. She didn't know anymore if she was only feeling his reactive emotions, or if she just ached for him. Either way, she grasped his arm and closed the distance.

Their noses brushed, their breath mingled, with their layered hands caressing her baby bump. Kagome gasped at the whisper of his mouth ghosting over hers, and in a flash, she was cold, seated with her back to the stone wall, and Sesshomaru was facing away from her. The sudden shift of intimacy to stark cold gave her brain whiplash.

"I'll hunt for us." His voice was steeled. Crouching through the small entrance, he left without another glance her way.

Sitting there stunned, Kagome realized he'd fled. She grinned when she noticed he'd left her his Mokomoko to keep warm in his absence.

Sesshomaru traveled in the storm easily. The wind whipping his face and pelting him in harsh snow helped to clear his mind. He felt himself succumb to his instincts in that den. He wasn't even sure she knew what she was doing. It didn't matter. He'd reacted the same way his father had with Izayoi. They were the only other unmated, expecting pair Sesshomaru had ever known.

It was unnatural for canines to breed without mating. Once a pup could be scented on the female, planned or not, both parents would cave into their instincts and mate. Sesshomaru recalled a number of failed bites on Izayoi's neck. Even when he knew it wouldn't work, his father had still done what instincts called for, and attempted to mate a second woman.

His father had died for it. He'd lusted for a human Hime, rutted her until she was ripe with child, and died defending their lives. Sesshomaru refused to end up the same. He presently had never filled Kagome's womb with his seed, so technically he wasn't responsible for her. He knew how to feed his instincts without tethering her soul to his. He simply needed to feed her.

The wind was whistling in his ears on his way back to the den, but Sesshomaru knew better. Nearly drowned out by the storm raging around him was a scream.

Kagome, he realized.

The way the snow and wind pushed in multiple directions forced the surrounding scents to bleed into one another. He couldn't detect any threat. Not like he had in the past week, when he would scout out ahead to find whoever stalked them.

Sesshomaru's eyes turned into slits. He would not be bested by a coward who teased him with whiffs of scents from afar. Dropping the snow hare, he took off towards the den.

When the den came into sight, flashes of purification lit up the low entrance, followed by a sharp popping. Shadows of bodies moved across the wall with each flash. Sesshomaru had no choice but to grit his teeth. The sharp banging was making his ears ring. Whatever was exploding inside was going to make the den collapse.

Lunging as the roof began to crack and crumble, he dove into the entrance. Within two crouched strides, he was over Kagome's form on his hands and knees. He braced for impact, knowing the stone and earth would sink over them. He'd reacted so quickly, he hadn't anticipated her own defense mechanisms kicking in to shield them both.

Sensing light beyond his closed eyelids, he opened honey colored eyes to see Kagome beneath him, aglow with the purification of a barrier shimmering overhead. Their frantic eyes met in the darkness, searching each other's gaze.

"What happened?" He asked.

Kagome panted, holding focus on the barrier she'd willed into existence. Her arms were raised above her with palms splayed wide, framing Sesshomaru's shoulders. Her knees had been folded up instinctually, as a fail safe had her barrier not formed around them. When she caught sight of his eyes, shifting as they searched hers, she sagged beneath him. Her feet met the ground, with her knees framing his waist. Locked arms that stuck straight in defense now wilted into a loose embrace.

"Kagome." He demanded her attention.

"Get us out." Her voice strained between harsh breaths. Sesshomaru's sense of smell was tampered by the heavy scent of gunpowder. He was heavily reminded of Ginkotsu of the Band of Seven. The half man, half mechanical tank shot off bombs that left the stench of gunpowder and smoke in his wake. It was then that he noticed the source, wielded in Kagome's right hand. "Sesshomaru, please."

The steady glow of her barrier flickered, making the rubble overhead quake as it sank in closer. Debris rained down between the cracks and dirtied Sesshomaru's silver hair. When it settled, he noticed the air had become hot between them in spite of the season. They were buried alive.

Without warning, he snaked an arm under her torso. The moment he did, her concentration was broken. The barrier blinked out, leaving them in pure darkness for only a second before Sesshomaru himself glowed a blinding white, engulfing them both. The sound of rocks and earth grinding in collapse bled into the whistling of wind as they escaped in a beam of light.

They landed not far from the collapsed den, with Sesshomaru crouching over her. Kagome knew he had phased them through their pseudo tomb using his sphere of light, but the turbulence left her disoriented. Struggling to distinguish the blinding white light from the snow storm at midday, she tried to focus on the contrasts around her. Finding a flash of red, she grasped at the floral pattern, knowing it had to be Sesshomaru's shoulder.

"Can you stand?" She could barely make out his words as the wind ate them. Holstering her gun at her thigh, she grabbed his shoulders with both hands to rise. The dragon hide leotard and thigh high stockings insulated her well, but her hands and face were beaten red by the snow that pelted her from every angle.

Sesshomaru turned her away from the directional snow, pulling her closer to shield her with his own body. His arms locked around her shoulders until her face was buried in his chest. She tucked her hands between them for warmth and found tufts of his Mokomoko still draped around her.

"We must go." She felt his voice more than she heard it, even with his lips so close to her ears. "Prepare yourself."

That was all the warning she was given before being swallowed by light once more.

Inside the sphere of light, Kagome drifted into a dream-like state. She could see the earth below them, and the clouds ahead, but her mind lacked it's sharpness, and her body took on an ethereal weightlessness.

For once, Kagome was quiet. It should have been a relief to not hear her constant prattle, but now it left Sesshomaru with too much silence to dwell on what had transpired in the den during his absence. His concern only grew as more time passed, but he didn't dare bring their hyper flight to a stop. This excursion was costly to his stamina, especially now that he carried Kagome as cargo. She would have to bear whatever she had succumbed to in the meantime.

They, he corrected himself. Sesshomaru could still feel the pup's heart. They would have to be strong enough, for now.