Chapter 5

Dog Tired

When Kagome woke up she was able to look around the small meager hut she was in. She recognized it as Kaede's hut but when she looked for the old Miko she didn't see her anywhere in sight. She wasn't alone though her two sweet pups were sleeping curled up next to her. Slowly she sat up feeling some stiffness in her shoulder. Kagome smiled down at the kids and ran her hand through Rin's hair and brushed the fur of Shippo's tail down, simply trying to soak up all their sweetness and love for her. While she was preoccupied with that she didn't sense Inuyasha coming into the hut. But suddenly she was picked up and set down in his lap.

When she looked up at him he was just staring at her with the most serious face. His hair was still up in a high ponytail and he didn't have on his haori.

"Are you mad at me Inuyasha?" Kagome bit at her lower lip nervously.

"Why would I be mad at you Kagome?" Inuyasha asked softly. His hands roamed her back drawing circles trying to soothe her and himself. He had been terrified they were going to lose her and there wouldn't have been anything he could have done. Then he had been filled with rage wanting to tear Kikyo apart with his bare hands.

She buried her face in his unclothed chest and mumbled, "I had to take my soul back. It hurt too much to keep going like that. I think I killed her when it happened. I am so sorry Inuyasha I think I killed Kikyo." She sat there shaking in his arms waiting for him to be angry with her. She was sure this would be the final straw and he would leave. A sob nearly escaped her at the thought of losing him.

"I know. You did what needed to be done. Kami, I was so scared Kags. Never do anything like that again. I can't take losing you Kagome. I almost lost it. The only thing that kept me from going completely full demon and destroying everything was Sesshomaru making sure I knew Kikyo was dead and that you weren't, you were just exhausted. I am pretty sure he was a second away from losing it too. I have never seen him quite like that."

"Sesshomaru? No that's not possible he wouldn't lose control over me." Kagome shook her head denying Inuyasha's claims.

Just then the inu daiyoukai in question opened the flap over the door and walked in. He looked at his brother and bitch for a few seconds and then grabbed Kagome's wrist and pulled her up and out of Inu's lap and into his chest. Luckily he thought ahead and had already removed his armor otherwise Kagome would have a few more stab wounds to deal with.

"Ah…. Hi?" Kagome stammered, she wasn't used to being manhandled by the great Lord of the West. She looked up at him and ran her thumb over the lines on his right cheek. "I am sorry I worried you. How did you know I was in trouble? When did you get here?"

Sesshomaru ignored her questions for the time being, simply content to hold her and breath in her scent. It took way too much of his control to not just steal them all away and to keep the pack safe. He had thought he had lost her in those few short moments between feeling her reiki flare and getting to her. He had felt his world starting to crumble around him. He had never realized just how much the little onna in his arms meant to him until that moment. But he knew he wasn't ready to tell her yet so he kept his own counsel.

"Mama, Mama!" Shippo yelled and jumped into her arms. Shippo smuggled into Kagome's chest, big hot tears rolling down his little face. Even her small Shippo had aged some in the past years growing a few more feet and another tail he looked more like a child of 10 then the small boy he had been when they first met. Kagome hugged her adopted son letting him get out all his tears. She whispered soothing words and ran her fingers through his hair.

She felt a second small bundle hit her waist and wrap around her. When she looked down Rin was clinging to her leg. She was unable to tell if Rin was crying but the way the girl was shaking it was very possible.

"I guess everyone needs a Kagome hug," Sango giggled as she walked into the hut. "How are you feeling sister?" Sango smiled softly seeing Kagome literally wrapped in her pups and mate. Truthfully it rather surprised the demon slayer that it was Sesshomaru and not Inuyasha who was clinging to her so much she hadn't expected the show of emotion from the demon lord.

Seeing that the semi-private moment was gone Sesshomaru released Kagome to the pups and her pack sister and sat down by his brother against the wall. It didn't take long before Miroku and Kaede also joined them in the hut.

"I feel ok, good even. My shoulder is a little sore and I am a bit tired but fine otherwise. So who wants to tell me exactly what happened cause all I remember is Kikyo shooting me and challenging me. Oh, and me taking my soul back and I think she died but then I don't remember what happened."

"Ye took your soul back and Kikyo was released to the afterworld where she belongs child," Kaede replied softly. She always knew the day would come when Kikyo was sent back into death where she belonged. For too long her dead sister had been walking the plane of the living.

"Hai, you were so mad when that stupid dead bitch challenged you then you released this huge wave of reiki Mama and then you collapsed it was scary," Shippo added still clinging to his mother.

"Language Shippo!" Kagome scolded sharply. Inuyasha was not a good influence on her young kit's speech. "And I didn't mean to scare you, baby." he fingers combed through his ponytail over and over soothing them both. "When did you two show up?" Kagome asked and turned to the brothers who were sitting against the wall.

"Sesshomaru-sama is really really fast," Rin mumbled against her side. The pups had turned her into a Kagome sandwich. "You were on the ground only long enough for Sango-chan to get to you and start checking your injuries." Kagome looked down at the girl who in so many ways was growing far too quickly. She was already about 12 they really weren't sure how old she was because she didn't know when she first started following Sesshomaru.

"Keh, he went all super demon speed snatched me up while running and we were here," Inuyasha mumbled. He was both jealous that Sesshomaru was able to get to their Kagome so quickly and relieved that his surly half brother hadn't just left without him in the rush to get to Kagome. That really surprised him if he was honest with himself.

"Wow, ok then," Kagome felt kind of crappy that she had worried everyone. "How long was I been sleeping? Why doesn't my shoulder hurt more?"

"Approximately two days, Little Bitch. It seems your reiki healed the majority of the arrow wound," Sesshomaru stood and left the hut. His hard earned control was fraying with each passing moment all he wanted to do was grab her, the pups, and his brother and go make a den somewhere safe. His instincts and beast were screaming at him for not protecting his mate.

"Oh..I .. is he mad at me?" Kagome turned to Inuyasha. She bit her bottom lip and worried it while waiting for Inuyasha's response. She sat down on the pallet she had been sleeping on earlier and the pups curled up on either side of her once more.

"Mad? No, I don't think so, scared of losing you? Hell yes!" Inuyasha got up gave Kagome a gentle kiss on the forehead and followed his brother outside. He needed to get away for a little while Kagome's scent was starting to drive him wild and someone still had to go get the gift.

He followed the feel of Sesshomaru's youkai until he found him. His elder brother was sitting against the old bone eater's well. MokoMoko ruffled by the wind one knee bent and his arm resting on that knee seemingly without a care in the world, but for once Inuyasha knew that wasn't true his brother had been just as worried and scared as he was.

"Keh. Why does everyone always come here to pout? Are you ok? Kags thinks you're mad at her," Inuyasha said as he sat down. He rubbed his eyes tiredly.

"Hmn," was Sesshomaru's only reply.

"No, don't you do that. I know how I felt and I know you were just as scared," Inuyasha snapped angrily. He jumped to his feet hands clenched at his sides. Then he pointed one finger at his brother. "Kagome thinks you're pissed at her. Because you are too big of a pussy to admit you were scared. I suggest you go fix that. I am going to run back to Totosai's and get the gift, right after I tell her goodbye." He turned and walked back to the village. Leaving a growling Sesshomaru to his thoughts.

How did I become the mature one in all this? He better fucking fix this before I get back. Inuyasha shook his head and continued on.

Once he reached the hut with the others, he walked in and announced he would be gone for a few days but not to worry. He gave Kagome a quick hug and a kiss on the forehead and ran out the door.

Kagome hung her head and sighed seems like neither Sesshomaru nor Inuyasha wanted to be around her just then.

"Seems like everyone is a little out of sorts right now. Why don't you ladies go bathe? I am sure you could use the relaxation. I will keep an eye on the kids. I doubt they will be much trouble they were awake nearly the entire two days you were recovering," Miroku said.

"Yes come on Kagome it's been much longer than your usual since you last washed, " Sango said barely stopping to grab her clothes and Kagome's yellow backpack before grabbing her wrist and hauling her out of the hut.

"Ok, so I really smell that bad? Is that why both of them basically took off as soon as I woke up?" Kagome felt hurt that both the males who were supposed to be her partners in life couldn't seem to get away from her fast enough.

"Well try not to worry for now. I just think they are a bit shaken up at nearly losing you. You know neither is very good at saying what they feel. Let's go relax! I for one am glad you're awake and am not mad at you. I think that bitch had it coming!" Sango snapped viciously. "Who the hell did she think she was trying to take your place in the pack, she really should have known better."

"Maybe but let's drop it, for now, I am not proud of killing Kikyo…" Kagome's big blue eyes started to fill with tears at the thought of the older Miko, but she tried to will them away. Uh, why am I so damn emotional about this whole thing I am more upset that the guys left me to myself then I am about Kikyo.

"Ok, Kagome let's go wash."

The two young women made their way to the hot spring. They talked about how it was starting to get colder and soon fall would be on them.

"I think we should find a semi-permanent place to spend the winter, " Kagome announced as she started to get undressed. She worried about the welfare of the group the kids would need shelter and warmth and plenty of food, not only that but she was sure that Sango and Miroku would be adding to the pack soon they had been married for nearly a year.

"I think you're right we have much too big a group to stay with Kaede now. And we have been putting up all those extra supplies and rewards there so we probably have half the things we need already." Sango agreed. "How about my old village? It is empty now and there are plenty of houses that just need a bit of repair work."

"We will have to talk to the pack as a whole and see what everyone thinks. Maybe Sesshomaru has a better idea." Kagome mumbled while chewing on her thumbnail. The idea of talking this out with Sesshomaru was a daunting one especially when she didn't know where she stood with him at the moment. Maybe he was rethinking having a human mate at all maybe he finally saw that she was just a weak stupid human and he would leave.

They got into the hot water and started to make lists of things they would need to procure and what would have to be done to make at least two preferably 3 huts livable. Kagome really didn't want to live with Jaken she still hadn't forgiven him for the endless hours of ridiculous stories.

They would need to preserve as much meat and fish as they could. They may have to take on some odd jobs to get the cash to buy the items they couldn't make or hunt or forage for. So the women planned as they bathed as well as on their way back to Kaede's afterward. Once they got back they found that Miroku was right and the children had indeed fallen back asleep.

"Oh my poor pups they were so worried for me," Kagome whispered and bent down and gave them each a kiss on the forehead.

The group had eaten and were settling down for the night by the time Sesshomaru came back. He sat against the far wall one knee bent and watched his pack get ready for the night. He didn't want to admit to himself just how scared he had been when he felt Kagome's reiki flare like that. Kagome looked over at him. He was being distant more like he used to be.

Maybe he came to his senses and realized I am a human and not what he really wants. If that's what it is I hope he just comes out and says it. If I fall anymore for him I will be heartbroken when he finally does realize that I am not what he wants. Please don't let me fall in love with you just for you to rip it away, Kagome sighed to herself and tried to will herself back to sleep but she wasn't at all tired.

The two of them stayed in their thoughts until early morning when Kagome finally fell asleep. Only once he was sure she would not wake, did Sesshomaru go over to her and gather her in his arms and sit back down where he had been. He held on to her through the few scant hours till the sun began to rise he knew she would wake soon. He knew he had to put her back with the pups. He stood with his little bitch in his arms and nuzzled the side of her neck taking in her sweet fresh scent, he set her back in her sleeping bag and MokoMoko wrapped around her and the pups who were on either side of her. By the time she woke with the sun's first light, Sesshomaru was gone again.

He left us MokoMoko… Kagome ran her fingers through the soft white fluff and sighed 'Maybe he isn't mad at me…'

Kagome grabbed up her yellow backpack and started to dig through it to find one of her last notebooks they needed to make a detailed list of things that would be needed to be done in order to spend a comfortable winter at the old ruined village. She sat on the steps leading up to Kaede's hut and began to write down everything she thought they would need. But she decided she really had to see the village and huts and supplies that she and Sango had been squirreling away for years to make an accurate list. After about 20 minutes she gave up and went inside to wake everyone else up. It was time to tell the members of the pack that were here what they would be doing she would inform Inuyasha and Sesshomaru tonight when they came back.

"Hey guys time to get up," Kagome sang out cheerfully as she entered the hut

Miroku and Sango got up and started to stretch out their stiff muscles. His hand drifting to the shapely ass of his sleepy wife. But even half asleep she still slapped him and yelled "Hentai"

The pups woke up with much more energy bouncing around and ready to go play. Kagome knew that she would have to waste some of the pups' energy if she was ever going to have a moment's peace today, the idea to take the pups and go collect herbs not only for Kaede's stock but her own as well seemed like a good way to do it. It was helpful it would wear the pups out and she needed the herbs. So they got out a few baskets and walked toward the forest. She never thought about taking her bow, they were in Inuyasha's forest she didn't think about the fact that both demons were gone currently. It never dawned on her that they would run into trouble, but that's what happened.

They had been collecting herbs and roots and barks for the past several hours both Sango's and Kagome's baskets were nearly full, the pups were collecting flowers, but Kagome thought maybe she could dry them and see if she could make a softly scented soap with them.

She was distracted by the pups running a little too far ahead when both her and Sango were plowed into and tossed into a tree. Kagome's ears were ringing and she was extremely dizzy. She tried to flair her reiki but after a small flash it fizzled out and her sight went dark.

'Oh, they are going to be so mad at me…' Kagome thought before unconsciousness took her under.

Sango had taken her toss much better then Kagome had. She hadn't actually hit the tree full-on like Kagome had. She managed to roll to her feet and with a hard toss and a yell of Hiraikotsu Sango cut down the demon that had attacked them.

"Damn Kagome what's with you and passing out on us," Sango said as she walked over to her friend grabbing her arms and hoisting her onto her back. "Come on, Shippo Rin we need to get Kagome back to Kaede. Grab the baskets let's not lose those herbs and stuff."

When Kagome opened her eyes she was staring at what was becoming the very familiar ceiling of Kaede's hut.

"OI, Wench I know you're awake can't you stay out of trouble for 24 hrs? At least you went 3 days last time." Inuyasha said loudly.

Too loudly for Kagome. "Sit boy," she whispered and he smacked into the floor. "That's how much my head hurts so keep it down please."

"Little Bitch, why did you not have your weapon with you?" Sesshomaru walked through the door he was vibrating with some repressed emotions. His eyes kept flashing between red and gold.

"I...I forgot about it. I don't usually take one into Inuyasha's forest. Sango had Hiraikotsu," she finished weakly she had gotten into the bad habit of being reckless and the pups could have gotten hurt Sango or herself could have. She hung her head she couldn't look at him just then.

"And why didn't you use your powers Little Bitch." his voice got softer full of some emotion she just couldn't read.

"I got knocked out too fast! You could have asked the pups or Sango the demon tossed me right into a tree before I even knew he was there. And you don't get to be mad at me! You're the one who has been avoiding me!" Kagome stood up she was pissed now. Her heart pounded in her chest, Kagome stomped out of the hut and started walking she didn't pay attention to where exactly but she didn't intend to go far. After about 15 minutes she found herself at the old well. She sat on the edge, her feet dangling in the well.

Why can't I seem to do anything right? Why am I always the magnet for trouble? Silent tears ran down her face and she angrily wiped at her cheeks.

It didn't take long for someone to catch up to her but it was the very demon lord she had stomped out on.

"What do you want Sesshomaru to tell me some more that I fucked up?"

"No."

Sesshomaru walked over to her and plucked her off the edge of the well.

"Why have you been avoiding me? Did you finally figure out I am just some stupid human?"

"Little bitch this Sesshomaru was under the impression that you were not ready to mate yet." his voice was thick and dark. She had never heard that particular voice from him before it sent shivers down her spine and caused heat to pool low in her womb.

"Well, I'm… I don't want you avoiding me until we are mated!" Kagome was confused she thought he was mad at her now she wasn't so sure that was the issue.

"Kagome?" Sesshomaru ran his nose up and down the curve of her neck taking in the sweet scent of her heat while scent marking her with his smell.

"Yes….," she blinked open eyes she hadn't realized she had closed.

"Do you want pups now or later?" He mumbled into her ear.

That caused her to turn in his arms and look at him. She stared into his cold amber eyes and saw the heat in them saw the promise of carnal desires being fulfilled.

That's when Inuyasha ran into the clearing.

"Fuck you two what the hell did you run off for?..." He took a deep breath and growled. His eyes started flashing between their rich honey yellow and blood red. Inuyasha molded the front of his body against her back and bent his head to the curve of her neck. He inhaled deeply and growled low and deep.

"Fuck… you smell so sweet Kags." Inuyasha could not force himself away from his small mate to be in his brother's arms.

"What's got you both so worked up?" Kagome asked confused the two seemed to be running hot and cold the past few days.

"Little bitch do you want pups now or later?" Sesshomaru growled against her ear.

"Why… why do you keep asking me that?" Kagome stuttered out as she slipped out from between both males.

"Because you are in heat Kags… and you smell sooo good. I don't know about him but if you don't want me to take you here and now you better say something quickly." Inuyasha stalked after his small human mate to be. He saw her eyes flicker from side to side like she was searching for an escape route "Don't run Kags not unless you want to be caught."

Sesshomaru's eyes flashed red at his brother's words.Mate run. Chase mate. Sesshomaru's beast half was all for their mate making them chase her. He would even let her run for a while before catching her. He took a slow step after her. Her heart rate jumped and once again she looked for a way to escape.

"Run," Sesshomaru growled at her and smirked.