((A/N: I don't own InuYasha (just his heart! ^_^ hehe) or any other anime character. I just own this story thingy I wrote. I'm just a simple fangirl who likes to write. Please read and send me lots and LOTS of reviews! ^_^))

"Life in a Life" Chapter One:

Kagome, now 8 ½ months pregnant, sat on the soft green velvet couch in her living room. She carefully placed her glass of water on the coffee table next to her resting spot, then delicately moved the curtain with her fingers to look out the window to see all of the neighborhood children laughing and playing in the streets. "Heh," she giggled, "I wonder what my own baby will be like?" Gently placing a hand on her stomach, she felt a strong kick and smiled. "Sori..," she softly spoke the chosen name for her baby, "..so strong. Just like your father."

She sighed and leaned back against the many comfy pillows. Being a teacher at one of the local schools next to the shrine was so wonderful. (After her grandfather had passed away and her mother had moved into a small apartment, Kagome had inherited the house and shrine. It was not only wonderful because there would be plenty of room for the baby, but she would never have to worry about loosing the well.) Kagome had always loved children, and now she finally had a career that allowed her to be so close to them.

It had always been a goal of hers. Through all of the make-up tests, exams, and school work, Kagome had finally made it past collage and high school to her dream. She had so desperately wanted to prove to InuYasha that yes, tests WERE a major part in life and she had made A's on all of them. She was smart. Smart not only for herself, but for him. He didn't need Kikyo.

Then again, he had told her long before she had become a teacher that he didn't need or love Kikyo. He had softly spoken the words in her ear, making her shiver at the warmth of his breath on her skin, that night they had become mates so long ago. She shivered again at the great remembrance.

But, between all of the papers she had graded, all of the days she had had to cook and clean with her new husband always making a mess and feeling hungry for ramen, and all of the many nights they had shared- pleasing his instinctive desires, she had felt very worn out herself. But she didn't mind. As far as she was concerned, he was the best partner in the world, and he was going to be an outstanding father.

For the past couple of months, he had been constantly going back and forth from the two eras, doing double the jewel shard gathering for the both of them. Sometimes he would not get back until very late at night, and then he would have to leave early the next morning. But InuYasha had always come back, even if it was only for the nighttime. He loved Kagome more than life itself, and he wanted to make sure that she was always safe and felt loved.
She smiled again and closed her eyes. "InuYasha." Her break was interrupted by the phone's annoying ring. "Grrr." She carefully began to try to waddle off of the couch towards the infuriating beeping noises. Kagome could swear, her friends (even AFTER she had graduated) would not stop putting their noses in her business. They would sometimes call for no reason -or whenever there was a reason, it would be something very dimwitted.

Kagome could hear it now: "So, how's the baby?" "You know, there's a huge sale going on today, wanna come?" "Is your boyfriend away AGAIN!?" She just wanted to scream! "The baby's doing the same as ever. Nothing's changed in the past 24 hours!" "I'm 8 ½ months, I've been on my feet cooking and cleaning all day, there's still tons of laundry to be folded, and you want me to stop whatever I'm doing just to GO TO A STORE?!" "NO, InuYasha's not here, he's-"

She could never tell them where he really was or why she had never actually married him. He had told her that by them both agreeing that they were mates was good enough for him, and if anyone else had a problem with it, they would have to take it up with him. She knew, however, that he would never "participate in a stupid human ritual" anyway.

Although her friends had never actually caught on, her best excuse for getting off the phone and away from their constant interrogation was by saying her favorite line: "Oh! I don't feel so good. I have to go to the bathroom. Yes. Yes. Bye!" Sometimes being pregnant wasn't so bad. But, after the baby was delivered, she was going to have to start all over and find a whole new excuse.
She sighed and snatched the phone off of its receiver. "Hello?" she asked in a slightly angry voice. "Oh! Sota!" Her checks went red as she realized how she had acted. "Um. No, nothing's wrong. I just, uh,..can't see my toes as usual!" She laughed slightly and tried to cover it up. "Oh? ..Oh, Sota. I'm so sorry you lost your job again. You know, you can always stay at our place whenever you feel like it."

Poor Sota. He had always been the intelligent one when he was younger, but now, he seemed to be wandering from one employment to the next. More than once he had begged to borrow a shard so he could just live in the Warring States Era. Kagome always told him to keep his chin up, but she knew that sooner or later she would give in to his pleas.
"Alright, I miss you too, bye-bye!" She smiled, clicking the button and hanging the phone back on its place. "Ah!" she glanced over at the pot overflowing on the stove and dashed over. Without thinking to put on a mitt, she grabbed the handles of the container and tried to move it. She felt the burning of her hands and let go with a yelp. The pot fell onto the floor with the hot water and noodles as its contents spilling out all over the floor.

"Oh no!!" Kagome said as her eyes filled with tears. After wrapping her hands and putting medication on, she got out a towel and began soaking up the water. Then, once everything was dry, she picked up the noodles very slowly. She suddenly felt useless and as if the whole world was on her shoulders. A tear brimmed and landed on the floor next to the broken pot.
InuYasha jumped out of the well and landed gracefully onto the ground. He sighed, happy to be home, as the indescribable goodness of Kagome's scent filled his nostrils. He walked to the side of the house and slid open the door quietly then slid it back shut again. The smell of pizza and MUCH junk food filled the air, and he at once knew that Kagome was on one of her mood trip/eating rampages again. A slight chuckle passed his lips when he saw her lying on the couch "helplessly".

"Hi honey." He purred as he went to her and kissed her head gently. She sniffled, but didn't say anything in response. He sat down on the couch then began to rub her back, mindful of his claws, to comfort her. "InuYasha?" she said at length. "Hm?" he smiled once she began to speak, glad that she wasn't mad at him over something. "InuYasha, do you think I'm.." she paused..."Yes?" he asked to keep her going. "InuYasha, do you..think I'm worthless?"

He nearly jumped back in surprise at her question, then chuckled even more. "Heh! Kagome, stop being so stupid. You know I love you, and there's no one here on Earth that means more to me than you do. You're smart, and strong,..and beautiful." he rubbed her hair. "Why would you think you're worthless?"

"Because I'm a lousy sister, and friend, and wife!! That's why!!" she sat up and sniffled louder. "I mean..look at me," she rubbed her puffy, brown eyes, "I can't even cook a simple pot of noodles for you. And what does that say about me becoming a mother?!" she began to cry again.

"Hey. Hey!" InuYasha said taking her hands forcefully to calm her, "It'll be alright! It's just ramen!!" She gasped in pain as he touched her burnt hands. "What?" he looked at them and then realized. "Oh Kagome.." He kissed her palms gently. "I'm so sorry." She hugged him and cried into his chest. He then, in turn, hugged her back and rubbed her hair until she had calmed down.

"You know that I'll always love you, right?" Kagome nodded with a slight smile. "M-hm." "..Then..you'll never have to worry about your worth again?" She smiled wider and looked up into his big, caramel eyes. "You got it." He smiled- "Good." -then picked her up in his strong, protective arms. "Now, let's go to bed. I'm tired." He yawned widely. She wrapped her arms around him as he carried her to their room. "Me too.."
Three weeks later-

Kagome woke up once again to find that InuYasha had left early. She sighed, then got up, put on her slippers, and headed towards the kitchen to make some cocoa. She turned on the TV for the morning news as she sat down in her favorite chair to sip on her drink. 'I'm so bored..and..lonely.' she thought as the words the man on the screen was saying blurred by.

She wished dearly that she could go see her friends through the well once more before the baby came, but InuYasha had made her promise to stay at home. "You don't need to be on your feet!" he had barked then put his hands together in their sleeves, "And besides, how are you going to get up the well once you've gone through?" It just wasn't fair! Just because she was in her "condition" didn't mean that she didn't have the right to live!
"That's it!" Kagome slammed the mug onto a table and got up. "I don't care what InuYasha says, I haven't had any human interaction in almost two whole months! I'm going through the well." She quickly got into one of her better outfits, combed her hair, took the necklace with the jewel fragment latched on, and marched towards the well.

"Oh. Wait." She looked down and realized just how deep the hole was. "Hmm.. I got it!" she snapped her fingers and headed towards their tool house, "I'll just get a ladder first." In no time, she was surrounded by an all too familiar glowing around her body and was back in the past.

((A/N: Well, what do you think? I know it's short, but the next chapter's going to be awesome! 100% guaranteed! Until next time, ja matta ne (Cya later in jap.)!))