~Chapter Five~ ~I'll stay by your side~

~One Week Later~

"So, Kagome? How are you feeling?" Questioned Sango as she hung clothes and cleaning rags over a line outside Kaede's hut.

Kagome smiled. "I'm okay, today. I told Inu-Yasha to get out of the hut for a while and check out if Miroku and Shippo are near by! He said he didn't want to leave, but he wouldn't tell me why. I insisted he go all the same, and now I'm spending the afternoon with you!"

Sango nodded. "Well, I'm glad you're feeling good these past few days. Ever since you went off with Inu-Yasha a week ago, you seem rather energetic."

Kagome blushed. "See." She held up the gem from her neck.

"This is what Inu-Yasha gave me when we were out there. I can't say exactly where, but isn't it just lovely?!" She exclaimed.

Sango stared at it in the sunlight and gasped. "It's……breathtaking!! Where ever did he get the yin to buy it!!???" She quivered.

Kagome shook her head. "He didn't buy it. He found it. It was a lot bigger, but I spilt the whole thing in two so we could both have a piece. He has the other half."

"It's just so radiant!! Are you sure you don't know where he found it at?" Sango questioned as she stared at the gem some more.

Kagome giggled. "Sango! Don't be forcing me to tell! You'd have to ask Inu-Yasha that question! I'm sworn to secrecy!"

Sango sighed and looked to the ground as she sat down beside Kagome.

"What's wrong with you these days? You seem so……"

"Out of it?" Sango finished Kagome's sentence.

Kagome nodded.

Sango sighed once more before explaining.

"Well……I didn't realize….how much I really was happy when I was around Miroku until he left. He was so funny, and although he got on my nerves at times, he was my laughter. I miss him. When……will he come back you think?" She asked.

Kagome placed her hand on Sango's shoulder. "He'll be back real soon. Don't worry about it! I bet he'll come walking up to you on a day unexpectedly, and make you laugh again."

Sango wanted to cry.

"Sango? Do……you love Miroku?" Kagome questioned with one breath on her voice.

Sango was silent.

She looked to the ground then, her fists tightening around her kimono dress.

"………yes……….I always have." Was her answer.

Kagome smiled.

"I thought so. Don't worry. He's not far away. If you keep looking up, he's certain to find your smile again. He's only going to be gone for a little anyway. Cheer up! I promise he'll be back."

Sango looked to her friend's eyes.

"You've become rather wise, Kagome. Thank you. But I forget that you will be a mother soon. I can't wait." She beamed.

Kagome nodded.

Silence.

"Well! Let's finish the laundry here and go down to the cook house for some lunch!" Kagome stated as she pushed herself up off the log the two were sitting on, and reached out her hand for Sango.

Sango smiled as well and took Kagome's hand gently.

Before, when they were on the journey to find the jewel shards of the jewel of four souls, they had been friends, but never as close as they were now.

They were like BEST friends.

Kagome thought of Sango as he true "girl" best friend, for Inu-Yasha was her best friend as a boy.

But of course, no matter how close Kagome and Sango got, Kagome would always consider Inu-Yasha her ultimate best friend.

It was just a thing.

Sango and Kagome quickly finished hanging the laundry to dry in the summer sun, becoming ever hotter, and hurried down into the village towards the cook house, to eat, and chat with other friends who might be there.

~Later that evening~

"Okay. I guess I'll see you tomorrow! We should go out and pick berries with Kaede or something! Inu-Yasha can come if he wants." Sango stated as both her and Kagome stood in front of Kagome's hut.

"Yeah! That'll be fun, but I think we both know better that Inu-Yasha won't want to come! He'd be more likely to look for flying pigs rather then to go berry picking!!" She explained.

Sango nodded, smiled a weak smile, bowed, and walked away.

Kagome waved after her friend and turned to head into the hut.

The moment she stepped into the door, a pain entered her stomach.

She stopped for a moment, fearful of what it might mean, but then it stopped, and she sighed in relief.

*That was too close! As a matter of fact, that was the first time this has happened to me!!!* She thought in worry.

She looked down at her middle and swallowed hard.

After another moment, she stepped inside and let the thought pass her mind.

It was probably nothing.

~An Hour Later~

Inu-Yasha yawned as he opened the sliding door to the hut and walked in, collapsing on the floor, most likely exhausted.

"So there you are! I was beginning to worry." Kagome stated with a tired grin.

Inu-Yasha sat up and smiled at her.

"Well? What did you do while you were out? By that smirk on your face, I'd say you're overly happy!" Kagome stated.

Inu-Yasha went over and sat beside Kagome on the floor.

"Well, I probably went over 5 hills into the north, and who would you guess to be there, but the good old monk and the fox demon Shippo themselves!"

Kagome's eyes widened. "Are you serious!!!! Cool! Were they headed this way?" She asked.

He nodded. "Yep! They said they'd most likely be here by about noon tomorrow! I was too fast for them I guess!"

Kagome smiled again, still looking not herself.

Inu-Yasha stared. "Kagome? What's wrong?" He asked in a loving way.

Kagome looked to the ground, remembering the pain she had received about an hour before he had arrived.

*Should I tell him? Or….should I just pass it by. It could have been simply my mind playing tricks on me!!* He explained in thought.

She looked up and shook her head. "Nothing. It's nothing!"

Inu-Yasha gave her a look she just died over when she saw it. It was one of worry and love at the same time, added with a little of his own expression.

"Are you sure? You can tell me anything, Kagome." He said in a tender tone.

Kagome shook her head, saddened that she was lying, but relieved that she could get off the hook easily.

"Don't pay attention to me! I'm just tired! I think I'll go to sleep early tonight." She stated.

Inu-Yasha stared.

"Oh yeah! Um……Sango made this really great stew that I think you should try! There's some left over at Kaede's hut if you're hungry! I'm just too tired to cook." She explained.

Inu-Yasha stared again for a moment, then finally nodded.

"Right…..I think I'll go get some a tell her the good news about Miroku."

"Uh No! Why don't we make it a surprise. I found out about her feelings for him today, and it would be so exciting if she didn't know he was coming, and he suddenly just showed up! Don't you think so?" She asked.

Inu-Yasha nodded and got close to Kagome.

"I….want you to get to sleep soon, though. I know it's early still but…..I'm just………" He paused.

Kagome blinked. "You're just what?"

Inu-Yasha shook his head. "No! Never mind. Just get some rest. I'll be back in a bit."

And with that, he stood up and walked out of the hut, into the warm, still quite light evening.

Kagome sighed. *Why am I so worried about it anyway? It was probably just me. Besides, if it's really happening, then I would have had more of those pains, which I haven't.* She told herself in thought.

Just as soon as that thought left her mind though, she moved a bit and the pain returned, this time a bit worse then last.

She froze in her spot.

It finally stopped after about 5 long minutes, and she was now shaking.

*Inu-Yasha……I should I told you……..please…..come home soon.*

She thought this as she laid down into the large futon that her and Inu-Yasha both slept in in the middle of the hut.

She let herself breathe in and out slowly, to calm herself, then she tried to sleep.

Not one single dream dared enter her mind though.

She was too shook up.

She was scared.

~Later that night~

Inu-Yasha quietly entered the hut with caution not to wake Kagome.

He had been out a little longer then expected, for Sango and Kaede wanted him to eat with them.

He hadn't said a word to Sango about Miroku's soon arrival, as he swore he wouldn't, but he could hide it from Kaede.

The old priestess was just as excited as they all were, and she promised not to tell another soul, especially Sango.

Now he was beat, and wanted to get some rest.

It was dark, so he lighted a candle across the room from Kagome.

He peered over at her and smiled when he saw her sleeping face.

He quickly took off his top red kimono, keeping on the white top, and the rest of his kimono on. For some reason, no matter how hot it got during the daytime of summer, it was always colder in the night.

The full moon came out slowly, and Inu-Yasha blew out the candle and laid himself in the futon next to Kagome, letting the moonlight fall over both their faces, making the world not so scary at night.

Kagome had her back turned to him, and he cuddled up next to it gently. This way she could know he was there, and he could feel her heart beats.

He opened his eyes after about 10 minutes though, noticing that Kagome's heart beats were faster then usual.

Kagome was in truth awake, not able to find sleep.

She opened her eyes and stared at the wall across from her, feeling Inu-Yasha beside her.

She smiled weakly.

Relief poured through her when his arms wrapped around her.

She noticed though that his left hand went to lay on her heart.

*Does he know I'm…..afraid?* She asked herself in mind.

"Kagome….." He suddenly whispered softly.

"…….yes?" She replied.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

Kagome's eyes widened.

He knew her so well he could even sense her upset!

"I'm sorry, Inu-Yasha……I forced myself not to say anything before you left for Kaede's……when I should have." She explained.

He blinked.

"……What……is it?"

Kagome trembled.

"I………"

She turned around and faced Inu-Yasha's eyes, right beside hers.

"I'm so scared!!!" She cried softly.

He leaned closer to her and their foreheads touched.

"Why? There's nothing to be scared of. I'm here with you. I'll stay by your side until this is over….I swear it. Was that all you wanted to say to me before I left?" He asked.

Kagome looked away from his gaze, but it was too hard to overcome it.

"Ever since I got home from being out with Sango…..I've….been having these pains….and I'm worried now." She stuttered.

Inu-Yasha stared. "Well….maybe you're just having cramps or something. It's not like there's anything wrong."

"I know that! I never said I was afraid about that…..I'm just…….afraid of…….giving birth………" She stated.

Inu-Yasha's one arm around her tightened as his other hand went up and brushed away some hair.

His touch was so gentle and tender.

Not once had he ever hurt her, and she knew he never would.

She was safe forever with him.

"There's no need to be afraid. I guess I shouldn't say so though because I'm not the one having the child….but…..I'm just as excited as you are. You will do fine, and I'll make sure of it. Don't be afraid. I'm right here. Remember……that I'll hold your hand until the end." He said softly, as his eyes began to close.

Kagome smiled.

It was amazing to think that Inu-Yasha's words could change her mood in an instant.

"Go to sleep, Inu-Yasha." She whispered.

He let her take him into her arms, holding him close to her so that nothing was wrong anymore.

Soon, Inu-Yasha feel into slumber, and Kagome laid there and ran her fingers through his long white hair, which turned silver in the moonlight.

She took a deep breath and let it out.

"I'll hold your hand until the end………" She whispered into his ear.

~12:00 a.m., later that night~

Kagome and Inu-Yasha both slept in one another's arms as time went by slowly.

One could almost hear the seconds going by as a suddenly unbearable pain entered Kagome's stomach and tore through her sleep.

Her eyes shot open.

She laid still for a moment and pushed away from Inu-Yasha gradually.

*Don't lose your mind, Kagome!!! Don't lose it!! It's just another short pain!! Nothing big!! Don't worry!!* She screamed at herself in thought.

But again it happened, and this time even more painful. And the worst part about it this time was, it wouldn't stop.

Kagome looked to Inu-Yasha's sleeping face.

She found his hand and squeezed it tightly.

"Inu-Yasha………." She said this softly, but loud enough that he could hear.

He opened his eyes slowly and met her terrified gaze.

With in one second, he realized what was happening, and his eyes widened.

He sat up and stared down at her.

"The real thing?" He asked in a shaky voice.

Kagome nodded as she began to breathe deeply and quickly.

Inu-Yasha stood and kneeled down to her side.

"I'll be back. I swear I will. I need to go get Kaede, Sango, and the village nurse."

He took her hand and kissed it gently.

Kagome nodded.

"Promise you'll be back……and you'll stay with me!?" She asked him in a trembling voice.

Inu-Yasha nodded and smiled, kissing her hand one last time before standing up.

Their hands slipped away from the others slowly, finger by finger, then Inu-Yasha charged out of the hut door with raging speed.

Kagome's hand still stayed held up in the air for a while, then it fell to her side.

She placed her hand over her middle and continued to breathe harshly.

She tried to get her mind off the pain, but it wouldn't stop, not even for a second.

There was one thing though that she could do to keep her will to go on.

"…..Inu-Yasha…….." She cried softly to the room.

~Hi!! YAY!!! Ohhhh!!! Kagome!!! Must write more!!! Continue on please! Exciting isn't it!!!!!~

~chibikagome1@yahoo.com~