Disclaimer - It's not mine. It never was.

A/N - Okay, this chapter should answer a few questions some people have been having, especially concerning Kikyou's intentions for Inuyasha. It will also give the real reason why Kikyou is regaining her power from the Shikon jewel. So, read on and enjoy the chapter.

Later,

A.A.

Questions Answered

"Inuyasha…Inuyasha, are you listening to me?" called Kikyou from across the room. She looked over at the white haired hanyou and frowned. Once again, the hanyou was lost in his thoughts. 'No doubt about that stupid little girl Kagome and the unborn child.' she thought cynically. 'No matter. A few more weeks, and I will have my revenge on both Inuyasha and Kagome. Inuyasha will be dead by my hand, and the child that he is so worried about will be nothing more. As for the witch Kagome, she will watch as I kill the love of her life, and rip that precious unborn child from her womb. Then, I will kill her, leaving her body to rot in the very lands she once traveled with Inuyasha by her side. They will rue the day that they crossed me!'

Inuyasha was lost in his thoughts about Kagome and the child, much like they had been since he had had the final confrontation with Kagome a few weeks ago. Every night since he had last saw Kagome, he had dreamed of her and the child she carried within her body. On more than one occasion, he had woken up sweating profusely and cursing the gods for his foolishness concerning the girl from the future. He did not know what he could possibly do for Kagome and his child, seeing as how he had forfeited his rights over to Kagome; and the fact that she probably would not want to see him anyway also cooled his ardor to see her again.

"Inuyasha!"

He jerked his head up, coming face to face with Kikyou. Her face was carefully schooled into a look of concern, but he could sense the hatred she was hiding.

"Yes, Kikyou." he answered. "You say something?"

"I was telling you it is time to eat." she said quietly, moving away from him to get a bowl of soup. "Are you feeling okay, Inuyasha?"

"Feh. I'm fine. Just worried about Kagome." he said absently. Kikyou stiffened at the mention of the other girl, and Inuyasha wanted to kick himself for letting Kagome's name slip. He knew any mention of her to Kikyou was asking for trouble, and an argument that was guaranteed to last for two days. The last time he had slipped and mentioned Kagome's name, Kikyou had quit speaking to him for two days. And ever since then, Kikyou had started becoming colder and more distant from him. 'Well, it's not like she was just a wonderful little ball of sunshine to begin with, now was it?' he thought sarcastically.

"Why do you worry with her?" Kikyou sneered. "She's with the wolf youkai, Kouga, and no longer any concern of yours." She handed him a bowl of soup and sat down to eat.

"And she's carrying my child, Kikyou." Inuyasha stated grumpily, staring at the bowl in front of him. "Doesn't that give me a reason to worry?"

"You said yourself that the child was probably not yours, Inuyasha." Kikyou prodded. "What's changed your mind all of a sudden?"

"I know Kagome." he muttered. "I know she wouldn't betray me." Kikyou turned her back on the hanyou, mumbling something. Inuyasha only caught some of it, but what he did hear was enough to make his blood run cold.

'..miko bitch…..little longer….both…..dead….little longer….'

**Meanwhile in the East…**

Kouga landed on the same cliff overlooking the fishing village he and Kagome had been at yesterday. After depositing Kagome on her feet, he took a quick look around, noticing that the sun was just starting to break through the morning clouds overhead.

"Looks like we're the first ones here." he mumbled. A few seconds later, he sensed three demons coming their way. Kagome also noticed the aura's and stood up from her spot.

"They're here." she said.

"Yeah. I know." he answered, watching as three distinct whirlwinds came to a halt in front of them. When the wind settled down, Raidon, Laniko, and Lord Jiro were once again standing before them.

"Kouga, Lady Kagome," Laniko said warmly. "I trust your journey was pleasant."

"I'm sure it was really pleasant." Raidon smirked, grinning at Kagome. Kouga let a warning growl loose and Raidon backed up.

"Father. Lady." Kouga acknowledged. "Are we ready to go?"

"Yes." his father answered. "Our destination is the fishing village outside of Koto's den. Land outside the village close to the forest line. From there we walk." They nodded and Jiro and Laniko took to the air.

"Need a lift, Kagome?" Raidon asked, his eyes glinting mischievously in the morning light.

"Get lost, Raidon." Kouga growled, gathering Kagome up bridal style.

"Yuck! Someone woke up on the wrong side of the den this morning." the younger demon teased. "Or was Kagome not with you this morning when you woke up?"

"Raidon…" Kouga growled. Kagome hid her amusement at the bickering. The two male demons reminded her of two children arguing over a toy, with one trying to get on the other one's nerves enough to give up their prize. Raidon smirked once again and with a wink to Kagome, took off into the air.

"Do you think he ever met Miroku?" Kagome asked absently.

"I'm not sure. Why?" Kouga grumbled, holding onto her before taking off towards the north.

"They think just alike." Kagome laughed. Kouga shook his head and took off behind the rest of his family, ready to get the day over with.

An hour or so later, Kouga landed outside a small village, right next to his father and brother. Without a word, the group of four demons and a miko proceeded into the forest. Even though the forest looked as though it should be thriving, everywhere around them were signs of death and decay. The branches of the mighty trees were dropping, and there was a thick layer of dead, decaying leaves on the forest floor. None of the rivers or streams that they happened to pass were running, all of them completely still with green slime beginning to form on the top of the water. The smell of decaying flesh could be recognized by the group, including Kagome.

'No wonder the packs would be starving.' Kagome thought, looking through the underbrush. 'Nothing can survive on this land. Everything is either dying, or already dead!'

After walking for nearly half an hour, they came upon a small cottage nestled into some trees at the base of a hill. The cottage was modest, about the right size for one person to live in. Along one walls of the but was a set shelves that had different herbs drying on them. Kagome recognized some of the plants from the work she had done with Kaede and Keiko.

Outside the hut was a woman roughly the size of Kagome, bending over a box of wood. Jiro and Laniko continued forward, clearing their throats to summon the demoness' attention. When the dragon woman turned around, Kagome blinked in surprise.

The woman looked no older than Kagome. Her waist length mossy green hair was braided down the back. But what surprised Kagome most was the woman's face. Her eyes were reminiscent of the slit-eyed dragon youkai's she had faced during her journey for the shards. Her ears were pointed and almost elf like. There were also a pair of green, scaly streaks on each of her cheeks. But perhaps the most amazing thing was the set of wings that she extended when she bowed to the youkai Lord in front of her. The wings were completely draconic, covered by rough dragon hide, and spreading at least five to each side of the woman.

"Lord Jiro. Lady Laniko." she said respectfully. "To was do I owe the pleasure of this visit?"

"Rise, Cali." Laniko said gently, her hand on the woman's shoulder. "We are in need of your advice on a number of subjects. It seems we have come across a few problem that we cannot seem to figure out on our own."

"What can I do to be of service?" she asked.

"Let's go inside." Laniko said. "It's much more pleasant." The dragon woman nodded and retracted her wings, leading them into the hut. The little hut was sparsely furnished, but gave off the homey atmosphere that reminded Kagome of her own home on the other side of the well. Cali quickly brought out some tea and served it to her guests. After they were situated, Jiro came straight to the point of their visit.

"Cali, we need your advice." the Eastern Lord explained. The woman nodded and waited for him to continue. Jiro turned to Kagome and nodded. "This is Lady Kagome, a friend of my family, and the miko who purified the legendary Shikon jewel."

"I have heard of you." Cali said, nodding to where Kagome was sitting. "You're adventures are well known throughout our world."

"Thank you." Kagome said. "It is an honor to meet you."

"Kagome is in a bit of a spot." Kouga said, ready to get some answers. "She's …."

"..pregnant." Cali cut in. "I know, my prince. And the child has demon blood does it not?" No one seemed really surprised that the woman knew. 'Kouga probably told her too.' Kagome thought wryly.

"Yes." Kagome said. "I was told that I run the chance of purifying my own child because of my miko abilities. Is that true? Will I kill my own baby?" Cali looked at the girl, a small frown on her face.

"I'm afraid it is true, Lady." she said after a moment of hesitation. "The power of the Shikon, coupled with your own miko capabilities will search out and purify anything that is tainted by demon blood." Kagome swallowed the lump in her throat and tried to stop the heady flow of tears that threatened to escape. She had thought that maybe Kaede's theory had been false, and that nothing would happen to the baby. Kouga, sensing her distress, wrapped his arm around her and pulled her closer to him for comfort.

"Is there a way to stop it?" Kouga asked suddenly, watching the dragon hanyou.

"Yes. There is." she said.

"How?" he asked.

"Kagome must transfer her miko abilities into another person, or something that can hold them." Cali explained. " And the sooner she does it, the better."

"How do I do that?" Kagome asked, brushing away a few tears.

"You must concentrate your miko abilities, and infuse them into a container of some sort." Cali explained.

"What kind of container?" Laniko asked.

"You are the keeper of the Shikon jewel, are you not?" Cali asked Kagome. "Use the jewel to absorb your abilities."

"I can't." Kagome answered nervously.

"Why not?"

"The jewel was reabsorbed into my body after the wish was granted." Kagome said.

"Take it out." Cali said simply.

"What?"

"Remove the jewel from your body." Cali said. "Transfer your power to the jewel, then entrust it to someone during the last two months of your pregnancy, and you and the child will be fine."

"Are you sure it is possible?" Laniko asked. "I've never heard of this before."

"Positive." Cali answered firmly.

"How positive?" Kouga questioned, doubting the hanyou's words. He was not willing to take any chances with Kagome or the child's health.

"It will work." she said firmly. "I know because my mother done the very same thing when she was pregnant with me, many years ago."

"What did she use as a holding container." Kagome asked.
"During her labor, my mother transferred her power to my father." Cali said coldly.

"But wouldn't that…." Raidon started.

"Yes. It killed him." she said stoically. "He died the day I was born. It was then, after I was born, that my mother figured out how to transfer and contain her power."

"So, I need to get the jewel out of my body, put my miko power in it, and keep it away from me during the last two months of the pregnancy?" Kagome asked wearily. Cali nodded.

"Exactly." she answered.

"Very well." Jiro said. "That's one problem out of the way. There is one other topic in question. Cali, do you know what has caused these lands to die off. The forest is dying, and my tribes are on the verge of starvation. The humans are attacking my family and blaming them for the decline."

"The land has been poisoned." she said evenly, looking at the wolf Lord.

"Poisoned?" Laniko asked. "How can land be poisoned?"

"There has been a curse placed on the land. It will continue to die unless the cause of the curse is eliminated."

"Is there a way to clear the land of the curse?" Raidon asked.

"You would need someone with immense power to destroy whatever is causing the land to die off, preferably a miko, or someone with strong holy powers." Cali said. "They have to have the ability to purge the poison out of the soil."

"Could Kagome do it?" Jiro asked. "Could she use her power and hold on the Shikon jewel to purge the lands?"

"She would run the risk of killing her child if she tries to use her powers to that extent." Cali said. "The less she uses her powers, the better chance she has for no complications during her pregnancy. If she were to use the Shikon jewel's power to that extent, not only would it possibly kill the child, but it could harm her as well."

"My powers are weakening anyway." Kagome said dejectedly. "They are leaving me, and I doubt I would be able to help you."

"You're miko abilities are not deserting you, Kagome." Cali said reassuringly. "They are looking for a place to harbor themselves until the child is born. After the birth of the child, they will return to you." Kagome looked at the dragon-woman and frowned.

"Her body is actually trying to protect the child by transferring her power to someone else?" Raidon asked, amazed that it was possible.

"Yes. In fact, I'm relatively sure the power is receding into another miko." Cali said. "Some one who has an understanding of the Shikon's power."

"Kikyou." Kagome muttered angrily. "That's how she's regaining her power."

"Yes." Cali said. "The power will continue to recede into this Kikyou unless you contain your power."

"So the power flow will stop if I pull my abilities and contain them. Kikyou would stop getting the power of the Shikon back?" Kagome asked.

"Yes. Unfortunately, the longer you wait to contain the power, the more of it reverts back to Kikyou, therefore making her stronger." Cali said. Kagome sighed and closed her eyes in aggravation. 'Kikyou isn't regaining her power because of my anger, she's regaining it because my body is unconsciously trying to protect my baby from the effects of the jewel.' she thought.

"Thank you , Cali." Lord Jiro said. "Your wisdom is greatly appreciated."

"Whatever I may do, my Lord. Is there anything else I can assist you with?" the lady asked.

"No, Cali. That will be all." Jiro said off handedly. The youkai rose from their seats and exited the small hut. Laniko gave her thanks to the woman as the turned to leave. Once out of hearing range, Jiro pulled the group to a stop.

"Until we find out how to heal the lands, we need to go to the villages, and keep the wolves and humans placated. Any suggestions?" he asked.

"We need to go to the dens and explain what has happened. That way they an watch out for any suspicious people." Laniko suggested.

"What about food?" Raidon asked. "It will not be much longer before there is no land up here capable of hunting on."

"Send some supplies from the other tribes." Kagome said, looking at the Eastern Lord.

"Yes. The supplies coupled with the stores in each den will keep them from starving." Raidon reasoned. Jiro nodded, understanding the reason behind the suggestion.

"Laniko, Lady Kagome, I trust I can leave it in your hands to take care of the villagers?" he asked. Laniko nodded and turned to leave.

"Me?" Kagome asked, pointing to herself. "Why me?"

"Of course. You'd be a great help in convincing the villagers." Laniko said. "You are completely human, and the carrier of the Shikon. The villagers will be able to put their trust in you much quicker than they would one of us."

"Okay. If it will help you guys. I'll go. Although I'm not going to promise anything." she said.

"Very good." Lord Jiro answered. "The rest of us will depart to the dens to do what we can to placate them and take inventory of the supplies they have as of now. We will meet up outside the village after sundown."

"Father," Kouga said quickly. "Is it wise for Lady Laniko and Kagome to go to the village unattended? The animosity towards wolf demons may extend to Lady Laniko."

"And your suggestion?" the Eastern Lord asked.

"Let me go with them." Kouga stated.

"I need you with me." Jiro stated, eyeing his eldest son.

"Take Laniko with you, father. The packs will listen to her before the will listen to me." he said firmly.

"Very well, take the miko and go." Jiro said, waiving his hand. Kouga nodded, swept Kagome up and took off towards the nearest village. Laniko grinned as she watched the funnel cloud move away.

"He does realize that he'll make thing worse." Raidon grinned. "At least Lady Laniko is part human. Kouga's full demon."

"Kouga's only concern right now is Kagome and the child's protection." Jiro said with a sigh. "I should have known better than to try and separate them, even for a little while."

"Sounds like big brother is paranoid." Raidon said, crossing his arms over his chest and leaning against a tree.

"No, Raidon, he's not paranoid." Laniko said with a grin, looking over at her mate. "He loves her, very much." Raidon rolled his eyes and sighed.

'Yep, mom would be proud of you, big brother. That she would…..' he thought, taking off after his father and step mother.

It had been a well known fact that Kouga had been deeply affected by their mother's parting so many years before. The Lady Kei had always held a special reverence for her eldest son Kouga. She knew from the moment that he was born that he would be gifted with a strong spirit, and would eventually rival the majority of any wolves in speed and strength. Because of that, she had tried to instill some more important values in him before her passing, mainly the ones consisting of how youkai royalty should be towards humans; of course, Lord Jiro had always scoffed at the idea of treating humans on an equal basis at that time. Eventually though, he quit fighting with Kei and allowed her to teach Kouga the patience to deal with humans. It seemed now that those lessons had been the very reason that had kept Kagome with Kouga at this point. And to Raidon, it just seemed that Kagome was a gift from the heavens for Kouga and the rest of the wolf family; but more specifically, it was like she was a special gift from their mother. Kagome was someone that could fill the spot in Kouga's heart that had died after his mother's passing; and for that, Raidon was eternally grateful.

A/N: Okay, now that I finally got this story back to where I had it -about three chapters ago- I figured I would let you guys have the next couple of chapters as a reward for sticking with me during the reposting process.

So, I hope you guys enjoy, since I think there are only going to be about four or five more chapters in this story. I haven't finished writing them yet, but it shouldn't be much longer according to the outline I have drawn up. Don't worry, the proverbial sh** is about to hit the fan in the next chapter or so. It should be interesting enough for everyone. ;)

Anyway, enough with my ridiculous babbling.

Remember to leave me a review and tell me what you think.

Later,

A.A.