Disclaimer - It's not mine. Never was. Don't you people know this by now?

A/N- Well, this story is about to be winding down. I hope you guys are enjoying the story. I have some thank you's to give out. So I'll get started immediately.

Tirya King- It's okay, I'm in the majority with my friends about liking Kouga as well. (Some people are just so closed minded.) I'm glad you liked the other characters. I wasn't too sure how well I was going to be able to pull their personalities off. As for the fluff……coming right up.

Of Memories Past- He is going to redeem himself shortly. And he's not going to be all alone. I mean, but I'm not that mean. ;)

Bikutoria- I don't know how to thank you for giving me such helpful reviews. I'm so glad that you like the story---I like the picture of Kouga you have on your bio page even more! Thank you so much, and I hope I don't disappoint you any time soon. Thanks again.

Chapter 35

The next few hours were torture for the two wolf demons as they watched over their chosen charges. Cali had predicted that Laniko and Mika would awaken before any of the others due to the demon blood that allowed them to heal so much quicker. Inuyasha would more than likely come after that, and then Kagome. Unsurprisingly, the dragon hanyou had been correct, and the moment Laniko had shown the remotest signs of stirring from her slumber, Jiro had started fidgeting like a new born pup. When the Lady of the Eastern Lands had actually opened her eyes to look around the room, Kouga had never seen his father with a more relieved look on his face. Mika, on the other hand, seemed distant and withdrawn when she finally woke. Kouga had assumed that her memories of tearing Kikyou apart had come back to her.

Unlike when Inuyasha changed into a full demon, demons who were born full blooded retained their memories after changing. Granted, the only thing they often times got were flash backs and still pictures of what they had done, but it was better than being completely in the dark. And Kouga knew that Mika, a demoness who tried to avoid killing unnecessarily, was having a hard time coming to grips with the fact that she had turned Kikyou into nothing more than a chew toy for an angry wolf. Normally, a demon wolf would make a quick, somewhat painless kill, but he knew Mika remembered desecrating the body beyond repair in her fury to avenge her brother and fellow pack members. Leaving Kagome on her own for a few moments, the wolf prince went to his pack mate to see if he could help her out any.

"Mika?" he asked, looking down at her distraught face. "Are you feeling any better now?" The white haired demoness looked up at him and nodded, grimacing slightly.

"I'm fine, my Lord." she said simply. "I'm just trying to piece together everything that happened earlier."

"Do you remember anything?" Kouga asked, knowing that she had probably not put everything together yet.

"Just bits and pieces." she answered warily. "My most vivid memory was of the miko in the clearing. After that, I don't……remember….much more." Kouga nodded, understanding the feeling of loss at not remembering what had happened. That was the only reason he had kept his own transformation in check earlier. He knew that with so much blood around him and the heated pressure of a battle, his common sense would have been overridden by his wolfish instincts to kill the intruders, and he possibly would have left Kagome's side in his rush to get rid of the snake demons.

"You done the right thing, Mika." he reassured her, placing a hand on her shoulder for comfort. "The miko is no longer in this world. You have exacted your revenge for your brother, and protected your homelands as you should have. You done nothing wrong."

"Thank you, Lord Kouga." she said, looking up at him and nodding. "How is Lady Kagome and the others? And why is the inu-hanyou here?"

"Laniko is awake, but Kagome and dog-turd are still out cold." he replied with a shrug, looking back over his shoulder. "Raidon left earlier to report back to the packs so that they know what happened."

"And the hanyou?" she asked, eyeing the prone form of Inuyasha next to Kagome. "What about him? Wasn't he in the middle of the attack, right next to the miko?"

"Kagome asked to bring him." Kouga growled. "Apparently, he kept Kikyou from killing her and the baby. From what I've gathered, it seems like he is actually innocent. But until I find out what the hell happened, I'm reserving my right to pass judgment on his sorry hide." Mika understood her Lord's reluctance to trust the hanyou, and she did not blame him one bit.

"Kouga?" called Jiro from the other side of the room.

"Yes, father?" Kouga answered, turning his attention to his father and step-mother.

"Laniko and I are leaving to go back to the packs now that she is awake." he said, picking up his mate. "I would suggest that you come with us as well, Mika."

"Yes, my Lord." the demoness answered, standing to her feet. Kouga nodded and waited for them to leave, but apparently Laniko had something else to say to him now that she was awake.

"Put me down, Jiro." the demoness said. "I'm tired, not an invalid."

"You need to rest." he growled, gripping her tightly.

"I need to speak with my son!" she growled angrily. "Now put me down!" Jiro frowned in displeasure, but put her down none the less. It took a second or two with Jiro steadying her before the demoness regained her orientation and could stand on her own feet.

"Make it quick." he reminded her. Laniko nodded and turned to Kouga.

"I'll meet you two outside in a few moments." Laniko said to Mika. Jiro and the other demoness left out of the hut, as well as Cali. Turning to the still unconscious forms of Kagome and Inuyasha, she grimaced and shook her head.

"When she awakens," she said softly, "tell her that we await your arrival at the den."

"I am not so sure she will come back with me, now that he's back in the picture." Kouga grumbled, staring back at Inuyasha and wishing he could just kill him and get it over with. Laniko, sensing his internal struggle, gave him a sardonic smile and shook her head.

"Don't jump to conclusions, my son." she said. Kouga frowned, pulling away from her to kneel down by Kagome.

"Don't call me that." he growled. "You're not my mother." Laniko gave a sad smile and stepped back, biting her lip in nervousness. She knew Kouga had been close to his mother, and she had not meant to imply that she was trying to take the woman's place. She just wanted to lift his spirits up a little, not make him angry at her.

"I know that, Kouga." she said slowly. "But just because we have no blood ties, does not mean I don't care for you as my own son. Bonds of love are often times many times stronger than any blood ties. Remember that, especially when those two wake up. Although Kagome has been bonded with Inuyasha through the child she carriers, her feelings for you and our family are not as feeble and weak as you suddenly seem to think." Kouga hung his head in shame as her soft, kind hearted words hit home. He knew she was not his mother, but she treated him like her own child, and he was being stubborn and heard headed.

"Forgive me, Laniko." he said quietly. "I was out of line. I'm sorry."

"No need to apologize, Kouga." she answered, running her fingers through his hair, trying to console him a little. "Just promise me that you do not judge the hanyou too harshly. I know what he has done, and now that I know the part Kikyou played in it, I don't consider him as bad as I once did. Inuyasha would not have helped Kagome if he did not care about her. Just remember that she loved him at one time, the way she loves you."

"I'll remember that, Laniko. Thank you." he said, looking at her and nodding. Laniko smiled and headed out of the door to meet Jiro and Mika, leaving Kouga to wait for Kagome and Inuyasha to waken. Kouga wanted to speak with Inuyasha before Kagome woke up, and he was afraid it might get a little heated. Fortunately, he did not have to wait long, because Inuyasha began to stir from his semi-coma a few minutes after Jiro and the other two females had left.

"Ahhh...my head." he groaned, sitting up from his position next to Kagome and rubbing his head. "What the hell happened? Where the hell am I? And what the fuck is wrong with Kagome!?" Kouga snickered as the panic on Inuyasha's face made him forget his own ailments momentarily.

"You're at the home of a friend of mine." Kouga said tersely, drawing the hanyou's attention to himself.

"Kouga?!!" Inuyasha exclaimed, immediately on guard. Inuyasha had not noticed the wolf demon off to the side when he awoke. "What the hell are you doing here? And what's wrong with Kagome?"

"Calm down dog-boy, and come with me." Kouga said, loosing his patience with the dog demon. He stood up to go outside, expecting Inuyasha to follow him.

"I'm not going any damn where." the hanyou said stubbornly. "Not until you tell me what's wrong with Kagome and she wakes up." Kouga growled and turned back to the half demon, ready to rip his throat out for being so hard to deal with, but Cali beat him to the punch as she came back into the hut.

"The Lady Kagome is resting, and I will not allow you two to disturb her." came the dragon woman's strident voice as she stood beside Kouga. "So if you two are going to fight and argue, then take it outside. I'll watch over Lady Kagome until you two sort out whatever differences you have. Now get out." Kouga nodded and turned to leave again, but Inuyasha only looked affronted and insulted, still refusing to go anywhere.

"Who do you think you are, talking to me like that?" Inuyasha growled. Cali glared at the hanyou and frowned.

"You, Inuyasha, have caused enough trouble to this poor girl." she said icily, gesturing towards Kagome. "And unless you remove yourself from Kagome, and let her rest, I'll purify you so fast you'll wish Sesshomauro were here to save you!" Inuyasha blinked owlishly at the venom in her voice. "Besides, I think Lord Kouga would like to speak with you outside."

"Kagome will be fine, dog-breath. I wouldn't have brought her here if I didn't completely trust Cali." Kouga growled. "I'm not going to put her in danger."

"What the fuck do you call what happened earlier? A walk in the woods?" Inuyasha yelled violently. "You and the rest of those mangy wolves plunked her right down in the middle of those damned dying lands! And you call that keeping her out of danger!"

"I didn't know!" Kouga yelled, his temper rising the more Inuyasha talked. "How was I supposed to know that bitch of yours was…."

"OUTSIDE!" Cali said violently. "If you wake her up, there is going to be hell to pay! Now get out!" Kouga and Inuyasha glared at each other some more before they finally made it outside. The tension between the two proud demons was thick, and it was smothering them. When they finally got outside the hut and a safe ways away, Inuyasha turned to Kouga and growled.

"How long has she been asleep?" he asked.

"Since we brought you all here, a few hours ago." Kouga said. "She woke up once, but Cali gave her something to put her back to sleep, and her body at rest."

"And the child?" Inuyasha queried.

"We can't tell anything right now." Kouga said wearily. "Cali will be able to tell something when she wakes up. I don't see why you would care anyway. Although I guess you should know that she runs the risk of loosing the child because of everything she was put through today." Inuyasha said nothing, just hopped up into a tree and stared ahead, trying to get his mind settled and cleared.

"I'm not finished with you yet." Kouga barked. "Get back down here."

"What the hell do you want?" Inuyasha asked, not feeling like fighting with the wolf demon when he knew Kagome was unconscious.

"Answers." Kouga said firmly.

"To what?"

"How'd you just so happen to pop up in time to help Kagome earlier today? The miko bitch Kikyou said you should have been passed out somewhere." Kouga asked, watching the hanyou carefully for any signs of a lie. "In fact, how'd you even know where Kagome was if you did not know what was going on?"

"The sentries around your den have big mouths." Inuyasha said simply, remembering the conversation he had overheard between Ginta and Hakkaku. "And they don't pay much attention to their surroundings when they're half asleep for that matter, either."

"You were at my den?" Kouga growled, ready for a fight that was undoubtedly about to come. "For what?"

"To check on Kagome." he said tersely.

"You've got some nerve, spying on her like that." Kouga snarled. He was flexing his claws, trying to curb the little voice in his head telling him to rip the dog demon's head off.

"And you've got some shitty sentries." Inuyasha said simply.

"So you heard Kagome was up here with us?" Kouga asked, realizing that he was going to have to drag the answers he wanted out of Inuyasha, if he did not decide to kill him first. "How'd she know when to plan the attack?"

"Kikyou'd left early this morning to go to the Yoshidos." Inuyasha growled out, not wanting to tell the blasted wolf anything else.

"How'd you know?" Kouga asked again. "That doesn't answer my question."

"Are you going to leave me alone if I tell you?" Inuyasha asked. "I got there in time. That's all that matters."

"No it's not." Kouga growled. "Kagome's in there, on the verge of loosing my pup, and I want answers!"

"The child isn't yours." Inuyasha hissed, his eyes starting to bleed red.

"You were there to conceive the child." Kouga snarled. "Nothing else. You turned your back on Kagome and the child, giving up all rights to them both to go with that bitch Kikyou, so the child sure as all hell isn't yours either!"

"You were waiting for this day, weren't you, wolf?" Inuyasha asked, his anger starting to get out of control at the mention of loosing Kagome. "You were waiting for the day Kagome would turn her back on me for some reason, and then you'd step right in and take my place. I bet you're just loving this right now, aren't you?" Kouga rolled his eyes and shook his head.

What the hanyou had just said did hold a sliver of truth in it. It was his fault that Kagome found out about Inuyasha's relationship with Kikyou before anyone else. And he had helped her get through the betrayal, but Inuyasha was making it sound like it was his fault Kagome was lying in the bed in there, almost dead.

"Kagome came to me out of respect and friendship." Kouga answered. "Just because you were the one that caused her so much pain, don't blame it on me! I was helping her. Now how did you know Kikyou was up here?" Inuyasha growled and told his tale of how the pieces had finally fell into place early that morning. He told Kouga that he had found Kikyou and her weapons gone that morning, but her herbal remedies were still at their home. He hadn't really given that much thought to it, and decided to use the spare time to go check up on Kagome. He had grabbed some food off of the table and left, not noticing that it had been laced with some form of sleeping drug. When he had gotten to the wolf den, he'd heard Ginta and Hakkaku speaking about Kagome going to the dying lands, and the Yoshidos being dead for weeks now. He had also started to feel the effects of the drug in his body, but thankfully he had not eaten enough of the rice cakes to put himself completely asleep. Everything began falling into place then. Kikyou's night time ramblings, the numerous disappearances, and the stench of demons around the village when he'd went to find her a few times.

"That's how I knew something was wrong." Inuyasha said. "I got there not long after Kikyou'd put that arrow through the demoness protecting Kagome."

"Then you know what Kikyou's true intentions were?" Kouga questioned. "You knew that you were played for a fool by the dead miko." Inuyasha growled and put his hand on Tetsusaiga, ready to draw it out if Kouga kept running his mouth. Inuyasha knew he'd been played for a fool. He did not need the damn wolf rubbing it in his face.

"Where's her body?" Inuyasha asked.

"Whose body?"

"Kikyou's."

"In the clearing, just where Mika left it." Kouga said with a shrug. "Although I doubt it's very recognizable by now. Mika did a quite thorough job when she got a hold of her." The white haired hanyou nodded and figured he would go see if there was anything left of Kikyou that could be buried. Even after everything she'd done, he still felt a responsibility to put her to rest for good this time.

"Tell Kagome that I need to speak with her." Inuyasha said, jumping up onto the branch of a nearby tree.

"Where do you think you're going?" Kouga asked. "You want to talk to her, then wait until she wakes up. I'm not your messenger boy."

"I've got some things to do." the hanyou said firmly.

"What about Kagome?" he asked. "You turning your back on her again? Leaving her again to run away?"

"I'm not running."

"You're just leaving again." Kouga prodded.

"I'll be back soon." Inuyasha said. "I need to talk to her."

"She won't be here when you get back." Kouga said. Inuyasha stiffened and looked down at the wolf demon from his perch on a tree limb.

"What?" he asked, wanting to make sure he heard correctly.

"I'm taking her back to the den to finish healing just as soon as she wakes up." Kouga said.

"I need to talk to her." Inuyasha said. "There are some things we need to sort out about this mess. Stuff that sure as hell does not concern you."

"Then you had better say it while she's here." Kouga growled. "Because she won't be leaving my sight after this."

"Bold talk from a mangy wolf." Inuyasha said. "You can't cage her."

"I mean it, dog-breath…"

"That's enough, the both of you." came a soft voice from Cali's hut. The two males turned around to see Kagome standing outside the door with Cali at her side. "Arguing is not going to solve anything now. What's done is done. So stop it already."

"Kagome." the two demons said simultaneously, surprised to see her up and going so soon. Kouga went to her side and hugged her gently, leaving Inuyasha perched in the tree, watching them.

"Are you okay, love?" Kouga asked, his face full of concern. "Are you feeling well enough to be out?"

"I'm fine, Kouga." Kagome said, taking strength from his concerned embrace. "Where is Inuyasha? I need to speak with him."

"I'm……here……Kagome." Inuyasha said quietly, dropping down from the tree branch and looking at Kagome. The young woman gave a small smile and broke away from Kouga's embrace, going to walk to Inuyasha. Kouga growled and put a hand on her shoulder to stop her.

"Kagome…" he questioned.

"I'm not going anywhere, Kouga." she said, giving him a small smile. Kouga retracted his hand and Kagome nodded, silently thanking him. She walked over to the dejected hanyou and waited silently for some form of acknowledgement.

"Inuyasha? Inuyasha, look at me." she said gently, waiting to see the big amber eyes she had loved so much at one time.

"Kagome, I'm…..sorry." he said quietly. "If I'd have known, I would have done something to stop her. I didn't want you to get hurt." Kagome shook her head and forced back the tears that were threatening to spill. She knew that Inuyasha was innocent, at least as far as the attack on her and the wolves. She was still hurt and angry with him for leaving her to begin with, but the ache had lessened in the past few months. And now, instead of the rush of hurt feelings that at one time threatened to overwhelm her when she thought about him, she felt only a small jag of pain in her chest. Kagome shook her head and placed a hand on his shoulder to get his attention.

"You did not know, Inuyasha." she said quietly. "The attack was not your fault."

"I'm sorry, Kagome." he said again, cautiously placing a hand on her rounded stomach. "You and this little guy almost died because of me. This is all my fault."

"I won't deny that you're not innocent." Kagome said quietly, sighing in nervousness at being around him again after so long. "But you were not the only one in this problem. Kikyou was to blame as well."

"Kikyou……" Inuyasha muttered sadly, shaking his head. "Kagome I know it's too late to say anything that will change your mind, but I do need to talk to you about some things."

"I'll be at Kouga's den." Kagome said quietly. "Whenever you are ready to talk, just come see me."

"Lot of good that will do." Inuyasha muttered. "I'll have to fight my way in tooth and nail. Those wolves hate me."

"Kouga?" Kagome called out behind her, walking back over to the wolf prince. "Will you let him come? Will you give him safe passage into and out of the tribe so we can talk?" Kouga frowned at the idea of having Inuyasha so close to his den and Kagome.

"I won't deny he's the main reason for this, and that you two need to work out your problems." Kouga ground out.

"Then you'll let him have safe passage?" Kagome asked, her eyes lighting up happily as she hugged him tightly. "Please, Kouga. Kikyou is gone, and we have some things to work through."

"I don't think that's a good idea, Kagome, letting him come to the den." Kouga said firmly. "We can't trust him after this." Kagome's temper flared and she pulled away from him.

"Inuyasha and I have to work this out, Kouga." she said, her voice full of steel. "And if you won't allow him to come to me without getting tore to pieces, then I'll go to him."

"Kagome...please…don't worry about it." Inuyasha said, trying to placate her temper. Kouga looked absolutely stunned and somewhat hurt that she seemed to be taking Inuyasha's side over his in this matter.

"I don't want to turn my back on you and the pack, Kouga." Kagome said, completely serious. "I love you guys. But you're not locking me in the den just because Inuyasha is back." Kouga took a step back, obviously hurt by her words. Kagome noticed the look on his face, and quickly tried to rectify her mistake when she realized that she had just defended the one person Kouga could not stand. She wrapped her arms around him again and hugged him tightly. She felt Kouga hesitantly put his arms around her waist and hug her. "I'm not going anywhere, Kouga." she whispered. "If that's what you're worried about. Inuyasha and I have some things to settle, before anything else can happen to either of us."

"He's going to take you from me." Kouga whispered sadly, holding her tighter. "Kagome, please…don't leave me now." Kagome lifted her head and looked at the distraught demon prince.

"He's not going to take me anywhere, love." she said softly, pushing a piece of his black hair that had escaped the headband back out of his face. "Don't you trust me, Kouga?"

"Of course I do." he murmured. "It's him I don't trust."

"You never did." Inuyasha muttered darkly

"Exactly, so why should I start now?" Kouga grumbled, letting her go reluctantly. "Be careful." Kagome smiled as she stepped back, giving him a wink.

"I'm always careful." she said with a smile. Kouga just shook her head. "Just give me a few minutes, and I'll be back. Kouga nodded and stepped back so that they could have some privacy.

"If he doesn't want to talk now, tell him he has passage to the main den when he wants to talk to you." Kouga conceded. "I don't want you to leave and not come back from Kaede's because of my stubbornness. And I don't want you to think that you're being caged." Kagome smiled, grateful that he had relented to give Inuyasha safe passage.

She knew the hanyou was hurting right now. She had traveled with him long enough to realize when he was truly hurting inside, and she wanted to help him feel a little better.

Inuyasha's instincts were in a furious battle, knowing the confrontation that was to come. A part of him wanted to run away from what he'd caused. Another part wanted to stay and care for the little life he'd sensed in Kagome, as well as take care of the mother. And still another, more instinctual part of him, said to get rid of Kouga, and take Kagome back with him. His inner turmoil distracted him from the fact that Kagome was now standing in front of him, trying to get his attention, but he could not look at her. Could not face the anger he knew would be on her beautiful face.

"Inuyasha? Inuyasha, are you alright?" she asked, her voice full of concern.

"I should be asking you that." he said quietly, refusing to look at her.

"Inuyasha, look at me." she said pointedly.

"I can't."

"You can, and you are." she said forcefully, putting her hand on his cheek and turning his head so that his amber eyes met her own. She could see the tidal wave of emotions behind those soulful eyes she had gotten lost in on more than one occasion. "Inuyasha, listen to me carefully."

"Kagome…just let me get out of here before I mess anything else up." he said sadly.

"No. You're going to hear me out." she said simply.

"I need to go. Kouga's aching to get a hold of me as it is. And you don't need to be around another fight today." Inuyasha countered, trying to make her see reason.

"He's just angry, Inuyasha. And right now, he can get over it, as far as I'm concerned." she said. "Now quit being stubborn before I make you eat dirt." Inuyasha brightened a little at the familiar threat to subdue him.

"Just try it, Kagome." he mocked. "How you gonna do it? Jump on me?" Kagome seemed a little perturbed, and seriously considered uttering the dreaded word before she realized that she had taken the subduing necklace off months ago.

"Humph. You're just lucky I too it off of you." she muttered, giving him a half smile. "Look, Inuyasha……I know you want to figure some of this stuff out on your own before we talk about anything that's happened. Kouga's granted you safe passage to the den anytime you want to talk to me." She laughed at the familiar indigent pose he had taken. "Although I have a distinct feeling you could care less about his permission."

"Damn straight!" he muttered. "I've been keeping tabs on you since you moved in with the mangy wolf, and he didn't know it. Why should I worry about his 'permission' now?"

"Because now you don't have to sit in the trees and hide from me." she pointed out, smiling at him. They were slowly starting to slip back into their old bantering ways, which made them feel a little bit better at the most.

"Feh." he said, glancing at the overly agitated wolf demon near Cali's hut. Kagome's slight laugh broke the staring contest between the two males. "What?" he muttered.

"Well, now I know things are on their way to getting better." she answered. Inuyasha could not help but smile and nod. He did feel better, knowing that she was safe, but there was still that lingering doubt in his mind.

"Kami, Kagome, I don't know what to say to you." he mumbled. Kagome nodded and hugged him tightly, surprising the hell out of him, and getting a warning growl from Kouga.

"Tell me that you'll come back later so we can fix some of this." she said. "Now that we both know the truth, I think we can work something out." Inuyasha carefully put his arms around her and took in the different contours her body due to the pregnancy. Inuyasha closed his eyes and just held her. He knew Kagome was trying to make him feel better, and he was glad that she made the effort. Right now, he felt like the scum of the Earth his brother usually classified him as. When he'd heard what Kikyou had said in the heat of battle, his heart had been ripped out, realizing that Kikyou had used him to hurt Kagome; much like Naraku had used Kikyou to hurt him so many years ago. It was then that he realized, even in his drugged state of mind, that Kikyou was seriously going to kill Kagome and the child she carried.

"I'll come back, Kagome." he said quietly, holding her carefully. "There's just some thing I need to fix right now. To be perfectly honest, you were always with me. As soon as I realized the mistake I'd made with Kikyou, I knew you'd never forgive me. But I still thought about you all the time. In my heart, I'd never really, truly left you, Kagome."

"I understand." Kagome said, nodding at him as she let go. "Take care of yourself, Inuyasha." The hanyou nodded and looked up as Kouga began walking towards them, a scowl on his face.

"He's coming." Inuyasha muttered under his breath. Kagome rolled her eyes and shook her head.

"Kouga! Take one more step and you're going to catch so much hell, you'll wish it was your father breathing down your neck, and not me." she said loudly, still facing Inuyasha, her back to the approaching wolf prince. Inuyasha almost burst out laughing at the face Kouga made as Kagome berated him. "Kouga, I'm perfectly fine. Now do me a favor and go back into Cali's hut. I'll be there in a minute."

"Kagome…" Kouga said, eyeing her back and Inuyasha's amused face.

"I'll be there in a second, Kouga." she said. "I don't want another fight between you two, so give me a few more minutes, please?" Kouga, much to Inuyasha's surprise, only glared at him then turned to go back into the hut, muttering under his breath. Kagome waited until she heard the flap of the entrance fall into place before smiling up at Inuyasha's amused face.

"Sometimes I wish he was the one with a subduing spell on him." she muttered. Inuyasha laughed and shook his head. It amazed him to see the proud wolf demon following every command, order or request Kagome gave him without complaint.

"Seems like he listens well enough." Inuyasha said. Kagome grinned and patted his shoulder.

"He doesn't listen as well as he should, at times." she grinned, laughing with him. Inuyasha looked up to the dying tree tops and shook his head.

"Take care of yourself, Kagome." he said. "I'll be back in a few days to check on you and the little guy, if you don't mind, of course."

"Take your time." she answered. "You know where I will be at." About that time, the baby decided to wake up, and he gave Kagome a swift kick that made her place her hand on her stomach and wince. Inuyasha noticed the difference immediately, and put his hand over Kagome's as a reflex, his other hand coming to rest on the small of her back.

"Are you okay? Kagome, what's wrong?" he asked frantically, seriously considering calling Kouga out of the hut to find out what was wrong. "Kagome, talk to me, damn it!"

"I'm fine, Inuyasha." she said. "The baby's just kicking and squirming now that I've woke up."

"It's moving?" Inuyasha asked, seemingly astounded by the concept. "It can do that?"

"Trust me, it can do that and more, I'm afraid." Kagome laughed at his bewildered expression. "Here, give me your had an you can feel him." Inuyasha seemed hesitant, but Kagome moved his hand down to the rounder part of her abdomen. She watched as Inuyasha's sharper sensed picked up on the slight heartbeat and movements inside of her womb. The expression on his face was priceless, and Kagome would have given anything for a camera at that moment. His amber eyes were the size of saucers, and his mouth formed a perfect 'o' in amazement.

"Kagome…he's…he's…he's moving!" Inuyasha stuttered, utterly amazed at the concept as his eyes widened in surprise. "There's actually a baby in there!" Kagome tried to hide her amusement at his fascination. Kouga had had pretty much the same reaction weeks ago when the baby had started moving more frequently.

"Yes, Inuyasha, there's our baby in there." she said simply. Inuyasha grinned and shook his head.

"My baby." he muttered. "My baby…" Kagome nodded and patted his hand.

"So I'll see you in a few days?" she asked hopefully.

"Yeah." Inuyasha said distractedly, still staring at her swollen waist. "A few days."

"You'd better get going then." she said, nodding towards the forest. "Kouga and I are about to go back to the den. I think he's about to burst an artery right now, and the last thing any of us need is another fight."

"Right…Kouga….artery…fight…….of course." he mumbled. Inuyasha's mind was finally registering that he was going to be a father. It had been easy to ignore the fact that he was responsible for creating that baby inside Kagome, considering that he had not even been around her during the duration of the pregnancy. All he ever saw from his secluded tree top hiding places was her expanding waistline. He never really realized that it was because of a baby……his baby……that Kagome was changing so much. Now that he had felt the tiny being inside of her, he was floored into the ground at what he'd done.

"Go on, Inuyasha." Kagome said, a small grin on her face as she backed away from him. Inuyasha nodded as he watched her go back towards the hut….and Kouga. The wolf prince came out to meet her before she ever got to the entrance.

"Kagome?" he called out suddenly. Kagome turned around and looked at the hanyou, a gentle smile on her face.

"Yes, Inuyasha?" she questioned.

"I…just…" he stuttered, shaking his head. "Thank you." Kagome smiled and nodded at him as Kouga walked up behind her, placing his arms around her.

"Your welcome." she said simply. Inuyasha grinned and took off into the forest, soon disappearing out of sight. When Kouga was sure the hanyou was gone, he hugged Kagome gently and breathed in her calming scent, reassuring himself that she was still with him.

"I take it you told him?" he questioned crossly.

"Yes. I told him he could come to the den." she stated, smiling up at him and giving him a kiss to try and calm his nerves down a bit. "He said he'd be by the den in a few days to check on me and the baby."

"He doesn't need to check on you." Kouga grumbled as he picked her up and got ready to fly off. "I'll take care of you, you know that." Kagome smiled as they took off from the ground.

" I know that." she said softly, kissing him on the cheek as the air rushed by them. "But he seems like he doesn't mind the idea."

"Well, I mind." Kouga grumbled again. As far as he was concerned, Inuyasha was trying to take Kagome away from him, and he did not want that at all. He had been watching carefully when Kagome allowed Inuyasha to feel the moving baby inside of her. And he saw Inuyasha's astounded realization of the child's actual presence when the hanyou's face turned from nervous to absolutely amazed. Kouga did not like the reaction from the hanyou, and he was afraid that Kagome was going to go back to the hanyou if he did not try to keep her at his side.

He would not crowd Kagome, or cage her. But he would let her know that he loved her more than anything else in the world.

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As promised, Inuyasha showed up at the wolves' den three days later, only to be met by the one person who really did not ant to see him….and that person was not Kouga. The hanyou had been caught lounging in tree on the outside perimeters of the cave by none other than Mika, the very demoness that had turned Kikyou into a bloody mass of bones and shredded flesh. Very few words had been exchanged between the two as Mika brought him into the camp to find Kagome. When Inuyasha had been delivered to her and Kouga, mika had not stuck around. In fact, she had gotten out of there as quickly as possible.

Inuyasha and Kagome had went for a walk that day along the river bank, and had a very long and drawn out conversation about what had happened, what was going on now, and what the future would hold, which reduced Kagome to tears on more than one occasion; thereby prompting Kouga to come running to find out what was going on. After the second time Kouga had come to check on her, Kagome told the over protective wolf prince to stay with her as she and Inuyasha finished their conversation.

Now that a few of the more major concerns about Kagome and Inuyasha's relationship had been clarified and laid to rest, as well as the future of the impending child, Kouga had seemed les hostile towards the hanyou. Although that reaction from the wolf prince was probably also due to the understanding he and Kagome had come to the days before Inuyasha's initial visit to the den.

During the three day span that Inuyasha had waited to go talk to Kagome, he had made amends with certain people. He had went back to Kaede's village and apologized to the old miko for being such an ass. Kaede, fully expecting that he would eventually make his way back, had welcomed him back with her usual open arms and quick wit. A few days after he had started visiting, Kagome suggested going to tell Sango and Miroku that things were getting back to normal. Their arrival at the extermination village had been tense to say the least, especially after Kagome had sent Kohaku to get Sango and Miroku to meet them outside the village walls, seeing as how they refused to let demons into the village. When Kohaku had delivered the message that Inuyasha and Kouga were outside the village, Sango had stormed out of the hut, boomerang in hand and ready to get rid of Inuyasha once and for all. It had taken Kagome jumping in front of Inuyasha to keep an angry Sango from trying to kill him. It took a good part of the day, but after Sango's temper had been tamped down from a raging inferno to a smoldering flame, Kagome and the two demons had explained the situation with Kikyou, and what had happened. By the end of the day, Inuyasha had gained Miroku's forgiveness and Sango's attempt at being less openly hostile towards the half demon. Inuyasha knew that it would take a while for Sango to ever trust him again because of what he'd done, and he was willing to wait for it.

Kagome's heart was now with the wolf pack and Kouga, and Inuyasha knew that. He had seen that not long after he had started coming around to talk things out with her. Inuyasha had seen the love and adoration she held for the wolf prince Kouga, and he knew that he would never hold her heart again. The pack loved her, the children loved her, and most importantly, Kouga loved her beyond all reason. The one thing that bothered him though, was the lack of a mating mark on her. When demons mated, they marked their mates, but Kagome bore no mark, and it surprised him that Kouga had not already marked her. So, Inuyasha decided to ask her about it one evening while they were walking around the den.

**Flashback**

"Kagome?" he asked, pushing a tree branch out of their way.

"Yes?" Kagome answered.

"What about Kouga?" he asked timidly, wondering how the question was going to affect her.

"What about him?" Kagome asked, the tone in her voice changing from one of stability to one of indecisiveness at the mention of the wolf prince's name.

"Are you going to stay with him after the baby is born?" Inuyasha asked, looking at her for a reaction. "Or are you going to go back to Kaede's, or maybe your time?"

"I…I'm not…….sure, to be perfectly honest." she had said quietly, casting her eyes to the ground in nervousness. "I am going to go back home to tell my mother, and bring the baby with me, but that won't happen until I get the jewel back from Sango and Miroku. As for living with Kaede, I'm not sure about that either."

"You're not mated to him, so you still have the option of leaving." Inuyasha had pointed out, his voice holding a hint of hopefulness. Kagome's head hung in confusion. She knew she loved Kouga, but her feelings for Inuyasha were still there, albeit weak.

"I'm just confused right now, Inuyasha." she had said quietly, not looking at him. "Things have changed so much. The time will come when I have to make me decision. When that time comes, I will make it." Inuyasha had nodded, understanding that she was stuck between her lingering affection for him and her obvious love and adoration of Kouga and the tribe.

"Whatever you choose, I'll stand beside you, Kagome." he had promised.

"Thank you, Inuyasha." she cried. "you don't realize how much that means to me." She had broken down into tears again, and Inuyasha had held her tight, stroking her hair and trying to calm her down. He knew that had someone asked her that question two weeks ago, she would not have hesitated to say that she was going to stay with Kouga. Now, things were different, and Inuyasha was the main cause of it.

Eventually it had worked and Kagome calmed down enough. It was dark when they returned to the den, and Kouga was waiting on them. Inuyasha never spoke another word about her outburst, or her indecisiveness about Kouga. He only bid them goodnight before disappearing once again into the forest.

**End Flashback**

It had been decided between Kouga, Kagome, and Inuyasha that Inuyasha could have safe passage in and out of the den as he saw fit, as long as no trouble erupted. Inuyasha, now in better spirits since he and Kagome had worked out their problems, had promised to help Kagome as much as he could as the pregnancy wore on, and he even said that he'd like to take an interest in the child and its welfare. Kouga had not liked that particular idea, but a glare from Kagome's direction had shut him up rather quickly. Kagome knew how it felt to grow up without a father, and she did not want her child to have to experience that. She truly believed that Inuyasha would try to help her now that Kikyou was gone, and he had not reservations about her and the baby. It was during these times that she and Inuyasha had laid the foundations to rebuild their friendship. They would work to patch things up between the two of them as best they could, but Inuyasha knew it would never be like it had been during the hunt for the shards.

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A/N- Okay, how'd that one go? I hope you guys enjoyed it. I know there was a lot of information to digest in one chapter, so here is a recount of what happened:

- Inuyasha woke up, apologized to Kagome, Kaede, Sango, and Miroku. Kagome forgave him, as well as Kaede and Miroku, but Sango is still somewhat ticked at him.

- Inuyasha realizes that he will never get Kagome back, and that she will more than likely stay with the wolf pack and become Kouga's mate after the child is born. And he accepts that.

- Inuyasha continues to go back and forth to the den to try and work things out with Kagome, and try to fix their friendship. He wants to have something to do with the baby now that Kikyou's gone.

-Inuyasha and Kagome come to a consensus on the child, which you will find out in the next chapter. And Kouga goes paranoid, thinking that Kagome is going to leave him and go back to Inuyasha now that Kikyou is gone.

Okay, I think that just about sums it up. I know this chapter is kind of rushed, but I've got the last chapter wrote, and ready to post. So, I hope you guys enjoy.

Later,

A.A.

P.S. Remember to leave me a review.