Heigh-ho. New chapter up. For once, it's not an action scene, a cliffhanger, or a fluffy romance bit. Well...technically there is romance, but it's all in Kagome's mind anyway, what with Inuyasha being in the past and all. TO THE STORY...AWAAAAAY!

Chapter 30: Fairly Uneventful

"Bit of a disorienting journey, isn't it?" said Tobias, a little dazed as he clambered out of the well with Kagome.

"You get used to it. I need to tell my parents...something." Kagome blushed and looked away.

"What?" She shook her head. "Okay...I'm off now. I have to meet some people and talk some things over. I'll be back in a few hours." He ambled away. "Stay out of trouble," he added.

"Wait!" Kagome said. Tobias stopped and turned to her. "Aren't you supposed to be protecting me?"

"From what?? There's no demons in this time...the worst that could happen is some guy doesn't like you. And I've got that whole situation locked down nice and tight. So don't worry. I will be back." He left. Kagome watched him go.

She turned to the path towards her house. It seemed a million miles long, but the door came all too quickly. Kagome paused and stared at the door, as if wishing she could just leave now. No, she reminded herself. I have to get this over with. Summoning her courage, she opened the door.

"Mama," she called. "I'm home." She had only made it to the dining room before Grandpa approached her.

"Oh, Kagome," he said in his gravelly voice. "How's it been in Sengoku Jidai? Has that demon fellow done you any harm?"

"Grandpa! He's fine. He just gets a little annoyed when you try to banish him every time he shows up." Kagome sighed. Her grandfather could be way out of touch sometimes. "Is Mama home?"

"I think she's upstairs." Grandpa hobbled off. Kagome slowly walked up the stairs. Courage, Kagome...courage... She opened the door to her room and saw her mother inside folding clothes.

"I'm home, Mama," she said faintly. Kagome's mother stood up quickly, then turned around and embraced Kagome.

"You've been gone so long," she said. "Over a month. Why didn't you come back sooner?"

"We've been...really busy. There were lots of demons, and...Mama, there's something I need to tell you."

"What is it, dear?" Her mother sat down. "Whatever it is, you can talk to me about it."

That's the problem. "Well...it's about Inuyasha...and me."

"You and Inuyasha?" She was apprehensive, but leaned a little closer to Kagome. Kagome sat down on the bed next to her mother. "What about you and Inuyasha?"

"Well...we..." Her resolve was faltering. "It's...it's hard to...well, we..."

"What, Kagome? Did something happen? He didn't...did he...touch you inappropriately?"

"No! No...Mama, it's..." Kagome wanted, more than anything, to run from the room and right into Inuyasha's loving embrace. But she knew that he was 500 years in the past, and did not know of her predicament. Finally, she steeled herself.

"Inuyasha and I are...mates. And...we're going to have a baby." Oh Kami, did I say mates? Inuyasha must be rubbing off on me...

Kagome expected her mother to scream and rage and yell at her for being so irresponsible, or look downcast and depressed, or anything but what her reaction was. Her mother scooted next to her on the bed and gave her a hug. Tears welled up in Kagome's eyes. "I'm sorry..." she whispered.

"Don't be," said her mother soothingly. "I knew a long time ago that you and Inuyasha would get together, one day. Now, it seems that day has come." She looked into Kagome's watery eyes. "When?"

"Just last night," whimpered Kagome. "Don't be upset, Mama...he loves me, so much...and I love him..."


"Kagome, sweetheart, I am not upset. I am happy for you. Inuyasha is the perfect husband for you. He protects you, he cares for you, he loves you. Don't cry." Kagome sniffled a little. "I don't know how Grandpa is going to take this..." Kagome managed to smile through her tears. "But he will come around. He loves you, Kagome, and he wants what's best for you. Just like I do. Just like your father did."

"Otouu?" whispered Kagome.

"Yes, Kagome. If he were...still alive..." Kagome's mother swallowed back the lump in her throat. "If he were here today...I know he would be happy too." Kagome held back her tears, hugged her mother one last time, and stood up.

"Thank you, Mama. This...this means a lot to me."

"Where is Inuyasha? Is he here with you?" Kagome shook her head.

"He stayed in the past. I needed some time to think." Kagome blinked a few times, trying to clear her mind. "Is Sota around?"

"He just came back from his friend's house. Think you should tell him?" Kagome smiled. She walked out of the room. Her mother heard her calling for Sota.

"My little girl," she murmured. "Not so little anymore...she's a woman now. How the years go by." She sighed, then started again with her laundry.

Kagome burst into Sota's room. He was organizing his Pokémon cards (A/N: Hee hee, Pokémon in Inuyasha's world!) but looked up at Kagome. He dropped his pack of cards and rushed toward her, brimming with questions like always.

"Kagomeeeee! Didja have fun? How come you were gone so long? Where's Inuyasha? Is he here? Didja fight any scary demons? Where's that other guy? What was his name? Are you leaving soon?" Kagome put a hand over his mouth to quiet him.

"Sota, I have some important news." She wasn't nearly as nervous, now that she had finally gotten it off her chest. Besides, telling her mother was one thing, but Sota was just a kid. "Inuyasha and I are...married. We're going to have a baby."

"COOOOOL!!!! Now he's my brother, right? When's the baby gonna be born? When did you get married? Is it gonna be a boy or a girl?" Kagome laughed.

"You ask too many questions, Sota. Yes, he's your brother. In about nine months. Just last night. I don't know whether it will be a boy or a girl," Kagome finished, rather breathlessly. "And yes, I'm excited about it. I love him..." She gave her brother a quick hug and ran back to her room. Her mother smiled at her and took the basket of clothes to her room to sort. Kagome flopped down on the bed. Her thoughts began to wander...

The cold river water flowing over my heated skin...his gentle growls sending vibrations through my body...his claws lightly sliding down my skin...gods, how I love him.

*RING!*

The telephone jolted her out of her thoughts. Her mother had left the portable phone in her room while folding the laundry, so Kagome picked it up.

"Hello?" she said.

"Kagome?" It was Tobias. He sounded very anxious about something.

"Tobias?" She sat up. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," he said hurriedly. "I'm at Lasako's house. She's my girlfriend," he said before Kagome could even ask. "Remember when I said I'd be back in a few hours?"

"Yeah..."

"Well, there's been...a change of plans. I won't be back till tomorrow."

"Tomorrow?!" Kagome was outraged. How could he do this? She was planning to leave that night!

A very, very faint thud sounded over the phone, as though clothes had just been dropped to the floor. An audible gulp was heard, then Tobias added, "Afternoon."

"WHAT?!"

"Sorry-can't-talk-now-call-you-later-gotta-go-bye!" He said this all very fast and hung up. Incensed, Kagome called him back only to find his phone had been switched off.

"The jerk!" she raved. "I can't believe...why would he...argh!" She stood up and walked from the room. "Mama!" she called out. "I need some money to buy some supplies! And I need a ride to the city!"

An hour or so later; Kagome; laden with packages of ramen, medical supplies, and many other things; staggered to a taxicab. She loaded all her stuff inside and they sped off for home.

The driver glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "Where're ya headed, sweetie?" he grumbled through a mushy cigar.

Sweetie?! I'm glad Inuyasha isn't here...he'd rip this guy to pieces. She gave him her address.

"Got a lotta stuff there," the cabbie said gruffly. "What's it all fer?"

"Just...stocking up supplies," said Kagome, getting a little red. "In case...of an emergency."

The cabbie grunted and turned back to the road. A few minutes later, she was walking up the path to her front door, slightly dazed by the cab ride.

Am I imagining things, or did that guy go on the sidewalk more than the street? But I have to admit...he got me here in ten minutes. That's worth something. She burst in the door. "I'm home!" she announced.

After unloading all the stuff in her room, she tried calling Tobias again. His phone was still off. She sighed deeply. What was he DOING over there? Wait...did he say he was at his girlfriend's house? Maybe... Kagome got in the shower absentmindedly and turned the water on. She yelped.

"AAGH! WHO TURNED THE WATER ALL THE WAY HOT?!" Twisting the knob, she adjusted the temperature to a more suitable level. She sighed as the water cascaded over her. Inuyasha loves me...he's my mate...I love him...so much... She began to wash her hair.

The feel of Inuyasha's heated flesh pressed against hers. The taste of her tongue being in his mouth, and having his tongue in hers. The sheer sensation, flowing through her body like a tidal wave of pleasure as they...

A blast of cold water brought her sharply back to reality. Kagome hurriedly finished her shower and got her nightgown on. As she lay down into her bed, she could already feel herself drifting off to sleep. It had been a rough week. But even as she slept, her thoughts continually drifted back to Inuyasha...

I'm riding Inuyasha like I always do. I don't recognize the forest around me, but I'm not paying any attention to that; instead, I'm focused on the silver-haired hanyou I'm wrapped around.

I bring my hand up to massage his silken ear. His soft growl rumbles through his chest and sends delicious vibrations through mine. His clawed hand lightly grazes my inner thigh, and I gasp at the sensation, clamping my legs around his back tightly. Apparently, very tightly; as he gently pinches me, causing goosebumps to spring up all over my skin.

I grin evilly. So he wants to play, does he? I lower my mouth to his neck, pressing soft kisses into his neck and shoulder. I can feel him shudder beneath my touch.

Suddenly, he goes flying in a random direction. I'm startled for a moment, but he quickly grabs me and holds me over him. We land on his back, and laugh a little at the silliness of the situation.

All at once, our clothes are gone. How did that happen? The question loses importance in my mind as he hungrily presses his mouth to mine, devouring me. I'm drowning in passion, and melt into his loving embrace. My legs tangle with his, and my hands move up to sift into his long hair.

"Kagome..." he murmurs, breaking the kiss. I whine in disappointment, but the whine turns to a moan when he drags his slightly rough tongue across my collarbone.

"Kagome..." he says again, in my mother's voice.

My mother's voice??!!

"Kagome..." said her mother in a soothing voice. "Wake up. Your friend is here to see you."

Thanks a lot, Mama. That was one of the best dreams I've ever had. "All right," she mumbled, disentangling herself from the sheets. Kagome dressed quickly and went into the living room. Hojo was there, his usual "I'm-too-sexy-for-myself" expression plastered into a grin on his face.

"Hey, Kagome," he said in what he clearly thought was a jaunty, winning voice.

"Hojo?" said Kagome blearily, blinking sleep out of her eyes. "Why are you here so early?"

"Early?" Hojo's grin faltered. "It's 1:30 in the afternoon."

Agh! I must have REALLY overslept. "Oh, right...I was just taking a little nap. So what's up?"

The grin returned. "I was thinking we could go see a movie, maybe have lunch together today. You know, just you and me. What do you say?"

"Oh..." Kagome furiously thought for an excuse. "What movie were you thinking of?" she asked, stalling for time.

"The Lights of Paris. It's a very nice romance movie that just came out last week. And for lunch we could go to that French restaurant a few blocks down. It's called The Lucky Fromage or something like that. What do you say?"

Kagome was about to answer when her mother cut in. "I don't think so, Kagome. Don't you remember? You have a doctor's appointment today."

Hojo's grin all but vanished. He took a step forward. "Really?" He sounded downcast. "Well...maybe some other time, then. I'll give you a call."

"Okay," said Kagome, willing herself to sound disappointed. She cast a quick glance at her mother, who returned it with a wink. "See you around, then." She gave him a quick hug, and he walked out the door. Kagome turned to her mother.

"Mama...why did you do that? I mean...it was what I was hoping for, but..."

"Well, I figured that with all this happening between you and Inuyasha, Hojo shouldn't try to win you over anymore. He's a nice boy but Inuyasha is perfect for you. Don't you agree?"

"Yes. Thanks, Mama." She hugged her mother. "You really got me out of that one."

"It was nothing, dear. I wouldn't want Inuyasha to get jealous, after all." Kagome smiled.

"Yeah...he sort of gets violent when he's jealous." She sat down on the couch. "Tobias should be coming over later today."

"Tobias is coming here?" A flicker passed over Kagome's mother's face. "When?"

"In a few hours. Don't worry about it, mama. He's kept me safe for all the time he's been with us." I don't want to tell her about the whole heat thing yet...she might not approve of me going back to the Feudal Era! It wouldn't stop me, but Mama's support is the one thing that's kept me going all this time. And, of course, Inuyasha... Her mind began to wander again as she waited for Tobias to appear.

REVIEW...STORY...MUST...GET...REVIEWS...LIFE...DEPENDS...ON...IT...

Well, not really, but if I don't get enough reviews, I'll get depressed and won't write any more. And you wouldn't want that to happen. So REVIEW!

And to Kai19: I've given you a few 'shout-out's in the past, but this is for real. Whenever I post a new chapter, I actually look forward to seeing your review in the review page. You always have useful comments and suggestions for the story. Here's to you, Kai, and here's to many more reviews in the future!