They had been at the castle four days when Inuyasha awoke, feeling different somehow. He breathed in the scent of Kagome in his arms, as he did every morning. It's her, he realized, there is something different about her. He smelled her again, trying to decide what it could be. She reminds me of someone...Mother. Kagome smells like my mother. A smile crossed his face. She's having my pup. He realized that the day she was attacked had been followed by the night of the full moon. They had both been so caught up in each other that they had forgotten.
His smile fell. What if Kagome isn't ready to have my pup? We haven't really talked about it. What if she gets mad at me for not being more careful? He groaned softly. He wanted this. He hadn't realized how much until now. It would hurt if she didn't feel the same.
"Inuyasha." she said softly. "What's wrong?"
"Maybe nothing." he replied. "Kagome, have you ever thought about us having pups?"
"Of course I have." she replied. "Have you?"
He nodded. "Do you want to? I mean when would you be ready?"
"Inuyasha, am I..." she started. Damn wench is too smart for her own good. He nodded. "Are you sure?" He nodded again. She started to cry.
"I'm sorry." he said hugging her to him. "I should have paid more attention to what day it was. You don't have to worry. I'll take care of the pup."
"Baka." she laughed. "I'm not upset. I'm happy to be having your baby. I didn't ever bring this up before because I didn't think you were ready and I didn't want you to feel pressure to make me happy."
He kissed her. "We're having pups." he said with a smile. He rubbed his hand across her flat stomach.
Later that day things returned to normal. With the sacred jewel gone Inuyasha returned to training Shippou, but he still remained close by in case a demon should come upon Kagome as she walked outside in the area surrounding the castle. He still insisted that she carry her bow and practice her skills, and so that she could protect herself as well.
She was practicing when she felt the presence of a powerful youkai close by. She knocked and arrow and waited as a form appeared at the edge of the trees.
"I am not here for you Miko. Put your bow down and I will let you live." the female Youkai said.
Kagome couldn't tell for certain what kind of youkai she was. She had long hair, that was a rich shade of brown and amber eyes. There was a single blue star in the center of her forehead. The youkai continued to approach Kagome. "Stop. Or I will release my arrow." Kagome said, hoping she sounded more sure of herself than she felt.
Surprisingly the woman stopped. "Forgive me." she said. "I did not notice at first." Kagome looked at her in confusion, but her gaze was soon blocked by a flash of red and silver. Inuyasha stood before her with Tetsusiaga drawn and a low growl in his throat. The female youkai bowed her head slightly in respect. "Forgive me son of Inu no Tashio I did not see she was your mate."
"Who are and what the hell do you want?" he asked.
"I am Katsuko. I have come in search of Sesshomaru and Inuyasha. You must be Inuyasha." Katsuko said.
Inuyasha sniffed the air again and seemed puzzled by what he found. "You are part Inu youkai and.." he pause to sniff again. "Wolf." he finished with disgust. "Sesshomaru said there were no others with inu youkai blood left."
"If you will take me to your brother I will explain." she told him.
"That won't be necessary." came Sesshomaru's voice. "I am here. What is your business in my lands?"
Sesshomaru turned to look at Katsuko. There eyes locked. Kagome watched as both their auras flared. She wondered what it could mean. She would have to ask InuYasha about it later. The two youkai stared at each other for a long minute. Finally Katsuko dropped her gaze.
"I am Katsuko. My mother was a member of your fathers pack and my father was the former leader of the wolf demon tribe. For more than 100 years I have been away in the west. I have returned at last to bring warning to those of my kind of a group of oni seeking to take this land as their own." she said. "I went first to my fathers tribe only to find that their leader, the son of my father's brother was slain leaving the few remaining members scattered across the land."
"He got what he deserved." Inuyasha said proudly, and wearing a smirk.
"Was it you then who killed him?" she asked Inuyasha.
"You bet your ass I did." he said smugly.
"What my brother is trying to say is that this wolf you speak of made the unfortunate mistake of striking his mate and paid with his life." Sesshomaru told her.
"He would dare to strike the mate of another?" she questioned.
Inuyasha let Kagome step up beside him and pointed to the thin scars running along her cheek. They were barely noticeable, but could be seen easily by the keen eyes of a demon. "This is what he did to her." Inuyasha remarked, with a growl.
"It is as it should be then." she commented. "I was not fond of him. It was his father that led those that killed my mother and later my father. He convinced them that because my he had mated with an Inu youkai instead of a wolf demon that he thought himself too good for them, and was not fit to lead them. My father found out and sent me away with his most trusted advisor. Now I have returned and wish to honor my mother by offering to help protect this land from the oni, who will come."
"How did you know where to find us and who I was?" Inuyasha asked.
"A flea Myoga came upon me. He was surprised to see another with inu youkai blood and told me that I should seek out the brothers of the fang." she replied. "He told me that you two were the last, but also the two most powerful demons left in this land, despite the fact that one of you is only a hanyou, and mated to a human. He didn't not say she was a miko as well."
"Follow me." Sesshomaru said. "There is more to discuss." It was a command not a request and it was for all of them. They followed.
They went inside and took seats at the dinning table. Rin came running into the room. "My Lord, you've returned." she said happily.
"Rin, remain in your room, until I send for you." he said.
"Yes my Lord." she replied and left the way she had come.
"I have heard of your distaste for humans and yet you have two living under your care as well as you half human brother?" Katsuko started.
In a rare display of emotion Sesshomaru stood. "You would dare to question me in my own domain?" Sesshomaru asked. He hadn't raised his voice but there was a harshness in the inflection behind it. Kagome shuddered. Inuyasha noticed and took her hand.
Katsuko lowered her head. "That was not my intention. Forgive my curiosity." she said.
Once again Kagome was confused. The female youkai did not seem the kind to bow so easily. "Very well." Sesshomaru said returning to his seat. "Because I deem it fitting to do so and because there are things you need to understand I will explain." Kagome knew that Sesshomaru was making it clear that it was for his own reasons that he would tell her what she wanted to know. That's when it struck her. He was displaying a show of his dominance. She wondered if perhaps he felt and attraction to this female demon. "As for my hanyou brother, perhaps you are also curious to know how I lost my arm?"
"I assumed it was in a great battle." she said.
"It was in one of the many battles I had with my brother. Only recently have we come to terms with each other. Hanyou though he is I have never been able to defeat him in battle. With his sword I doubt that there is a demon alive that can defeat him. He defeated the demon that mortally wounded our father." Sesshomaru told her. "And his mating with the Miko seems to have only increased his power."
Kagome wasn't sure she liked so many people talking about her mating with InuYasha. It seemed kind of personal to be talking about with a total stranger. "Even though she is a human, she has proven herself many times. I have learned that though humans may be weak in body, some possess strength of spirit enough to rival any youkai. She is no longer a maiden yet she still retains more spiritual power than any miko since the one who sealed herself in the sacred jewel. The child Rin too possess this strength of spirit."
"How can you be sure?" Katsuko asked.
"I was injured in a fight with Inuyasha. That child approached me without fear and offered me food. Though I sent her away she still returned. On her was the scent of many men. They had beaten her for taking food to bring me. What I did not smell on her was fear, or tears." Sesshomaru told them. Kagome was especially interested. He had never before told them how he came to meet Rin. "Later I came upon her. She had been killed by wolves. I revived her with my sword, and since then she has followed me without question, which is more than I can say for others under my service. Does that satisfy your curiosity?"
"Yes." she replied.
"Inuyasha, perhaps your miko should join Rin. It is time to discuss how we will handle this threat." Sesshomaru said.
Inuyasha nodded and escorted Kagome from the room. "I want to help." she said.
"Please Kagome, go see Rin. I will tell you what we discuss later. I don't doubt that you could help, but this is not the place for you right now. Sesshomaru and I are charged with protecting the lands of our father." Inuyasha told her.
"Katsuko is staying." Kagome said defensively.
"She is a demon and the one who knows of the threat." He replied.
"All right." she agreed. "But promise you won't hide anything from me."
"I promise. I love you." he said.
She kissed him on the cheek. "I love you too."
Inuyasha returned to the table. He couldn't help but notice the amused look on Katsuko's face. "What?" he asked defensively.
"Your mate is not very obedient." Katsuko said. "Why do you not correct her behavior?"
"You don't know anything about Kagome, bitch." Inuyasha growled.
Sesshomaru decided to keep quiet and see where this would go. Maybe he would learn something about why his brother and father loved their humans so much. "I know that you had to convince her to leave instead of just telling her to do it." she replied. "Why do allow your brother's mate to act so inappropriately."
"How my brother handles his mate, is of no concern to me." Sesshomaru told her.
"Leave him out of this." Inuyasha said. "Kagome is the best mate I could ask for."
"You did chose her for love." Katsuko said at last. "You are aware that she carries your child?"
"What do you think I am, stupid?" he replied. "Of course I know."
"It is unwise to let her wander alone." Katsuko told him.
Sesshomaru could tell that Inuyasha's patience was running thin. "Enough." he said. "Hanyou though he is, in these lands he is still your better. It is not your place to question him. He protects his mate with a fierceness that cannot be rivaled. It is for him to decide what is within her rights to do."
"Forgive me." she said. "I got carried away in trying to discern the truth of the old flea's words."
"Damn that Myoga can't keep his mouth shut about anything." Inuyasha grumbled. "I suppose he also told you that she is the reincarnation of the other woman I cared for before she pinned me to a tree."
"Actually, he did mention it." she replied.
"I'm going to kill him if he ever shows his face around me again." Inuyasha said. "I thought we were here to talk about demons, not about me."
Just over an hour later Inuyasha appeared in the doorway of Rin's room. Kagome left Rin and they went back to their room. She had thought of several things she wanted to ask him. She sat on the bed and he moved to sit beside her.
"Well?" she prompted.
"Katsuko said that six fairly powerful demons, possibly more by now, are planning to come here and fight all those who will not submit to their rule." Inuyasha told her. "Sesshomaru wants us to patrol the area around the castle . He knows that weaker demons will flee here for protection and possibly some stronger ones too. He expects that some demons will come to cause trouble. We are leaving tomorrow to see Sango and Miroku and ask for their help."
"All right." Kagome said. "Do you think that Sesshomaru might like Katsuko?"
"What do you mean?" he asked.
"Well, their youki flared when they met and..." She paused trying to think of how to say the rest. "It seemed like he was trying to establish his dominance over her."
"Of course he was. She asks too many questions that are none of her damn business." Inuyasha replied. Kagome shrugged and left it at that. Inuyasha didn't seem to like Katsuko too much, and she didn't want to upset him.
The next morning atop they headed out. They arrived the next night. Sango they found out was staying with Kaede. When they got to her hut, they found out why.
"Kagome, I'm so glad you are here." Sango said. "We were worried that you might not return in time."
"In time for what?" Kagome asked.
"The wedding." Sango told her. "We have decided to have it sooner. Next week to be exact."
"What the pervert couldn't wait another month?" Inuyasha scoffed.
"Actually Inuyasha, it was Sango who chose the date." Miroku said from the doorway. All eyes on her, Sango blushed a deep red. "Though I must say I don't mind speeding things up a bit."
"Guess what?" Shippou said loudly.
"What is it Shippou?" Kagome asked.
"Not you, you already know that your having pups." Shippou blurted out.
Inuyasha reached out and grabbed the kit by his tail and held him so that they were face to face. "You were supposed to keep your mouth shut." he growled.
"Kagome. Help me." Shippou pleaded. "I forgot."
"Inuyasha, let him go." Kagome said. He growled again, but did as she asked.
"Kagome, are you really having a baby?" Sango asked. Kagome nodded. Inuyasha groaned as he flattened his ears against their squeals of delight. "That's so exciting. I'm happy for you."
"Ah yes congratulations Inuyasha." Miroku said.
"Keh." he replied, but his smile told a different story.
"We can stay right?" Kagome asked.
"He'll come if we are needed." Inuyasha replied.
"Who will come?" Miroku asked.
"Sesshomaru." Kagome told them. "The real reason we came is to ask for your help. Soon a group of oni will come to try and take over these lands."
"A group?" Sango questioned. "I have never heard of such demons choosing to work together."
"Sesshomaru thinks that the leader is planning on killing the others off one by one, after he conquers this land." Inuyasha explained. "We're not sure when they will chose to attack."
"Of course we will help." Sango said at last.
"Though without my wind tunnel I cannot be of much assistance I too wish to help." Miroku added.
"I knew you would." Kagome said. "Now Sango, is there anything I can do to help with the wedding?"
"Inuyasha, perhaps we should go to my home and leave this to the ladies." Miroku suggested.
"Monk, that is the smarted idea you have ever had." Inuyasha replied.
The days leading to the wedding passed. The night before Miroku cornered Inuyasha. "Uh Inuyasha I was hoping for your assistance." Miroku said.
"With what?" Inuyasha replied suspiciously.
"You see, I have never...Well tomorrow with Sango will be the first..." Miroku stammered.
"Are you trying to tell me that for all your leching, you have never been with a woman?" Inuyasha laughed.
"I don't see why that is so amusing." Miroku said in his defense. "I bet Kagome was the first woman for you."
Inuyasha stopped laughing. "What of it? I wasn't the pervert, was I?" Inuyasha growled.
"This is not going well." Miroku said to himself more than Inuyasha. "I am asking if you can tell me anything that will ensure that Sango enjoys our wedding night. I assume you must know because I doubt Kagome would have spent three days doing something that was unpleasant." He finished with a smirk.
At first Inuyasha had no intention of telling the hentai anything, and letting him figure it out on his own, but then he remembered some of the things Miroku had written and how it was why Kagome's mother let her stay with him. He owed the monk, though he would never admit it.
"If you ever tell anyone that I talked to you about this I will kill you." Inuyasha said.
"I swear, I'll never say a word." Miroku replied.
"Kagome would you take a walk with me?" Sango asked glancing at the sleeping kit.
"Of course Sango." Kagome said. Once they were outside and safely away for the hut Kagome stopped. "What did you want to talk to me about?"
"What is it like?" Sango asked quietly.
"What is what like Sango?" Kagome asked. Sango remained silent. "Sango, you are like my sister. You may ask me anything."
"To be with a man." Sango said at last.
Kagome smiled. So she is nervous about tomorrow. "Sango, let's go to the springs. I'll tell you there." she said.
They relaxed in the warm water of the spring. "Are you nervous about tomorrow?" Kagome asked.
Sango nodded. "I have never had a true girl friend before you. Most thought I was strange because I was an exterminator. The only think I know of marriage and having a husband is that the first time is unpleasant and that it is something only men really enjoy."
"That can be true, but I don't think you will find that the case with Miroku. I know many women in this time do not chose their husbands and many do not marry for love, but Miroku loves you." Kagome said. "I had never been with anyone before Inuyasha, and I was worried about what to expect, but I found that I had no reason to fear. With the right person being able to be so closely connected is a gift. Feelings I never knew existed came to the surface that first night."
"What if doesn't find me pleasing?" Sango asked.
"He will, but if it will make you feel better, I will tell you some things guaranteed to have him wanting no one but you." Kagome told her.
"You're serious?" Miroku asked.
"Of course I'm serious. You think I'd talking about something like that if I wasn't." Inuyasha growled.
"And Kagome likes it when you do this?" he asked suspiciously. Inuyasha nodded.
"Kagome." Sango gasped. "I can't do that."
"Of course you can." she laughed. "And Miroku will love it."
The next afternoon the wedding of the hentai houshi and the last demon exterminator took place. Sango looked beautiful and both she and Miroku were as happy as they had ever been. It was quite a celebration. That evening after the new couple had retired to their home Inuyasha and Kagome sat in the sacred tree. "They looked really happy." Kagome said. "But I bet they both look happier in the morning, if we see them that is." She laughed.
"What did that damn monk tell you." Inuyasha growled.
"Nothing. Why?" Kagome asked.
"Never mind." he said nuzzling her neck.
"Inuyasha." Kagome warned.
"Nothing. I just had a little talk with Miroku last night." he told her.
"If it was anything like the one I had with Sango, I doubt we'll see them at all tomorrow." she said.
"Inuyasha?" she asked.
"Don't you ever stop talking." he replied.
"Fine." she said. "I won't ask you if you know of someplace we can go to be alone together."
"Kagome..." he started.
"Too late to play nice now dog boy." she said.
"Koishii..." he mumbled as he kissed her neck. "Please. I didn't mean it."
She smiled. "Well do you?" she asked.
He jumped out of the tree. He knew exactly where he would take her. He had planned on taking her there for a while, but hadn't had time. He only hoped she would like it. Kagome gasped as he jumped up and landed on what she thought was the top of a large rock. He set her down. She looked below her to see a small water fall with a crystal clear pool at its base. Spreading out from the pool was a small field. Now it was covered with a light dusting of snow, but she imagined that it would be covered with flowers in the spring. It was obvious that the stream that turned into a water fall had over many years carved out this peaceful oasis.
"It's beautiful." she said softly.
"This is my place, the place I used to come to wait out the new moon. There is a cave behind the water fall." he told her. "I also used to come here, when you would leave."
"Thank you for bringing me here, showing me this." she said. She leaned against him.
He picked her up and jumped down. She hadn't noticed it from atop the wall, but she could now see the cave and that you didn't have to get wet to go inside. Inside, she noticed that there was a bed with one of her blankets on it and wood for a fire.
He saw her looking at the blanket. "I'm sorry I took that." he said sheepishly. "It smelled like you."
She smiled at this small admission. She wondered how long ago he had brought that here. He lit a fire and came to stand behinds her. His breath was hot against her ear. "We're alone now." he growled.
"So we are." she replied. "What do you plan to do about it?" She laughed as he picked her up and carried to the blanket.
The next morning she woke to find herself wrapped in his haori. He was standing at the edge of the cave. "You're finally awake." he said without turning
Something was bothering him. "Inuyasha?" she said.
He heard the question in her voice. He could hide nothing from her. He crossed over to her and took her in his arms. Last night as he watched her sleep many troubling thoughts made their way into his mind. "I'll tell you, but not now." he said. "Are you ready to go?" She nodded.
A/N: Draechaeli - Daydreamer62386 - Wganas - Inuyashasgirl12 - Inuyashaluversha - En Satsu koko Ryuu - kat - lyn - inuyashasfavegirl - tobias - InuyashaluvsKagome - NefCanuck - InuyashaKagomeluv - ginger75125 - Yumi's Twin-Kagome
Thank you all for your reviews and I hope I answered your questions in this chapter. The one about where InuYasah and Kagome will live, should be answered in the next.