A/N: Please read this. This story is almost finished. I have had these chapters ready for days but the upgrades of course prevented my posting them. I want to again thank all my reviwers, and say there are two more chapters to come though it may take a few days to finish them.

I will be posting an important author's note in the next chapter. I have several stories started right now and I will post a summary of each. Which ever one the most people are interested in will be the one I start devoting my time to, so if you are interested look for that with chapter 20.

Thanks for sticking with me and I hope you will enjoy the rest of this story...

Twenty years, could it really have been that long. It seemed as though the years had passed so quickly. Only when she saw her friends and the mourned over the death of villagers that had been her friends did she even notice. It was hard to measure the passing of the years, when she and InuYasha both retained their youthful appearance. Sango and Miroku were the only constant reminder of time passed. Them and her children that is.

Their two youngest Rinji and Miya were ten. Their older sister Kara had just celebrated her thirteenth year and before her Kenji turned fifteen, and Mika and Taro were eighteen. She hadn't planned on having them all so close together. Kara had been conceived after Kenji had been having nightmares and sleeping with her and InuYasha for more than two months. Some might have said what is one more night, but Kagome never regretted not waiting that extra day.

Taro could have easily been and often was mistaken for InuYasha by those not close to the family, but living in the village. Kagome smiled. There was not a person in the village who did not accept them and their children. She supposed that it was because no one had attacked the village in a long time. If the presence of seven half demons, two full demons, a miko and the protection of the taiyoukai of the western lands wasn't enough to scare away any one who would come, she didn't know what was.

She had recently started to notice that Taro would leave for hours and not return, never saying where he was going. She was sure the reason had to be Kimi. Miroku and Sango's eldest daughter. She was beautiful and looked remarkably like Sango, but with Miroku's eyes. Since they were very small she had seen that they had a connection.

He thoughts were broken by InuYasha's return. He had been hunting. It took more than a little time to catch enough food to feed six growing hanyou pups. He laid the food on the counter and hugged her from behind. "InuYasha, I think you need to have a talk with Taro." she said.

"What for?" he asked, kissing her neck.

She sighed. Still after all these years, he could take her breath away with a simple touch. "I think it is time you explained to him about taking a mate." she said.

"He's still a pup." InuYasha replied.

"We were his age when we mated." she reminded him. "Besides he has been in love with Kimi since they were five."

InuYasha groaned. He knew she was right. She was always right. "After dinner." he told her. This also meant a visit to Totosai would be in order. He couldn't risk his son having a mate and no protection from his demon blood.

She turned to face him. She leaned up and kissed him. Kagome, his Kagome. He still couldn't believe she was with him. She had given him everything he had always wanted. She was even more beautiful than the day they met. He had once promised to spend everyday for the rest of their lives making it up to her for not realizing how special she was, for so long, and it was one he intended to keep.

That night after dinner he called Taro outside. Taro studied his father with interest. He wondered what it could be. His father was a man of few words, except when it came to his mother. They walked into the forest. "What is it father?" Taro asked.

"Humans do not live as long as hanyous and if you wish to be with one, then you must know what to do, so she remains with you." InuYasha said. "Sit."

InuYasha explained to Taro what he needed to know. "Does this mean you and mother will consent to my asking Kimi to be my mate?" he asked.

"Yes, but you also must speak to her parents and they will expect you to marry as humans do as well." InuYasha told him. "And there will be no more trips into the forest alone until it is done though I suspect you may be able to convince Mika to go with you."

Taro blushed. He knew that his sister would give them time alone if he asked. He also knew that his father realized this as well. "Of course father." he replied.

"You will need to watch your brothers and sisters as well. Your mother and I must see to something important." he said. Taro nodded.

The next morning with Taro and Mika having agreed to look after the others Kagome and InuYasha left to see Totosai. InuYasha was dreading it. It really hurt to lose a fang, but it had to be done.

"Ah InuYasha. What brings you here." Totosai asked.

"I need a sword old man." InuYasha said.

"What have you broken the Tetsusiaga again?" he asked.

"Of course not." InuYasha growled. "I need a sword for my son to hold back his demon blood."

"Of course..." Totosai said.

"Can you do it or not old man?" InuYasha asked.

"Hmmm...Your fang alone will not be strong enough...If only had something to enhance it." Totosai said. "If you had mated with that pretty miko it could be done..."

"I did you idiot." InuYasha yelled. "She's right here."

"Of course you did." Totosai replied. "Come here InuYasha, and open wide."

InuYasha did as the old demon asked. He held back a groan as he pulled the fang. "Ah Totosai could you pull the other one as well?" Kagome asked.

"What the hell for wench? Kenji doesn't need a sword yet" InuYasha said.

"I was going to make Mika beads to suppress hers as well." Kagome told him.

He groaned. "Do it old man." InuYasha said at last.

Totosai removed another fang and gave the second to Kagome. He held out a bowl. "Now what was it I needed....blood for something...." Totosai scratched his head.

"You need Kagome's blood to make the sword with my fang." InuYasha growled.

Kagome took the bowl and held her arm over it. "Do it." she said softly to InuYasha.

He looked at her. "I can't." he said.

"You have to. It is for Taro." she reminded him.

He nodded and made a small cut on the inside of her arm and the blood dripped into the bowl. He handed it to Totosai. Kagome had a few tears running down her cheeks. He gently licked the cut until is stopped bleeding and wiped her tears away. "I'm sorry." he said softly.

"It's all right. You had to for Taro." she told him, but he still didn't feel any better about it.

"How long until I can come back for the sword?" InuYasha asked.

"Hmm sword... What sword..." Totosai asked. "Ah I remember the sword for you son... A week."

"Fine, we'll be back in a week." InuYasha said.

"Thank you." Kagome called over her shoulder as they left.

When they got back that night Taro and Kimi were inside waiting for them. Kagome smiled. "I take it she said yes." Kagome said. Taro nodded. Kagome hugged them both. "Have you spoken to Miroku and Sango yet?"

"We were hoping you might come with us." Taro said softly.

"Of course I will." Kagome replied. "Are you coming InuYasha?"

"Keh." he replied. "Let's go."

They walked together to the home Miroku and Sango shared. "Kagome, InuYasha, it is good to see you." Sango said, hugging Kagome. "Come inside."

They all went in and sat down. Miroku was glaring at Taro. InuYasha was amused. Kagome nudged Taro. "Miroku-sama, Sango-sama I wish to ask for your permission to marry your daughter." he said.

Sango jumped up and hugged her daughter. Miroku was still staring at Taro. "Why do you wish to marry her?" he asked, narrowing his eyes.

InuYasha tried to stifle a laugh and failed. "Remembering your hentai days." he teased.

"You're not helping." Kagome scolded. "Besides Mika is old enough to have men wishing to court her."

InuYasha's grin fell and he growled a little. Miroku had a satisfied expression on his face. Sango glared at her husband and reached for her Hiraikotsu, which was leaning against the wall. "We give our blessing." Miroku said at last. Kimi ran and hugged her father.

The next morning InuYasha woke Taro at dawn. "Get up." he said. "We have work to do." Taro was used to obeying his father, so he didn't question him. "Get Kenji too." Taro nodded.

InuYasha led them to an area a short distance away from their house. "Father what are we doing?" Taro asked at last.

"You can't expect to live with your mother and I when you have a mate of your own, so you need to build a house." InuYasha said. They started working.

At the end of the week InuYasha made a quick trip to see Totosai and pick up his sword. The old demon handed it to him. He drew the weapon. It cast a soft pink glow. "What does this sword do old man?" InuYasha asked.

"What do you mean?" Totosai asked.

"You know what attacks does it have. Is it protected so that demons can use it. That kind of thing." InuYasha replied.

"Hmm...I know there was something...of course...A full demon can't wield it, because of the miko energy... It can purify demons as well." Totosai said.

"Thanks old man." InuYasha said and he left.

He found Taro working on his house. He jumped down to meet his father. "Here." InuYasha said.

Taro took the sword and drew it. "Always keep it with you. It will keep your demon blood at bay."

"What do you mean father?" Taro asked.

InuYasha explained about half demons and their transformations, and how important it was not to let go of his sword. "You need to tell Kimi. If you should change, she will likely be the only one who can convince you to change back without the sword." InuYasha told him. He also told him that when his mate was in danger, even the sword might fail to stop the transformation.

"Father, have you ever transformed?" Taro asked.

InuYasha nodded and told him about the time with the moth demon and the bandits and about the time when Kouga hit Kagome. "You never want to transform." he finished.

Taro nodded. He was worried about what Kimi would say. He wondered if she would be afraid to be with him when she found out. He attached the sword to his hip and went to find her. He ran into his sister on the way. "Mi, can you come with me and Kimi? I have to talk to her about something." he said.

"Sure." she said. "Where'd you get the sword?"

"From father." he told her. As they went to find Kimi, he told her what their father had said.

"Could that happen to me?" she asked.

"I don't know. Maybe you should ask mother." he told her. She nodded.

Kimi smiled and waved when she saw him coming. Kimi asked her mother if she could go for a short walk and was given permission. She was glad her father was gone. When they were under the Goshinboku, Mi left them.

"Kimi, I have to tell you something and it might make you change your mind out being with me." he said.

"Nothing could change my mind." she told him.

"This might." he said. He told her about the sword and the transformations.

She looked at him. "Why would that change my mind? I love you. You would never hurt me. Even your father said he never hurt your mother. He still recognized her as his and wanted to protect her."

Taro smiled. He leaned down and kissed her. A few minutes later Mika came back. "Times up." she said. "Father is headed this way and Sango wanted Kimi back to help with dinner." Taro nodded and helped Kimi to her feet. He walked her home.

After dinner Mika asked to talk to her mother outside. "Mama, will what happened to father happen to me?" she asked.

"What do you mean?" Kagome replied.

"Will I transform like he said Taro might and he did?" she asked.

"It could happen." Kagome told her. "I don't think it will because of your miko energy, but made this for you, just in case." Kagome pulled out a string of beads with a single fang. "This was made with your father's fang and will hold back your demon blood, so you won't transform."

"Thank you mother." Mi said.

Two weeks passed. The house was almost finished and Taro and Kimi would be wed soon. InuYasha was helping Taro and Kagome brought them some lunch. Both Taro and InuYasha stopped working and turned to the trees. Kenji was coming but he smelled wrong. InuYahsa knew what at was at once. InuYasha saw Kagome coming. "Protect your mother." He said to Taro.

Taro nodded and jumped down. He went to Kagome. "What is it?" she asked, as she watched InuYasha take a defensive stance a short distance away. She didn't sense any unfamiliar youkai. The she saw Kenji. His eyes were red and he had a single purple slash on each side of his face. His claws dripped with blood.

"Taro." InuYasha called I need your sword. Taro threw the sword and sheath to his father.

"Taro." Kimi called coming toward them.

InuYasha looked back. He couldn't expect his son to protect Kagome and abandon his future mate. Taro watched in horror as his younger brother's gaze settle on Kimi. "Go to her." Kagome said. He looked at Kimi and then his mother. "I'll be fine." Taro went and stood in front of Kimi.

InuYasha backed up to stand in front of Kagome. "What are we going to do?" she asked. "I can't purify him. He would die from his wounds as a human."

"I know." InuYasha said. They waited to see what Kenji would do

Kenji seemed to decided that Taro would be an easier target and headed fo him. Kagome watched in wide eyes as her other son started to transform to protect his mate. "Do something." she cried. "They'll kill each other." She was near tears.

"Purify Taro." he said. "Then I'll stop Kenji. Do it."

Kagome closed her eyes and held out her hand. She opened them and shot a beam of purifying energy into Taro, who fell to the ground. Kimi held him in her arms. InuYasha jumped at Kenji as he went to attack Taro and Kimi.

Kagome screamed as her son slashed his father and knocked him into the trees. She ran to stand between Taro and Kenji. She prepared to purify him, if he attacked . Kenji advanced on her. "Kenji, you don't want to do this, please." she said softly.

Kenji drew closer and flexed his claws. He was growling. Suddenly a flash of red sprang from the trees knocking Kenji to the ground. It was InuYasha and she could tell he had transformed as well. He stood over his son, not recognizing him and prepared to attack.

"Sit" Kagome said. InuYasha fell to the ground.

He raised his hand and with it the sword. "Give it to Kenji." he said.

She took it and put it in her son's hand. The red faded from his eyes and he looked up at her. "Mother." he said softly.

She smiled and touched his face. "You are going to be all right now." she said.

InuYasha got up. He was bleeding badly from the cuts across his chest. He picked up Kenji. "Go tell Kimi not to worry and what to do and I'll be waiting for you inside." InuYasha told her. She nodded.

Kagome knelt by Kimi. She was crying. "What did you do to him?" she asked. "Will he be all right?"

"He will be fine." Kagome told her. "I had to purify him to stop them from killing each other."

Taro started to stir. "Will he be the same as before?" Kimi asked.

"It may take a few days but his demon blood will reemerge and he will be exactly as he was." Kagome replied. "I have to go tend to InuYasha and Kenji. Make sure he doesn't get up and I'll come back and help you."

Kimi nodded. Kagome headed for the house "Kimi?" Taro asked.

"I am here." she said.

"He didn't hurt you did he?" Taro asked. "I didn't hurt you?"

"No, you protected me." she said. "Your mother purified you so that you would not kill each other. She will be back after she tends to your father and brother." Kimi told him all that happened while he was passed out.

Kagome entered their house. InuYasha had his haori and shirt off and a makeshift wrap around his chest. He looked at Kagome sadly. She walked over to her son. His breathing was shallow and there was blood on his lips. "He's dying." InuYasha said.

Kagome knelt beside him and she felt InuYasha's hand on her shoulder. "I'm not going to let him." she said. She placed her hands on her son and poured her healing energy into him. Slowly his breathing returned to normal and his heart beat grew stronger. InuYasha pulled Kagome away. She would die if she used any more energy on their son. He wasn't fully healed but he would live. He held her to him.

Kenji opened his eyes. "Father, what's going on?" he asked.

"I will tell you later. First I must wrap your wounds and my own and tend to your mother and Taro." InuYasha said. "Lay still."

InuYasha took Kagome to their room and laid her on their bed. He covered her with a blanket. He went gathered some bandages and water. He cleaned Kenji and wrapped his wounds, before cleaning and wrapping his own. He wished Kagome was awake to do it for him.

He went outside and found Kimi and Taro where he had left them. He helped Taro up and helped him to the house. Kimi followed. "Where is mother?" Taro asked.

"Unconscious in our room. She will be for several days." he told his son.

"What happened? Kimi said she wasn't hurt." Taro said.

He took Taro to his room, and laid him on his bed. "She had to heal Kenji, so he wouldn't die. She uses her own life force to heal so she goes into a deep sleep because to do anything would kill her." InuYasha replied.

"But she'll be all right?" Taro asked.

"Yes, eventually. Now rest." InuYasha ordered. Taro nodded. "Kimi go tell your parents what happened. I will need help." She nodded and left.

He needed to get to Kagome. Few mikos had enough power to heal and they had only learned she could do it when he himself had nearly died. After using her power to purify Taro she was already drained and Kenji had almost been beyond her help. She would need him near to keep her in this world.

He went to their room and laid beside her. He brushed the hair from her face. "Koishii, you must stay with me." he whispered. He held her hand. "I need you, we all do. Stay for me." he smiled. It was working. The smell of death receded a little. "I love you. Don't leave." he squeezed her hand and kissed her lips softly. "Koishii, remember your promise. You said you would never leave me alone again." Only the slightest hint of death remained. "Our pups need you. I would die without you, please fight for me. I love you."

Kara and Mika were at the door watching their father coax their mother back from death. Both were crying. "Will mama be all right?" Kara asked.

He looked at his daughters. Both were so much like Kagome, and on the new moon Mika could pass for her twin. "Come sit beside her." he said. "She can hear you. Help me give her a reason to stay."

They did as their father said. Mika took her mother's other hand and held it. Kara crawled between her father and her mother and laid against her. "I love you mama." she said softly.

"Stay with her, talk to her." InuYasha told them. "I have to go see to Taro and Kenji. If she can hold on long enough to regain some of her strength she will be fine." The girls nodded.

InuYasha went out into the main room. Sango and Miroku were there. "How is Kagome?" Sango asked.

"It was close." he said. "Too close."

"We will take Miya and Rinji to stay with us for a few days." Miroku said.

InuYasha nodded. "Thank you."

Kimi came out of Taro's room. "Can I stay with Taro?" she asked. "Please, it is my place."

InuYasha knew why she said that, but he hadn't told anyone, not even Kagome. Two nights ago Taro had marked her. "I don't think that is appropriate." Miroku said. "You will not be wed for two weeks yet."

InuYasha waited to see what she would do. "Mother, Father I must stay with him. We are already married in the most important way. I am his mate." she said. She showed them the mark.

They looked at InuYasha. "Did you know?" Miroku asked.

InuYasha nodded. "Why didn't you tell us?" Sango asked.

"It was not my place." he replied.

"How long has it been?" Miroku asked.

"Two days." Kimi said.

"Very well, you may stay, but only until he is well. Then you must wait for the wedding." Miroku said.

Kimi nodded. "Thank you father."

InuYasha went to Kenji. It was time to tell him what had happened. He also knew that when Kagome was better, he would be losing yet another fang. He sat beside his second son. "Father, is mother really going to be all right?" he asked.

"Yes." InuYasha said. "She is much stronger than she looks."

"Now will you tell me what happened?" he asked. "I remember being in the forest and feeling a strange presence. A demon attacked me and then mother was beside me."

InuYasha sighed. He told his son about the transformation and how he had come back, and tried to go after all of them, until Kagome had purified Taro and he had managed to knock him down and get him the sword. "The sword has the power to hold back your demon blood. I will have yours made as soon as your mother recovers." InuYasha said. He saw his son's distress at his actions. He told Kenji about his own transformations. "Do not dwell on what could have been. I learned that lesson the hard way and almost lost your mother because of it. Everyone will be fine and that is what is important." Kenji nodded. InuYasha checked his son's wounds. They were going to be find in a few days

InuYasha wanted to go back to Kagome, but first he went to see Taro. Kimi had a damp cloth and was wiping his face. "I miss your ears." she teased.

"What's with you and my ears." he teased back.

"You know you like it when I rub them and don't say you don't" she said with a smile.

InuYasha held back a laugh. He had much the same conversation with Kagome on more than one occasion. He also was happy to find that his son had found a woman as he had, that didn't want him to change.

InuYasha entered the room. "How long will I be like this?" Taro asked.

"Well, when your sister purified you it took a day and a half, but you mother has much more power." InuYasha told him. "It took me three days to fully recover when she purified me. The next time we learned that there was another way to summon my demon blood, but you should wait until tomorrow if you wish to try it."

"What is it father?" he said.

"You and your mate should be able to figure that out on your own." InuYasha said.

Kimi and Taro blushed. "Oh...um...Thank you father." he said.

InuYasha laughed softly and went back to Kagome. Kara and Mika were still with her. "I need you two to prepare dinner." he said. "Soup would be best for Taro and Kenji." They both nodded, but didn't move. "She will be all right."

The reluctantly left their mother and went to do the chores needing to be done. InuYasha laid beside Kagome. He stroked her hair softly. He buried his face in her neck and nipped lightly on his mark. "Thank you for saving our son." he said softly. "I love you." He put his arm around her and closed his eyes.

A/N 2: In case anyone is wondering, for the puposes of this fic Inuyasha and Kagome do look older, but only a couple of years older. They age just much slower. I am going to go with one year to every five, because I can, so there...lol...