I don't own Inu-Yasha

Chapter One: It's Just the Beginning

"I can't believe you just said that!" Kagome yelled at Inu-Yasha, again. Everyone just sat and laughed as they fought with each other. They were always fighting each other, but they did love each other. They had been through so much; Naraku, Kikyou, and even Sesshomaru had caused them trouble.

"Kagome! I didn't mean anything by it." Inu-Yasha told her.

"Sure you didn't! That's why you said it!" Kagome yelled at him.

"Kagome, I said I was sorry!" Inu-Yasha yelled. Kagome turned away from him. "Kagome?" Inu-Yasha reached for her, but she moved away from him. "Kagome?" he said again.

"You're such a jerk!" she turned and screamed at him. Everyone watched as Kagome walked out of the hut, alone.

"Are you not going after her?" Miroku asked him.

"Why should I?" he asked.

"Because she is pregnant and should not be alone in the dark." Sango told Inu-Yasha.

"I know, but she doesn't want me around." he told her.

"Who cares? Kagome needs you, now go after her!" Shippo yelled at him. Inu-Yasha was still reluctant. Kagome was pregnant, but what he didn't know was who the father was. Inu-Yasha and the others were led to believe that someone from Kagome's own time was the father. Kagome didn't want Inu-Yasha to know that he was really the father.

"Fine. I'll go after her." Inu-Yasha said as he walked out of the hut.

Meanwhile Kagome was walking deeper and deeper into the forest. She had a lot on her mind, but couldn't talk to anyone at the hut. "If this baby is born looking like a half demon, then everyone will know Inu-Yasha is the father." Kagome said to herself.

"So Inu-Yasha is the father." Sesshomaru said as he walked up to her.

"Sesshomaru!" Kagome braced herself when she saw him.

"You have not told him the truth, have you? I am wondering why you will not tell Inu-Yasha that the child you carry is his." Sesshomaru said as he stepped closer to her. Kagome threw up her hands as Sesshomaru stuck his hand out towards her. "Calm yourself. I do not wish to hurt you. I only wish to bestow upon you a gift." Sesshomaru told her.

"A gift? For what?" Kagome asked him as she lowered her hands.

"For the child. A child of a miko and hanyou is a very special child. Many demons will be trying to hurt the child before it is born; I wish to help you protect it." Sesshomaru held out a beautiful, glowing, blue crystal. "For years you and my brother have searched for the Jewel of Four Souls, this jewel is the Jewel of Four Spirits." Sesshomaru handed the jewel to Kagome.

"A soul and a spirit are the same thing." Kagome informed him.

"You are mistaken. A soul and a spirit are two different things." Sesshomaru began to explain to Kagome, but heard Inu-Yasha coming towards them. "Keep the jewel with you at all times. The jewel will protect you from any harm." Sesshomaru told Kagome as he turned and walked away.

"Kagome!" Inu-Yasha yelled to her as he reached the clearing she was standing in.

"Inu-Yasha, we have to talk." Kagome lowered her head as she said this.

"Kagome, what's wrong?" he stepped closer to her.

"Inu-Yasha, nobody from my time is the father of my baby." Kagome still wouldn't look at him.

"Is it Kouga?!" Inu-Yasha's face turned bright red. If Kouga was the father, then Inu-Yasha was going to kill him. Kagome shook her head. "Then who's the father?"

"It's your child!" Kagome yelled. There, finally, she had told him. But now, how was he going to react? Slowly she lifted her head back up so that she could see his face.

"Kagome... why didn't you tell me before?" he asked.

"I was afraid of what you would say." Kagome lowered her head again.

"I'm sorry." Inu-Yasha told her. Kagome didn't understand. Why was he apologizing? "I'm sorry I've given you this burden." he said to Kagome.

"Burden? This isn't a burden. Inu-Yasha, I love that I'm going to have your child." Kagome stepped towards him, wanting so much to touch him.

"Kagome, how can you say that? This child will be part demon, and people..." Inu-Yasha tried to tell Kagome, but she wouldn't listen.

"I don't care what other people think. This is my child, not there's." Kagome placed her hands on his face and lifted his head so that his eyes met hers. "Inu-Yasha, I love you." Kagome kissed him softly.

"So you're glad to be having my child?" he asked her.

"Of course I am." Kagome threw herself into his arms. She just wanted to stay like that forever.

Not too far away, an evil pair of eyes was watching the two. "So he is the father. No matter. I will kill her and the child, just the same. As for Sesshomaru and his little gift to the child." I will take care of him later for his interference." the evil eyes said as they faded into the trees.

The next few days were quiet and peaceful. Luckily what Sesshomaru had warned Kagome of hadn't happened, yet. She was hoping that any demons that wished to harm her child would be easily taken care of by her friends. She was also able to hide her worries from Inu-Yasha, who had become very protective of her. But Sango knew something was wrong with her friend. As soon as the two were alone, Sango began to question her friend. "What is wrong, Kagome?" Sango asked her.

"Nothing. I'm fine. Just morning sickness." Kagome tried to convince her friend, but Sango didn't believe it. "Sango, there's nothing wrong." Kagome said again as she stood up and walked out of the hut. Kagome was relieved that she would be going back to her own time today. She loved being with her friends, but she was worried about the baby. Inu-Yasha decided to go with her, so that she would be safe.

"Will you come back?" Shippo asked Kagome as she and Inu-Yasha got ready to leave.

"Someday. I would never leave here forever. I promise to come back." Kagome told him.

"I will miss you, Kagome." Sango hugged her friend tightly.

"I will come back someday." Kagome promised Sango.

"Goodbye Kagome." Miroku hugged her, but for once didn't grope her, for fear of Inu-Yasha and out of respect.

"Goodbye Miroku. Take care of Sango." Kagome whispered in his ear. She knew they should be together, and that someday they would.