There were so many reviewers this time, and I was so busy, that I couldn't answer any of you! Sorry! X.x I'm really busy right now, so I don't think I'll have time for a while to continue my newest story, which is Taking Over Me 2: Fall to Pieces.

But anyway, here are the names of all of you that reviewed:

Water-Goddess-Inu-Luver1, elementalobsession, drummergrrlrox,InuyashaLuvszKagome, Zarbok (Inuyasha:…keh!), ashyandjessy (I didn't. The lemon is in my LJ.), inashosetai, Rinicat, Terrasina Dragonwagon, Animeluver101, and Sora Chi!

And everyone - thank you all so much for your awesome comments! I love you all!

Sadly…this story has come to an end. X-x Sorry this went so fast! See you all in Fall to Pieces!


Inuyasha shook his head, glaring at the monk. Miroku just shrugged. "All I said was that you were going to wear a hole in the ground."

"Keh!" the hanyou snapped. "I'd like to see you stay calm when your mate is giving birth, monk - "

The houshi held up his hands. "Calm down, Inuyasha, I wasn't implying - "

"Whatare you implying, monk?"

"That you're pacing too much."

"Then excuse me for being on edge!"

"Calm down; you're scaring Shippo."

"So?"

"So, he's not old enough to know that Kagome will be okay."

"Fuck off, dammit."

"Be quiet, both of you!" Sango said angrily, glaring at the monk and hanyou. "I'm trying to hear."

"Keh! There's nothing to hear, taijiya, there's just Kagome screaming her damn head off."

Sango shot him an icy glance. "I know you're anxious, Inuyasha, but that's no reason to chew us out. And I'm trying to hear a baby cry."

The hanyou fell silent. Yes, he was anxious. Very anxious. But why shouldn't he be? His mate was in there - with only that damned old miko to help her - trying to give birth to a pup.

My pup, he thought possessively. My mate, and my pup.

The scent of her blood and fear assailed him, made him want to go to her. Or to kill something, whichever became possible first.

Shippo sat silently, ashen-faced, staring at the door to Kaede's hut. The wooden door had been sealed shut by ofudas, which made it impossible for Inuyasha to get through.

Damned bakas, the hanyou thought savagely. I need to be in there with my mate. I need to help her. Why can't they understand that?

Sango was kneeling, kitten-Kirara in her lap, in front of the priestess's hut. She looked worried but also excited; she was apparently looking forward to seeing a new child.

The houshi stood leaning against the tree, standing near Inuyasha. He looked nonplussed, arms folded in his robe sleeves and Seibai leaning against one elbow. The hanyou, however, could smell his friend's fear - at least Miroku had a little sense. The monk knew that birthing was no easy business, and yet…

The hanyou ground his teeth, digging his claws into the wooden wall of the hut. Splinters bit into his fingertips, but he ignored them; he was too set on getting inside to help his mate to care about trivial pain.

Kagome doubled over, gasping in sudden pain. The hanyou looked at her, ears pinning flat. "What's the matter?"

"A contraction," she breathed, biting her lip.

"What?"

"A contraction. That's the umpteenth time I've felt one today…"

Something clicked into place in the back of his mind. "A contraction? Isn't that the thing that means you're going to…"

"Have the baby? Usually." She winced. "They're only five minutes apart now..."

"What! Why didn't you fucking tell me they were this bad?" he demanded, scooping his mate up.

And then a strangely salty scent wafted to his nose. Not tears, but…something else. Something far different.

Kagome gasped. "Inuyasha…"

"What was that?" he asked tentatively.

"My water just broke…"

"Your what?"

"My water…it means the pup's coming. Today. We have to get to Kaede."

"R…right. Right." The hanyou nodded, bewildered, then took off toward the village.

He reached the village in record time: it had taken him only a minute to get there at top speed. Maybe less; he didn't know. Pounding on the door, he roared, "Kaede, LET ME IN!"

The miko opened the door. "Inuyasha, what on earth…"

"It's Kagome, she…"

But Kaede looked as though she understood. "Leave her with me and wait outside."

Inuyasha sighed heavily. "Damn…"

Kagome's cries had stopped. For the moment.

No…now an entirely different scent reached him. It smelled faintly of blood, but…there was…the scent of life. Of new. Of a beginning.

My pup!

He flung himself at the door just as it opened. Kaede stepped aside to let him in, and he darted past her without a word, kneeling beside his mate. "Kagome?"

Her tired smile warmed him from the inside out. "Hi, koishii."

"Where's..?"

"It's a girl, Inuyasha," she said, voice soft as she settled the silent pup gently in his arms.

The little female blinked blearily at him, almond-colored eyes wide and curious. Her ears were humanoid, curved and naked, but tiny claws tipped her fingers. The little one's matted, damp hair was a unique mix of white and black that made a dark silver color. She wasn't crying, and he supposed that was a good thing. His ears were already ringing for no reason at all.

The hanyou stared down at the little one, awestruck. "She's…she's tiny," he whispered, tracing the pup's cheek with one claw.

Kagome nodded. "They always are."

He looked at her. "Are you okay?"

"Tired, but…" She smiled, something like pride and bliss glittering in her gaze. "Isn't she beautiful?"

"Yeah." He kissed his mate's cheek. "Beautiful. That's what we'll name her: Karei."

"Beauty?" She smiled, laying her head on his shoulder. "I like that."

"Ai'shiteru," he said softly.

"Ai'shiteru, too."