Disclaimer: Ahhh...to dream...but Inuyasha is sooo not mine.

Chapter 19

Kagome lifted her head from Sesshoumaru's mouth. He was staring up at her, stars in his eyes.

During the past few minutes, he had lifted her up so that her legs wrapped around his waist. He couldn't keep his eyes from her face.

Kagome's raven locks flew wildly around her face. Her scent filled his lungs and it was magic to his senses. She looked like an angel, dark-haired, wild and free. If it were not for the wind rushing past them, he could have sworn time had stood still.

When they finally reached Sesshoumaru's house, both of them were on fire. This time when he took her, she was more than willing.

Later that night, Kagome woke with start. Her body was again glowing pink. The Shikon no Tama was awake and pulsating rapidly inside her. She knew then that Yuki was nearby and calling to her.

"No...please, Yuki!" she whispered in the dark, half hoping Sesshoumaru would hear her. "Not now!"

She did her best to resist and failed miserably. Yuki was calling to the jewel and she had no choice but to obey.

As silently as she could, Kagome slid out from beneath Sesshoumaru's arm. She searched for her clothes, but found his shirt instead. Quickly she put it on, praying that he would wake up and find her lighting up the room with this now annoying pink light and try to put a stop to this madness.

No such luck. The man slept like the dead.

She could feel Yuki pull her towards him. Kagome meandered through the house, not knowing where she was going. Finally, she was led to the back door and out into the garden.

A softly glowing blue light pointed the way. Kagome went protestingly to the light and found Yuki waiting for her. The jewel pulsed even faster now and she ran to him, unable to stop herself.

Yuki grabbed her and held her close. "I can't stand being away from you," he whispered huskily in her ear.

"Yuki, this can't go any further," she replied breathlessly. "You know I love Sesshoumaru."

"I know. But as long as you live, the Shikon no Tama will keep drawing us together. Besides, he can't keep us apart. Hiro and I are still your protectors." Gently, he kissed the side of her neck.

Kagome shivered involuntarily. "Wait! You must stop! Sesshoumaru has marked me, Yuki. If another man kisses me, he'll know," she breathed, trying to pull away much to the dismay of the jewel.

Yuki only smiled and touched her neck. "He'll never know, because the mark isn't there."

Kagome stared up at him in astonishment. "What?" she gasped, reaching up and feeling for Sesshoumaru's mark. It truly was gone, as Yuki had said. "But, I don't understand. He marked me tonight. I know he did."

Yuki put his hand on her belly. "You are carrying my child, Kagome, or had you forgotten already?"

She shook her head. "No, but what has THAT to do with anything?" she asked.

Yuki got on his knees before her and put his arms around her, placing his head gently against her abdomen. "This was the wish of the Shikon. As long as you are carrying my child, no mark will stay on you. The jewel will not allow it."

"Why? Why is this happening to me?" Kagome sobbed into her hands. "The man I love has finally come around and wants me back and I have to go and get pregnant by another man. WHY!"

From the shadows of the garden, a tall, silver-headed shadow watched, his heart breaking.

Sesshoumaru would have turned away, until his youkai spoke up. 'Kagome says that she loves you! Go and get her!'

Sesshoumaru didn't budge. His youkai became enraged. 'Why are you doing this! The girl just called you the man she loves. Go and get her!'

His youkai surged forth and he stepped out of the shadows into the moonlight garden. "You have overstepped your boundaries, elf."

The jewel's spell broken, Kagome whirled around out of Yuki's embrace. She smiled at him. "Sesshoumaru!" she cried and ran to him.

Without hesitation, he caught her up in his arms. Damn, he loved her!

He turned his scarlet gaze on the elf, who had gotten to his feet. "She's carrying your child, huh? You took what was mine, elf. You knew she belonged to me and yet you took her. How dare you touch what is mine."

Yuki glared back at the taiyoukai. "This is what was meant to happen, youkai. Kagome has a duty to the elven race. In exchange for our protection, she is to produce a child to strengthen my people. It is what the Shikon no Tama wishes."

Sesshoumaru's rage grew. How dare this fool try to tell this Sesshoumaru such a lie! "You lie," he hissed, baring his fangs. He set Kagome down on her feet and pushed her behind him.

"It is no lie," Yuki replied angrily.

While the two males were arguing, she wandered a little ways off from them to examine the garden in the moonlight. She sniffed a rose and paused. There was something in the air. It was nearby...and it was bad.

There was a rustling in some bushes near her. She went to investigate and parted the bushes.

A face she hadn't seen in five centuries peered back, its red, hate-filled eyes glaring at her.

Naraku! Kagome screamed and threw up her hands. A burst of pink energy shot out of her palms, hitting Naraku straight on, knocking him back.

Infuriated, Naraku shot his miasma towards Sesshoumaru and Yuki, who were now separated from Kagome.

Naraku jumped towards Kagome, who lay sprawled on her back. He grinned down at her, a leer spreading over his face.

"What a lovely sight to be sure, little miko," he said with a sigh. "Hmm...not wearing much underneath that shirt are you? Very nice."

Now thoroughly panicked, Kagome tried to scoot away from him, but one of his tentacles shot out and grabbed one of her exposed thighs. She shrieked and shut her eyes when the repulsive appendage touched her.

There was a whoosh and the thing touching her leg was gone.

Kagome opened her eyes and saw Sesshoumaru standing in front of her, his arm in the air. At the end of his arm, dangled Naraku.

"You dirty bastard. Never touch this Sesshoumaru's woman again." His voice was hard and dangerous. Kagome knew his youkai was trying to gain control.

Naraku squirmed. He thought that Sesshoumaru had gotten softer and weaker as the centuries passed. As his windpipe was slowly being crushed by the taiyoukai's iron grip, he realized that it wasn't true. But out of the corner of his eye, Naraku saw Kagome scramble away and get shakily to her feet. The blond elf had moved towards her and asked if she was alright. He saw Kagome nod and allow to be pulled into an embrace.

A sly smile slid onto Naraku's face. "You need...to keep a...better eye...on... your woman," he croaked.

Sesshoumaru growled and squeezed harder.

Naraku was tiring of this little game and impaled Sesshoumaru through the abdomen with his tentacle.

A cry from Kagome told Sesshoumaru that she had witnessed it.

Kagome broke away from Yuki. "NO!" she cried, running towards Sesshoumaru.

Sesshoumaru, who hadn't so much as flinched when the filthy, slimy arm went through him and yelled at Kagome to not come any closer.

Kagome, seeing Sesshoumaru's clothing darken with his blood, became infuriated. This time, the Shikon no Tama was powerless to stop it.

Seeing their mate injured, Kagome's youkai broke free and she leapt at Naraku. In mid-leap, her body transformed into a massive black inu. It pounced on Naraku, ripping the evil hanyou away from Sesshoumaru with its teeth.

Sesshoumaru fell back slightly and grabbed his injured abdomen. He and Yuki watched as Kagome ripped Naraku a new one.

Naraku, now severely injured, managed to get away and escaped into the night sky.

Sesshoumaru had already begun to heal and rushed to Kagome, who had dropped to the ground and lay there, panting slightly. He gently touched her muzzle. Her massive head bowed, allowing him to stroke her.

Yuki had watched the entire thing, quite impressed. "Good job, Kagome!" he praised her and smiled.

At the sound of his voice, she turned her head and looked at him. Her giant body began to glow with her pink miko energy and she shrank back to her normal size and appearance.

Sesshoumaru, who had been watching the entire thing, shot Yuki a dirty look. He was jealous of this upstart elf. He hated that Yuki could communicate with her while she was in her youkai form.

Kagome still lay on the ground. Man, she was tired! She attempted to move, but she had no energy. Then she remembered that Sesshoumaru had been injured.

"Sesshoumaru! Daijobu!" she exclaimed worriedly and desperately tried to sit up.

He was on his knees beside her instantly, gathering her in his arms. By now, Kagome was crying.

"You're hurt! I...I'm so sorry that I couldn't stop him before he..."

Sesshoumaru silenced her with a kiss. "Iie, koishii. You have nothing to apologize for." He leaned back slightly and lifted his stained shirt. "See? I'm already healed. No harm done."

Kagome shook her head weakly. "No harm done? Sesshoumaru, I'm going to have Yuki's baby. How is there no harm done?"

His face hardened for a moment and looked up at elf. Damn him to hell!

Yuki tensed when Sesshoumaru glared up at him.

"If you say it couldn't be helped, then I believe you, Kagome," Sesshoumaru conceded softly.

"You'll abandon me, won't you," she stated sadly, turning her head away. Hot tears ran down her face.

She would have pulled away, but Sesshoumaru picked her up and got to his feet. "You, elf, leave this Sesshoumaru's presence and property right now."

Yuki's eyes glowed an angry neon blue. "If you hurt her, I'll know, your royal highness," he spat furiously.

"Get out," Sesshoumaru ground out.

"If you need me, Kagome, tell the jewel. I'll come for you." He looked lovingly at her.

Sesshoumaru had had enough. "GET OUT!" he roared savagely.

"Even if HE does leave you, I'll never, ever leave you, Kagome," Yuki said quietly. He disappeared into the shadows of the garden.

With a thunderous growl, Sesshoumaru sped into the house and up to his bedroom. He lay her on the bed and lay down beside her.

When she tried to turn away, he stopped her. "Kagome, you will not turn away from me. You will not run and you will not hide."

He tipped her face up to his and kissed the tip of her nose. "When I saw you kill yourself to release me of my obligation to you, I did not know what to feel. I thought that I would feel relieved, happy even.

"When I saw that those two ningen friends of yours was taking your body away, I became enraged. All I knew was that you found a way to leave me and I had to stop it. I was going to use Tensaiga on you and teach you a lesson you would never have forgotten."

Kagome's eyes widened. "I knew you always carried Tensaiga with you, but on that day, I believed that once I was dead, you wouldn't care enough to use it to save me."

Sesshoumaru groaned and pulled her to him. "Please don't remind me of how I was, Kagome. I was completely out of line to have treated you in such a cavalier fashion. You had done nothing but try to make the best of what I thrust upon you and be my friend. If there was a mistake, it was how I treated you."

Kagome was speechless at his words and felt her heart flutter madly. He gently caressed her upturned face.

"If you EVER think about purifying yourself again, so help me I'll"

Kagome smiled tenderly at him and put a finger against his lips. "I won't, Sesshoumaru."

"Well, you'd better not. I never want to watch you die before my eyes ever again."

She sighed happily and buried her face against his neck. "There's something I need to tell you, Sesshoumaru. Before I...purified myself, I was..." She broke off, not knowing how or if she should go on.

"You were pregnant," he finished for her.

Kagome jerked back and stared hard at him. "I thought I covered my tracks," she muttered. "H-how did you find out?"

Sesshoumaru gave her a small, sentimental smile. "Rin."

"She told you? But I made her promise to never tell anyone!" Kagome frowned and looked uncertainly at him.

He kissed her forehead. "She accidentally let it slip that you had promised her that she could help take care of the baby. I knew then you had been carrying my child. Damn it, I was too stupid to even realize that such a thing might occur." He looked at her sadly. "Why did you keep it a secret from me, Kagome? Was I that horrible that you would have to keep such a thing from me?"

Kagome sighed and reached up, gently tracing his lips with her fingers. "I couldn't risk you getting angry at me. I knew if you found out that I was pregnant, it would give you another reason to hate me. I had had enough of feeling inferior to you. I couldn't take anymore." She shrugged, dropping her hand. "The child would have been a hanyou and you would have hated it too. I didn't want my baby to end up being treated like Inuyasha was."

Sesshoumaru couldn't take anymore. He bent down and claimed her mouth with his. When he raised his head he said, "Once your debt to the elves has been paid, we will start anew. You will become my mate once again in truth and we shall have many beautiful pups together."

Kagome laughed. "Hold it right there, mister. Many pups? I plan on having two, perhaps three. Anymore than that, YOU'LL have to carry on your own. From what I hear, childbirth is extremely painful."

He laughed too, burying his face in her hair. "Whatever you wish, koishii. I was hoping for a whole litter, but three will be fine."

Kagome smiled and yawned. Turning into a massive inu was exhausting work. "I'm so sleepy," she said quietly.

Sesshoumaru was sad, for he wished to show her again how much he loved her. But, he supposed he would wait until tomorrow to prove it again.

He held her as she slipped into sleep. Closing his eyes, he again breathed in her scent. He hadn't felt this happy since he found out that Kagome had indeed come back through the well and been brought back to life. He had known then that fate had given him another chance.

Back at Kouga's mansion, everyone had gone to bed except for Hiro and Kouga. They sat up in Kouga's study, both having a shot of something hard and strong and waiting for Yuki to return with Kagome.

Yuki came in and sprawled all over the leather sofa. Hiro and Kouga glared at him. "What?" he asked, immediately on the defensive. He grabbed his cigarette pack and his lighter.

"Where's my Kagome?" Kouga asked, his eyes like a pair of twin blue lasers on the elf. "Why didn't she come back with you?"

Taking deep drag off his cig, he looked straight at the okami. "She's with Sesshoumaru," he replied with a shrug.

Hiro choked on his drink and gagged mightily. Kouga slammed him on the back, but his eyes never left Yuki's face.

"Why is that?" Kouga asked. "How could you let him take her?"

Yuki felt incredibly guilty at betraying Kouga, but damn it, it couldn't have been helped. "Okay, here's what happened..." He went on to explain everything.

Kouga looked as though he were about to explode. Hiro's normally sweet natured countenance burned with jealousy.

"YOU WHAT?" they shouted in unison. Kouga was ready to lay some serious smack down. Yuki had gone just TOO far this time!

But the golden one merely shrugged and stood up. "It's nothing personal, Kouga," he remarked casually. "It was the wish of the Shikon that I be the father of her child. Not that it was an unpleasant task. Far from it." He exhaled and grinned lecherously at them through the smoke.

Kouga began to growl, but Hiro spoke up, this time a little sadly. "He's right, Kouga. If it hadn't been Yuki, it would have been me. You have no idea how the jewel affects us...how it affects the miko protecting it."

"What of Sesshoumaru?" Kouga asked, turning away. He couldn't bear to look at Yuki any longer. He felt horribly betrayed by him.

Yuki shook his head. "I'm sorry Kouga, but she loves him. Kami knows why, but she does. She's tried so hard to resist the Shikon's pull."

Kouga turned around and stared at Yuki. "She really tried to resist the jewel?"

Yuki nodded. "All she thought about was HIS feelings. Pah! Damn his feelings to the deepest hells, I say. Filthy inu bastard..." He turned to walk away, but stopped. "Oi, Hiro! Is Ryu still in the basement?"

Hiro nodded.

"Fine, I'll send his ass home. I need to stay up awhile...to think about things." Again Yuki turned to go and again he stopped.

When Kouga and Hiro looked at him questioningly, Yuki looked back at them with a huge, silly grin on his face.

"I'm gonna be a daddy," he said, his voice full of happiness and pride.

With that, he turned and left the study, leaving two heartbroken men to watch him leave with jealousy in their hearts.