Chapter 21
The days filtered into February. Kagome fervently hoped the end of her pregnancy was near. She was tired of feeling tired. She was sick of being huge. She wanted to walk around in her hip-huggers and skimpy tank tops that showed off her flat belly.
But she was also worried. She kept sensing evil around her and she knew it was Naraku. Her suspicions were solidified when Miroku began complaining of his right hand hurting all the time.
Kagome knew that the Kazaana was returning. She advised him to have his rosary ready, just in case. Miroku, being the highly intelligent man that he was, listened to her seriously and heeded her warning. If Kagome-sama sensed Naraku's presence, then he should be prepared for the worst.
One day at the end of February, Hiro was driving Kagome from the midwife's home. During the drive, Kagome realized that she had never thanked him for helping her that day she fought Naraku alone. Well, she never really had been alone, had she?
"Ano...Hiro?" she began tentatively.
Hiro, lost in his own thoughts, nearly brought the car to a screeching halt. "Oh my Kami! Is it time? Are you in pain? Do I need to turn the car around?" Everything came out in a rush.
Kagome laughed. "Iie! I'm fine! Really, it's okay." She put a hand out and rested it gently on his arm.
Hiro had been sweating bullets and his hands shook. "Well, okay. Gomen nasai. I'm just a little jumpy today."
She grinned at him. "I can tell. All I wanted to say is thank you, for helping me defeat Naraku all those years ago. Or rather TRIED to defeat him. I didn't find out about it until Yuki told me."
Hiro nodded, a blush staining his smooth cheeks. "I...it was no problem, Kagome.
It was my job..."
"Kouga asked you to," she said quietly. "Yuki told me that, too."
"He didn't want you to know. He said that you had given him a killing stare when he said it was too dangerous for you."
Kagome laughed when she remembered that. "Oh yeah." She turned to look at him. "I really appreciate that you have never hit on me, Hiro. But I will admit that if you ever had, i would have flirted back."
This time, Hiro really did bring the car to a screeching halt, but after he pulled over to keep from blocking traffic.
He turned to her earnestly and took hold of her hands. "Would you really have?" he asked, looking like a happy little boy.
She nodded. "Yuki was too...cold for my liking. I mean, he's gorgeous, there's no denying that. But you are just so sweet and gentle. I'm glad Kouga had you come look out for me that day."
Hiro was horribly tempted to lean over and kiss her, when there was a loud rapping sound on the passenger side window.
Both Hiro and Kagome jumped and turned to see who it was. Furious emerald eyes glared at them through the glass.
Yuki tapped at the glass with a gloved finger and pointed downwards. Hiro sighed and rolled the window down a bit.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he ground out. His breath left his nostrils in two wispy streams.
Hiro glared back. He wanted to run Yuki's pompous ass over a few times before spinning his back tires on his lifeless carcass. "Nothing as bad as you did, jackass," Hiro shot back.
Yuki started in on his brother. Hiro got out of the car and Yuki went around to the driver's side and got in Hiro's face.
Kagome, watching all of this, sighed heavily. She didn't need all of this now. But man, if Sesshoumaru saw this little tiff, he'd have a fit.
She got out of the car and began pacing. Damn it was cold! She stopped and watched the two argue, shaking her head. Yuki could be such an idiot.
Hiro and Yuki were arguing so intensely, that neither of them felt the breeze pick up. Kagome, however, did. She looked up into the leaden sky.
A large feather floated down towards them.
"Shit! HIRO!" Kagome yelled, pointing at the sky.
Hiro immediately turned around, his brother doing the same. "Oh no you don't, bitch," Hiro growled. He threw his hands up, taking control of the winds. There was NO WAY he'd let Naraku's wind witch come near Kagome.
Kagura peered down at them from her feather, scowling. Naraku hadn't told her that one of Kagome's bodyguards could control the winds. Bastard...leave it to him to leave something important like that out.
Oh well, at least she'd tested the waters a little. The dark haired one (who was very cute by the way) was pretty powerful. She'd have to watch it around him. But in the meantime, they'd just have to wait to kidnap the miko another day.
Hiro rushed around to Kagome's side. "Are you alright?" he asked, frantic. "Did she hurt you?"
Kagome shook her head. "Iie. But I'm tired and hungry. Can we please go now?" she asked, giving him a pleading look.
Hiro quickly nodded and helped her back into the car. He even made sure she wore her safety belt and shut the door when he was done.
Blocking the driver's side door, Yuki gave him another dirty look. "Be careful with her. She's carrying my twins."
Hiro glared back. "No shit. Now step back before I make you."
Before Kagome knew it, they were at it again. Damn these two, she thought maliciously.
So, she sat there, patiently waiting for Hiro to hurry up and get in. But while she waited, she felt a strange twinge in her belly.
Kagome looked down at her swollen abdomen and wondered what it was.
But when she felt water surge forth from between her legs, she froze for a good minute.
When that minute was over, she gave out a bloodcurdling scream.
Hiro was just about to lay into Yuki's drinking habits when a scream erupted from the car. He jerked his door open, shoving Yuki aside and looked inside.
"Doshita no, Kagome?" he asked worriedly.
"My...water broke!" she screamed, panicked. "What...what do I do? Oh my god, oh my god..."
Disregarding his brother's out cry of "NANI?", Hiro jumped into the car and they took off.
He quickly dialed the midwife and told her to come to Kouga's house. Then he called Kouga and told him that he and Kagome were on the way, as well as the midwife. When Kouga asked why she was coming, he told him that the twins were on the way. Kouga acknowledged this and hung up.
"Are you in pain, Kagome?" Hiro asked, wondering if she would allow him to lay hands on her.
Sniffed and shook her head. "Iie."
Hiro frowned. "Then why were you screaming?"
Kagome shot him a dangerous look. "If you just let loose a flood of water, knowing that you didn't have to pee to begin with, wouldn't you freak out too?"
Hiro thought about it, nodding slightly. "You have a point, Kagome. Forgive me for not thinking clearly about your situation." He was silent for a moment. "And you are most welcome," he said, out of the blue.
"Huh?" She was grateful when they pulled into Kouga's driveway.
"You were thanking me earlier. Well, you're welcome."
Kagome smiled tenderly at the dark haired elf as he put the car into park.
Kouga waited impatiently for Hiro and Kagome to arrive. As soon as they pulled up, he ran outside to retrieve Kagome. He picked her up and carried her into the house.
Kagome shut her eyes and lay against his strong shoulder. It was finally going to be over...then she could be be mated and marked by the man she loved.
