A/N: Yay! I like twisting this plot around…hope you like this chapter! Please review and let me know!

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My Only Hope
Chapter Twenty-Four

"Dreams can sometimes have hidden meanings, Lady Kagome." Miroku said seriously.

"Nothing about this was hidden." Kagome smirked. "It seemed too real."

"I wish you would've told me," Inuyasha sighed.

"I couldn't see who it was." Kagome admitted. "It could have been anyone."

Miroku nodded. "That is true." He jumped up.

Jin and Kouga walked slowly out of the forest. Jin nodded. "I have news, but it isn't exactly good." He reported. "I didn't find anything but Kouga, and he was looking for the same thing I was…from the opposite direction. There was almost no one in that forest. It was oddly quiet."

"They aren't going to try anything more until they hear news about the pups," Inutaisho frowned. "They're just going to wait."

"Kouga?" Kagome blinked. "You were looking for the demons?"

"Yes, they got too close to the den. It made me nervous…but then they disappeared…" he told her. "It was a little suspicious."

Inuyasha nodded. "So is a lone wolf traveling through inu-youkai territory completely alone."

"Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled. "Be nice! He was trying to be helpful!"

"Kagome?" Shippo rubbed his eyes, and climbed onto Kagome's lap.

"Hey kid. How are you? Did you sleep well?" Kagome grinned.

Shippo blinked. "What's wrong? Did I do something?"

Inuyasha laughed. "No, runt. You didn't do anything. Kagome and I were talking to Akira last night…"

Shippo blinked. Why did Kagome's mother have anything to do with him?

"Shippo, Inuyasha and I talked about it this morning, and we decided that we would like to adopt you…if it's okay with you, that is…" Kagome smiled.

Inuyasha smiled as Shippo's eyes watered with happiness. He was surprised when Shippo jumped onto his lap and wrapped his arms around his neck. He returned the hug after a moment, and grinned at Kagome.

"Thank you!" Shippo grinned.

"Don't worry about it," Inuyasha shrugged.

"That's great news," Jin nodded. "Now if only we could figure out who it is that's after you and the pups you don't have yet, I think we'd be in the clear…"

"Yeah," Kagome nodded. "That dream scared me to death…"

"What dream?" asked Shippo.

"Don't worry about it, Shippo. It was just a dream I had."

"We'll see…"

A month passed, and then two with nothing happening. Kagome began Rin's training, and the little girl learned quickly. Sesshoumaru would stop by the village in increments of a week or more, visit with Rin, and then go back to his task of hunting down the threat to his brother and Kagome. The group began to relax. A week into the third month of non-activity, Kagome began to act different.

"Sango…" Kagome whined. "Something is wrong with me…and it isn't the full moon, either. I already checked that…" she whispered. "Dad said I couldn't get sick…"

"Maybe you aren't sick?" Sango suggested, a glint in her eyes.

Kagome glared hatefully at her for a moment. "What's that supposed to mean?" she demanded.

"Whatever do you mean?" smirked Sango innocently. "I was merely making a suggestion…"

"Sure, and my dad is a cat." Kagome growled.

Sango laughed. "I'm just playing, Kagome. Maybe you ought to talk to your mom?" she suggested, shrugging. "I bet she'll figure it out for you."

"You think?"

"Yeah."

"What's wrong, Kagome?" her mother asked, coming out of Kaede's hut with Yuka and Eri behind her. Each of them had an empty water pail in each hand. Kagome took one of the two pails from Eri and followed behind her mother.

"I don't feel well, and tonight isn't the full moon. I don't know what's wrong with me," she dipped the pail into the water and pulled it out quickly. "Dad told me that youkai and hanyous don't get sick like humans do, so I don't know what's going on…"

Akira looked up with interest. "Really?…" she stopped, thinking for a moment, and smiled. "Well, Kagome, I'm sure it'll be okay…"

"Yeah, Kagome!" smiled Yuka. "You're really strong, so you'll be all right!"

Eri nodded, as if confirming the fact.

Inuyasha stopped in front of the river, holding a pot up for the girls to see. "Hey everyone! Jin made ramen!"

Kagome only had to look at the pot before she felt the threat of nausea. She nearly gagged, and quickly turned away.

Inuyasha carefully put the pot down and ran to Kagome's side. "What's wrong? Are you…" Inuyasha stopped. He knew almost instantly what was wrong. He could tell by Kagome's scent. He wanted to jump for joy, but at the same time, there was still the threat of demons to worry about….

Carefully, he lifted Kagome up, turned to her mother, and nodded. "I'm going to take her back to the village to rest and talk to my father." He paused. "I know what's wrong."

Akira grinned, nodded, winked, and went back to her task.

Kagome's nausea had passed by the time Inuyasha got her back to the village. Her father and Inutaisho eyeballed her with concern. Inuyasha set her down inside the hut. "Just lay down, and I'll be back in a minute…" he promised, and left to join his father and Jin outside.

"Dad, I need to talk to you." He whispered. "Come on, Jin…" He led the two of them to the entrance of the forest. Inutaisho frowned.

"What happened?" he asked. "Is something wrong with her?"

"She's…pregnant…" Inuyasha whispered. "I'm pretty sure of it. She hasn't been feeling good, she got nauseous when I brought her some ramen, and she smells different than usual." He reported.

"Yes, I could smell the difference as well." Inutaisho nodded. "We'll have to step up the search for our little problems…"

"I don't know what to do. I need to tell her, but I'm nervous…" Inuyasha sighed.

"I'll get Akira and we'll go with you," Jin smiled, and walked back towards the river.

Kagome paled. "I'm…what!" she screamed, nearly falling backwards in shock.

Jin nodded and smiled at his daughter.

"But I…" Kagome stammered. "What about…?"

"Don't worry about them," Inutaisho shrugged. "We'll take care of it…"

Kagome took a deep breath, slowly letting it out as she calmed herself down. "Okay," she sighed. "I'm all right. I'm fine…" she repeated. "So…what exactly do I have to…um…expect?" she asked after a moment's silence.

"The baby will come in about six months." Inutaisho informed her. "It is slightly quicker than a human pregnancy. If you were full youkai, it would be an even shorter period of time, but since you are a hanyou, it is slightly longer…"

Kagome nodded.

Akira smiled. "You know…for crying out loud, I don't even know what to expect…I was human when I gave birth to you, so…"

Izayoi nodded. "Same here."

Kagome frowned. "I see…" she nodded. "Well, I guess we'll see…"

Inutaisho couldn't help but laugh. If only she knew…should I tell her? Maybe…

An evil grin spread across his face, and he fought back the urge to laugh. Akira and Izayoi glanced at him.

"Sweetie, this is great news, but it doesn't really qualify as funny…" Izayoi frowned.

"It's not that." He assured her. "You'll see."

"What will she see?" demanded Kagome. She glanced at Inuyasha for answers, but he could only shrug. He was about as knowledgable about this stuff as she was.

"Six months…" Inuyasha whispered. "So…"

"About the time that winter rolls around," Akira calculated, and Kagome nodded.

Kagome took another deep breath. "Hey, Shippo!" she called.

The kit came slowly into the room. "Yes, mommy? What's wrong?" he asked, looking at everyone in the room in turn.

She hugged the kitsune, and smiled. "You're going to have a little brother or sister…" she told him, and his face lit up with joy.

"More like two or three little brothers or sisters…" Jin coughed.

Kagome's eyes nearly bugged out of her head. "What?" her tone flattened.

"You are half dog demon, sweetie, as is Inuyasha, and inu-youkai usually have at least two children at a time…like a litter…" Jin explained.

Kagome calmly took a deep breath, and excused Shippo from the room. When he was gone, Kagome grabbed Inuyasha by the neck of his haori and pulled him close.

"I…am going…to kill you!" she threatened.

"Kagome, I…" he stammered, nervously looking to his father, Jin, or anyone for help.

"Calm down, Kagome. It'll be okay." Yuka assured her.

Kagome released her hold on Inuyasha, blinked several times, and took a deep breath. She glanced at Inuyasha, and after a few seconds, she finally smiled. Inuyasha wrapped her in a hug.

"Lady Kagome?" Rin entered the room. "Lord Sesshoumaru is outside. He told Rin to tell you that he wants to talk to you and Inuyasha." She reported, and bowed, leaving the room.

Kagome and Inuyasha stood, and walked outside. Sesshoumaru was leaning against a tree, looking, if possible, even more calm than he usually did. He scrunched his nose up slightly when Kagome and Inuyasha approached.

"Hmm…interesting. I thought it was only a rumor. Well, the games will begin soon…mark my words…" he whispered. "I've heard it through the grapevine…the demonic community is about to act, and I've figured out who is behind the whole conspiracy…"

"Who is it?" asked Kagome, feeling slightly faint. She leaned on Inuyasha for support. "Sesshoumaru?" she gasped.

"Where is the wolf demon Kouga?" he demanded instead.

Kagome paled even more. "Kouga wouldn't…I mean…he was helping my father look…" she stammered.

Sesshoumaru shook his head. "No, it isn't him." He replied. "However, although he doesn't realize it, he knows the demon who's been organizing the assassination plots."

"How so?" Inuyasha demanded.

"It's another wolf demon."

"Do you think he's covering for the other demon?" Kagome asked.

Sesshoumaru shook his head again. "No. Different tribe."

"Ayame." Kagome whispered.

"Yes," Sesshoumaru nodded. "The story is that Ayame originally started her planning because of her jealousy of you over Kouga. When you mated Inuyasha, she calmed down a bit…"

"But…"

"But then she came into contact with Kumade, who had heard the 'prophecy' about your pups…it was no doubt a lie, but he convinced her that they couldn't risk such a power struggle…so Kumade convinced her to rally other demons to the cause…demons from my lands, her own, and even some from the lands to the east of here."

"Why?"

"Kumade has her thinking that your children will be devil's spawn, basically," Sesshoumaru shrugged.

"But they won't!" Kagome protested.

"I've talked to her. She knows that Kumade has been killed, and she also now knows the truth about you, Inuyasha, and your pups. I have assured her that there will be no power struggle of any type. She knows that the pups will be strong, but she claims that she has calmed the rumors."

Inuyasha blinked. "That was all? Kumade was behind it?…So…we're in the clear…?"

"I think so," Sesshoumaru nodded. I hope so…

Kagome shook her head. "It makes no sense." She whispered.

"What do you mean? It's great news!" Inuyasha yelped.

"But Inuyasha…that dream I had…then, what does it mean?" Kagome stammered. "It makes me nervous. It doesn't seem like it would be that easy…"

"That's true," Sesshoumaru agreed. "Which is why the two of you will continue to be guarded until we are absolutely sure that everything is okay…"

"Thanks, Sesshoumaru…" Kagome smiled.

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"The female wolf demon has told us to pull back," the panther demon growled. "She talked to Lord Sesshoumaru. He is the one that killed our comrades."

"And what news did he bring?"

"The hanyou female is with child…" the panther demon reported. "But before we go after them, we had better make sure that the wolf demon can not warn them of our plans…."

"And how do you suggest we do that?"

"We make sure she can't tell anyone anything…" he smirked.

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Kouga ran into the hut, panting, and sweating a great deal. "Sesshoumaru, Jin, Inutaisho!" he screamed.

"What is it?" Jin jumped up.

"It's Ayame! She's…she's been killed!" Kouga screamed. Her death had obviously taken him by surprise. He was nearly hysterical. "She was murdered! They killed her!" he yelled.

Kagome gasped. "Who? Who killed her?" she demanded.

"She just talked to Sesshoumaru a couple days ago! They must have been angry when she called off the attack…they killed her!"

"Where are they?" asked Sesshoumaru. "Do you know?"

Kouga nodded.

"Tell me."

"No…I want to go with you. I'll show you…" Kouga whispered his reply.

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A/N: Heh heh heh. I'll update soon…if you review, of course.