A/N: Thanks for your reviews! Here is Chapter 38…two more to go. Please review and let me know what you think! Thanks.

>>>>>>

My Only Hope
Chapter Thirty-Eight

"Did I mention how much I hate you, Inuyasha?" Kagome groaned. Her stomach was rather large, and she had no will whatsoever to even touch the foods that she used to consider her favorites.

"I love you too, Kagome." Inuyasha smiled, hugging her.

"Mommy!" Taka held out her arms to her mother and whined, her ears plastered to her head, and her eyes large.

"Honey, mommy can't pick you up. Mommy can't even see her own feet…" Kagome frowned. "I'm sorry…"

Taka looked disappointed for a mere three seconds before she realized that her father was standing right next to her mother. She looked at him and made a slight whimpering noise. Inuyasha smiled and swooped her up into his arms.

"You're going to be a good older sister, aren't you?" Inuyasha cooed.

Taka nodded proudly. "Kaname!" she yelled happily.

"That's right." Inuyasha nodded. "Her name is Kaname."

Kagome carefully sat herself down, groaning as she did so. Yuka and Sango smiled sympathetically at her. Sango was three months pregnant with her and Miroku's first child, and Yuka had only recently found out that she and Sesshoumaru had a child on the way. Kagome, however, was looking as if her belly would pop at any given moment.

"You all right, Kagome?" called Sango.

"No."

"Thought so."

"Sango! You're making me feel guilty!" Inuyasha whined.

"This was at least half your fault…" Kagome reminded him, and he nodded proudly.

"I'm so excited, Kagome! I wonder what your little girl will turn out like?" Akira wondered out loud, and Souta nodded in agreement.

Kagome sighed. "I just want her to come out, already. Did you hear me, Kaname? Come out!" she yelled at her stomach. "Please? Your mommy would love to see her feet again…"

Miroku laughed, and Sango knocked him in the head with her fist. "Shut up, Miroku!" she demanded. "It isn't funny!"

"I know…" he groaned.

Sesshoumaru sighed, throwing a stick at the dying campfire in front of him. He looked depressed, but Yuka couldn't figure out exactly why.

"What is it, Sesshoumaru? What is wrong?" she asked softly. "You can tell me."

Sesshoumaru sighed. "Today was Rin's birthday." He whispered.

Yuka nodded in understanding. "Sesshoumaru…how would you like it if we named the baby after Rin? She meant a lot to you, and I think it would be a great idea. I've been thinking about it a lot."

Sesshoumaru looked up. "We could do that?"

Yuka smiled and kissed his cheek. "Of course we can!"

Sesshoumaru was silent a moment. "Thank you, Yuka." He whispered.

"Sesshoumaru?" Inutaisho came out of the forest.

"Where did you go off to?" demanded Sesshoumaru.

"To speak to your mother's parents." Inutaisho frowned. "I think we may have a slight problem."

Sesshoumaru stood. "And what the hell would that be? Can we ever just stay safe in one place?" he whined.

Inutaisho shook his head. "It's nothing like that. It has to do with your pup." Inutaisho pointed to Yuka's stomach.

Yuka jumped up. "What is it?" she gasped, and Sesshoumaru wrapped his arms around her protectively.

Kagome's ear twitched, and she stood and walked to the door of her hut to find out what could possibly be wrong now. Inutaisho had said he had some news regarding Sesshoumaru and Yuka's pup.

"Inuyasha…what is your dad talking about?" Kagome whispered, and Inuyasha only shrugged.

"Sesshoumaru, you know that you inherited your poison from your mother," Inutaisho began. "Well, I have talked to her parents, and it appears that there may be some…complications…once the baby starts to grow a little faster."

Sesshoumaru blinked. "What sort of complications? She will only be with child for a few months…."

"The baby is a hanyou. He has inherited half your genes…to include your mother's poison streak. This is where the problem lies. Once the baby starts to grow more quickly inside of Yuka's body, the intensity of the baby's poison will also grow. The problem is the fact that Yuka's human body…will not be able to tolerate such high levels of toxin in her blood…"

Yuka only nodded. Sesshoumaru frowned. "What?" he gasped. "Isn't there a way to see to it that she pulls through the birth okay?" he demanded of his father. "Answer me!"

"There is a potion that will lessen the strength of the baby's poison while it is in the womb. You will have to ask Kagome to look it up for you. Also, you may want her to be close by when Yuka has the baby. Her healing powers as a miko should help to increase the chance…although not guarantee, that Yuka will pull through the labor…"

"But Kagome is about to pop!" frowned Sesshoumaru. "I can't ask that of her! She has already done so much!"

"Yes you can." It was Kagome. "Yes you can," she repeated, "and I will help. I wouldn't have it any other way." She shook her head.

"Thank you." Yuka and Sesshoumaru chorused.

"No thanks is needed." Kagome smiled. She groaned. "Ouch…"

"What's 'ouch' mean?" asked Inuyasha excitedly.

Kagome sat down quickly. "Inuyasha…" Kagome frowned. "Go get someone…"

Inuyasha jumped up. "All right!" he smiled, running off to the midwife's hut on the other side of the small village.

Kagome groaned. "All this drama went and put me into labor…" she smiled. "I'm glad, too. It's about damn time!" she hollered at her stomach, and yelped in pain. "Inuyasha! Hurry up! It hurts, for crying out loud!"

Inuyasha returned quickly with the old midwife, who ushered Kagome into her hut and shooed everyone else away. Inuyasha paced outside the door for the remainder of the day. Every time Kagome would yelp in pain, he would jump nervously. Finally, there was silence for a moment, and then, the noise that everyone had been waiting to hear, the cries of a baby girl.

Inuyasha rushed inside the hut.

Kaname was a small girl, with her mother's raven hair and brown eyes. When Inuyasha came in, Kagome was holding Kaname in her arms, and thanking the midwife for her help.

Inuyasha looked his youngest daughter up and down. He was shocked, although not really surprised, to see that Kaname was born a human.

"She's…" Inuyasha nodded.

"Yes she is." Kagome sighed. "You could've guessed that, though, when I didn't transform and try to kill the midwife…"

"True." Inuyasha nodded.

Kagome's bottom lip quivered. "I was so worried about her, Inuyasha."

"Well, she's out now. There's nothing to worry about." Inuyasha stroked Kagome's cheek in an effort to soothe her.

Kagome took a deep breath. "Inuyasha…she's human. We are both hanyou. Fifty or sixty years from now, we'll still be here, looking almost the exact same as we do now…but she won't."

"Kagome…is that what worried you?" Inuyasha whispered. True. He hadn't thought about the fact that he was definitely going to outlive his own daughter if she was born human…but obviously it had been a huge concern in Kagome's mind for a long while.

She shook her head. "That…among other things. Like how badly she will be teased for being our daughter. I wonder if people will think she's even ours? They'll probably think we robbed some poor young couple of their child or something."

"No, they won't." It was Kagome's father. "Kaname is going to be just fine. You and Inuyasha will see to that." He smiled.

"Yes, we will." Inuyasha promised.

"Kagome, she's beautiful! She looks just like you!" Akira grinned. "Can I hold her?"

Sesshoumaru stood in the doorway to the hut, smiling at the group. He couldn't help it. He had changed. And soon, very soon, he was going to be a father.

"Come here, Sesshoumaru!" Yuka called to him. "Don't you want to hold her?"

Sesshoumaru nodded, walking over to Yuka and carefully taking the newborn out of her arms.

Mine did not even need to speak to anyone. She stayed in the trees. She could tell, even from a distance, that everything had gone as it was supposed to go. Everything really was going to turn out all right. She smiled to herself before retreating back to the well, and the future, with her news.

Yuka got sicker and sicker as the weeks passed. Sesshoumaru grew worried. If she was doing this bad with the pregnancy, the actual birthing process could very well kill her. It was true. Kagome had been working very hard to keep Yuka well, but she had her own new baby…a human girl who required much, much more attention than a demon child would have. Kagome was prepared for the possible hardships that would definitely accompany the day that Yuka went into labor…but Sesshoumaru still worried just exactly how much trouble there would be, and how prepared she really was.

Izayoi frowned deeply, staring in concern at Yuka. She pulled Sesshoumaru aside, and glanced behind her to make sure that Yuka wasn't listening. After all, she didn't want to scare the poor girl, and if something like this came from Sesshoumaru, she'd take the suggestion much easier.

"Sesshoumaru…It can not wait any longer," she whispered.

"What?" he asked.

"It is imperative that we induce her labor a bit early. She is not going to survive many more weeks like this."

He nodded. "I have been wondering that myself. How do we go about that, though? We have nothing for such a procedure here."

"Which is exactly why Akira suggested it. I am merely relaying her suggestion. In order to do the process safely, we'd have to take Yuka into the future…."

"There's two of us in the future!" Sesshoumaru barked. "How would we explain that?"

"Akira and Jin have already talked to Mine about it." Izayoi nodded truthfully. "It should be all right. We would need to leave now, though."

Sesshoumaru blinked. "You're sure?"

Again, Izayoi nodded. "We must leave now."

Sesshoumaru took a deep breath, nodded, and walked slowly over to Yuka. "We have to go," he whispered. "I'm taking you to the future to have the baby. It will be fine. Akira has talked to Mine. Come on. Besides, those idiots in the future know about demons now. They'll get over it…"

Yuka groaned and nodded. "All right…" she sighed.

"Come on. I'll carry you." Sesshoumaru lifted Yuka with no effort whatsoever, and headed towards the well. "Inuyasha, Kagome? Are you all coming?"

Kagome nodded. "I want Sango and Miroku to come, too. If we're going to the future, then I want them to look and make sure her baby is all right as well." She paused. "We'll bring Kaname. Mom, could you and dad and Souta keep an eye on Shippo and the twins while we're gone? Kohaku will help you, won't you, Kohaku?" she asked. He nodded. "All right then. We'll go now. We'll be back in a week."

Her father nodded. "Everything will be fine."

The clerks at the front desk of the hospital nearly had a heart attack when Sesshoumaru walked in. "You already came in!" one of them yelped.

Sesshoumaru frowned. "Yuka is very sick and with child. The child needs to be delivered now…"

"Her labor needs to be induced as soon as possible," Kagome explained. The clerks obviously recognized her, because their eyes got very wide. Kagome ignored them, and continued. "This needs to happen quick! Why are you standing there! Go! And I need to be in there with her! I'm her…midwife…" Kagome explained quickly. She paused a moment. "This is Sango. She's a couple months along. Could we also see that she is taken care of rather quickly?"

After a moment, the clerks nodded.

The doctor in the operating room blinked at Kagome. "Excuse me, miss? I couldn't help but notice…you're group is the same one that was on that news broadcast…the hanyous and demons at the mall…right?" he asked.

Kagome nodded. "Now is not the time…"

"I was just wondering…is that baby yours? She appears to be a human child."

"She is," Kagome answered quickly. "Her name is Kaname."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know." The doctor defended himself. He gave Yuka a shot with a needle, and Sesshoumaru growled. The doctor stepped back. "It doesn't hurt her. I promise. It's a drug that induces labor. Now all we have to do is break her water…" The doctor paused. "Might I ask the reason she is so sick?"

Kagome took a deep breath. "Sesshoumaru's mother was a poisonous demon, and since Yuka is human, her body is not handling the mixture too well…" Kagome frowned.

"You should've…"

"Shut up." Sesshoumaru warned. "You know nothing about my species."

"All right…" the doctor nodded. He blinked in surprise. "She's already fully dilated!" he announced.

Sesshoumaru nodded. "I know."

"How do you…?"

"Don't ask. It'll only confuse you further." Kagome warned.

"Okay Ms. Yuka, when I say…you need to push…okay?" the doctor instructed. He waited, and Yuka nodded. "Ms. Kagome, come here please. Okay, Ms. Yuka…one, two…three…push!" he yelled.

Yuka took Sesshoumaru's hand. She was crying. The sickening mixture of Yuka's salty tears, blood, and poison found its way to his nose. He felt badly for his mate. She was currently crushing his hand so badly that he was sure there would be permenant damage, but he didn't mind. She was in pain. When the doctor was done counting to ten, Yuka gasped for air.

Sesshoumaru suddenly felt as if someone had punched him in the stomach. He was having trouble getting the air to reach his lungs. They were burning.

Kagome noticed his change in demeanor, and her eyes widened. "Doctor! She's going to die! You need to do a c-section!" Kagome screamed at him. "Call for help, now, damn it!" she commanded. She poked her head out of the room, where Inuyasha was waiting with Kaname.

She frowned. "Inuyasha…there's something I have to do. Don't be upset, okay?" she smiled.

"What will I be upset about? What is wrong, Kagome?" he stood, alarming Kaname slightly.

She shrugged. "Nothing. I love you." She kissed him, and kissed Kaname on the cheek.

"I love you, too Kagome." Inuyasha whispered. "What is this about?"

"Do not come into this room. If things go wrong in here, I don't want you hurt. You stay out here with Kaname!"

"Kagome!"

But she had shut and locked the door…and whilst holding Kaname, Inuyasha could do nothing to retaliate about the fact that something was about to go wrong. Kagome only acted like that when something was really bad…and Sango and Miroku were distracted with their own business.

He gasped when he saw his brother fall to his knees. Yuka was dying…and Kagome was going to try to do something about it. He would have freaked if not for the fact that his daughter was in his arms. "Kagome! No!" he yelled, hitting the window.

Inuyasha's ears fell to his head when he heard a continuous beeping noise. His brother was on the floor, and Yuka was still on the bed. There were red lights going off everywhere. Kagome and the doctor had gathered around Yuka. Inuyasha began to freak even more. Kagome was going to try to bring them back…and since she didn't have either her or Sesshoumaru's sword…

He remembered Kaede talking about this once. About a miko's life energy…and how much power it held. Kagome knew this. She's going to try to save Sesshoumaru, Yuka, and the baby…would that mean that Kagome would sacrifice herself? But then…why had she…! She can do it without hurting me? Kagome! Damn it! No!

"Kagome…Don't…please…" he pleaded, unheard.

Kagome frowned. "Your damn paddles aren't working!" she growled. "Please, just get out of the way! I can't let them die!"

"Miss Kagome, they're gone…" the doctor whispered softly. "I should call it…"

"They are part of my family! Did you not hear me tell you to get out of my way? I have to try to save them, damn it!" she sighed. "I'd hoped it wouldn't come to this…but there's three of them, and only one of me…and I know which is more important. Three people should not have to die when only one could go in their place…"

"What are you talking about?" asked the doctor, worried.

Kagome placed one hand on Yuka's heart, and one on her stomach. Since Sesshoumaru was still holding Yuka's hand, and the two were mated, she was hoping that bringing back Yuka and the baby would bring him back as well.

"I asked you to stand back, doctor." Kagome repeated, and began to grow in a bright white light.

Inuyasha paled. "Damn you, Kagome! What the hell are you doing? Stop it! Please! Don't do this!" he cried.

Sango and Miroku emerged from a nearby hospital room, and approached the frazzled Inuyasha. "What's wrong?" asked Miroku in concern. "What is going on in there? Why is Lady Kagome glowing like that?"

"She's…she's going to…" Inuyasha stammered.

Sango frowned. "I asked Kaede not to teach her that." She whispered to herself. "But in truth, I never thought Kagome would actually think to try it…"

"What is she going to do? Is it what I am thinking?" Inuyasha pleaded.

Sango sighed, and nodded. "I'm sorry, Inuyasha."

Inuyasha shook his head. "Take Kaname. I'll be back in a minute."

"Where are you going?" Miroku demanded, looking worriedly into the room, where Kagome could barely be seen anymore through all of the bright white light. Miroku could faintly hear the doctor's shouts, but he could hear nothing from Kagome or the others he knew to be in the room.

"I have to go get her sword. I'll be back soon." He explained, and ran for the door faster than anyone had seen him go yet.

Kagome screamed. She didn't expect this to be as painful as it was. She gritted her teeth, holding back her own cries as she continued to summon the white light. She groaned. She was growing more and more tired by the minute, and yet nothing was really happening. If she wasn't able to do it…she couldn't think of what those consequences would be to the future…to now.

Inuyasha ran to the village and into his hut, snatching Kagome's sword and running away without so much as a backwards glance at anyone. Before he knew it, he was back at the well, then back in the modern era…and getting closer and closer to the hospital. Kagome's stubborn sword was burning his skin, but he held onto it as if it were glued to his hand. Finally, he could see the hospital in front of him. He ran through the doorway, and down the hall.

Miroku stared worriedly at the scene in front of him. "Lady Kagome…" he frowned. "Sango…" he frowned.

Sango looked up. Miroku pointed to the window. Sango could still not see what was all going on in the room. The light was still very strong…but, only seconds after Miroku had gotten her attention, she heard a sound she both welcomed and dreaded.

She could hear a baby crying. At about the time this happened, the bright light in the room began to fade slowly away. She nearly cried. The doctor in the room was staring in shock at the scene. The baby was crying in Yuka's arms, and Sesshoumaru was pulling himself back into a sitting position. Kagome, on the other hand, was on the floor.

The doctor rushed forward. "Miss Kagome!" he yelped.

"Kagome?" Sesshoumaru and Yuka echoed. "What happened?"

"She's so cold!" the doctor frowned. He felt for a pulse, but could find none. He frowned in defeat and looked up at the clock. "Time of death is…"

"No!" Yuka sobbed.

"How did this happen?" Sesshoumaru demanded.

There was the sound of glass breaking, and Inuyasha was standing in the room. He hadn't even bothered to use the door, because the window was closer as he rounded the corner.

He gasped. "Kagome!" he screamed. "Sesshoumaru! Take this! It's her sword…" he told his brother, wrapping his arms around his mate.

Sesshoumaru nodded, taking the sword. "Get out of the way, Inuyasha." He commanded.

Inuyasha gulped, nodded, and slowly stood.

Sesshoumaru swiped the sword several times, and then leaned it up against the nearest wall. Inuyasha waited in expectation, but Kagome still did not move. Inuyasha took a deep breath. "Kagome…?" he whispered, again dropping to his knees. He wrapped her in a tight hug. "Kagome! Damn you! Why did you have to play the damn hero? You weren't supposed to leave me! Damn it!" he screamed.

"Inu…yasha…" Kagome groaned. "I can't breathe…" she coughed. "Choking me…"

Inuyasha jumped back, surprised and relieved at the same time. "Kagome!" he smiled. "Thank goodness!"

"I still don't understand what happened…" Yuka frowned.

Kagome sighed. "It's a long story, Yuka…and you have more important matters to tend to…like your new baby girl." Kagome smiled.

"Her name is Rin." Sesshoumaru and Yuka chorused.

>>>>>>

A/N: I could have left it where Kagome died…in fact I originally did…but decided since I was so close to the end that there was no harm in finishing it up so you guys wouldn't have to deal with a cliffy. Hence the time between updates…I was contemplating whether or not to change it…:D and I did. I hope you liked it! Please review! I'll add the next chapters really soon!