Disclaimer: I am not Rumiko Takashi…I cannot draw nor did I create the plot for the INUYASHA series…I wish I did…*sigh*

Love Me as I Am

Chapter 12- Overcoming Fears

Trinity and Suki were fixing breakfast for the others.

"What do you say we go visit Shippo?" Trinity suggested.

Suki nodded.

"Good idea."

They handed out the food and alerted Sango of where they were going, then left.

5 years ago during one of the group's hunts for the jewel shards they had come across a young female kitsune named Karlie. The adolescent Shippo had fallen in love with her automatically. Perhaps it was her charm or her increased understanding towards him that attracted him to her. But whatever it was they clicked together immediately. Like two pieces of a puzzle. When everyone else settled down and started a family so did he, and the puzzle grew bigger.

The cave he and Karlie lived in wasn't far away. A mile at the most. Everyone always looked forward to their visits with him and his family. There were always children. Always. Last time they had counted there were 16 of them. Shippo was aiming to rebuild his pack, or clan after the wolf demons had threatened his previous one and he was doing an acceptable job.

"I wonder how he's doing." Suki said thoughtfully.

Trinity smiled.

"My thoughts are more along the lines of, 'How many kids does he have now?'"

Suki nodded.

"Yes. I always feel so overwhelmed with children. It kind of makes me happy."

"That's a good thing then right? Happiness is something you could use right now."

They reached the cave; no doubt Shippo lived there. Kids were running wild. Most of them were the age Shippo was when Suki was first introduced to him. Others were toddlers and infants.

Trinity smiled and picked on up, watching another roll in the dirt biting his bottle brush-like tail and playing with it.

She carried the one she had in her arms inside, waiting for Suki who appeared to be drowning in a wave of young foxes. They had always liked her.

She grinned and explained to them the reason for her showing up. They cocked their cute little heads, not quite understanding and got off of her as she headed back towards the cave.

Bewildered they went back to playing with each other.

Trinity and Suki walked in.

"Shippo!" Suki called, her voice echoing off the walls.

It was an awfully large maze-like cave.

"I just don't see how the kids can't get lost." Suki thought aloud.

Trinity nodded and walked into the main chamber.

"Shippo?"

Shippo lifted his head. He was lying against the back wall of the cave with Karlie in his arms.

"Suki. It's you. Oh, and Trinity. Hi you two. How is life treating you?"

"Good." Trinity said smiling.

"Awful." Suki said, taking a seat next to him and putting her hand on her stomach.

Shippo blinked as Karlie sat up straight.

"What is it darling?" Karlie asked.

Trinity decided she'd better explain to save Suki the trouble.

"Suki's pregnant."

Shippo blinked.

"I could smell it. It's similar to Karlie's scent most of the time. But that's good news isn't it?"

Karlie could sense something wrong.

"No. It's not. One of the men from the village directly north of us did it. It was the day of October 23rd. I don't know his name."

Karlie pulled her into her arms, not willing her to cry.

"It's not your fault dear."

"I know but--"

Karlie, like Trinity had a way of making people feel better about life and themselves.

"No 'buts' dear. I don't know the circumstances nor do I wish to know. You're going to carry this baby."

Suki nodded weakly.

Shippo looked over to his left at a calendar that had been scratched onto the cave wall.

"By the date you told me, I can gather, since it is now November 10th, that you're just a little over two weeks along. Am I right?"

Suki nodded again.

"You've got demon blood in you. I remember at one point back in the day, Inuyasha told Kagome that since he was part demon her gestation period would only be six months. I think it would be only a bit more. Maybe add a week or two."

Karlie nodded.

"It's better than nine months right?"

Everyone nodded in agreement.

"Thank you. You've given me something to think about, encouragement. I love you guys so much." She said, hugging both Shippo and Karlie.

The kit that Trinity was holding began to wriggle and worm out of her arms, running to Karlie.

"Goodbye you two. Oh, and Suki. If you ever need advice from Shippo and I, do stop by again."

The two bowed their heads graciously and left the cave.

~*~*~

Kagome and Inuyasha had returned early the next day while everyone else was asleep. They hadn't told anybody where they went. No doubt everyone was curious but no one asked them.

The night Kagome had conceived she and Inuyasha decided to keep it a secret for as long as Kagome could hide her pregnancy. Kagome didn't want people to treat her differently nor did she want to be a burden so they found this the best way. Besides, Suki was enough to worry about.

~*~*~

Suki ate her breakfast hastily the next morning.

"We haven't told grandma yet." She thought out loud.

Kagome blinked. She had told her. The subject had come up during dinner one of the nights they stayed.

"Uh…I did."

Suki blinked this time.

"You did? When?'

"A few days ago. That's where we were."

"Did you go all the way there just to tell her that?"

Kagome's face flushed.

"N-no. It was just a visit." She lied.

"What did she say?"

"She said she's proud of you for deciding to go through with it and for not taking the easy way out. You know, if I had done that…you and Kanaye wouldn't be here."

Suki nodded.

"I know. You've told me all about it and how you almost died at the hands of daddy's nasty witch of a girlfriend."

Inuyasha's face reddened.

He glared at Kagome as if saying 'You told her about Kikyo?!'

"Now now. I wouldn't quite call her that."

"Yes you did."

Suki looked up to see Inuyasha's face.

"Oh. I'm sorry daddy. I didn't mean…"

"Feh. Dun matter to me anymore. I haven't seen her in years." He muttered defiantly.

Which was true. After 15 years of searching for the shards it seemed as if everyone had given up. Even Kikyo and Naraku.

Suki wrapped her fingers around the jewel hanging around her neck. It was only two thirds completed and it meant a lot to her now.

"May I be excused?" Suki wondered, standing up.

Kagome nodded as she headed outside.

She wandered aimlessly into the backyard and stopped short.

Trinity and Kanaye were lying on the ground next to each other gazing up at the blue sky and clouds.

"That one looks like a cat." Trinity said pointing.

Kanaye nodded.

"And I think that one looks like a heart." She continued.

"I think that one looks like smoke." Kanaye said, pointing to the biggest and most obvious cloud.

Trinity giggled.

"They ALL look like smoke silly."

Kanaye wrapped his fingers around hers as their hands lay against the ground.

Suki felt along again. Everyone else was paired up. Everyone except her. Inuyasha had Kagome, Miroku had Sango, Shippo had Karlie, and now even Kanaye had Trinity. But she realized something.

'I can never really be alone.' She thought, putting her hand on her stomach and feeling a wave of warmth rush over her.

'Not anymore anyway.'