A/N: Well, now that Sango is pregnant, we have to go back to the whole "who is that bad guy?" thing. So…ta da….

Chapter 5: The Youkai in the Shadows

Kagome and Sango walked through the woods. The New Year had started, and it was surprisingly warmer than usual. The snow still lay on the ground, yet it wasn't bitter cold. They only needed to go outside wrapped in a blanket to avoid the chill. Even though it was cold, they both needed to go outside for the first time in a month.

Kagome stretched as they walked. "This feels so good!" she said. "It feels like we haven't been outside in ages."

"I know what you mean." Sango said. "Our so called husbands need to learn that we are quite capable of walking."

"I'm not so surprised about Inuyasha being this protective." Kagome said, patting her round, 5 month belly. "I knew he'd be overprotective with this one on the way, but what surprised me is how Miroku also kept you locked up. I mean, it's only been two months for you, right?"

Sango nodded. "One month where I didn't even know it existed, and another month of throwing up. And you made this sound so easy."

Kagome said, "I am sure I never made this sound easy."

"True…At least we're in this together, Kagome-chan."

"Yeah…" Kagome pulled her blanket around her. "How do you feel now?"

"Better since I haven't been able to eat anything all morning. My theory is if I can't eat, I can't get sick."

Kagome shivered. She remembered how horrible morning sickness had been. And she was thankful that it had stopped. "Yeah, well, wait until you start getting big." She said, looking down at her growing belly. "Inuyasha thinks I don't notice whenever he looks at me and sighs. I don't need to ask to know what he's so sad about."

"Once that happens it will serve Miroku right." Sango said. "Maybe he'll have more things on his mind then his usual perverted thoughts."

"Oh Sango, you think so little of me!" A voice said behind them.

Sango and Kagome exchanged looks. "They're dead." Sango hissed. Kagome grinned. They grabbed snow and hurled it at the two figures.

"Hey! Cut it out, will ya?" Inuyasha said, under being pelted by snowballs.

"Serves you right!" Kagome yelled.

"I thought I told you not to follow us!" Sango bellowed, hurling incredibly fast snowballs at Miroku.

"Hey! Don't hit me!" Shippou said, who shook snow out of his tail since he was sitting on Miroku's shoulder.

"Sorry, Shippou-chan." Kagome said. "We were trying to hit those BAKAS!" Kagome bent down and scooped up some snow, lobbing it at Inuyasha. He ducked.

"Okay, okay!" he said. "We get it, we get it."

"Then leave." Kagome said. "We're perfectly fine on our own!"

"We're just worried about you, that's all." Miroku said, going over to Sango. "Until the children are born safe and sound, we need to look out for you. You're just going to have to put up with this."

"You should be letting us do what we want!" Sango snapped, picking up Kirara who had also come with Inuyasha and Miroku. "After all, it's your fault!"

Miroku grinned. "My dear Sango, you know as well as I do that it takes two to make a baby." Sango turned bright pink.

"What's he mea—" Shippou started, before Inuyasha covered his ears. Shippou tried to get out of Inuyasha's grip, but the hanyou was determined to let the only virgin ears in the group stay that way.

"Miroku, I know perfectly well it takes two to make a baby! But the fact is you are going to have to put up with an annoyed, pissed off, grumpy pregnant woman in your hut for the next seven months, so you had better not make me mad!"

Miroku blinked. He didn't seem affected by her speech. He held up a piece of paper. "Sutra for a healthy boy?"

Sango had never been more furious. Miroku knew the minute her eyes seemed to turn red that it was a mistake. "THAT'S IT, YOUR DEAD!" Sango yelled, chasing Miroku as he sped off into the forest.

Inuyasha released Shippou, who had been clawing at his hands. "What did he say?" the kitsune asked.

"Nothing, Shippou-chan." Kagome said. "He just got Sango-chan mad again."

Inuyasha folded his arms. "Keh! You'd think that lecher of a monk would have learned by now not to get her mad."

"Maybe I should ask Kaede to make a kotodoma rosary for him." Kagome said. "I have a feeling Sango might need it more than I do."

"Speaking of this rosary," Inuyasha said, grabbing it. "How come I still have to wear it? I obviously haven't murdered you in your sleep, now have I?"

Kagome grinned. "I know you don't need it…It's just highly useful in keeping your manners in line."

Inuyasha muttered a few highly profane words.

His mate glared. "Sit."

"Gahhh!" Shippou had the sense to jump off of Inuyasha's shoulder before Inuyasha fell into the snow, face first. The annoyed inu hanyou popped his head up. "What was that for?"

"You shouldn't be saying things like that in front of Shippou! Or our child, for that matter!"

"The kids not even born yet and already you're 'sit'ing me!"

"Well, you need to learn some decency or something unless you want our girl to go around swearing her head off when we're supposed to be having a fancy dinner."

Inuyasha growled and popped up from his sit crater. "Our BOY is probably not going to any fancy dinners. In case you haven't noticed, not many people want a hanyou as a dinner guest!"

"Still, our GIRL has to learn some manners and she is definitely not learning them from you!"

"Our BOY doesn't need manners to go out and slay youkai."

"Our GIRL won't be slaying youkai."

"IT'S A BOY!"

"IT'S A GIRL!"

"BOY!"

"GIRL!"

"BOY!"

"GIRL!"

Shippou rolled his eyes. "Maybe you'll have twins and it'll be both."

Kagome and Inuyasha stared at Shippou for a moment. A look of fright was across both of their faces. "T-twins?" Inuyasha said, with more fear in his eyes. He knew he would barely be able to keep up with one hyper toddler as it was.

But they resumed their argument. "Boy."

"Girl."

"Boy."

"Girl."

"Boy."

"Gi—" Kagome stopped. She saw something in the corner of her eye. She looked away from Inuyasha. She saw a dark shadow, behind some trees.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked.

She didn't pay him any attention; she just felt that she had to find out what this shadow was. She ran as fast as she could in that direction.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha asked, following.

But as she ran, the shadow seemed to go even farther. I have to know what it is…she thought, running even though it was hard to with this new weight on her. But when she got to the clearing, she saw nothing. She looked around, but there was no shadow.

"Kagome?" Inuyasha asked, running up beside her.

"I…I thought I saw…" She started, but stopped. What did I see? It was like a shadow…but…what was it? I know I saw more than a shadow… "Nothing." She said. "It was just…" she didn't finish.

Inuyasha looked around, and sniffed the air. He didn't smell anything unusual. He sighed. It must have been a shadow. "C'mon. Let's go make sure Sango didn't kill that monk too badly."

Kagome nodded but looked back in the clearing. She decided to be more wary from now on.

The figure that had been in the woods watched the hanyou, the human, and the kitsune youkai leave. He was glad he had come; he had learned many interesting things by coming to this small village.

So…the hanyou and the human are mates…He thought, smiling. And it seems that there will be a new hanyou running around soon…He gave a small laugh to himself. Perfect…

A/N: Oh no! What could the evil dude be up to? Also, I noticed that I haven't been mentioning Shippou or Kirara very much…but don't worry, Kirara and Shippou have a big part in the end! Shippou saves the day!