Disclaimer: Wow, what a great idea. I could own Inu Yasha. Shoot, Rumiko Takahashi already does.

A/N- Sorry took so long for my update. I was busy running around like a chicken with my head cut off for the last week. But here's the next chapter. Oh, and thanks for all the great reviews!

In the Rain

Chapter 2 – The Chill

Kagome watched in amazement as Inu Yasha transformed into his human form before her very eyes. Of course she had seen this many times, but somehow it never ceased to amaze her and also worry her. In his human state he was so vulnerable. "Was that Sesshomaru I heard?"

"Yeah, he heard you were with child and came to see for it himself. Don't worry, he's gone." Inu Yasha saw no point in worrying Kagome. She obviously hadn't heard what was said, so it was better not to bring it up.

Kagome could tell he was hiding something, but she chose not to confront him about it. She knew he was only trying to protect her. Also, she was far too tired to argue with him right now. So, she merely smiled while she watched him stir the fire and test the boar meat.

Inu Yasha moved to sit beside Kagome on the pile of furs. She smiled as he slipped his arms around her. "Kagome, I want you to promise me something. If something happens while I'm in my human state, I want you to run to the hollow, and I want you to do it when I tell you, no arguing."

Kagome frowned at the request. "No, I won't promise something like that. I won't leave you behind." Tears filled her eyes slightly. "You're all I have. I won't loose you too."

Inu Yasha pushed a stray hair behind her ear. "Kagome, please don't argue. I have my reasons. I need to know you're safe."

"But…I can't. Not unless you promise you won't fight and follow right after me."

"Kagome, how can I protect you, if I can't fight?"

"You'll figure it out. But if you don't promise me, I won't leave you."

He pulled her to him. He could understand her need to be with him even in battle. But he couldn't allow her to put herself in danger for him. "All right, but I will defend you if it becomes necessary."

She nodded, wondering what had brought about this kind of conversation. "All right, I promise. But be safe, please."

He stroked her hair warmly. "I'll never leave you." He kissed her brow lovingly and rose to pull the boar meat from the fire. "Here." He handed her a chunk of the meat and took a bit of his own. They sat and ate in quiet contentment for a while. Kagome began to loose interest in the meat and her eyes began to slide shut slowly. He smiled at her attempt to stay awake. After another minute or so her eyes lit up.

"I almost forgot." She rose and handed the babe to Inu Yasha.

"Where are you going?"

"Nowhere, I'm just going to make us some ramen."

Inu yasha looked down at the baby. He was so small. A part of him still marveled that Kagome had carried this being inside her for nine months. He looked over at his mate and smiled as he watched her boil some water and open up the two cups of ramen. She stirred the fire with one of the larger branches and returned to his side.

Kagome liked seeing her handsome hanyou holding their son. It made her feel warm and proud inside. She felt like laughing to see him eating with one hand and cradling the child in the other. After a few moments the water began to boil and she returned to the fire to fill the two cups with the steaming water.

"Inu Yasha, what made you ask that earlier? Was it something Sesshomaru said?"

Her mate flinched. "No, why do you say that?"

Kagome had been around him long enough to know when he lied. "Inu Yasha, you know you can't lie to me. I know you too well. So why don't you just tell me the truth."

He frowned. "Kagome, it's nothing you need to worry about. I'll take care of it."

"Am I or am I not, your mate and wife? I deserve to know if something or someone is threatening my family."

Inu Yasha sighed, she had a point. "Kagome, I…"

Outside, a voice as cold as ice spoke. "Half-breed mongrel, show yourself." The voice was female but neither of them recognized it.

Inu Yasha handed Kagome their son. "You promised, now go out the back."

Kagome's eyes widened. "But if they see you as a human…"

"I'll handle it, now go." His eyes pleaded with her. "Please."

She nodded and went to the small back entrance that was barely more than a crawl way. She looked back to see Inu Yasha walk to the cave's main entrance. 'Please be safe. I can't live without you.' She forced herself to look away and crawl through the back exit. She ran as quickly as she could carrying the newborn close to her chest. The night was chilly and she feared the cold could hurt the child. She increased her speed. She knew this path like the back of her hand, even in the near pitch dark she knew exactly where to lay her feet. At last she came to the large tree with the hollowed out center. She crawled inside and wrapped the fur pelt around her shoulders. Then she placed the sutra on the entrance. She looked around and shivered in the darkness.

Inu Yasha had made this place for her after an encounter with a bear. The bear had decided their cave would make a lovely home and had invaded it. Kagome had been there alone, since Inu Yasha had left to hunt. She had crawled into the back crawl way and sealed the entrance with a boulder. She had stayed there for several hours, before a very panicked hanyou had chased away the bear and found her. After that incident he had insisted that there be a second safe place for her to go, her hiding place.

'Where is he? He promised he wouldn't fight.' Kagome stroked her son's back with trembling hands.

----

Meanwhile, Inu Yasha had moved to the entrance and peeked out to see a white haired woman standing in the glow from the cave. "What do you want?" He asked without revealing himself.

"I want the whelp. I let you live because of your father, but I have no intention of letting that child threaten my son's standing."

"Who the hell are you and how dare you threaten my son's life." Inu Yasha could feel his anger growing. He shook off the desire to rip the woman's through out. 'No, I have to stall, so Kagome can get away.'

"I do not have to explain myself to you, mongrel. I am the Lady Ishimaru. My son is the lord of the western lands."

Inu Yasha's eye twitched. "You're Sesshomaru's mother?"

"Yes and I will not allow you to defile his noble blood by mixing with a human and producing mongrel pups. It disgusted me to know that your father ever did the same."

"Apparently he wasn't happy with you." Inu Yasha smirked.

"Why do you hide from me half-breed? Why not face your death proudly like your noble father."

Inu Yasha stepped out from the cave. Ishimaru blinked at the human before her. "I see, so tonight is your night of weakness. That makes my task easier. I will slay the child and your wench and be on my way." She made a move toward the cave, but Inu Yasha stopped her by stepping in her path.

"I don't think so. You're not laying hand on my mate or my pup. Leave before I rip you to shreds."

Ishimaru laughed a cold icy laugh. "And how do you plan on doing that? You're nothing but a pathetic human right now."

Inu Yasha pulled his Tetsusaiga. "The same way I deal with your son." He knew Tetsusaiga would not transform but he thought he could keep the demon at bay with its barrier.

Ishimaru laughed harder. "How pathetic, even the might Tetsusaiga looks like a rusty toy when you wield it. Now move." When Inu Yasha did not follow her command, she frowned. "Your father is no longer here to protect you. I have no qualms about killing the only other son of my former mate and my son's only rival for the western lands." When the hanyou still stood his ground, she swept him aside with a whip of pure demon power. The whip was similar to Sesshomaru's but it was bigger and much more powerful.

It caught Inu Yasha in the arm and sent him flying away from the entrance with a large gash in his upper arm. He cursed as Ishimaru passed inside.

The demon lady looked around the cave in disgust. The place reeked of human and hanyou, and the scent of new birth. She scoffed when she saw the tiny crawl way near the rear of the cave. She turned to find Inu Yasha standing the entrance, growling at her and clutching his right arm. "If you think simply hiding her somewhere else will prevent me from finding her, you are sorely mistaken. You forget I am a full Inu-youkai. I already know her scent and she will not get far."

Inu Yasha's growl grew into a snarl. 'Damnit, she's right. She can easily follow Kagome's scent. I hope Kagome made it to her hiding place and sealed the entrance with the sutra.'

"I see you understand. I don't think I shall kill you now. I think I'd enjoy seeing you suffer through the torment of watching your mate and pup die."

Inu Yasha felt like his heart was being crushed. "I won't let you hurt them!" She swooped in on him like lightening. He tried to fight, but to no avail. She pinned him against the wall and sunk her poisonous claws into his throat. The poison seemed to drain him of all his strength. And he watched with pain numbed eyes as she drug him from the cave.

----

Kagome heard a rustling in the bushes outside. 'Inu Yasha!' It was all she could do not to jump up and run out of the hollow tree and into his arms. She could barely make out the figure as it approached. It was significantly smaller than Inu Yasha. 'Maybe it's an animal.' She scooted deeper into the hollow, covering herself completely with the fur. An animal would not be deterred by her sutra, only a demon would.

She peeked out as the figure came closer. There was suddenly a flash of blue light and a soft curse. Kagome's head popped up. 'I know that voice!'

Outside a young male voice mumbled. "Where did that come from?"

"Sh…Shippo?"

"Kagome?" She was already reaching up and removing the sutra. As soon as it was down the young fox sprang through the opening. "Kagome! What are you doing here?" His eyes glowed in the dark.

"Shhh." She put a hand on his tiny shoulder to calm him down and to prevent him from leaping into her lap like always. "Shippo, did you see anyone out there? Did you see Inu Yasha?"

"No. Did something happen, Kagome? Where is Inu Yasha? Why isn't he with you?"

"A demon came to our cave. At least, I think it was. I was pretty tired. Inu Yasha promised me he wouldn't fight, but….but I'm afraid he did." Kagome bent her head to rub her cheek against the baby's brow. She could feel the tears swelling in her.

"Kagome, what is that?" Shippo blinked up at the small bundle in her arms.

Kagome smiled down at him. She'd nearly forgotten that no one knew she'd had their child yet. "It's my son, Shippo."

"You and Inu Yasha's son?" The fox's eyes lit up and he hopped onto her shoulder to have a closer look. The baby opened his eyes and Shippo gasped at their golden light. "He's beautiful, Kagome."

"Thank you, Shippo." She looked toward the entrance and watched for the other man in her life to return.

Not far away, Ishimaru continued to drag Inu Yasha along effortlessly. "She's near. Her scent is stronger."

"Don't…touch…her…Leave…her…alone." Inu Yasha mumbled through a raspy throat of pain.

Ishimaru ignored him. She had come to a large tree with what seemed to be a whole at its base. "Come out wench, I know you're in there. I can smell your human stench."

Kagome trembled. "It's her." She clutched her son to her. 'I won't let her hurt you, little one.'

"If you do not come out, I shall slay your mate here and now." The icy voice threatened.

Kagome felt the tears roll hot on her cheeks. "What do I do?"

"I can transform into a bow for you." Shippo suggested, readying an enchanted leaf.

Kagome shook her head. "What goods a bow without arrows?" His suggestion though had given her an idea. She removed the fur from her shoulders and spread it beside her. She reluctantly laid her son into it and covered him with it.

"What are you doing Kagome?"

"I have to help Inu Yasha. Shippo, stay here and protect my son. I'm going to put the sutra back in place, all right?"

Shippo nodded. "I'll protect him with my life. I swear." Kagome gave him a pat on the head as she replaced the sutra and crawled out of the hollow. When she was out completely, she gasped at the sight before her.

The woman before her had long white hair and demon facial markings. She had a cold steady glare. "Where is the whelp?"

"I'll never let you have our son!" Kagome's eyes locked on Inu Yasha, who was dangling at the demon's side from his shirt front. The wind began to whip around her as the sky above gave a loud crack of thunder. "Inu Yasha?"

"What, you still desire this mongrel half-breed, even though he cannot protect you? Fine, you can have him." She tossed Inu Yasha with little effort and he landed a few feet before Kagome. She rushed to his side. "Besides I came for the child."

Kagome glared. "I've already told you! I'll never let you have our son!"

"As if a weak mortal, could stop me. I will have what I desire, and what I desire is the child's death." Ishimaru took a few steps forward.

"This mortal will!" Kagome stood in front of her injured mate. Her heart pounded louder than the growing thunder. But her instincts had taken hold and she would not back down now.

"Kagome…no…." Inu Yasha struggled to speak.

Kagome's anger boiled to the surface at his soft plea. "How dare you hurt him and threaten our son! Who do you think you are!"

"I? I am the one who is going slay you, you impudent wench!" Ishimaru had had enough. Her cold fury scorched her eyes. She charged the miko. Kagome allowed the female demon to nearly reach her and then she threw her hands up. Her miko powers engulfed the demon and there was a howl of pain. Ishimaru flew backwards and her skin bubbling with boils from Kagome's purifying powers.

The sky above them broke and rain poured down into the deadly silence. Slowly Ishimaru rose, her eyes glowing red. Kagome prepared herself for another attack, but it seemed Ishimaru thought better of it. 'Another blow like that and even the might Lady Ishimaru would fall to that miko. I shall recover my strength first.' She scowled at Kagome.

"Keep your whelp for now and your useless mate, for soon you will all die." With that Ishimaru disappeared into the forest.

Kagome collapsed to her knees beside Inu Yasha, she was exhausted but she had to be sure he was all right. "Inu Yasha?" She touched his neck gingerly. "Are you all right?"

He opened his eyes slightly. "Kagome, you're safe." He sighed and closed his eyes once more.

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