To Which Future Do You Return, Kagome?

By. Tate Icasa

Part Six

A Child Is Born

Kagome woke the next morning to loud screams. She sat up quickly.

Shippo hopped up onto her shoulder.

"Kagome, why's Kikyo screamimng? Tell her to stop, it's hurting my ears!" he whined.

Kagome stood up and rushed over to the others. She handed Shippo to Miroku.

"Take Shippo and get out." She said firmly.

"What? Why?" Miroku asked.

"Because you don't need to be here and Shippo is too young." she said reasonably.

"But, Kagome . . ." he began.

"OUT!" Kaomge snapped, pointing to the door. "NOW!"

Shippo jumped and ran to the door. "Come on, Miroku, don't make her mad!" he said, disappearing.

Miroku sighed and left the room.

A few minutes, and several loud screams later, the piercing wail of a newborn child cut into his dreams about the lovely Lady Sango.

"Miroku! Fetch me a wet cloth!" Kagome called.

"A wet cloth? Where am I going to find a wet cloth?"

"Never mind then!" Kagome snapped. For a while there was nothing except some rustling and the baby's screams, which eventually quieted down. Then, "Ok, you guys can come back in down."

Miroku did. He found a very tired looking Kikyo sitting on the bed, wrapped up in Inuyasha's red kimono. In her arms was a tiny black-haired baby, wrapped in what must have been one of Kagome's extra skirts. A blood covered shirt lay on the ground by her feet.

Kagome and Sango, both with blood on their hands stood a few feet of. Kagome looking paler that usual, and Sango just looked tired.

Kikyo smiled slightly, looking down at the child.

"Can I see?" Shippo asked, jumping up and down in front of her.

Kikyo laughed softly. "Of course." She held the baby out to Shippo.

"I gotta transform into that?" he asked curiously. Then, "Is it a boy or a girl?"

"Girl." Kikyo said. She looked at him thoughtfully. "Would you like to hold her?"

Shippo smiled and nodded eagerly. Neither her nor Miroku noticed when Kikyo snet the girls away to clean up. Soon enough, the baby fell asleep. Kikyo accepted her back then, and went back to sleep.

Miroku leaned against the wall and closed his eyes, but Shippo was too excited to sleep. He stuck his head into Kagome's backpack and began pulling things out.

That was how Kagome found him.

"Shippo."

He shuffled his feet.

"Shouldn't you practice transforming into the baby?"

"Yeah. . ."

Later that day, after Kikyo had woken, Jaken came in, carrying a large tray with five plates of food on it. He set it one the ground and began to walk away.

"Jaken?" Kagome said, looking up from the arrow she was sharpening. "Would you tell Sesshomaru that we require an audience with him as soon as he is able?"

Jaken sputtered. "Lord Sesshomaru will see you when he wishes. . ."

By this point, Kagome was standing, and was as a result, sever feet taller and still holding a rather sharp arrow. Jaken gulped, realizing this, and took a step back.

". . .but I shall relay your message to him."

"That will not be neccessary." Said Sesshomaru, appearing behind him.

"M-my Lord!" Jakend exclaimed. "I was. . ."

"I do not particularly care." Sesshomaru interrupted. "You will leave us now."

The toad scurried to obey.

No one moved toward the food. Kagome abruptyl realized that she was still hldint he arrow. She grinned sheepishly (a/n: how many times have I used that expression, it's getting on my nerves) and quickly hid it behind her back.

"Come." Sesshomaru said, turning. They hurried to follow, Kikyo holding the child to her.

Sesshomaru led them out of the castle. He pointed to a point far in the distance. "You will find Naraku there." He began to walk back into the castle.

"Wait, you're not coming?" Kagome asked.

"No." He said, not even bothering to stop.

"Come on." Shippo said after Sesshomaru had disappeared. "Let's go."

A light breeze blew by them and Kagome pulled the silver-white kimono closer to her. She nodded and began to walk.

(Tate: I lost my plot line! Waaaaaaaaah! Help me, my dear reviewers! I need ideas! (I am not begging for reviews, I just need help. . )