Chapter 18

Later that night everyone was settling down and readying themselves for bed. Sango, Miroku, and Kaede were already settled into their bedding. Inuyasha was leaning against the wall, one eye closed, one eye slightly opened, watching Kagome. Shippo was waiting quietly for Kagome.

Kagome rolled her sleeping bag out and started to climb in. She stopped when she realized something was amiss. She looked at the waiting kitsune then up to her mate. The last two years, Shippo had slept next to her and this last week it was Inuyasha. 'Inuyasha is my husband and yet Shippo feels like my own child. How am I supposed to figure out the sleeping arrangements now?' Kagome looked back down to the kit then up to her dog-boy. "Ok.....I got it......Inuyasha you get in first, and then I'll climb in, then you Shippo. Ok!"

Inuyasha raised an eyebrow at her idea. "I don't think so!"

"Why not, you're my mate. You didn't seem to have a problem with it this last week." Kagome looked at him questioningly.

"KEH!" was the only thing he could think of to say.

"So I take it your not going to lay down." When he didn't answer, she took that as a yes. "Fine, then let me use your lap as a pillow, since I won't be using your chest as one." Kagome didn't wait for an answer as she moved her sleeping bag to 'T' with Inuyasha. She then climbed in quickly, resting her head in his lap.

Shippo took his chances and leapt for Kagome's bag. He quickly crawled under the covers and settled into a small ball by her stomach.

Inuyasha started for the fox cub but changed his mind. 'I'll need to get use to the idea when our pup gets here.' A small smile tilted on his lips as he started to stroke Kagome's long silky black hair. Occasionally he would caress one of her ears, enjoying the fuzzy feel. 'Now I know why she couldn't resist doing it to me all the time.' Kagome was soon asleep but Inuyasha didn't cease in his administrations. He soon heard purring coming from his mate. The soft rhythmic pattern of the low purr slowly pulled his eyelids closed, where he too soon fell asleep.

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"Kawaii!" A quiet whisper echoed within the silent hut.

"Shhhhh! Don't wake them."

"Quick, where is that picture taking device of Kagome's?"

"Probably in her bag."

"Got it." **CACHA**FLASH** "I can't wait to see this one when she gets them back." Sango smiled as she looked over her two hanyou friends. She knew Kagome used Inuyasha's lap as a pillow the night before, but she wasn't expecting to find 'this' in the morning. Sometime during the night, Inuyasha must have fallen asleep and fell over behind her. Because now he's was resting his head on her waist and her head was still on his lap. 'Kawaii! A cute side to Inuyasha. I didn't know it existed.' Sango giggled quietly to herself as she slipped the camera back into Kagome's bag.

"Ok maybe now we should wake them." Miroku walked over and nudged Inuyasha in the leg with his staff. "Rise and shine you two."

Inuyasha was the first awake, upon noticing his current position she sat up quickly, hoping no one saw, and yet he already knew they had. Kagome was slow to waking. She rolled over, facing the wall and Inuyasha. She mumbled something incoherent and buried her face into Inuyasha's side, causing him to blush just a little bit.

Shippo didn't wake as fast as Inuyasha nor did it take him as long as Kagome. He simply stumbled out of the sleeping bag and crawled toward the fire pit and took a seat, still slightly groggy.

"Ano....Shippo, what happened to you?" Sango asked as she eyed the kitsune.

Kagome was wide awake now and looking over in Shippo's direction. She eyed everyone suspiciously then focused on her kitsune. He looked like the same Shippo only older and bigger. His clothes were now too small and fit him tightly. "Shi.....Shippo?.........I've heard about children having a growth spurt, but this is ridiculous." Kagome sat staring at the boy that now looked like a 9 or 10 year old. She couldn't tear her eyes away from him.

Shippo stood up and examined himself. He was much taller now, his tail was longer and so was his hair. He looked down at his larger hands and flexed them to be sure they were really his. "What's going on?" Shippo's voice cracked when he heard it sounded deeper. "Oka....I'm scared!" Shippo ran over and flung himself onto her lap, wrapping his arms around her waist.

After the initial shock wore off, she started to pat him on the head and whispered to him that he'll be ok. Kagome looked up to Inuyasha, show had been silent the whole time, hoping he would have an answer to the extreme growth spurt.

Inuyasha watched the once small fox youkai as he sought comfort from his surrogate mother. "Maybe it was something he ate, or maybe he was overdue for a spurt." 'Or it's because Kagome is pregnant. When he slept next to Kagome's stomach last night he must have heard the heart beat, causing his body to react. With a new pup on the way, he was forced to grow up, so Kagome can take care of the new comer. Poor Shippo, he doesn't even realize it either.' Inuyasha noticed the worried expression on her face and felt a little guilty about not telling her. 'Why don't I tell her?....Because we need her to find the shards, but I really want her to stay at home where its safe, but I know she won't go for that. Plus I want to tell her at he perfect moment.' His eyes continued to bounce back and forth between Kagome and Shippo. "He'll be ok! Hey Shippo, I guess your big enough that I can start teaching you stuff, huh?" Inuyasha was trying to lighten the mood by being nice to the kitsune for once.

Shippo looked up at him and smiled, then nodded in agreement.

"Well, looks like I need to make a trip home so I can get you some clothes that fit. Plus we're out of Ramen." Kagome glared at her husband when saying her last comment.

"Ok." Shippo said sadly as he released his hold on her.

"We'll be back before night fall, ok." Kagome grabbed her bag with one hand while, with the other she grabbed Inuyasha by the wrist and hauled him outside then ran for the well.

~******~