Chapter 25

Everyone said their hellos and introduced themselves. Kagome was still a little shocked from the whole situation and asked everyone inside the new house to relax. Everyone took a seat around the fire pit, all eyes were on the little neko in white. The room was an eerie silence, even the sounds from outside the hut seemed almost nonexistent. It was Inuyasha who finally broke the silence.

"So you're her retainer. How about a test to prove it?" Inuyasha glared at the tiger youkai with a daring gleam. "Who's her father?"

Nekome glared back at him defiantly. 'Is this the same pup from so long ago , the sweet, innocent, kind, and generous child.......Nah! It has to be someone else, this guy is......so......so rude, uncouth, mean, and egotistical. Oh well, I'll think of something.' Nekome closed her eyes and took a deep breath. "Her father, Toyonoriku-sama, WAS the Taiyoukai of the East. He was a Kuro Inu and a very kind and noble ruler, he's greatly missed.........Is that good?......If not I can prove I'm her retainer further!" She crossed her arms and waited for the dog-boy to respond.

Inuyasha arched his eyebrow at her proposal to provide more info. "Sure...Prove it more! Convince me!"

"Fine I will!" Nekome stood up as if to make an important announcement. "Since I cared for Lady Kagome since she was born, I know a lot about her. .........At the apex of her tail on her back is a star shaped birthmark!" She then went silent again, waiting.

Kagome looked inquisitively at Inuyasha as his eyes shot wide open. "Inuyasha!.......You know she's right......." before she could add to her comment a large ball of orange fluff bounded through the door and into the room, heading at full speed toward her.

Inuyasha saw the blur of orange and darted into action. He managed to place himself in between Kagome and the speed youkai just in time. "SHIPPO FREEZE!!!" The kitsune child froze in his tracks and stared up at the white dog.

Shippo tilted his head to one side inquisitively. "Inuyasha what's wrong......I want Okasan!!!"

The worried expression on Inuyasha's face changed to a serious one. "Shippo......You can go to her, but as of now...NO MORE JUMPING ON HER!!!" Inuyasha pointed at Shippo then to Kagome as if illustrating his order.

"Inuyasha?" said Sango, Miroku, and Shippo, all confused by his actions.

"Inuyasha.......!" Kagome whispered at the same times as the others, but hers was out of concern. She knew why Inuyasha said what he did and she also knew of the questions they would be receiving on his behavior in any moment. But what he said next definitely caused her to be speechless.

"If you harm Kagome or any of those pups, from your over excitement and thoughtlessness, you had better find somewhere to hide.....far away from me...." Every word that passed Inuyasha's lips was serious, and he meant them. The next sound that filled the room had him covering his ears, to tone down the volume.

Just about everyone in the hut shouted in unison. "PUPS! WHAT PUPS?!"

Kagome too had to cover her ears from the assault to her hearing. At the same time she closed her eyes and cringed. 'Well that's about the reaction I expected!' When she opened her eyes again, she was face to face to a fox youkai, a tiger youkai, an exterminator, and a monk, all of which had large questioning eyes locked onto her. Kagome glanced nervously to everyone around her. "Well Ano…actually……I'm pregnant. With triplets!"

"TRIPLETS!!!!" Everyone shouted again, so loud that it rattled a few things on the shelves.

"Hai, as in 3 children at once…..In other words, I'm having a litter. But I need to talk to Kaede….The doctor in the future is confused about the gestation…….Apparently I'm equal to 3 months pregnant but I've only really been pregnant for 1." Kagome let out a heavy sigh and had a far off look as she thought about the reasons.

Inuyasha moved over and sat down next to Kagome and continued to glare over at Nekome. "Before we go talk to Kaede…Nekome has some explaining to do…….Mainly about the Kiseiga, what kind of sword is it? Is it not a binding sword?" His expression was very stern and serious and his leg started to twitch as he sat waiting for Nekome to answer.

Nekome tilted her head to one side and gave him a questioning look. "The Kiseiga is a binding sword, why do you ask?"

"Because twice now, Kagome had the Kiseiga and it still didn't stop her from going nuts. The last time she actually went full youkai and….and…..Lets just say someone was hurt." As Inuyasha spoke, his voice became louder and more forceful with each word. It was obvious to everyone that Inuyasha was really pissed off.

The miniscule youkai placed a finger to her mouth as she thought of the reason for her mistress's behavior. "Was Kagome pregnant at the time of the attacks, or threatened in ANY way?" Nekome kept her eyes on he flicker of the fire the whole time.

"She was threatened and almost kidnapped the first time, and she was threatened, attacked, and pregnant the second time. Why?" Inuyasha raised an eyebrow in question.

"I believe that if Kagome is threatened to be separated from her mate or children, or they are attacked, her youkai blood takes over in order to protect them. Not even the binding power of the Kiseiga will work." Nekome's voice became soft on her last sentence, indicating the fact that she had hoped Kagome would never have to transform. After a deep and heavy sigh, Nekome continued. "I'm sure you have more questions?"

Shippo was the one to chime in this time, surprising everyone. "Hai! Why is it only Inuyasha can pick it up? When Miroku and I tried we were shocked." He leaned forward toward the little neko, his tail swishing behind him in an almost excited fashion.

Nekome looked up at the kitsune and smiled. 'Inquisitive child….Kawaii!' "The reason young fox, is because the sword was created for a princess. In order to protect her properly, the Kiseiga had to be very powerful…..The Kiseiga is even more powerful then the Tenseiga or Tetsusaiga. Its restricted on the wielders because of that power, only kind hearted hanyous can touch it."

"Kind hearted hanyous? So how come Inuyasha was able to hold it, he's-"

"Oi runt….Wanna sleep outside tonight?" Inuyasha reprimanded.

Shippo pointed in the white hanyou's direction. "See what I mean!" Everyone in the hut started laughing and giggling.

After Kagome contained her fit of giggling she stood up and straightened out her skirt. "Well unless there is anything else to discuss, I'm gonna go talk to Kaede." With that she turned and started toward the door.

"Kagome Matte!" Inuyasha leapt up and chased after the quickly departing Kagome, leaving everyone else in the hut to talk amongst themselves.

~******~

"KAEDE!!! Are you here?"

"Of course child I'm here, what can I do for you?" Kaede looked up from the herbs she was crushing to smile at the young hanyou miko. Upon see the smiling yet thinking face of her apprentice, Kaede arched an eyebrow in question. "Is something the matter Kagome?"

Kagome smiled back to the elderly woman and sat down on the other side of the fire. "Ano….I have some news to tell you and I have a few questions." Just before she started to tell Kaede the news, Inuyasha entered and took a seat next to Kagome, without making a sound. Kagome looked at him for a brief second then turned to look at Kaede. "Anyway…….Kaede…….I'm pregnant…."

Kaede's smile grew as she looked at the blushing miko now looking down into the fire, over to the silent, composed, statue of white hanyou. "I thought as much. I expected you to be, after Inuyasha marked you. So are you happy about it?"

"Of course I'm happy……I'm still a bit shocked though……………I'm having triplets!"

"Triplets! Oh my, your gonna have a house full aren't you……. Didn't you say you had a question?" Kaede went back to grinding up the herbs and listened to Kagome speak.

"Oh ya…..I had a doctor's appointment before we came home and there was something odd about the pregnancy……The doctor said that I'm equivalent to three months but I've only been pregnant for one. What is wrong?" Kagome looked at Kaede, eagerly awaiting her answer.

Inuyasha sat staring intently at his mate, completely surprised. 'She said 'home' as in here is home to her.' A sheepish grin spread across his face, but quickly disappeared upon hearing Kaede clear her throat to speak.

Kaede closed her eye and thought for a bit, then looked at Kagome with a very serious expression. "I have reason to believe that the reason 1 month of your pregnancy is equal to 3 months for a normal human is because you're a hanyou, a dog hanyou at that, both of you." Kaede looked over at Inuyasha then looked back to Kagome. "A regular dog is pregnant for about 3 months. You being human and youkai, your body has to compensate, so it's compressing 9 months into 3. So I'm guessing in another 2 months, you'll go into labor."

"2 MONTHS!" Shouted Kagome as she leaned forward, her tail sticking straight up and fluffed out. "That can't be……not yet…no….we don't have…..I need to get so much stuff……"

Inuyasha crossed his arms in front of his chest and let out a heavy sigh. "There she goes again, rambling on."

Kaede bit her lip to keep from laughing at her apprentice's ramblings. "I wonder if the children will age like regular dog do. I guess we'll find out soon enough……I take it Nekome has already arrived, so you should get back."

Inuyasha stood up and in an instant pulled Kagome up on to her feet as well. "Hai, she's back at the house. We do need to get back." Before Kagome could respond or say goodbye, Inuyasha pulled her from the hut and headed toward their new home.

~******~

Darkness filled the room as Kagome stared at nothing. "Where am I?" She walked around in the silence and emptiness, letting her hearing and smell lead her, except there was nothing to hear or smell. She continued to walk aimlessly for what seemed like hours. Out of no where a faint voice could be heard. Kagome froze in her tracks and strained her ears to hear the voice.

"So…..the annoying little miko is really a Kuro Inu Hime…..interesting."

"Hai."

'Are they talking about me? Why? Who are they?'

"Kuro Inu? Kuro Inu, why does that sound familiar?"

"Is there something else you wish of me?"

"Hai, I remember now, I need you to deliver a message to the Lord………"

The voices became faint and Kagome could no longer hear them. "Lord of what? What did he remember?" Out of frustration, Kagome punched at the nonexistent ground beneath her. "Kuso, This foresight is worthless." At the same moment her fist hit the floor a ball of white and black shot at her. No sound, no smell, no warning. Kagome looked up just as it hit her.

"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" Kagome sat up in bed, a few drops of sweat dripped from her brow. 'Since when am I attacked in my visions?'

"Kagome, Daijobu?" whispered Inuyasha from his reclined position next to her.

"Hai, just a vision."