*********CHAPTER 8 TRAITOR AMONG US*******

The morning sun rose, welcoming the bright, warm, sunny day. Wrapped in furs still tightly snuggled up sleeping soundly laid kagome and her new mate. Koga was the first to wake. He sat up softly, moved the messy hair out of kagome's face and studied her sleeping features. Taking note of how relaxed, how peaceful she looked, how beautifully the sun kissed the now tanned skin, her hair only lengthened, she looked the same except her ears came more to a point but even then the change was so subtle unless you really watch her features it wasn't noticeable. He gently stroked her cheek and kissed the top of her head "koi, it's time to get up" she budged slightly making a small tired moan before opening her eyes and smiling "good morning" he smiled his hand now holding her cheek "good morning to you koi, come it's time to wake up" she nodded and started to sit up, the fur fell from her body and revealed her naked body. Unable to stop himself he pulled her into his embrace and kissed her softly "why don't we take a little time to ourselves first" she laughed softly and nodded.

After the deed was done and he once again filled her with his seed they got off, cleaned up and left their den to join the rest of the pack. They got to the mouth of the cave and saw everyone around the fire, even the wolves who had joined them in kagome's era were now home and enjoying breakfast with the rest of the pack. Airvianna smiled seeing the newly mated couple she rose to her feet and got the packs attention "oy! Sit down and shut up! The love birds after keeping us up all night have finally graced us with their presence, all at once let's give it up for our Lord and our new Lady! One…..two…." all at one time the entire pack lifted their heads up in unison howled, the packs howl was heard across the region excidily exclaiming their leaders new marriage. Kagome laughed, koga gripped her hand and found a place for them to sit, they both looked around "where's shippo?" one of the wolfs spoke "he was in the nursery with the other pups playing with them" kagome stood up "all of you go ahead and eat, i won't be long" she walked by herself to the nursery's "shippo?" the young kitsune looked up and smiled "momma!" he attached himself to his mothers leg, she bent down and hugged him back tightly "congratulations momma" she smiled and squeezed even tighter "thankyou baby, what do you say should we go back and join everyone for breakfast" he nodded and the two walked out. For weeks their lives were in perfect harmony. Kagome, koga and shippo lived happily with the pack as one big, happy family. Every few days or so kagome and shippo would travel to the village to help sango out since her pregnancy announcement. Inuyasha noticed the smell in kagome's era, She had fully changed and had a special surprise waiting to be discovered.

One night kagome and the pack sat around the fire once again enjoying a banquet. The normal laughing, music, stories and dancing were all around them. Kagome rose from the fire and touched koga's shoulder "mate, I'm going to go lay in the hot springs for a little bit. I've been cramping badly today" he nodded "would you like me or one of the other females to accompany you?" she shook her head "no that's alright. I'll be ok" she kissed him lovingly and left. She climbed the mountain, undressed and laid inside of the hot spring, everything had been so perfect. She relaxed in the water when all at one time everything had become black and pressure pressed down on her into the water, she struggled to fight the pressure and regain her consciousness but all she was able to make out was hands that gripped tightly around her neck who belonged to a tall, dark figure.

A wolf ran into the cave "he's escaped, Kai has escaped!" koga quickly stopped what he was doing and stood at attention. "Airvianna with me, we have to find kagome she just left for the springs. Sayleen stay with shippo. Rin your squad cover the east, ginta you take some of the wolves and cover the north, Hakkaku west…" koga quickly while preparing to leave as quickly as possible barked out orders ``our top concern is securing my mate and her safety then worry about my brother" in every direction from the cave out into the lands was a flood of angry wolves and their demons on the hunt. Koga and airvianna ran quickly to the springs to look for kagome but only found the clothes and huge puddles of wet land surrounding the spring, arivianna bent down and touched the ground "koga come look at this, she definitely put up a fight" koga walked over and looked, his eyes went red and his body changed "brother calm down, going into a rage won't help find her. We will find her" within hours the entire clan, sango, miroku and inuyasha were looking for kagome.

Hours passed before she finally awoke, she struggled a little and found her arms were tied behind her back, she couldn't move, her mouth was taped shut. A sharp blade was pressed against her throat from behind her "one sound and i'll slice you like yesterday's bread" without the need to guess she knew who her captor was Kikyo jerked the cloth off of Kagome's mouth "why kikyo? Why are you doing this? you've won you have inuyasha, it doesn't matter to me anyways you know my heart belongs to Koga" kikyo began to chuckle "foolish girl, he was only a pawn you took everything from me! Now i only want revenge, if only you had left after inuyasha and i had mated you would have lived longer….i should slice you right now and be rid of you for good!" she pressed the knife to kagome's abdomen, breaking the skin. Kagome screamed helplessly "kyiko stop" a dark smooth voice spoke, kagome looked around seeking for where the voice came from she knew the voice but she couldn't place it. Her eyes widened when the male stepped into view. Kyiko looked at the male and smiled "but my love she will get in the way of our plans besides would you really deny me my revenge" he looked at her, his arms wrapped around her waist and hand came up and tilted kyiko's face toward his own "of course not pet" he kissed her viciously kagome made a face of disgust, he came over and kneeled down in front of kagome "now either i can let my pet have her way with you and be rid of you or you swear your allegiance to me and help me overthrow my brother." kagome spit in his face "i'll never betray my mate or our pack" he wiped his face and smirked "oh well. I tried" he spoke casually before standing and walking off "hurry and dispose of her before koga and the others catch on" kyiko nodded smiling before plunging a knife into kagome's side and slicing her open and throwing her into the well unknown to anyone weather she lived or died.

A dark and rainy morning, the weather forecasters were predicting yet another tsunami to hit land. Without much hesitation grandpa Higurashi went out to the well house to gather some of the things he would need for a protection offering. As he was the bowls he heard a large thud, he looked around not seeing anything he shrugged his shoulders and continued to get the bowls. After gathering everything he left the shrine house and went back inside to perform the ritual .

Kagome gritted her teeth and crawled out of the well, blood trailing behind her. She needed to get some help quickly. She managed to claw her way up the stairs and out of the well house but she never made it into the house there she laid, a blood trail behind her and a pool of her own blood surrounding her, the tsunami beating down on her motionless body. Her family ate and performed the rituals. It wasn't until her mother stood at the kitchen sink washing dishes happily that she looked out the window. Akiko let out a blood curdling scream, both gramps and Sota ran into the kitchen "what's wrong mom" Sota yelled out running down the stairs. When both men made their way into the kitchen they watched her swing the back door open and run out into the storm "what are you doing woman, if you missed it. It is dangerous out there right now!" Gramps ran to the door yelling for her to get back inside, he darted his eyes around to try and find what would make his daughter in law run out in the storm "kagome!" Akiko fell on her knees "kagome!?" she shook her daughter relentlessly trying to wake her. Gramps came up behind her "quickly we must get her inside, get her into the bathtub we need to warm her" akiko shook her head and lifted her daughter the both ran back inside "sota quickly go run the bath" he nodded and left to do as he was told. They got Kagome into the bath, akiko shut both boys out of the bathroom and cut off the clothes her daughter wore. She took a washcloth and gently washed the wounds on her daughter, looking at the cuts she decided to have gramps get the first aid kit ready.

Already weeks have passed and no one could find even a trace of kagome, the wolves all grieved for her loss, no one had heard from koga since the night she disappeared. She searched the lands for a sign of kagome or of Kai. weeks of searching he decided to go home and check on shippo he made his way to the village where he left shippo, he walked up to Sango's hut and knocked. The swollen demon slayer opened the door "anything?" he simply shook his head, his eyes staying glued to the ground, sango let out a sad sigh "we'll find her, kagome's a fighter she wouldn't just leave you and shippo behind she'll be back". Weeks turned into months...no one has seen kai since kagome's disappearance and no one has really seen koga either. The group gathered around kagome's old hut, koga sat quiet with shippo, the very pregnant demon slayer sat there rubbing her stomach with miroku by her side and inuyasha sat with them "i can't believe it's been almost six months since kagome disappeared" sango looked away after speaking miroku wrapped his arms around her, shippo walked into the middle of the floor "has anyone even bothered to check with grandma to see if she's heard from mom?" the room went silent again "are you guys kidding me? How stupid could you all be? If mom was hurt really badly didn't you think for a minute she was going to hop into the well where no other demon can follow her and where she'll be safe instead of staying here and getting eaten" they all stared at the kitsune embarrassed that they hadn't thought of it until koga spoke "don't you think if she was in her time she would have been back by now?" koga spoke up. Shippo stared at him with hateful eyes "koga the great leader of the wolf demon tribe, who spoke of an undying love for a mortal girl, and yet you've already given up on my mother. Maybe you didn't love us after all!" everybody's mouth hung open and looked to koga for his response "what did you say you little twerp?" he stood up "never say i didn't love your mother, i loved her with my entire soul" shippo interrupted "loved? So you have given up. Hmph" he crossed his arms angrily "nevermind then, who needs any of you. I'll go find my mother BY MYSELF" koga started to stand up, sango quickly intervened "take it easy on him, he's just upset. I understand you are too but he's already lost one set of parents now kagome's missing. It wouldn't hurt to take him to her time so he can feel like he helped us search too" koga sighed "alright" he stood up and walked outside, he took his time walking to the well when his nose picked up on a familiar scent.

Within his tornado he ran quickly out into the field his eyes turned red "there you are. finally. "

The sun shone brightly waking kagome, she sat up and stretched happily. She looked down and smiled rubbing her stomach "hello there little pup. Are you ready for the day?" as if the unborn pup was responding kagome quickly got up and dashed for the bathroom, losing any dinner she may have still had from the night before. She stood up after she was sure she was finished, brushed her teeth and cleaned her face off. She made her way into her room and threw on a maternity dress her mother bought her, she brushed her hair up into a long ponytail and went downstairs "mom!? Did you make anything for breakfast?" kagome walked into the kitchen to be greeted by her mother holding a big bowl of strawberries that had soaked in sugar water and oatmeal "aw, mom thankyou!" kagome smiled happily, she put the bowl on the counter and hugged her mother the best she could "ya know, kagome. It wouldn't surprise me if you had twins in there with how big your already getting" she bent down and started loving on kagome's swollen stomach "you think? Maybe, it's rare for the wolf demons to carry only one" the women carried on with their day when a tiny voice entered the house "GRANDMA AAAAA'' akiko looked at kagome then walked into the livingroom to see shippo standing there "shippo! How did you get through the well darling?" out ran kagome tears welling in her eyes "shippo?" she quickly scanned the room, she ran over to him and picked him up in a hug "momma! Your ok!" he hugged her back tightly. "How did you get through the well, I tried and it wouldn't let me through." he looked at kagome "Momma what happened to you?" he pointed to her stomach, she smiled happily "you're going to be a big brother shippo!" she grabbed his hand, placed it on her stomach and held it there until the baby kicked, his eyes grew huge.."hi baby, i'm your big brother shippo. We won't look alike after your born because i'm a fox! But that doesn't matter to me! I'll still love you and protect you just the same! I can't wait to meet you '' Kagome started crying, she smiled down at shippo "if you're here then that means the well is open now, we need to go before it closes again. '' I need to warn your father about kyiko and Kai'' she quickly picked shippo up and hugged her mom "thanks for everything mom" akiko smiled "you be careful kagome and take care of my grandbabies'' kagome and shippo smiled "love you grandma!" with that they ran quickly to the well, Kagome held her stomach to keep it from shaking the baby too much, and held Shippo in her other arm "ready?...one...two…" she closed her eyes tightly and jumped.

Koga stood toe to toe with Kai "what have you done with her! Where is my mate!" Kai laughed, "I killed her of course i couldn't very well have her standing in my way." Koga's demon blood pumped in his veins, his eyes were red, his claws sharpened and he began to attack without thinking. The two brothers exchanged blows back and forth destroying the once luscious field making it an unforgiving battlefield. Out of the woods that edged the battlefield sayleen ran over to her two brothers "KOGA!, we've found her! We found kagome!" Both males stopped and stared at their baby sister, while kogas eyes shone hope, relief, and happiness..Kai's showed fear and death. He began to run from Koga towards Sayleen. "where is she bitch. You must tell me this instance or you'll suffer the same fate as her." koga ran after kai "oh no you don't" he grabbed kai by the collar of his neck to koga's surprise an arrow was drilled into his chest "koga...that's not a normal arrow, what is it?" They both began to look around "it's one of kagome's sacred arrows but where is she?" he dropped the dying wolf, no demon ever before has gotten hit with one of Kagome's sacred arrows and lived. They both began to scour the area searching for kagome.

Shippo stood at the bottom of the tree Kagome had climbed "please be careful momma and don't fall" he worried not only for the safety of his beloved mother but for the safety of his unborn sibling, he caught a scent. Slowly he tilted his head up and took in a long slow inhale, without a word to kagome shippo took off "father! Father!" Koga heard shippo's worried cries and ran to his voice "what is it shippo, what's wrong?" he picked up the kitsune and scanned the area for any other danger "it's momma. She needs help" koga looked at him "where is she? sayleen i found her, get over here quickly" without much need for motivation to be quick sayleen pumped her legs as hard as she could. They followed shippo back to the tree and looked around "where is she shippo?" shippo stood under the tree and pointed up, they both looked up to see Kagome's back. "There you are koi, i've missed you so much where have you been?" he jumped up the branches to fetch kagome. He laid his hand on her shoulder "are you ready love?" kagome turned her head, her face was red and full of tears "there's something i need to tell you and i don't know how.." he wiped away her tears "what is it mate? You know anything you need to tell me i'll always listen and help the best I possibly can" he smiled at her, she smiled back and slowly turned around to let him see her giant belly "koga…..i'm pregnant." Koga's eyes grew as he stared at his mates stomach, the longer he stared the bigger his smile got, he began to howl with all the excitement that had built up in just a matter of a few seconds. He grabbed Kagome carefully "let's get you both down before we celebrate any" koga jumped down, his pregnant mate in his arms. He let her down onto her feet and hugged her tightly "I was so worried about you...but i'm so happy you both are safe" sayleen looked at her brother puzzled "both?" he looked at his little sister happily and moved away slowly "your an aunt" she smiled and hugged her sister "congratulations kagome! I'm so happy you're finally home and safe" kagome began to cry, her hands came up and covered her face "i…..i'm so…..so sorry guys'' she tried to speak in between sobs ``i'm so hormonal with the pregnancy, and i'm so happy to see you all again, i've missed all of you so much, i've missed everyone back at the caves, i've missed sango and miroku…" she continued to cry. Both koga and sayleen wrapped their arms around kagome, shippo soon after joining in on the group hug "we've all missed you too momma, father and the pack have been searching for you for months..so has sango, miroku and inuyasha.." kagome looked at them "we need to get to the village quickly" koga looked at kagome "why mate?" his hand started touching her stomach "is the baby alright?" she smiled for a moment then her face turned serious "no i need to warn everyone about kyiko and kai…" sayleen and koga's faces turned hard, koga picked up kagome, sayleen grabbed shippo and the group ran to the village.

A villager ran into sango's hut "sango there's demons running towards the village" a now eight month pregnant sango stood up quickly, her hand resting under her belly "we'll take care of it" he looked at sango "but miss, your child...i don't think your in the condition for battle" sango looked at the villager "get out" she said softly without taking a chance to upset the heavily pregnant demon slayer the villager left, sango walked out back towards the gardens "miroku! Inuyasha!" both men came running "what's wrong sango" they said in unison. "One of the villagers said they saw a pair of demons running towards the village, let's check it out" they both nodded and the trio left. Before they had gotten to the entrance of the village the wind blew, inuyasha lifted his head up and smelt the air. "We don't have to rush it's just koga, shippo another wolf and" he smelled the air "it's a newer scent i can't make it out" the two groups had met in the middle of the village "what do you want now koga" before koga spoke he put kagome down and placed a loving hand on her stomach. Kagome looked up to her friends, they all stood there "kagome!" miroku smiled and hugged kagome "it's nice to see you again kagome, i'm happy you're safe and from the looks of it about to become a mother" she smiled happily, next was sango. Both girls gave into their hormones and began crying and holding each other tightly "i've missed you so much kagome, i was so worried" kagome sniffled "i've missed you too sango" koga touched kagomes shoulder "i don't mean to rush koi, but this is something rather important" kagome nodded "your right" she turned to sango "sango can we go to your hut, i've got something i need to discuss with everyone." Seeing the serious look on kagomes and both the wolf demons that stood behind her sango nodded "of course" the group walked over to sango's hut and sat down "what's going on kagome?" kagome gave a sad look to inuyasha before saying "i'm sorry inuyasha" he just gave her a confused look. "Kyiko has been working in close ties with kai. Kai is Sayleen's and Koga's older brother. They have been working together to overthrow koga as the pack's leader" inuyasha interrupted "but i don't get it kagome. Why would she have any interest in it and how do you know all of this?" kagome looked down "they talked about their plan before they tried to kill me and throw me down the bone eaters well. Inuyasha, their relationship isn't solely professional, she's been using you, and cheating on you with him..she was the one who stabbed me and tried to throw me into the well to die" she lifted up her shirt to show a giant scar on the side of her stomach that zigzagged to the top, inuyasha's eyes grew as they all stared at the scar. "Koi" koga spoke softly, his fingers lightly traced the scar, he bent down and kissed her stomach "i'm so sorry, i should have protected you both better..then it would have never happened" kagome ran her fingers through koga's long, thick hair "we're ok, the baby was still too small for the knife to reach so thankfully it's ok" all the demons in the hut lifted their heads and stared at the door "koi. Hide" he helped kagome up and helped her into the kitchen before joining the others. Soon kyiko walked in, instantly she spotted koga "have you any news on kagome?" he shook his head "nope we still haven't found her." she walked over and sat beside inuyasha "that's a shame" the tension in the room was thick, no one really spoke. Kagome quietly grabbed a knife from sango's kitchen, she tiptoed her way into the doorway being careful not to get too close. Grabbing the knife by the point the slung it across the room and into kyikos back. Everyone sitting around her froze "how does it feel to be stabbed in the back kyiko!? All those chances in the past where i could have killed you or left you to die and finally be rid of you forever but no, i wanted to show you we could have been friends, i understood urasue brought you back without giving you a choice in the matter, i understood your anger and frustration before we killed naraku because he was the one who cut your life so short. So why? Why me? After all this time, when have I ever been such a bitch to you to make you feel the need to kill me so badly!?" Kagome stared at her, a fire visible in her eyes. It wasn't long before Kyiko began to flee, she needed to get away and inform Kai that his brother knew of his plans but she didn't leave before taking note of a valuable asset that kagome was carrying. Behind her trailed footsteps and voices…..

After kyiko fled the hut kagome didn't waste time chasing after her, several arms came out and grabbed kagome firmly but carefully. She looked back to see the arms of all her friends and husband gripping her "koi," koga started "you are very heavily pregnant you don't need to be chasing after the women who tried to kill you. Please, leave this to me and the others you know as well as I do that she'll kill our unborn pup first then kill you. I fell apart at the thought of you being dead, please don't make me live without either of you." he stared at her desperation, sadness and fear in his eyes. She let out a long sigh "fine, i'll stay put.." she looked over to inuyasha "inuyasha...i'm sorry, i didn't know.." he gave her a sad smile "you have nothing to apologize for, i should have seen the signs instead of ignoring them especially when i watched the way she treated all of you, i hope all of you can forgive me" koga interrupted "i don't mean to be rude but kagome i thinks it's best right now to get you and the children home where you can be under the packs protection at least until you give birth. Once the baby is born it can stay in the nursery with the rest of the packs young where it'll be the safest." in unison everyone agreed kagome knew fighting right now would do her no good, her friends were scared not only for their own lives but for her, her baby's and their own children's lives.

After giving some long overdue hugs and promises to visit soon the group parted ways, koga, kagome and shippo raced to the caves not wanting to be visible for long. As soon as they were in wolf territory, Koga placed Kagome down to allow her to walk. "Koi, i'm going to call a council meeting. If what you heard is right then there is no doubt kai will plan to attack all wolf tribes. I need to warn everyone and make a plan of attack. Please, wait for me in the main cave and tend to the visiting tribes women.`` She smiled knowing her place in politics wasn't very women friendly but understood the importance it had to koga as leader. Besides with her advanced pregnancy she didn't need the added stress of the pompous windbags "yes koi, please be careful" she kissed koga, grabbed shippo's hand and started to walk to the caves "kagome?" She turned around and looked at Koga, he came over, bent down and kissed her stomach "thank you, for carrying my child." he kissed her forehead one last time before running off.

Kagome walked into the cave "can i have your attention please" everyone stopped what they were doing to listen to their leader's mate, kagome wasn't normally the bossy type they knew something important was going on. "Our clan is under attack, Kai is back and has made his threat against this clan, my husband and my child very clear!" growls bounced off the walls from the surrounding wolves and demons "koga is meeting with the other wolf leaders to warn them of this threat and to make plans to squash it. Let's get this place cleaned up and treat our guests with hospitality that'll give our clan a good name" she smiled brightly "sisters, i need your help cleaning, brothers, i need half of you to hunt for the feast, and i need the other half to stand guard until this threat is over, protect my children and koga AT ALL COST if it comes down to it leave me behind just make sure my husband and children are safe and thrive, they will be the ones that lead this clan into further GREATNESS!" The clan cheered her on then left to do as she told them, compared to the girl that they first met she had grown so much and has become a leader they'd proudly clam and protect, she has shown time and time again no matter who she faced she'd do the same for them.