Humming a soft tune, Kagome ran her fingers through Shijima's hair while making sure to tuck the pup under the furs that were sprawled on the sleeping mat. Drifting off to sleep Shijima nuzzled into the soft plush of the furs while listening to his mother and relishing in her constant strokes on his hair making the rest of the day to slowly drift into peaceful slumber.

Still constant on her attention on her pup she shifted herself into a crouch to slowly move away to go back to her hanyou friend that kept her and Shijima company for the remainder of the night. Satisfied with hearing the ravens haired boys labored breathing she stood and walked over to Inuyasha who slouched against the frame of the entrance of the hut with his fathers fang Tetsaiga on his lap supporting the rest of his weight against it.

Grabbing the folded white yukata that she had taken out earlier, she silently tiptoed over the sleeping hanyou and made her treck towards the hot springs that beautifully sang their sinful tones to her aching bones that begged for the warmth that the springs promised. Seeing the steam rising from the spring once she was close enough she found a small rock near the edge of the spring she placed the yukata on the smooth surface and begin to strip out of her clothes that pooled around her small form once dropped of her person and stepped over to finally dip into the water.

With a deep sigh that tumbled out of her lips she smiled contently while scooping water into her hands and lifting her arms to let the water fall onto her hair. rinsing her skin from the built up dirt and sweat that clung to her she began to scrub away the days grime until she made herself red from her constant attention. Leaning back against a boulder she drifted into a peaceful silence that was provided with her outside surroundings.

Has it truly been five years since that night? sometimes thinking back to it Kagome herself couldn't understand or willed herself to not understand why things turned out the way they did, it really wasn't like she bared any ill will but even she herself didn't understand her own actions.

Remembering the cool touch of sweat induced skin under her fingertips the way her own body heated up under the constant attention that it was being given

Frowning to where her mind decided to drift to she pushed her body away from the boulder and slowly began to descend under warm up from the water she pushed her hair back away from her face and slowly began to tread into her hair to detangle the locks that was beginning to form. Once done with detangling her hair, she went ahead to swim towards the edge where she placed the yukata and began to raise herself from out of the waters and scrunched her hair in a tight balls to wring out the water.

Once dressed she began her trek back towards her little hut.

silence was all that befell the tiny hut of Kaede's that one was afraid to make the tiniest of noises. It was Inuyasha who decided to break the tension that had settled within the group.

"what the hell do you mean by that?"

Without having to glance up Kagome kept her focus on the kit that was in her arms, how was she suppose to phrase it any better than how she announced it? it wasn't like she was giving them a cake that said happy birthday or maybe throw confetti at them and announce cheerfully that she's pregnant and then toss it to the side like it was nothing.

No, she had to be as straightforward with this to them, she wasn't going to try to sugarcoat this either; she already couldn't face her mother when she was given the news. She was only 17 for kami's sake!

"how the hell did this happen?!"

Flinching under the sudden aggresive tone Inuyasha took, Kagome shrank into herself and hugged shippo against her chest, Shippo all but willingly clung onto her shirt and nuzzled against her. He could feel the slight trembles that ranked against her form that a soft growl slipped past his lips to sooth her. Trying to calm down but not quite there, kagome all but squeaked out-

"I dont know.."

white rage washed over Inuyasha that he had all but snarled with red flashing over his eyes for a brief moment. What the hell did she mean "i dont know"?! of course she does! if she didn't she wouldn't be sitting there looking like a kicked puppy!

Trying to control her emotions the best she can, she finally looked up at Inuyasha with pleading eyes while she took a couple of deep breaths. Sango took the moment to reach over and reassuringly squeezed her friends shoulder to soothe her before finally turning to Inuyasha but before she was able to voice herself she was interrupted but a quick shuffle of movement and a shout.

" what do you think you're doing Inuyasha!"

Shippo but all shout at the raging hanyou, Inuyasha pointedly ignored him and tighten his grip on Kagome's elbow that he had all but pulled towards him. Amber eyes looked into sapphire eyes with an intensity that made Kagome lose her breath for a second. Composing herself she yanked her arm back only for Inuyasha to dig his nails into her skin in a painful tug causing her to bite her tongue from whimpering her pain.

"Inuyasha you're hurting me"

" who was it?"

Facing away from him, Kagome only stood still. Snarling Inuyasha bared his teeth out "who the hell was it Kagome!" shaking her head she shut her eyes. How can she even face her friend without thinking aboutstrong HIM/strong. Amber eyes with a cold harden gaze set on them, but she can only see an intense heated gaze staring back at her. She couldn't just tell Inuyasha who it was, she couldn't especially with how he was reacting with the sudden news of her pregnancy and there was no doubt that it would become worse if she said the name of the man in question no.. a certain demons lord name to be exact.

"I can't tell you" finally looking back to Inuyasha she raised her chin towards him with a determination that had him stumble on his anger that was spilling out of it. Shaking off the sudden shock he got Inuyasha stood there until finally letting her go and taking a step back.

Fine, if she wasn't going to tell him then he wasn't going to stick around, Turning around he all but stormed out of the hut before jumping into the forest.

Standing there Kagome stood in place while her elbow that was roughly grabbed at throbbed in small ripples of pain but she didn't pay any attention to it, Nor did she notice herself being gently sat down and small hands grasping her face in concern. Miroku took this to go next to Kagome before placing an arm over her shoulders and pull her for an embrace and with just that simple action it was all it took for Kagome to finally let her emotions wash over her.

"you shouldn't be out this late kags" Jolting up from the fright Kagome quickly placed her hand over her chest to calm her heart from beating out of her chest and shot a glare towards the cause.

"and you shoudn't scare me out of my skin..!" Kagome hissed out making sure not to wake up Shijima when stepping over the obstacle that was still taking vacancy near the entry way.

Shrugging her off, Inuyasha yawned and reached up to scratch behind his ear while glancing towards Kagome, 'looks like she bathed' After watching her put the dirty pile she had on her to the side and getting ready to settle in next to the pup he took the opportunity to stand up and walk towards the woman and plopping next to her when she got herself comfortable in her sleeping mat.

Looking at Shijima and letting out a soft sigh Kagome looked towards Inuyasha seeing as he was getting in a comfortable position against the wall she all but let a small smile grace her face. She would never say but she appreciated Inuyasha for still being around even if he really didn't have to, she was more than capable of protecting herself now with the years of training and meditation that she endured her self through.

placing a hand over her head, Inuyasha looked down at Kagome with a soften expression, "get some rest, i'll keep watch" chuckling softly Kagome shook her head "who says I need you around to keep safe?" rolling his eyes he stroked her hair in a soothing manner, "keh, whatever you know you're a damn danger prone wench" Huffing at him she turned away from him and closed her eyes. Not long after steady breathing reached the hanyou's ears letting him know that both pup and mother were dead to the world.

taking his hand off from the bundle of raven locks that managed to tangle into his fingers, he settled back before he rested his head back against the wall and glancing up letting his mind wander.

Just when the hell was something going to happen that he was sure was going to disturb the peace that finally settled over once their journey of hunting down both Naraku and jewel shards had ended. Furrowing his brown he caught a odd scent that passed the hut causing him to jerk his head towards the door.

that was odd...

standing from his spot, he frowned and took small steps towards the door to push aside the shade that flowed against the cool breeze that hit him when he took a single step outside.

maybe he shouldn't had question the peace they had.

taking in the surroundings, he stayed put for good few minutes before returning back into the small hut.

He better hope to the kami's that he hadn't provoked them on stirring up something to their lives. He didn't need any more trouble that he didn't want to add to his damn plate. Resigning back to his spot near the entry way, he set Tetsaiga in lap and finally closed his eyes taking in the small crackles of the fire that was slowly dying out in the middle of the room.