Author's Note: Hi people! Sorry about the long update. Things have been really stressful on my side of the computer screen, and I have had almost no time to complete at least another chapter ahead of the one we are on. That and I have been trying to spew out more story ideas and figure out a somewhat conclusion to this one, because to tell you the truth, I haven't thought of anything past maybe two more chapters? Hehe...I'm bad that way...

Disclaimer: I should have done this before. I don't own these characters in any way. And to tell you the truth, I really don't want to...

Ayani-chan: I had hoped that I would get reactions like yours!

SgtJustinSmith: Thank you

InuyashaKagome4lyfe: Haha, I love readers! You guys always have so much to say about the story, especially plot lines that I haven't covered yet! Thank you for reviewing!

inulover614: I'm happy that I updated as well, and look another chapter! Yay me!

RelenaPeace: Here you go! I updated! And I agree, Kouga is not one of my favourite characters when it comes to plot concerning love..

Enjoy the Chapter!

Chapter Four: 2,544 words

The day was beautiful. The sun was shining brightly with an almost dizzying intensity; a light wind blew through the trees, rustling almost every single individual leaf gently; and there was hardly a cloud in the vivid blue expanse of the sky. It was a perfect day.

Inuyasha was settled into a tree above the small clearing they had chosen for their camp. No matter where they camped, it had to have trees around it, protecting the group from the elements as well as allowing Inuyasha to have a comfortable place to sleep.

Yes, the day had been good, Inuyasha decided. The monk and demon slayer hadn't been too troublesome and the runt hadn't complained or provoked him at all. Everyone had kept up easily, even Kagome.

After travelling such a distance in the past two days, the group was ready for some rest and relaxation. Unconsciously, Inuyasha had wanted to get as far away as he could from that river where Kagome had told him she was pregnant. He didn't like it at all that she was in "that" condition. It irritated him to no end, even though she wasn't trying to get special privileges – yet.

Twitching an ear, he found everyone in camp: Sango and Miroku were at the stream close by, washing clothes and gathering fresh water; Kilala and Shippo were playing some game between the river and camp that he was sure they had just made up; and Kagome was pouring over one of her stupid "text-books." It looked like she was torturing herself without any reason.

He looked over at the girl, and gazed at her intently. Her back was hunched over the thick book, and a frown creased her face. Intent eyes read the writing, and every so often she would scribble furiously into a notebook which lay on the ground beside her. Her hair would blow around her small form, causing her to push it back behind her ears. He smiled softly as she cursed, threw the pencil down beside her and then picked it back up hesitantly with a scowl and began again. She was just so cute some – wait. What was he thinking? This was Kagome! The bitch who would 'sit' him without any reason at times!

Scowling, his thoughts turned back towards the pregnancy issue. Remembering that he told her that he probably could tell her what sort of half-demon child she was carrying, he took a deep breath and then searched for Kagome's scent, breathing it in. He hadn't had had a chance earlier in the day and so now was as good as a time as ever. As he inhaled her scent he choked.

And fell out of the tree with a loud 'thump.'

Kagome looked over at Inuyasha, wondering what in the world could be his problem. She had never seen him be so ungraceful, especially when it came to dismounting from a tree.

She realized though, as she gazed at him, that his mouth was hanging open and his eyes were widened by surprise. Becoming a little worried when he didn't move after a while, she rushed over to his side and tried to rouse him.

"Inu – Inuyasha!" She cried, while shaking his shoulder quickly, "Wh-What's the matter? What happened? Are you ok!?" Desperate, she tried everything she could think of to make Inuyasha respond to her. She shook him 'til her arms were sore; she threatened him; she even shouted at him, but nothing would make the hanyou move or speak.

Becoming hysterical, Kagome began to cry and scream, rocking back and forth as she clutched herself into the fetal position. She didn't know what to do. Miroku and Sango were gone – god knows where – and Shippo and Kilala had disappeared as well. What was she going to do? She couldn't – she wouldn't – live without him around her. What had happened anyways?

Coming out of his daze, he felt damp earth pressing roughly against his cheek. Realising his mouth was opened wide, he closed it and finally tuned into his surroundings. Who was screaming like a banshee? Sitting up irritated, he saw Kagome in a complete panic, crying and shaking. He grabbed her quickly, and clutched her to his chest. She had to calm down, or she may hurt the pup!

Whispering soft words to her, telling her that it was ok – specifically he was ok – that she needed to calm down, he got her to stop shaking at least and for her crying to calm slightly. Panicking, because she was going to begin hurting herself if she didn't stop, he blurted out the first thing that came to mind.

"Kagome, you have to stop crying! Get a hold of yourself, wench! You'll hurt the pup if you don't calm yourself!"

She sniffled softly, her eyes widening when what he had said sunk into her head. The…pup!? Jerking her smoky eyes to his golden ones, she looked at him with expectation and dread.

"You…you…you mean…? Kou –" She was caught off when his arms crushed her to his chest again, and he began to growl fiercely.

"No!" He barked. "He is NOT the father of your pup!" His arms loosened their hold slightly, so that she could turn her head upwards to look into his eyes.

"Y..you mean…we….us…." Kagome's head was flooded with information, as she tried to make sense of what Inuyasha had just told her. If it wasn't Kouga who got her pregnant then it was –! She jerked her eyes upwards to capture the golden ones of the man in front of her. His eyes were filled with confusion, worry and…joy.

Hugging her tight to him again, Inuyasha felt like he never wanted to let her go. He was going to be a father. And Kagome, Kagome was going to be the mother of his - their - pup! He was so happy that he could have jumped clear across the highest mountain in the world without breaking a sweat and smiling the entire time. But instead, he just held Kagome closely.

He just wanted to hold her forever. But…if Kouga was going to come to find out whether she was carrying his pup in the next few days then a serious conversation had to occur now. Before it was too late.

"Kagome," Inuyasha stated softly, catching her attention. Pulling away from his warm embrace slowly, she looked up at him. His eyes, although still joyful, were serious now. She nodded slowly, indicating for him to go on. "I know you don't want to talk about it probably, but…that day at the hot springs...I need to know about something... that might have happened…" His voice was soft, almost soothing, as he tried to get her to open up to him about that day, even though it might be painful.

Kagome took a deep breath, as she thought of that day. It was a painful memory, and she never wanted to think about it ever again, and Inuyasha knew that. If he was asking her to remember it right now, it meant that he had a good reason. Bracing herself against the memories that flooded into her mind from the space in which she had locked them in, she straightened and looked up into his molten golden eyes, giving small nod, to encourage him to go on.

Taking that small nod, and straightening of her figure as consent to go on, Inuyasha spoke softly of the issue they needed to discuss.

"Kagome…that day at the hot springs, did Kouga mention anything about you…being marked?" Inuyasha was desperate for her answer. It would determine everything that would happen after this moment, especially when they met up with Kouga again.

Kagome thought. And thought. It wasn't that her memories were fuzzy of that day, even though she wished that they were. No, she was slightly confused by Inuyasha's request, but knew by the way that he clutched onto her arms that it was important. She wanted to make sure that Kouga had in fact said that or didn't. Spacing out, she reviewed that day in her mind.

Inuyasha, taking her silence and spacing out for the worst, clutched her tighter as his ears drooped sadly. 'He…he did mark her that filthy bastard!' Inuyasha thought wildly. 'I…Kagome…we have no chance now…' Inuyasha's ears pressed flat against his head.

"Inuyasha," Kagome whispered softly, coming out of her self-induced trance and causing the half-demon to flinch slightly, "He…Kouga…didn't mention anything about….marking…"

There was a long, deathly silence before Kagome was crushed against Inuyasha's chest again.

"Inu..Inuyasha!" Kagome squeaked indignantly at him. He just sighed and held her closer and much more tightly, if that was even possible.

Whispering, he explained.

"Demons, unlike humans, don't celebrate marriage, Kagome. Instead, they mate and then mark the one they have chosen. This mark, this sign of devotion and love, can not be reversed in anyway. If...if Kouga has done this, if he has marked you as his, I would never stand a chance. He…he could take you away from me without a second thought…" Inuyasha ended sadly, with a slight tightening of his arms and the wavering of his voice.

Kagome was shocked by the emotions she could feel in Inuyasha's voice. He had never opened up so much to her. She realized that this was indeed serious. If Kouga had marked her…she would never be able to hold Inuyasha again. She probably wouldn't even be able to finish the quest, if it was up to Kouga!

Pulling back from Inuyasha's comforting gaze, she looked into his golden eyes and told him once again that Kouga had not said anything about being marked.

"…though…" she began, with hesitation evident in her voice.

Inuyasha, hearing the first part of her question, began to feel despair again, thinking that she had remembered something that Kouga had done.

"…what does this mark look like anyways..?" She was slightly confused by what he meant by 'marked'. Was it visible? Or was it just a thing that demons could sense?

But when she had finished, he realized that as a human, and one from the future, she had no idea what he had meant as a mark.

"The mark could be visible, it could simply be a scent that surrounds the chosen one, or it could be a mix of the two," Inuyasha stated simply, "It all depends on how powerful the feelings are for the markee." Inuyasha hesitated before going further, as he saw the frown of concentration on Kagome's features.

"Kouga didn't leave….a scent mark on you…so did he…bite you?" Inuyasha forced out. He hated the very thought that that damned flea bitten wolf would have even dared to cause her any pain. It boiled his very blood and caused him to emit a soft growl.

"No," Kagome stated, looking at Inuyasha. "He didn't say, bite, or do anything of that sort to me." 'He just took away my innocence and dignity,' she thought bitterly. "Why does this matter anyways Inuyasha?" She was confused by where this line of thought was going.

"If he had done anything in anyway to mark you, I would lose you and the pup," Inuyasha snarled softly. He was upset that that could even happen. He would never allow his offspring to ever be hurt. Not like he was.

Seeing the question about to pop out of her mouth, he continued, "If a mate has been unfaithful, particularly if they are female, the male has a phrase that if said, would kill the pup of the other demon or the female or both." He ended this with a sharp, dangerous snarl. Even the thought gave him pain. He would have to go chop down trees later to let loose his rage.

Kagome gasped. Would…would Kouga really do that? She almost couldn't believe it. But when she remembered that Kouga had once attacked humans without any provocation, she realized that he was just the type of demon who would do that.

"That is why, I MUST know if he marked you, especially if we meet up with him soon," Inuyasha continued, softer than before. "I could never stand to lose you…" He raised a claw and traced the outline of her jaw slowly and gently. Kagome clutched his hand tightly, before stating once more:

"He didn't mark me, Inuyasha. He didn't."

"Good," he replied. "Which means, that if I marked you, it should still be there..."

"What!?" Kagome cried, jerking away from him. If he had marked me…!? She narrowed her eyes at him, thinking about the conversation they had just finished. "Why didn't you just check if your mark was there!? Why did we have to go through all of – all of that!!" she practically growled at Inuyasha, waving her arms around, causing him to shift uncomfortably.

Looking up into her eyes, he gave his trademark smirk, and stated simply, "Would you have really wanted me – without any explanation – to strip you and look?" His smirk grew wider, as his words got the desired effect. Kagome's face had turned a bright red color and she was sputtering out something about him being a 'jerk' or 'idiot'. He didn't really care, because seeing the young miko flustered was just too priceless.

Gathering what dignity she had left over from his words, Kagome looked up at Inuyasha and smiled sweetly as she could before striping her shirt off. Inuyasha blushed madly, and all but lost his head. He sure wasn't expecting that!

"Inuyasha," Kagome softly intoned, crawling forwards to the shocked and shifty eyed half-demon, "Aren't you going to check to see if your mark is there?" She stopped just in front of the hanyou, with a devious smirk on her face. "Or are you going to just sit there all evening, staring at the ground?" Kagome, though she would never admit it, was greatly enjoying teasing Inuyasha like this.

Hearing the laughter in her voice and since it was directed at him, he became irritated. But she was right. He needed to know if during that spell, he had marked her. Closing his eyes and saying a short, muttered prayer, he turned to look at the younger girl in front of him. Her face was tinted a light pink, and her eyes were all smiles as she sensed his embarrassment.

He smirked at her and swiftly tilted her head to take a look at her left shoulder. The feel of her skin upon his and the look of it as a backdrop for his claws, had his heart pounding faster and faster. 'Damn it! Why does she make me feel this way?' Inuyasha growled softly to himself, tilting her head farther to the side. Looking into the hollow where her shoulder and neck met, Inuyasha couldn't help but smile.

There, right on her neck as plain as daylight, was the mark. HIS mark. The mark was composed of two puncture marks placed on her neck, with a half moon circling one and crossing between them. After the crossing, the ends came up beside the second mark and faded into her skin. It was the mark of one with dog demon heritage. Grinning, Inuyasha turned to Kagome's curious eyes and hugged her fiercely.

"Inuyasha…?" Kagome asked, slightly puzzled. She had never seen him so happy before. He was positively…glowing! "Is it there? Is there a mark there or not?"

As an answer, Inuyasha swiftly kissed her.

A/N: I hope you liked this chapter, and please, review!

The following link is what I think the mate mark looks like, and this is for those who don't get what I am trying to describe:

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