The weeks it took getting to the village started off well enough, but as time went by things began to become strange. It started when for some reason Shippo began becoming extremely clingy to Kagome. None of them could understand why. It was quite literally a change that happened over night. One night a little over a week into their travels Kagome awoke to find that Shippo had moved from his sleeping place next to Kilala back to sleeping against her chest.
Normally this wouldn't mean much except Kagome was now Inuyasha's mate. A known law with male demons is that when a female is mated it is inappropriate for any male except her mate or a male member of her family to sleep so intimately close to her. The same would also go for a mated male. Shippo was neither Kagome's mate nor her child even though Shippo viewed her as a mother figure. Not knowing this demon law Kagome didn't mind him being back in her bed, but it was clear Inuyasha was not pleased with the addition. It was now a common routine every morning for Inuyasha and Shippo to have a verbal altercation which always ended with Inuyasha hitting Shippo on the head and Kagome sitting Inuyasha for being so harsh.
Some time later Shippo then started becoming almost possessive of her. He was constantly telling Inuyasha to be careful when he was carrying Kagome on his back and making sure Kagome had enough to eat. Even going so far as offering his own food to her. If Toga didn't know better he would think that Shippo was competing with Inuyasha for Kagome, but he knew that was impossible. Toga figured that Shippo was just being overprotective of the woman he viewed as his mother. Yokai sons are often very possessive and protective of the females in their family and since Shippo considered Kagome to be his mother that would make Inuyasha the new male in the family. It made sense so Toga didn't think much of it.
Early one evening the group finally reached the outskirts of the village only to run into a group of people taking shelter in a cave. The surrounding area was covered in dead bird like creatures along with being drenched in the smell of blood and burned flesh. Apparently the Holy One had destroyed all the dead birds with just a single arrow. Toga couldn't help, but grow a little wary of this. Fear that the Holy One, Hijiri, could be Kikyo. Of course Kagome had to pose the possibility to Inuyasha. It sometimes annoyed Toga how kind his mother really was. He knew that even though she was Inuyasha's mate she was still insecure about how she ranked next to Kikio when it came to Inuyasha's heart.
The group decided to make camp and search for the Holy One in the morning. All night Inuyasha and Kagome sat by themselves near the edge of a cliff. Toga had no idea what they were talking about, but it was clear that Sango was just as pissed about the situation as he was.
"I can't believe Kagome spoke up about Kikiyo," Toga grumbled unhappily.
"You almost sound like Inuyasha," Miroku stated in a light hearted manner, trying to lighten the mood for them.
"I am nothing like that idiot," Toga shot back in indignation.
"She's so brave I'll give her that much," Sango said as she stared into the fire.
"If this Hijiri turns out to be Kikiyo then you know we'll cross paths," Miroku said in a matter of fact tone. "Our goals are the same."
"Yes, but that's not the problem," Sango interjected. "Inuyasha gets so indecisive around Kikiyo. Kagome has put up with it until now, but who knows how much longer that will last now that they are mates. If I were her I would push him over a cliff and make sure he never walks again."
"I wouldn't stop you," Toga mumbled gruffly. "It's a disgrace that he's even allowing himself to be flustered over another bitch besides his mate."
Early the next morning the group was up searching for Saint Hijiri. As they searched they couldn't help but note the many flying yokai that worked for Naraku out apparently search for something, or someone. It became obvious the yokai were heading for the Forbidden Mountain near the village so they group decided to head the same way. As they approached the mountain a sacred arrow suddenly shot out from the mountain and wiped out many of Naraku's yokai. Natually this caused all the rest of them to attack everyone.
"Miroku, Sango, Toga, take care of Kagome!" Inuyasha ordered just before gently putting Kagome on Kilala's back. "Go on ahead!"
"What do you think you're doing?" Miroku inquired.
"Isn't it obvious?" Inuyasha questioned back. "I'll join you as soon as I kill these damn vermin. You guys go and find that Hijiri person. Now get going!"
"I'm staying with you," Toga suddenly stated as he pulled Bakusaiga from it's sheath. For a moment Inuyasha allowed the shock to show on his face that Toga actually wanted to fight along side him for the first time. "It's about time I showed you my superior fighting skills."
"We'll see," Inuyasha said with a smirked as he unsheathed his Tessaiga. "Wind Scar!"
"Bakusaiga!" Inuyasha allowed himself to momentarily stare in awe at the power Toga's sword held. For just a moment Inuyasha's mind entertained the idea that Toga might actually be stronger then himself. "Inuyasha!" Toga suddenly shouted looking behind them. Inuyasha turned to see Hijiri sitting on a horse flanked by two small young girls.
"Show yourself! Let us see your face!" Hijiri only continued to stare at the two hanyous. "Answer me! Are you Kikiyo or not?"
"A negative aura has ravaged my master's flesh," one of the young girls spoke. "Her body can not restore itself."
"She has also lost her voice," the other added. "She fights using her spirit alone. However soon her strength will run out." Toga watched as Inuyasha just seem to stare at them. He could feel his yokai boiling at how his father was betraying his mother with his obsession over the miko bitch. Suddenly Inuyasha began running towards the saint crying out Kikiyo's name. That was the straw that broke the camel's back for Toga. With a snarl he unleashed an attack ripping Hijiri to shreds, revealing the face of the one Toga hated so intensely. "You bastard!" For a moment Inuyasha lost his anger when he saw the state Toga was in. His eyes were now all red with blue slits, purple markings appeared on his cheeks along with having his fangs and claws elongated. For a moment Inuyasha couldn't believed this was what he looked like when his yokai blood would awaken.
"I'm the bastard?" Toga chuckled in a mocking tone as he sheathed Bakusaiga. "You're the one betraying his mate by chasing after a fucking dead bitch! If you had even taken a moment to pull your head out of your ass you would have known that wasn't Kikiyo! It was just her fucking shikigami!"
"You fucker!" Inuyasha cursed as he lunged at Toga. Toga predicted this and immediately countered his attack. "You know nothing about Kikiyo!"
"I happen to know everything!" The two continued to attack each other until Toga was finally able to momentary pin Inuyasha to the ground. "I know that she betrayed you believing so easily that you would betray her for the jewel! Also even though she found out that you never betrayed her she still demanded that you die and go to hell with her! If that's love then I rather be alone the rest of my life! Do you honestly think Kagome is even capable of doing even one of the many horrible things Kikiyo has done?"
"How the fuck do you know what happened between me and Kikiyo?" Toga smirked as he slowly eased himself off his father, his yokai blood cooling down.
"Did you even stop to think that if Kikiyo loved you then why did she believe you betrayed her so easily?" Inuyasha looked away from Toga's gaze as his words sunk in. "You also turned on her pretty quickly as well. Face it Inuyasha you both were just a means to an end for each other. The difference between you two were that you were honest in your feelings with Kikiyo since you didn't know that yokai had destined mates. Being a miko Kikiyo knew though." Inuyasha's eyes suddenly went wide with realization. "She knew you had a fated mate waiting for you yet she still allowed a romantic relationship to form between you two. She even went as far as convincing you to want to turn human and abandon your mate. To leave your mate to walk the rest of her life alone." All the anger was officially out of Inuyasha's sails as he slowly got to his feet.
"I never thought of it that way." Toga could see the hurt in his eyes as he processed everything. "I can't believe I've behaved so stupidly towards Kagome. She's my mate and I'm off chasing a former love who clearly didn't truly love me."
"Finally you see the truth," Toga sighed dramatically just as a thought struck Inuyasha.
"You never said how you know all this though." With another dramatic sigh Toga decided he might as well tell Inuyasha the truth.
"Think about it Inuyasha. I have a demon father and a human mother. I have the same brown hair and brown eyes as someone in our little group." Toga paused and began to glow a holy blue light. "I also have a special power that I inherited from my miko mother."
"What the fuck!" Inuyasha shouted as it suddenly dawn on him. "You can't be mine!"
"Yup," Toga confirmed with a smile that Inuyasha realized resembled his almost perfectly. "You and Kagome are my mom and dad." Inuyasha's legs suddenly gave out from under him. "I know this is a lot to take in and I'm sorry dad for keeping this from you and mom."
"Dad," Inuyasha repeated as he stared off into space. "So I really do become a father. Kagome and I really do create a family together and we even survive together to her original time." Inuyasha paused to look at Toga. To really look at him. He finally saw what should have been obvious. Toga was pretty much a male version of Kagome and Inuyasha realized that there was even an underlining scent to Toga that was the combination of his and Kagome's scent. Proof that he was a child of theirs. "Damn, I've been such an oblivious idiot. If I had just taken a moment to assess you properly I would have realized who and what you were a long time ago."
"Well I wouldn't worry about it too much. As long as you're good to mom that's all I care about."
"Speaking of which, we should go catch up with the others. I have some things I need to say to your mother." With a relieved smile on his face the two made their way back to the group. Things weren't going so well for Kagome though. She had wandered from the group and found Kikiyo in a large pond slowly fading back to the underworld. Of course Kagome being Kagome she couldn't help but save the other miko knowing Inuyasha was looking for her. Kagome poured her essence into the older miko and after securing that Kikiyo would survive, she passed out from exhaustion. It wasn't till that evening she awoke to find herself lying on the banks of the pond soaking wet.
"Kikiyo," Kagome called out to the miko. Kikiyo looked over her shoulder to stare coldly at her.
"Why did you save me?"
"Did you not call me here?" Kagome asked casually as she stood up.
"You had a choice whether or not to save me."
"It hardly boils down to a matter of choice. If there is a person I can save and I'm told that she can only be saved by me then of course I'm going to save her." Kikiyo continued to stare at her with the same cold eyes.
"Then I won't thank you." Kagome couldn't help but roll her eyes, but suddenly refocused on Kikiyo as the miko began to walk away.
"Wait, where are you going to?"
"Inuyasha will be here soon," Kikiyo stated as she continued walking away.
"Aren't you even going to see Inuyasha?" Kikiyo stopped and turned to fully face her reincarnation.
"You are his mate are you not?" Kagome froze at the harshness in her voice. "You are a human and a miko no less yet you allowed yourself to be sullied by a demon, a hanyou, and even allowed yourself to carry his offspring."
"What?" Kagome gasped as her hand went to cover her stomach. Her shock was only brief though when the rest of what Kikiyo said sunk in. "How can you be so cold towards him! Inuyasha has done nothing but care for you and all you can do in talk down about him!" Kikiyo only stared at her for a moment before turning to continue walking away. Once Kikiyo was out of sight Kagome sat herself on a rock near the pond and began to brood about what Kikiyo had said. It really bothered her that Kikiyo could say such things about someone she supposedly loved.
"Kagome!" Inuyasha shouted as he came running up to her. He couldn't help but feel relieved that she was safe and all right.
"Kagome!" came Shippo's voice as he ran up from behind Inuyasha along with Sango, Toga, and Miroku. Inuyasha paused to sniff the air around them, checking to see if anyone was in the area.
"What are you sniffing around for?" Kagome asked with an attitude that caught Inuyasha by surprise. "If you're looking for Kikiyo she's already gone. Why don't you go after her?"
"Kikiyo was actually here?" Inuyasha couldn't help but ask. Toga could instantly feel his muscles tighten.
"Yes, but she left a while ago," Kagome answered as tears began to form in her eyes. "I told her to stay and see you really."
"Kagome what happened between you and Kikiyo?" Inuyasha questioned as he positioned himself in front of her.
"Does it matter?" Kagome shot back angrily. "Why aren't you going after her?"
"Why would I go after a wench who is not my mate?" Kagome gasped as her eyes suddenly widen in shock. "Kagome you're my mate. No other wench is more important to me then you."
"But don't you love Kikiyo?" Inuyasha gave her a hard stare.
"I might have loved her once but that was a long time ago. Truth is I've been slowly falling in love with you since the first day we met." He paused to take in the surprise look on Kagome's face. He knew he had to come clean and be honest with her. It was the least Kagome deserved. "Kagome, the real reason why I didn't catch you when we first met is because I was afraid what I would do if I did. While I was chasing you my yokai blood kept sending me images. Images of you and me in intimate positions. I knew that if I had indeed caught you then I would have taken you for my own."
"I see." Suddenly Kagome saw him collapsed to the ground and prostrate himself before her.
"I have come to realize that my behavior ever since I made you my mate has been disgraceful. Since the beginning Kagome you have been by my side. You are always there to support me in any way you can. Even when I have tried to push you away you never once betrayed me or left my side. Also when my yokai forced you to become my mate you accepted it and even cared for me as a loving mate would. You are my honored mate Kagome and I," Inuyasha paused to steel himself, "I love you."
"You love me?" Kagome asked as tears began to once again form in her eyes. Upon smelling her tears Inuyasha rose to look her in the eye.
"I love you Kagome and I couldn't be happier to have you as my mate." Kagome instantly launched herself into his arms, crying into his shoulder. "Kagome?"
"I love you too Inuyasha!" Kagome cried as she tightly gripped his haori. Inuyasha smiled as he wrapped his arms around her. They stayed like that for a while before she gently pulled herself away just enough to look him in the eye. "Also there is something else."
"What is it?"
"Inuyasha," Kagome paused to take a deep breath, "I think I might be pregnant."