Chapter 7

Inuyasha's pride and Sesshoumaru's disgust

Inuyasha pulled himself into a sitting position, leaning back against the headboard of the bed, his ears twitching nervously. She was unsettled, her head tossing about, her expression grim and restless. She was having another nightmare, he could tell easy enough. He sighed, choosing to wait and to watch. He couldn't do much of anything else...

The inside of the well looked so dark from where she was standing, but of course the setting sun didn't really light it anymore.

Kagome's hands shook as she gripped the edge of the Sacred Well, staring into its darkness, fearing the moment when she would no longer be alone in the clearing. Her heart ached and her head hurt knowing what she was about to do.

Naraku had been very detailed in his orders, and the compulsion spell he'd cast upon her insured that she'd do her job. What better way to destroy an enemy than by using the one person that enemy trusted completely?

"There you are, Kagome," Inuyasha's voice rolled over her, made her shiver. Slowly, she turned to face him as he approached her, smiling wickedly. "Thinking about sneaking away for the weekend, are you?"

"Run..." The whisper could barely be called a whisper at all, but Inuyasha heard it nonetheless.

"Run? What do you mean, Kagome?" Inuyasha's hands found her hips, but his smile wavered. "Kagome, you're shaking what's wrong?" He paused, blinking in surprise and confusion. Slowly, the pain began to register, the tears in Kagome's eyes began to flow down her cheeks. Inuyasha's golden eyes drifted down to his torso, widening in surprise at the sight before him. "K-Kagome...w-why?"

"I'm sorry, Inuyasha," She whispered, unable to take her hand away from the dagger she'd rammed through his chest. "I'm sorry,"

Kagome watched as her mate dropped to his knees, broken and bleeding. "I'm so sorry, Inuyasha!"

"INUYASHA!"

"Woah!" He grabbed her, pulling her backwards before she rolled off the bed. "Hey, wake up, Kagome,"

She shuddered as her eyes flew open, realizing where she was, that what she'd seen, what she'd done had just been a dream and that the arms that now surrounded her belonged to Inuyasha. Kagome turned and latched herself onto him, burying her face in his chest to muffle the uncontrollable sobs that tore from her throat at that moment. His arms tightened around her, holding her as close as physically possible, while he quietly soothed and comforted his mate.

"I'm not dead, Kagome,"

Her arms came around his neck and he immediately felt his shoulder dampen with her tears. "I'm right here..."

"I hate these stupid nightmares...!"

"I know, Kagome, you're not the only one," Inuyasha cuddled her, annoyed with the nightmares and the fact that she was in distress and was getting little to no sleep at all. She was in dire need of rest. "Try and sleep, Kagome, I promise you I'll be here when you wake up..."

Saetan looked between the two half brothers and Kagome for a few moments, pondering the many reasons for Inuyasha's prideful smirk, Sesshoumaru's look of utter disgust, and Kagome's exhaustion mingling with a confused look towards the both of them. Was some silent battle going on between the brothers that even Kagome didn't understand?

Of course, the was something different about Kagome's psychic scent. It was subtle, but there was definitely something different. Ladvarian's exclamation that Inuyasha had claimed his mate knocked out one reason why her scent would have changed. This change came a week after the fact. Was something wrong with the girl?

"Excuse me," Kagome murmured, pushing back from the table to leave, only to be shoved back down by her shoulders. Inuyasha's claws pinched her skin, making her wince, and she gave in, sitting back down.

"Not until you eat," Inuyasha shoved her plate under her nose and watched her until she finally began eating. Jaenelle grinned, looking over at Lucivar. Those two were more alike than they thought or probably knew. But still, this behavior did raise a few questions. The main question being what in the hell was going on?

Daemon finally found it a convenient time to break the silence. "We leave for Amdarh tomorrow, do we not?"

Jaenelle smiled, nodding. "Khary and Morghann went home yesterday, we'll be heading to the cottage tomorrow."

"I've got a few court appearances to make," Daemon muttered. "Actually, Lady Zhara is quite curious about our new friends. Of course, after I told her about the two brothers, she was more reluctant to invite them,"

"I wonder why," Surreal muttered, glaring at Daemon and Lucivar. "I seem to remember a fish laced in someone's boots the last time we let you two go alone," Her sharp gaze fell on Lucivar.

"I'm allowed to indulge every now and then, Surreal,"

"So long as I don't have to flush any more fish, I think we'll be all right,"

"What was Lady Zhara's comment on the situation, papa?" Jaenelle asked, grinning at Saetan. He sighed heavily, rubbing his temples.

"You're children are having a lovely time. Come and get them,"

"Heh, really?" Lucivar flashed an arrogant smile. "Then I suppose we should stay away from the Gravediggers this time around,"

Daemon snarled. "After what happened, I doubt Zhara would deny us,"

Lucivar just looked at his brother. "The bitch knows who she's dealing with, Daemon, I'm sure there's a lot she wouldn't deny us,"

"Emotional scars?" Sesshoumaru inquired, looking across the table to Daemon who gave him a bored, sleepy look.

"The problem was taken care of,"

"I see,"

Kagome shifted in her seat, knowing that look on Daemon's face was dangerous. She'd seen enough of that look on Sesshoumaru's face to know as much.

"Lord Sesshoumaru!" Rin skidded into the room, hitting the ground to bow at his feet.

"Rin, what is it?" He looked over his shoulder at her, his eyes narrowed at her labored breathing.

"I..." She looked up and blushed crimson, realizing that telling him what she wanted to tell him was going to feel awkward with the others now staring at her. "Um...I..."

"Lady Rin?" Saetan asked, startled. "Is everything all right? You look terribly pale,"

"I..." She paused, bit her lip and looked towards Sesshoumaru. "I was just..."

"Rin, enough," Sesshoumaru snarled, waving his hand. "Say what you'd intended to say,"

She flinched, bowing again, and sighed, "I had a nightmare about you...I came to make sure it hadn't come true,"

Kagome looked to Rin for a moment and then back to Inuyasha, suddenly wary of everyone in the room.

"What happened in this nightmare?" Jaenelle asked, glancing towards Kagome, feeling the change in the woman's aura.

"I..." Rin felt tears stinging her eyes. "I killed him..."

To her surprise, Inuyasha didn't laugh but growled. Was he going to snap at her for even suggesting that she would be the one to kill Sesshoumaru and not himself? She glared daggers at him. "I wasn't saying it as a joke,"

Inuyasha glared down at her. "I don't recall saying anything to you,"

"Strange," Jaenelle interrupted, standing. "Strange that both Rin and Kagome dream the same thing about the brothers..." Kagome shuddered at the sound of that midnight voice, knowing full well that Jaenelle wasn't the one speaking. The males had all tensed, and Daemon had a strange and fiercely hungry look in his eyes. Was this what they had meant by Witch?

"It's Naraku," Inuyasha snarled, his claws digging into the table. "He's trying to scare us,"

"Well it's working," Kagome murmured absently, her eyes cast down towards the table, unfocused and glazed over. "He's up to something, I just know it..."

Sesshoumaru rose to his feet, standing over Rin with a passive look. "I shall go look for Naraku now," He paused in the doorway, uncertain. "Inuyasha, I will require your assistance,"

Inuyasha growled, in no mood to argue with his half brother. He just wanted to tear into Naraku and destroy the vile demon so that Kagome's nightmares would go away and they could live in peace for once. And possibly find a way back home without having to worry about him. But still, it wouldn't be quite like him not to make at least a small smartassed remark, would it? "Of course you need my assistance, Sesshy. After all, you're only a youkai,"

"Are they going to do this while we're in Amdarh?" Daemon groaned, watching the brothers leave the room.

"Maybe," Kagome murmured, feeling suddenly ill. "Excuse me,"

"Lady Kagome?" Lucivar inquired as Kagome stumbled slightly. "Are you all right?"

"I'm fine," She murmured, leaving hastily to be alone for a while. When she'd gotten far enough down the hall that she didn't feel as though everyone was breathing down her neck, she stopped walking and fell heavily back against the wall, her arms wrapped around herself. A cold sweat had engulfed her and a severe cramp had taken hold of her abdomen. She knew what it was, at least, she thought she did, and felt tears stinging her eyes. She'd realized the day before that Inuyasha's over-protectiveness was because she was pregnant, but Kagome was aware of her own personal problems and had known it wasn't likely to remain so.

The stress, she knew, would eventually have become too much and she would miscarry. Kagome wasn't sure if the relief she felt was because she had been right or because it was happening soon enough that Inuyasha hadn't gotten too hopeful or too attached to something she couldn't give him. At least...not yet. Not with Naraku hanging over them. She couldn't do that to Inuyasha or any pups they might have in the future.

No, until Naraku was destroyed she couldn't bring any pups into the world. Of course, given the choice she wouldn't willingly terminate the pup because she couldn't possibly do that, but her body couldn't tolerate it right now.

Dread settled over her suddenly. Would Inuyasha understand that? Could he?

"Lady Kagome?"

She gasped in surprise, her eyes wrenched closed as the pain overtook her again.

"Kagome?" She felt Lucivar's arms come around her, heard him whisper that he would get her help, felt herself being lifted off of the floor.

"Forgive me, Inuyasha...please, please forgive me..."

Inuyasha smirked behind Sesshoumaru, pleased greatly by his brother's disgust. "Does it bother you, Sesshoumaru, that I've gotten myself an heir before you were able to?"

Sesshoumaru ignored his brother, finally coming to a stop on the path. "Naraku is not here."

"It's been two days, Sesshoumaru, I doubt he would've lingered once he felt us coming after him,"

"His scent is too faint here, it isn't recent. I don't think he was here at all,"

"He's masking his scent, Sesshoumaru,"

"Yes, but he doesn't have to be near to send nightmares. He has shards of the Shikon no Tama, remember, Inuyasha? After all, it is your fault the Shikon no Tama was shattered."

Inuyasha growled at his brother, glaring. "And if I recall correctly, which I do, it is your fault that we're stuck here instead of back in our own era!"

Sesshoumaru looked over his shoulder at his younger brother, scowling in disgust at him. "It does not concern me, Inuyasha, that we are stuck in a different land so long as I kill Naraku,"

"And then what?" Inuyasha growled. "What then, Sesshoumaru? After Naraku is gone, what will happen then? We'll still be stuck here no matter what and you have no land to rule here, no title to empower you! You'll be stuck at the mercy of the women here. The human women. You'll be living with the very thing you despise. Not to mention you'll be surrounded by my pups. Mine and Kagome's pups instead of your own." Inuyasha smirked. "That's right, Sesshoumaru. My pups and not yours because there are no other youkai in this place, this realm. Only humans. The Tetsuseiga will remain with me and my children and when you are long gone, so will the Tenseiga. How does it feel, Sesshoumaru? It must really suck,"

Sesshoumaru turned around to face his brother, his expression unchanging. "You will have no pups, Inuyasha. The Tetsuseiga will never be wielded by any of your nonexistent children."

"Feh! That's what you think. I know you've caught the scent, Sesshoumaru. Kagome is already pregnant with our first pup."

"Is she?" Sesshoumaru said, the faintest of smiles piercing his lips. Inuyasha, startled, took a step back. Was his brother smiling? Slowly, Inuyasha looked back the way they had come.

"You couldn't possibly believe that a hanyou was capable of reproduction, could you?" Sesshoumaru asked, his smirk intensifying. "But you did, didn't you? Oh dear, I do so hope you didn't get too attached to that faint little scent because I can assure you, brother, that it won't be there when we return to the Hall. Such pride for nothing..."

"Shut up, you son of a bitch!" Inuyasha snarled, his eyes narrowed, gazing down the path they had traveled along. Something did feel off to him, something wrong...with Kagome... He hissed, glowering as his brother brushed passed him and began heading back towards the Hall.

"Come, Inuyasha. See for yourself,"

"Where is Kagome!"

Jaenelle looked up from Sundancer as Inuyasha stalked into the stables, his eyes fierce. She looked away, returning to brushing Sundancer. The trip from the Hall to Amdarh had taken longer than Inuyasha had liked, but he'd made it nonetheless. And now he'd found Jaenelle and wanted answers.

"I suspect she is in the gardens," Jaenelle murmured. Her tone of voice made Inuyasha shiver and back down.

"Is she all right?"

"It depends," Witch said darkly, looking up to Inuyasha.

"On what?" He growled, glaring.

"On whether or not you can forgive her for the problems of her body," Witch rose, staring him down. "The body is merely the flesh that houses the soul,"

"What kind of crap are you feeding me? Is she ok or not!" Inuyasha was losing control. Witch glared at him, motioning for him to leave. "See for yourself if you must,"

"Feh!" He turned on his heel, moving towards the gardens slowly, afraid of the breeze that would bring about her scent. Sesshoumaru's smugness had intensified upon reaching Amdarh so he knew his brother had been right, but what Jaenelle, or Witch rather, had just said...

Inuyasha sighed heavily, took a deep breath and felt the misery emanating from the garden wash over him. The scent was gone, save for the faint sourness of blood. He was shaken, almost unable to believe it. Sesshoumaru had been right, he would have no pups.

But then again, Sesshoumaru had been wrong before and those nightmares had caused Kagome more stress than anyone could have withstood for too long. Perhaps it just wasn't the right time? But his own misery aside, Kagome needed him. That misery he scented, the sadness, the guilt, did she blame herself?

"Damnit..." Slowly, cautiously, he followed that scent deep into the gardens, stopping only when he saw Kagome's crouched form against the fountain, her head resting on her knees. He smelled the tears before he saw them and approached her slowly, dropping to one knee beside her. "Kagome, you mustn't--"

"I'm sorry, Inuyasha,"

He sighed, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her close. "You've nothing to be sorry about, Kagome. You weren't ready, your body wasn't, and it wasn't the right time because of Naraku. You did nothing wrong,"

"Still...it hurts..."

"Tell me about it," Inuyasha murmured, cuddling her close. "Try listening to Sesshoumaru preach about it all the way here." He grimaced slightly at her reaction to this. Perhaps that was too truthful? "Forget I said that, Kagome, look, it isn't your fault..."

"It's not that, I just wish Sesshoumaru would have had a heart and not tormented you with it," Kagome murmured. "I bet he just loved it, didn't he?" She buried her face into Inuyasha's chest, breathing deeply his scent. A comfortable silence fell between them for a moment, giving them a sense of peace for the moment.

"Have you eaten at all, Kagome?"

"Mm um..." She snuggled against him, shaking her head.

"Well, come on then, let's get you some food."

End chapter. I told you Inuyasha got his hopes up too soon! -pets him- It's sad, yes, but important for a later chapter that's already well under way. -mischievous smile-

To Paksennarion: XD All in good time, darling! Naraku didn't give Surreal a jewel shard because he didn't feel that she needed it because of here jeweled strength. You must remember, she still wears the grey! However, you bring up a good point about his scent not being on her. Yes, they should have sensed it, but you'll find out why they didn't in chapter 15. I know it sounds far off, but it's really not! As always, your reviews are loved! -heart-