Chapter 21

Seven Months and Counting

Kagome sighed as she read over a few pages in the book she'd borrowed from Karla, her mind far from the pages her eyes took in. In the passed few weeks, her mind had been working strangely over the entire situation. So close to her due date now, some of her miko strength had resurfaced in her mind, tugging at her to concentrate on something about Hakuuyo's intentions.

He wanted her Miko powers, but he also wanted Blood strength that surpassed his own in order to blend them and gain some kind of ultimate power over the Blood, the realms, everything. But something about it just didn't make sense.

Jaenelle's power, in many ways, maybe even a million different ways, could surpass his own, but he hadn't been around long enough to know that. Which was why none of this made sense to her. Sure, Hakuuyo could have learned about Jaenelle through pretty much anyone in Kaeleer, but only a select few knew what Twilights Dawn was and how it worked. And he definitely didn't know that she was still Witch, that ancient being that had cleansed the realms. He couldn't know that she still had so much power.

Besides, his attention at the ball all those months ago hadn't been on Jaenelle. It had been on her and...

No, that can't be right...can it? She looked up from her book, her face contorted in concentration. "No, that's not right at all. He wants my Miko strength and Jaenelle's jeweled strength. Not his..." But the thought echoed throughout her mind, sparking her interest and that tugging of her miko strength pulled at her. "No, I'm wrong," She shook her head, suppressed the power tugging at her, and returned to her book, determined to ignore the disturbing thought she'd had.

Sesshoumaru stared out over the horizon, his hair blowing gently in the wind. The end of this entire ordeal was quickly coming. He could feel a strange kind of power stirring in this place, could almost taste the darkness that reached him on the wind. Hakuuyo was close to attacking them, he knew that, because Kagome's miko powers were slowly beginning to resurface as she neared her birth giving time, Daemon was on edge, Jaenelle was cranky, and Inuyasha was becoming less and less tolerable with each passing day.

Lucivar's training of the women around them had also become more intense, and his attempts at soothing Rin's aching muscles were proving more useful, but even more tiresome for her. She didn't like being fussed over, his mate.

He smiled wryly as the wind brought about her scent and made him aware of her presence. "I knew I would find you up here. You're smiling...? Something's about to happen, isn't it?"

Sesshoumaru remained quiet as his mate joined him, looking mildly bored. "I almost put Lucivar in the dirt this morning. You missed it, where were you?"

"I've been right here all morning,"

She nodded. "Jaenelle put him in the dirt and they both just started crying. I've never seen a warrior so happy about a woman being able to put him into the ground. She's regained the physical strength she once had and he's so proud of her for it that it made him cry."

"Jaenelle is a strong Witch."

"Yes, she is. Which is why Hakuuyo is after her,"

He nodded, the faintest of movements.

"Is something bothering you, Lord Sesshoumaru?" She asked, looking away from the wondrous view to look upon him.

"He's coming,"

Rin looked towards the horizon and understood what he meant. "Seven months and counting so far."

"Two remain,"

"And then it will all be over,"

"Or it will all just be starting," Sesshoumaru said flatly, turning away from the view to head back down the hill.

"Sesshoumaru?" Rin watched him, smiling as memories tugged at her mind. She was reminded of their home in the Western Lands. Reminded of the adventures they'd had, the demons they'd killed, the trouble they'd gotten into. It made her smile. "Wait up, Lord Sesshoumaru!" She almost felt like a little girl again rather than the grown woman she'd become.

"Will you people, please, just get offa my back for a little while?" Kagome hissed as she rounded on her escorts. "I. Am. Fine. I can get to my room on my own and still have enough energy left to get myself onto the couch to read for a few hours before Inuyasha shoves food down my throat. Now, please, leave me alone," She flinched, unable to bear the pitiful look the kindred who had deemed themselves her escorts throughout the hall gave her. "What? Ugh, fine,"

She turned and headed back down the corridor again, sighing in relief when she finally reached her room. "See? I made it. You can go now,"

When they settled down to rest just outside of her door, she rolled her eyes, closing it with a soft click. Among the four Kindred were two wolves, Ladvarian, and Jaal. Fun for me... Kagome thought sourly as she plopped onto the couch and picked up her book. "It's not like I'm going to just double over at any moment. You'd think they would realize I still have two months left. Goodness, is this what Marian meant by labor companions a few days ago?"

The door clicked as it opened and she groaned in protest, poised to throw the book at whatever male walked through that door.

"Whoa!" Inuyasha ducked the object as it flew at his head and forced the door closed again. "You almost hit me!"

She glowered at him as she rose to reclaim her book. "I noticed the caravan outside," She snarled as she plopped back down onto the couch. Inuyasha chuckled. "If you don't want them, just tell them to go play for a while," She snarled again forcing herself to read. "Have you eaten?"

"Oh, just stuff it," She grumbled, closing the book with a loud snap. "I'm seven months pregnant, not eight, not nine. For the last damn time; I AM FINE!"

"Feh, fine? More like moody,"

"Why you!" She threw the book at him again and he caught it, looking at it as if it were some nasty parasite from hell.

"Calm down, Kagome. I like it when you're all riled, but right now you just need some rest,"

"I haven't done anything to cause myself to need rest! I'm not tired, I'm not hungry, and I sure as hell don't need my pillows fluffed!"

"Maybe moody was an understatement?"

"Get out!" She shouted, annoyed greatly by her arrogant mate. "Stupid. Snarly. MALES!" She got up and left the sitting room, slamming the bedroom door closed so hard that it jarred him slightly. The book fell off the back of the couch where he'd just set it and hit the floor with a thud.

"Well, that went well." Inuyasha grumbled with a small smile as he moved to the door and joined his mate in their bedroom. He studied her hunched form and his nose wrinkled in confusion. She just looked so damn upset over all of that just now that he started to feel a little guilty.

"I upset you," He sat down next to her, not sure what to think about the tears rolling slowly down her cheeks. "Kagome?"

"I'm sorry, I'm just really frustrated and annoyed...and...moody," She sighed, rubbing her face of the tears. "Inuyasha..."

"I know, Kagome, I know," He wrapped his arms around her, cradling her close, trying to sooth her a little. "We're all tense right now and I know it isn't helping you at all. You're feeling caged as it is and all these 'escorts' are just adding to it."

"I'll be ok," She murmured, her arms sliding around his waist. "I just...ugh, everything is piling up on my shoulders and I just snapped..."

"You're entitled to a little frustration, Kagome," He stroked her thick, silky black hair and purred as her hands stroked his back. "Besides, you're pregnant with our pup, Kagome, and it's not exactly the world's easiest job. He's part demon so he's going to give you a hard time,"

"Noticed that," She smiled in spite of her annoyance and snuggled closer to him. "The nights are getting warmer."

"Yeah," He kissed her hair, still holding her. "It's almost time, Kagome."

She took a deep breath, let it out slowly and finally started to relax. "You'll be there...when it happens, won't you?"

"I promise," He whispered, his arms tightening around her. "I promise you, Kagome, that I will be there to see our pup born."

"Good because I don't think I can do it if you're not there with me..."

"I'll be there, Kagome. Not matter what, I will be there,"

"Thank you,"

Surreal glared at the ground as she watched Naraku leave the room, wanting, for some reason, to tear into him and rip him to shreds. He hadn't touched her at all in a week, which suited her just fine because, for some reason, she didn't want him to touch her. Besides, the last time they'd had a go he seemed...bored...as if she didn't interest him anymore.

Which pissed her off.

A sliver of something slipped into place in her mind and her eyes became sharp, focused. "What the hell is going on with you, Surreal?" She asked herself as she looked over towards her bed. "What are you doing with him? He just wants..." She stopped, sitting back in the chair. "Falonar?"

But no, Falonar kept having sex with her because he needed to get laid. But Naraku...?

Something was definitely wrong here and she didn't know why. So she turned to the one person she knew would have some kind of answers for her. Sadi?

A flicker of power reached her and then...anger...loathing. Surreal,

Sadi, what's going on?

Why, whatever do you mean?

Perplexed, Surreal paused for a moment, her gray-green eyes narrowing. Sadi, Daemon, what's going on? I feel...weird...like...someone's doing something to my head...

An angry flicker, annoyance, and then he was gone completely.

Daemon? Daemon! "What have I done?"

"Darling,"

She looked up at Naraku and glared at him, remembering that she was annoyed with him. "What?"

"Why don't you go to bed now? I have to speak with Hakuuyo."

Of course you do. "Fine," She waited until he left the room before she plopped onto her bed and reached into her shirt, running her fingers over her birthright green. She paused, studying it intensely. Why wasn't she wearing her gray? She called it in, tapped into the reservoir of gray strength, felt it flow through her, strengthen her, felt her mind clear for the first time in months.

"What the hell is going on?" She focused her eyes on the door Naraku had gone through and grumbled quietly. I'm being used, I can feel it, but because of some kind of compulsion spell, I couldn't stop him...But watch me do it now.

End chapter. So I had to bring Surreal back to life. XD her purpose in future chapters is VERY important and vital to the plot. Considering...anyway, guess what? I'm uploading two more chapters RIGHT NOW to make up for my lack of updating! Love to all!