A laugh broke the silence of the forest as Shiori sprang about, seemingly something chasing her but it was easy to tell from the look on her face that it wasn't a threat. Her movements were slower than usual but it was only natural since she was several months pregnant and her burgeoning belly was beginning to make her a little top heavy so to speak. This became all too apparent as she landed and slipped on a dewy rock. Her weight rocked first forward as she did her best to right herself, leaning back but only made herself fall on her back in an ungraceful heap. A clump of brush cushioned her fall but the woman's sigh of relief soon turned into cursing.

Not far behind, Inu was bounding along towards her but when he got to her, an odd sight met his eyes. Shiori was purring and babbling it seemed to the sky before giggling hysterically.

"The monkey has my money, ask him!"

She babbled with a big wave of her arms before laughing again, a crazed look in her eyes. Inu could only cant his head and look at her confoundedly at his mate's behavior for a few moments until the scent hit him. But before he could move, the little fox demon bounded out and landed on his mate's stomach. Inu raised a fist to hit the brat but stopped since he didn't want to risk Shippo moving and hitting Shiori instead on accident.

"What's the matter with her?"

Shippo asked before Shiori pinched his cheeks then started to contort his face into funny expressions to her.

"Catnip, she must of fallen into it."

"I dith not!"

Shiori shot back before trying to roll over and failing, her belly just wouldn't let her.

"Then how did you get in here then? Nekos tend to avoid these plants and this isn't the first time you've tripped…"

Inu asked trying his best not to laugh at his mate's attempt at making an unhappy face but instead it looked like she was going to puke any second.

"Shuddap and get meh up!"

She yelled back, ears flattening back. Shippo by then had rolled off and was clutching his sides as he cracked up beside her. Inu's face was red with holding back his laughter but he pulled her up and hid his face in her hair so he could at least smirk. But a little chuckle caught his mate's ears and her ears went back again.

"Pink elephants have no right to laugh.."

She said with a scowl but it only resulted in her mate losing his control, falling back and taking her with him as his booming laugh filled the forest. He couldn't help it, Shiori's control over her facial expression was gone and her ears were flipping about in different directions, leaving her looking quite comical. But his mate burying her face against his shoulder soon quieted him, reminding him that he shouldn't be laughing at her misfortune.

Standing up, he then shifted her behind him, placing her in the piggy-back pose he had done with Kagome countless times. Once he was sure she wasn't going to fall, he made his way back to the village, perhaps Shiori could sleep it off. Shippo though wasn't helping matters, he started first on one of Inu's shoulders then shifting back and forth between them. This wasn't really the problem, it was what it caused Shiori to do when the action started to get on her nerves. Baring her claws, she made a swipe for the kitsune, missed in her catnip induced haze and sunk her claws into Inu's shoulder. Inu winced and grabbed the kitsune from his perch on the other shoulder by the tail and flung him as far as he could. The little kitsune's cry of "INUYASHA!" became no more than a peep with the distance before a thump followed.

Back at the village, things were no better, not with Shiori taunting all who looked up curiously at her.

"What ya lookin' at! Never seen a cat before?" She would yell before making a swipe at the passer, in veritably striking Inu's shoulder again with the effort. Inu never made a peep though, continuing his trek to Kaede's hut as though nothing was happening. Shiori was getting quieter though no less spunky but her sounds were no louder than a normal speaking voice now.

The hut was empty though, the old bat appeared to be out, more than likely looking for herbs as she usually did. His mate would not be getting any herbs if he had anything to say about it, human method just couldn't hold a candle to youkai know-how. After a bit of fighting with Shiori to loosen her grip, well a lot of fighting with her, he sat down in his usual corner and put her in his lap. After wrapping his arms around her, Shiori seemed to give in to the sleep haze provided by his warmth and started to yawn. There was a bit more ear flipping and nonsensical banter before the cat demon finally drifted off into a deep sleep. Nuzzling her neck and sighing softly, Inu was glad his mate was quiet and hopefully on the way to getting back to normal. But as soon as his eyes shut too, a right hook from his mate to the chin jarred him back awake. Biting lightly on the tendon by her neck, Inu sighed while he willed her to submit to her mate. Even in sleep, the bite did the job as Shiori became still once more, dreaming peacefully away now. He let go and then waited a bit to make sure his mate was really out this time, wondering what the next few months would bring. He nuzzled the side of Shiori's neck before splaying out one hand over her stomach, feeling for the life within, the kicks and jabs of his son or daughter. A smile played over his face as he felt a kick, it had been a good one, his child would be a strong one. The smile only grew wider as another pushed again his hand with a strong thump. His ears tentatively pricked forward to see if the jolts were bothering his mate but her rhythmic breathing was all that met his ears as she slept on. A contented sigh came from him, never before Shiori had he thought he would've ever become a father. As a hanyou, he had expected to lead a lonely life with no mate or cubs as was the norm with those not of pure blood. He had never thought someone would give him a second glance, let alone love him and let him sire their cubs, it was just unheard of before now. The woman in his arms had made it all possible, she had given him a chance instead of treating him like filth and above all she loved him. He was glad the others weren't in the hut right now, without them there, he could smile as wide as he cared to instead of hiding his emotions under a mask of indifference as he usually did. After giving his mate's neck one last nuzzle, he gave in to sleep's call.