Instincts

He paced the confines of Keade's hut. Kagome was outside with Sango and the others so InuYasha wasn't too worried about her. Kagura had said that Naraku had something planned for his pup and just at the mention of Naraku's name and Izayoi in the same sentence made the hanyou want to rip something apart.

After she had delivered her cryptic message Kagura had left to return to her master and InuYasha had instantly been at his mate's side. It took him nearly a week to be comfortable with her being on the other side of the hut and Kagome had started to get really annoyed with her mate but the half dog demon couldn't help it. It was in his instincts to keep her close and the farther in her pregnancy she progressed the more protective his demon got.

InuYasha thought back to what Kagura had said before she left us.

Flashback

"Whatever Naraku is planning it'll be once your pup is born or close to delivery." The wind sorceress said as she looked at us with blood red eyes.

InuYasha growled as he moved to cover the women from view. "Why the hell are you even here? Since when do you care what happens to my pack?"

Kagura got a sad look in her eyes, as she looked him in mine. The hanyou's instincts reared their head as his demon took the gesture as a challenge.

"I may be a demon, I may be born of Naraku, but I am still a woman and I still have maternal instincts. I don't like to see babies and children hurt anymore then the next woman does."

InuYasha narrowed my eyes. Could he trust her?

But before another word could be said she flipped out her feather and took to the skies.

"Protect your family InuYasha. The final battle is coming weather you're ready or not.

Flashback Ends

He banged his head against the wall as anger and frustration gave him a headache. How was he suppose to protect Izayoi if he didn't even know where to find the bastard?"

InuYasha suddenly saw Izayoi in his head. The baby from the nightmare he had had months ago. Her head full of baby soft black hair and her eyes the same color as her father's looking up at him with innocence and trust. Trust that he wouldn't let anyone ever hurt her. InuYasha clenched his shut.

He couldn't fail her. He couldn't fail his baby.

"InuYasha!" The half demon sprinted from the hut at the sound of Shippo's shrill voice as he called for the young man

"What? What is it? What's Wrong!?" InuYasha practically screamed as he made it to the hillside where his mate and the females of his pack where suppose to be.

Kagome looked up at InuYasha with a smile. "Izayoi's kicking." Kagome informed him then she grabbed his hand and pulled him to his knees in front of her. "Here feel."

Kagome placed her husband's hand to the side of her bulbous belly and as he rested his hand on her stomach he could feel a good strong kick to his hand.

Kagome watched a smile of pure wonder and love came to InuYasha's face. For the past week and a half he'd been more serious and stressed the normal. Kagome had been worried that he'd make himself sick if he kept up is late might visuals over her at night.

Suddenly he did something she hadn't expected him to do.

He laid down on his belly and put his head on her abdomen and began giving soft yips and barks to the baby growing inside her.

Kagome looked to Kikyo, Sango, and Rin wondering if they knew what he was doing. Kikyo looked just as mystified as her reincarnation did. This was a side of the hanyou Kikyo had never seen before and she was just as curious as Kagome.

Sango on the other hand had a satisfied look on her face and she knew by the two priestess's expressions she'd have to explain when InuYasha wasn't around.

InuYasha looked up at Kagome with a look that spoke volumes of how much he loved her and Izayoi.

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Sesshomaru had taken it upon himself as the alpha of the Western Inu pack to keep watch over his brother's breeding female. Though he despised the thought of another hanyou in his father's bloodline he also had a suspicion that this pup would be very different form any other pup born to their pack weather they be full demon or hanyou.

The Lord of the West watched from the top of the Torri gates at the entrance of the Shinto shrine. Here he could see for a long distance and hear what was being said by the group of women. Sesshomaru had at first been skeptical about the undead miko but even though the woman had proven herself trustworthy he still would keep an eye on her.

Even though he hated the idea, Kagome was his pack and blood sister through the blood of her child. And though he never showed it, Sesshomaru was actually very protective of his immediate family.

Even InuYasha was under his protection. He had been since the moment of his conception, as had his mother.

In fact Sesshomaru had managed to both hide this particular feeling of loyalty to the half breed and keep others form harming him by claiming InuYasha's life. Only He would kill his brother and killing InuYasha was the last thing he'd ever do.

Sesshomaru was brought out of his musings by the shrill voice of his brother's adopted Kitsune kit calling for InuYasha.

The demon looked around looking for danger that he was sure wasn't there.

"What! What is it? What's Wrong?!" the hanyou asked frantically only for his mate to tell him that the child was kicking.

Sesshomaru watched as InuYasha laid down to press his face to his mate's swollen womb.

Then he began to speak to his child in the Inu's native tounge.

"You're safe pup, Papa's here, he won't let anyone hurt you. I love you so much my sweet baby."

Sesshomaru was surprised how much like their father his younger brother resembled at that moment. Sesshomaru had only met Izayoi-Hime once and at the time she had been heavy with pup. That had been the only time he could remember that his father had looked so at peace and he had done and said the exact same thing as InuYasha had just done.

'InuYasha, you are very much like our father. Perhaps you are more worthy of the blood our father passed to you then I once thought.'

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Five months Later (Nine Months Pregnant)

Kagome sat in her bedroom as she rubbed her belly. It had been five months since Kagura had came to them the second time and she and InuYasha where visiting her family.

It was December now and Kagome was getting closer and closer to her due date. The young miko had began to notice that the closer to Izayoi's arrival they got the more InuYasha had begun to act like a, well… a dog. Keade had to threaten to throw another subjugation necklace on him if he didn't stop stealing her blankets.

It turns out InuYasha had been preparing a den in a cave near the village since Kagome went into her seventh month.

She had been so confused as to why he was going to such extremes when, for all she knew, she would be delivering in Keade's hut where the elder miko and her sister could help her deliver.

InuYasha's behavior had confused her so much she went to Sesshomaru for answers.

Flashback

"I know what you why you're here sister."

Kagome hadn't even made her presence known when the elder demon had spoken to her.

Sesshomaru turned to look at Kagome. She was dressed in a orange Kimono and red wrap skirt that was tied loosely around her now seventh month stomach. The fall leaves fell around her as she moved closer to the demon.

Kagome tilted her head. "But I haven't asked any-"

"You wish to know why the half breed has been acting the way he has." Kagome nodded.

"His instincts are driving him to prepare a den for you to give birth." Kagome's expression went from curious to confused. "But I thought I was going to give birth in Keade's hut when it was time."

Sesshomaru scoffed. "The miko's hut is in the middle of the village. It's out in the open, easy to get to. Besides the hanyou's den that he found will be easier to keep warm and it has an underground stream where the mikos can get the water needed to clean the pup after birth."

Kagome rubbed her belly thoughtfully. "So Izayoi is going to be born in a cave?" Kagome asked. Sesshomaru nodded a confirmation.

"As your mate and provider he will prepare the cave for you to whelp comfortably. Also you won't be leaving the cave until the pup is old enough so she won't be as vulnerable as a newborn."

"Wait what?" Kagome asked. Surely InuYasha wasn't going to keep her in the cave for months after their daughter's birth.

Sesshomaru looked to the woman then motioned for her to sit.

"As the mate to, even, an Inu Hanyou you will need to understand his instincts."

Sesshomaru then sat in front of the pregnant woman.

"During labor InuYasha's demon may force its way out as a form of protection for you and the pup. Usually full dog demon males will transform to their true forms while their mates whelp to better keep enemies from their dens and protect their mates. After Izayoi's birth, InuYasha's instincts will demand that she be kept from the sight of others until her eyes open and her hearing is stronger which will take up to two to three weeks."

Sesshomaru stopped to make sure Kagome was paying attention. Which she was.

"Right after the pups birth InuYasha will not approach you until you tell him he can." At this Kagome looked confused. But before she could voice her question Sesshomaru continued.

"As the pups mother you will have the final say in much of the child's life. After her birth you can easily decide that InuYasha will not see his daughter anywhere from the moment of her birth to until she is three weeks old. Some females do not allow their mates to come near their pups for fear the child could be harmed."

"So what he'll wait in the door way until I say he can come in?" Kagome asked and Sesshomaru nodded. "I believe that is all you need to know. Just listen and obey your mate for the remainder of your pregnancy and until the pup is three to four weeks old and you'll have no problems."

Flashback End

That day had been rather informative. Since then she had paid more attention to InuYasha and she had listened to him and kept her temper in check. Now her due date was about a week away.

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InuYasha opened the door to his mate's room. She was sitting at her desk rubbing her belly and InuYasha felt his demon purr at the evidence of his seed growing in her body.

InuYasha walked over to Kagome and kissed her head. He had brought her here to visit her family so he could explain that they wouldn't bring the pup here until she was a few weeks old. His instincts wouldn't allow his daughter to be out in the open when she was so vulnerable.

"You ready to go?" He asked her as she rubbed her stomach in soothing circles.

Kagome nodded. She could tell that with her due date looming so close InuYasha was anxious to get her to his den.

InuYasha help Kagome down the stairs so she could say goodbye to her family.

"Oh dear, are you two off already?" Kagome's mother asked as she hugged her daughter. Kagome smiled as she nodded. "Yeah he wants to hurry and lock me away in a dark, dank cave."

InuYasha glared at her. "Its not dark, or dank!" Kagome giggled as she kissed her lover's cheek.

"You take good care of them son." Gramps said as Mama ran to get the camera. If she wouldn't get to see her grandbaby in person right after her birth she was going to see some pictures of her.

"Here Kagome." Kagome took the little black and silver camera from her mom. "I want lots of pictures of Izayoi after she's born."

Kagome nodded as InuYasha took the camera from his mate's hand and sniffed it.

"I can't wait till Izayoi's born. I forgot what you look like skinny." Souta said, earning himself a smack to the back of his head via Kagome.

The spent a few more minutes talking with the family before InuYasha led his mate from to the well.

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InuYasha led Kagome to the den that he had spent months getting together. It had a fire pit, a nest of blankets for her to give birth on and a nest of furs for her to lay in after the birth. He had a supply of ramen and other foods form her era as well as meats he had hunted. The underground stream that ran through the cave would provide fish and water. Once they made it to the cave Sesshomaru and the others where waiting outside the cave in the snow.

Sesshomaru had already informed the pack that only InuYasha, Kagome, Kikyo, Sango and Keade would be allowed to enter the den. The only reason the three women could enter was because they would be the ones to help the mother deliver but after delivery no one but the mated pair and pup would be allowed inside. if anyone did enter they'd face InuYasha's demon side's wrath.

InuYasha led Kagome into the cave, not saying a word and got her settled.

Kagome was very impressed with the cave and how warm it was, despite the cold weather outside, as she noticed the cheery fire burning in the middle of the den.

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Naraku was watching through Kanna's mirror. He had watched as the miko grew. His insects had informed him that the child would be born female.

The evil hanyou Lord smiled as he thought all the things he could use the girl for. Oh yes having InuYasha's daughter in his control would drive hanyou mad with grief and rage.

'If I have InuYasha's precious daughter in my control he'll be under my control as well.'

Naraku sneered as he sent out his poison insects to keep watch. As soon as Kagome went into labor he would lay siege on the little den that InuYasha was so certain was safe for his little family.

Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry for the long delay! I have been so busy not to mention I have been trying to update all my other stories. There are only two maybe three chapters left and then baby Izayoi will be here. Thank you for all the reviews and I hope you all enjoyed this story J