Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me.

More Than A Belly

Dear Baby,

Everyone loves you and can't wait for you to get here. Everyone seems just a bit obsessed with putting their hands on my belly so that they can try to get close to you already.

I love you always,

Mama.

There was more she wanted to say, but probably wouldn't be the best thing for the baby to know. Like if one more person just walked up and touched her belly they were likely to get their arm clawed off. And not by Inuyasha either.

At first it was wonderful seeing that her belly had actually rounded. She was thrilled to let her mother and Sango touch her belly to see how much the baby inside her was growing. It was sweet how reverently Shippo would talk to her belly and tell it stories. And even Miroku's very closely supervised touching had been charming in a way. And Inuyasha.... Oh wow... seeing the look on his face when they were alone and he didn't have to worry about anyone seeing the look on his face. It was simply indescribable. It would bring tears to her eyes just remembering how very gentle and sweet he was. How blessed she could tell he felt. It was a joy to share this incredible treasure with her friends and family.

Until she noticed people stopped calling her Kagome. When they bothered to talk directly to HER, they always called her Mama. Of course, mostly people talked to her belly instead of her. People stopped looking above her navel.

And total strangers would come up and feel her belly! It took a lot of convincing to keep Inuyasha from taking swipes at every person who did that. At first she was happy to share her good fortune. Then it became annoying and she wished she hadn't made Inuyasha promise to not threaten every person who touched her belly. Then... then it began to feel... well, like she didn't matter anymore. Like she was only a belly. An incubator!

She loved her baby, she did. But it was strange being ignored by everyone. She missed being simply Kagome. She tried to recall if she had done the same thing to Sango when she had been pregnant. Did she talk to Sango, or just to her tummy? Had she made Sango feel like she didn't matter anymore? Great... now she felt guilty as well as depressed.

"What's wrong with you?"

In the past, that question probably would have been asked with a snippy tone or a growl, but now that she was a belly on legs the question was all concern and no irritation. Inuyasha even broke all of his rules regarding showing affection in front of others as he placed his hand on the small of her back and looked her up and down. Then his eyes stopped at her belly.

"Nothing," she snapped.

"Do you need to rest?"

"No."

"Do you need me to carry you?"

"No."

"Are you hungry?"

"Leave me alone!" she growled. "I said I was fine."

She felt bad for lashing out at him. He was being sweet. It wasn't his fault she was feeling grumpy and jealous. She took a deep calming breath and prepared to apologize for snapping at him when Miroku spoke up.

"It is simply the hormones."

THAT earned him a smack from both Kagome and his wife. Without a word, Sango piled their daughters in his arms then she called for Kilala. Kagome didn't think twice before accepting Sango's outstretched arm.

"Do you want to talk?" asked Sango once they were away from the ears of the rest of the group.

"No." Kagome sighed and rubbed her belly affectionately. "Yes. Well, maybe."

She looked at sweet little Toutoi sleeping peacefully, wrapped carefully to Sango's front with a long piece of soft material. He was finally growing. Kaede had been worried that the tiny baby had not been putting on any weight. She wondered how different her own child would look. She wondered if she would be Mom and not Kagome anymore.

Only recently had they begun traveling short distances with the children. Kagome could fight from a distance with her bow, at least for a little while longer, if Inuyasha left any standing long enough for her to shoot. Miroku and Shippo took the children and kept them safe in a protective shield. Sango could unwrap the baby in seconds and leap back into the fray. They couldn't give up their quest, but they couldn't bear to be parted with their babies. Children' changed how they fought. Everyone was more careful, more strategic. They changed the dynamics, but Sango was still Sango. Being a mom didn't make Sango disappear.

"Feeling a little blue?"

Kagome smiled, leaning back and letting her fingers dig into Kilala's fur as they flew low to the ground. "I guess you could say that."

Sango didn't reply, she just smiled back. That was enough for Kagome to sit back up and have her words start spilling out. She talked about how tired she was of feeling ignored and the guilt she felt over feeling jealous. Kilala slowed and landed as Kagome began crying about how awful she felt about the whole thing and how she couldn't see her feet anymore unless she leaned waaaaay over and was waddling and how no one could see past her great big belly. And then she just cried.

Sango let her.

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It was driving him insane. It was a constant battle to keep his demon blood in check. He was sick and tired of everyone touching Kagome! And she wouldn't let him kill them! Or even maim them. Not even just a little! Every day it was just a little more difficult from turning into a raging beast. He couldn't stand it!

And lately Kagome had been alternating between being happy and sad. The book said that there would be hormonal changes and to expect this (thanks to Miroku he now knew to never mention the hormones), but it made him feel helpless. And a little scared.

Then Sango kidnapped her!

He couldn't stand being away from her like this! She had been gone too long! What if she was hurt? What if she was calling for him? Shouldn't she be turning to HIM if she was unhappy? He would have taken her away from this loud mob. Or was she running away from HIM? He itched to run after them and demand answers.

"You're a dumb jerk!"

Inuyasha smirked and decided to keep walking for a bit longer before chasing down his mate. There were times Shippo was handy to have around. He may not be as little as he used to be, but he was still a kid and was usually forgiven his outbursts.

"You made Kagome run away! We're supposed to be sensitive!" He turned his big green eyes to Inuyasha. "Right? You said we had to be sensitive and not mention how fat she's getting or how moody she is."

"You said WHAT?"

Inuyasha cringed. Of course, Kagome WOULD pick just that time to come back.

"SIT!!!"

Oof!

It had been a long time (weeks!) since she last 'sat' him. He hadn't missed it.

"You guys go on ahead," she said with a sweetness that made Inuyasha frantically try to unstick himself from the ground.

She waved at the others until they were out of site. Inuyasha braced himself for a wave of anger... possible a dozen or so more 'sits'. Her eyes were red and puffy. She had been crying. His ears drooped and his heart sank. He hated it when she cried. He didn't care that the stupid book said it was normal. He didn't like it. When he married Kagome he swore he'd make sure she never cried again. Of course, THAT plan didn't exactly work. But he was trying dang it!

"I'm sorry."

Inuyasha shook his head. His hearing must be going. It almost sounded like Kagome was apologizing.

She slowly made her way down to a sitting position. Inuyasha cursed the spell for not letting him up to help her. It hurt. Physically hurt to not be able to help her. Part of him wanted to ask her to take off the necklace, but it wasn't a risk he was willing to take. He wasn't risking not being able to use the well. No one had ever figured out just HOW the magic worked, and he wasn't taking any chances that it might be the beads.

"I've been..." she bit her lip, trying to think of the right words.

Inuyasha didn't like it when she did that either. Luckily her teeth weren't quite sharp enough to break the skin, but it was still possible. The spell let him loose and he sat up quickly and pulled her lip out, keeping it from her dull, but still too sharp, teeth.

"What? Moody? Keh, we know. Normal, forget about it."

Her eyes narrowed. "I wabbend godda day boo.... wed go ob by wip, Iduwada"

Inuyasha let go of her lip.

"I wasn't going to say 'moody', thank you very much."

"Oh.... well... that was the polite word Miroku suggested." Keh, never trust the monk. "How about b..."

"I was GOING to say UPSET," she said through a clenched jaw.

Mentally he ran through suggestions the book may have had to deal with an angry pregnant miko. Yeah... nothing really coming to mind.... His first instinct was to say something snippy and argue, but over time he learned that sometimes it was better to just let Kagome cool off a bit and keep his mouth shut. It worked too. She started calming down!

He was getting pretty good at this marriage thing!

Kagome took a deep breath and started talking again. "I guess I've been a little UPSET lately..." she looked away from him. He hated that. She was his and he was hers. There was nothing to be shy or embarrassed about. "... because... because it feels like all I am is a belly."

Inuyasha looked at her tummy and shrugged. "Probably because it's so big, Kagome."

"SIIIIIIIIT!"

Hey Kid,

I didn't understand your mother when I first met her.

I don't understand her now.

Hopefully by the time you're grown I'll some idea what goes on inside that brain of hers.

Until then, just try not to make her mad.

Your Father (Inuyasha)

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Author's Note: Ta daaaaaa! A chapter! You can put away those pitchforks folks.