Last time:

"Kohaku?"

The smiled as she dropped her barrier, reaching over to help her up.

Kagome ever so carefully removed her babe from inside her tattered mussed his inky black hair with a small smile, handing him over to Kohaku. "My baby, my son, Kakudan (special)." There, she passed out, so she did not see the shocked faces that stared at her.

"A-a child?" Sango stuttered, gazing intensely at the babe.

"A child...with Naraku." Miroku thought he'd faint.

Kohaku, noticing the child shiver, took off his haori and wrapped it around him. The freezing air nipped at his flesh through his thin undershirt. "We should move Kagome and the baby to a safer place...with a fire." He said, bringing everyone from their stupor.

Inuyasha blinked, then nodded. "Um, yeah. Here." He pulled Kagome's hideousily yellow backpack from off his back and withdrew a blanket. "Sango, take Rin and Kirara, get some water so you can clean the baby. When Kagome wakes up, you can take her to get cleaned up. Miroku start a fire. Shippo, you help him with the firewood. Kikyo, go to the next village and find Kagome and the baby something to wear. I'll go find some food for when she wakes up. Sesshomaru, watch over her."

The group split up, Sango dashing toward the river they'd just passed, Miroku heading into the woods to find firewood, and Inuyasha in the direction of the rabbit he smelled.

Kohaku cradled the baby to him, reclined against a tree, and closed his eyes. Naraku was taking things to a whole new low. He banished his pregnant woman out of his castle, after beating her to a bloody pulp. He'd only wanted revenge for his comrades, his father, but now, he'd have to do it for Kagome too. His brows furrowed as he tightened his hold on the small infant in his arms. Naraku would pay.

'You bared his child, miko.' Sesshomaru observed her closely, his eyes narrowing at the mark on her shoulder. He'd forgotten that that damned hanyou had marked her. His hand reached to touch it, but he stopped when he noticed her face contort in pain, and her mark start to bleed. 'Is she disowning him, or is he disowning her?'

'It no matter. She no marked no more.'

'Your point?'

'She free.'

'...'

'Free to be marked! We mark, yes?'

'No.'

'Master...'

'I know not your obsession with the miko, but you will stop it. She is a ningen, whether their is youkai blood in her or not. She is not worthy.' But he could not take his eyes off of her. Her breathing was labored, her chest quaking. "Miko?" He muttered softly.

Kagome's eyes snapped open. "S-sessho...uh." Her eyes rolled to the back of her head as her body began to shake terribly.

Sesshomaru stared at her in shock. He pulled her into his arms when she began to moan loudly. Kohaku, Jaken, and Ah-un stared at Kagome.

"Is she alright?" Kohaku whispered.

Instead of answering, Sesshomaru clutched the miko tighter. Her heart beat was slow, but loud, stinging his sensitive ears. He felt her leaning her body to the side, and helped her. His instincts kicked in, and he settled her into a more comfortable position in his lap, growling softly into her ear.

Instantly, Kagome's body stilled, tensing.

"You are not in danger." He whispered softly. "I am only assisting you." He wrapped his calm aura around her.

She relaxed, a gentle smile on her face.

Kohaku grinned gratefully. "Thank you."

"Hn." Sesshomaru replied.

After a few moments, he added, "You know, she's fine now. You can sit her down."

This time the daiyoukai didn't reply. He couldn't bring himself to lie the miko down. What if she had another episode. Could he help her in time? No. He'd watch over her, and hold her close until he was one hundred percent sure she was fine.

The group began to gather back in the clearing, all freezing and staring wide-eyed at Sesshomaru. When he growled loudly, they turned away and went to work.

"Okay." Inuyasha nodded, his hands on his waist. "The kid is clean. The fire's made. We have clothes and food. Now, all we have to do is wait for her to wake up." He plopped into his spot in the circle the tachi had made around the fire.

"Well, Inuyasha, you're taking Kagome baring Naraku's child rather well." Miroku said softly.

"Don't remind me. I'm doing what you're all doing, blocking out all knowledge that Naraku had anything to do with the child. As far as I'm concerned, it's only Kagome's kid."

Sango nodded, her eyes traveling from to fire, to Kagome, to the baby, to her brother. "Kohaku...are you still in Naraku's control?"

Kikyo glared at the boy. "I sense a jewel shard on him."

Kohaku glanced at her, then stared into the fire. "I'm not under his control any more. But I managed to steal a jewel shard from Kagura." He withdrew it from his shirt and tossed it to Inuyasha. "Kagome purified it already."

"If the jewel shard isn't in your back anymore...then why aren't you...why are you..." Sango sighed, cuddling up against her younger brother.

"Naraku removed the shard, and I died." Kohaku smiled a little bit. "And then, I woke up, and Kagome was holding me while Kiyoshiyuki was hanging at her side like always." He narrowed his eyes. "I don't know what she did, but I'm here, and I won't let Naraku get away with what he did."

"Oh, Kohaku." Sango struggled to blink the tears out of her eyes.

All attention turned to Kagome as she moaned, rolling over on the blanket she was on. Inuyasha had finally managed to get his brother to release her. Her eyes squinted before she opened them. "Where's my baby?" She asked raspily.

Kohaku smiled at her, moving into her line of view. "I have him."

"How long have I been asleep?"

"Hours. Lucky you, demon blood and miko energy heals quickly."

Kagome closed her eyes. "And Kakudan? When did he wake? Was he hungry?"

Kohaku's face fell. "He hasn't woken up."

"What do you mean?" She asked, her voice cold and gruff.

"He hasn't woken. He didn't even cry when he was born. I think somethings wrong with him."

"Give him to me." She strained, trying to force herself to sit up.

"Oi, wench!" Inuyasha forced her back down. "Be careful. You're in no condition to move."

Kagome glared at him. "I want my child."

Inuyasha sighed as he looked down at her. "Be calm, Kagome. He's alive. Be glad for that. I'll have Kikyo check him. You can hardly move. Kohaku, hand Kikyo the kid."

Kikyo extended her arms, accepting the child. She closed her eyes, a shimmering magenta aura surrounding her and the child.

Kagome struggled as best she could against Inuyasha when she saw the light. "Stop it! She'll purify him! Inuyasha, get off! She hates Naraku! She'll kill my baby!"

"She won't, Kagome! Sit still!" He growled when he saw her wounds opening. "See, you're reopening your wounds! Shit!"

"Inuyasha, please, don't let her hurt him!" She laid back, exhausted. "I'll be still. Just take my baby away from her."

"Reincarnation, you think so little of me?" Kikyo whispered. "I am not so evil. This child has done me no wrongs. He shows no signs of corruption. I will not harm him."

Kagome shook her head furiously, tears streaming down her face as she sobbed. "Inuyasha, how could you let her harm him."

Inuyasha's ears flattened against his head. Sighing, he gathered her in his arms, allowing her to sob into his chest. "You're feeling emotional right now, Kagome, overprotective. I swear, I won't let any harm come to him, okay."

Kikyo sighed, drawing her aura back in. "I'm done...Kagome." She uttered her reincarnations name for the first time. "He's healthy, though small. I assume he's a bit early."

"Y-yes."

"However, your son...was born lacking a soul."

"Lacking a (hiccup) soul?"

She nodded. "Yes. Without a soul, the body can hardly live on it's on. For example, I could not move, and could hardly think, until our soul was near or within me."

"So he's...unresponsive."

"Yes...And he could die soon. I am sorry."

Kagome closed her eyes tightly, her fists closed. "I will kill him. Naraku is going to die. I will slit his throat and bathe in his damn blood! I want him dead!" She started to sit up again, but Inuyasha pushed her to the ground gently. "I am going to torture him until he begs for death! Release me!"

Inuyasha sighed. He hated seeing her so heartbroken. 'Kagome-"

"Inuyasha, let her up." Miroku said suddenly.

"What?" All eyes shot to him.

"Inuyasha, let her up. We can't force her to stay here."

"But, monk, she'll...oh. Fine. Keh." Inuyasha removed his hands.

Kagome regarded him suspiciously, her eyes flashing for a brief moment. When he made no move to stop her, she pushed herself up into a sitting position. "You won't stop me?"

Inuyasha crossed his arms. "No. If you want to be stupid and attack Naraku, go ahead."

The most malicious, venomous look crossed her face as she sprang up into a squatting positon. "Glad you see things my way." She managed to stand and tripped over herself multiple times as she made her way to the edge of the clearing. But the second she reached the edge, she made contact with a barrier. "What the hell?"

"Forgive me, Lady Kagome." Miroku smiled softly.

"You think this can stop me?" She laughed. "I'm a miko. A miko-youkai." Rearinf her hand back, she sent her fist crashing into the barrier, which refused to collapse. "W-wha?"

"This barrier keeps anyone with youkai blood in or out."

She growled. "I'm not taking that bullshit." She took a few steps back, then ran full speed at the barrier.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha yelled out.

She met the barrier with a sickening thud, then fell to her knees.

"Is momma okay?" Rin and Shippo inquired.

Kagome growled loudly, standing up on shaking legs.

Inuyasha growled. "How the hell does she keep getting up. I know that hurt."

"She's determined." Sango shook her head.

"Monk, I don't care how Junsei feels about you. Tear this barrier down or I will end your pathetic, human life."

"I am very sorry." Miroku said calmly.

Whipping around with fierce crimson eyes, she lunged at him. But before she reached him, she fell to her knees, clutching her head.

"Kagome?"

"Damnit, Junsei. I wasn't really going to kill him." Kagome muttered. She tried to stand again, but failed, falling face first to the ground. She whimpered into the freezing, plush snow. "Shit." She whimpered louder. "Shit shit shit shit shit!"

Sango stroked her sister's hair. "It'll be alright, Kagome."

She shook her head, trying to brush Sango off. "Don't touch me." She whispered. "Keep your filthy human hands off."

Though she knew it wasn't her friend talking, it hurt Sango, and she withdrew her hands.

Junsei materialized on the ground next to Ashi. "She doesn't mean it Sango."

Ashi glared. "Don't tell people what I mean, you twit! I meant it! Humans are horrible! That's the only reason Naraku could do what he did! Because of his human heart!"

"Naraku is evil. That had nothing to do with his humanity."

"It did. It had to. He stole our babies soul, Junsei. You can't take that sitting down."

"And I won't." Junsei said firmly. "But it will only be our downfall if we attack him while we are wounded. Besides, perhaps Kakudan could absorb the souls of dead children, the was Kikyo does."

"Yeah," Ashi snorted, "I want a soul sucking child."

Junsei scowled. "That wasn't nice."

Ashi buried her face back in the snow, mumbling a muffled, "I don't have to be nice. I'm hurting."

"Grieve then, Ashi." Junsei raised a trembling hand to stroke her sobbing half's side.

Ashi curled up into a ball and sobbed harder. "I hate him."

"We've hated him since the moment we met him."

"But.."

"I know. I know."

"My baby."

The tachi felt bad for Kagome, but there wasn't much of anything they could do but wait...and wait they would.

Once Ashi had sobbed herself to sleep, Junsei allowed a few tears to fall as they fused together. "Inuyasha."

"Yeah?"

"When we're healed...or when I'm healed, we're leaving."

"We?"

"Kakudan and I. I'll find a way to make him live."

Inuyasha glared at her. "And we'll help you. We're your friends. We won't abandon you. Besides, all of us could find a cure better than you could on your own."

"I'd be a burden."

Inuyasha shrugged. "Keh. That's what friends are, burdens."

She giggled a little. "I suppose."

"And don't worry. Naraku will pay."

"I know...so, where will we go?"

Sesshomaru answered this question. "To my castle."

Inuyasha cocked a brow. "What for?"

"I will have a healer tend to her and her son. Meanwhile, the library is at our disposal. There must be something that can be done concerning his soul."

Kagome smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Sesshomaru."

"Hn."

"And sorry, about that hickey I mean."

"Hickey?" He inquired, then pushed his hair back.

Kagome gasped. "It's still there. Why?"

He glared at her, almost playfully. "Because, miko, it is not a 'hickey' as you may think. It's a mark of a favorite, a plaything, a toy."

"A male concubine?" Kagome asked, eyes wide.

"Hn."

"Oh! I am so sorry!" Though the thought was amusing, she couldn't bring herself to laugh after learning that her son may die.

"You will pay in due time."

Kagome shuddered. that could mean anything.

Sango laced her fingers with her brothers. "Um, Kagome?"

Yawning, she asked, "Huh?"

"How did you bring Kohaku back?"

"Oh, I didn't really." She sighed. "I only healed his wound. Kiyoshiyuki cut through the soul messengers...kind of like Sesshomaru does with Tensaiga."

"If you hadn't healed the wound, having my soul back would have only served to make me die again."

Kagome shrugged, yawning again. "It was nothing."

"It was everything. Thankyou." Sango wiped tears from her eyes. "So, um, about your relationship with Naraku."

"Dear God, don't ask me about that crap. Ask Junsei. It was their relationship. I wanted to vomit everytime they found themselves together." Yawning one last time, she hiccuped and dragged her self onto her blanket. "I missed you guys." She drifted off.