Moi-Moi: Um, instead of answering every individual person again, we'll just start. It's a lot of reviews. Maybe in the future I'll say a collective thanks to everyone who reviewed. Anyway, I just want to say that there won't be much more left for this story. Count on 4-7 chapters. Okay? Okay? Hello? Is anyone reading? Um…..

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Chapter 11

Kagome was slightly worried.

She had had sex with Inuyasha five days ago. It wasn't their first time, but it was their first time mating so close to Kagome's cycle. She had just gotten off her cycle a week before. But, maybe there was nothing to worry about. Maybe she was worrying for nothing. Besides, she hadn't gotten pregnant before. Why would it change now?

That didn't calm her fears however.

"Kagome, why are you so tense?" Sango asked her young friend. Sango stopped cleaning herself long enough to watch her younger friend.

"I'm worried Sango. Inuyasha and I mated a few days ago and I'm not sure if I'm pregnant or not," Kagome says.

"Well, haven't you spoken about doctors in your time who can tell if a woman is pregnant or not?" Sango asked with eyes that showed true concern. Sango could see that Kagome was truly worried about this. "Would it be a bad thing to be pregnant with Inuyasha's child?"

"No. But, I'm worried about my life in the future. For me to be pregnant there and not married, it's disgraceful," Kagome says. Sango bit her bottom lip in an effort to think of something- anything- to say that lift her friend's spirits. But she could think of nothing.

"Um… I'm not sure what to tell you Kagome-chan. But, I want you to know that no matter what, you will always be welcomed here. And, I'm positive that your family would never turn you away. We all love you too much for that," Sango says. One look at Kagome's face told Sango all she needed to know. It turns out that that was all Kagome needed to hear.

"Thank you Sango-chan. I needed that," Kagome says. Sango rested a hand on her shoulder softly and gave an encouraging smile. A soft snap to the left drew the slayers attention at once. Sango scanned her surroundings and lowered herself into the warm waters of the hot spring. "What's wrong?"

Sango gave her a look and tilted her head toward some bushes. Kagome went under water as well and felt around the bottom. She handed Sango the rock she had grasped and waited. Sango threw the rock harshly at the bush and a strained shout met their ears. "Miroku! You pervert!" Sango yelled.

"Get out of here!" Kagome yelled as well and moved towards her bags. Her soak in the hot springs was ruined by the monk's lack of self-control. Where was Inuyasha? Why wasn't he watching Miroku?

"But this is hardly fair! Inuyasha was peeping on Kagome-sama!" Miroku yelled as a now dressed Sango continued to rough him up. Kagome froze.

"Osuwari!" Kagome yelled. Inuyasha couldn't escape fast enough, causing him to fall with a loud thud several feet away. "Inuyasha!" Kagome yelled and glared at his body. She could tell he was yelling some muffled curses from his crater, but she couldn't make them out. She didn't think he would stoop so low as to partake in Miroku's bad habits. Maybe she should tie him to a tree when she bathes…

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With tense shoulders, Kagome stalked next to her mate. She noticed Inuyasha's constant side glances at her. It seemed that he wanted to say something- probably apologize- but something was holding him back. They were the only two walking through Inuyasha's forest. He had brought her out here to have a talk, but he had yet to speak. Kagome was just fine waiting for him though. She had already forgiven him, but the lack of communication was slightly upsetting.

"Kagome…" Inuyasha starts. Kagome stops and gives him a knowing look. She folded her arms and waited for his apology. "Do you really think that you're pregnant?" (1)

Kagome froze. She should have known that he'd heard that. Why hadn't she seen this coming? "I'm not sure. But I will find out. I'll get a pregnancy test from my time. It won't be hard. Why? Do you not want children?" Kagome asked and fiddled with her hands. She looked everywhere but at the hanyou. What if he truly didn't want children and he only accepted Shippou because he was already here? Did Inuyasha feel trapped by early fatherhood? Why had she never thought about it before? Was she even ready to be a mother? Slowing, a mix of emotions crept up on Kagome and leaked into her scent. Inuyasha watched her warily, not knowing what she was thinking about. "I'm sorry Inuyasha."

"Why are you sorry? You didn't do anything. I'm just as guilty as you are!" Inuyasha said. He was trying desperately to keep her from crying. The scent of sale water was growing and, in turn, so was his anxiety.

Kagome looked up at him then, "I don't think we're ready for it Inuyasha. What if we mess up really bad? There's no going back. Shippou's a child. There were no diapers, no pregnancy, no breast feeding… I don't want to bring a child into this world if I'm not ready for one." She realized that this could have been prevented. Kagome was from a time where there were more than enough ways to prevent pregnancy, but she had ignored them all. Slowly, she wiped her tears away on her hand.

"I think that neither of us are ready for it Kagome. But, I wouldn't walk away from it. If you are, I'd be right there. Besides, I don't think anyone is really prepared for it. They just think they are," Inuyasha said, trying to put on a brave face. Kagome watched him for a while before nodding and sniffling again.

"Thank you Inuyasha. I needed that," Kagome says.

"Let's go back now. I'm hungry."

Kagome sweat drops. Maybe, in a way, taking care of Inuyasha was like taking care of a baby…a very large baby.

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The next day, Kagome sat on a hill side picking some herbs for Keade. The sun was shining brightly and the birds were singing happily. She was much more peaceful after her talk with Inuyasha. She even hummed a little made-up tune. Deciding that she had more than enough, Kagome stood and began her walk back.

About three minutes away from the village, Kagome heard the clacking of hoof beats and a loud horse whinnying. Turning around, Kagome saw a large brown horse running at her. She gasped loudly before moving out of the way. The horse neighed again before kicking up its front hooves. Kagome watched with frightened eyes as a man fell limply off its back. The horse paced before taking off again. Leaving her herbs behind, Kagome went to aid the man.

"Hello? Are you alright? Can you hear me?" Kagome asked. 'I need to get him to Keade's hut.' When he started to groan, Kagome felt some relief. 'Good. He's still alive, but barely.'

Hoisting up the man and slinging his arm around her shoulder, Kagome started to take him back to the village. Many questions were going through her mind. Who was he? What had he been doing? She could hear him mumbling something in his unconscious state, but didn't focus on it. Once she the hut came into view, she called out for help. She got the attention of some nearby villagers and Inuyasha came out of the hut at once. Keade followed him with Shippou behind her.

Inuyasha took the man from her and Kagome went to Keade. "He came out of nowhere. He was passed out of his horse, but it threw him off."

"Inuyasha, ye get him inside," Keade ordered. "Kagome, ye help me tend to him." Everyone followed their orders respectively as they were given. Inuyasha, although, was wary of the unknown man. Maybe it was just his paranoia at meeting a new face. But, his instincts were screaming at him. The man's situation was quiet strange to say the least, but Inuyasha didn't even know him.

'We'll have to question him when he wakes.'

'I don't like him. Keep close by. If he wakes up, he may harm our mate.'

'The man is unconscious and dying. What could he possibly do?'

'You'd be surprised what a real man can do ningen…'

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Kagome continued to alternate between poking the fire and stirring the pot of stew on it. The man who had appeared to her was sleeping soundly at the other side of the hut quietly. Her curiosity was piqued when it came to him. She wanted to know what had happened to him, who he was, and many other things. She was lucky that Inuyasha had even left her alone. He was being even more protective than usual, but Kagome chalked it up to his usual paranoia. He just didn't trust the man yet.

Slowly, the man opened his heavy eyes. He had been travelling for days, but if he was where he needed to be, it had been worth it. With a great amount of energy, he turned his head to the side. The sight of a young woman with long, dark hair came into his sight. She looked to be wearing a red kimono with a golden obi and trim. A small gold ribbon tied back her hair. From only her back, he could tell the she had nice curves. Suddenly, she looked back at him and his blood went cold.

"You're awake! That's good. Dinner's almost ready. You can have some then," she says and scoots closer to him. He tries to hide the fear and nervousness from her that he's feeling, but she doesn't seem to notice. "Tell me, what's your name?"

After some hesitation, he spoke quietly. "My name… is Matsu."

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Moi-Moi: Bum, bum, bummmmmmmmmmmmmm! Lol.

(1)I'm not going to go with the idea of Inuyasha saying "pupped" rather than "pregnant". So, sorry if you prefer pupped. But, Kagome won't be birthing no furry doggies. It's a living, human/half-demon baby coming out of there.

So, yes. Kagome is pregnant. I need a vote here people. Should the bundle of joy be a boy or a girl? I already know what it's race will be. So vote people!