Cause your presence still lingers here And it won't leave me alone.

She could still smell him in her room. Still feel his demonic power around her.

Inuyasha was supposed to go, but since they were still in the very early stages, he stayed behind as a powerful surrogate for them. Sesshomaru and his father went to battle.

Which meant two things. One, it was a big deal and two, they would be gone awhile.

His smell and power lingered though as weeks went by. Then there was his mate to be who was also lingering about.

She wished she could go home.

She stayed close to her sister and Inuyasha during the day, but at night she refused to share her room with them and she did not go to her sisters at night. She would sleep alone and be sick.

Though Inuyasha was there, Kagome became much sicker than her sister.

"Bastard should be here." Inuyasha huffed as Kagome tried to eat some grapes.

"Surely you don't mean to take my mate to be from battle to tend to this miko?" Kagura stated coming into the room. "Surely you jest, half-breed."

Inuyasha growled. "I am still above you Kagura, watch it." He snapped.

Of course, he knew his brother would not leave battle just to be at Kagome's side. But Kagome was becoming weaker, the baby was pulling too much on her and to his regret, his power wasn't enough.

"Half-breed, half power," Kagura said three days later as Kikyo and Inuyasha held Kagome up, trying to get her back into bed. They laid her down and she clung to the sheets.

"She's getting worse." Kikyo said with concern.

"She only seems better in here." Inuyasha said.

Kagura stood in the door way. "My mate lingers in here." She could feel it.

"Get out!" Kagome yelled, her power cracked and the wind witch stepped back. "Careful miko, he may be above me, but you are not."

Inuyasha growled. "Send word to my father, wind witch."

She rose an eyebrow.

"Send it through the wind, now!"

She bared her fang but rolled her eyes and bowed. "As you wish, my Lord."

Kagome reached for Inuyasha's sleeve. "You- you can't leave Kikyo."

"K, Sesshomaru and my father have more power than me, they can sustain both of you."

"Don't leave her." Kagome panted.

"Rest sister, all will be well."

She wished she could believe that.

Kagome knew, she was dying.

In battle, the wind blew and both males stopped.

"Kagome is ill," InuTashio spoke.

Sesshomaru said nothing. "Your brother cannot aid her."

"Half power." Sesshomaru said.

InuTashio glared at his eldest son. "It's not that he is weak, but that the seed is strong."

Pride swelled through him for a moment.

"It is draining her."

"So the pup will be strong."

Sesshomaru slashed through a demon, they were in the middle of a fight.

InuTashio watched as his son drew more blood from his enemies. He knew not to ask, so he tucked his sword away. "I will meet Inuyasha halfway, we will trade."

"You will leave battle?"

"She needs power, or do you wish for this to fail yet again?"

Sesshomaru bared fangs, he didn't go through all the trouble for nothing.

"Will you stop me?"

Sesshomaru turned from his father. "No."

With that, InuTashio sped away and in the middle of the night, he met Inuyasha halfway.

"You have to help her." Inuyasha said.

"I will my son." He grabbed Inuyasha's shoulder.

They nodded. Inuyasha headed North and InuTashio headed back West.

By the next night InuTashio was back. Kagome moaned in her sleep and he entered her roam via the balcony and knelt by her bed.

"Kagome."

"Sesshomaru?" She opened her eyes; her green ones met his gold.

"It is I."

She smiled. "Lord InuTashio."

"May I?"

She was laying on her side when his hand made contact with her slightly puffy tummy. His power hummed softly, and he purred. "Sleep now, Miko, I will contain sickness till morning."

She closed her eyes and as she did tears fell, just two. She fell asleep clutching her pillow.

He sighed and looked over her. She was really sick. This baby was draining her.

Here she was, so pure and sweet and clinging to something she would never have.

His sons' presence lingered still to the sheets.

He now knew why the miko was still alive, Sesshomaru had taken her a second time. For what reason he didn't know, but he was sure it wasn't to save her life. Guilty pleasure he was sure. It didn't matter, it sustained her, but it was fading.

By tomorrow his sons power would no longer linger.

InuTashio laid his forehead down on the bed, part of him wished he could claim her. He loved her, but as a daughter and she would never be happy with that. Kagome didn't want to be a burden to anyone so was always sacrificing herself for others.

She was giving her life for his eldest son and it was all his fault.

"Forgive me, daughter, it is my fault."