Love me with your sad eyes. Drain me of my color.

His presence around the grounds did help. Her bruising stopped, the baby was content, and she could eat again. She heeded his words and stayed out of his way, but she was lonely.

Inuyasha and Kikyo were happy and she was happy for them. Kagome spent much time alone.

One day, InuTashio came to her. She was reading under a tree. "You are lonely here."

She half smiled. "It is my duty." She rubbed her growing belly, she was now 24 weeks along.

"I do hope you will forgive me."

"Forgive you?"

"I did not mean to cause you great pain."

She really smiled at him. "Do not blame yourself, I accepted the terms."

"Not these terms Miko, and you were but a child."

"Still."

"I am going to open the gates and have a three-day festival. I have sent for your monk and slayer guard."

Her eyes sparkled. "Really?" She breathed as the wind blew through her hair.

"Yes."

"Is everyone, okay with that?"

"Perhaps not everyone, but I am still the head of this house. Plus, we need to celebrate our temporary win."

And celebrate they did. Kagome and Kikyo were fitted with fine kimonos in the house colors and the people of the land filled the area. Miroku and Sango quickly took to her side and oh, was she happy to see them.

Monks of her house stood nearby in protection in dark purple robes as well as some noble knights from the village. Her house was prominent, and no harm of any kind was to come to her, she was not to lift a finger.

Children often migrated to Kagome.

She sat under the tree showing them photos of the many books contained in the Inu library. She was happy, at least for now.

Sesshomaru watched with unimpressed eyes as many stood near her. Too close, in fact. He could not even smell her or the baby with so many males near her.

"All this fuss for a human Miko hime." Kagura huffed coming to stand next to him, fanning herself.

"She is royalty to them." He stated uncaring. "Though her power outweighs all of them, they are useless to her."

Kagura looked at him. "Are you complimenting her?" She snapped.

"Those men are useless and weak." He sneered.

All these people about angered him, he turned to get away. "Leave me be, woman." He left her standing alone.

He walked about the grounds trying to get away from her being, it only agitated him for some reason. But then he came across a small child who seemed to be lost and alone and very poor.

She was dirty and bruised. "What are you doing here human?"

She blinked up at him and then smiled. His lip turned up in a slight snarl though silent.

"Be gone girl." He told her, her smile faded. She looked down at her dirty feet and then he heard her tummy growl. "You are hungry." He spoke.

She shook her head no.

"Do not think to lie to me, human."

She looked back up at him. He grabbed an apple from a passing servant and handed it to her. "Eat this and begone."

She took it and held it close sniffing it.

"Ano, -"

"So, you do speak. What it is that you want human?"

"Ano, Lady Kagome?"

"You know the miko?"

She blushed, something told him that she should not have been asking.

"Come."

This human child, what a bother. They passed through the crowd and his eyes landed on Kagome. Her hand was placed on her tummy and she was giggling.

"May I?" Miroku asked.

"Hai, Miroku!"

Miroku placed his hand down and Sesshomaru felt a growl coming up, though of its own accord.

"Sango, won't you bear my children now?"

Sango hit the monk and he took his hand away. He knew by the way she was touching, that baby was moving. His own hand itched to touch her again, to feel it and it was unnerving to him.

Kagome looked up and their eyes met, he saw the light drain from them. Sadness took over her green eyes and she took her hand away. She didn't want to be happy in front of him, she didn't want him to know that she loved her pregnancy and that she wished nothing more than for him to want to be part of it.

She placed her love of him in the back of her mind, down deep in a dark cold place where her sister said it should stay, and she knew it to be true.

Her eyes then glided to Rin.

Rin tugged on his pants and he looked down. "Can I?"

"Hn, you may go."

Rin bolted to Kagome who welcomed her with wide arms. These humans would be the death of him. He made his way up to Kagome and watched as the men around her tensed as if they could protect her from him.

"Clean her up and clothe her if she is to stay, I will not have her running around here looking like that."

"Hh, Hai!" Kagome said and then watched as he left.

The servants quickly cleaned the girl and fitted her with a cute yellow kimono.

Later that evening, Rin was allowed to come to dinner. As soon as Kagura and Sesshomaru entered she bounced up in her seat on her knees.

"Look, My Lord!" She said with glee. Kagome carefully put her hands around her and whispered for her to sit, she did but still held her smile for him.

"Hn, Rin." He told her.

Kagura was not impressed. As they ate, Sesshomaru decided the miko and the human girl could be mother and daughter or, hell, sisters for that matter. Though Rin was thinner in the face and had straighter hair. He didn't know why he noticed.

Rin was allowed to stay, and Kagome took her with her. She was happy to have someone that needed her.

Things were getting better, even if they were not what she dreamed about. But she was growing up and knew that dreams were wishes that the heart made. However, it took more than one for dreams to come true. She had little hope.

But then Rin wanted something to drink, Kagome left her room to get it. That's when she ran into a sight that drained her of her color.

Kagura was pushed up against a wall. Her kimono was open, her breast bare and Sesshomaru had his fingers in her.

"Like what you see Miko?" Kagura stated with a smile.

Kagome tore her eyes away and quickly returned to her room.

Sesshomaru withdrew his fingers and tossed the wind witch to the ground. "Your games are a turn-off." He left her.

But what was done was done, Kagome's hope was gone.