Chapter Eighteen:

Journey to the West

The Next Morning in the Feudal Era

Dai sat on the roof of Kaede's hut while he watched his brother and sisters helping the humans prepare for the journey to the Western Lands. It was sickening. How could his family have fallen so low as to treat humans like pack? Like equals.

Not to mention that filthy half-breed mating a priestess. If that pup even survives to birth she won't make it a year before someone kills her.

It completely boggled the angry dog demon's mind how his brother could have allowed his human whore to even birth her half breed spawn. The woman should have been killed as soon as he was finished with her in his opinion.

As he thought about the human princess that birthed the hanyo he currently hated with all of his being at the moment his eldest brother's threat echoed in his memory.

"Do not make me kill you Dai!" Ryoichi snarled as he shielded the form of a human princess who was a few months pregnant. "I have claimed Lady Izayoi as my mate and she carries my son in her womb. If anyone tries to harm them I will destroy the offender." Ryoichi then locked eyes with Dai. "No matter who they may be."

"Dai!" the demon glanced to see his older sister looking up at him. Her lavender face markings made her look even more elegant then she was. Dai loved his brothers and sisters but he could not let go of their father's teachings.

Demons are superior to all, mortals are merely toys and pawns, and half-breeds should be killed before birth. How his big brothers had not taken to that lesson is beyond him.

"What do you want Megumi?" he asked as he lowered himself down to stand before her. The demoness handed Kagome's large yellow bag to him. "Will you carry this for Kagome? She really shouldn't be lugging something so heavy around in her condition."

Dai glared at the bag as he turned his nose up like a spoiled poodle. "I think it would be better if the bitch lost the runt."

Megumi growled softly as she closed her eyes. She didn't want to lash out at her younger brother but if he kept up this hateful attitude InuYasha may decide that he doesn't want his daughter in the West. "Dai the pup is your-"

"No that abomination is of no relation to me!"

Megumi snarled and yanked his ear. "You will listen to me. Ryoichi challenged father for a reason, to make the West a better place for all and that includes hanyo children. Now you are going to suck it up and be nice to your nephew and his pack."

Once the irate demon woman released him Dai growled as he jumped back to the roof leaving the pack at his sister's feet.

Instead of fighting with him Megumi picked up the pack and decided to carry it herself. Leaving Dai alone Megumi went to help the others prepare for their journey home.

Dai continued to watch the others tripping over themselves to please the humans and his dark feelings festered in his black heart.

Around mid morning InuYasha and Kagome returned to the village to see their companions ready to leave. Kagome's mother had insisted that Kagome pack some of her maternity cloths and the young miko was currently wearing a colorful maternity dress that flowed down her body pleasantly to her ankles and was held up by thick bands of fabric that covered her dainty shoulders.

Making sure his mate was settled as she talked to Sango InuYasha turned to find Raiden arguing with Dai. The two reminded InuYasha of the snarling pit bulls he had watched on T.V. with Souta. It had been some kind of animal show about dogfights.

Raiden looked up when InuYasha's scent reached his nose and after giving his younger brother a scathing glare he walked over and led the hanyo away from his other uncle.

"Glade you have returned InuYasha. I trust Kagome is well?" InuYasha eyed Raiden then glanced to Dai who was glaring darkly at him.

I'm watching you too pal. The hanyo thought as his demon side rose to just beneath the surface making the half-demon's eye flash a soft pink before returning to normal.

"Yeah, Kagome is fine." InuYasha answered as he looked to Raiden. "But she ain't going to be able to walk all day. The pup is already making it harder for her to get around."

"Of course." Raiden said. "We will have frequent breaks and your wife will be riding with the slayer most of the time. The trip should take about seven days or so."

InuYasha nodded relieved that the demons had taken Kagome's comfort and well being into account when planning the return trip to the Western Palace.

InuYasha only nodded then walked to Kagome to inform her of the plans already made.

That Night

Kagome sighed as she soaked her feet in the river that the group had stopped at for the night. Though she had ridden on Kirara most of the day she had insisted that she walk some on her own, not only would if give Kirara a break but it would also provide her with the necessary exercise to keep her and her daughter healthy.

"Over did it didn't you little one?" an amused voice asked behind her. Kagome looked back to see Megumi smiling softly as she sat next to the pregnant mother to be.

Kagome nodded while bring her finger up to her lips. "Don't tell InuYasha." She said making Megumi blink in surprise. The demoness then went on to question the young woman's words.

"But he is your mate, it is his duty to care for you and keep you comfortable. If you do not tell him when you are uncomfortable then how can he correct it?"

Kagome closed her eyes and smiled down at the cool river water. "I know he wants to take care of me and the baby but he tends to worry too much and sometimes I worry that he'll make himself sick worrying over me. Besides he has enough to worry about best not to add my sore feet to his burden, especially when I brought it on my self."

Megumi stared in pleased surprise. It made the Yokai very happy to hear they girl worrying about her husband but it was strange behavior that the demoness didn't quiet understand. It was a male's nature to care for his whelping mate and thus it was instinct for a female to tell her mate when she needed something or was unhappy or hurting. So Kagome wanting to keep her discomfort from her lover was strange to her demonic in law.

None the less Megumi smiled. "As you wish child but I hope you won't keep anything that could harm yourself or you pup from the hanyo."

Kagome nodded. "Of course not Lady Megumi. I'm just going to sit her and relax for a minute."

Once Kagome was alone once more she rubbed her six-month stomach and began to talk to it. "Only a few more months my little baby. I can't wait to meet you." In response to her words the babe in womb gave a strong happy kick that made the mother smile even bigger.

As the human woman continued to speak to her child she was unaware of the cold brown eyes of a Priestess, long since dead, glaring at her with contempt.

InuYasha woke with start from his light doze. He never truly slept, especially when they were traveling. He worried that if he slept too deeply he would be unaware if a threat attacked his pack and with Kagome heavily pregnant he didn't want to take that chance.

Suddenly the thing that woken him flew in front his face and stared him in the eye. It was a soul collector, glowing eerily in the night. When the creature locked eyes with the hanyo he felt his heart drop. He hadn't seen Kikyo since before he mated and impregnated Kagome, he had not sought the undead miko out and she had not approached him. As to why his former love interest hadn't come to find him he could say but he had been so much more preoccupied with Kagome and their unborn child, making sure they were safe and healthy and happy. In fact Kikyo had yet to really cross his mind and now he felt a great deal of shame that he hadn't told her about Kagome's condition or his decision about which woman was the one he would be with.

Good job dumb ass.

InuYasha silently groaned as the smug voice of his demon spoke up in his mind.

I thought you weren't going to harass me anymore!

I'm your instinct boy I can't just go away! Seriously it's kind of impossible.

The soul collector, unhappy that the hanyo wasn't paying it the attention it demanded, circled his head irritably.

"Alright damn you! I'm coming!" InuYasha hissed as he glanced to where Kagome was sleeping soundly amongst the fur of Aiko in her true form. There really was no place safer to sleep then in the fur of a giant Inu Yokai.

Making sure that no one else was fully awake the hanyo leapt down and followed the ethereal demon toward the woman who pinned him to a tree for fifty years.

A/N: You guys didn't really think I'd leave Kikyo out did you? Please review and let me know what you all think about this new development. How will Kikyo take the news of InuYasha's impending fatherhood? And how will Kagome handle InuYasha seeing her rival for his heart?

Disclaimer: I Do Not Own any of the Characters from InuYasha! Rumiko Takahshi is the rightful owner and I make no money off of this!