Atem was none too surprised when after their meal, Inuyasha wanted to make tracks. Stood in his rooms, he smiled at his comrades, tearful goodbyes past amongst them. They would be beginning their journey back to Egypt and had Atem promise to send word as soon as he found himself pupped.

"What's this?" Atem asked, as Isis tugged a tunic over his head.

"A tunic your mother designed before your birth," Isis said fondly, fixing it beneath his Hakama. "See, it has two layers. The first against your chest can be opened easily for nursing and the second creates a carrying pouch for the pup. I thought you could use of it now for that poor little kit."

It was perfect! He could carry Shippō against his heart, keep him warm and still be hands free. "The kit is badly malnourished thanks to an idiot human thinking she knows better than a Demon in regard to Demon young. I think nursing will be necessary for a few weeks, until his nutrients are back up. I've no idea how he isn't constantly ill."

"Will you nurse him yourself?" Karim questioned. "Demoness' and Submissive can produce milk on command. Or would you rather locate a wetnurse?"

"I will nurse him," Atem said, flushing a little. "I just feel it would be better for him."

Isis chuckled. "No pups yet, but a mother anyway."

Grinning in delight, Atem packed the last of his belongings in his satchel and dawning his rich purple cloak, he headed out to the courtyard where Inuyasha waited alongside Miroku, Sango and Sango's fire cat Kilala in her full demon form.

"Atem!" Shippō called out, scampering toward the submissive male.

Smiling, Atem crouched to lift the kit. Proper rest and the right food had improved the infant demon's pallor, but his scent still wasn't right. Nuzzling the child, Atem placed him inside his tunic pouch. Shippō immediately began wiggling around, encased in blissful warmth and the whooshing sound of Atem's heartbeat making him feel safer than he had since his parents were alive.

A scent catching his attention, Shippō squirmed closer until the smell of milk filled his nose. Hunger gnawed at him. He was used to that, Kagome just not understanding how much a growing demon needed to eat, or what and normally he ignored it, but instinct drove him to nuzzle closer. Tiny claws kneading the flesh they found and when milk bloomed at a nipple, he curled up contently and latched, guzzling what was offered.

Atem grunted, smiling when he felt Shippō's wiggling settle as the kit latched to nurse.

"Is he feeding?" Isis asked curiously.

Atem nodded. "I figured his instincts would kick in."

When Inuyasha took a peek inside the tunic, he hoped he hadn't overstepped but Inuyasha's smile was a warm one. "Never seen the kit so content. He's been really missing the comfort of his mother."

"How is it you can nurse him?" Miroku asked curiously.

"Canine demon bearers can produce milk on command," Inuyasha explained. "Not sure why…but it comes in damn handy."

"Until Kagome throws a fit."

"Let her," Atem growled. "Her interference would have eventually killed the poor boy. Ah! Thanks, Mahad."

At a rumbled growl, the group turned, and jaws dropped at the sight of what Mahad led by a reigns. Bigger than Kilala, the creature was thickly muscled, white wings flapping at its back. A mix of several animals, it was a sight to behold. Mostly like a lion, brown fur blended into brown scales, a tail ending in a hissing serpent's head coiled over its rump. To the left of the lion's head, a second head of a goat sat.

"That's a Chimera!" Inuyasha blustered in shock, amber eyes snapping to his husband. "You have a Chimera?!"

Chuckling, Atem nodded. "Yes. He's been in the family since my Great-Grandfather's time and an extremely loyal companion. His name is Diya." Stomping toward his master, Diya huffed about him, snuffling at the lump in his tunic. "Gentle, Diya…"

With a soft rumble, Diya nipped affectionately at Atem's fingers, making the Yōkai grin.

"Lord Inuyasha!"

Startled by the title, Inuyasha, turned to see Rin rushing toward them, Sesshōmaru walking behind her. "Hey squirt."

"We came to say goodbye!" Rin said cheerfully, stopping next to them.

Inuyasha was surprised, but then, his brother clearly wanted to try be on his best behaviour. It was certainly a huge benefit to marrying. Looking up at the older demon, Inuyasha wasn't sure what to say. "So…We're heading out. It's a long enough journey, even with Kilala and Diya."

Sesshōmaru nodded and the barest of smiles tilted his lips. "For what it's worth, little brother…you have nothing to fear from me anymore."

Inuyasha snorted. "I'm useful now in other words."

"Somewhat, that, and I have no doubt your bride would utterly destroy me should I touch a hair on your head."

Inuyasha laughed. "Is that nerves I hear?"

"Lesser demons hunted Jackal demons to extinction out of sheer terror, Inuyasha," Sesshōmaru pointed out. "I'm not foolish enough to anger one."

Blinking, Inuyasha looked at his husband. Atem shrugged sheepishly. "We're known as reapers…it tends to scare other Yōkai."

"Reapers?" Miroku questioned.

"Our power is necromancy," Atem explained. "Being able to access the realm of the dead with such ease, tends to put others strongly on edge. Enough so, we were hunted to extinction."

"Feh!" Inuyasha scoffed. "Cowardly bastards."

Relief flooded Atem at Inuyasha's reaction. He had been worried about telling him. Most Yōkai felt instantly threatened and even protected, he had been almost killed more than once in his life for being the type of demon he was.

With their belongings in satchels on Diya's back, Atem climbed up and smiled when Inuyasha joined him. His warm weight pleasant against his back and arms wrapped about his waist, Atem barked a command in Egyptian and Diya was instantly airborne. Kilala quickly caught up and side by side they headed north, back to Kaede's village.

X.x.X-I-N-U-Y-A-S-H-A/A-T-E-M-X.x.X

The group travelled for almost twelve hours, with occasional breaks, before Inuyasha chose a spot to make camp. Just down from a hot springs and secluded by trees, it was perfect. Removing a sleepy Shippō from his tunic, Atem set the kit down next to Kilala to continue his nap while he went to hunt down some rabbits for the young kit, while the others set up the area for the night.

While Atem hunted and Miroku went to set up a perimeter with Sango and gather firewood, Shippō woke to the bustle of the others and was immediately panicked. A terrified whine escaped the kit before he could stop himself and trembling, he pressed his hands to his mouth. In an instant, Inuyasha was over to him, and nuzzling him soothingly, a fact that surprised the Hanyō. He had never felt the desire to do such a thing, but then, he'd never heard Shippō make such a sound.

"What is it squirt?" Inuyasha asked, running his tongue affectionately over the kit's cheek.

"I.. I don't know…I h-haven't felt like this since my mother was alive," Shippō whimpered. "I need…I need Atem! What's wrong with me?!"

"Oh, absolutely nothing little one."

Sniffling, Shippō looked up at Atem, the demon returning with four plump rabbits. "But I'm not a baby!"

"Who told you that?" Atem snorted. "Kagome? You are a demon infant Shippō who was much too young to be without your mother and now you've suffered some setbacks because you weren't being fed right. Because of that, your instincts are driving you to seek out a mother figure. Don't fight it."

"Okay, okay!" Tearfully, Shippō scrambled up Atem's leg and into his tunic, burrowing into the warmth and because his tummy ached and Atem said to not fight it, he curled up to nurse.

With the kit content, Atem sat on a log and began skilfully skinning his kill.

"Is he tiring you?" Inuyasha asked, crouching to start a fire.

Atem shook his head. "No…Once I eat I can keep up with him and in a couple of weeks his hunger will be in better control. Damn it, Inuyasha…I know that human is your friend, but her idiocy could have killed him! And you…Hanyō's benefit from raw kills too. Does she stop you also?"

Inuyasha cringed at the memory of when he'd eat a piece of raw boar in front of her. He'd barely swallowed before he was sat into a damn crater and then for an hour Kagome had ranted about food poisoning. "She just can't seem to get her head around the fact demons and half demons can eat raw meat with no worries of illness."

"Well, she best get used to it," Atem grunted, setting aside a rabbit for Miroku to cook for himself and Sango. "Now sit and eat this rabbit…it's still warm."

Chuckling at the domestic manner of it, Inuyasha happily ate his fill, while Atem fed Shippō slivers, the kit wolfing it down happily. That is, until Atem suddenly leaped up, canines bared and eyes bleeding solid black a moment before a whirlwind entered the camp.

Hand on the hilt of his sword, Inuyasha glared as Kouga appeared, a grin on his face. "Hey muttface!" Blue eyes widening at a vicious snarl, the wolf demon looked past the dog and blinked in surprise at the sight of a stunning submissive demon. When a scent hit his nose, Kouga cursed colourfully and immediately backed up. "Easy…I didn't realise. Muttface, any time you wanna reassure your pregnant mate, I'm all for it!"

"Pregnant?" Inuyasha croaked, springing toward Atem and gathering him close. Atem melted into his arms, head tilting back while Inuyasha thoroughly scented him and sweet holy Kami, there it was beneath his delicious aroma!

A pup!

Atem's aggression gradually backed off and flushing with embarrassment, he bowed apologetically toward Kouga. "Forgive me, I hadn't expected that to happen. I've no idea what came over me."

"You're pupped, so it's not your fault." Inuyasha stated firmly.

Pupped? Shocked, Atem took a delicate sniff and sure enough it was there. "Oh, by the God's my comrades will never let me live this down after making that virility joke at the wedding."

Inuyasha laughed. The idea of a pup was terrifying, but his instincts were practically singing, his Yōkai preening smugly.

Kouga relaxed his stance. "I heard a rumour you were married off muttface, but I wasn't expecting it to be true."

"Our fathers clearly had ideas," Inuyasha grunted. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"To see my woman naturally," Kouga replied with a grin.

"Kagome ain't here," Inuyasha responded, surprised when the usual temper didn't rile up.

"She's your woman?" Atem snorted. "What a waste. Had she had her way a kit would have been dead."

Kouga's gaze narrowed. "The hell was that supposed to mean?"

"Exactly that," Atem snapped. "Thanks to that girl, a kit is badly malnourished! Imagine denying a demon infant raw meat!"

"What?!" Kouga spluttered, blue eyes snapping to Inuyasha. "Please tell me that's not true! Please tell me Kagome did not wilfully deny an infant food!"

"She's stuck on the issue that it can make you sick. Apparently explaining that's a human issue doesn't work for her." Inuyasha sighed. "So now, Shippō needs to catch up…he's so malnourished, Atem is nursing him."

Kouga cursed a blue streek, his eyes flashing, utterly furious. How dare she! She could have killed him. "I hereby revoke my claim."

Before Inuyasha could say anything, Kouga was gone in a whirlwind, just as Sango and Miroku returned.

"Everything okay?" Sango questioned, setting down the firewood she had collected.

"Somewhat," Inuyasha grunted in reply. "Kouga swung by and has broken his claim on Kagome. Seems even he can't stand her bullshit in regards the squirt. Oh, and Atem's pregnant."

"What?!"

"Oh, sweet Buddha!"

"Congratulations!"

Atem laughed in delight at their antics and was glad when they didn't question how quickly a pregnancy happened. Demons tended to catch a pup easily upon first mating, more so if their bodies were highly compatible, which they clearly were. It amazed him to have all his doubts in regard to the marriage completely gone. In fact, he never wanted to leave Inuyasha's side.

"Atem?"

Looking down to where Shippō lay curled up in his tunic, Atem smiled. "Everything okay little one?"

"Now that you're gonna have a baby…What happens to me?"

Hearing the worry in his voice broke the older demon's heart. "Oh, Shippō…You'll still be my kit…you'll just be a big brother."

Green eyes welling with tears, Shippō nodded and nuzzled in, reassured and happy. Full, kit content, Atem joined his mate and curled up against his side. Inuyasha happily wrapped an arm around him, watching him drift off to sleep.

X.x.X-I-N-U-Y-A-S-H-A/A-T-E-M-X.x.X

They landed outside Kaede's village late into the evening two days after leaving Sesshōmaru's palace. Naturally Diya and Atem's appearance drew some startled gasps, but the villagers calmed once they realised Inuyasha was on friendly terms with the newcomers.

Shippō lay curled up sleeping on Diya's back, while Atem looked about. "This is a nice village. Your humans appear nervous though."

"They're not used to a full blooded adult demon or a demon beast just wandering in." Inuyasha pointed out, wrapping his arms about his mate, and nuzzling his cheek affectionately. Atem cuddled in, arms wrapping tight about Inuyasha's waist.

"SIT BOY!"

It was just a split second and with Atem's arms around him, they both went crashing to the ground. The beads making the fall harsher then normal. Dread filled Inuyasha the minute an ear splitting shriek left his mate, the stench of blood filling his nose.

The pup!