For the past several hours her complexion and stance didn't change or alter...she lay there, frozen and motionless... contemplating, BLAMING herself.

And regardless of how many times I told her it wasn't her fault, my pleas were merely meaningless.

The announcement of the pregnancy wasn't one of joyous hooray's or congratulations...it was one that I ...as the father of this child wasn't expecting.

But hell, who am I to pass judgement on how the celebration of Kagome's and I child comes about? I myself wasn't really leaping for Joy.

Not because of the pregnancy, but the unknown fear and lingering questions that still troubled my overwhelmed mind.

like why Kagome's smelled of sickness rather than the spikes of hormone levels and unknown smells that I could only explain as sweet with a hint of spice that i picked up during Sangos pregnancy...why weren't there any signs other than normal sickness behavior

I sat in the corner, one leg bowed up my arm draped over my knee...just waiting for any sign or reaction from Kagome.

The elder priestess was fixated on her medicinal herbs trying to fix up another concoction for Kagome's newly discovered pregnancy..the silence in the hut was almost too unbearable.

I for one couldn't stand it any longer, a growl rippled through my chest and came out as a snarl. It caused both Kagome and Kaede to stop what they were doing to look toward my direction.

" Enough is enough, God damn it " I said loudly through clenched teeth. Both my fist were balled up not from anger, but frustration.

I shot up from my spot in the corner and matched over to Kagome, before acting all dominant and cavemen style I looked her over once more before pulling her up and practically tossing her on my back.

Kaeda dropped whatever it was she was trying to mix together to try and stop my outburst " Inuyasha don't, Kagome's still needs rest..this isn't the right time to be manhandling her like this I understand your confused and angry, but think of the child..

What ye are doing is dangerous to both Kagome and your unborn baby " she said frantically.

My only thought at this particular moment was to grab my mate and take her somewhere where her and I could talk in private...to get her to open up, to show any sort of emotion...even if it was anger...just anything..I needed her to do something other than look completely defeated. Ignoring Kaede's advice I huffed and ran out the hut door with a very shocked Kagome on my back.

When I darted off towards the woods, jumping from tree top to tree top I kept hearing her small Little yeeps and yipes as we practically glided through the forest floor and treetops until the bone eaters well came into view. Her welling for me to stop went unnoticed, I just heaved and took one more hefty leap before landing on the ground a few centimeters by the well. I knelt down so she could slowly remove herself from my heaving back.

Once she was safely down I helped her sit on the lip of the well. She looked at me dumbfounded and a bit angry. " Why didn't you stop?" She asked sharply

I huffed and tried to gather my bearings before answering her. After my breathing slowed and my heart rate was more normal I grabbed her small delegate hand in my own. I leveled myself lower so we were at eye level with each other.

" I knew this was the only way we could talk without interruption from the old hagg...I couldn't stand even for a second the blame that washed over your face. Kagome...lemme make something clear and straight to the point...no pussyfooting or tiptoeing around the damn issue at hand." I said in a stern tone. I gave her hand a little squeeze for reassurance before I continued.

" NONE of this is your fault, you hear me?" She shifted her eyes away and looked down to the ground. When her eyes left mine I knew what that meant...she felt guilty...hell I also felt guilty..and at fault for not knowing or picking up any difference in her normal scent. I placed my hand under her chin and lifted her face to eye level again. But sadness riddled me when her eyes filled with unleashed tears.

" This... pregnancy, it's different from normal human pregnancies. There was no difference in smell I couldn't pick up the change of your hormone levels like I could with Sango during her pregnancies. I...I don't know why...i wish I did, if I have known...hell if I would've stayed put and let the other worry about the demons at hand...you wouldn't have been in this situation. " I felt the lump form in the back of my throat..

Kagome shook her head in disagreement. " Why didn't I know then? It's my body you'd think I'd feel something different about my own body changing wouldn't you think?"

I couldn't answer cause I didn't know the answer to that question. So I chose to stay quiet.

" Why didn't I know Inuyasha? Why didn't I know?" A shaking sob broke free and a dam of tears broke free. I yanked her into my arms and tightened my hold on her as she shook with a relentless sob. I closed my eyes tightly and whispered. " Well figure this out huh? Well get through this just like we go through everything else...I mean c'mon we defeated the biggest baddest demon known throughout all of feudal Japan. If we can do that...then there isn't anything we CAN'T do. Ya know... despite finding out we're becoming parents on a horrible circumstance...I'm quite happy knowing I'm gonna be a dad and that the person carrying our child is YOU, Kagome. ". After that, her sobbing started to slow...

" Really?, you're truly happy?" I took my thumb and wiped away the last lingering teardrop that was threatening to fall and gave her a small wavering smile. " Damn right I am. You're giving me a family Kagome something someone like me could only ever have wished for..you...my mate, my wife...my love. You who chooses me and continued to chose me even when you had every reason not to. Your love rang true and it was our love that created this life growing inside you. " I placed my hand over her womb and looked up at her small smile placed and yes even some water welling in my golden eyes.

" Thank you, Kagome for this amazing gift of love" she giggles and leans over to kiss each of my eyelids. She laid her forehead against mine and nodded. " And thank you Inuyasha, for choosing me".

Despite every word just spoken...doubt still clouded my mind and shook my heart...why did she smell so sick?...and what did that mean for OUR baby? I felt a lump form in the back of my throat...i felt desperation bubble up deep within my heart and soul that left a sick sensation pitted in the depths of my stomach.

I screwed my eyes shut as tightly as i could ignoring the burn behind my eyelids. The scent of sickness that lingered on Kagome's skin made excitement and hope almost non-existent...but i had too, if not for me than at least for her sake.