Chapter Three

"Kagome-sama?"

Kagome blinked herself out of her thoughts, turning slightly as they walked to look at the dark-haired monk as he stepped closer. "Yes, Miroku?" she asked.

"I... have spent the last few days since we joined you wondering... why did you forgive Shippo and I?"

She turned her eyes forward again, frowning slightly in thought. "Well," she said slowly, "I guess... Shippo because he was kinda threatened into silence – it's not fair to take it out on him, he's just a little kid. He couldn't stand up to Inuyasha too well all alone."

She glanced over at Miroku, seeing him nod. "But then, what about myself? I... don't have the same excuse. Plainly, I made a bad decision in not speaking up. So why forgive me?"

"With you, I guess it was because I realized that you were hurt by them, too. Sure, you shouldn't have helped them hide it from me, but... in the end, it really wasn't your place to have to tell me – it should have come from them." She looked at him curiously for a moment. "Tell me... did you try to talk them into telling me?"

He nodded solemnly. "Yes. But it did no good."

"And that's why I can't find it in me to continue to be around those two. I loved Inuyasha, at least, I thought I did," she frowned, "and Sango was supposed to be one of my best friends. And this is what they did. Plus, if you didn't notice, neither of them has really apologized. I don't hate them... but I don't really want to be around them anymore. It only brings back bad memories – and besides – I could never trust them that much again. It's just better to go our separate ways."

Miroku nodded again – with that, he could agree, for it was the same for him. He wanted to get away from them, as well – he could never heal fully until he did. He turned his attention back to Kagome as she spoke again.

"Don't get me wrong, Miroku – it's going to take me a little time to trust you as much as I did before... but I guess that's the difference between you and them – you can regain my trust, and they can't."

With a wry smile, he bobbed his head agreeably. "I understand, Kagome-sama, and I am honored to have that chance."

She smiled back at him, and they fell into a comfortable silence as the group walked along, heading in the direction that she'd indicated the undead miko was in. Interestingly enough, Kikyou's aura was heading straight as an arrow towards them, as if she knew they were looking for her... though Kagome was still of the opinion that she was heading for them because of Inuyasha.

With an inward snicker, she thought about what the undead woman's reaction to Sango was going to be when she realized that she was Inuyasha's mate. The last thing Kikyou'd known, Kagome was still with the group, and still her rival for the hanyou's affections. And now, here she was, mated to Sesshoumaru, the Prince of the Western Lands, and Inuyasha was mated to a youkai taijiya.

The confrontation wasn't going to be pretty, that was for sure... and the proper outcome was going to be dependent purely on her. In order for Inuyasha to stay alive, she was going to have to take back the rest of her soul.

She sighed, melancholy at that thought. No matter the undead priestess' origins, Kagome wasn't fond of the idea of taking anyone's life – not even someone with only half a life.

Sesshoumaru had been walking closely behind his mate and the monk, listening to the conversation, and wasn't surprised to hear his miko's reasoning on her acceptance of the monk and kit back into her life. He also, in short order, noted her mood's sudden turn to a darker air, and stepped up his pace to walk at her side, dismissing the monk with a look.

Keeping his eyes forward, he asked, "What is it that troubles you?"

She glanced over at him, startled, but smiled ruefully at him when she registered his question. "Just thinking about what I'm probably going to have to do to Kikyou. Even though I know she needs to be put to rest, still... I don't like killing."

That, again, was no shock coming from her – that was just the way she was. Still... "She is not alive for you to kill, mate. She is already dead. All you are doing is sending her body back to its resting place."

"I know that, Sesshoumaru-" she put a hand to her heart, "-but... it doesn't really help. I wasn't meant to take life – not even hers, really. I can't help but hope that she goes to her rest willingly, on her own."

He considered her words for a time, then conceded that it would probably be best if the undead miko did go on her own – his miko really shouldn't be stuck with the wounds that would inevitably be cast on her if she were to take the life of Kikyou.

"Hn. It would, indeed, be best – but do not count on that outcome. Prepare for the worst. That way, if it comes, it will not take you by surprise."

She nodded solemnly. "I know."

Nothing more was said, and they continued walking in peaceful silence for the rest of the day, nothing having the nerve to attack such a powerful party, especially as there were no longer any shards of the jewel to draw them.

-sSs-

Sesshoumaru paused in his patrol of the surroundings of his camp later that evening, a sneer crossing his face as the stench of his brother met his sensitive nose.

"Half-breed... perhaps if you bathed one would not be able to smell you from so far away," he said, disgust plain in his voice.

The hanyou drifted out from under the trees, his eyes narrowed angrily. "Shut the fuck up, Sesshoumaru – I don't give a damn what you think. I've got a question that you're going to answer, bastard."

The daiyoukai quirked a brow, his lips tilting into a dangerous half-smile. "And what would that be?" he asked silkily.

"How long? How long have you wanted her? How long have you been stalking her? How long have you been watching her, desiring her?" Inuyasha almost howled.

Before he could even blink, he found himself pressed against a tree by his throat. "Silence, fool! If you disturb my mate or my ward, I will kill you!" Sesshoumaru tightened his claws warningly for a moment, then dropped his half-brother to the ground and turned away disgustedly. "Go back to your mate, hanyou – there is no one here that wishes your presence."

"Hell no," he rasped. "You still haven't answered my question, bastard."

Sesshoumaru paused in his step. "I am not obligated to do so." He turned his head slightly, looking at his brother from the corner of one eye, a mocking smirk on his face. "But I think that I will give you the answer you so desire. Since the very beginning, Inuyasha – and you were too blind to notice, too caught up in first your dead bitch, and then your living one. It is certain that there is nothing that you can do about it now, whelp." He turned his face away and continued on in his patrol. "This one hopes you are content with your answer, Inuyasha," came ghosting back from the trees, "and your life as it is now."

He disappeared completely from sight into the blackness of the forest, leaving a cursing, angered hanyou to punch the ground in frustration behind him.

This isn't over, Sesshoumaru!

-sSs-

Several hours later, the daiyoukai moved back into the camp, satisfied that there was nothing left within miles that would present a danger to his pack, a little surprised to find Kagome awake and watching the fire, her knees folded up, arms wrapped around them.

"Is something wrong?" he asked softly, careful to modulate his voice so as not to wake anyone else.

She looked at him blankly for a moment, her thoughts obviously miles away, then said, equally softly, "Oh! No, I'm fine. Just thinking, that's all."

He looked at her for a moment, Inuyasha's words ringing in his ears. How long have you wanted her? Desire flared in him as he stared at her, all wide, innocent eyes and glowing skin, framed by black-as-night locks. And she is mine... With that thought, he held out one elegantly clawed hand, and with a curious tilt of her head, she took it, letting him pull her to her feet, then lead her back into the forest, away from the camp.

As they passed Jaken, he poked him with his boot, and as the toad's eyes opened, said, "Watch the camp." Not waiting for a reply, he led his mate away, heading for a small clearing at the edge of a little gurgling stream he had passed on his patrol. It lay a suitable distance away – no one in the camp would be disturbed by any untoward noise. He didn't feel safe putting up a barrier this time, just in case something did attack, as there was never any way to be certain that a place was completely safe.

Coming to a stop, he let go of her hand, and turned to face her. He stared at her for several moments, letting her see what he desired in his eyes, then stepped forward, lifting a hand to her obi, he began untying it.

Kagome's cheeks heated in a blush the moment he looked at her, and it only deepened as he began to take her clothing off. Though they'd coupled several nights since their original mating, she still wasn't used to such things, and was overly shy about them. Not that she didn't enjoy it, because she did – a great deal.

Never having known the touch of a male before, she'd been unsure what to expect the first time, but what she got... well, it had been heaven. And every time since had only been even better. That didn't mean she wasn't still a bit timid, and embarrassed about being naked before the male she was mated to – he was too perfect himself for her to ever feel that she measured up.

Sesshoumaru was well aware of where her thoughts lay; she gave much away with her body language, and her timidity when first beginning a tryst. As much as it angered him to know she considered herself so unworthy, he knew that fancy words would not heal her opinion of herself – she already knew those words, and they obviously hadn't worked. Only time, and his attentive devotion would serve to finally convince his dainty mate.

It was a good thing he was prepared to take that time, and give that attention and devotion to her. She would want for nothing in her mating to him, he'd make sure of that.

~oOo~

He was positive this encounter would result in the first of the many pups he intended to sire with his mate.

But it seemed as though he was not to be allowed to bask in the afterglow of one of his most powerful orgasms ever, as the hated scent of hanyou reached his nose, and bestial instincts still close to the surface, he withdrew from her and turned, snarling in rage, eyes flaring crimson as he faced the fool interrupting his mating, just finished or not. After all, his mate was still naked, and no other male was allowed to lay eyes on the mate of an inu in her undressed state.

Inuyasha should have known this; after all, he'd attacked Kagome for interrupting – and Kagome was female, and should not have been considered such a threat – at least not enough to have been attacked in such a manner. The fool simply had no control – not as Sesshoumaru did.

But Inuyasha was male, and did deserve what he was about to get, as his elder brother attacked, not caring if he himself was also naked.

Still snarling with rage, he leapt forward, not even halting his forward motion when the hanyou drew Tessaiga in answering rage, merely flinging out his whip, and yanking the sword from his grip.

Voice guttural, he gritted in rage, "Fool! You would think to come between me and my mate? I should kill you!"

Inuyasha, pissed that he'd lost Tessaiga so easily, turned and attempted to reach it, but was knocked back before he could. Suddenly, a dangerous silence entered the clearing as Inuyasha tried to see what was going on behind his brother's back – tried to see what Kagome was doing.

"You seek to see my female unclothed, Inuyasha?" he hissed in disbelief.

"No, I just wanna know what she thought she was doin' lettin' you mate her in the first place!" he shouted back.

"Osuwari!" Kagome yelled, stalking out from behind her mate angrily, blushing at the fact that he still had no clothes on. When Sesshoumaru had leaped away from her, she'd known what was happening, and quickly re-dressed, furious with the hanyou.

So it was with considerable satisfaction that she watched as the baka slammed into the dirt, merely rolling her eyes a bit when her mate took that chance to strike the downed hanyou with his whip – after all, in her opinion anyway, he deserved it. No, he didn't deserve killing, which she was sure was what her rather blood-thirsty mate was after, but still...

"What the hell did you think you were doing, Inuyasha? Huh? I thought that mating was something that wasn't supposed to be interrupted? Isn't that why you attacked me, after all?" she asked sarcastically. "I just want to know what ever gave you the idea that what I do with my mate was any of your business?"

The hanyou, ears pinned back, fought against the pull of the spell, waiting until he could stand again before spitting, "Do you even know what this bastard has been up to, you silly bitch? He's been after you since almost the first time he saw you – at least, that's what he said! He's sadistic, murderous, and has no conscience, he's been stalking you for over a year with disgusting intentions – and you let him mate you?" He completely ignored the still-enraged daiyoukai hovering over Kagome's shoulder.

"Osuwari!" she yelled again, getting more and more irate with the fool she'd once had such a crush on. Honestly! What was I thinking? "You think telling me that my mate being interested in me for so long is going to make me angry? What kind of stupid are you, Inuyasha? Just get the hell out of my sight, and stay as far from me and Sesshoumaru as possible until we can finish this Kikyou business and go our separate ways." She started to turn away, then paused. "Oh, and by the way, Sesshoumaru isn't anything like what you think – at least, not to me, or those he cares for. He's only like that to deserving baka's like you."

She bent and began picking up her mate's clothing, helping the still-angered dai to redress, completely ignoring the spluttering hanyou on the ground. The moment Sesshoumaru was finished, he sent one last malicious glare at his half-brother, along with one more whip slash.

"Be glad that I care for the opinions of my mate, fool, or you would lie dead this moment," he snarled acidly. "It is only due to her merciful heart that your mate does not spend her life alone. I suggest you do as the Western Lady ordered, and stay away - do not soil her with your presence again." With that, he turned and led his mate from the clearing back towards camp, leaving a flabbergasted, angry, and bitter hanyou behind.

-sSs-

"She's close."

Sesshoumaru paused in his steady tread at his mate's words. "How close?"

"We'll meet up with her sometime early this afternoon, I think," Kagome said, tilting her head thoughtfully. "Unless she speeds up for some reason."

He stepped forward again, turning her words over in his mind. They begged the question... "Speeds up?"

She nodded. "Yeah. She can travel fairly fast if needed by using her shinidamachu. She usually just walks, but..."

"In this case, she may be eager," he finished for her.

"On the other hand, she may take note of all of us, and slow down, wanting to decide on a strategy – and scope out the situation, so to speak."

Sesshoumaru quirked a brow at his mate's rather strange turns of phrase, but nodded, nonetheless – he knew what she meant. "That is also true. Will you be able to tell?" he asked.

"Sure."

"You will tell me as soon as you note any change in her pace, then. We will decide our own strategy based on that." He cast a sidelong glance at her, considering her expression – it was placid, calm. "I will not tolerate any danger to you, mate. What part do you need to play in this?"

She looked over at him, then, a small smile lighting her face. "I need to take back the rest of my soul."

"How close do you need to be to her in order to do this?" His expression was thoughtful; she could tell he was planning.

"Not very, really. Why?"

"I do not want you close to her – she is a danger to you. There is also the fact that you carry," he said flatly.

She blinked. Carry? What's that supposed to... Oh! Does he mean... She narrowed her eyes, and swung her head to look at him, meeting his gaze straight on. "Do you mean I'm..." her voice trailed off nervously.

"You bear my heir. Does this displease you?"

She stared at him, stunned, as her hands came up to cover her stomach. It took a moment, but... "No, why would you think that?" she asked blankly, still too startled to really react yet.

"It is rather soon; I was not sure that you would be receptive to this news," he admitted.

She was quiet for a few moments, then said, "Well, I had imagined that mating would also entail having children at some point – I just hadn't really thought about it so soon." A curious look crossed her face. "How can you tell?"

"Scent. I knew at our last coupling you would probably conceive – you were entering your fertile cycle. Your scent has ripened since, proving that my supposition was, indeed, correct."

"But how do you know it's your heir? Isn't it only males that can inherit?"

He nodded. "Indeed. But I can tell that by aura – the child is male. The aura of a male differs from that of a female."

Growing quiet again, she thought about it for several minutes, and then a genuine, wide smile crossed her face, and she beamed up at him. "I'm most pleased to be able to give my Lord his heir so soon, then. How long will I be pregnant? Is it the same as for a human?"

Indescribably pleased at her reaction, his eyes softened on her. "That will depend on what you choose, mate. You are not a normal human – you are a priestess, and so may choose whether our son will be human, hanyou, or full youkai."

Kagome was dumbfounded, and her expression showed that. "W-what? How does that work?" she asked, intrigued.

"It is simply a choice you must make. If you truly choose for my heir to be born full-youkai, then he will be. Your choice will determine how your reiki will react to the babe."

With his words, Kagome was made fully aware of what his preference was. And she understood it, too. After all, this child would be his heir, standing to inherit control of the Western Lands someday. He would need the full strength of his father to be able to rule here. It didn't bother her, and in that moment, she chose; her first son would be youkai.

Sesshoumaru waited for her, figuring she would need to talk about it to understand his own desire, and the reasons why he felt that way; he was understandably surprised when she merely smiled up at him after a moment and said, "Then he'll be born youkai – he'll have your shoes to fill someday, after all."

It was in that moment that he knew that he'd chosen wisely – she truly was perfect for him, and his eyes expressed that to her, though his facial expression didn't change much, softening just slightly.

When her smile widened in response, he knew that she understood. With that, he was able to answer her earlier question. "In that case, my Kagome," he said softly, "you will carry for five months."

She nodded, actually happy to hear that. "Well, that's better than the normal nine for a human," she said wryly. "I had always wanted children, but really wasn't looking forward to the long pregnancy." She chuckled. "Especially after some of the things I've heard about it."

Amused, he let her see that as he tilted his head towards her. "This one is pleased that you are pleased," his voice lowered intimately, "about all of it."

She flushed, happiness radiating from her aura, and smiled once again for him, before a frown drew her brows together. Concentrating for a moment, she said, "I think she's slowing down – the feeling I'm getting is that she isn't quite ready to meet us." Her expression cleared, and she looked back up at him. "She wasn't expecting all of us-" she laughed a little, "-actually, she wasn't expecting you. She's worried."

"How long do you think she will wait?"

"Probably tomorrow. She'll most likely send her shinidamachu to watch us later tonight – I imagine seeing Inuyasha and Sango together but separated from the rest of us will be a great shock." She shook her head then. "She may choose to attack immediately in anger. Perhaps..." she trailed off, a grimace of distaste crossing her face, "they should sleep a little bit closer to the rest of us – at least for tonight."

His lips thinned irritatedly. "Hn. Perhaps – though not too close to you, my sweet. As I stated before, I have no desire to allow him to taint you with his presence. Nor do I wish for him to cause you any distress – it is not good for you or our son."

She smiled prettily at him, but did not speak, simply content to pace along at his side. Her thoughts were swirling around inside her mind, one though, more prominent than the rest; she was going to be a mother!

It was barely fifteen minutes before Sesshoumaru called a halt, indicating the edge of a large meadow as a good campsite for the night. Within moments of stopping, though, a certain loud-mouthed hanyou was stomping into the meadow, yelling imprecations.

"Oi! Why the fuck are we stopping? It's only early afternoon!"

Sesshoumaru disappeared from his spot beside his mate, suddenly reappearing with Inuyasha on his knees before him with his throat wrapped in his brother's whip. "This is my pack, I have only allowed you to travel near us, half-breed. If you choose to chase the dead one down now, then by all means, feel free to do so – it will be your funeral, and your mate left alone. My mate, however, is with child, and I will not endanger her for you or anyone else," he said implacably, completely ignoring the panicked cry of Sango as she rushed forward towards Inuyasha.

When nothing more was forthcoming from the shocked hanyou, he retracted his whip, leaving a painful looking burn around Inuyasha's throat, then turned on his heel and stalked back towards Kagome. Pausing momentarily in his stride when Sango knelt next to her mate, he said, "My mate has indicated that the undead one has halted for the night – she wishes to take stock of the situation. When she realizes the two of you are together, she may choose to attack when you are alone. For this reason, my miko believes it would be best for you to stay closer this night. It is your choice." With that, he continued back to where the pack was preparing their encampment, pushing the two out of his thoughts.

After all, he had many more important things to be thinking about – he had no desire to waste anymore time on the half-breed than necessary.

-sSs-

Later that evening, after Sango had curled up and gone to sleep, Inuyasha stared across the small distance between his and his brother's camp, his gaze locked on the happy face of his one-time best friend. It was hard seeing her with his brother, and even harder to see his brother's affect on the girl. He couldn't remember the last time he'd seen her aura so light and joyous.

He recalled his brother's words from earlier – that she was pregnant. It made something in him writhe in anger at the thought of that bastard even touching Kagome, let alone spilling his seed in her – and that it was fertile seed! She was too good for the likes of that ice-cold killer, let alone for her to bear that freak a child!

He simply couldn't understand how Kagome seemed so happy – if he'd been human, without his much better senses, he'd wonder if she was faking it; that was one excuse he couldn't hide behind, though, not with who he was. It made him jealous – that his brother could make her so happy; she had never been so with him.

After a few more moments, he looked away, somehow pained at watching her with his brother, curling up against his side while Sesshoumaru looked proud and protective – it disturbed him even more to see how his brother looked at the little priestess.

Shaking his head, ignoring the silver locks so reminiscent of his brother's, he glanced back, and caught Sesshoumaru's gaze locked upon him. It was a look that screamed with triumph; he'd won the fair maiden, and Inuyasha was out in the cold. Even though he'd not wanted Kagome that way, he'd not wanted to lose her entirely, and especially not to someone like that bastard!

Gritting his teeth, he growled low in his throat, not wanting to wake his own mate with his vocalizations of anger, but frustrated; how was it that Sesshoumaru always ended up with everything? The only thing he'd not gotten that he'd wanted was Tessaiga itself – and he'd gained a better sword in the end, anyway!

With a sigh, his shoulders slumped, and he leaned back against the trunk of the tree, staring up into the sky, suddenly feeling helpless.

Who am I kidding? It's all my own fault, anyways... and I can't blame Kagome for not forgiving me – after all, I haven't even apologized. Lying to her, not trusting her, and using her was a low-down dirty thing to do, we should have just been honest.

He shivered, then, and sniffed as a new scent came to him, looking around, he immediately noted the glowing shinidamachu skating around the edges of the trees, with a growl, he realized what they were doing.

Spying – so Kagome was right. Keh, shoulda known. He looked across at his brother again, only to find him watching the glowing soul collectors with a steady gaze. It was apparent that Kagome was also aware of them, and he couldn't say he was surprised. Somehow, she'd always known whenever Kikyou was around.

"Feh. It won't matter, Kikyou. I ain't goin' to hell with you – I have a mate now, and she comes first. Naraku's dead, and that's just gonna have to be enough," he finished softly.

With one last glance at the glowing, eerie lights, he sighed again, and closed his eyes. Kikyou wouldn't come against them this night – there were too many of them to take on. She would wait until tomorrow, and then try some trick or other.

He was determined that none of it would work – he wasn't leaving Sango.

-sSs-

"You see her, don't you?" came the quiet voice of his mate.

Sesshoumaru glanced down at her where she curled trustingly into his side, not surprised that she knew the dead miko was there, then looked back out into the trees. "Yes. She watches Inuyasha's camp. There is much malice in her for him."

"I know," she said softly. "I can feel it. Although I don't think she's really very surprised about what he's done, truth to tell. I think she expected him to betray his promise to her."

"Then she was wise," he said bluntly, once again looking down at her. "If you had not been so trusting, perhaps you would not have been hurt as you were."

She chuckled. "Well, of course not – but if I hadn't done what I did, then I wouldn't be here now with you, would I? And looking back, I have to admit that I would go through it again, if I knew this would be the outcome," she said easily.

He was surprised to find nothing but honesty in her scent, and he quirked a brow at her. "You would knowingly put yourself in harm's way to be with this one?" he asked.

She shook her head chidingly at him. "Why are you so surprised? Of course I would. I'm happy, and much better off with you, than I ever would have been with Inuyasha."

"Why do you believe so, miko?" he asked; she understood that he was not denying that she was, only asking why she believed it.

"Because I can trust you to tell me the truth. I could never be happy with someone that wasn't honest. I may not always like what I'm hearing, but at least it's truth, and better that than lies." A small smile tilted her lips as her hand came to rest, once again, on her flat belly.

"And what of information I may not want you to know?" he asked quizzically, wondering what her answer would be.

"Well, then you just wouldn't answer me. I know you're not gonna tell me everything, you know – you're too used to being alone and answerable to no one for that. But..." she flicked a mischievous look at him through thick lashes, "don't expect me to back down on everything. Sometimes, if you're withholding things that I need to know, I'll fight you on it."

"Hnn. I am well aware of that, miko," he said, dryly. He reminded himself that his mate was not the same as any female birthed in his era – she was from an almost incomprehensible future where women were just as strong-willed as men.

He reflected on the past eight months, and how he had learned that lesson.

It had not been an easy one, either, for him – he was male, and he was inu, meaning he was dominant, in all ways. But once she had begun to heal from the damage inflicted on her flesh and her heart by the careless hanyou, she had shown that side of her more and more frequently – the strong-willed side of her that grabbed his attention and turned him on so much he could barely stand it. While he would always be alpha, he had to admit that he liked the fact that she was no cowering bitch.

He was pulled from his thoughts by the tentative voice of the monk.

"Kagome-sama, if I may ask a question?"

Kagome looked over at Miroku, who was seated across the fire. "Sure... what's up?"

"I had been wondering if you knew why the well closed up? At first, we thought that you must have... died," he said quietly, "from your wounds, and that it closed because it was no longer needed. But that is obviously not the case," he finished.

"It's not closed, Miroku – or at least, it wasn't. Now that the jewel is gone..." she looked sad, "I don't know. But up 'til this point, anyway, I went home once a month like clockwork."

Miroku frowned. "But then why couldn't Inuyasha go through?"

"Well..." she looked a bit sheepish, "you have to remember... when all that happened, I wasn't really thinking clearly. I was afraid that Inuyasha would try to use my family against me to try to make me keep looking for shards for him – so I sealed it against anyone but me."

His brow cleared, then, as he understood. "Ah. I suppose I can see that. The whole situation could not have looked good, and I can see how you would fear what you did. After all, that was truly Inuyasha's biggest reason for not telling you – so you would keep looking for the jewel for him, as a means to finding Naraku."

Sesshoumaru, who'd sat quietly through that, snorted disgustedly. "The whelp always was more concerned with getting his own way than the truth."

"Ah... I believe he does care for Kagome-sama as a friend, Sesshoumaru-sama."

This time, the disdain was clear in his eyes. "Perhaps. But his biggest concern was her usefulness to him, as is clear in his actions. He may, peripherally, feel bad for what he did... but not enough to have refrained from using her in the first place." He turned his head and stared at his brother's camp. "After all, did he not frequently call her his 'shard detector'? He was being honest when he would claim that was why he needed her around – it was not because he truly cared for her... not the way he should, as a true friend would."

Miroku couldn't argue that – while said in an acid tone, his words were sharp, and dead on... Inuyasha had cared more for her usefulness than for she, herself. If he had truly cared more for her, he would have trusted her with the truth to begin with.

"Inuyasha will always see first what a person can do for him, rather than seeing the person for who they are." Kagome's voice was pensive as she stared at the fire. "It's just the way he is. I can't hate him... but I don't trust him anymore. I hope he has a good life with Sango – but it will be one without me in it – I would always be looking over my shoulder wondering if he was telling me the truth about things. That's no way to conduct a friendship. I only hope he learns from this and treats others better – or he and Sango will spend their lives mostly alone."

Sesshoumaru was pleased at his mate's words. She had insight, and wisdom, along with a caring heart. But at least this time, she wasn't going to allow herself to be used because of it.

Finally, she had learned that she had every right to expect to be treated with decency – that she did not have to settle for being used.

It was about damn time, in his opinion.

-sSs-

Morning rolled around, gray, overcast skies and cool air lending a dreary aspect to the confrontation they all knew was coming. Kagome stretched slowly, then straightened and settled her hands on her stomach; since finding out about her impending motherhood, it was becoming a habit.

Shippo watched her solemnly for a moment, blinking still sleep-dusted eyes, then asked, "Uhm... Kagome? Why do you keep holding your belly? Are you sick?" He looked worried, and Kagome smiled reassuringly.

"Oh, no, Shippo, I'm fine." She glanced at Rin, who was also just waking up, then turned a little and looked up at Sesshoumaru, who'd moved to stand by her side. He nodded at her silent question, and she looked back at the children. "I'm not sick, it's just that I'm going to have a baby, that's all. A baby boy," she said, smile widening as she saw the excited looks in the children's faces.

As the happy cries of the children sounded, Miroku stepped forward and smiled. "Congratulations, Sesshoumaru-sama, Kagome-sama, on your forthcoming blessing."

Sesshoumaru nodded, his eyes going towards the tree-line. "The dead miko comes. We will go meet her within Inuyasha's camp – I do not want her anywhere near the children." He looked down at Jaken. "You know what to do. Keep them safe."

With that he led the way out of the camp, and towards his brother's encampment, followed by both Kagome and Miroku. He wanted to reach his brother first, while keeping his mate safe and out of harms way. After all, she was his priority – if his brother had to be sacrificed to keep her safe, then so be it.

Kagome followed along behind her mate obediently, even though she worried about what Kikyou was going to do, she knew that Inuyasha could not be the one she was thinking about at this time. If it came down to it, she wouldn't be able to save him – she was pregnant, and her child came first. She knew that Sesshoumaru would be thinking along the same lines, and so she stayed behind him as he so clearly wished her to do.

They barely reached Inuyasha's camp before Kikyou stepped out of the trees, and Kagome tilted her head in suspicious confusion – her shinidamachu were nowhere to be found. That was very unusual – but what could it mean?

Kikyou paused as she stepped out of the trees, taking in the group waiting for her, and then moved forward, intent on finishing what she planned to do.
She almost smirked – not a one of them would expect what was coming, and there was nothing any of them would be able to do about it, in any case.

Coming to a stop before them, she eyed Inuyasha first, as he stood with a guilty, but resolute, face, and Kagome, who stood behind the stoic, icy daiyoukai she'd spoken to once before. Curiosity overcoming her, she turned to Kagome and asked, "How did it come to pass that you are with this demon, and pregnant with his child?"

Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru, then at Kikyou, and shrugged. "I was betrayed by Inuyasha and Sango – he mated her, and neither had the courage to tell me, lying to me so I would continue to search for shards for them. Sesshoumaru found me and convinced me to travel with him." She didn't say any more, she didn't need to, really, and Kikyou completely ignored Inuyasha's and Sango's babbled excuses to Kagome for their behavior.

She turned to look at the hanyou she'd once loved. "So – you betray me in this life, and the next. I must say I'm not surprised," she said darkly.

"I didn't betray you, Kikyou!" he barked gruffly.

"Yes, hanyou, you did. You vowed to go to hell with me, saying that you loved me, and then you turned your back on me and took another as a mate." Her eyes gleamed with feral satisfaction as he flushed and looked away. "It seems your word means little, does it not?" She looked at Sango, then. "Perhaps, you, slayer, should take that into account – if he would betray one, he would betray another. Then again, you were as much a part of the betrayal as he was, to both Kagome and I."

Sango paled. "What?"

Kikyou laughed at her, an icy sound that carried no humor in it. "Were you not her closest friend? Did you not know how she felt for Inuyasha? And then you go behind her back and mate him – and continue to lie about it, knowing all along where her heart lay, and playing her for a fool. Some friend," she said acidly. "With a friend such as you, she had no need of enemies." Sango looked away, shame clear on her face.

"Oi! Don't talk to Sango that way, Kikyou," Inuyasha growled.

"Why not, half-breed? She merely speaks the truth." Sesshoumaru finally spoke up, actually enjoying the confrontation. "And this is why my mate did not offer you two a place in our pack – and if she had, I would not have allowed it, in any case. I will not have anything that causes her stress around her."

"Since it is clear that you have reneged on your vow, Inuyasha, I will be going to hell without you this day. But I will not be going without recompense, be sure of that." As Inuyasha stepped back in alarm, Kikyou looked over at Kagome and said, "Take back the piece of our soul that I have carried for so long, and live happily."

No sooner had she finished saying that, than she was engulfed in a bright light. When it faded, the miko stood before them no longer, and several soul orbs flashed into the sky, heading for eternity.

One, however, stayed behind, and as they locked eyes on it, it began to move – but not towards Kagome.

No, instead, it flew towards Sango, and before anyone could even move, it plunged into the woman's abdomen, causing Sango to scream – and then it came out her back, and headed towards Kagome, flashing into her, almost knocking her over. Sesshoumaru whipped around, catching her and almost frantically checking her over to be sure she was okay – actions that were being mirrored by Inuyasha with his own sobbing mate.

As the rest of the group stared in wonder and confusion, Kikyou's voice came once more, carried on the wind. "It is most ironic, Inuyasha, that Kagome is pregnant with your brother's heir – for it is the one thing that your own mate will never be able to give you, now – an heir. I have taken her ability to bear a child, making her barren. It is the price of your betrayal of me." The voice faded away, then, leaving behind a shell-shocked hanyou, desperately trying to calm a now hysterically crying Sango.

Sesshoumaru, on the other hand, once he'd realized there was nothing wrong with his own mate and heir, found it an almost fitting revenge on the half-breed... and it would ensure that there was no more shame to his blood through more faithless whelps being born.

Yes... a most fitting vengeance for breaking a vow of honor – and for what the two had done to his own mate.

Well played, Miko.

-sSs-

"Fix this."

Kagome's eyes widened as she stared at a feral hanyou. "What?" she asked, dumbfounded.

"You heard me, bitch! Fix this!" he gestured at a still crying Sango. "Your damn soul did this, now you'd better fuckin' fix it, or else!" he shouted.

At that, Sesshoumaru saw red, and before anyone could even blink, Inuyasha was across the meadow, crumpled at the foot of a tree with his older, more powerful brother hovering over him, enraged.

"If you ever think to threaten my mate again, I will torture your worthless hide to death – then revive you, and do it again. You will not demand anything from her – this particular circumstance is of your own doing, you self-centered little bastard," he hissed. Glaring down threateningly at the groggy hanyou, he cracked his knuckles for a moment as he fought for control, then turned on his heel and moved back towards his mate, ignoring the taijiya as she ran to Inuyasha once again.

Kagome looked guiltily away as he walked up to her, and he narrowed his eyes on her; putting one finger under her chin, he forced her to face him. "Do not, Kagome." When her eyes snapped up to his in surprise, he continued. "This is not your fault – these are the consequences of their actions. You are too intelligent not to understand that every action causes a reaction – they made their choices, and this is what has happened because of it."

Her eyes slid away again. "I know, but I can't help it! I had no idea Kikyou would do something like this – and maybe they deserve it, though I can't judge that, but it was my soul that did this! I hate that!"

He looked at her for a moment, then sighed. "Can you undo it?" he asked, his tone such that you could easily tell he was hoping she'd say no.

Her lips twisted, and she looked away. "I'm not sure. I... need to see Sango. I don't know exactly what it was that Kikyou did, so I can't say without examining her."

Reluctantly, he said, "I will allow this, however, I will keep Inuyasha away from you. I do not trust him if you should find that you can do nothing." His voice said plainly that this was non-negotiable, and Kagome merely nodded.

"That's fine – it doesn't matter if he's close or not, since it was Sango that was affected, not him."

Sesshoumaru turned on his heel and looked over at Miroku, who was watching the distant taijiya fussing over Inuyasha across the field with a pained look in his eyes. He was intending to have him fetch the two, but when he saw the monk's expression, he shook his head, and instead, began to cross the field himself again. What a tangled web you have woven, Inuyasha...

His lips thinned with irritation when Sango jumped up at his approach, standing over the still-downed Inuyasha protectively. "Be not a fool, slayer. If I were here to cause harm to the idiot, you would not be able to stop me. My mate requests your presence – she feels compelled to see if she can reverse what the undead miko has done; though I personally feel the undead one was justified, I have given way to my mate's wishes."

Inuyasha groaned and began to sit up in preparation to follow his mate. "It's about damn time the wench tries to do something. It is her soul, after all," he said.

With a glare, Sesshoumaru spoke, ice coating every word, turning them into deadly spears that he sent with lethal efficiency right through the hanyou's heart. "It is amusing how you can see that, now, half-breed, but yet that simple truth was one you were unwilling to notice before. You tormented my mate for years with that failing; but yet when it is in your own interests to pay attention to that fact, you cannot wait to bring it up."

With a guilty flush, Inuyasha narrowed his eyes and looked away, choosing not to say anything. Really, what could he say? It was the truth. He stood up, prepared to follow Sango as she walked across the field, when Sesshoumaru stepped right into his path, not letting him pass.

He scowled. "What the fuck, Sesshoumaru? Get outta my way!"

"No. You will remain here – I have no intentions of letting you anywhere near my mate again." He began to grin then, a slow, predatory smile that had Inuyasha shivering – nothing good ever came from the daiyoukai when he smiled like that. It was a deadly look. "This is as close as you will ever be allowed to her, hanyou. You will never be in a position to threaten or harm her again."

"What?" he practically screamed. "Who the fuck do you think you are, saying shit like that? I'll talk to the wench if I feel like it!"

The big inu leaned forward, that evil smile only widening. "I think that I am her mate, fool, which gives me the right to say who she will, and will not, see. I do not enforce my will upon her often, however, when it comes to her welfare, and that of my son's, I will do so without a second thought, and you, half-breed, are most definitely classified as a threat to her health."

Inuyasha growled at the mention of a son, pain flittering though him with the thought that he and Sango may never have pups of their own – and all because of Kikyou.

In that moment, he hated her.

He turned away from his brother, folding his arms into his haori, he said, "Whatever, bastard. We'll see about that. Sooner or later, Kagome'll miss me, and you won't deny her if she wants to see me."

"You think so?" he asked archly. "You are wrong on both counts, Inuyasha. Kagome hasn't missed you in all this time, why would she start now? And I most certainly will deny her, as I said, if I feel you are a threat to her." He paused, then, for a moment, looking thoughtful. "Of course, if I feel that she needs to see you for whatever reason, let it be understood now that whatever harm you attempt to bring on my mate, will be doubled on your own."

"You're a sick bastard, you know that?" Inuyasha hissed at him. "I really, really hate you."

Sesshoumaru merely looked at him, a bored expression settling on his face. "That fact does not bother me in the slightest, hanyou. I feel nothing but indifference for your 'hatred'." he said, enjoying the discomfort of his brother greatly.

He had always enjoyed any amount of suffering that the boy went through; being self-centered as the boy was, he only truly cared for himself – only showing caring for others when it did not clash with his own wants. It was this characteristic that had been shown to such high degree in his dealings with Kagome, and for that, Sesshoumaru could not find it in himself to care what happened to the mutt.

It was also his less-than-stellar observance of honor; again, the boy only showed a modicum of honor when showing such did not interfere with his own wants. Sesshoumaru had been raised with a firm sense of what was honorable and what was not, and that Inuyasha, who shared their father's noble blood, displayed such dishonorable behavior, was almost unbearable to the stoic, honor-bound eldest son of the Taisho.

That was why his ownership of the fang of their father had bothered him for so long – if the boy had so little care for what was right, how long would it be before he used that sword for some dishonorable purpose that would reflect badly on him as well? With a shake of his head that sent silver locks swaying, the daiyoukai stared down at his half brother with dislike shining brightly in his eyes.

Inuyasha stared back, frustrated rage mixing with the aforementioned hatred. "Why the fuck do you always have to torment me, you fuckin' bastard? Wasn't it enough that you abandoned me to torment and death after my mother died? You took away my name, making all those who knew of me forget I existed, you've tried to take my life a thousand times, and you even tried to take the one thing father left me. Now you're taking Kagome away from me. What the hell else ya gonna try to steal from me?"

Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes with anger at the way Inuyasha spoke of his mate as though she were an object. "Listen to yourself once in a while, Inuyasha, and perhaps you will begin to understand the extreme dislike that I carry for one such as you. For all of your complaining is about what has been done to you. You are a selfish little prick," he said bluntly, "always complaining about what your life is like, as though you are the only one to ever suffer anything bad. And how do you come to the conclusion that I stole Kagome from you? She is not an object, mutt, for anyone to steal. You treated her like one, though, and that is how you lost her. I did not make her leave your group – she did that on her own, if you will recall."

With that, he turned to look back at his camp, ostensibly ignoring his brother, though he was completely aware of every move the hanyou made.

Inuyasha was very aware that despite the fact that his brother was not looking at him, there was still a high degree of threat in his bearing. His brother was a predator, and despite the fact that he himself also was, he was under no illusions; Sesshoumaru was much more dangerous.

So he didn't say a word, instead, he turned his own attention to the camp across the meadow, trying to figure out what was going on by watching as closely as possible.

He couldn't resist one last pointless threat, however...

"Keh, whatever, you stupid bastard. But if it even looks like my mate's getting hurt..." his voice trailed off warningly.

Sesshoumaru didn't even look at him. "And that you could even suggest that my mate would harm the bitch you mated, tells me that my decision to keep you away from her is for the best. You are the biggest fool the kami ever created, Inuyasha," he said disdainfully. "I can only hope that my mate is unable to help yours – it would be shameful to force any child to bear your weak, honorless blood."

Inuyasha could only grit his teeth in rage at his brother's words...

-sSs-

Kagome watched as her former friend walked stiffly across the field towards her, wondering what Kikyou had been thinking in using this particular form of revenge. She would have thought she'd be better served striking a blow against Inuyasha himself.

Of course, I suppose this is about as personal as it gets, really – to make sure that he'll never have children of his own. Then again, if he'd chosen Kikyou, he still wouldn't have had any children...

Sango approached her, obviously uncomfortable, and Kagome couldn't really find it in herself to care about that too much – after all, she really wasn't too comfortable about the situation, either. But she wasn't about to let that stop her.

"Sesshoumaru-sama said that you wished to see me, Kagome-sama?" she said, speaking formally.

With a short nod, Kagome said, "I need to examine you to see what Kikyou did – perhaps I can undo whatever it was, though I can't promise that, you understand. All I can do is try."

"Please, try," Sango said softly, eyes lowered. "I... so wanted children of my own, and I know that Inuyasha also does." She flushed, then, as she realized that if it were her in the situation Kagome was, her that had been lied to and betrayed by her best friends, she wouldn't even be offering help – she'd have left them to suffer the consequences of their actions.

Exactly as she was sure Sesshoumaru himself would have. It was only this woman before her that would not do something like that.

"I need you to come closer; I'll need to place my hands over your abdomen, okay?"

Sango stepped forward, standing still as Kagome knelt down before her and placed both hands over her belly. She watched as Kagome took a deep breath and then exhaled, before closing her eyes. She looked up, then, only to catch Miroku's interested eyes on the miko, and what she was doing.

Kagome frowned a bit as she sank her awareness into the slayer's body, searching along the lines of blood rushing through her veins as it traveled everywhere within her body. It didn't take but moments to locate her womb, and concentrating closely, she could find nothing there that would effect her ability to carry a child.

Moving on, she searched for the woman's ovaries... and that was where she discovered the problem. Blackness surrounded them both, and Kagome could plainly see that the darkness was killing off all Sango's healthy eggs, destroying any viable ones and leaving nothing but barren, dead ones in its wake.

Scowling, she probed at the darkness, flinching back at the virulence of what she was now sure was a curse – and a most potent one. Despairingly, she shook her head and pulled back, opening her eyes and lifting her hands away from Sango before sitting back on her heels.

She sighed, considering what she'd seen and what she knew of curses, and knew that there was very little that she could do; Kikyou had taken all the hatred and despair and betrayal that she'd suffered, and fashioned it into a curse with no cure – save the death of whoever it was that attempted to do so.

Looking up, she said, "I'm sorry, Sango – there's nothing I, or anyone else, can do. She cursed you, and the only way to break that curse, is if someone dies in place of it. If you were to find someone with the power to lift the curse, and they were willing to also die, then it could be lifted, but..." she trailed off, not needing to finish, the slayer's heartbroken expression showing that she understood perfectly well that any chance for children was now doomed.

With a jerky nod, she turned to go back to her mate, a soft "Thank you," floating behind her.

Kagome couldn't help but feel badly as she placed her hands protectively over her own breeding belly. She really hated what Kikyou had done...

Suddenly, she could hear the former undead miko's voice in her mind. This is the price of betrayal, Kagome – even though for you it became a sweet betrayal, in that you gained far more than you lost in the end, they still betrayed us both, lied to us, and used us, and there is always a price to pay for such actions. Letting them get away with such behavior would only guarantee that it would get worse over time.

She watched, feeling slightly cold, as her mate bid the two to leave, and then as their dejected forms disappeared slowly from the meadow, knowing that Kikyou spoke truly.

It still didn't make her feel any better about it, though...

Truth or not, she probably never would feel better about it.

-sSs-

Time passed, as it was wont to do, and the dynamics in the pack changed just as the seasons did. Sesshoumaru and his mate had many children, neither one ever straying very far from the others side in all the centuries they were together.

Shippo grew, and soon left to find his own mate, though he was never gone for long, even after finding a female kitsune to love. Rin also, found a great deal of happiness with, of all things, another inu youkai, though this one was not of noble blood as was Sesshoumaru, still, they lived and loved as the daiyoukai gave his blessing for the mating, wanting nothing more than to see his ward happy.

Miroku eventually found himself mated to a female youkai – and one he would never have suspected; Ayame, princess of the white wolf clan, accepted his offer of bearing him children, since her cubs, due to his holy power, would be born full youkai, just as Kagome had given her own mate pure-blooded pups.

It seemed she had just gotten tired of chasing after Koga, and hadn't found any other wolf youkai she cared for; after spending much time with the hentai monk while traveling around with Kagome as a friend, she had decided to gift him her heart, instead.

They never saw Sango or Inuyasha again, and the only reason they knew what happened to them, was because they ran into a much older Kohaku one day almost ten years after their last contact with the slayer and hanyou. It seemed that the two had gone back to Sango's old village and chosen to live out their days there, surrounded by the dead. Neither could handle the thought of living in a village where they would be around so many children...

For them, the consequences of their betrayal were anything but sweet.

The End

A/N: Well, there you have it. Hope no one is disappointed, but in my mind, those are the consequences when you lie, use, and betray others. Inuyasha spent years stringing Kagome along, vacillating back and forth between she and Kikyou, only to turn around and mate someone else. That could have been forgiven, but the lying, especially since it's only purpose was to continue to use her? Nope. And then there's Kikyou, who he promised to go to hell with, then turned his back on.

That's not even mentioning Sango – supposedly Kagome's best friend, and yet, she lied to her, used her, and didn't bother to tell her best friend that she was mating the man she was in love with, letting Kagome talk to her and continue to confide in her dreams and hopes that she herself had already killed? She was playing her so called friend for a fool...

Anyway, that's just how I feel, and since this is my story, that's how I wrote it. Those who don't like it, that's fine, but I won't accept flames for writing my story the way I want. Don't like it, don't read, simple as that.

Amber