Isshi no Ichimu 

By: Lady Kaiba

Summary: Kagome discovers something about herself…she's pregnant! But, HOW did it happen? She's never mated with anyone! …right? Tie that in with the fact that she's changing, physically and internally. What's going on with her?! Why has her life suddenly become so screwed up!?!? Sess/Kag R+R!!

LK: Eh, no YGO update, but instead a new story! I -have- to get Inuyasha fics out of my system before I can continue any of my other YGO fics, so I apologize to those of you who read them. Anyway, this popped into my head this last Saturday, so I hope you all enjoy it!

Lara: Please R+R! And there's also a nice little treat in here! Ja~!!

Key:

~~*~~ - New scene

~~~*~~~ - Flashback / end flashback

'Italics' – thinking

-Eh-  - emphasized words

"Duh" – talk

LK: If you want Japanese translations for words you don't know, just ask. But I don't think I used any unknown ones…R+R!!! And enjoy! ^-^

 ~~*~~

Kagome sucked in deep, calming breaths as she walked along the path behind her companions. 'Oh man, I don't think I can stop it…' she thought. Suddenly she covered her mouth and ran into the woods that lay next to the path they walked along. 'I'm definitely gunna throw up!'  She hadn't ran any farther than five steps into the woods before it happened.

The group looked back, worried, when they heard something run into the woods, then the highly unpleasant sounds of someone vomiting. "Kagome-chan!" Sango yelled and disappeared into the trees, to her friend's aid.

Miroku looked to the girls' location, empathy clear on his face. "Poor Kagome-sama. She's been like this for a day now." He looked down to see the worried look on the young Kitsune's face, then turned to the head of their little Shikon no Kakeru hunting group. "Inuyasha, we should hurry back to the village. I fear for Kagome-sama's health." He looked back to the woods, where the sounds had yet to cease. "It seems she has caught a nasty cold." He added quietly.

Inuyasha stared into the trees, watching Kagome with worry in his eyes. He might not have let the others show it- save when they were in grave danger- but the hanyou cared deeply for the young miko; and, surprisingly, not as anything more than a younger sister. He had thought he had been attracted to Kagome, but later discovered that he had felt that way merely because she so greatly resembled the undead miko, Kikyou, which whom he had once loved, fifty years earlier. "Alright. When they get back, ride Kirara and we'll be able to get to the village by tomorrow morning." He replied.

Miroku nodded and relief made its way into his eyes when the girls came back, Kagome looking slightly better than she had been previously. "Ladies, we will be taking Kirara the rest of the way." He informed them. The young exterminator and miko nodded. Once the fire cat transformed, they climbed on and took to the air, flying quickly toward the village as Inuyasha jumped along, using his inhuman speed, below them.

~~*~~

Kagome slept, hugging Shippou to her, as they flew through the chill air. She began shivering, but it stopped as someone placed something over her, and tucked it in well. Kagome cracked her eyes open to see Inuyasha sitting beside her, making sure his haori didn't fly off. "When…?"

"I decided it would take less time if I rode also, so Kirara landed for a minute." He replied.

"Arigatou…" Kagome whispered as she closed her eyes and fell back into the dark abyss of sleep.

"You're welcome…Kagome…" Inuyasha replied, barely above a whisper.

~~*~~

Kirara landed outside of Kaede's hut just after dawn. Kaede walked out to greet them, surprised at their early arrival. "Ye are back early, Inuyasha." She said as Sango and Miroku slid off of the fire cat youkai. Inuyasha woke Kagome and Shippou. "What happened?!" Kaede asked, worried.

"Kagome…hasn't been feeling well for the past two days." Inuyasha answered as he helped the groggy girl down and stand without falling.

"Yes, and we were worried for Kagome-sama's health. So we decided it was best to arrive as quickly as possible." Miroku added.

Kaede nodded and as she looked Kagome over, listening to their answers. "Come, child. I will be able to help you once I have examined you." Kaede took Kagome into her arms. "The rest of you please wait out here. Inuyasha," 

"Hai?"

"Would ye be so kind as to fetch this old woman some water from the stream and some of my special herb for tea? I was meaning to do that today."

Inuyasha nodded and headed to the stream with a container. Kaede turned and led Kagome into the hut. Miroku watched them retreat into the hut. After a moment of silence, he spoke. "I don't know about you two, but I hate being idle when I'm waiting." Sango nodded, agreeing with him.

"Hai, I go mad when I wait for news on something important such as this. Come on, Shippou, let's go find something we can do." Sango said. Shippou nodded and jumped onto Sango's shoulder. The three of them headed off to find something in the village that needed to be done.

~~*~~

It hadn't taken long for Kaede to examine Kagome before the two women sat quietly; Kagome waiting for Kaede to tell her what she came up with, and Kaede thinking of the best thing to tell the young miko.

"…Well? Do you know what's wrong, Kaede-baba?"

Kaede sighed. "Hai, child. I have seen this before in other young women."

"Then what is it?" Kagome was becoming unnerved by the miko's silence.

"Ye are with child, Kagome." Kaede finally said. Kagome sat there quietly, digesting the information. "I do not think Inuyasha is quite yet ready, nor mature enough, to be a father, but-"

"No." Kagome interrupted. "Inuyasha isn't the father. He couldn't be. I don't feel that way for him. I love him, but more as a brother."

Kaede watched the young miko, nodding in understanding. "If it is not Inuyasha, then who is?" she inquired.

"Um…" Kagome felt her cheeks flush. "Kaede…if you don't mind, could you tell the others that I just have the stomach flu, or something? I'm not ready for them to know." Kagome said instead, choosing to ignore the question for now.

"Of course."

Kagome nodded. "I'll be at the hot springs, I need to think. Please keep them away, also. I need to be alone to think about this." She asked. Again, Kaede nodded. Kagome thanked her teacher and walked out of the hut, taking her pack with her.

~~*~~

Kagome looked down at her reflection in the clean, clear water as she relaxed in the spring's warmth. She closed her eyes, going back to that night, two weeks earlier.

~~~*~~~

Kagome walked through the western land woods, moon shining dimly through the many trees. She had no idea where she was going, but she knew she had to be alone, far away from her friends. She had to sort out the confusing feelings in her heart. She soon came to a wide clearing. She gasped at its beauty. Here, the moon's light shone brightly, casting a silvery glow over her blue colored surroundings. A gentle breeze ruffled the grass, three branches, and her long, dark, raven colored hair.

She listened to the sound of a gentle waterfall, which sat at the other end of the clearing, where it appeared there was a hill on which a stream flowed down. She looked around, taking in her surroundings. Flowers swayed in a calm, luring dance on the breeze, to the soft music of the waterfall. Little lights floated around the base of it, revealing to Kagome that the waterfall flowed down to a hot spring. She realized, as one floated past her and more appeared in the entire vicinity, that they were not lights, but fireflies. A single firefly floated to her and she held out her hand to it. It sat on her palm and glowed contentedly.

The young miko giggled quietly at the little creature. She walked a ways into the little oasis, and sat among the white moonflowers. The little firefly floated off of her hand and, after she laid back in the flowers and grass, landed on the tip of her noise.

Kagome giggled again. "You're a cute little thing." She spoke to it. It glowed a faint pink for a moment, as if blushing at her comment.  It floated off of her nose, above her face, so that she was no longer looking cross-eyed to see it. "Why, that's very considerate of you, Mr. Firefly. Why is it you like me so much?" she wondered. The little firefly's glow took on a blue tint, then pink and purple. Kagome giggled again. "So kawaii…How about I name you…Hotaru?" The firefly blacked out for a moment, as if saying 'Naw, that's a girl's name!'

"Hm…okay…" Kagome thought for a moment before coming up with another name. "Tsunagi. Do you like that?" The little firefly brightened up, as if saying 'Right on the dot!' and the young miko smiled. "Tsunagi it is! So, Tsunagi, I wonder why I came here. Do you suppose something called me here? Did you call me here?" she asked. Tsunagi once again became her live strobe light, glowing soft colors to calm the young miko even more than she already was in her serene surroundings.

As Kagome stared up into the clear, star filled sky, she felt another's presence. She completely dismissed it, however, finding it unthreatening. She mumbled quietly to herself as she spotted all the different constellations in the start. "Orion. Heh, but then again, you're the easiest to find, now, aren't you? There's the Big Dipper…and the Little Dipper…" Her eyes shifted from the stars to the one looming above her. The first thing to have caught her eye was the long, silvery hair, then golden eyes, red stripes and blue crescent.

"Sesshoumaru…" she said quietly.

Sesshoumaru stared down at the miko, perplexed by her lack of fear of him. "Why are you not afraid of me when you have always been frightened by my presence?" he asked, stoic mask never leaving.

"Every other time we meet, there was a battle. You were always fighting with Inuyasha, so of course I was frightened…for the safety of…" Sesshoumaru thought she would say Inuyasha, but the words that came from her lips surprised him. "…Both of you…" she said softly. "Besides, I do not sense any threat from you. You don't want to hurt me…not now…not here, in this peaceful place."

Golden eyes looked deep into silvery-blue, contemplating her words. "Yes. You are correct." He replied. "How did you find this place? Why are you in these woods, alone?" he asked.

Kagome sat up, holding her hand out to Tsunagi again, and watched her little friend as she replied. "I just happened across it. I was walking because I needed time to think, and I found myself here."

'She needed time alone to think?' he voiced his next thought to her. "Think about what?" he watched her carefully and was slightly amused by the blush that formed across her nose.

"My feelings." She replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

A small smile tugged at his lips. "For…?" he continued, amusement shining in his eyes. Her blush deepened, but she didn't reply. Sesshoumaru knelt in front of her and tilted her head up to meet his gaze with two gentle fingers under her chin. He surprised her as he leaned forward, gently capturing her lips with his own. Tsunagi floated off of her hand and away to sit on a flower, keeping a protective eye on the mistress he had grown so fond of in such a short amount of time. But at the same time, he glowed gentle, romantic colors, approving of the two, knowing that they were destined to be.

Kagome slowly closed her eyes, replying to the kiss as she brought up her courage. She gasped as she felt his tongue gently brush over her lips in a gentle plea to be allowed entrance. Sesshoumaru took the gasp as an invitation and plunged his tongue into her mouth, exploring it before seeking her own. Kagome fisted her hands in his haori and pushed him back, panting for breath as she looked into his eyes, flushed.  Sesshoumaru found himself, as well, out of breath.

"W-why…?" She asked in a breathy voice.

A smile made it's way onto the Lord of the West's lips. "Why did I kiss you?" he said the question she had tried to ask. The miko nodded. "Because," he brushed the back of his hand over her cheek, and brushed back a few strands of hair, "I wanted to." He said quietly.

"W-what? Why?"

He slowly tangled his hand into her dark locks. "Because, I have found that you have captured my heart." He replied as he leaned forward again and kissed her again, putting more passion into it that the last, though equally gentle.

Kagome's eyes widened in shock. 'H-he's in love with me?' she asked in her mind. Her heart quickened as she realized the obvious, what she had come to think about, and slowly closed her eyes as she replied to the kiss with just as much passion. Sesshoumaru broke the kiss again, Kagome gasping for the sweet, clean air of Sengoku Jidai. "And I…" Kagome looked into his eyes. "…I have found that you have captured my heart, also." The taiyoukai smiled gently again and pulled her back into another kiss, all the while lowering her down to the ground. Kneeling above her, his hand began to travel down her side, then to the buttons on her shirt.

Kagome moaned and pulled out of the kiss as he massaged her left breast through her material. "Sess…Sesshoumaru, I-I think you should know that I-"

"Have never been with a man before. I know. It is not hard for youkai to tell if a female is a virgin or not." He replied.

"Be gentle." Was Kagome's only request as she allowed him to trail kisses from her lips to her neck.

"Of course." He replied as he paid special attention to the juncture of her neck and shoulder. He heard Kagome's sharp intake of breath and her gasp as he bit down, claiming the young miko as his, and only his. She was now his mate; no other man would touch her. He licked the blood, soothing the wound. "Forgive me, but it had to be done." He apologized to her.

"I understand." She spoke quietly. A gasp was pulled from her lips as he continued kissing his way down her collarbone, to the material shielding her from his sight. He looked up at her.

"What is this contraption?"

"It's a bra…" she blushed. "Women wear it where I'm from. It's obvious what it does…" she added quietly.

"It serves as an annoyance. It keeps you hidden from me." He replied, and with that, the annoyance was destroyed.

Kagome gasped in surprise. 'Well, at least I was smart enough not to wear my favorite one…' She thought. "Oh…" all thoughts were stopped, however, when she felt him move on to her breasts, licking and suckling one, while massaging the other. 

~~~*~~~ WARNING: Lemon ahead…

Kagome's eyes opened and she looked at her reflection again, looking to the place where her mark sat. "I thought it was a dream…" she whispered to herself.

"It was no dream." Came the calm, masculine voice of none other than Sesshoumaru. Kagome looked up to see him standing at the edge of the water.

"Sesshoumaru…"

He was half expecting her to attempt to hide herself from his view, but was pleased when she didn't. He didn't want his beautiful mate to hide her beauty from his eyes.

"If it wasn't a dream, then how did I end up clothed and back in my sleeping bad in the camp when I woke?" she asked him.

"After you fell asleep, I bathed us and redressed you, then returned you to your camp. I did not want the hanyou to come looking for you." He replied as he began to remove his clothing.

"Why not?"

Never taking his eyes from her, Sesshoumaru walked into the water and over to her, once he was completely undressed, and replied, "I did not want him to find my little oasis. I was surprised that night to find that you had somehow found your way into it."

"Your oasis?" He was now barely a foot away from her, and Kagome had to look up into his eyes.

"Yes. I found it many years ago. I have gone so far as to place a barrier around it so that unwanted company would not find it." He replied.

Kagome's eyes left his and traced down his body to his new left arm. 'That's right. That night I gave him back his arm…' She timidly reached out and touched his arm, slowly sliding her hand up it to his shoulder, and wrapped her arms around him as he drew her near, pulling her into a passionate kiss.

"It has been too long since I have been with my mate." He murmured against her lips.

"Your mate is willing and waiting." Was her quiet reply. It delighted Sesshoumaru to hear those words from his mate.

He pulled her over to a rock that protruded from the water and pressed her back flush to it as he took her lips into a deep, passionate, longing kiss. The kiss pulled a moan from her throat and he broke the kiss, leaving her lips to trail kisses down her neck to nuzzle his mark. Her legs wrapped around him and she thrust her hips up into his, impatient. Sesshoumaru groaned at the action and inserted two of his long digits into her entrance and latched onto her right breast at the same time, drawing a moan from her throat.

"Sesshou." She moaned. That was enough for him. He removed his fingers and replaced them, thrusting deeply into her warmth and forcing a groan from both of them. Kagome wrapped her arms around his neck and moved her hips, thrusting against him, egging him on, luring him into a torturously slow pace. As they danced the mating dance, moving together, Kagome's moans encouraged Sesshoumaru to move faster, each thrust driving deep into her.

Kagome couldn't handle the pace; it was still too slow for her! So she encouraged him by moving her hips faster and moaning for him to quicken it. The taiyoukai obliged, fastening his pace until he was using his inhuman speed, and the miko was no longer able to keep up with him. Her grip around him tightened and she buried her face into the crook of his neck as she dug her human nails into him. She cried out her release, his name muffled on her lips by his neck. "Sesshoumaru!!"

Her muscles clenched around him, driving him over the edge as well. With one final, deep thrust, he buried himself in her as his seed spilled into her already occupied womb. Kagome clenched onto him desperately as she caught her breath, her heart beating quickly, and the blood rushing in her ears. She felt the oddly pleasurable sensation of being filled with his seed and giggled, breathily, to herself.

Sesshoumaru trailed tired kisses over the mark on her neck before pulling back to look at her. "What's so funny?"

She smiled at him. "One would think you were trying to get me pregnant." She replied quietly.

Sesshoumaru smiled and traced a hand from her cheek down to where her womb sat within her. "I have no need to try." He countered with a small smirk. Kagome blushed and nodded, resting her chin on his shoulder again.

"That you don't." she whispered. The remained there, calming down, for a few minutes before Kagome pushed on his shoulders and Sesshoumaru withdrew from him. "Sesshou…" she looked up at him as she sank herself down into the water. Sesshoumaru fallowed her, sinking into the water until only the top of his shoulders and up remained above water. "I don't want anyone to know that I'm pregnant yet, so I asked Kaede not to tell them." Sesshoumaru nodded, understanding. "And…" she took a breath, "No one knows that you're my mate yet, or even that I have a mate. I'd like to keep it that way, at least until I'm ready to tell them."

Sesshoumaru nodded again, and pulled her into a hug. He kissed the top of her head. "I understand Kagome." He said. She smiled and rested her head on his shoulder as she wrapped her arms loosely around his neck again. "However," she looked up at him, worried. "I would like to be with you when you do tell them." Kagome smiled and nodded.

"It would make sense. Oh, I will tell one person about the baby, but not the father."

"The kitsune?" The taiyoukai inquired.

"Hai."

"Of course, he is a curious pup, he's bound to become suspicious." Kagome nodded her agreement. After a moment of silence, he asked the question that was on his mind. "When do you leave next?"

"Tomorrow." Kagome replied, quietly, obviously sleepy.

Sesshoumaru gently shook her to make sure she remained awake. "When you return to the village, tell Inuyasha that you wish to leave tomorrow, after noon, so that you may rest a while more before you leave. I will be bringing Rin and meet your group. I'll find some excuse to join you for a while." Kagome nodded.

"Alright…I should go, before Inuyasha comes to look for me. I've already been gone an hour." Sesshoumaru released Kagome and the two of them swam over to their clothing, on opposite sides of the spring. Kagome picked up a towel and began to dry off before pulling on her underwear and bra, then rummaging through her bag for clothes. She was startled when she felt her towel lay on her head and two hands begin to dry her hair. She looked back to see Sesshoumaru, fully dressed, toweling her hair for her. She smiled and then turned back to her pack. She pulled out a pair of blue jean shorts and a light blue tank top.

Standing, without any complaints from her mate, she pulled on her shorts. As she was buttoning and zipping them, Sesshoumaru threw the towel onto her pack and picked up her brush, which just happened to be lying on the ground next to her pack. He began to brush through her hair when Kagome prepared to put her shirt on. He stopped his activity for a moment, allowing her to hide her skin from his sight again, before he continued combing it. "Sesshou, I can do that myself, now." Kagome said softly.

"No."

Kagome mock pouted. With a mocking "humph!" she picked up her lotion bottle. "Fine, then I'll just put my lotion on." The taiyoukai lifted an elegant eyebrow.

"Lotion?"

"Yeah. It helps to moisturize skin, so that it's not hard and brittle. I just hate scratchy elbows…" she muttered the last bit. "Don't worry, it doesn't smell bad. See?" She popped the cap open and a gentle waft of cherry blossoms drifted past his nose.

"So that's where that smell comes from." Kagome nodded. She applied a small amount to both of her arms just as Sesshoumaru finished combing through her ebony locks. She did the same to her legs before stowing the bottle back into her bag, along with her brush. She picked up her towel and turned towards Sesshoumaru to be surprised by a soft kiss. "I will see you again soon, my mate." He said, brushing his hand over her cheek again, cupping it for a few moments. Kagome closed her eyes and leaned into his hand.

"Soon, then." She said with a smile. With one last kiss, he disappeared into the late morning sky. Smiling, Kagome turned, hoisted her pack onto her back, and walked back to the village.

~~*~~

"Kagome!!" Shippou yelled as he launched himself at his adoptive mother when she returned to the village. "You're back! Are you okay? How do you feel?"

Kagome giggled at all of his questions and wasn't surprised when the others came to her also. "I'm fine, don't worry. I'm feeling better. That bath helped out a lot, that's why I was taking so long." Kagome replied. The look in Kagome's eyes went unnoticed by her companions; however, it did not escape the old miko. Kaede decided not to inquire on it just yet. She had a feeling it had something to do with the child's father. 

Kagome had placed her pack down and hung up her towel when Inuyasha came up behind her. "Are you okay?" he asked. Kagome turned and smiled at him.

"Hai." She saw the relief in his eyes. "Ano…Inuyasha, I was wondering…can we leave tomorrow after lunch? I'd like some more time to rest before we begin shard hunting again, just to make sure."

Inuyasha nodded. "Feh, fine, wouldn't want you to be unable to sense shards." He replied with a smile. Kagome lightly hit his arm.

"Glad to see you're till the same." She teased. She was heading back toward the hut when something floated past her. Her eyes widened and she gasped.

"What? What is it?!" Inuyasha asked, worried. Kagome burst into a smile and held her hand out. The small, blue tinted glowing light landed on her palm.

"Tsunagi!"

Inuyasha face vaulted. "What?!" He blinked and looked into Kagome's hand. "It's just a little glowing thingy…" he mumbled.

Kagome tsked. "Inuyasha, he's a Firefly! And he's my friend." Kagome said as they walked to the hut.

"You're friend?" Inuyasha asked as they entered.

"Yeah."

"What's you're friend, Kagome-chan?" Sango asked, curious.

Inuyasha snorted. "A firefly."

Sango's eyes widened. "Really? I've never seen one!!" Kagome sat down against a wall as Sango and Shippou sat by her.

"I wanna see!" Shippou pouted. Kagome rested her hand in her lap and Tsunagi did his little strobe light glow again, showing off for his mistress's friends. "Wow! It's changing colors!!" the kitsune pup exclaimed, excitedly.

"That's amazing, Kagome-sama. Normally no one can catch one, and if they do, they usually loose it." Miroku said as he watched the little bug from his seat near Kaede, whom was cooking lunch. "How do you manage to keep it there?"

"I don't. I didn't catch him. Tsunagi came to me on his own."

"Tsunagi?" Miroku asked. Kagome nodded.

"I would have called him Hotaru, but he thought it was too girly."

"How do -you- know?" came Inuyasha's rude voice. Yup, back to normal.

"I think it's pretty obvious if he stops glowing altogether, Inuyasha!"

"Hm, yes." Miroku thought for a moment. "This must be no ordinary firefly, if it-uh…he replies to your words. You are lucky to have made this friend."

"When did you find him, Kagome-chan?" Sango asked.

"Hm…two weeks ago. I went for a little walk one night when you guys were asleep and I stumbled upon him." She replied.

"Food is ready." Kaede said. Tsunagi floated into the air and with a gentle touch to Kagome's cheek, he floated out of the hut and back to the forest.

"He must really like you, Kagome-sama. I believe that was a little kiss." Miroku said, smiling.

Kagome smiled. "I guess so." The group moved over to the fire and thanked Kaede for making lunch for them.

~~*~~

LK: Hm…I think I'll stop there for today! ^_^ Please R+R and I hope you enjoyed!!

Lara: Of –course- they enjoyed it! You put a lemon in the first chapter for cryin' out loud!!!

LK: ::grin:: I know. But hey, what better way to explain the unknown details, ne? ::smile:: Here it is, Brit-chan, now you didn't have to wait long, did you? The next chapter won't be out any time soon, mind you. I still have to write it! Although I do have it planned. Ja matta ne, mina~!! ^-^

~*~

Words: 4, 732

Pages: 9

Written: June 23, 2003

Finished: 6: 48 PM

~*~