A.N. I do not own Inuyasha or X-Men. Special thanks to my beta who always pushes me harder to be a better writer.

B.N. My apologies… Ari had to wait for me to beta, only for me to unleash the red pen o'doom. I'm afraid I rivaled Sesshoumaru for decimation and spatter, so be kind to her please. ~bows~

Kagome came to a sudden stop on her run, breathing heavily as she sensed her frequent shadow. "You know I can take care of myself," she panted, turning to meet Logan's fierce gaze as he came through the trees.

"Yeah, that's why you were screaming for help when Sabertooth came through here." Logan walked closer to her with purpose. He inhaled deeply and paused in his advance at the realization she wasn't trying to hide her scent, wondering if he should take it as an invitation. Slipping his arm around her waist, his hand spanned her hip as he wrapped himself around her, surrounding himself in her scent. He dipped down to run his nose along her neck, relaxing as he confirmed she was safe.

Letting him hold her, Kagome threaded her fingers in his hair and closed her eyes. "You are so incredibly stubborn." His heady aroma of woods and something sheerly masculine and entirely him invaded her senses, stirring more feelings than she cared to admit. Her body relaxed, unwillingly finding comfort in his touch. "I keep making the same mistakes…"

"Why am I a mistake?" Logan demanded bluntly, his arms still locked around her waist.

"Because I…" Kagome sighed and gently pushed him back. She walked over to the trees, lowering herself to take a seat on the roots of the largest one and resting her hand on her stomach. "Look, I have been down this path before… I do not have the energy to conduct a real relationship with anyone, Logan, and as much as I enjoyed our night together, I feel like you want more. I honestly do not think I have more to give."

"So, you're not scared I'll leave, you're scared I'll stay." Looking her over, Wolverine's eyes seemed to peer straight into her soul. "This guy did a number on you." His eyes narrowed, scrutinizing her reactions. "Bet he gave you some of those scars, didn't he?"

Kagome stroked her belly protectively and got to her feet, no longer willing to talk, the set of her shoulders speaking to her resolve. "Leave me be, Logan. I am not the person you think I am."

Catching her wrist, Logan leaned in and pressed his forehead to hers. "I think you've been hurt, but you've lived through it. You're the one I want. And I think you want me too."

"You are wrong," Kagome whispered, pulling her wrist from his grasp and running back towards the manor, completely missing the way the wind moved unnaturally through the trees.

x~x~x

The danger room was almost destroyed by the time Logan emerged to see Jean tapping her foot irritably. "What? It's there to be broken." He grabbed a towel and roughly toweled the sweat off his chest before tossing it aside and slipping on his shirt.

"No, it's there for training, not temper tantrums. What's going on with you?" Jean asked, concern lurking in her eyes beneath the irritability.

Logan's nostrils flared in annoyance and he scoffed at her unwanted concern. "It's nothin'. I don't need ya right now, Doc." He was brusque, not wanting her sympathy.

Bristling at the brush off, Jean narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "Is this about your crush on Kagome?"

Having walked to the door, Logan stopped, his shoulders tensing in response. "Crush?" His voice was quieter than usual, a violence lacing his tone that was far darker than his teammate was used to.

Involuntarily taking a step back, Jean swallowed as a chill ran down her spine. "Scott told me about the tension in the workout room, and I'm not blind. You like her. You've been sniffing after her since she got here." A frown possessed her lips as she stepped forward again. "Did she reject you?"

"Seems I have a knack for picking women who want to keep their distance." Logan did not look back at her as he exited the room, the door shutting forcefully behind him.

x~x~x

Kagome brushed out Rin's damp hair with gentleness, smiling warmly at the now sixteen-year-old girl. "You are growing up so quickly. It's hard to believe you're the same little girl Sesshomaru brought to the village."

"Thank you for being so kind to me, Kagome-nee-sama." Turning, she embraced the older woman affectionately, her arms shaking a little with her excitement. "Do you think… Do you think Lord Sesshomaru will approve?" She fumbled with the sleeves of her new kimono nervously, shifting foot to foot with a smile just as adorable as when she was a little girl.

"I think that your Lord brought you here so you would be comfortable amongst humans again… And I think he will be pleased that you have found someone that makes you smile." Kagome gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze and walked to the entrance of the hut with the girl just behind her. "But remember, you're young and you don't need to move too fast."

Nodding, Rin hugged her again, biting her lip nervously. "If we do like each other though and… I'm not like the other girls. I don't know how to just…" She shrugged, a touch uncertainly. "And I still have the marks, from the wolves…"

Hugging her back, Kagome rested her hands on Rin's shoulders and gently pulled back. "Well, for starters, as I said, no need to worry about that so soon. But even if it does come up down the line, Rin, scars are nothing to be ashamed of." Pulling up her sleeve, she revealed a still healing gash on her inner forearm. "That will scar, and I have many more… They are marks of survival. And I still have those who would have me." Smiling, she kissed her forehead.

Blushing in embarrassment, Rin gave a final tight embrace before running out of the hut to take the hand of a nervous-looking teenage boy. She waved at Kagome and the two joined the rest of the village in celebrating the bountiful harvest, the glow of young love between them.

Stepping out of the hut and letting the flap shut behind her, Kagome walked to the edge of the village, her steps light. When she spotted Sesshomaru, she was not surprised. "She's beautiful… In a year, I wouldn't be surprised if that boy asked you for her hand. You did well with her. She's a vibrant, strong girl. You should honestly be proud."

Face impassive, Sesshomaru's golden eyes flashed with the light of the fires of the village. Without another word, he turned on his heel and began to walk away. There was no sound, nothing but a feeling of expectation in his wake.

Not hesitating, Kagome followed him into the woods without looking back.

x~x~x

Wind chimes tinkled softly, a breeze passing through the window and bringing in the scents of the morning to the old psychic. "Why, hello my Lady." She stirred her tea, smiling fondly as she realized she was not alone. "I have been playing my role, as discussed."

"You have not been able to see our enemy though… Such power he must have." The white haired woman came to stand beside the elderly human, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Are you certain you do not wish to go into hiding? You said this could be your final turn."

Madame Moirai sipped her tea and shook her head. "We have had a long, prosperous run, my Lady. If this shall be my final act, let it be faced with grace and dignity." With her piece said, she walked to her book case and pulled out the leather tome containing the records of all psychic families. "Just make sure that Kagome gets this."

Accepting it with a fanged smile, the inuyoukai inclined her head. "Of course. I shall see her soon enough."

x~x~x

Accepting the attendance pad at the start of Wednesday's class, Kagome directed a smile at Rogue as the class settled in. "Welcome back. I know a lot of you are wondering what could have happened last class. One moment, Kikyou and Inuyasha were madly in love, and the next they were attacking each other.

"History has an unfortunate habit of repeating itself, so the culprit was a familiar one. The bandit Onigumo, whom Kikyou had been tending, was still alive and his longing for her was growing stronger and darker as he saw her heart filling with light. As he lay in the cave, unable to move due to the horrific burns on his body, all he could do was imagine what it might be like to possess Kikyou, to taint her and see the Shikon no Tama glimmering with evil rather than purity. Slowly dying, he sensed lower demons waiting to devour his flesh. He invited them to consume him, take his flesh, so long as they fulfilled his desires. The bargain was struck and like Magatsuhi before him, Onigumo became a half-demon. He called himself Naraku, and he possessed the ability to change his appearance at will.

"In becoming Naraku, the love Onigumo held for Kikyou was twisted by the hatred the demons that consumed him felt for her. In the guise of Inuyasha, Naraku attacked Kikyou, fatally wounding her, before running off with the jewel and placing it back in the shrine. After that, he went took on a Kikyou's appearance and went after Inuyasha. As soon as Naraku had Inuyasha in sight, he called out to him in his lover's voice and fired arrows at him, chasing him back towards the village to insure that everyone would believe Inuyasha to be evil.

"Believing himself betrayed, Inuyasha attacked the village and took the Shikon no Tama, intending to become a full demon like he had wanted before. However, the wounded Kikyou had used the last of her strength to track down the man she thought betrayed her. She called out his name and released her final arrow, pinning him to the Goshinboku, or god tree. Kikyou gave the final instruction to burn the Shikon no Tama with her body and the villagers complied." Kagome swallowed and looked out at the faces of her students and felt their outrage, the same way she had when she first realized what had happened between the two.

"But… They like, loved each other! How could they believe they betrayed each other?" Kitty asked, her hands shaking. "If you love someone, you don't just assume the worst, you fight for them!"

"There was no time," Kagome told her sadly. "Perhaps, if Kikyou had survived her wounds, if Inuyasha had not been sealed, they would have found the truth. But that is not what happened. Naraku hit upon their insecurities perfectly, Inuyasha's fear that Kikyou could never really love him and Kikyou's worry that Inuyasha only really wanted the jewel, insuring they would never have the ability to reconcile. The only thing he was unable to attain was the Shikon no Tama."

"He put it back," Kurt piped up, frowning. "If he wanted it, why would he do that?"

"He wanted the jewel to be so tainted that it could never be purified again, so the illusion of betrayal had to be perfect. And he never anticipated that Kikyou would take the jewel with her into the next life. That was never part of his plan." Kagome felt a resigned sadness, but she smiled softly at her class regardless.

"Is that really it?" Rogue asked, feeling a little cheated that the legend would end just when she came back.

"If it was, I would have needed to stretch it out a lot more for these lessons. This is where we shall end for the day however. Remember to be ready to head to the museum at ten in the morning on Friday." Kagome held up her hands to halt the murmurs of her students. "The Shikon no Tama is a legend that only becomes more… rich as we delve deeper. Do not worry, we will pick it up again."

x~x~x

"Is this seat taken?" Storm asked Kagome calmly, resting a hand on the chair across from Kagome's in the library.

"Of course not," Kagome answered quickly, looking up from her lesson plans, already starting on the history class she was to teach when the school year officially began. "Are you sure you do not want to come to the museum tomorrow?"

"Wish I could." Ororo sat down and glanced over at her paperwork, noting the continuation of the practical classes in her plans. "We'll have an office ready for you soon so you won't have to work in here."

"I really do not mind," the younger woman assured her, smiling faintly and setting her pen aside. "Is there something you want to talk to me about?"

"I saw you run off yesterday without someone to escort you in the woods and followed because I was worried… When I got to the clearing, Logan was there. I don't mean to pry, but I didn't know that you two had that sort of relationship," the weather witch declared with more than a little awkwardness to her tone. "You two are adults and can do whatever you like as far as I'm concerned, but you should probably tell the Professor."

Cursing herself for her distraction the previous day, Kagome sighed and shook her head. "There really is nothing to tell. Nothing like that will be happening again."

"Don't be offended, but I think you are too strong and determined of a person to let things simply happen. If you want Logan, that's fine. But don't try to hide it in a place like this. Eventually it comes out, and then it is scandalous rather than simply a relationship between two consenting adults." Storm met her gaze, a simple honesty in her eyes. "I am not trying to force the issue, believe me. I know you enjoy your privacy, but some level of that tends to disappear here."

"Whatever happened or did not is my business. Thank you for your advice." Kagome nodded curtly, gathered her things and walked quickly towards the door of the library.

Ororo stood, sighing. "Kagome, I respect you. But Logan is a… full-tilt individual. When he wants something and has made up his mind in favor of it, he goes for it. So if you really don't want anything else to happen, you will need to be firm on the matter."

Barely pausing to listen, Kagome gave another quick nod and hurried out, embarrassed at the whole conversation.

x~x~x

Kagome laid back in her bed, feeling completely frustrated in more than one way. She glanced at her alarm clock for the third time in only ten minutes and wanted to scream when she saw it was one in the morning. She sat up and rested her hand on her stomach. "I love you, you know. I can hardly wait until you get here. I know the world can be frightening, but I will always keep you safe."

She got to her feet and walked over to the window, looking at the crescent moon that caused her heart to twist. "Your father was a confusing man," she murmured and leaned against the cool glass. "I never knew it was anything more than companionship, but maybe it was. Whatever it was, it gave me you and that makes it all worth it to me."

A cloud passed over the moon and Kagome shivered when a pain shot through her body, from her chest and moving outwards. Her entire being was afflicted with a burning that made her gasp in anguish. "N...no…" She threw up a shield, the agony no longer playing on her nerve endings with her barrier in place. She expanded her senses past the bubble of her energy, seeking the source of the attack. As soon as she locked onto it, she felt a tendril of something familiar, something she knew, and then- "Ah…" Her barrier shattered.

Overwhelming power consumed her, vision blurring at the sensation of an acidic poison dripping down her body. Tears burned her eyes when she felt the pressure moving to her stomach. "No. No!" she shouted, her own power slamming into the darkness forcefully. Pink light radiated around her and she felt that black youki burning at the contact, leaving an acrid smell in the air.

And all at once, it was gone, leaving Kagome terrified, the air crackling around her with her power. Taking a deep breath she pulled back on the purification, opened her mind up and yelled for Jean.

x~x~x

"You and your baby are both fine. The little one has a good, strong heartbeat. You don't need to worry." Jean rubbed her eyes, still extremely tired, but curious given Kagome's previous assertions that another doctor would care for her and her child during pregnancy. "What made you think there was a problem?"

Relieved, Kagome relaxed and tried to banish the crawling sensation on her skin at the memory. "I had a pain. A really bad one. I... could not rest until I was certain." She did not meet Jean's gaze, feeling intensely vulnerable. "Sorry to wake you for nothing."

"Don't be. You have a lot to think about." Jean straightened, looking her over. "I know we got off to a rocky start, but we're on the same team." She paused, her eyes still questioning. "So you can tell me things. Medical or otherwise. It will be confidential."

"I know." Kagome wrapped her arms around herself, shielding her stomach. "I trusted you enough to do the exam, did I not?" she pointed out, smiling weakly as she got to her feet. "Thank you, Jean."

"Anytime, Kagome," the redhead replied, watching her walk away with far more questions than she had gone to sleep with.

x~x~x

Quiet fury possessed the kitsune as he inspected his motherly figure carefully, inhaling her scent and running his eyes over her to search for any signs of pain, his aura wrapping around her protectively to insure none of the darkness lingered. "You said the youki was familiar. Who?"

"If I knew I would have lead with that. Whoever is was, they were polluted, consumed by darkness." Kagome leaned into her son, seeking comfort. "And they were good at concealing themselves. No one else in the manor seemed aware. It was an attack aimed at me and the baby only."

"Well, until we figure this out, you will not be sleeping alone." Shippou pressed a kiss to her forehead, his embrace protective. "I have a feeling you'll want to stay at the school, so I will be moving in here with you."

Kagome kissed his cheek and nodded. "Alright." She closed her eyes and rested her forehead on his shoulder, feeling at once comforted and a shade guilty that he was altering his life for her. "Will you come to the museum with me tomorrow?"

"Are you kidding? You aren't going anywhere without me," the orange-haired youkai told her firmly, wrapping her tightly in his embrace. "You and my little sister are going to be safe."

"Sister?" Kagome echoed, pulling back to look at him. "You can tell?" Her eyes were intent, needing answers to more than that single question.

"Of course I can," Shippou answered swiftly. "You're going to be showing soon." He smiled fondly at her in a way only those with a pack mindset truly could.

"If you can tell the sex… Would Sesshomaru have been able to tell I was pregnant? And that I was fertile when we..?" Kagome swallowed, as if the answer might cause more trepidation for her than the question itself.

"Probably," Shippou admitted quietly, looking her over with intense curiosity. "Mom, what happened between you two? Come on, I can tell it's eating you up."

Letting out a sigh, Kagome looked away, her expression somber. "He approached me one night when I was alone. He was lonely, I was lonely… We did not need words, really. He just took and I gave willingly. He was losing Rin and no matter what he said or did not say, I do believe he grieved Inuyasha in his way… And I had lost Inuyasha and was dealing with standing alone. Sure I had you, but Sango and Miroku were together and making something new, Inuyasha was gone…"

Stroking her hair, Shippou nodded and nuzzled her affectionately, trying to encourage her to keep sharing with him. "Okay, so you and he had a few nights together?"

"Well… It was more than a few. He would show up when I was alone, or make his presence known and wait for me. We never really spoke much and I was always careful that you would not smell him and ask questions. We never promised each other anything, never offered words of comfort really. We were just two people that did not necessarily need each other, but we understood one another." Kagome felt tears prickle in her eyes. "At least that was what I thought until the end when he..."

"The jewel took him," Shippou finished, having gone with Rin himself to present Lady Haname with Tenseiga. It had been difficult, but he had completed the task with honor.

"Yes, it did, but it was my fault." Kagome sat up, wiping her tears away. "I went after the last three shards alone, or at least that was my intention. Sesshomaru came to me and he stayed… It was bizarre. He fought at my side, or sometimes stood and watched me fight when he knew it was not anything strong enough to warrant interference… Looking back, I feel like an idiot for not seeing it. Nearly every night… I thought maybe that he needed the distraction. When I came back to tell you that I'd completed it and to say my goodbyes, Sesshomaru was waiting for me.

"He asked me what I would do with it when it was finished and I told him that I would destroy it… I meant it. I knew that there would be a price to pay and I was willing to do that. So I wished that the Shikon no Tama did not exist in the realm of the living.

"It was terrifying. It dissolved in my hands, but the power was there, dark and terrible… It controlled Sesshomaru, forced his hand in opening the Meidou Zangetsuha. I was going to be taken in with the power of the jewel, but Sesshomaru dropped Tenseiga and pushed me out of the way. His eyes were clear then, devoid of darkness. His final act was to save me… But why? Could he smell his child? Did he feel something for me that I did not realize? What did it all mean? Was I being cruel every time I washed his scent away, every time I let myself become ashamed?" Kagome bit her lip, feeling like a confused teenager again.

Shippou drew her close again and kissed the top of her head. "You reacted just the way he wanted you too, Mom. You follow instincts much like a youkai… Maybe I'm not reading it right, but I feel like he was deciding you were strong enough to… Well, I think he wasn't opposed to having a child with you. It wasn't love as you understand it, but you are right to think now that it wasn't casual. He protected you because he wanted to. Don't worry about the feelings of everyone else so much. You pick men strong enough to handle themselves."

x~x~x

The cool air ghosted over her heated flesh pleasantly as Kagome let the daiyoukai run his claws over her hip. "You're pretty restless tonight." She turned on her side and peered at him curiously, feeling the weight of his eyes on her.

Sesshomaru was silent as he studied her, seeming to weigh the value of her very soul with the look. Finally, he nudged her onto her back and dipped his head down, running his nose from her collarbone to her pulse. "You are close to completing the jewel."

"I am," Kagome agreed, shivering at his breath on her skin. "I can hardly imagine going back to my old life… No running from people trying to kill me." She closed her eyes and then let out a little moan when he slipped his hand between her thighs. When her eyes opened, it was not Sesshomaru peering at her with lust in his gaze.

x~x~x

Kagome sat up in bed and her cheeks turned pink when she saw her surrogate son's nose twitching in his sleep. She slipped from her sheets and walked into the bathroom, turning on the shower. She shed her robe and stepped in, letting the water slide over her warm skin.

Light slowly began to filter through the window after a while, making Kagome realize she had to face the day. Slowly, she got to her feet and shut off the water. When she stepped out and slipped on her robe, she was unsurprised to sense Shippou moving about the room. She opened the door and smiled faintly in greeting. "Morning."

"Morning. You know, as much as I'm aware you're a healthy adult woman with needs, I think we need to work on your vivid dreams, or give you an outlet. If Logan's out, I know plenty of people that are ready and willing. Just say the word, and eligible bachelors or bachelorettes will line up before you."

Shaking her head, Kagome thumped her son on the shoulder.

"What? Nothing to be ashamed of, Mom, pregnancy can make even the purest of hearts give into lust," Shippou drawled, a teasing lilt to his voice.

Turning a little pink, Kagome merely walked to her dresser to grab an outfit for the museum trip. "I think I might have liked it better when you were a child, unaware of the more intimate parts of my life."