Passion

Disclaimer: Still not mine.

A/N: I am so sorry for the late update! You must have thought I died or something. Well, I'm still alive, but my computer died from a virus in December, and it took some time until it could be resurrected. I'm happy that my fanfiction files didn't die with it. If they had, I'd surely have killed myself!

So, here's there new chapter now. I think it should answer most of the questions chapter 12 provoked, namely why was Miroku so angry at Kagome and why is she so ill. Some of the reviewers "“ thanks to everybody who did review! "“ got pretty close in their suggestions. Now you will find out the truth.

One last thing: apparently, some readers aren't only interested in my stories but also in their author, so I put some facts about myself in the bio. And if you have any more questions or want new about updates and stuff, check my livejournal.

And now: Happy reading!!


Chapter XIII "“ Kagome's Illness

Kagome came to very slowly. She was reluctant to leave the soft blackness of unconsciousness behind as she felt reality come back to her, for with it came several painful throbs in her body, a splitting headache, and a terrible nausea. She retched as violent spasms heaved her lithe body, but her stomach was empty and nothing but a thin sliver of saliva came forth.

Gentle, soothing hands held her shoulders and caressed her hair. A soft voice murmured calming words, and though Kagome did not understand what they said she felt better.

When the attack abated, she felt utterly drained and exhausted. Her whole body ached, inside and outside, and she wished she could flee from the pain back into unconsciousness. But her traitorous mind refused her this relief. Kagome moaned softly.

"Do you feel a little better, Kagome-chan?" asked the soft voice.

Kagome forced her leaden lids to open. Sango's concerned face faded into focus, but a sudden dizziness blurred everything and the world began to spin around her. Kagome closed her eyes again in the hopes the spinning would stop, so that the torturing nausea would abate. But the feeling of swaying did not leave. A soft groan left her pale lips.

Something cool brushed over her face, and this brought a little relief. Fingers wiped the sweaty strands of her fringe aside, and a cool cloth was laid on her brow. Somewhere inside of Kagome's mind, below the sickness, an alarm shrilled, but she was too exhausted and weak to worry about a possible removal of her mask.

"Kagome-chan?" repeated the voice. "Can you hear me? Can you speak?"

Kagome tried to nod, but the motion increased her nausea, and she retched again. Immediately the hands gripped her shoulders and held her up until the spasm was over. Then she was laid back down and the cool cloth brushed once more over her sweaty face.

"She's awake?" a gruff voice asked from far away.

"She's conscious," answered the soothing voice. A few mumbled words followed that Kagome did not understand, and the near voice spoke again, "Yes, of course, but I'm not easy, Inu Yasha. I don't know if she's conscious enough to hear us, but what's worse is that she keeps retching at the slightest motion! She won't be able to keep the medicine down and without it she won't get better."

"Why's she so ill?" The voice was closer now and very worried. "The monk's not that bad off!"

"I suppose that's because Kagome-chan breathed in more of the poison."

"Can't we do anything?"

"We can try to make her drink the medicine, but apart from that "¦ Keep her warm, I think, and wait. Here, help me, Inu Yasha. Get her up, but slowly."

Kagome felt arms wrap around her shoulders, and then she was lifted up. The motion, though slow and careful, exacerbated her nausea and another spasm convulsed her body. She was held securely during the attack, and somehow the warmth and the strength of the person holding her helped her to overcome it. Clawed fingers caressed her hair, and for a moment Kagome relaxed.

But then pain pierced through her heart. It was so sharp that she cried out, and her body jerked as if she had been beaten.

This was not the person she wanted to hold her! Strong and warm as they were, they were not her mate! And she needed him so badly. Instinctively she knew she would be better if he was with her. But he was not here. He had gone. He had left her alone again. She whimpered weakly.

"Sango!" Inu Yasha sounded panicked.

"Oh kami," Sango sighed. "She must be worse than I thought! No, Inu Yasha, don't move her again! I'll try to give her the medicine."

Kagome heard some noises, and then something hard and smooth was pressed against her lips.

"Kagome-chan, this is medicine from your bag. Please, drink it. You'll feel better!"

Something fluid touched Kagome's lips, and she opened her mouth on reflex. Water with an unpleasant, bitter taste was poured into her mouth. Feebly, Kagome tried to move her head away and spit the medicine out. Something that vile could not help! But she was too weak, Sango too determined, and at last Kagome swallowed.

"That's good, Kagome-chan," encouraged Sango. "Drink it all. Yes, it tastes awful, but it helps! Miroku is already feeling better, and you'll be soon feeling better too."

Kagome tried to glare at Sango to let her friend know what she thought of this little speech, but all she managed was a short flutter of her lashes and a somewhat unfocused squint.

"Sango, my love, I think she already feels better," commented a very weak voice from the side.

"You! Lie down immediately! You're in no state to sit up, Miroku! You ought to rest!" Sango moved out of Kagome's view, still admonishing the monk. Miroku answered flippantly, further annoying Sango.

"Oi, Sango, let him be!" growled Inu Yasha. "If he's fine enough to sit up, we don't have to bother."

Sango huffed, but Miroku said, "Yes, yes, very true. I feel much better! Sango, you had better help Inu Yasha. He doesn't look so comfortable with his task."

Inu Yasha growled again. The sound reverberated in his chest, and the vibrations were transmitted to Kagome's body. This evoked memories in her, sweet memories that hurt indescribably. She moaned in pain, and a tear ran down her cheek.

Instantly, Sango was at her side again, talking to her and patting her hand. Inu Yasha's arms around her tensed and held her tighter. Kagome was oblivious to her friends' endeavours. The pain of the poisoning and the pain of her aching heart were too great. They consumed her completely. Her mind did not register the worried conversation between Inu Yasha and Sango. She let the pain take over, let the tears run freely until at last unconsciousness claimed her again.


* * * * *


Warmth.

This was the first thing Kagome became aware of as the darkness faded. She was surrounded by warmth. For a moment she floated oin a warm, soft cloud.

Then the pain came back. Her back ached with having lain for a long time on the hard ground. Her arms and legs ached as if she had been beaten, and her head hurt with a dull throbbing. The pain in her heart, however, was sharp like a knife, and her soul writhed with the sensation of being incomplete.

With the pain came the memory. The boar demon with the shards and its original opponent, the scorpion; Inu Yasha's fight with the boar; the fight with the scorpion; her attacks, and the scorpion's poison; the scorpion's sting hitting her; Sesshomaru rescuing her. Sesshomaru "¦

Kagome whimpered quietly and squeezed her eyes close. It hurt so much! He had left her again while she needed him so much! The fact that he suffered as much from the separation as she did made her feel even worse. She could not endure this! The whole situation was unbearable, and she was sure she was going crazy if it would not change very, very soon!

Whispered words reached her ear and interrupted her misery. Kagome slowly opened her eyes as a soft rustle of clothes announced a person sitting down next to her.

"Kagome?"

She blinked at the person that was bending over her. Silvery white hair fell in a tousled mass over their shoulders, and their golden eyes watched her with a clearly worried expression. But the face was not the one she wanted to see. Not the one she wanted to see.

A feeble smile quivered on her lips. "Inu Yasha."

"You're awake!" Inu Yasha's shoulders sagged with relief. "Finally! How do you feel?"

"It hurts all over." Her voice was hoarse, and since her throat burnt horribly she could only whisper.

Inu Yasha nodded. "Yeah, I s'ppose it does. Miroku said the same. Sango thought it must be the after-effects of the poison. Wait a moment; I'll get you more medicine. That makes it better."

Inu Yasha got up and vanished from her sight. In his place, another face bent down over her, regarding her equally worried.

"Kagome, you won't die, will you?"

Kagome's smile deepened minutely. "No, Shippo-chan. I won't."

"Stop talking nonsense, brat," growled Inu Yasha. He plopped down and handed Shippo a cup. "Here, hold that for a minute."

He helped Kagome to sit up; touching her so carefully as if he was afraid she would break if he grabbed her too hard. He leaned her back against his chest, supported her with one arm around her shoulders, and gestured Shippo to hand him the cup.

"Drink this, Kagome. Sango said it would help."

Kagome grimaced weakly, but did as she was told. The stuff tasted even viler than she remembered.

"Do you feel better, Kagome?" asked Shippo eagerly as soon as the cup was empty.

"Shut up, you little pest!" huffed Inu Yasha. "Of course she doesn't! That medicine doesn't help immediately."

He laid Kagome down and tugged her sleeping bag securely around her.

"You must rest," he ordered.

Kagome could not help a tiny grin. "Yes, nurse."

Inu Yasha growled and stalked away.

Shippo remained seated next to her. He did not say a word. Neither did he take his eyes off Kagome's face. The little fox waited until she was better.

Slowly, Kagome's mind cleared. The pain ebbed away, at least the pain in her limps and head, and she began to register her surroundings. It was barely light. The sky above her had this particular grey hue that spoke of early morning. To her right, she could discern the dark shapes of trees. Mist hung between their branches. It was silent around them. Not a bird chirped. It had to be very early indeed.

With the rising sun the pain in her body abated, and when the first rays pierced through the mist, greeted enthusiastically by the birds, Kagome turned her head and looked at the kitsune at her side.

"Well, Shippo-chan?"

Shippo sat up. His green eyes brightened. He smiled broadly.

"Do you feel better now?"

"Yes, a little."

The fox frowned. "Do you still hurt?"

Kagome smiled wryly. Oh, yes, she did. But why trouble the child?

"Only a little, Shippo-chan. My throat when I speak."

"Then you'd better not talk." He nodded insistently.

"Then you'd better not bother her," grumbled Inu Yasha from somewhere to the left.

Shippo's eyes widened in concern. "Do I make you talk, Kagome?"

"Shut up, brat!"

"I asked her, Inu Yasha, not you!"

"Yeah, but asking her means she has to talk!"

"Oh." Shippo cast an apologizing glance at Kagome. "Sorry, Kagome. I didn't mean to make you talk!"

"Don't worry, Shippo-chan. It's not that bad." She smiled at him, and then turned her head to look at Inu Yasha.

The hanyou sat at a small fire, watching a kettle that was hanging over it. Behind the fire lay two dark shapes on the ground.

"Miroku-sama? Sango-chan?" Mild worry rose in Kagome. "Are they okay?"

"Don't worry, Kagome, they're all right," chirped Shippo. Now that his fear for Kagome was gone, his cheerful nature came back. "Miroku wasn't as bad as you. Sango said he didn't breathe in as much poison as you, but maybe he's more used to it than you are. You know, with him always sucking in Saimyosho and so on. He drank some medicine and then he was better. He's sleeping now. Sango's sleeping too. She was tired, and Inu Yasha said she should sleep and we would watch over you. And now you're better as well!"

He beamed at her.

There was some unintelligible muttering from the fire towards the end of his speech, but Shippo did not notice. Kagome heard it and smiled. That was so like Inu Yasha! He cared for others, but he didn't like it that they knew. Dear Inu Yasha!

The thought was a sharp stab through her heart. Dear Inu Yasha, how could she do this to him? Why had it to be her? Why had fate chosen her for Sesshomaru? Why had she brought all three of them into a situation that could only bring pain?

"Kagome?"

She opened her eyes and loosened her pained grimace at Shippo's frightened question and forced her lips into a smile.

"I'm okay, Shippo-chan. Tell me, did Inu Yasha get the shards?"

It was only meant as a diversion for Shippo, but Kagome found that it served a double purpose, for his answer diverted her from the pain in her heart for a while. She listened to him as he told her in great detail how Inu Yasha had got the shards, and how Sango had finally managed to kill the scorpion, and everything that happened afterwards. During his tale, Inu Yasha growled from time to time but did not interrupt.

Kagome listened closely, concentrating on every word to suppress her emotions. It became a little more difficult when Shippo told her how both Inu Yasha and Sango had dashed off to find her "“ because that invoked the very memories she tried not to think of. She closed her eyes to cope with the pain.

A whisper interrupted Shippo.

"Hush, Shippo, she fell asleep again."

Kagome did not bother to rectify this statement. For the moment, she was content to be left alone.

Muffled voices from the fire woke her again. Kagome opened her eyes and turned her head. Sango and Inu Yasha were discussing something in hushed tones. Miroku, still a little pale, sat at their side, sipping a steaming liquid. Shippo and Kirara were nowhere in sight, and Kagome guessed they had been sent to gather wood for the fire.

Sango was the first to notice that she was awake. The demon slayer had kept an eye on Kagome since she woke up herself. Now she smiled and stepped over, kneeling down at Kagome's side.

"Kagome-chan! Awake again? Shippo told me you had woken up earlier but fell asleep again. How do you feel? Still sick? Shippo said your throat hurt when you spoke. Is that better?"

Kagome blinked and felt into her body.

"I feel fine, Sango-chan," she answered finally, sounding a little surprised. "Not sick anymore, and no pain. Hm, my throat's better, too."

Sango's smile widened. "That's very good! We did it all with the medicine you brought from your time. It's really amazing! Miroku's already up, though I rather think he'd better rest. What about you? Are you hungry? Thirsty?"

"Thirsty."

"Wait a moment "¦ Inu Yasha, can you give me that cup, please? Yes, that one. Thanks. Here, Kagome-chan. Can you sit up?"

Kagome tried to move, but found herself to be too weak to even prop herself up on her elbows. Sango set the cup down and helped her. She had then to help Kagome drink the hot tea, because she was too weak to hold the cup.

When Kagome had emptied the cup, her whole body was shaking from the effort of sitting up, and with Sango's help she lay down again. Inu Yasha was a little worried about the state Kagome was in, but Sango soothed him.

"That's the after-effect of the poisoning. No need to worry. Kagome-chan needs rest and maybe something to eat later, and then she'll be perfectly fine."

She looked up at Miroku, who had walked, well staggered, over to them.

"You shouldn't be walking around, Miroku. It doesn't help you to recover."

The monk smiled and sat down.

"Yes, my dear Sango, you said so about twenty times before. But I can't lie still forever, especially when you refuse to sit with me."

Sango huffed. "You probably want me to hold your hand as well?"

"Why, yes, that would be wonderful!"

Sango glared at Miroku.

Kagome smiled wanly. Some things will never change, I suppose.

Miroku caught her smile and winked at her.

"There! She smiles!" he announced in satisfaction. "You see, dear Sango, how useful I am in the physical recovery of others. It must be my good karma."

Sango cast an annoyed glance at the monk. "She's laughing at you. That's nothing to do with good karma but with silliness."

"Maybe, but I would never accuse someone of being silly," Miroku answered with a most serious expression.

Kagome laughed weakly. Sango's indignation vanished and she looked a little helplessly at Kagome.

"If he's too much for you, say so. I'll make Inu Yasha remove him."

Kagome smiled. "Thanks, Sango-chan. But if he becomes too much I can simply fall asleep again."

This time, Sango laughed while Miroku faked a deeply hurt look. "You do so!"

She took the cup and returned to the fire. Inu Yasha, who had been busy inspecting Tessaiga for possible damage, looked at her and then at Miroku. His eyes narrowed.

Sango saw the hanyou stiffen and touched his shoulder fleetingly as she sat down. "Don't worry, Inu Yasha. He can't do much. He's still too weak, even though he doesn't show it."

Inu Yasha snorted. "The damn lecher would grope a girl even when he's on his death-bed."

Sango shrugged. "Look at the bright side of it: as long as he does we know he's all right."

He cast her a sharp glance, and then grinned suddenly. "Not so weak, eh?"

Sango blushed violently and turned her face away.

Miroku used the chance of Inu Yasha's diversion to ask Kagome if she really was all right. Kagome answered his serious glance for a moment, and then nodded.

"Yes, I'm okay. I feel terribly weak, but the pain's gone."

The monk regarded her silently, a deeper question in his eyes. Kagome sighed and looked away, whispering, "Well, I feel as fine as possible under the circumstances."

Miroku remained silent, and after a while Kagome pulled herself together, wiped the tears away and looked up at the monk.

"By the way, thank you, Miroku-sama, for saving my life."

Miroku blinked. "Huh?"

"It was you, wasn't it, who pushed me out of the scorpion's sting the first time?"

"Oh, that." Miroku nodded and smiled. "It was my pleasure."

"Of course it was," grumbled Inu Yasha from the fire. "He would do everything as long as it involves physical contact with a pretty girl."

Kagome blinked and blushed. Miroku and Sango stared in silent surprise at the hanyou. Inu Yasha looked up, saw their stares and growled, "What?!"

Miroku smiled a little lopsidedly. "Well, this was the first time you said Kagome-sama is pretty."

Inu Yasha blushed, fidgeted, and bent his head over Tessaiga, hiding his face behind a curtain of white hair. The monk sighed and glanced down at Kagome.

"Ironic, isn't it?"

Kagome cast him a somewhat pained look. He reached out and patted her hand.

"Don't, Kagome-sama. That's the way life goes."


* * * * *


They stayed at the clearing for that day. Though Inu Yasha once remarked that they could very well set out today, since he could carry Kagome and Kirara Miroku, he did not protest when Sango told him plainly that both were too weak. He felt a bit more at ease with the two shards they had conquered, and his restlessness was reduced to a bearable minimum.

So they rested for the day, and it was a welcome rest to all. Kagome slept a lot to regain her strength as well as to escape her heart-ache. Sango, who was still exhausted from the fight yesterday and her night watch over monk and miko, followed her friend's example and took a nap in the afternoon. Afterwards, she polished her weapon, and the others busied themselves with little but necessary tasks as well.

They were woken early the next morning by a slight but persistent drizzle. They removed their camp to a place under the trees, but none of them slept well afterwards. There was little place to stretch due to a vigorous growth of brush under the trees. Furthermore, it was cold and damp, and every now and then a large drop of water would fall from a leaf and into a face or neck of one of them. So they whiled away the time till morning with light slumbers and morose mutterings.

The drizzle stopped some hours later. The clouds broke up, and some watery rays of sunshine pierced through the misty air. Fortunately, the drizzle had been light, so that Shippo and Sango were able to find dry wood for a little fire. Sango had furthermore taken on Kagome's usual task of preparing breakfast. But then it was not hard to heat up water and prepare instant ramen.

Inu Yasha and Shippo were deaf and blind to their surroundings as soon as Sango had handed them the little cups. Happily, they slurped down the noodles. Sango scrunched up her nose and rolled her eyes and handed another cup to Miroku, who had at least the grace to smile at her before he began to tug in. Sango sighed and shook her head.

"Kagome-chan?" She turned to the girl who was just getting up and out of her sleeping bag. "Breakfast. Are you hungry?"

Kagome smiled feebly. "No, not very much. Anyway, I need my strength."

Sango offered her a cup, and Kagome reached out her hands to accept it. But suddenly her face first paled and then became green. She gave a strangled sound, staggered to her feet and barely managed to turn around before her stomach emptied itself violently.

Kagome's companions froze in their respective occupation to stare at her. Sango quickly set the cup down and stepped over to Kagome, who was leaning weakly against a tree and bending over a bush. The demon slayer slid an arm around her friend's waist to support her and began rubbing small, soothing circles over her back.

"Is Kagome still ill?" asked Shippo.

"So it seems," answered Miroku. His face and voice were very serious, mirroring the concern he felt for the girl from the future.

Inu Yasha pressed his hand over his nose. "But she was better yesterday!"

"Maybe it's a kind of late after-effect?" suggested Miroku.

"But you are fine!"

"Yes, but I didn't breathe in as much of the poison as Kagome-sama."

Sango led a trembling Kagome to the fire.

"Sit down, Kagome-chan. Here, wash out your mouth." She poured water into a teacup and gave it to Kagome, who barely managed to raise it to her mouth.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered.

"You have nothing to apologise for, Kagome-chan!"

The others nodded.

"You'd better lie down again," grumbled Inu Yasha. "You're of no use when you drop dead all of a sudden."

Sango huffed indignantly, but Kagome managed a wan little smile. "Thanks, Inu Yasha."

Sango and Shippo helped her to lie down again.

"Get well soon, Kagome," whispered Shippo.

Kagome nodded. "I'll do my best, Shippo-chan."

"I s'ppose that means we won't set out again today?" asked Miroku innocently.

Sango glared at him. "Not until Kagome-chan is better!" She turned and glared at Inu Yasha. "Don't say it!"

The hanyou looked up, confused. "Huh? Don't say what? Oi, Sango, what're you talking of?"

Kagome smiled and closed her eyes as her friends began a well-known discussion.

The higher the sun rose, the better Kagome felt. Soon, she grew restless. The delay that she herself was the reason, for made her edgy. She felt the urge to go and look for more shards. The sooner I find them all the sooner this will be over.

At noon, she was fed up with the situation at present. She felt fine and she was incredibly hungry. Sango gave her some dry bread, but after Kagome had devoured that and it had not returned, she allowed her friend to eat the ramen she had not been able to eat the morning.

Inu Yasha watched in fascination as Kagome wolfed down the noodles with an uncommon speed.

"Wow, she can eat faster than you, Inu Yasha!" commented Shippo.

Kagome blushed and set her empty cup down. "Uh, sorry. I was so hungry "¦" She shrugged and smiled apologetically.

Sango recovered from her surprise. "Well, I take this as a sign that you're better."

"Yes, I am. I feel wonderful!"

It was not even a half-lie this time. Kagome really felt good, for some unknown reason. Her body seemed to be throbbing with energy, and though the pain of missing Sesshomaru was still there, it was far less sharp than it had been only this morning.

"Great! Let's go!" exclaimed Inu Yasha and jumped up. The looks of Sango and Shippo stopped him. "Hey, she said she was fine! You said we would set out again when she's better, Sango! Well, so she is!"

"Probably," replied Sango. "But she has been better for only a little time. I don't think we should confront her with the strain of travelling right now."

Inu Yasha growled and sighed.

"Um, Sango-chan?" ventured Kagome. "I "¦ I really feel well. Better, actually, than before yesterday. If you don't mind, we can go."

Sango stared at her. "Are you sure?"

Kagome shrugged and nodded. "Yep."

"Oh, well, if you say so "¦"

They packed up their belongings, put out the fire and set off. Sango kept a wary eye on Kagome, always expecting her to feel sick again. But Kagome proved her wrong. The miko was lively and talkative as ever "“ actually, more so than she had been for over a month. She reminded Sango very much of the "old" Kagome, and the demon huntress was not sure whether she should welcome this or be suspicious. However, since nobody but herself seemed to be uneasy about the matter, Sango tried to push these thoughts from her mind.

Kagome did indeed very well that day; better than could have been expected. She was herself a little surprised at her strength after she had only this morning felt like a jelly on two legs. She, like Sango, expected to be sick again, but apparently her stomach had settled down.

And yet, she was not as well as she thought. In the afternoon, Kagome felt more and more tired and exhausted. Her feet became leaden, so that it was hard to lift them up from the ground, and her knees seemed to be too weak to transport her weight. At first she tried to hide this from her friends. After all, she had been the one who argued for continuing their travels! She could not be the one to break down now!

But as the day went on, it became more and more difficult to hide, and in addition with her fading strength returned the pain in her heart. Finally, Sango noticed the state Kagome was in. She asked her whether she was tired, and Kagome could not but agree. Sango scolded her for overexerting herself, and Kagome let her, too weak and exhausted to protest. Inu Yasha carried her for the remainder of the day, and though she felt a little uncomfortable for what ever reason, Kagome was very thankful for this relief because soon even holding up her head or keeping her eyes open became strenuous. She was more than happy when they called it a day and made camp shortly after sunset.

Sango made sure that Kagome did not do as much as lift a finger that evening. She even spoon-fed her. Shippo and Inu Yasha showed more than a little worry at the miko's weakness, but Sango calmed them.

"The strain of travelling today exhausted Kagome-chan. After all, she's just recovered from that poison! I suppose it was too soon to have started again today, no matter how well she felt. Anyway, I'm sure she'll be better tomorrow."

But Kagome was not better the following day.

Shippo was the first to wake. He decided he would catch a bird or a rabbit for Kagome. Meat, Inu Yasha never tired to repeat, was the first and best medicine for most maladies. And Kagome's weakness could surely be cured by a nice little bit of it! So, the fox set out to hunt, and indeed he caught a little bird which he proudly presented to Sango to be roasted for Kagome.

But Kagome did not receive this present gracefully. Like yesterday, she slept longer than the others and when she woke up did not stir out of her sleeping bag. Shippo, eager to help, carried the roasted bird over to her.

"Kagome!" he exclaimed. "I have a surprise for you!"

Kagome opened her eyes and smiled faintly. "Yes, Shippo-chan?"

Proudly, Shippo held the twig out to her. "Breakfast! I caught it myself!"

Kagome turned her head to look at it and then turned green about the gills. She clapped a hand on her mouth and struggled hastily out of her sleeping bag, stumbled two steps away from the camp, and emptied her stomach into the grass.

Sango took care of her again, and the three males wondered again if Kagome was still ill. Shippo was desolate; instead of helping Kagome he had made her feel worse!

Presently, Sango returned to them. Her face was serious as she sat down, but a smile lit her countenance as she saw Shippo's wretched mien.

"Don't be sad, Shippo. She'll probably like it when she wakes up."

"But I made her be sick!" wailed the child.

Sango sighed and patted his head. "No, Shippo, you didn't. I'm afraid Kagome-chan is more seriously ill than we first thought."

"Are you sure, Sango?" interjected Inu Yasha tensely. "What is wrong with her?"

The huntress shrugged. "I don't know, Inu Yasha. I seriously don't know. I thought she was affected by the poison, but Miroku's been better for days while she is still so ill!"

"But she did breathe in more poison than me, Sango," remarked the monk.

"Yes, and that's the only explanation I have for her state! I thought it would wear off, but apparently the poison caused some damage of which we don't know. That's why she's still ill. It must be the reason! I can't think of anything else!"

Shippo gazed up at her with wide, frightened eyes. "What can we do?" he whispered.

Sango turned to look at Miroku and Inu Yasha. "I suggest we bring her as quickly as possible to Kaede. Maybe she knows what is wrong with Kagome-chan!"

They two boys agreed to that, and they decided they would set out as soon as Kagome woke up again.

However, when Kagome woke up shortly before noon they were forced to delay their departure for another thirty minutes: Kagome refused to go anywhere before she had eaten anything. She did the little bird full credit, and Shippo beamed, his worries and fears for the moment forgotten. The others were faintly concerned that such a hearty meal would upset Kagome's stomach again; which it did not, just like the ramen had not done yesterday.

The pattern the first day of travelling had set was kept throughout the next. In the morning Kagome would be sick at the mere hint of food, sleep afterwards till noon, feel ravenous when she woke up and consume a good deal of food. She would be very well after her meal but soon tire again, and at the end of the day be reduced to a worrying state of weakness.

Through her ordeals, it was surprisingly Miroku who was always ready to help her. He made her tea and took care that she drank it; he was the first to notice when she was tired; he cheered her up when she felt miserable. He even took Sango's place of supporting her one morning as she emptied her stomach into the brush.

"Why are you being so nice, Miroku-sama?" she asked feebly after she had cleansed her mouth.

The monk took her elbow to support her and led her slowly back to her sleeping bag. "Aren't I always nice, Kagome-sama?"

"You know what I mean. Inu Yasha's getting really suspicious, you know." She looked sternly at him, but weak as she was her glare had as much force as that of a sleepy kitten.

Miroku shrugged and smiled mischievously. "Yes, I know. So is Sango." He winked at her and she couldn't help laughing.

"No, kidding aside, Miroku-sama. Why are you doing all this? You tried to keep me out of the fight. You've never done that before. Usually, you encourage me! And now you're acting as a male nurse. Why?"

He looked into her questioning eyes and suddenly became serious. "I value my life, Kagome-sama, as long as it may last."

She blinked at him. "Huh?"

He smiled faintly. "I'd rather not explain to a certain someone how it could happen that you suffered from anything, be it the attack of a demon or some illness."

"Oh."

He nodded and continued in a whisper as they were now closer to the camp, "He's somewhere around, isn't he? I thought as much after he came in time to your rescue. I want to let him know that you're taken care of. He might otherwise think it fit to come and get you at the cost of our lives."

Kagome was only able to shake her head before they were back at camp where she sank down onto her sleeping bag, totally exhausted. She resolved she had to tell Miroku that Sesshomaru would not come and get her, but she did not get the chance to do so, neither on this day nor on the following. Inu Yasha never let her out of sight again.

The state of her health did not change during their travel. It did not become better, yet neither did it become worse. Neither she nor any of her companions had any explanation for it.

Therefore they were all very glad when after six days the high trees of Inu Yasha's forest became visible on the horizon. The village "“ and with it Kaede and a possible remedy for Kagome "“ were close.

The group reached the small village late in the afternoon and went directly to Kaede's hut. The old miko looked up from the fire as Inu Yasha burst through the door, a tired Kagome on his back. The wrinkles in her face were deeper and her solitary dark eye was dull with troubles. She seemed to be as tired as Kagome.

"Ah, Inu Yasha," she sighed. "Ye have already come back. So ye have heard the rumour?"

Inu Yasha sat Kagome gently down on the floor and cast a confused glance over his shoulder at Kaede. "What rumour? We're here because Kagome is ill and we need your help!"

Kaede's brow wrinkled further. She looked at Kagome's pale face, sighed again and shook her head. "Well, if you have not heard it, it can wait a little longer. Kagome is ill, you said? Aye, she is very pale. Tell me, what kind of illness is it?"

But Inu Yasha's curiosity was roused. "What rumour, old hag?"

Kaede cast him a stern glance. "I thought you wanted me to help Kagome."

"Yeah, but "¦"

"So, the rumour must wait."

"What rumour?"

The rest of the group had arrived, and as they entered the hut they heard Kaede's last words. Now, they were all gazing at her with questioning eyes.

The old miko huffed. "Later. Now I will look at Kagome."

Immediately, they forgot about the rumour. Sango and Miroku sat down on both sides of Kaede, Shippo next to Kagome, and all three began telling Kaede what had happened and what the symptoms of Kagome's illness were.

Only Inu Yasha fidgeted around, impatient to hear the rumour. Kaede's demeanour seemed to have indicated that the news was not good, and he burnt inside to hear it. Was it about Naraku? A new scheme of his? Or about Kikyo? Was she in danger?

Kaede looked around, her lips curved into a grim smile. "It would help if you could speak one after the other."

This caused silence. The old miko nodded, looked ostensibly at the restless hanyou, and then she addressed Kagome.

"Well, child, let's try it again. What is wrong with ye?"

"I don't know," Kagome answered quietly. She knew of her friends' worry that the poison had caused serious damage, and although she had never felt worse than on the first day and her illness had never developed new symptoms she was a little frightened. She wondered what exactly was wrong with her; and something deep inside told her this was nothing that could be cured with aspirin and antibiotics.

"We fought with a poisonous demon a little more than a week ago," she began to explain. "I breathed in some of the poison. Miroku-sama did as well. We were both ill, but Miroku-sama has been better for several days now, while I still feel ill."

"She's always sick in the morning," interjected Sango. "It lessens during the morning, at midday she's fine, and in the afternoon she becomes tired and very weak. It's the same every day."

"I feel no pain," continued Kagome. "I did at first, and it was horrible. Everything ached as if I had been beaten. But I took some medicine from my time, and the pain vanished. I've been pain-free ever since."

"The pain was one symptom of the poisoning," said Miroku gravely, "as was the sickness. I felt it as well, though less violent than Kagome-sama. But I breathed in less poison than she did. I haven't felt any after-effects of the poison for days!"

"Hm." Kaede looked gravely from Kagome to the monk and back. "So, aching of the limbs and sickness were the symptoms of the poisoning. Anything else ye observed?"

Miroku shook his head, but Kagome knit her brows.

"Yes," she said slowly. The others turned to her. "I felt "¦ I don't know how to describe it properly, but after I breathed in the poison, my sight became a little blurred, and somehow the things that happened didn't make sense to me. I couldn't react properly."

Kaede nodded. "Anything else?"

Kagome pondered for a while. "No."

"Hm." The old miko narrowed her solitary eye. "Ye still feel sick on occasion, but otherwise you are fine. No pain, no dizziness, no belated reactions."

Kagome knit her brows. "Well, sometimes I feel a little dizzy, especially early in the morning or in the evening, but only a little and it's different from a week ago."

"Hm "¦" Kaede tapped her cheek with one finger. Then, she beckoned Kagome closer. "Sit down here, child, and let me have a look at ye."

She began to hum softly, whispering occasionally some unintelligible words, and brushed her hands lightly over Kagome's body. Kagome shivered slightly and closed her eyes. She felt the miko powers of the old woman tingle over her skin. It felt familiar yet alien, and she was not sure whether it felt good or not.

When she had inspected Kagome's whole body in this way, Kaede looked more serious than before. "I can feel no evil aura in your body, child. Yet, there is something that clearly speaks of demon. I do not know what this can be. Have ye had contact to Koga lately?"

Kagome blushed. "No."

"Demon?" asked Inu Yasha. This one word pushed his interest in the rumour aside. He jumped up and squatted next to Kaede. "What demon? Is it bad? Where did she get it from? What is it? Can you say some more, old hag?"

Kaede huffed. "No. I do not know what it is or where it came from. I only know there's some touch of youkai in Kagome's aura."

Kagome blinked. A cold feeling constricted her stomach. Could Kaede feel Sesshomaru's mark?

Inu Yasha frowned. "What do you mean, a demon in her aura?"

"Sesshomaru caught her when the scorpion threw her into the air," piped Shippo. "Maybe it's that?"

Kaede weighed her head. "That might be possible." She sounded only half-convinced

Inu Yasha snorted, wholly unconvinced.

"It was the third time," remarked Miroku. "He saved her life for the third time. I'd say Kagome-sama is in his debt. Could this have an effect on a miko's aura?"

Kaede's solitary eye was fixed on Kagome's flushed face. "I have never heard of it, but it could be. However, this does not explain Kagome's illness."

The old miko thought for a while, and then began to touch Kagome here and there; sometimes gentle, sometimes harder, asking the girl what she felt each time. Then she peered into the girl's dark-blue eyes, inspected her tongue and ears. She shooed the boys out of the hut and proceeded to ask questions, this time more intimate. She tested Kagome's miko powers, which reacted perfectly normal. She cross-questioned every member of the group and finally sat down with a sigh.

They sat around the fire in Kaede's hut. Outside, then sun had vanished behind the horizon, and night fell quickly. A light wind whispered around the hut, rustling in the bamboo-mat before the door. Temperatures fell now that the sun was set, and everybody was grateful for their fire.

Kagome had retired to a corner where she leaned against a wall, huddled in blankets. Her eyelids were heavy and she was tired. Her soul ached with longing. Sometimes she felt as if she must choke from her yearning.

Sango sat next to her, her eyes darting to and fro between the old and the young miko. Miroku was calmly preparing tea, apparently untouched by the tense atmosphere that settled inside of the hut after Kaede's inspection. Inu Yasha squatted next to the old woman. He was drumming his fingers on the wooden floor and staring at her. When she sighed and leaned back he immediately fired his question.

"Well? What's up with Kagome?"

Kaede regarded the worried faces. "I am not sure," she said slowly. "I have never come across these symptoms as effects of a poisoning. If ye had not told me about the poison and that Miroku had suffered from the same symptoms, I would have had an answer, but this way "¦ And yet, with every other woman it would be the most natural explanation."

"What?!" Inu Yasha almost screamed. "What is it?!"

Kaede looked at him, and then at Kagome. "Well, if I didn't know better, I would say ye are pregnant, child."

"WHAT?!" roared Inu Yasha and jumped up. He raised his clenched fists at an invisible enemy, his shoulders tense, and ground his teeth.

Sango's eyes widened. "Impossible!" she exclaimed. "This cannot be! There must be another explanation!"

Miroku dropped his herbs in surprise. "That's indeed "“" He paused, blinked, and then turned to Kagome's corner. One look into her pale face told him that it was not impossible.

At Kaede's revelation, Kagome gasped softly and paled. She stared with huge, dazed eyes at the miko, yet she saw nothing. Slowly, the old woman's words registered in her mind. Behind the blankets, her hands came up, and she laid them gently on her stomach.

Pregnant.

Was she pregnant? Did she carry Sesshomaru's child?

A wave of wild, chaotic emotions surged through her at the thought. Joy, fear, anger, love filled her heart and made it hammer against her ribcage. Thousand questions whirled in her mind. Can this be? Of course it can! We never took any precautions against it! We've never thought about it! I never thought about it! Pregnant! No, no! It's impossible! It can't be! But "¦ I've never had my period since "¦ Oh my god! And I'm only fifteen! And he's "¦ oh my god! The child will be a hanyou! What will he do? And mum! What will she say? No, this can't be! There must be another explanation! What shall I do now?

"Kagome-chan?" Sango's voice jerked her from her thoughts.

"Huh?"

"Do you feel okay? You were so pale just now!"

Kagome forced herself to smile. "Yes, of course. I was only a little "¦"

Sango nodded sympathetically. "Don't worry, Kagome-chan. He'll come to reason soon enough."

Kagome blinked at her, and then at the room behind Sango. Kaede was poking at the fire, Miroku was gathering some strewn herbs, and Shippo lay prostrate on the floor "“ no Inu Yasha. She looked back at Sango.

"Don't mind him too much, Kagome-chan," the demon huntress tried to soothe the distraught girl. "You know how he is. Yes, his words were harsh, but you know he doesn't mean them!"

Kagome nodded, wondering inwardly what exactly she had missed.

Miroku, who had been watching her out of the corner of his eyes, smiled a little. She had apparently not heard one word of Inu Yasha's tirade. Well, not that it mattered. It had not been nice.

"But what can we do now?" Sango asked.

Kaede looked up from the fire. "My suggestion would be that Kagome goes to a healer in her world." She turned to the girl. "Those healers have a greater knowledge than I have, from what ye have told me, Kagome. It ought to be easy for them to find what is ailing you."

Kagome nodded slowly, her mind working furiously.

I don't need a doctor! Or, before I go to a doctor I must be sure I'm not pregnant. What would mum say? No, no doctor. But I can buy a pregnancy test and check myself! Yes, that's what I'll do!

So, she agreed to the suggestion, and it was decided she would go back home as soon as she was better on the following morning.

Miroku filled a cup with steaming hot tea and carried it over to Kagome.

"Here, Kagome-sama. Drink this. No, I don't want to hear excuses! You don't drink enough!"

Sango eyed the monk curiously. "I'll make sure she drinks it, Miroku."

Miroku smiled at her and returned to the fire.

"Well, now that we have come to a conclusion about Kagome-sama, I think it is time for the rumour."

Sango looked up from the task of forcing the cup into Kagome's hands. "Right! You heard a rumour, Kaede! What is it?"

The old miko accepted a cup from Miroku. "Wouldn't it be better to wait until Inu Yasha returns?"

"No!" cried Shippo. "He was mean to Kagome! It serves him right if he misses it!"

Kaede shook her head disapprovingly. "Shippo-chan, this is not "“"

A dull thud cut her short, and a moment later Inu Yasha stomped through the door. The hanyou scowled darkly at Shippo before he sat down, arms crossed, opposite Kaede.

"Spill it!" he growled.

Kaede sighed. "I am not sure if I ought to, considering the mood ye are in, Inu Yasha."

At the hanyou's growl she smiled grimly. "But I suppose it is not beneficial for my health if I don't."

Miroku grinned. "Don't worry, Kaede-sama. Kagome-sama can always say the magic word."

Inu Yasha growled again.

The old miko shrugged. "Well, then. The rumour reached me via Myoga. He came here some days ago in search of ye, Inu Yasha. When I told him ye were not here and that I did not know when ye would return, he was very unsettled. It was an important message he had for ye, he said. He fretted a little, and in the end told me so that I could tell ye if ye came here before he found ye. Since ye came back in such a hurry, I assumed he had found ye."

Inu Yasha grunted. "Nope, he hasn't, the old coward! I bet he hid somewhere after he told you, in case it could be dangerous to him."

"It's dangerous for everybody," replied Kaede. A heavy burden seemed to settle on her shoulders. "Myoga informed me that Naraku succeeded in gathering the missing pieces of the shikon no tama."

She paused a moment, and when Inu Yasha had finished swearing she went on. "Myoga heard from a swamp-flea that Naraku visited an old demon who lives in the swamp, and whose sense of hearing is legendary. This demon is said to be able to hear if a pebble shifts at the ground of the ocean, and he told Naraku where the last missing shards could be found. A little later, according to the swamp-flea, Naraku visited the demon again and told him proudly that he had all shards save for those who were in the hands of, and I quote, "˜a foolish dog half-demon'."

Inu Yasha snarled and punched the floor so hard that the whole hut shook, muttering viciously under his breath.

Miroku frowned. "This is rather odd. When was Myoga here, Kaede-sama?"

"Three days ago, houshi-sama. Why do you ask?"

"We got two shards eight days ago," replied the monk. "I was wondering that, if the rumour is true, we got these shards at all. One would have thought that Naraku, knowing where to find them, would have gathered these at first. The boar-demon would have proved no difficulty for, let's say, Kagura or even himself."

"True, but maybe he wanted us to get them?" said Sango.

"What for?"

Sango shrugged. "I don't know. It might be another of his traps. Are the shards real? Kagome-chan, are they -?"

She had turned to her friend and now stopped in the middle of the question at the sight of Kagome. The girl would not answer questions for some time. She was deep asleep.

"I don't think the shards are fakes," said Miroku quietly.

Sango looked at him. He smiled softly and shook his head before he turned back to Inu Yasha and resumed the discussion about Naraku's plans and the shards. Sango joined them, and for some time they wondered whether the rumour was right or not and what they ought to do now.

Kagome was oblivious to all this. She curled into a tighter ball underneath her blanket, and a tender smile curved her lips as in her dream she felt the arms of her mate hold her tight.


* * * * *


On the following morning, Kaede got the first-hand knowledge of Kagome's morning-state of health. The old miko had brewed a tea for the girl that was meant to calm her stomach. But the scent alone was sufficient for Kagome. Utterly mortified, she whispered hoarse excuses while Sango cleaned the mess.

Several hours later, Kagome was awake and throbbing with energy. Kaede weighed her head thoughtfully and watched the girl walk into the direction of the well, accompanied by her friends. She had seen the look the monk had cast at Kagome last night. He had not seemed as much surprised as the others, and this had given Kaede the suspicion that her assessment of Kagome's "illness" was right. The monk knew more than he let out. But what was it?

The old miko sighed heavily and returned inside. She saw trouble ahead. Was Kagome really pregnant? And if so, who was the father? Not Inu Yasha, that much was sure. The monk? Someone else? What about the demon she had felt in the girl's aura? She sighed again. Definitely trouble.

At the well, Kagome bid her friends good-bye in a very subdued way. The worry on Sango's face and the thinly veiled concern in Inu Yasha's eyes revived her feeling of guilt. They were so anxious for her! And why? Because she had surrendered to their enemy without thinking of the possible effects. It was her fault, and she did not deserve their concern. She had "¦ no, she could not think of this now. It was not sure whether she was indeed pregnant, so it was no use to torment herself with guilt. There was still time to do this afterwards when she was sure about her state; besides, it might not be true at all!

Hope and fear warred inside of her. She was afraid that Kaede was right, yet at the same time some part of her hoped, longed for it to be true.

So, saying good-bye this time was not an easy matter. Not only her friends' worry or Shippo clinging almost desperately to her burdened Kagome's heart. Her return home could change her life for ever; it all depended on the outcome of one single test, and she was afraid of this possible change.

She hugged her friends and, in order to calm their fears a little, she forced herself to smile brightly at them and assure them that the healers in her world would be able to heal her. Inu Yasha wanted to go with her to make sure she arrived home safely and to carry her bag for her, and Kagome had a hard time of talking him out of it.

She did not want him to accompany her because he would not go back until she had seen a doctor and told him about the doctor's diagnosis. He would become angry at best and suspicious at worst if she did not go immediately to a doctor but bought a test. Besides, how could she explain that to him without giving too much away? Plus, if the diagnosis was indeed pregnancy, she wanted to have some time to think about it before she had to face her friends again.

After some heated arguing she persuaded him to stay behind, and though he still grumbled he grudgingly accepted her argument that it might take some time until she got an appointment with a doctor. So she went home alone.

When she arrived at the bottom of the well in her present, she encountered another problem. What to tell her mother? If she told her that Kaede had sent her home because of her illness, her mother would not rest until she had dragged her daughter to a doctor and got a detailed order what to do to help her get better. If she did not tell her mother, she would start wondering what was wrong with her daughter. Well, her usual evening-exhaustion she could today explain with a strenuous shard hunt. Maybe her sickness tomorrow morning with something wrong she had eaten. But after that "¦?

Kagome shook her head and started to ascend the ladder.

Who knew what would be tomorrow? All kinds of things could happen. She'd better wait and not tell her mother anything until she had got the result from the test. Maybe she was not pregnant; then of course she would go and see a doctor, and then she did not have to conceal anything. If she was pregnant though "¦

Kagome shrugged. We shall see.

She dragged herself out of the well, paused for a moment, and then crept as silently as possible up the stairs that led to the door of the shed. She could hear voices from outside. If it were visitors she had to stay where she was until they were gone, praying they didn't want to have a look at the Bone Eater's Well.

Cautiously, she peered through the door and strained her ears to hear what the voices said. After a second she relaxed and left the shed. It was only her mother lecturing Grandpa on something "“ probably for bringing another "sacred item with a long history and an interesting legend which said that "¦"

She stepped out of the shed and turned toward them, a little smile curving her lips at the scene. Her mother, hands on her hips, was towering over the old man who was defiantly clutching a parcel to his chest. Tenderness filled her heart and a little pain, but she pushed them away determinedly. Now was not the time to start thinking.

Her mother turned her head as Kagome approached them, and the look of stern disapproval immediately changed into a warm smile of welcome.

"Kagome!" she cried happily and went to hug her daughter. "My dear, how nice that you are back! You've really been away long this time. Have you been successful?"

Kagome returned the embrace. "Hm, yeah, we found two shards," she mumbled into her mother's hair.

"Well, that's nice." Mrs Higurashi pulled back and smiled at her daughter, but suddenly the smile fell and she glanced searchingly at Kagome. "Dear, are you all right? You are so pale! You're trembling! Are you ill?"

A shiver had run through Kagome at hearing this little word from her mother. He used to call her that "¦ She forced herself to smile at her mother and entangled herself from the embrace.

"No, mum, I'm fine. Just a little exhausted. Those shards were not so ease to get, you know."

Mrs Higurashi frowned, but Kagome had already turned to greet her grandfather who patted her shoulder, reminded her she had to tell him everything, and then used the opportunity to save his latest acquisition.

Kagome grinned at his hasty retreat. "What is it this time?" she asked over her shoulder.

Mrs Higurashi sighed and shook her head. "I didn't ask him. I'd rather not know. But come inside, Kagome. Is there something I can do for you?"

Kagome followed her mother inside and let her fuss over her. She stayed in the kitchen and chatted with her mother, telling her a modified version of her adventures. This had been a tradition since she had started travelling time, and Kagome took care not to raise her mother's suspicion further by evading this talk.

Half an hour later, Mrs Higurashi got up from her chair with an apologetic sigh. "I'm sorry to cut this short, Kagome. I still have several things to do before Souta comes home."

Kagome smiled. "That's okay, mum. I have things to do myself." Her smile vanished and her shoulders sagged. "Like doing homework," she added desolately.

Mrs Higurashi laughed lightly. "Don't do too much, Kagome. You've just returned. Maybe a little rest first, hm? I'll do the laundry now. Is there anything special you'd like to have cleaned? By the way, I am sorry to tell you, but the bra of the blue set is missing. I don't know where it might have gone. You didn't leave it in the past for some reason?"

She looked up from the pile of laundry at her daughter's violently red face. "Kagome?"

Kagome could not look at her mother. Much less could she tell her where the bra had gone. Literally. She did not know where it was. She only remembered Sesshomaru ripping it apart "¦ Heat rushed through her body at the memory, and the sweet pain of longing settled in her core. Wetness flooded her knickers; incidentally, the knickers of the blue set.

"Um," she mumbled and tried to hide behind her hair. "LentittoSangochan."

Fortunately, her mother accepted this and went on, "Oh, that's nice from you to share with your friend. But maybe she wants to have her own set? When you go shopping the next time, look out for one that might please her. That way she would get her own lingerie and you get the blue bra back. It's so pretty!"

She vanished from the room, and Kagome buried her head in her hands. She took deep breaths, trying to calm her raging blood and ease her embarrassment. Her body pulsated with need mixed with the pain of separation, which was of course stronger than ever now that she was in her own time. Kagome sighed shakily. If this gets any worse, I'll die.

Her mother came bustling back into the kitchen when Kagome was about to leave for her room. There were still red spots on her cheeks and her breathing was a little too fast, but Mrs Higurashi seemed not to notice.

"You're going upstairs?"

"Yes, I'm going to lie down. Or do you need me?"

"No, no! Go and have some rest, child. That is, if you don't want to come with me? I have to go to the grocer's, but I planned to go to Keshima-san first. You know, old Mrs Katsuhisa will be hundred next Monday and I wanted to get her a present. When she was here last time, she told me Keshima-san has got some very nice landscapes at her shop and I decided to buy one for her. And since you always liked Keshima-san's shop so much, I thought you might want to come with me."

Kagome shook her head. "No, thanks for asking, mum, but "¦ I don't feel like going to Keshima-san's at the moment."

Mrs Higurashi frowned. "Are you sure you are not ill?"

Kagome smiled weakly and shrugged. "Maybe I'm coming down with something."

"Then you'd better go to bed immediately! No homework, Kagome! Rest today, and if you're better tomorrow, you can do them. By the way, how long will you stay?"

"Only a few days, I suppose. Why?"

"Oh, no reason. But I like to know when I have to expect Inu Yasha to storm the house. Besides, if you are really coming down with something you will not leave in a few days' time but stay until you are well again!"

"Yes, mum."

"Now, go to bed, Kagome."

Kagome obediently went into her room and lay down on the bed. However, she did not rest. She lay there, eyes wide open, and listening intently. When she had sat in the kitchen, chatting with her mother, the difficulty of purchasing a pregnancy test without anybody knowing it had presented itself to her. She had previously not thought about it, but then and there it had hit her.

If she went out, her mother would ask where she was going to, and since she suspected her daughter to be ill she would not accept the "going for a walk" excuse. And she could not pretend to visit one of her friends since they were still at school. So, what to do? Her mother going to Keshima-san's shop came as a heaven-sent present.

Keshima-san was an old, chatty woman who kept running her husband's shop after his death several years ago. He had been one of her grandfather's best friends, and when Mrs Higurashi had returned to her home after the death of her husband, Keshima-san had taken care of the young widow and her two small children. The connection between the two women was still very close, and Kagome knew she could count on her mother being away for hours because she and Keshima-san would find no end in their talk.

This was an added bonus, because Kagome had realised that she could not simply walk into the pharmacy around the corner. They knew her there and would ask what she wanted the test for. Kagome blushed at the mere thought of it. No, this was not possible. She had to find another pharmacy, preferably one at the other end of the town.

The sound of a door being shut was Kagome's signal. She crept to her window and peered through the curtains. In the yard stood her mother, explaining something to her grandfather. In the background hovered a small group of European tourists. Perfect! Mum's away and Grandpa's busy!

Kagome hurried to her wardrobe, changed her school uniform for casual clothes, grabbed her purse and ran down the stairs. At the front door she waited until Grandpa and the tourists were out of sight, and then she sprinted across the yard, ran down the steps that led to the shrine and headed towards the nearest bus-stop. She had no concrete idea of where she wanted to go. So, she entered the first bus that pulled up.

She was sure she would always remember this day as one of the most embarrassing of her life. She had to actually go into three pharmacies before she got what she wanted. At the first, the lady behind the counter looked down on her as if she was some kind of hussy and coldly told her to leave. At the second there was a young man behind the counter, and she was not sure who was more embarrassed, she or the young clerk. In the end, she left without getting what she wanted, not sure whether there were no pregnancy tests to buy at this pharmacy or if the young man had just been too embarrassed to sell her one. Fortunately, the third pharmacy she entered was run by a motherly, middle-aged woman who merely smiled sympathetically at her and sold her what she wanted.

During her ride home, Kagome began to worry that she had stayed away for too long. What if her mother had already returned and found her missing? Kagome nervously chewed her nails. However, apart from almost running into one of her most inquisitive and nosy neighbours nothing happened and finally she was safely back in her room. Kagome sighed and locked the door.

Sitting down on her bed, she gingerly took the test from her purse and eyed it for some time. Her heart was beating madly against her ribcage and her hands became cold and sweaty. There it was. The test. Soon, she would know for sure.

Kagome licked her suddenly dry lips, torn between eager anticipation and apprehension. She was not sure what she wished for, to be pregnant or not.

On the one hand, she hoped she was pregnant. The idea of having Sesshomaru's child was wonderful. She'd love to have a baby, his baby! A cute little boy, perhaps, with white hair and golden eyes; someone she could love freely without worrying whether they loved her back or loved someone else more than her.

On the other hand, she was horrified at the thought of being a mother. She was only fifteen, for god's sake! Could she be a mother when she was still a child herself? However, what weighed more on her mind was her fear of the others' reaction. What would her mother say? What would her friends in the past say? Sango, Miroku "¦ well, he wouldn't be surprised, Kagome supposed. And at least she could count on him being understanding. But Sango "¦ and, most of all, Inu Yasha.

Kagome shivered. He'd go berserk. Completely. She wrapped her arms around herself protectively and closed her eyes. Yes, Inu Yasha would be beyond mad. And yet, Inu Yasha's reaction was not what she was most afraid of.

One hand crept up over her shoulder and her fingers touched her mark through the cloth of her shirt. What would Sesshomaru say? Would he be very angry? Furious? Would he blame her? But then, he must have known that this could happen! After all, reproduction was the original reason for their "¦ pastime. Plus, he had the living reminder of what could happen in Inu Yasha. Still "¦

With a determined shrug of her shoulders, Kagome pushed these thoughts away. Why worry about it now? After all, it was not even sure she was indeed pregnant! Her odd illness could be caused by the poison of the scorpion-demon! She could worry about the others' reaction to her pregnancy when it was proved that it was true!

Kagome nodded to herself, grabbed the little box and tore it impatiently open. A long, slender stick that locked like an extra-large pen and a leaflet fell out of it. She eyed the stick for some time, then unfolded the leaflet and read the instruction. Her stomach began to flutter nervously.

When she was through, she slipped into the bathroom, locking that door behind her as well. She followed the instructions minutely, her heart once more beating frantically. Her nervousness increased with every passing second until her fingers became clumsy and she almost dropped the stick into the toilet. With trembling fingers she slid the stick into the test capsule. Then, her knees gave way and she sank onto the tiled floor.

It was out of her hands now. The test was running. There was no way back out of it. Soon she would know the truth. Kagome felt sick.

She kept kneeling on the floor while she waited. At first, her eyes were glued to her wristwatch, observing the second hand move. She waited breathlessly, impatiently, fearfully for the time to be over.

Her eyes unfocused. Her watch blurred. Unconsciously, her hands folded in prayer, and in her mind she kept whispering, Don't let it be true! It can't be! It mustn't be! Please, I don't want to be pregnant! I'm only fifteen! I'm scared! Please, don't "¦ don't "¦

She did not know how long she sat there, but at long last the coldness of the tiles seeped into her body and Kagome rose from her trance. A glance at her watch confirmed that more than the required five minutes had passed.

She took a deep breath, wiped her sweaty hands on her skirt and got slowly to her feet. Equally slowly, she raised her hand and took the test as cautiously as if it were a dangerous animal that might be startled and bite her. Her heart was hammering so hard against her ribcage she felt as if it must break free any moment. Her blood pounded in her ears. Below stairs, very far away, she heard voices, but nothing mattered save the little dot on the test. She tried to gulp the knot on her throat and forced her reluctant eyes towards the little window on the capsule.

The window, it said in the instruction, would show the result of the test. Kagome remembered very clearly that blue meant the test was negative and pink that it was positive.

The dot in the window was of a fiery red.

She just made it to the toilet before her nervous stomach turned upside down. Kagome retched violently, gasping and coughing as the fierce heaves shook her slender body. Finally, she sank down bonelessly next to the porcelain basin. Tears streamed down her face, and she was shaking. Her gaze fell down onto the test she was still clutching in her left hand and on the little, brightly red spot.

There was no uncertainty about it. She was, indeed, pregnant.

Kagome closed her eyes and sank back against the tub. Her mind was blank.

There was a knock on the bathroom door. "Kagome?" called Mrs Higurashi worriedly. "Kagome, are you all right?"


Well, she will be. Next chapter. It's going to be the one you've all been waiting for: the confrontation and Kagome's final decision. Just don't expect it to be up any time soon ... too much to do for university ... *sighs*