Purple Petals

AN: I’ve done a lot of thinking, and this chapter will prove to be very confusing considering everything that’s happened. But as I’ve said, I’ve done a lot of thinking about it and I think I found a loophole. Sometimes I really am devious. In regards to everyone that’s been faithfully following this fic, thank you. And I hope this chapter will make a lot of you feel better about what had happened before. Now I don’t want to give the chapter away before you read it…so another note will be placed at the bottom. The only thing left to say is the disclaimer. No I don’t own any of the Inuyasha tachi. ^_^

Chapter 15- Confusion

Jade green eyes slowly opened to the new morning, stretching comfortably as she snuggled against the warmth of her mate. She smiled, nuzzling into the crook of Kouga’s neck, lifting one bare leg to drap over his own. She sighed contently, just happy to watch him sleep peacefully. He looked...so handsome...so untroubled...It took her breath away.

But her cuddling stirred the brown male away, ice blue eyes landing on the radiant face of his lovely mate. He smirked softly at her, sliding a strong arm around her waist and pulling her closer against his firm chest.

"Morning my beautiful mate." Kouga purred into her ear, as Ayame felt a shiver run down her spine.

"Morning Kouga...did you...sleep well?" She asked with a blush as the black haired ookami’s smirk only widened.

"As well as to be expected...having a fiery wildcat as a mate." Kouga teased as Ayame’s face flushed in embarrassment.

"You were just as bad." She accused.

"Bad? Woman, what are you talking about? You were panting and moaning how great I was." He smirked. She let out a frustrated cry, smacking his forearm.

"You’re horrible." Ayame said, starting to sit up, looking around their surrounding. "Oh that’s right...I forgot we were staying in a human inn with the others. Do you think they’re awake?"

"Who knows? Or more precisely, who cares?" Kouga asked, folding his arms behind his head. "I smell that mutt...so he’s probably up and about. I could care less about the humans." Kouga said boredly.

"Kouga...come on, we can’t lie in bed all morning." Ayame said, sliding her legs over the edge of the bed, and gathering her furs and armor. She paused long enough to look over her shoulder at her mate lounging in the bed behind her, his eyes watching her every movement.

"Yea yea, I’ll get up when I’m good and ready." The black haired ookami said, a cocky smirk across his lips. Ayame smiled, shaking her head lightly as she started to put her armor on, following with her furs and legging. She was just pulling her cloak over her shoulders when there was an impatient knock on the door, followed by a very irrated hanyou shouting at them to "Get a move on before they were left behind."

Kouga growled, getting up out of bed, and not having the slightest care for his modesty at all, sauntered over to the door and threw it open to snap at Inuyasha.

"Oi! We’ll get going when we feel like it Inukuro!" Kouga growled as Inuyasha’s amber eyes widened before narrowing furiously at the wolf.

"Get some damn clothes on, wolf!" Inuyasha snapped, turning on his heel and storming back down the corridor. "We’re leaving after breakfast...with or without you stupid wolves."

Kouga was just about to retort, probably even yell a few choice curses at him, before Ayame grabbed his arm and tugged him back inside the room, sliding the door shut.

"Kouga! You’re completely naked. Cover yourself, will you?" Ayame asked as Kouga smirked at her, wrapping an arm around her waist and yanking her body flush against his torso.

"You weren’t complaining last night Princess."

"Kouga, you’re horrible, you really are. Please, just get dressed." She chuckled, nipping his ear affectionately before pulling away from him and heading towards the door, rubbing her abdomen. Kouga frowned lightly as he started to pull his fur pelt up around his waist, securring the knot to hold it in place as he watched his mate carefully.

"Ayame? Are you still sore?" Kouga asked as the red head blinked, looking over at him.

"Hm? No...well yea...I don’t know...it just feels...really sore...but I thought it had passed. My stomach’s been feeling sore on and off for the last few days...but I had thought...it was just...because..." She trailed off, lowering her gaze to the floor.

"Ayame...I don’t like this...I don’t like this at all. Something feels...off." Kouga said, crossing his arms over his chest.

"What do you mean?" The red head asked confused. "Kouga, I’m fine...really. Maybe my body is just...adjusting to the loss." Ayame said softly.

"I’ll speak with Kagome. Maybe she knows of something that can help you." Kouga said, putting on his armor and the last of his furs. "Come on, let’s go."

"Right now?" Ayame asked, blinking in confusion at her mate.

"Yes. Something isn’t right. You shouldn’t be this sore still." Kouga said with a frown, leaning forward and kissing his mate’s forehead before heading out the door. "Come on."

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"Kouga-kun? Ayame-chan? What’s wrong?" Kagome asked, lifting her head as the two wolf demons finally made their appearance in the main room where everyone else sat eating their breakfast.

"Something is wrong with my mate. Fix her." Kouga stated firmly, crossing his arms over his chest.

"If you had done that in the first place, you wouldn’t be having these problems now would you?" Inuyasha said sarcastically as Kouga snarled over at him, flashing his fangs in an open challenge.

"Inuyasha...osuwari." Kagome said evenly, ignoring the loud thump behind her as Inuyasha faceplanted into the wooden floor, muttering muffled curses and obsinities.

"Well...I am no doctor...so I can’t be sure I can help." Kagome said in concern, looking up at Ayame.

"Doc...ter?" Kouga asked blinking in confusion.

"Doctor...it’s...someone that takes care of people. Makes them feel better." Kagome said, trying to explain it in the best way she could.

"Kagome? Why not bring them to see Kaede-sama? Perhaps she could help?" Miroku suggested before looking over at Ayame himself. "Are you still in pain from your misfortune, milady? Physical pain can be a heavy burden on the soul, just as much as emotional can be."

"Well I...I don’t know." Ayame said, rubbing her stomach, a worried expression on her face as she looked over at her mate. "Kouga? What if...there really is something wrong with me?"

"Keh. There’s nothing wrong with you. But if it will make you feel better, we can see this...Kaede...person." Kouga said.

"What do you expect Kaede to do for them, baka? There’s nothing she can do, stupid." Inuyasha snapped at Kagome.

"I’m sure she has some herbs or something to ease Ayame-chan’s discomfort. Be nice for a change Inuyasha, it won’t kill you." Kagome said in a deadly tone. Immediate Inuyasha kept his resort to himself, not wanting to be sat twice in such a short period of time.

"We will head back for Kaede’s village immediately after breakfast. Ok?" Kagome suggested with a smile. Ayame nodded silently, her mind racing. What if...something were seriously wrong with her? Would she still be able to bear pups? What good would a barren mate be to Kouga? She bit her bottom lip, trying to push the troubling thoughts from her mind.

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"Hm...I see...strange...and you say she was attacked?" Kaede asked, eyeing the female youkai carefully. Kagome nodded, her brown eyes exchanging back and forth between the elder miko and Ayame. The red headed female wolf looked slightly nervous and a little scared, but Kagome was certain everything would be ok.

When they had arrived at the village, Kagome had immediately taken Ayame to see Kaede, leaving the others outside to wait out the outcome of the examination. She knew it would probably be best if Ayame were seen by Kaede by herself, so her stress levels wouldn’t be so high.

So much had already happened to the young demoness, Kagome only wanted to minimize everything else if she could. Kouga had been ticked off, but reluctantly agreed to wait outside with everyone else.

"So...Kaede...can you do something for her pain?" Kagome asked. The elder miko frowned, shaking her head.

"I can not do any such thing until I know what is afflicting her." Kaede said, before turning her back and heading to a small corner of her hut. "I will have to check a few things...Ayame...you were recently pregnant, were you not? This is from the pain correct?" Kaede asked as Ayame’s green eyes saddened.

"I was...attacked...and I lost the pups." She said softly.

"I see. And how long has ye been experiencing these stomach pains?" Kaede asked, grabbing a few bottles and small pouches and examing their contents as she questioned the youkai.

"Ever since it happened..."

"I know this is difficult for ye child, but I must ask so I may get to the problem." Kaede said in a soothing tone. Ayame nodded, her eyes watching the old woman carefully.

"Is there anything I can do to help Kaede?" Kagome asked, just as the old woman turned around with a smile.

"Hai...there is. I need to get a sample of her blood." Kaede said, as Kagome and Ayame looked at each other.

"What for?" Kagome asked.

"Do not fear, child. It is only a small sample I need. I need to see how the herbs react to the blood." Kaede said, walking back over to the two. Ayame was silent a moment before she brought a sharp claw to her left hand, and slit the flesh of her left palm. The blood pooled up in her palm, turning her hand over she let a few drops fall into a clear vile Kaede had handed Kagome.

When Kaede was satisfied with the blood, Ayame started to lick her wound, her eyes watching the two mikos in heavy interest. Human traditions were strange and new to her, and she was curious what the older miko was up to, and why she needed her blood.

Kaede thanked the two of them, before dropping a few pinches of powered yellow herbs into the vile of blood, before dropping a few drops of clear liquid into the mixture as well as Kagome and Ayame looked on in fascination.

"Odd..." Kaede said, looking at the vile, and the green liquid inside.

"Blood isn’t green. What is that Kaede-sama?" Kagome asked puzzled, staring at the concoction.

"Hmm...this can’t be right." Kaede said, taking another empty vile and handing it back to Kagome. "Forgive me…but I will need another sample. I think I might have done something incorrectly." Kaede said.

Minutes later, double checking the herbs and the clear liquid, and mixing them in the vile of blood, They were surprised to see the same result of the green liquid.

"This is most strange..." Kaede said, swirling the green liquid around carefully. "This can’t be right, based on what you’ve told me...but it appears to be accurate."

"What is it Kaede-sama? What does it mean?" Kagome asked.

"Child, these herbs mixed with blood and special elixer determine the fertility of the woman supplying the blood. I wished to see the traces left from her loss, but it appears something is wrong." Kaede said softly.

Ayame’s eyes widened in worry, biting her bottom lip as her shoulders trembled. Something was wrong with her...she knew it. Did that mean she could never have pups ever again...? Her eyes began to water at the thought, wrapping her arms subconsciously around her abdomen. What would Kouga say?

"Wrong? Kaede-sama? What is wrong with Ayame then? Will she be ok?" Kagome asked, glancing at the worried wolf demon.

"I mean...according to this...she’s still pregnant." Kaede said. "Which makes no sense. Ye told me she lost her litter, did you not?"

"Pregnant?" Kagome asked, looking back at Ayame. "That can’t be right...but..."

"No...I saw the blood." Ayame said, her voice shaking, so close to falling apart. "There’s no way..."

"I don’t understand...could your herbs be wrong?" Kagome asked. Kaede shook her head. "No...they have never been wrong before. Of course...they’ve been only used on humans...never a demon...Ayame, may I check your abdomen?" Kaede asked as the red head blinked.

"Nani? Eh...sure."

Kaede nodded, assuring her it wouldn’t take long, and that she only wanted to check to be sure. A few minutes later, after Ayame removed her armor, she found herself thankful they had made the guys wait outside. Silence passed for several moments as Kaede gently pressed her hand against Ayame’s bare stomach, frowning as she moved her hands, pressing in different spots.

"Hmm..."

"Hmm? Kaede? What is it?" Kagome asked. Kaede nodded at Ayame, before turning to address Kagome, leaving Ayame to put her armor back on in the meantime.

"I can not fully explain how, since my knowledge of youkai is very limited, but it would appear your friend is still in term." Kaede said as Kagome blinked.

"In term? You mean...she’s still pregnant? Are you sure?" Kagome asked stunned. Ayame was speechless, staring silently between the two mikos, hanging on to their every word.

"As I said, I do not know how...but hai. She is. I can feel the pups, just faintly."

"But...but...I thought...we all thought...this seems to good to be true...I have to be sure...I’ll go back to my time and get a pregnancy test...I’m sure it will work on demons...but I don’t understand how...after what Naraku did..." Kagome muttered, looking at her red headed friend who was still in a state of shock.

"We were so sure...what happened?" Ayame asked, looking over at Kagome.

"I don’t know...maybe...you being a demon...combined with your armor...protected them when Naraku hit you?"

"But that doesn’t make sense...it hurt so much afterward...and the blood...I don’t understand." Ayame said, clearly near tears.

"Ayame calm down...maybe...you got lucky. Sometimes a woman can have...a trama but still manage to keep her pregnancy. Maybe that’s what happened to you. We can’t be sure...but Kaede’s herbs...we won’t know for sure until I get that test...I really wish there was a way for me to bring you to my time...but we’ll have to go with what we have and hope for the best." Kagome said with a reassuring smile.

"But...what about the pain? My abdomen still hurts on and off." Ayame said, looking back at Kaede.

"Yes...that could just be a result of what happened. But my herbs are never wrong…as sure as I am alive...ye be with child." Kaede said.

"Don’t worry Ayame, I’ll ask my mom what she thinks. I’ll go back immediately ok? We’ll get to the bottom of this, I promise. But...just think Ayame...you’re still pregnant...that’s such wonderful news." Kagome said, beaming with happiness.

Numbly Ayame nodded, still in a state of shock.

"We should tell Kouga, right away too. I’m so happy for you two. And thank the gods everything will be ok. It’s horrible...to lose your children...I’m so happy for you, I really am." Kagome said.

"But...you don’t know yet." Ayame mumbled.

"Kaede is sure...and it makes sense...if you hadn’t been wearing your armor...who knows...let’s not think about it now? The sooner I get that pregnancy test, the sooner we can be absolutely certain." Kagome said with a smile.

"I...hope so." Ayame said uncertainly, her eyes still lost and confused.

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AN: Yea, I'm sure I've got a lot of you just now picking your jaws off the ground. I hated having to give Ayame a miscarriage, but I needed something to happen in the story. It just wasn't going anywhere. And so many people were just so sad. So I got to thinking...who knows? Plus, Skye was upset about it the most, lol. Especially since we always have Keikan, Kanan and Koyuki as Kouga and Ayame's first litter. And I couldn't bear the thought of having lost them u.u So heh yea.

Now...as to how this is supposed to have worked...Ayame demon strength, combined with the fact she had been wearing armor is supposed to have saved the pups...but it shook them up enough, that is caused Ayame pain, and the blood. Please, just go with it...cause I thought long and hard about this and even wrote up a LONG chapter for those of you who've been waiting so long. Heh...enjoy.

~Lilz