Keiki de Niyati : Children of Fate

Disclaimer: No, I don't own the charas of any association with Inuyasha and cast ASIDE from Kaiya and Kaori *glomps* All mine lol


"Go Home"

Tomorrow.

The word was so simple, yet it sent her head spinning and her heart thumping wildly against her ribcage. It could all end tomorrow. For both sides.

Kagome sighed deeply as she looked around the make-shift camp at each of her closest friends. Sango, the fiery, spirited woman Kagome often thought of as a sister, who's entire life had been so tragically flipped upside down all because of Naraku. Miroku, the sweet , yet often preverted monk that had his own reasons for wanting to see Naruku breathe his last breath, as it would finally free him of his own life robbing curse in his right hand. Shippou, the little orphaned kitsune that meant as much as her brother Souta meant to her. He didn't have anything against Naraku personally, though the shards were the reason for his father's death, now that she thought about it.

Her eyebrows knitted downwards as she looked at the demon resting in the dark corner of the little 'camp'.

Sesshoumaru.

Inuyasha's older brother. His full-blooded, demon half-brother. The same brother that had wanted Inuyasha dead and to take control of their father's most treasured heirlomb, the Tetseiga. She had no doubt in her mind, Sesshoumaru still wanted his hanyou brother dead, but the matter at hand was more important to both brothers.

Defeating Naraku.

So Sesshoumaru had put his personal hatred of his brother and his human traveling campanions aside, and he and Rin had joined them, Jaken not to far behind as usual. She imagined it may have had something to do with Naraku's foolish attempts to try to use Rin as bait against the youkai lord.

Kagome sighed as her eyes landed on the silver haired hanyou sleeping ahigh in the branches of the tree above where her own sleeping bag lay. A soft smile crept to her lips as she watched him.

Gods, how she loved that baka half-demon. He had as many flaws to his personality as he did the good. He was pushy, overconfident, overly jealous, and sometimes just a real jerk. Bu cou could also be rather sweet and carrying, putting her own safety well before his own. He'd risked his life time and time again for her, and always probably would. She loved him with all her heart, and couldn't think of ever being apart from him.

After all they'd been through, especially with the thing with Kikyo, she finally felt she knew her place with him. Just how important she was to him, as much as he was to her.

She still was new to the whole 'mate' thing, but if it meant that she was his and his alone, that she could tolerate being refered to as Inuyasha's 'mate' instead of his girlfriend. Must be the demon dog part of his blood.

But she loved him too much to care.

The important thing was they had each other, and always would. He had promised her that. It had been just the two of them, and he had made *absolutely* sure no one was around when he had told her, but he did.

She sighed deeply again as she closed her eyes briefly to gather her wondering thoughts.

It could all end tomorrow. This. What she felt for her friends and her mate. Her Inuyasha.

If Naraku won, it could, and probably, would all end.

"Why are yot ast asleep, girl? Tomorrow's battle promises to be a long one, yet you sit there, awake and alert when you should be sleeping. Leave the nightwatch to myself and my brother." Sesshoumaru's voice suddenly said, making Kagome jump.

"I.....I didn't think anyone else was awake. I didn't wake you, did I?" Kagome whispered softly.

"I was already awake. I too have important things to think through this night." Sesshoumaru said softly.

"The battle?" Kagome asked.

"I have no fear of fighting Naraku." Sesshoumaru said.

"I see. But if it's not that, then what?" Kagome whispered and was shocked to see the demon look at her fully, and narrow his eyes slightly at her.

"You." Sesshoumaru said evenly.

"Me?" Kagome asked stunned as Sesshoumaru rose to his feet, then looked over to his sleeping brother.

"You will come with me. I shall speak with you, before the hanyou awakens." Sesshoumaru said as Kagome frowned at him, as she began to creep through her sleeping friends to catch up and walk with the demon.

"He has a name. You don't have to be so mean and cruel all the time. You *could* try using that for once, *instead* of calling him a half- breed." Kagome said, her voice rising slightly.

"I see. Then my suspicions are correct. You are his mate." Sesshoumaru said as he continued to walk. Kagome stopped in her tracks as Sesshoumaru paused and looked over his should at her, before she started walking again.

"How....how did you know that?" Kagome asked, her cheeks pinks.

"The scent." Sesshoumaru said as Kagome looked at him confused.

"Hang on a second. Stop walking for a minute, will you? What do you mean you caught the scent? What scent?" Kagome asked, frowning at the demon again, but thankful that he had infact stopped walking.

"The scent that covers yourself. You do not notice it yourself, being a mere human. However. Any being with demon blood can. And Naraku will." Sesshoumaru said.

"But I don't understand." Kagome said confused.

"Enough questions girl. You are not needed. Return to your home. Your presence will prove a hinderance tomorrow." Sesshoumaru said as Kagome narrowed her eyes at him and glared evenly at the demon before her.

"You want me to go home? Now? When we're so close? No way in hell, Sesshoumaru! Look, I don't know what you're playing at-" Kagome began.

"I do not 'play' at anything, girl. I am merely stating the facts. If you accompany your mate and the rest of us, you will only be a nuicence in the battle. You may possess powers as a Miko, but they are underdeveloped, and are not nearly powerful enough to stand up to Naraku. Nor would you be able to defend yourself. And I can not have my dear hanyou brother only fighting Naraku with half his attention." Sesshoumaru said.

"But, I can't. I can't just leave him. He may need me." Kagome said, her face filled with sadness as she looked down at her feet. She knew Sesshoumaru had a very valid point, but she loved Inuyasha. She owed it to him to be there for him.

"Perhaps. But your pups need you more right now." Sesshoumaru said as Kagome's head shot up in confusion.

"What?" Kagome asked as Sesshoumaru looked down at her abdomen.

"I said your pups will need you more. Especially since with or without their demon blood, they are without protection against Naraku." Sesshoumaru said as Kagome grabbed onto a nearby tree to steady herself.

"I can't be-" Kagome began. She was only seventeen. True she was well past the acceptable age to marry in Japan, but.......pregnant. Impossible.

"You can, and you are. And if I can smell them, then one look at you and Naruku could do the same tomorrow. You see now? You are nothing but a bother. Go home, at least until Naraku is destroyed. Once that day comes, you will be free to live with your mate and pups without threat from Naruku." Sesshoumaru said.

"You said pups. You mean.....more than one?" Kagome asked, her face still pale.

"Two. No more. I know not the gender. Take them where they too will not be a bother to anyone else." Sesshoumaru said.

"I can't. If what you say is true.....then.....then Inuyasha has a right to see them grow up. To at least know about them." Kagome said as Sesshoumaru shook his head.

"No. It is a wonder he has not figured it out himself as of yet. However, the knowledge would still distract him from the upcoming battle." Sesshoumaru said.

"Then-?" Kagome asked.

"I shall inform your mate of your departure in mornmorning. I will make him understand it is for the best. If he cares for you as much as you do him, then he will let you go. When Naraku is defeated, He will come for you." Sesshoumaru saidas Kagome weakly nodded.

"Then go." Sesshoumaru said, turning and starting to walk back to the camp,before Kagome stopped him.

"Wait. What about.....Inuyasha?" Kagome asked fearfully.

"I shall not let him be killed, if that is what you mean. I shall have the honor of that myself, no other. You have my word, that as long as Naraku lives, so shall he." Sesshoumaru said.

"I don't get it. Why are you doing this? If you hate Inuyasha so?" Kagome asked.

"My fight is with him, it is true. Though not with his mate and pups." Sesshoumaru said as Kagome smiled to herself.

"You're not at bad as you make yourself out to be, Sesshoumaru . If I didn't know any better, I'd think you were worried about your unborn neices or nephews." Kagome said.

"You don't." Sesshoumaru said as Kagome grew silent again. Silence passed between the two before the demon lord looked over his shoulder.

"Go." He said firmly, before turning back around again, and returning to the camp.

Kagome began the walk back to the bone eater's well on her own. She was greatful they hadn't been far from Kaede's village, having decided to rest there before they set out for Naraku's castle once the sun was up. She couldn't help the doubts and fears racing through her mind.

Would they all be ok? What if they did need her? What if they got hurt? What if....she didn't want to think about it. But Sesshoumaru had given her his word. Still, that left her to think about the twins she was now carrying, her hand resting on top of her stomach.

"Mom is gonna faint. Grandpa is gonna flip. And Souta....he's gonna be estatic." She said with a heavy sigh. "Inuyasha...I wish you could be there...when it happens. Be safe." She said, before leaping into the well.

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