Chapter One

Akisame

She watched her companions train. Leena and Sesshomaru going through the double Kata, Taka still trying to master the single. Each morning of the journey home was the same. They practiced, she prepared breakfast. The weeks since Naraku's defeat had passed uneventfully. She checked the water and added the herbs she picked each day as they walked. In one a nice tissane of peach blossom brewed. She made a note that they would need to pick up some tea in the next village. In the other the soup made from the left over rabbit bubbled merrily. As she sniffed her stomach flipped. Quickly she dashed away from the campsite. She emptied the contents of her dinner onto the forest floor. Wiping her mouth she leaned heavily against a tree, waiting for the nausea to pass.

Sesshomaru

Sesshomaru faltered in his movement as he sensed something wasn't right with Akisame. He avoided getting Leena's foot in his face however as he twisted away and sprinted to her side. "What is it love?"

Taka

She tripped as Sesshomaru sprinted past her, lightly brushing her in his hurry. Taka landed on her butt with a thud, snarling slighty in frustration. She banged her fist on the ground. She knew what was wrong with Akisame but apparently her mate didnt. "I've enough trouble with this thing without him doing that," she growled pointing after him, "Does he have to be so damned protective?"

Leena

Seeing Sesshomaru falter, Leena pulled the kick just before it connected with his face. Regaining her own balance, she watched as he dashed for his mate. Laughing she helped Taka up. "He seems to think so."

Akisame

Taking a deep breath to still her stomach, she turned. The concern in his golden eyes touched her heart. "It is nothing, husband. Just my body adjusting to our child. Now go apologize to Leena and Taka, this will most likely happen every morning for a while. We are fine." Knowing his sensitive nose, she resisted the urge to kiss him and patted his arm instead.

Sesshomaru

"What do you mean?" Sesshomaru turned and saw Leena helping Taka off the ground. "Oh," he padded over to his companions. "Please forgive me, Taka, I did not mean to knock you over and Leena...shall we begin again?"

Taka

Taka stepped up to him, looking him in the eye, and shaking her finger at him. "I'll forgive you this last time....just don't do it again, Grandsire."

Akisame

She watched as the two forgave him. His attentiveness to her, she well understood. She knew he felt that if he had taken Akari to his home she would still be alive. Yet, she could not help but be selfishly glad that he hadn't. Otherwise she wouldn't have him now. Resting a hand on her stomach, she spoke softly to her child. "Ok little one, that is enough of making mommy sick for today. You are making your daddy worry." Slowly she walked back to the fire to check on breakfast.

Leena

At his request she shook her head. "Sesshomaru, have you ever been around a pregnant ningen before?" 'Kami-sama,' she thought 'please say yes, I have no desire to give you a lesson on ningen pregnancies.'

Sesshomaru

He cocked an eyebrow at Leena. "Ningen pregnancies are different from youkai?"

Leena

She couldn't help the groan that escaped. "Dammit to hell. Uhhh... in a word, yes. Well sit down, you have got a lot to learn." She sat taking a moment to collect her thoughts. "Well? Are you going to sit or not?"

Taka

Taka leapt to a low hanging branch to listen to Leena try to explain pregnancy to Sesshomaru. She chuckled at the confused look on the taiyoukai's face. When Leena asked if was going to sit, Sesshomaru shook his head and sat. She herself had learned by watching Dorei's mate's pregnancy. The young youkai settled back and waited for Leena to begin to speak, all the while trying to ignore the tempting smells coming from the fire.

Sesshomaru

He seated himself quickly and waited for Leena to speak. All the while keeping an eye on Akisame as she prepared the meal. Leena's voice snapped him back to attention.

Leena

"Ok, Akisame is fine, what is happening to her is perfectly normal. Humans hormones change and their bodies have trouble at first understanding. So some women experience what they call morning sickness." She remembered Sango's morning sickness, it lasted all day with her first child. "Once the body adjust she will be fine. Also, be prepared for mood swings. She'll be happy one minute and furious the next." She thought for a moment. "In a few months, when she is really starting to show..." at his blank expression she made a curving motion in front of her stomach "gets larger, she is going to start being self concious about her looks. What ever you do, always say she's beautiful. If she complains about the amount of food she's eating, it's the pup that is eating not her." Standing she patted his shoulder "Welcome to nine, no wait, seven months of hell. You're senses are going to drive you nuts." Remembering one thing that use to drive Sango nuts she met his eyes. "Don't treat her like an invalid, she's pregnant, not ill."

Akisame

She watched the as Leena seemed to be telling Sesshomaru something. It must concern her, for all the glances she was getting from the three. Pouring out the tea, she called "Is anyone hungry?"

Sesshomaru

He nodded and at Akisame's call stood. Giving Leena a small bow he said, "Arigato Leena." Moving back to the fire he gave his mates neck a nuzzle as he took his tea. "Arigato my love," he whispered in her ear.

Taka

Taka took a seat by the fire and sniffed at her tea appreciativly. She gave Akisame a grateful look. "You know it really is nice to have someone who can cook around."

Akisame

"Thank you Taka." She was surprised by the attentiveness of her companions. The exception being, Leena who as usual took her place and began to eat without speaking. Only the barest of nods indicated her appreciation of the food.

Leena

Finishing she waited for the others to finish, so she could take care of her morning chore of dishes. Taking a look around she realized their location. "Ummm did anyone but me realize that we will be camping in the Western Lands tonight?"

Taka

At Leena's words, a lump rose in her throat and she had trouble swallowing her food. With much difficulty she finally swallowed and said, "Already...it seems like we just got started."

Sesshomaru

Sesshomaru nodded. He heard the small tremble in Taka's voice. Soon they would be back at Midoriko's cave and they would all go back to their own times. All but he and Akisame, he was not going back without her. "Yes, Taka, time is passing very quickly."

Akisame

She looked at her companions, her friends, her family. 'It's too soon to loose them,' she thought as she lay her head on her mates shoulder.

Leena

She hadn't thought of that. They were at her normal speed maybe a week from Midoriko's cave. Yet she didn't feel like hurrying and travelling at a speed comfortable for Akisame it could take almost a month to reach the cave. "Actually, I was wondering about this worlds Sesshomaru and Inu Yasha. BUT, since everyone wants to talk about Midoriko's cave.... Akisame, I made you a promise one night I fully plan to keep that. So instead of dancing around the subject, let's attack it head on. Keeping the two of you together. Ideas? Anyone?"

Sesshomaru

Sesshomaru rested his head on Akisame's, relishing the scent of her, as he thought. He had not really thought on how to stay with her, only knew that he had to. He was about to speak but Taka voice stopped him.

Taka

Taka bit her lip. She too had promised to help keep the two together. "We could just ask Midoriko to let them stay together?"

Leena

"Well, my Uncle Inu never used the wish on the Shikon No Tama of my world. He asked Midoriko if Kagome could. She agreed but he had to do some kind of task for her. He never talks about it, so I have no idea what it was. I do have a couple of theories. One which I hope is the actual one, we can wish on the Jewel. Then again, maybe it will be impossible to send both of them to his world and we could ask the Sesshomaru of this world to take his place. Then there are a few other arcane possibilities but those are near impossible, and I don't know how they would effect Akisame or the pup." She looked at the couple apologetically. "We could make the fortress by tomorrow noon, if you want to talk with your duplicate about possibly changing worlds."

Sesshomaru

He thought over all the ideas Leena just mentioned. They all were acceptable to him but for any that would endanger either Akisame or his pup. Visiting his double in this world would be a good idea in case there was no way to send both he and Akisame to his world. "Let us pay a visit to this worlds Sesshomaru, I believe that would be the best course of action."

Taka

She smiled to herself, as she packed up her things. They wouldnt be returning directly to the cave. They would all have some more time together. She wondered if when she returned to her world would she remember anything. Taka sighed and ready herself for their travel today. She would worry about it when they got to the cave.

Leena

They broke camp quickly and headed west. As the sun reached its zenith they approached the border between the Northern Lands and Western. In the distance she could just make out tents. "Looks like we're expected."



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