What Your Eyes Did to Me by SunsetMiko

Late Late

Chapter 14 - Late Late

Sagax - acute, keen scented, shrewd, clever (Stella's Latin Challenge)

Kagome was mentally panicking. While going through her things at the family home, selecting more to take back to their apartment, she came across her calendar. She had been so caught up with Sesshoumaru, going out to somewhere new and interesting every day that she hadn't been paying attention. Now, it was glaringly obvious, thanks to her meticulous records, that she missed her period.

The miko was pacing and muttering to herself. She and Sesshoumaru had yet to discuss children. She had no idea if he wanted them, especially considering that they would be hanyou. He treated Inuyasha so badly for so long, calling him horrible names like filthy half-breed, that she feared he hated hanyou simply on principle. That wasn't her only fear, however. She slept with Kouga the day before she left him and Sesshoumaru the day after. She and the wolf always used protection, but that apparently didn't mean anything. She was on birth control, but she still might be pregnant! It was possible that she was carrying Kouga's child while being courted by Sesshoumaru!

Inuyasha entered the room, instantly recognizing Kagome's upset. "Yo, babe, what's the problem?"

"Smell me!" Kagome demanded.

"I can smell ya just fine, 'Gome."

"No, I mean really smell me. Do I smell different? Is something off?"

Inuyasha inhaled deeply and shook his head. "You smell like you always do. What is going on?"

"I'm late, Inuyasha!"

"Late for what?" he asked in confusion. "I'm sure Sesshoumaru will wait."

"No, I'm late late. My period is late, and I'm on birth control so it comes like clockwork. I think I might be pregnant! So smell me!"

"Lay down on the bed," he instructed with a sigh.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because I'm not getting on my damn knees to scent you. Just do it. I don't know why you're freaking out so much."

"Because Sesshoumaru and I haven't talked about it. I don't even know if he wants to have kids!" she said while lying down.

"Of course he does. It's an instinct thing."

"He doesn't really follow all his instincts though, does he?" she hissed as Inuyasha leaned down and pressed his nose to her abdomen, breathing in deeply. "Besides, I slept with Kouga two days before I was with Sesshoumaru. I don't even know if it's his!"

"Oooohhh," Inuyasha said slowly, the severity of the situation finally sinking in. "Well, you don't smell pregnant," he said.

"But you're only a half-demon," she replied quickly.

"Gee, thanks, babe. Like I could ever forget."

"No, I didn't mean it like that. Just... What if the scent isn't strong enough for you to smell it? Does it smell like my period is coming?"

Inuyasha rolled his eyes but scented her stomach again. "I don't smell anything, 'Gome. When's the last time Sesshoumaru went down on you?" he asked.

"Inuyasha!" Kagome exclaimed, her face turning a brilliant red.

"What? If he was down there, he would have scented something. You need to relax. I really don't think you're pregnant. You want me to go get you a test? It might make you feel better."

"Yes, a test! Get the one that's supposed to be able to tell the earliest."

"I don't know anything about pregnancy tests!"

"Just read the boxes!" Kagome practically screamed. "Go! Go now!"

Inuyasha sighed, but did as she requested, grabbing his keys and wallet from his room before heading out. He passed Sesshoumaru on the driveway and mentally winced. Kagome wasn't in any state to see her future mate. He hoped she was able to calm down so she didn't interact with the taiyoukai like she just had with him. He had a feeling she didn't want to discuss her fears with Sesshoumaru until she knew for sure, and so he found the closest drug store, eager to get back.

- Tango - to touch, to hit, to defile, to steal, to affect feelings (Stella's Latin Challenge)

Sesshoumaru headed directly to Kagome's room; ready to help her carry her things to his car. When he entered the room, the miko quickly forced herself to calm. She didn't want him to know she was upset until she knew for sure.

"Oh, hi!" she said with a smile.

"Is everything all right?" he asked, sensing her nervousness.

"I'm fine. I just didn't get as much done as I'd intended," she said with a slight blush.

"Well, is there anything I can help you with?" he asked seductively while taking a step forward. He missed her a great deal during their few hours apart, and he wanted nothing more than to hold her in his arms and kiss her senseless.

Just as he stepped forward, Kagome took a step back, terrified that he would notice a difference in her scent. He hadn't that morning, but that didn't mean anything. His nose was incredibly powerful, and it could narrow down even the tiniest variations in scents. Something could have changed since that morning.

Seeing her step back, noticing the fear in her eyes, Sesshoumaru's heart ached. What had changed? Why was she suddenly trying to get away from him? Had she given more thought to his sexual history and decided she didn't like it? Ever since he confessed the truth to her, he had been worried that she would realize that she deserved better.

"You can take that bag down to the car," she replied to his question, not noticing the pain in his eyes at her rejection. It had been subtle, but it was enough to make him worry.

"Okay," he agreed, picking up the suitcase on the bed and leaving the room without another word. He needed to figure out what was wrong with her. Had Inuyasha said something? Had something happened? Perhaps his father would know. Sesshoumaru walked slowly, running recent events through his mind, searching for any explanation for her behavior.

Kagome sighed with relief when the taiyoukai left. She didn't want him to know anything until she was certain. Once she was, then she would discuss everything with Sesshoumaru, but not yet. She thought there was no need to worry him, not realizing that she had, in fact, given him a great deal to worry about with that one step backwards and the look in her eyes. She just hoped Inuyasha would hurry up with her test! Once she took it, she would know for sure. She had her fingers crossed that she wasn't pregnant. Now wasn't the time for babies, and that was assuming he wanted children at all. They had only just started courting!

Once Sesshoumaru had deposited the bag in the trunk of his car, he headed back inside to speak with his father. Perhaps the old dog would know if something had happened to make Kagome upset with him. The fear in her eyes had made his blood run cold. One's mate should never fear you, that much was certain, and she had never shown a hint of fear before that moment, not even when his beast had taken control and been rough with her. So why now?

Iacio - to lay, to throw, the shed, to scatter, to utter (Stella's Latin Challenge)

Inuyasha waited until his brother was out of sight before entering the house and rushing upstairs with a large brown paper bag. He hurried to the miko and handed it to her.

"Why is this so heavy?" she asked. "I only wanted one test!"

"Well, I didn't know which one to get so I bought one of each," the hanyou exclaimed. This situation was beginning to stress him out. "Now go on! Get in the bathroom and start peeing on sticks!"

Kagome sighed heavily but did just that, heading into the bathroom with the bag. She sat down on the lid of the toilet and opened it up, pulling out the various tests one by one. She looked them over, reading the instructions, and finally she settled on one that promised the earliest accurate results.

The miko redressed and sat on the closed lid of the toilet simply staring at the test she just took for a long moment. She looked at the little cup of her pee on the counter before she began ripping open the other packages. Soon she had a line of ten different pregnancy tests on the counter.

Waiting for the results was the worst part. She was afraid to watch them develop, so she stared intently at her watch while tapping her foot impatiently before she started pacing the room. When five minutes had passed, she walked warily to the counter.

"Not pregnant, one line, one line, minus sign, one line, not pregnant," she muttered to herself, checking each and every test result against its instructions, finally grinning like a fool. "I'm not pregnant," she whispered to herself. It was a huge relief, though a part of her mind still wondered if it was simply too early to be sure. The tests said they could detect pregnancy even before a missed period, but she was skeptical.

Suddenly, there was a banging on the bathroom door that had her jumping out of her skin. "Come on, 'Gome. Hurry it up in there!" Inuyasha was just as nervous as she was by this point, and he wanted to know the results just as badly as she had.

Kagome opened the door with a smile on her face and held up a few of the sticks. "They say I'm not pregnant," she said.

Inuyasha looked at the counter and paled. "Damn, woman, you took them all?" He was more than a little grossed out by the cup of pee still sitting on the counter, along with the rest of the tests. Pee was one of those things he just didn't like, and she had it everywhere! "You'd better clean up the bathroom before Sesshoumaru sees."

The miko's eyes widened, and she set out to do just that, tossing all the tests, and their boxes and instructions in the small trash can, cursing when it was filled to overflowing. Inuyasha walked away, muttering to himself about just how gross pee was, all the while wondering when Sesshoumaru would show his face again.

Dedignor - to think unworthy, scorn, reject (Stella's Latin Challenge)

"Where is Sesshoumaru, anyway?" Kagome asked. He hadn't returned from taking her suitcase to the car, and it had been quite a long time.

"I saw him heading into Pop's study. What did you say to him, anyway? He looked upset."

"I didn't really say much of anything," Kagome confessed, explaining the brief interaction between her and the taiyoukai.

"You backed away from him?" Inuyasha asked.

"Yeah, why?"

"Dude, babe, you rejected him by doing that. It isn't as blatant as turning your back on him, but it ain't good. No wonder he looked upset. You'd better talk to him."

Kagome sighed. "Why does everything have to be so complicated?" The last thing she intended to do was reject Sesshoumaru! She just wanted him to keep that nose of his away from her for a little while longer. Now she had likely damaged their relationship, all because of a pregnancy scare.

"Don't worry, babe. I'll get him," the hanyou said before walking away.

-

Downstairs, Sesshoumaru was pacing the large entryway of the family home. Talking with his father hadn't helped a bit, and he still had no idea what he did wrong. When he heard Inuyasha coming down the stairs, he turned to look at the hanyou.

"Go see your woman," Inuyasha said with a jerk of his head towards the staircase.

"I am not so sure she would desire that," Sesshoumaru replied, his tone obviously depressed.

"Well, I was just with her, and I am sure, so go."

The taiyoukai tilted his head to the side, wondering if Inuyasha's advice was good. Should he head back upstairs and check on her? She hadn't told him not to return. He needed to know what was bothering her; so finally, he decided to give it another shot. He couldn't hide from her after all; they lived together. At some point they were going to have to see one another and talk. Sesshoumaru took the stairs two at a time, eager to get whatever the problem was straightened up.

"She's fine, by the way," Inuyasha hollered after his brother. "She's not mad at ya!"

- Gravidus - laden, swollen, heavy with child (Stella's Latin Challenge)

"Kagome?" Sesshoumaru said from the open doorway, not sure if he was welcome in the room with her or not.

"Sesshoumaru! Oh, there you are," she said, rushing into his arms.

He held her close, still sensing her nervousness. "Is everything all right?" he asked, concerned that something was going on that he wasn't privy to.

"Do I smell any different to you?" she asked, unsure if she really wanted to know the answer but dying to be certain at the same time. She still wasn't fully convinced, not even after nearly a dozen negative tests, that she wasn't pregnant.

Sesshoumaru buried his nose in her throat and breathed her in deeply. "No, you smell as you always do," he replied. "Why?"

"Well, I found my calendar and realized my period was late. I thought I might be pregnant. Inuyasha got me a test, well, more like every kind of test they had, and they were all negative," she rambled, "but I'm still not sure. I was freaking out. I mean, if I am, it might be Kouga's and..."

"When you conceive, I will know the instant it happens," he said, interrupting her verbal diarrhea.

"You will?" she asked in surprise.

"I will, and in that moment I will rejoice," he added with a smirk.

"So, you want kids then?" she inquired, wanting to make sure. "Even though they'll be..."

"Hanyou? Kagome, I know what you are, and it doesn't bother me in the least. Our children will be beautiful and powerful, intelligent and kind, and did I say beautiful?" he said, his smirk widening.

"Of course they'll be beautiful, with you as their father," Kagome shot back with a grin.

"This Sesshoumaru is not beautiful. I am handsome," he corrected in his snooty tone.

"If you say so," she replied with a laugh. "I still think you're beautiful."

"And to be clear," the taiyoukai said, "I would love any child you give me, even if it was sired by the wolf. You had nothing to fear from me."

Kagome couldn't help but smile at his words. "But then why is my period late? Inuyasha said it didn't smell like it was coming."

Sesshoumaru thought for a long moment before realizing something. "It is possible that this is another effect of the bonding ceremony. Inu females only bleed twice a year, and are only fertile during that time." A wicked grin took over his face. "And if that is what has happened, during that time you will desire this Sesshoumaru constantly. You will burn for me."

"And that's different how?" she asked, leaning up on her toes to kiss him passionately. She was relieved; both to know that she definitely wasn't pregnant and that Sesshoumaru wanted children with her even though they would be hanyou. She couldn't hold herself back. Her knee slid along his leg seductively, and Sesshoumaru lifted her off the floor, kicking the door closed and laying her on the bed amidst piles of her belongings.

He was just as relieved to find out what had been bothering her earlier and why she had backed away from him with fear in her eyes. She hadn't changed her mind about him. She had just been scared about a possible pregnancy, something he could completely understand. They hadn't talked about children yet, and the possibility that it could have been sired by another male other than the one she was with would be enough to upset any female. He meant what he said, however. He would never have left her if she were carrying the wolf's child. He loved her far too much, and he would have loved the child all the same. He was, however, thankful that she wasn't pregnant yet. He wanted to have more time for just the two of them, and he was sure she felt the same.

As he slowly removed her clothing piece by piece, he worshipped her beautiful body completely and thoroughly, all the while imagining what she would look like heavy with his child. She would be beautiful, of that he was certain.