Adult-FanFiction.org : Inuyasha / Yashahime

Unexpected Circumstance	By : Neptunesdemon Category: InuYasha > Yaoi - Male/Male Views: 13382 -:- Recommendations : 2 -:- Currently Reading : 4
Disclaimer: Inuyasha and all its characters are not owned by me. I do not make any profit of of this, it is purely for entertainment.

Chapter List
- 29
- 30
- 31
Title: Unexpected Circumstance
Author: Neptunesdemon
Archive: Fanfiction net; Mpreg mailing list
Category: Mpreg, romance, drama
Pairings: Inuyasha/Sesshomaru
Rating: High T for blood and violence
Spoilers: None
Warnings: Yaoi, OOC, incest, OC, mpreg, evilness with an emphasis on the evil part
Author's Note: I'm back! My new computer came and I've been writing since I got it. Go read! I've had you guys waiting long enough!
xoxoxox
Naraku carefully cooed at the fussing pup in his arms, his lips fitted with a victorious smile. He hadn't thought that it would be so easy, especially since Sesshomaru had had the child under close watch at all times.
He entered Ishimaru's compound, not in the least suspicious of the absence of most of the soldiers. He simply made his way to the badger demon's private quarters, all the while his attention focused on the infant in his arms.
The boy had finally stopped fussing and was busy looking about the new surroundings with large, red-gold eyes. Eyes that were so similar to his own that it made him smile in fiendish delight.
It didn't take them long to finally reach Ishimaru's room and when they reached, it was to find the head of the household was gone. He didn't think too much on it, though. With the doors closed, Naraku turned out of his disguise to his true form, settling on a bench with his son on his lap.
The new face grabbed the pup's attention, small hands reaching out to touch. Naraku intercepted, and the infant began fussing again. So, with much reluctance, Naraku let him have his way. It was far easier to put up with than his incessant screeching.
Infant hands smacked down on his face, but the dark hanyou put up with it with a growl of annoyance. Kazue cooed and gurgled as he reached out for the long strands of hair, squealing in delight at the feel of it in his palms.
Naraku only snorted before he was lifting the boy into the air to examine further, Kazue giggling happily. Red eyes looked the boy over, turning the child this way and that as it laughed, the infant enjoying it all the while. He finally settled with holding the pup out at arms' length, frowning as the boy's giggling finally began to die down.
Naraku's brow lifted as the baby began drooling, babbling in infant tongue that would never be understood. Was this useless mass of flesh truly his offspring? Naraku was highly disappointed. Being the child of not only himself, but Sesshomaru as well, he had expected much more; a golden prodigy. However, what he had received was a pup of no worth.
He snorted again, his hands letting go of the child as his tentacles lifted him further away. He regretted that decision as soon as it happened. Kazue had managed to grab hold of his hair again and as he was pulled away, it was pulled. . . hard. It had Naraku yelping in pain and then the child was giggling in mirth at the sound.
Naraku growled, sending a glare to the still laughing child and reaching to pull his hair free. He supposed he could take comfort in the fact the his child enjoyed causing pain, as well as seeing how others reacted to it. It took a couple of tries to de-tangle small fingers from his locks, and when he finally did, he groaned as the boy started crying.
"ENOUGH!" He was bellowing, his eyes cutting sharply at his offspring.
It worked, as Kazue fell silent, wide eyes looking back at the angry figure he was hovering over. It was short lived, as the baby starting bawling, now from the fact that he had been startled.
The hanyou was snarling, drawing the crying excuse of a life form closer to him once again, ready to squeeze its throat until it was quiet; his plans be damned! Kazue was only mere inches away, Naraku's hands twitching with the urge to wrap around the small neck, when it was suddenly fell quiet.
He wasn't sure what had worked to quiet the boy, but he wasn't going to dwell on why it had chosen to finally be quiet. He did notice, however, that wide, infantile eyes were focused behind him and his curiosity got the best of him.
He peeked over his shoulder and couldn't help the smirk as he was reminded of Sesshomaru's female ward. The young, human girl was hanging limply, more dead than alive, but her lips were barely moving, voice unable to accompany the word they tried to form.
Otouto.
She knew he was here and it was obvious that Kazue was already able to recognize his family and closest relations. He was turning back to Kazue who was now babbling again, watching as the boy's hand reached out as if to grab for the girl that was on the opposite end of the room.
Not sure what else he could possibly do with the boy, he thought it best to put him somewhere until he needed him again. Ishimaru's bedroom was a good a place as any, and lowering the boy back into his arms, he began heading for the door that entered into it.
Kazue didn't seem to want to be separated from the one person that was familiar in the strange surroundings and his fussing and crying began again. Naraku ignored it. It was something he'd have to get rid of, and soon. Babies were far more tolerable with their throats mangled to the point beyond repair, he was sure. And if not, he would have to sacrifice and be rid of the irritating thing.
He was only a few steps away from the bedroom when he had to stop, not missing the unmistakable sound of tearing flesh, his mind notified that it was an extension of his own. He didn't register pain, but he knew that it was a part of him. He didn't move, though, waiting to see what would happen.
He was spinning to look behind him as he felt his binds eradicated in his mind and wide eyes watched as the limp body of the girl fell to the floor. She didn't move, and Naraku had to wonder how she had broken free. There were youkai that couldn't escape from his living binds. How was it possible that a mere human had-
His eyes widened as she moved across the floor toward him, her body dragged as if by some unseen force. His shock caused him to stumble back, and Kazue let out a shriek of objection. That was when he found himself looking to the child in his arms. Kazue's crying had died down, and was stilling completely, as Rin slowly slid closer.
It didn't take him long to figure it out, but he had to be sure. He called up his writhing masses again and had then wrapping around Rin's half-dead body, stopping her in her tracks. Kazue seemed to make a sound of strain, and Naraku tightened the hold, pulling the girl back in the opposite direction. The boy was shrieking again, and the putrid bindings was cut to shreds, ichor flying in all directions.
His grin as spreading, his eyes filled with crazed joy as Rin began slowly sliding closer, dragged by none other than a will. It was only a moment or two and Rin came to a stop in front of him, Kazue wriggling to be let down. His demands were ignored, as Naraku wanted to wait and see what would happen next.
He was laughing as soon enough Rin's body was lifting from the floor, limp and lifeless, to hover in front of them. Kazue was reaching and Naraku stepped back to put more distance between them, laughing harder as Rin's body drew closer again.
When she was in reaching distance, Kazue's arms were stretched out again, and Naraku lifted his free arm to pull his hands away. He tsked as the boy tried to throw a tantrum, petting his head in pride.
"Uh, uh, uh." Naraku reprimanded him. "You've made daddy very proud. Now it's time to sleep."
With a deep breath, he was then exhaling, blowing deep purple miasma over his son's face. It was only seconds before the boy was limp, head falling against his shoulder in forced sleep. He hardly glanced down as the girl suddenly dropped to the floor, no longer held in the air by the infant's telekinetic talent.
He merely kicked her away, not sure if she was dead or not. If he cared to, he'd check later. She was pretty much useless now. He was in possession of an even better bargaining chip. When the boy was awake again, he would have to see what else he was capable of. He had a feeling that his pup would be full of surprises.
xoxoxox
Ginta's face held a frown as he was slowly drawn from sleep, his eyes opening to the peeking sunlight of the early morning. He was aware of the murmured speaking of the few pack members Kouga had left behind with him, as well as Hakkaku cooing at one of the pups beside him.
He turned his head to look at his friend, smiling as the male wolf was beaming with Ginta's son in his hands. His companion's mirth reminded him of when Kouga had first inadvertantly rejected him. Hakkaku had offered to take him as a mate. He would be the first to admit, Hakkaku was indeed mate material, though a bit dim-witted and absent-minded at times. He was handsome, though and Ginta had been grateful. He would have accepted as well. It just so happened that at the time, Kouga had reappeared with Lady Minako in tow.
He remembered that possessive look he had thrown their way, and the murderous growl that clearly stated to the new male vying for the pregnant youkai's affection that he was already claimed. It had baffled Ginta to no end, but he had been glad when it came to be that Kouga took him as his mate. Though, he knew, Hakkaku would have provided for him just as much as Kouga had and would have loved his pups as if they were his own.
His daughter fussed, and he turned onto his left side to peep down at her, smiling as she sneezed before opening her eyes to look up at her birthing parent. He had been ecstatic when she had opened her eyes for the first time a few hours after Kouga had left, before it waned as he realized that Kouga had not been there to see it. His smile left altogether as he realized that Kouga had still not returned. He was beginning to worry, but he forced himself to think reasonably.
Whatever pack members they had managed to gather had to be a number large enough to slow him down. He could expect new mothers and male carriers, the old, the sick, and injured. It wouldn't be as easy as it had been with just him, Kouga and Hakkaku.
Sachiko gurgled and he was looking down to her again, smiling as she clutched Kouga's furs that she was wrapped in tighter in her small fists. It was probably him over-thinking things, but he wanted her to be comforted by his smell while he was gone. She didn't know what he looked like, but when he returned hopefully she would be able to recognize the smell and connect it to the sight of him. He had done the same for Yukio.
His son was now busy enjoying as Hakkaku held him above his head, toothless grin brightening the room and easing some of Ginta's tension. He was grateful for Hakkaku's company with Kouga gone, it made it easier to bear the loneliness and eased the stress of taking care of two infant cubs.
Sitting up, he smiled at Hakkaku who nodded his head in respect, Ginta still not used to his newly received title as second in command. Nodding in acknowledgment, he turned back to Sachiko and lifted her into his arms. If he knew his children, one or the other would be hungry soon, and since she was the closest, he took to feeding her first.
Hakkaku was too busy enjoying his time with the youngest of the two twins to even scold Ginta about his lack of modesty, though he himself didn't mind. It was Kouga who would have been throwing a jealous fit.
The knock at the door had them turn in time to see Akane sliding the door open to greet them with a smile and a bow of respect for Ginta.
"My prince, breakfast is ready and has been delivered to our rooms." She announced, Ginta frowning a bit.
"We're not required to eat in the dining hall with the rest of the household?" He questioned and Akane was chuckling.
"Lord Inuyasha and Prince Sesshomaru have not emerged from their quarters and no one dares disturb them."
Ginta was rolling his eyes with a knowing laugh of his own. He and Kouga still rutted as if it were their first time any chance that they got. He was not in the slightest way surprised by the two inukai's actions.
"Very well." He said, standing with practiced ease without disturbing his feeding daughter. "Shall we?"
He and Hakkaku followed the older wolf into the main suit and sat themselves around the low dining table that had been set up. Yumi and her grandfather greeted him and soon they were all eating, discussing the latest news and gossip that was traveling through the Western palace.
Halfway between breakfast, Ginta had exchanged pups with his friend and had returned to eating the well appreciated food with Yukio now suckling on his chest. Their meal went on well enough, Ginta enjoying the company as well as the entertaining sight of Hakkaku stumbling and stuttering in response to Yumi's subtle flirting.
He was in the middle of laughing at Akane's father-in-law's farfetched story of how he had wrestled ten boar demons with one hand tied behind his back and a broken leg, when a sick feeling settled in his stomach and the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end.
It seemed he wasn't the first to realize the change in air and he found the rest of the table looking in the direction of the open garden doors. Carefully, he detached Yukio from his chest, before handing the young male pup over to Akane who took him with no objection. He was standing and heading for the open doorway, ignoring Hakkaku's objections that Kouga would hate if something happened to him.
He let his need to protect his young from whatever was putting them all at ill-ease guide him and he was stepping out into the garden, eyes looking about carefully for the threat he could feel lurking just beyond where he stood.
The feeling grew worse as time passed on and Ginta suddenly wanted to turn around and head back to his pups. He was finding it best that he go in search of Inuyasha's company. As a dominant male, Inuyasha was the best protection that Ginta could think of, as whatever was out there seemed far stronger than himself or Hakkaku. That and he had promised Kouga that if things turned bad when he was still away, he would request to share living quarters with Sesshomaru and ask for Inuyasha's protection under his and Kouga's newly found alliance.
"Hakkaku-"
It was all he was able to get out, as he was interrupted by a shrill scream that he recognized as Yumi's. It was followed by Akane's horrified howl, and he spun to have his eyes widen in horror as the eldest wolf's head rolled across their table.
'My babies!' Was all he could think and before he knew it they were surrounded.
Yumi and Akane were grabbed and their screaming muffled, his pups shrieking in their baskets, calling out for the comfort of their parents. Hakkaku had managed to disembowel only one of their attackers before he was subdued by a mass of unrecognizable youkai.
The other male wolf was still struggling and growling, teeth bared and threatening as Ginta stood frozen to his spot. His howl barely left his throat as he watched a dagger imbed itself in Hakkaku's side, wide eyes watering as he watched his friend fall limp to the ground. The hand covering his mouth and another holding a sword up to his throat had him careful not to move, and he only gave muffled sobs as his pups were lifted into strange arms.
"You must be the wolf lord's chosen."
He wasn't sure who this stranger was, but the voice was barely recognizable. Someone he had met over the course of his stay definitely, but no one that had been significant enough to stay in his mind. He couldn't help but fight to be let go, his pups' wailing urging him on. His yelp of pain was muffled as his neck was arched back painfully and the sword pressed deeper against his skin, cutting but not doing lethal damage.
"If you wish to see your offspring dead, then you can continue to stupidly defy me!" The voice hissed in his ear, causing Ginta to still. "However, I am willing to grant you and the rest of your pathetic kind the gift of keeping your lives if you do as I wish. Now, are you willing to comply?"
Ginta nodded his head as best as he could with the position he was in and the hold he was in slackened. He looked down to where Hakkaku was sprawled out on the floor. The other male wolf was shallowly breathing and bleeding out over the floor. He was still alive, but for how long?
The demon that had been holding him captive circled around then and blocked his view from the rest of the room. He kept his eyes downcast, not wanting to see the face of his attacker, and his own instinct telling him it was safer to submit to this new, threatening male.
It would seem his wishes would not be granted as he was grabbed by his chin and forcefully lifted to look up. He was met with rust-colored eyes that were familiar as soon as he saw them. This was the badger demon that Inuyasha had warned was trouble. The look of murderous and ill intent that was directed down at him had him trembling with a fear that he had only felt once before, when he had watched his pack mates dying before his eyes.
Ishimaru chuckled as he smelled the fear permeate off of the smaller demon in front of him. He was never one to be interested in males, but the meek, little wolf that the wolf lord had mated himself to was quite the tempting thing. He so easily submitted with the right provocation, it was thrilling to know he could probably do as he pleased.
"Please." The submissive male was begging, his voice trembling and the sound of it had Ishimaru's blood rushing in excitement. "I'll do anything. Just don't harm my pups."
He smiled at that, sheathing his sword and lifting his hand to trace the back of his hand over Ginta's now wet cheeks. The wolf flinched away from him, a touch such as that unwelcoming from one who wasn't his mate and Ishimaru merely chuckled, his hand then petting over the wolf's hair in mock affection.
"How I was hoping you would say that." Ishimaru spoke, his eyes locking with Ginta's wide and frightened ones. "As an ally and trusted friend to the wretched hanyou and his disgraced mate, you can get far closer than I can hope to attain. So, you will be my key to getting in to their protected circle and your children will be released to you unharmed once you have done as requested."
He circled Ginta again, the wolf closing his eyes in disgust, knowing by just the way the male was looking him over what was expected to come next. He tried to squirm away from the caressing touch up his side, but the sword was at his throat again as Ishimaru pressed close to him from behind.
Ishimaru couldn't help the evil grin as Ginta whimpered at the unwelcoming touches, knowing the sickening effect it was taking on the mated wolf's body. He had to admit, he was thinking that once he'd won the throne, he would keep the wolf as one of the many whores he was sure to have housed in the palace. Perhaps the wolf lord's mate would help change his opinion on tasting male flesh.
His hand inched closer to the hidden mark under the collar of the wolf's tribal clothing and he raised a brow as Ginta physically stopped him.
"Please." It was a soft spoken word, a plea followed by a gentle, and yet strong command. "Don't."
Ishimaru merely chuckled, slapping Ginta's hand away and exposing the mark, no longer willing to draw on the suspense any longer.
"Forgive me, but for what I have planned I have to be sure that your mate does not interrupt." Ishimaru said, fingers circling, but not touching, the scar-like mark on his neck. He enjoyed as the look of nausea crossed Ginta's face. "And for that we will need a distraction. Which I am sure we will be able to provide."
"No." Ginta whimpered, and Ishimaru laughed loudly as claws traced over the raised mark and the smaller wolf visibly retched.
"Shall we?"
Ginta couldn't help the blood curdling scream as claws pierced his neck, but he went silent as the pain and nausea became too much and he fainted. Ishimaru caught him easily enough, smiling down at the unconscious wolf and watching the bleeding mark that was already healing into an ugly, disfigured shape. If anything would keep the wolf lord uncoordinated, it would surely be this. It gave him enough time to make sure his plan went into action without a hitch.
"Take the live ones and bind them, store them in my manor, the cubs as well. The wolf lord's mate will stay with me. He and I have work to be done, once he's awake."
He turned to his men, who bowed and began following orders, dragging away the two females and the barely living male that had managed to strip him of one of his own elite guards. He was looking to the headless body then and the mess of blood over the floor.
"Get rid of that and clean this place up." He ordered, lifting Ginta into his arms bridal-style. "Take the word to the troops I have sent out to stop any approaching allies to make their move. Kouga won't be a problem. He will be in far too much turmoil to be any kind of trouble. Kill him and all his kind alike. I do not want even a single pup left breathing."
With the last of his men saluting, bowing and heading off, Ishimaru looked down to a pale and trembling Ginta, his thumb passing over the angry looking scar again. Ginta's body shuddered and he smiled before pressing a thumb into the mark again, enjoying as the smaller youkai's body convulsed in pain. With his mate in this much agony, Kouga would be easily dealt with. And when the Southern clan ruler was out of the way, Inuyasha would be much more attainable.
xoxoxox
The badger demon that had been left in charge waited at the mouth of the hastily dug tunnel for a signal from the youkai that was perched and hidden in a nearby tree. They had to wait for the exact moment to execute their plan. To move too early or to move too late would have dire consequences.
His hand fiddled with an arrow, tracing over the barbed tip and wondering if he had time to gather poison to dip it in. His eyes watched the sun halfway over the horizon and he thought it best to do without. It was past sunrise enough that the enemy camp would be stirring and ready to move.
The unmistakable bird call had him looking up into the trees and he found his watchman signal that the enemy was on the move. He nodded and made a call of his own, telling the soldier to circle back with the others and warn Lord Kouga.
With his fellow comrade in arms taking off, he turned to head back into the tunnel where his signal could be heard further back by the toad youkai in waiting. It meant that he was unable to watch as his friend fell to the earth, body filled with a number of arrows and limp in death.
As he stopped at the pillar he had marked would be a safe distance for him to escape in enough time, he sent down a shrill whistle and waited for the one in return to tell him it was best to leave.
It didn't come. His brows furrowed into a deep frown and he whistled again, listening carefully for the reply, but instead all he got was a blood curdling scream. Without hesitation, he was rushing deeper into the tunnel, his sword drawn and ready for whatever had caused his teammate to cry out.
He skidded to a halt in the loosened dirt as he came across his friend's dead body, his throat slit, blank eyes staring up at the earthen ceiling. How? It was all he could wonder. That, as well as whom? No one should have been able to get past him, he had been blocking the only entrance! He-
His eyes widened as he found the gaping hole close to the floor of the tunnel and he moved to crouch next to it, tentatively sniffing the air before his hands traced over the tracks left behind. That would explain how their attacker got in without being noticed. There was no mistaking this handy work. This was clearly the efforts of a badger youkai.
He came to a realization too late it would seem, and he grunted in pain at the feel of a blade burying into his back. Teeth grit in pain as it was twisted and he was gasping and spitting blood as it was pulled free. He slumped to the ground, his vision fading fast, but he forced himself to stare his cowardly murderer in the eye.
He was met with his own kin, a badger youkai glaring down at him in disgust, wiping his sword off with the ends of his war kimono. It would seem that the clan leader's fear had come to fruition. Ishimaru was indeed going through with mutiny.
"Why?" He gasped out, struggling to breathe.
"Because traitors deserve death." Came the simple answer, the badger re-sheathing his sword. "And the West will belong to us, again."
"You're wrong." He struggled out, blood now steadily streaming out of his mouth. "We. . . "
Whatever he had meant to say was lost on his last breath and the badger demon that hovered above him scoffed in disgust as he died. Leaving the bodies there to rot, he turned to head out of the tunnel, ready to meet up with the rest and wait for Ishimaru's ok to move on the ookami lord's pack.
He stopped at the unmistakable sound of shuffling and he turned to look behind him, his eyes widening as his fellow badger demon was now in his animal farm, large frame expanding until it was almost crowded in the limited space. The large, red-eyed youkai gave him a defiant yowl before its large claws were swatting at the supporting beams.
The youkai could only scream as the tunnel began to collapse around them, trapping them both inside to be buried alive where they stood.
xoxoxox
Outside, barely half a mile away, the group of elite soldiers that were being led off to assess the lizard youkai army came to a halt as the earth trembled. They looked to each other in confusion before terrified screams caught their attention. Climbing up to the top of the trees they watched in the distance, confused and amazed, as the ground beneath the army seemed to collapse in on itself.
And if that wasn't helpful enough, water was soon rushing through from the nearby river, drowning those that hadn't been buried under rocks and dirt. Hundreds were drowned and trapped and they couldn't help but cheer at their luck. It would be great news to deliver to Kouga.
The toad demon sighed a bit in relief, knowing that this would significantly slow down the army and give the wolf pack time enough to get to Inuyasha's palace before the conflict started. His back was stiffening and his head snapped to the side, looking down to the ground to find one of his own dragging their bloodied and injured body across the forest floor.
The others noticed right away and soon they were all on the ground, trying to divest information out of the weakened and dying youkai. The older toad youkai had to soon push them aside, lifting the dying badger halfway off the ground and leaning close to hear the garbled whisper.
"Betrayed. . . attack. . .warn. . . "
His words faded on a long exhale and his body fell limp. With an angry frown marring his face, the toad gently rested his fellow warrior down, webbed hands reaching up to close his eyes. His body trembled as he stood, already knowing who was responsible. The toad youkai had always been pestered by Ishimaru and his petty followers to act with them so as to strike at the weakened inukai nation, but his clan leader had always refused.
It would seem that Mujina's son had grown too impatient and had overstepped his place. War had finally hit.
"Back to the camp!" He was ordering, eyes looking out to see if the dead soldier had been followed. "Lord Kouga has to be warned! Move!"
The flurry of arrows stopped them in their tracks, the demons crying out as they were hit, an arrow lodging in the aged soldier's collar bone. He gasped in pain, a webbed hand grasping at the shaft that was sticking out of him. He broke it off, looking about to find thankfully only one out of the four with him had been mortally wounded.
"Go now!" He was demanded the kitsune, the badger having been shot with more than one arrow and each hitting a vital target. "Stay low and move quickly!"
Two transformed into their animal forms, zipping off at break next speed, the third melting into shadow and zipping across the forest floor. The old youkai struggled to stand, knowing he was being watched as sure as he knew the kitsune were being tracked down.
He glared out at the surrounding forest, his chest heaving with pain and anger. With a grunt of effort, he was ripping the arrow free, throwing the bloodied arrowhead to the ground.
"Come on, you cowardly bastards!" He was exclaiming, his hand falling to his sword's hilt. "Stop skulking about like the vermin you are and face me like true warriors! Or has your honor been so corrupted by your disgraceful leader?"
He got what he wanted. As much as twenty rebel badger youkai emerged from the trees and underbrush, swords drawn or bows notched and ready. The toad demon only laughed, feeling his youki bellowing in excitement with blood-lust. It had been far too long since he had felt the heat of battle. He would not go down so easily until his youki had taken its fill.
"Let's not dawdle any longer." His voice was deeper, sounding closer to a low croak as he drew his sword. "The day only grows shorter. Let's see if you can best an old man."
xoxoxox
Kouga sat on a fallen log, looking out over his surviving pack and not able to believe that there were so many. So much more than he had expected. He was ecstatic, and yet, he was also unsure of himself. It was easier to see himself as leader of an entire clan, when that clan could easily fit into a small cave. Now. . . well now he would have to return back to the cavernous mountains of the South when they were done. There was no way that he would be able to support so many demons and familiars out here in the open.
He was reluctant to return, knowing what had happened there to a large majority of his pack, but he had no choice. He owed it to his family, the immediate and the distant, to take them back home. His mind wandered to Ginta and his pups and he couldn't help but wring his hands in frustration. They were there without him, with danger lurking around the corner, and he couldn't get to them fast enough.
He stood then, suddenly too nervous and wired to keep still, needing to move to distract himself. He was still waiting for the report from the toad youkai and the other demons that had left with him. It was still under two hours now, but he was beginning to worry all the same. If they were caught, there was no way they would be able to fight off eight hundred demons on their own. Hell, if the army found out his pack was here, he wouldn't be able to fight them off either.
The only capable fighters were too few in number and everyone else were mothers, the elderly or the children, newly added or still too young to even know true violence past the occasional kill. He looked up to the remaining elite guards with him and asked for anything with only a look. He was given an apologetic shrug and his jaw tightened. This was becoming unbearable.
He stopped suddenly, feeling ill to his stomach and he doubled over, hands on his knees, hoping to alleviate the force of the sudden urge to vomit. What the hell was that? He swallowed a burst of bile that was persistent and forced himself to stand straight, suddenly trembling and his heart racing.
The need to leave and find his mate and his pups were impossible to ignore, and he took a step closer to Inuyasha's men, who were giving him worried glances. He was only half way there when his head exploded, one hand grabbing at his skull as he screamed in horrific pain and the other covering over his mating mark. It was burning, scorching his skin as if he were being branded.
"GINTA!" Was all he was able to belt out, his eyes burning red as he looked out into the distance.
He was ready to sprint off, the wind already gathering to make his tell-tale whirlwind, but that was when the screaming started. He spun to see what it was and his stomach dropped as he watched youkai and familiars begin dropping like flies. Arrows were flying out from the deep shadows of the forest and his clan was scrambling in panic, few dropping to mourn the dead or assess the injured in the confusion.
'No!' He was screaming in his head, his head throwing back to give an angered howl. 'Not again!"
His knees buckled underneath him though as the feeling hit him again, his eyes rolling to the back of his head as he fell to the ground. The pain radiated from head to toe, his mating mark transmitting a turmoil he couldn't stop. He could feel his youki thrashing in a mixture of emotions inside of him, but he could only convulse uselessly on the forest floor. The last thing he could think as the world turned black and the screams of the dying began to dampen, was that he wished to die, too. There was no way that he could lose his pack a second time, and he definitely couldn't live knowing that he had failed as a leader and mate.
"Ginta." Was all he could whisper out as he finally let unconsciousness take him.
xoxoxox
Sango stood from where Kirara rested on the taijiya's low-lying bed, her hand passing one last time over the soft fur of her furry companion. The fire-cat was doing better, but Sango was still torn.
She should have known that this was all a trick. Should have known that Naraku would use her brother against her and play games with her mind, her soul, and her heart just to weaken her resolve.
She was ashamed to say, it was working. She was doubting herself as a taijiya, wondering if she had the drive to continue on if she was so easily susceptible to simple deception. It attested to her nature. Her emotion would always cloud her judgment and how could she be able to function fighting youkai and dangers when she was so easily distracted.
Wanting to clear her head, Sango left the room she had been given and closed the door behind her to leave the fire-cat to rest. She headed for the garden, feeling that she could use the fresh air, but was stopped at the sound of the main suite door sliding open.
She turned and was greeted by the sight of her friend and she faced her fully, Kagome offering her a smile.
"Kagome." She greeted, trying to hide her sulking. "What are you doing here?"
Kagome smiled brighter as she walked in, sliding the door closed behind her.
"I sleep here with you." She reminded the taijiya.
Sango only forced a smile on her face, trying to get her head back to earth.
"Right." She said, welcoming the girl in further. "Is everything going well? Is the Princess Sakuya truly sick? How is Inuyasha coping with all that's been going on?"
Kagome shrugged, her hands going behind her back as she watched Sango with a worried eye. The demon slayer didn't notice, her mind already swirling back to her doubt and confusion that she had been brewing up since Kohaku's disappearance.
"Sango, are you alright?" The miko was asking, the older woman looking back at her as if she hadn't realized she was there.
"What?"
"I asked if you were alright." Kagome repeated, her face creased with a worried frown. "You're not like yourself."
"I'm fine." Sango said waving her off. "I'm just tired is all."
Kagome only gave her a knowing look, but Sango tried to quell her inquisitiveness with another forced smile.
"Really, Kagome, I'm alright."
"Houshi-sama said you were acting a little off." Kagome said, catching Sango's attention.
"Houshi-sama?" She repeated, finding it a bit odd that Kagome would give the perverted monk an honorific. "You mean Miroku?"
"Of course." The girl chirped with a shrug. "He's really concerned. He says you're feeling guilty about Kohaku."
Sango released a shuddering breath, trying to hold back tears as she was forced to think on her mistakes again.
"I'm fine." It was little more than a whisper, even though she tried to say it with conviction.
She turned away from Kagome, the reincarnated priestess making it hard not to right herself, her hands wringing the material of her kimono.
"I'm fine." She repeated again, sure she was trying to convince herself more than she was Kagome.
She paused as she felt Kagome rest a hand on her shoulder, and she looked back at her friend who was looking at her with concern.
"It's okay, you know." Kagome told her, turning Sango to fully face her and resting her other hand on Sango's other shoulder. "It's not your fault for hoping that Kohaku was truly back with you."
"I know." Sango said, holding back her tears. "I can't understand why I'm getting so worked up over this, I've been through worse. I don't think I can take it. It's all getting to me. Everything that's happening here, Naraku's hidden plan. . . everything. . . I don't know what to do. I'm not myself anymore, and I can't help but feel lost."
"It's okay." Kagome soothed, drawing Sango into a hug. "I know this is all so much, but you're going to be okay."
Sango wrapped her arms around her friend and continued to fight her tears from falling, she was unable to stop a dry sob, but none followed after it because of her sheer will alone.
"I'm so sorry, Kagome." She apologized, glad for her friend's comfort and yet not feeling entirely comfortable with the close contact. Something. . . seemed off.
"Anytime, Sango." Kagome continued to calm her, Sango suddenly shivering. "I'll help you let go."
"How?" Sango questioned softly, the hairs on the back of her neck suddenly standing on end. Something wasn't right.
Kagome's grip suddenly tightened beyond what human strength should be, and Sango's breath left her in one large exhale, the taijiya struggling to push away.
"By putting you out of your misery." The miko answered chillingly.
Sango felt the burn as soon as her neck was pierced and he body seized as her mouth started foaming instantly. She was being poisoned. Her nails scratched at whatever available skin to get Kagome to release her.
Her body was beginning to grow feverish and suddenly she was pushed back, her nails clawing as she fell back toward the floor. She heard the sickening tearing, and her near bulging eyes stared up in disbelief at the sight. Her clenched hand held a large mass of skin that she had ripped away, and part of Kagome's shoulder up to most of her face was gone, revealing one she hadn't expected to see. Though now that she saw it, it made a lot more sense, but it was too late.
"Why?" She forced out, her body beginning to convulse, already losing control of her motor function.
"Why else, my dear?" Sakuya's voice emerged, half her face still that of the innocent miko's. "This is war and there are always casualties. Besides, I need to be sure that no one gets in my way. You were just an unfortunate and easy target."
Sango tried to move but her twitching limbs were beyond following her command and she could feel the poison spreading through her system and breaking her down on a level she couldn't comprehend.
"Do lay still, dear." Sakuya told her, her face healing and returning to the stolen mask, her voice Kagome's again. "You'll be dead soon enough. The more you struggle, the worse it'll be. No need to torture yourself for the last few moments of your life."
She could only watch as the imposter stood, walking away to leave her to her fate. She cursed in her mind, already having lost her ability to speak. As she wasn't feeling helpless and worthless already, now it was worse. She had lowered her guard so much that now she was paying for it with her life. Not to mention, her friends were in danger and she could do nothing about it. Her eyes slipped closed, finding nothing else to do but to wait for the inevitable.
Knocked out cold, she was unable to feel the cold and clammy nose that pressed against her burning cheek or hear the concerned mewl. With her owner and companion hurt on the floor, Kirara rushed off as fast as her healing body allowed her to get her the help she needed.
xoxoxox
Kagome, the true Kagome, stumbled down the hall, her vision blurring in and out. Her right hand kept her held up right as she leaned against the wall. She had no idea where she was going anymore. At this point she was hoping to be farther and farther away from where the snake youkai were being housed and closer to Inuyasha's side of the large palace.
She paused in her step as something white bobbed along the floor, stopping in front of her and seeming to stare up at her. She heard a growl and the white blob seemed to grow a tad bit bigger and Kagome swore she was going crazy until the growl turned into a yowl of warning.
"Kirara?"
The fire cat had been rushing down the hall when she had come face to face with an unfamiliar face. Her fur had stood on end and she had begun growling, the sound turning to a yowl so as to warn the hebi to back off. Then the youkai had spoken to her and the voice sounded familiar.
Her fur laid flat again, and Kirara mewled curiously with an inquisitive tilt of her head. She sniffed the air, moving closer as the youkai slowly knelt to the floor, hand carefully reaching out for her. The fire-cat inched closer and sniffed at the hand, pressing her head against it as she recognized the familiar scent hidden under the faint disguise of the youkai.
"I'm so glad to see you." Kagome said, petting the neko as she jumped in to her lap. "I really needed to see someone familiar. Inuyasha might be in trouble."
Kirara meowed and jumped out of Kagome's lap then, tugging at the miko's sleeve in urgency. Kagome frowned but recognized Kirara's need to reveal something was wrong.
"What is it?" She questioned, standing on shaky legs, the small youkai now tugging at the ends of her kimono. "What's wrong?"
Kirara only meowed before bounding off, and Kagome followed as best as she could. She stumbled through the hall, curious to find that it was unnervingly empty, but figuring it was normal, as the servants were rarely seen to begin with.
It took her a while to get there, Kirara having to circle back twice to make sure she was still following, before she was staggering into the main suite of the rooms she shared with Miroku and. . .
"Sango." She was whimpering out, tripping forward and landing hard as she attempted to rush in.
When the short burst of pain wore off, she was dragging herself closer, sitting up and placing Sango's head into her lap. Her vision was getting better and she made a distraught sound as she looked down at the pale and clammy face of her friend.
"No." She choked out, hand pressing to the taijiya's cheek before pressing against her neck to check for a pulse.
She felt the wound and shifted Sango's head to examine it, grimacing at the torn flesh and discolored look. What had happened to her? Who had done this? She felt when Sango took a breath and she started, pulling her friend closer and trying to get her to wake. All she managed was to make the woman take another breath, this one labored and almost shallow.
It was when she began patting her friend's face that she realized how hot she was, and the dots connected as she looked at the puncture wound again. Poison. Sango had been poisoned, and it was working fast.
Resting her friend down as gently as she could, she stood from her spot determined to get a jewel shard. It was the only thing she could think of that would probably help Sango out.
Still dizzy, but able to keep her footing, she rushed to her room. Reaching under the mattress of her bed, she pulled out the shards she was in possession of and headed back to Sango. She had to stop at the sight of Miroku kneeling besides the taijiya's limp form, eyes staring down at her in disbelief.
He looked up then, his face darkening as he caught sight of her, and Kagome knew this wouldn't go well.
xoxoxox
Miroku was happy he managed to escape the two older women. They had started up a conversation on whether or not this century's youth was living up to expectations. It wasn't that the conversation wasn't interesting, it was just that it started coming to a point where two were using the young monk as an example to every point they brought up.
Their argument was so heated by that time that he thought it best to leave. They hadn't even noticed as he slipped out of the door. He thought it best to check on Sango, knowing the young woman was distraught over the events that had passed concerning her brother. He had considered telling her of the unfortunate news he had learned of Inuyasha and Sesshomaru's loss that he had learned from Minako, but he decided against it.
The last thing he needed to do was upset the taijiya even more, knowing it would only further worsen things. With Kohaku missing about the palace, obviously no longer in control of his free will, Sango had been playing the blame game and pointing the finger at herself.
He hoped to keep her company and coax her out of the room, a walk about the palace would do her good and she should be able to catch what was left of breakfast. It was still long before noon, but the Western Palace started early, which meant breakfast was done early as well.
He rounded the corner to the hallway containing his given quarters, and he stopped at the sight of the sliding door open. It was always closed shut, whether someone was there or not, the humans thinking it best to not attract even more attention to themselves.
His mind was already thinking to head for the room with caution, and his hand tightened around his beads, his staff having been left behind in the room. He had thought that he wouldn't need it for a quick visit to his friends and their children, but he was beginning to doubt that.
He pressed against the wall as he reached the doorway, not wanting to be seen just yet as he got closer. He stopped and listened first, not missing the sounds of footsteps rushing into the girls' room. He took that as his chance and began to peek around the door frame, prepared to face whatever was beyond it.
His heart froze at what his eyes saw. Nothing had prepared him for this. His feet seemed to move on their own as he turned to walk in, mind blank and body numb as he drew closer. In the middle of the floor was the one woman he had come to feel strongly for; she was dead.
He stopped before her, lowering to his knees as his eyes stared in disbelief and his hand reached out for her, not willing to believe unless he felt her. The unmoving chest, the pale skin and the bluing lips, his mind was only playing tricks on him. She had to just be hurt, unconscious from an attack she couldn't handle on her own.
His trembling hands stopped mere inches away from her, unable to move forward. Right now, his doubt was what kept the lump from entering his throat and the building tears in his eyes at bay. If he proved that she was dead, he would have no way of stopping them and he refused to know that she was no longer with him. He wasn't ready to accept that just yet, he refused to think of her as dead.
He felt his shock and sadness subside, and his anger began steadily building. He heard a noise coming from Sango and Kagome's shared bedroom, and he looked up. His blood boiled and his eyes narrowed on the demon snake that stood in the doorway, reptilian eyes looking down at him in shock. In her hand, she held the small bag that contained the combined shards their group had collected.
She had done this. She had hurt Sango for those shards. Had taken the woman that he loved away, all for a broken jewel. He stood then, his anger outweighing his common sense, forgetting that this was a youkai. She could turn him to shreds of flesh with a flick of her finger if she wanted, but he could care less. He was ready to die fighting, anything to restore what little honor he could to Sango's lifeless body.
"You came in to our family." He began, his voice low and more of a growl then anything else. "You threatened our young, lied to our faces, and now you've stolen my wife!"
The youkai began to back away, which was odd, but he would use it, hoping to Buddah he could continue to intimidate the hebi-youkai.
"You won't get away with this!" He snapped, drawing closer, careful to not disturb Sango's resting form. "I'll do everything I can to make sure you'll pay for what you've done, demon! Even if it means my own life, I won't let you win!"
He rushed forward then, the female demon giving a startled sound and heading to the chest where Kagome and Sango stored their weapons. Sango's sword was drawn and Miroku faltered for a moment, confused to see that the demoness had no tact. She held the sword straight out, hands gripping tightly as if unfamiliar with holding one.
He brushed it off as none of his concern. What did he care if she was an unskilled youkai? All he wanted was to do as much damage to her as his human strength allowed him.
"Miroku, please."
He paused then, looking at her with a frown. How did she know his name? He had never introduced himself to her, and she was like any other demon; humans weren't worth knowing about. Hell, dirt was far more important in most youkai's eyes. He moved forward and she shuffled back, knocking into the chest and thrusting the sword out further.
"Stop it!" She was beginning to sound desperate. "I'm not who you think I am! I'm not Sakuya! I'm Kagome!"
"You're lying!" He snapped, his anger building two-fold so that his stupidity fueled his bravery and he rushed her.
The demoness screamed but he was stopped no farther then a single step away, Miroku crying out as something bit at his ankles. He looked down to find Kirara, but he didn't question why the fire-cat was attacking him. He merely fought the injured neko off, before he was turning back to "Kagome".
By now her eyes were wide and he relished that fear. He had never felt this way before and in the back of his mind, he was afraid it was something he could get used to.
"Wait!" The princess was begging, Miroku pushing aside the trembling sword. "Don't!"
Two pair of screams were echoing throughout the room, and Miroku fell to his knees, feeling the hot pain of a blade in his back. He looked up at the hebi-youkai wondering how she had managed to get him in the back with him staring right at her. The princess wasn't focused on him, she was staring at whomever had been behind him.
"Kohaku, stop!"
Miroku was soon clawing at his neck as the metal chain of Kohaku's well known weapon was wrapped around it and tightened. His mind was a storm of confused thoughts as he struggled for air. He had no idea what the hell was going on and now he found he'd most likely die before he did.
He thought of Sango and believed, that at least this way, he could be with her as he wanted to be. He seemed to give up then, his hands dropping to his sides as the edge of his vision began to darken. His only regret was that he wouldn't be able to warn Inuyasha.
Kagome stared in horror as Miroku was getting his life literally squeezed out of him, and without a thought she was moving forward, a frustrated scream tearing from her throat as she lifted the sword.
She didn't think that it would work, but as she swung the sword down, it broke the chain wrapped around the monk's throat and she glared up at the dead eyes of her friend's younger brother.
The boy merely cocked his head to one side, before he was moving to escape, but Kagome's frustration was motivating. Unsure of how she managed, she ran after him, sword aiming as she got closer. Right before he could jump off over the roka into the garden, she was crying out and thrusting the blade forward.
She paused in shock as Kohaku stopped, her eyes looking to where she had stuck the blade into his back. She let go then with a whimper, her hands covering her mouth and her eyes wide in disbelief. Had she really. . .
She stumbled away as Kohaku fell backward, the sword impaling him further and Kagome whimpering as it pushed through the front of his torso. What had she done?
She heard Miroku groan and she was turning back to her friends without a second thought. The monk was already moving, struggling to lift himself off the ground, with Kohaku's weapon still buried in his back. Luckily enough, it had really hit closer to his shoulder, but she was sure that he shouldn't be moving.
She hurried to Sango's side, hoping that she wasn't too late. She fumbled with the small pouch, pulling out a jewel shard and watching it pulse as it had been doing since they'd reached here. She ignored that and hoped that her plan worked.
"Get away from her!" Miroku was objecting, suddenly energetic enough to drag himself toward them. "What more can you do!"
"I'm trying to help her!"
"She's dead!" Miroku argued, close enough that he could grab Sango's clothes and try to pull her away. "Let go of her! You killed her!"
"Stop it!" Kagome was shrieking, reaching over her friend to grab Miroku's hand causing him to glare at her. "Please, just stop it! She's still alive! She was poisoned and I can help her! You have to trust me!"
"You're evil!"
"IT'S ME, MIROKU!" She was bellowing, effectively silencing the monk. "Look at me! I know what it looks like, but actually look at me!"
And he did. He glared into reptilian eyes that he had glanced at across the dining hall and at first, all he saw was his enemy. And then he stared harder and those eyes weren't as harsh, weren't as fierce as he remembered them. They were soft, and dare he say it, almost innocent and though the color was that of an animal's, he could see they were human.
"Oh Buddah. . . Kagome." He murmured, his hands letting go of Sango. "It's you. What happened?"
"I don't know, but I don't have time to explain. We have to slow the poison down, I think the shard is our best shot."
He watched her turn Sango so that her wounded neck was exposed and he grimaced at the sight of it. That was definitely nothing that Kagome could do and he started to feel shameful for the way he had acted. He hadn't known though, and his judgment was clouded by the pain he was feeling having found Sango in this state.
He watched her push the shard into the broken flesh, burying it into the wound in hopes that in its purified state it would help stop the poison from doing further damage, if it couldn't heal her all together. The two watched as Sango's injury shimmered with a soft-pink light for a moment, before stopping altogether and after what seemed like hours, Sango took in a breath.
Miroku's head dropped to rest on her shoulder with relief, his hand clutching with a vice at her clothes and Kagome both laughed and cried at the chance of her friend's survival.
"We have to take her to a healer." Kagome said, peeling off the outer robe of her kimono and rolling it up into a makeshift headrest.
She gently laid Sango's head on top of it, Miroku's face still buried away in the folds of her kimono. Kagome let him have the moment, aware of the soft sobs that were coming from the injured monk.
Standing she tucked away the other shards, heading for the door and ready to make her way to the healer's compound. Better yet, she would go and get Minako. She was sure that the saru would know what to do.
"Where are you going?" Miroku's heavy voice asked her, and she looked back at him with pain-stricken eyes.
"We need a healer-"
"No-" He cut her off, but was cut off in turn."
"Well, you can't go, you're injured!" Kagome argued and Miroku shook his head.
"And neither can you!" He said, his eyes look her over. "Not like that, you can't."
Kagome looked down at her hands, unfamiliar and armed with sharp claws, before she was looking back up at Miroku at a loss with what to do. He was right. If went she went strolling into Inuyasha's private quarters looking like this, she'd be killed first and then would the two worry why the princess had wandered there.
She heard a mewl and she looked down to find Kirara blinking up at her, the fire-cat looking the worse for wear but willing to do what needed to be done. Kagome crouched to pet the top of her head and then stood to make her way to a desk. She was certain that the little neko would be able to transmit the message on her own, but she wanted to be absolutely certain.
Scribbling down a quick message on a scrap of parchment, she rolled it up and bent to give it to the small youkai. Kirara took it between her teeth and was off without any other coaxing.
Kagome sighed as she stood, looking to where her two injured companions were. Miroku was now laying as best he could on his side, one hand holding Sango's and the other smoothing back her hair. She let them be, turning back to the garden to go and assess Kohaku. There was a chance he wasn't dead, as technically, he already was.
She paused in her steps, finding nothing but a stain on the wooden floor and no sign of Kohaku at all.
"No." She whispered out, rushing forward and looking about for any sign of him. "He's gone."
She turned back to Miroku, who was now looking to her but without an answer for her. Kagome's body sagged, heavy with dread and weariness. Things were already starting to head for the worst again. She could only hope that Kirara reached her target in time and that they responded as quickly as they were able.
xoxoxox
Sesshomaru tried for the fifth time that morning to get dressed, but he was intercepted, hands reaching from behind him to pull the light yukata down off his shoulders.
He tried his best not to sigh in contentment as lips began pressing kisses to his neck, but was quickly failing. He lifted his own hands to remove his lover's groping pair, a slight smile taking his lips as the hanyou growled in objection.
"Inuyasha." He said softly, turning to face his mate and pulling his yukata closed. "Enough."
Inuyasha merely rolled his eyes and brought himself closer to his brother, his mouth seeking out the tender expanse of Sesshomaru's neck, pressing soft kisses to it as his arms encircled him.
"It's never enough." He half mumbled, his lips brushing over his mating mark. "Whenever I can have you, it's never enough. Sometimes I wish, we never have to be apart. I will always want more of you."
Sesshomaru was at a loss for words, his eyes catching Inuyasha's as the hanyou lifted his head, and he realized that the younger inu was taller. Still not as tall as he was, but he was closer to eye level than he had been a few months ago.
"Inuyasha."
His brother merely shushed him and drew him into a kiss, and Sesshomaru was giving in. The yukata was successfully removed, once again, and the full-blooded youkai was finding himself pressed into their mattress. At least, what was left of it. Their copious love making had been as violent as it was passionate the last few rounds, and the bedding would need to be replaced as a result of it.
It could take one more round, they were sure; they would be quick. Sesshomaru was soon moaning and writhing as he was ravaged, kissed so deeply that he was certain Inuyasha would bruise his lips, and then he suddenly pulled back with a gasp. Inuyasha stilled, uncertain of what he had done, his brows creasing a bit with worry.
"What?" He asked, as Sesshomaru had startled him. "I didn't bite too hard, did I?"
"No." His elder brother said, his head shaking slowly, before his eyes were locking with Inuyasha's.
Inuyasha watched as Sesshomaru smiled, his hand reaching out and taking Inuyasha's and resting it on his stomach.
Inuyasha wasn't sure what he was supposed to be doing, as he knew the pup was way too small to be kicking yet. He opened his mouth to say something, but that's when he felt it. The small tickles of energy pushing against his palm, coming from inside of his mate's stomach.
He gave a laugh, pressing a bit more firmly and waiting. It pulsed again and he laughed again, looking down at Sesshomaru's middle in wonder and amazement. His child was growing stronger and he could feel it. He didn't care to know how it was possible, he was just happy that it was happening.
"She's already that strong, huh?" He was saying, looking up to Sesshomaru who was smiling more than Inuyasha had ever seen him smile before. "She's barely days old and I can feel her."
"She's stronger now because of us, but of course, she is a child of two of the world's strongest youkai." Sesshomaru told him, Inuyasha rolling his eyes. "It is to be expected."
They both turned at the sound of voices outside of their door, and they sighed in unison as they realized that they could no longer prolong hiding away in the room as they had been doing most of the morning.
Inuyasha gave his brother one last kiss on his forehead, before he was jumping up out of the bed and searching for his hakama. Sesshomaru wasn't as eager, and took his time heading for the robe on the floor and slowly dressed into it, fixing it so that he was decent enough to leave the room.
When the two were finally dressed, though still a bit disheveled, they headed for the door, recognizing the bickering voices in an instant before they opened it.
"What is it, Hahahue?" Sesshomaru was asking as he slid it open.
xoxoxox
Hiromi and Minako walked slowly, dreading the journey they were now taking to the inukai's son's private room. They couldn't avoid it, however. Mourning or not, Sesshomaru would eventually emerge to look for his son. The last thing they needed was for him to come looking and find that he wasn't there.
Kazue had gone missing, and heavens help them, they had no idea how the pup had managed to slip away. After the monk had gone, the two female youkai had decided to end their back and forth and enjoy some tea, as well as mahjong. It was Minako that suggested Kazue be put down for a nap, but when they went to retrieve the boy, he was gone.
The two had gone on a panicked search for the young prince, but it was to no avail. He had slipped away. They realized the door had been open the entire time and had shot down the hall. Well, Hiromi had shot down the hall and Minako followed as fast as her weary bones would let her.
They found not a trace of him, but they had both stopped cold at the sickening trace of filth that had been left behind. Whatever had been there had left a trace of aura so disturbing that it made the two women shudder in revulsion and Minako, having been in his presence before, knew exactly who it had been.
She had quickly explained to Hiromi the situation and the inukai had wanted to go off and track the pup down, but Minako warned her that to not inform Sesshomaru about this now would have dire consequences in the long run.
So, it was with great reluctance that they made they way to Sesshomaru's suite together. When the two reached, it was easy to tell that the mates were still otherwise engaged in activities behind their bedroom door.
They waited and when it was silent again, they took the chance. Hiromi went to knock but stopped, looking back to Minako with an air of uncertainty.
"Well?" The saru urged. "Go on."
"Are you sure we must?" Hiromi whispered back. "He'll completely overreact! We should go and retrieve Kazue ourselves."
"Oh, for the love of. . . move out of the way!" Minako hissed, pushing Hiromi aside and ready to open the door.
"Wait!" Hiromi hissed to stop her, grabbing the monkey's hand. "Should we really burden him with this news, he has just lost one. Do you think he can he stand another!"
"Better to hear it now than to find out we were hiding it from him!"
"So, you just want to save your skin from the brunt of his wrath!" Hiromi accused and Minako pulled away harshly.
"Exactly! Now move out of the way!"
"Stubborn, old mule!"
They were caught by surprise as the door slid open, and both Sesshomaru and Inuyasha were standing there to greet them.
"What is it, Hahaue?"
Hiromi could only let out a squeak and then a yelp as Minako pushed her forward, her amber eyes glaring back at the saru-youkai that had offered her up like a sacrifice.
With a huff, she turned back to her son, who looked in no way to have been mourning at all. He looked well rested, calm and well. . . well she was certain she didn't have to note the obvious.
Clearing her throat, she looked to Inuyasha, who already seemed to be growing impatient and she nodded to him in acknowledgment. That was when she felt Sesshomaru's glare and she looked back to her only child, really not wanting to offer up the news that she had for him.
"Well?" Sesshomaru was impatiently pushing. "What is it?"
"My son." She began, her voice almost cracking. She had never been this intimidated by his harsh looks before, she supposed she had never been in his presence long enough for it to affect her. "It pains me to bring you such news, especially after having heard of your loss. For which I am absolutely sorry to hear."
"There is no need to feel as such." Sesshomaru said brushing past her and heading for the tea that had been left for him and Inuyasha. "The child has survived the trauma. I am still pregnant."
"Are you certain!" Minako was spouting, her eyebrows having shot up in shock.
"Yeah, she's alright." Inuyasha added in, joining the others in the main area.
As Hiromi had to struggle to find words again, Minako shuffled over to the elder of the two mates, ignoring the fact that he was trying to drink his tea and spun him to face her. Her hand slipped into the yukata he was wearing, objections quieted with a loud, "Hush!", before she was pressing her palm flat against the skin of his abdomen.
Her face darkened with concentration before it was reverting back to shock as she felt it, the steady pulsing of life that was growing.
"It's true." She said breathlessly, looking to Hiromi. "It still lives."
"Oh, Sesshomaru! That's wonderful!" Hiromi squealed, Inuyasha grimacing at the pitch. "Absolutely wonderful!"
She rushed over to grab her child's face in her hands, successfully stopping him from trying to drink his tea, again.
"I'm so happy for you!" She was acting strange to him, she knew, but she could care less. "I can't wait to begin working on the nursery! Oh, and now I'll have to tell the tailor to make your wedding robes a bit larger. Oh and we have to start thinking of names!"
"Mother, please!" Sesshomaru sternly said, gently detaching her from him and resting his tea down. He doubted he'd be able to drink it. "Calm down. The pup isn't due for eight more weeks and the wedding ceremony can wait until after she's born."
"She! Oh my, Minako, a girl! I'll have so much fun!"
"What the hell, lady!" Inuyasha piped up, Hiromi turning to look at him. "You're acting like this kid's gonna be yours!"
Hiromi only waved him off and turned back to her son, who was trying to massage an impending migraine away.
"Of course, being a girl she'll need to have some female company. Heaven knows I won't have her traversing about like some common ruffian!"
"Enough, Hahaue. We get it, you're excited. But please, I wish to go and get Kazue. I'm sure he wants to be fed. Where is he?"
The two older demons stopped short as they were reminded of why they had come in the first place. Hiromi chanced a glance at Minako, who gave her a shrug and a shake of her head. It would seem that the inu-youkai would be stuck with the task of bearing bad news.
"My son, about Kazue. . . "
Her words trailed off and Sesshomaru merely frowned, sensing the sudden change in demeanor of the two females.
"What is it? Is he sick?" He questioned, looking to Minako who was avoiding his stare. "Where is Kaori? Is he with her?"
"No." Minako said, brave enough to look up at him again. "While in our care, Kazue was able to slip away. It would seem he crawled out of the room into the hallway."
Sesshomaru's stomach twisted, but he forced himself to be reasonable. The two women were probably blowing this way out of proportion.
"I don't understand. How far could he have gotten?" He questioned, Inuyasha having moved closer to him and resting a comforting hand on his back.
"The palace is big, but it ain't that big you can't find a baby that's crawling everywhere." Inuyasha added in and Hiromi only hung her head a bit in shame.
Minako shook hers, her hands folding in front of her and her posture suggesting an air of seriousness that they could not ignore. Sesshomaru began to shake before she could even say the words.
"I'm afraid that the young prince has been taken, my lord, due to my folly." She said to Inuyasha, before she was looking to Sesshomaru, who seemed unwilling to hear what had to be said. "Naraku has taken him."
And when she uttered those words, that was when time stood still, and soon after all hell broke loose.
T.B.C.
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Unexpected Circumstance