The Power In Me

By Ammie Hawk

Disclaimer: Happy Birthday to me!

AN: So I know I haven't been posting recently, but that's because I'm stockpiling for December at the moment. I know it seems like a lot of time, but RL is kicking my ass at the moment and it's not leaving much time for regular writing. Anyway, I decided to post this chapter as my gift to all of you for my birthday. Hope you enjoy.

"English"

Chapter 2

"Come on, Inuyasha, be reasonable."

"I ain't being unreasonable."

"It could be the only choice open to you, Inuyasha."

"Nothing doing."

"You have to understand, Inuyasha, the only ones who could help you with the child is one who can actually speak his language. A human lord could work, as they're sure to have someone in their household who works as an interpreter, but a high ranking demon lord would be better since they are more likely to know other languages themselves since their mistrust of others would keep them from using someone else as an interpreter."

"She's right, Mutt," Koga interrupted. "I may be new to the whole leader thing, but the Elder's teaching me several different languages, but," he held up his hands when he caught them staring at him, "I don't recognize the one the kid spoke, so it's not one the Elder knows."

"So we go find some other demon lord," Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest stubbornly. "We don't gotta go to him."

"Why waste time looking for a different demon, when we know one who might have the answers we need," the wolf demon growled.

"We don't know if he can help us," the half demon snapped. "So why bother him if we don't need to? He'd just get pissed off, and we don't need that."

Before the argument could continue, Shippo bounded into the room. Somehow, without words, the little fox had convinced the new chibi to go outside and play with him. When that had happened, Sango asked her brother to go and keep an eye on the pair, leaving the adults to talk in peace. It appeared, though, that their time was up.

"Inuyasha! Inuyasha!" the little redhead landed on Inuyasha's lap. "Guess what? I found out his name. Either that or think there's ash somewhere."

"What're you talkin' about, Shippo?" the silver haired Hanyou asked incredulously. "He doesn't understand us, kiddo."

"Grown ups," teal eyes rolled in annoyance. "Watch. Hairi," he got the attention of the chibi, who had just entered the room with Kohaku, "this is Inuyasha," he said slowly. "I-nu-ya-sha."

"Puppy!" the little raven's head cocked to the side.

"Let's try and easier one," Koga chuckled, he may not understand what the kid said, but it was kinda funny that he couldn't get his new guardian's name right. "Koga," he pointed to himself, "Ko-ga."

"Ko-ga?" the chibi repeated.

"Yeah," the wolf demon grinned and ruffled the messy locks, causing the boy to flinch violently.

"Hey!" Inuyasha snapped at Koga, pulling the chibi protectively into his arms. "It's okay, little one. I've got ya."

Green eyes traveled warily up his face, before brightening up as they landed on his ears.

"Puppy!" his tiny hand reached out and tugged on the triangular appendages.

"I think he's calling you a dog, Mutt," Koga laughed.

Before the Hanyou could make a retort, something landed on his nose.

"My Lord Inuyasha!"

With a twitch of annoyance, Inuyasha reached up and swatted the pest now biting his nose. As he pulled his hand away, the now flattened flea floated into his open palm.

"Well, if it isn't Miyoga," amber eyes narrowed at the flea, as he picked up the tiny demon between his thumb and forefinger. "What brings you here?"

"No, don't hurt it!" the chibi snatched Miyoga out of his hand. "I take it outside."

He managed to get halfway across the room before Inuyasha caught him around the middle and hauled him back to his seat.

"No," Harry struggled futilely against the hold before looking down at his fist and throwing the tiny demon across the room. "Go, be fwee!"

"What are you doing, kid?" the silver haired man asked incredulously.

"I believe I can shed some light on that, Lord Inuyasha," Miyoga bounded onto the half demon's shoulder. "The child was trying to save me from you. Where did you pick up this child anyway? I haven't heard of any ambassadors coming from foreign lands recently, and none that I know of have children."

"He came through the well," Inuyasha frowned. "Do you understand him?"

"His speech is rather terse, but that is understandable give his age," the flea shook his head. "But yes, I think I can understand what he is saying, but…"

"See," Inuyasha shorted. "We got Miyoga to translate for us, we don't need him."

"Unfortunately, My Lord," Miyoga held up one of his four hands, "I may be able to understand the child, but I cannot speak to him."

"Why not?" the only reason he wasn't grabbing the little pest and squeezing the answer out of him was because of the chibi on his lap. "How can you understand him but not be able to talk to him?"

"Your father was a great demon lord," Miyoga sighed, "as his advisor, I often sat in when he met with many foreign dignitaries. I began to understand what they were saying, but as I was never required to speak with them, I never learned the languages myself."

"That's not helpful, Miyoga," the half demon growled.

"If I may make a suggestion," the flea interjected, "your brother, Lord Sesshomaru, speaks fluent English."

"English?"

"The language the boy is speaking," he continued. "I do not believe there are any other living demon lords who speak that particular language, so Lord Sesshomaru would be your best bet for communicating with the child. Unless, Kagome came back with him. You did say he came through the well after all. If he is from her time, she may be able to translate for you."

"She didn't come through," amber eyes rolled in annoyance, how many times would he have to say that, "just the kid."

"Great," Koga slapped his knees, and then jumped to his feet. "Looks like that just leaves Sesshomaru. I'll go find him."

And before anyone could say or do anything, he was out the door. Everyone just stared after him, not really sure what had gotten into the wolf prince. Their thoughts were interrupted as the chibi gave a huge yawn. Without a word, Miroku got to his feet and led Inuyasha to one of the spare rooms. The monk didn't linger, and once he was gone the half demon placed the chibi on the futon and then lay down next to him and together they drifted off to sleep.

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Sesshomaru stalked along the border of his realm, the Western Lands. After his visit to see his brother, he had returned to his domain as quickly as possible, as there was unrest within his kingdom. He hated that he couldn't stay and explain things to the younger male why he had done what he did, but those fools who called themselves his advisors had demanded he return.

Apparently, several up and coming demons had thought that the Western Lands would be an easy conquest, since its lord had been absent for many years, while he had been looking for the Tetsusaiga. And his advisors, those incompetent fools he'd left in charge, had done little to protect his kingdom. So now, not only did he have to protect his borders, but he had to restore his lands and people to the former grandeur that was prominent during his father's reign.

On top of all that, his advisors were trying to arrange a mate for him. They were trying to offer him up as a side of meat to form an alliance with the highest bidder amongst their enemies. They weren't going to like that he had chosen Inuyasha, but he had put too much time into this courting to lose him now. They would just have to deal with it though. He had yet to find anyone else that was worthy of ruling beside Lord Sesshomaru.

He had just finished his sweep and was about to head back to his home for the night, leaving further protection to his handpicked patrols, when he smelled a wolf.

"Come out and face me, wolf," he cracked his knuckles, drawing poison into his claws.

"Easy there, Sesshomaru," the young leader of the wolf demon tribes landed in front of him, with his hands raised, showing he was unarmed, "I ain't here to cause trouble."

"Then why are you here?" gold eyes narrowed suspiciously, and for the life of him he couldn't remember this demon's name, not that he really cared, but this was one of Inuyasha's friends, and for his sake, he should at least try.

"I'm here on behalf of Inuyasha," the dark haired demon smirked, knowing he'd get the other's attention by dropping the name.

"Why did he not come himself?" Sesshomaru growled. "Why send you in his stead?"

"Several reasons, actually," the wolf shook his head. "First, he really doesn't want you to be involved, but as you're the only candidate, he has no choice. Second, you kinda just marked him and left. It's not surprising he doesn't want to see you. I mean, come on, who does that? Ya know, he doesn't even know much about demon mating rituals, so you're gonna have your work cut out for you."

"Fine," the silver head bowed fractionally, he knew that would bite him on the ass, "what does he require?"

"Well, ya see, he's got a kid."

"What?" gold eyes began to bleed red.

"It's not his, per se, yet," the wolf went on hastily. "We all know that he's gonna keep it, but that's beside the point. The thing is, this kid came through the Well, we're assuming from Kagome's time. Anyway, he doesn't speak Japanese. According to Miyoga, he speaks English, and you're the only demon lord he knows who speaks that particular language."

"I see," Sesshomaru nodded, that made sense. And perhaps with this new development, he would have an excuse to stay close to his brother's side, even possibly bring him home to the Western Lands. "Lead the way, wolf."

"Name's Koga, Sesshomaru," he gave him an incredulous look. "Show some respect, we're equals here."

"You will never be my equal, no matter your title, wolf," Sesshomaru scoffed. "Don't forget that. The only reason you still live is because you are Inuyasha's friend.

"Yeah, yeah, you're still an arrogant jerk," Koga shook his head. "No wonder Inuyasha can't stand you. Come on, let's go."

The two of them traveled through the night and arrived at the Slayer's village at dawn. Most of the villagers weren't awake at this hour, but those who were watched their arrival with marked trepidation. It wasn't everyday that two obviously powerful demons just walked into their little village. As they arrived at the large house in the corner of the village, a slightly bedraggled Miroku met them at the door.

"Koga," he nodded at the wolf demon and then turned to the other, "Lord Sesshomaru, welcome."

"Where is Inuyasha?" the dog demon asked briskly.

"He's sleeping," the monk shook his head, "like most normal people do at this hour."

"Hn," Sesshomaru scoffed and made his way into the house, practically pushing passed the human.

Before Koga could follow him, Miroku grabbed his arm and almost dragged him into the other room.

"Hey!" the wolf demon protested, once the door was closed behind them. "What gives, Miroku?"

"I could ask you the same thing, Koga," dark blue eyes narrowed suspiciously. "You've been acting odd since you got here, and you were the loudest voice in support of going to get Sesshomaru, now he's here and acting odd as well. So tell me, what is going on?"

"Fine," Koga sighed. "It really should be Inuyasha who tells you, but he's in denial right now, so I guess that leaves me. Just don't tell him I told you, cause he'll kill me. Now, I don't know how familiar you are with demon mating rituals, but Inuyasha's been claimed… by Sesshomaru."

"But they're both males," the monk shook his head in confusion, "not to mention brothers, how would that even work?"

"Look, you're married and expecting a child," the wolf scoffed, "I don't think I need to explain to you how sex works. In demon society, it isn't uncommon for siblings to mate, to keep the line strong. Two males being together is not nearly as common, but not unheard of, especially in a dying breed like the great dog demons. Inuyasha's half demon status won't matter too much, as long as he can produce strong pups."

"Wait," Miroku held up his hand, "are you saying he could get pregnant?"

"It's possible," Koga shrugged. "It's a real gamble at this point, though, especially since he now has two pups."

"Two pups?" dark brows lowered in confusion. "Inuyasha doesn't have any kids."

"Oh, come on, you can't be that dense," the wolf shook his head. "They may not be his by blood, but Shippo has been his for years, and no one's gonna get that kid away from him without a fight."

"I guess you do have a point," the monk laughed. "He has always been good with kids, hasn't he?"

"Yeah," Koga chuckled as well. "Now, we just have to see how he does with Sesshomaru."

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Sesshomaru made his way further into the house, letting his nose lead him to his brother. When he reached the appropriate room, he slipped inside without a sound, not wanting to disturb the sleeping occupant. He made his way over to the futon, and sat down behind the Hanyou, a smile flirting with the corners of his mouth as he watched the white ears twitch in his sleep.

It disappeared into a scowl, however, as the younger male reached up and began rubbing at his neck, where the claiming mark resided. Very carefully, he reached out and moved the long siler hair out of the way so he could see it fully. The mark and the surrounding area were raw and irritated. This was his fault for leaving like he did.

His fingers ghosted over the abused flesh, wishing he could do something to ease the pain. A soft sigh escaped the sleeping male at the gentle touch. Sesshomaru couldn't help himself any longer, he leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on the mark, and, just for good measure, he swiped his tongue over the area, giving some illusion of relief, if only for himself.

As he sat back up, amber locked with wide emerald. He blinked a few times, trying to process what he was actually seeing. If his eyes weren't playing tricks on him, this must be the child the wolf had been talking about.

"Why are you biting Puppy?" the chibi asked quietly, tilting his head to the side. "It not nice to bite."

"I wasn't biting him," Sesshomaru couldn't help but smile slightly at the innocence of the boy, which reminded him of his little Rin, "not this time. But come, little one, we'll talk elsewhere and let Inuyasha sleep."


Ammie: Okay, so this will be the only projected update until December, or possibly Halloween, depending on how my writing goes. I've already got five chapters down for my twelve days of Christmas, so who knows. Anyway, please let me know what you think.