Threads of Love

I do not own Inuyasha.

So far...

Sango and Miroku are finished as a couple. Sango knows that she needs Sesshoumaru to survive the pregnancy but she refuses to yield to his demands to be his. They once more resume their journey to find Naraku before time consumes them.

6

XxX

"It's obvious we don't know where we're going!" Inuyasha screamed, his eyes narrowed in anger and his ears pressed flat against his head. "I haven't even gotten a whiff of that bastard yet! And you haven't sensed anything in the last five days!" Kagome was glaring right back at the hanyou, with every intention to 'sit' him.

"Well, that isn't my fault! I've been trying my best to locate his shards but I haven't gotten anything! Besides, you're the one that said to go this way." She yelled right back, poking him with her finger. He scoffed at her angry words.

"Guys! You're not helping!" Sango had her head in her hands, rubbing her temples to try and rid herself of her headache. She felt sick and wanted only some peace and quiet but it looked like she wasn't getting it. "I think I'd be better off going back to Kaede's village..." All day she had felt nausea seeping into her body. Her head was pounding and she could hardly see straight. Apparently, Sesshoumaru had skipped a couple nights. She bit her lip and stood on her feet. "I'm going back... I can't take much more of this." Kagome turned, feeling suddenly guilty.

"Inuyasha, let's go with her. What if something were to happen?" The hanyou folded his arms across his chest.

"All right, I guess. This time we can go the other way and see if we have any more luck." He didn't look happy at the decision but they really had no choice. Sango and Miroku took Kirara while Inuyasha, Shippou, and Kagome all traveled together on the hanyou.

XxX

Back at the village, Sango slept for at least a day while the others went without her, at her request. Kirara refused to leave her mistress alone again. The taiji-ya began to look at her stomach now as she dressed in her kimono. It was obvious to her that she was pregnant. She could see it. After a few days, she grew rather restless and the pain was slowly growing. By this time, it was over a month, possibly two. She decided to do some traveling on her own and bid Kaede good bye.

"Come on, Kirara." It took them a little while to reach her village but she paid her respects and stayed there for a little while. Her mind drifted back to Naraku. When would the hanyou come out of hiding?

If only I could figure it out... Wait a minute, he did this before. At Mt. Hakurei. But he came out of hiding. He jeopardized himself in doing so but...still, we lost. What could drag him out now? Something big has to happen.

Kirara looked up from the taiji-ya's lap when her mistress suddenly stopped scratching her ear.

"Dammit..." Her glare was fierce as she looked out over the barren field. "This is so stupid, Kirara! I hate this waiting!" She wanted to be with her friends but her condition would only hinder them. Her eyes gazed out from her position on her hill. "This...isn't fair..."

"Mew..." Kirara gently rubbed her head against Sango's stomach and began purring. Sango smiled and scratched her ear again.

"You hate it, too, don't you?" Her voice was soft as she looked back up at the sky. If something could only trigger Naraku...

XxX

"I'm worried about Sango." Shippou whined. He hated leaving the taiji-ya behind now that he knew she could possibly die from her condition. Inuyasha said nothing, merely staring ahead of them. He didn't want to think of what could happen to the taiji-ya.

"Why did Sesshoumaru stop coming to see her?" Miroku asked the hanyou, his violet eyes intense as he stared at the back of his friend's head.

"Hell if I know. My guess would be that he's got something in mind. Maybe he wants to test how resistant she is to death. She keeps saying she's not gonna die. But this...it's different." Kagome could sense his worry. Even though he didn't want to show it, he was concerned for Sango. She could hardly last a couple of nights...what if Sesshoumaru didn't go back to her the entire time they were apart?

Is he making her seek him out, instead? Sesshoumaru...what the hell are you thinking?

It bugged the hanyou until he quit thinking about it altogether. He debated on how to drag Naraku out of hiding. There was probably only one way to do that and it was to find him.

XxX

"Sango!" Kohaku peered at her excitedly. "Are you really gonna have a baby? Did you tell Miroku-san yet?" Sango smiled as she finished brushing her hair.

"No, not yet. He will be happy, won't he?" She braided her hair rather quickly as she stood. Looking into her brother's freckled, beaming face, she figured that he thought the houshi would be happy.

"Who wouldn't, Ane-ue? I've never seen Otou-san so excited before." The young taiji-ya looked up into the face of his sister. "I'm really proud that you're going to have a family, too!"

"That's wonderful!" She set her hand on his head and ruffled his hair. "I'm just relieved that everyone took to Miroku."

"He really won everyone over, didn't he?" She sighed as she remembered when she brought the houshi to her village. "Oh! Come on! We've gotta meet Otou-san!" Kohaku grabbed her hand and ran out of the room.

Sango sat up, her eyes wide and her face pale. It had felt so real. Kohaku's hand had grabbed hers. His hair had felt real beneath her fingers.

"K-Kirara?" Her bright mahogany eyes searched the darkness around her. It wasn't even morning yet. Her neko was curled up next to her stomach, purring in her sleep. Upon finding her companion, she eased herself back to sleep.

XxX

The wind blew across the barren village, bringing many new scents to the neko's nose. The flowers in the field were blooming and many travelers passed by the village. Her glittering red eyes went back to her mistress. Sango was irritated as she attempted to fix up one of the houses. She glared at the board that had fallen over on the ground, her eyes narrowing in anger.

"I should just give up!" She threw her tools on the ground. "I'm so sick of this!" Her stomach was in such turmoil that every time she tried to hold a board, she would get a sharp pain and drop it. But she was so bored! It had been at least three days since she got to the village. Nothing drastic had happened and nothing big and life-threatening sought her out. She half-wished that some lesser youkai or even a powerful one would pass by the village and attack her. Deciding that she had to have action and that she was getting restless, she gathered up her things. Then she bid good bye to her family and friends, once again paying respects before leaving. "Ready, Kirara?" The taiji-ya didn't have to ask twice before the neko was transformed and ready to leave. She decided that maybe she should seek out Naraku on her own, that way she wouldn't hinder her friends. However, if he showed himself, she would definitely let her friends know by going to them and letting them know exactly where he was.

Something has to change. I can't just sit around. My mobility will only get worse and, soon, I won't be able to fight at all.

She was beginning to get used to the pain of the child's youki. Or...she was getting used to the dull ache. The hard stuff was definitely something she couldn't get used to, especially since they seemed to be getting worse. But she wouldn't seek him out. Not until she was on the brink of death.

Hours on the neko was getting to the taiji-ya. Or, rather, her legs. She had Kirara stop by a river so that she could stretch and her neko could take a break. Taking her water bottle that Kagome had given her, she filled it and took a long drink.

"So much better!" She stiffened suddenly and unhooked Hiraikotsu from her back. Her eyes narrowed when she noticed a group of youkai behind her. Kirara, still transformed, let out a battle cry as her mistress unleashed her large bone boomerang. Hiraikotsu took out the first with ease but the others were then aware of the weapon and side-stepped it's return. She dodged the blade of a rusted katana before catching her weapon and using it as a shield to ward off the sudden barrage of attacks.

"Onna! Give us your blood!" Blocking with her left arm, she used her right to pull out her wakizashi. She let the sheathe fall to the ground as she ran at them, shoving them back with her boomerang before engaging them in swordplay. She tried to ignore the pain of the baby's distress as she fought them back. Noticing the bloodthirsty eyes of the nearest youkai, she made a conclusion that they were there for a reason. Were they Naraku's youkai? They weren't fighting her all-out. They weren't using full strength to overcome her. It almost seemed like they were stalling. But...for what?

"Get away!" She screamed as she slashed at the nearest one's weapon, sending it flying out of his hand. She then proceeded to slash at him, splitting him right down the middle. Blood showered over her and the remaining youkai. Two down...

One... Two... Three... Four... Four left.

"Hiraikotsu!" She swung it out with her left hand, surprising the youkai next to her as she whirled around to block a blow from behind. Kirara managed to sneak in on the youkai before he recovered and bit his neck, severing the veins and allowing the blood to flow freely as he fell to the ground. Sango pushed with her wakizashi, gritting her teeth against the pain in her stomach. She could hear Hiraikotsu's wind as it returned. At the last second, she rolled out of the way and watched as her opponent's middle was severed from his lower body. Her mahogany eyes searched for those remaining.

Two to go.

She managed to dodge a surprise attack, rolling on the ground. Her hair fell from the cut ribbon, proving just how close he came to achieving his goal. But what was his goal? She jumped to her feet and held up her wakizashi, countering his attack. Blade met blade. Mahogany met dull black. Those eyes... She jumped away and winced. There was no wound but there was a baby in her womb that was wailing with fear and distress. It sensed danger.

"Give us your blood." Suddenly, a blade was pressed to her neck as she was grabbed from behind. She shifted her blade so that it was backwards and leaned her lower body away as she plunged the wakizashi into her captor's abdomen. His grip eased and he slumped, his blade lightly cutting her throat. She then faced the final youkai. "What the hell are you...?" He bared his fangs and lunged for her. She sidestepped him but tripped over the body of the dead youkai and wound up on the ground. "Foolish woman. You will not defeat me." He was suddenly above her, ready to impale her with his katana. She rolled away, the blade catching only her side. He managed to knock her wakizashi away and was once again ready to connect his blade to her skin. The taiji-ya pulled her arms up in defense and sprung her hidden blades, feeling the pressure as she countered his move. Quickly jumping to her feet, she faced him without fear.

"You will never take my life. I will not die." She lunged for him, catching his arm with her blade before he swung at her. He caught her arm and drew a bit more blood. The scent of blood already littered the air from his companions. Sango narrowed her eyes. Right behind her was Hiraikotsu. And behind her foe was Kirara, ready to strike. As the taiji-ya attacked, the neko leaped onto the back of the youkai, sinking her teeth into his shoulder and neck. Blood splattered as Sango severed his hand from his body. Realizing death was upon him, the youkai let out a feral shriek. The taiji-ya looked away as Kirara sunk her teeth in deeper and jerked, breaking his neck. "Come on, Kirara. We've got to find the others. Who knows if they're under attack, as well?" After gathering up her things, she changed into her taiji-ya uniform and bundled up her traveling clothes. She would not be caught by surprise.

The air was refreshing after the battle. However, the taiji-ya wasn't thinking about the air or even about her recent battle with the six youkai. They weren't fun to deal with in her condition but the situation couldn't be helped. At least her wish was granted. She was no longer bored. Kirara moved suddenly to the side, avoiding the attack of a large bird youkai. It also had a rider upon its back.

"Taiji-ya..." The face of the youkai wasn't familiar but she knew then that it was one of Naraku's. So many were pursuing her. Was Naraku making a move or was he just trying to eliminate them so that he didn't have to deal with them? Or...were her friends close to him? Narrowing her eyes, she prepared for battle.

XxX

Inuyasha unleashed his Kaze no Kizu upon their attackers. He was getting edgy and nervous. Were they attacking Sango? A few of Naraku's youkai puppets were closing in on Kagome but she took care of them with her Sacred Arrows.

"Inuyasha! Where did they come from?" She called as she ran over to him. He punched the closest youkai and then split him in half with the Tessaiga.

"Hell if I know! All I can smell is Naraku's scent but it... It's as though they came out of nowhere." Miroku looked around at all of the Saimyoushou. They surrounded the battlefield. He wished that Sango was there. She was always getting rid of those irritating insects.

"Inuyasha!" The houshi suddenly noticed the ominous presence. It was near them but it was heading away from them fast. "Do you sense that?"

"Sango!" Kagome's eyes widened when Inuyasha said the taiji-ya's name. The hanyou looked back wildly, his chest heaving. "Let's finish this quick!"

XxX

Kirara dodged the arrows, spears, and even the close hits of the youkai. Suddenly, Sango got hit and fell from her neko. Airborne fighting was a last resort. She grasped desperately for Kirara's fur but it slipped through her fingers as she fell quickly, heading to meet the ground. She had a feeling that she wouldn't win against the cold, hard earth. A tree branch hit her back and snapped from the force of her fall before she was caught by her ever-reliable neko.

"Kirara...we have to lure them to the ground." Sango's voice was quiet, tinged with relief. Her chest was heaving from the loss of oxygen in her lungs.

"Taiji-ya!" The youkai sneered at her, commanding his ride to carry him lower. The taiji-ya's hair blew in her face as she approached the youkai, weapon raised. Her eyes narrowed. She unlatched Hiraikotsu and unleashed it, clutching Kirara's fur tightly in her left hand. He was too close to evade quickly enough. She noticed five others in the air and she sensed at least ten on the ground. All sorts of battle strategies formed in her mind but she knew that the arrows coming from below would definitely become troublesome. When she caught Hiraikotsu, she instructed Kirara to quickly take her to the group in the air.

"Hiraikotsu!" She cried, unleashing it and watching as some managed to dodge. They could only be caught on the rebound if she was enough of a distraction. Her eyes narrowed as she pulled out her wakizashi and sliced at the bird youkai. They weren't much in battle but they did have evasive maneuvers she wasn't too familiar with. However, she backed them into a corner, smirking in success as she was suddenly covered in dark blood. She switched her blade to her left hand before reaching up to grasp the strap of her faithful boomerang in her right. "Let's go down now, Kirara!" Her neko made a swift movement and plummeted right to earth. Sango parted with her when they were almost there and landed hard on her feet. Her eyes narrowed as the youkai began to form around her and her neko. Kirara took care of a few of them rather quickly while Sango swung Hiraikotsu, cutting some of them in half and knocking others unconscious. She threw her boomerang out when she noticed that Kirara was ambushed by more that had just joined the battle. The youkai were grotesque and ugly, looking like something that crawled out of Hades' nightmares.

"Blood!" Some of the words, Sango couldn't even understand but she knew that word. They were bloodthirsty. She got knocked down before Hiraikotsu returned and her wakizashi was blocking one of their many blades. They obviously didn't believe in honorable fighting. She felt the blades cutting her skin but she didn't register fear until her wakizashi was knocked from her tight grasp forcefully. She reached for it in a gesture of futility. Her eyes were on Kirara, who was fighting her own battle and couldn't come to her. Springing her hidden blades, she tried to fend off as many blades as she could but there were so many surrounding her. Suddenly, she got kicked in the side. Then a blade cut her stomach. She felt her heart pounding.

"Stay away from me!" She wrapped her arms protectively around her stomach as she got to her knees. Coughing up blood, the nausea and dizziness from her pain resurfaced. The baby spiked a whole new level of youki that sent her reeling. She felt a blow to the face knock her to the side. Still, she protected her stomach. So many... "M-My... N-No..." She continued to fight, killing a few in her desperate swings. Managing to reach her wakizashi, Sango tried to fend them off. Her arms were shaking and her wounds were bleeding freely. She hadn't even noticed how many she had gotten before. The taiji-ya bravely got to her feet, her legs shaking beneath her. They came in waves of five at a time. She killed only two or three. Her stomach was bleeding and her body hurt. Receiving another blow to the head, this time from behind, she stumbled and fell hard on her knees. She felt like she was spinning and her head throbbed. She lost sight in one eye, probably from the blood flowing from a new cut. She once more resumed her position of protecting her stomach. A kick sent her flying and rolling. She watched their feet approach. It was all she could see. Closer... Closer... "S-Sesshoumaru..." What had made her whisper his name was unknown to her but she suddenly wished that he hadn't been skipping out on his visits. Maybe...

I really do need him... Sesshoumaru...where are you...?

XxX

Inuyasha unleashed more than one Kaze no Kizu in order to defeat those enemies surrounding him. But close combat was what they were striving for. He could hardly even swing anymore. They were too close... He used his Hijin Kessou, using the blood from a wound in his shoulder. Kagome was behind him, using up her arrows. She only had a few left and was trying to hold off until they really needed them. Unleashing another one to clear an area for her hanyou friend, she had counted four left.

"Houshi, what the hell are you doing!?" Miroku was using his Ofuda to paralyze those attacking him before finishing them off with his Shakujo. The staff's rings chimed gently when the houshi looked up at his friends.

"I can't open the Kazaana, Inuyasha! You said so yourself!" He was getting frustrated. That damn ominous feeling had led them to a hoard of youkai. They were doing all they could but it was hardly enough. Shippou was behind Kagome. He couldn't fight so he had to stay behind the miko and the hanyou for protection.

"We have to get to Sango, Inuyasha. She's probably in danger!" Kagome was frantic with worry. There was no doubt that Sango was in trouble. They couldn't have been too far from her because they sensed another swarm close by. Inuyasha felt helpless. The pregnant taiji-ya had to fend off her baby and a swarm of youkai. At least she was with Kirara... That eased his worries a little but not enough to be significant.

"I know!" He snapped, letting loose another Kaze no Kizu. His youki was draining. How long he would last, he couldn't tell. But he wouldn't go down until he knew everyone was safe, Sango included.

XxX

I feel a little evil... Why? I have no idea. Perhaps it is because of the cliffie I left this at.

I hope I am doing a good job of this and most of all, I hope that you are enjoying reading this. I am really having fun writing this and I hope my writing has improved.

I've worked really hard on this and I like it. I'm thinking that this is one of my best...

Thank you for sticking with me and don't forget to let me know how you like it.

-Angel