Hello, readers. I've been getting a lot of questions about what happened before Ember and Sesshoumaru. More specifically how the angels of the first line went from the lords of the west to slaves in their own house. I am currently working on how that happened if anyone is interested in reading it. I can't post it here since it has nothing to do with Sesshoumaru or Naraku or anyone in the actual anime. So if you, dear reader, want to find out how Ember's family were born as slaves just send me a message and I can send it through DocX or email or whatever is easiest for you. Happy readings.

"Christ almighty, when is this going to start?" Ember snapped, pacing back and forth.

Ember's water had broken over an hour ago. Like all first time parents she and Sesshoumaru had rushed to the infirmary while ignoring everything they had been told what to do when the inevitable happened. Like relaxing until the contracted happened more frequently. But they went down, argued, panicked and finally listened to the nurse. She said walk around to get the labour started so Ember paced. Sesshoumaru stood stiffly watching her walk back and forth. Karu had been summoned and she was sitting calmly on one of the beds playing with her own baby. "Relax." Karu said. "It'll come. And when it does," she glanced up at Sesshoumaru and smirked. "Well, just be glad you heal fast."

"Goddamnit, Karu, you don't need to scare him anymore than he already is. Hell, I'm scared too, I don't need to hear any of thi..."

Her sentence was cut off by her scream of pain. She doubled over and screamed even louder. Sesshoumaru was at her side in a moment. "Is this normal?" he snapped at Karu who was calmly handing Yuki over to servant.

"She's fine. Lie her down on a bed. It's time to push."

Sesshoumaru helped Ember into the bed. Some of the pressure was relieved when Ember lay down but the pain was unbearable. She sat up but the second she did pain shot through her and she lay back down. "Something's wrong." she heard the nurse say.

"What?" she yelp but then screamed in pain.

She reached out and Sesshoumaru took her hand. He was shaking almost as much as she was. She looked desperately into his eyes. "What's going on?" she whimpered. "What's wrong? Sesshoumaru..."

"Push, Ember!" Karu shouted. "Push! Take a deep breath and push as hard as you can."

Ember tried to calm herself down enough to take a breath and push. It was the hardest thing she'd ever had to do. More painful than any wound inflicted by any of the lords, more painful than when her wings grew out the first time. She clutched to Sesshoumaru's hand and pushed. The fact that there was something wrong finally clicked when Sesshoumaru shouted out; "Where is all that blood coming from?"

"I don't know, my lord," the nurse cried out. "I'm trying. Keep pushing, honey!"

Ember screamed and pushed one last time before the pain was gone. She felt limp and week. She still clung to Sesshoumaru's hand and listened for Keruko's cry. But there was nothing but shouts and other sounds. "Keru..." she whispered hoarsely. She waited for Karu or the nurse to hand her Keru. But no one did. Sesshoumaru's grip was getting tighter and tighter. "Where is my son?" she slurred.

Everything was getting blurry. "Oh my god," Someone snapped. "She's bleeding. A lot! I don't know where it's coming from!"

"Keru!" Ember cried out. She couldn't see. Everything was gray and fuzzy. Sesshoumaru's hand slipped from hers and she cried out. "Sesshoumaru!" she screamed before everything went black.

Ember threw a rock out into the water. Beside her Karu was weighing a rock and trying to form a barrier around it. Occasionally green light would flare up and flicker before disappearing and the rock would fall heavily into his hand. In which he would look up at Ember before throwing the rock into the ocean, picking up a new rock and doing it all over again. He didn't know what to say. He didn't know her well enough to ask what was bothering her.

Ember bent down and picked up a rock shaped like a crescent moon. She lined the outside with a finger. "I'm taking you home." She sighed. "I've taught you enough so that you'll be noticed pretty quickly by Nikko."

"Who's Nikko?"

"The head of your line." She looked out at the ocean. "I never should have brought you along. I have too many enemies."

Karu looked up at her. "What happened to you? All those years ago, something happened."

Ember weighed the rock in her hand. "I was pregnant with his child. We named him Keruko. Everything was perfect. But my body wasn't strong enough to deliver him safely into this world. The nurse and the other woman helping me with the birth said that he was dead a full day before I went into labour. They were wrong. I could feel him kick so much before my water broke. Thinking back on it... I think he was crying out for help. Like he knew something was wrong before we did. I almost died giving birth to a dead child. After that, when I needed him the most, Sesshoumaru wasn't there for me. And when he was ready to be there for me I was already gone. Now we can't look at each other without wanting to kill each other."

"Are you trying to replace your son with me?"

"I'm not sure." She sighed. "Maybe I am. Or maybe I just can't stand seeing another angel go through a human life like what I had. Or maybe I just hate watching people act like they're better than they are and take it out on the little guys. I grew up a slave. When I became an angel and fell in love with Sesshoumaru I thought everything was going to be easier. This is what I get for believing life is easy."

"Who's the other girl?"

"My daughter and heir. A child of the line. Like me. No father. One day, sixteen years ago, I realised I was gaining quite a bit of weight despite my diet at the time. Normal people, even angels, don't gain weight while living off of berries and herbs. I went to the angels for an explanation. After a lot of practise your kind is able to feel the life force of a fetus days old. The head of your clan was able to tell without a doubt that I was pregnant. Not only that, but he was able to say that she was a child of the line. They had to lock me up for three days, bound head and foot, before I calmed down and stopped trying to cut her from my own belly. I was ordered by Arailia and Shadow to stay in the angel city until the child was born. I couldn't listen. So we made an arrangement so that if I were to leave the city I would leave with a guard. Shadow's sister, Twilla, and I were already friends so she guarded me along with another of the second line. The second line angels are the angels of shadows. They have abilities that not even I can explain. It's why they were chosen to guard the child inside of me."

"If you didn't want her why did they make you?"

"When a line is on the brink of extinction and they're blessed with a child of the line they can't just let the mother kill the child. I accepted that when they let me out of lock down. But that was also the moment I decided that I would never love that child. I never wanted her. I still don't. But I would not let her have the life I did. She would grow up an angel, that's why I forbade her from leaving the city when she was old enough to understand. She couldn't just run away like I did. More importantly, or maybe just selfishly, I wanted her to be able to take over the lands so I could run away. Leave Japan. See what's on the other side of the ocean and see what other lands are out there. But I had to be hard on her. When I saw her outside the city I had to perform my duty. What's sick is that I actually enjoyed it. And I would gladly do it all over again. Get behind me."

The order came so calmly that Karu almost missed it. But when she turned to the trees and pulled out her wings he understood and backed up. There was a scream and a blonde woman stumbled backwards out of the trees. "N-no... St-stop it! Get away from me!"

After the woman came three men chasing her. Ember could see they were horny bastards. But if that wasn't enough to piss her off she recognised the golden wings coming from her back. Ember stormed up to one of the men, grabbed his throat and lifted him off the ground. "What do you think you're doing?" she hissed. "This is a queen. Give her the respect she's due."

She dropped the man and he took a wild swing at her. Ember caught the man's fist and crushed it. He screamed in pain before taking off with his two friends and she turned on Arailia. It was amazing. Even in the world outside the angel realm Arailia was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen. Her golden hair and wings almost glowed even in the real world. "What are you doing here?" she snapped. "You've never left the city in your life. Only Shadow has gone out and it was supposed to stay that way. He's the strongest."

"Ember!" Arailia gasped and stood up. "Shadow doesn't know I'm here. I needed to talk to you. It's important! Ash is in danger."

"Yes, she is, if she's not back in the city by the time I'm there next."

"No... What? I mean real danger."

Ember shook her head and walked back to Karu. "The stars don't concern me, Arailia. Send Shadow if you're so concerned."

"Shadow doesn't believe me!" she cried. "I wouldn't have noticed it in the stars if I didn't feel it first."

Ember frowned. "You felt it?"

"Yes, I was just walking and then I had this feeling that there was something seriously wrong. And when I checked the stars Ash wasn't there. She was just gone, like you were when you were human and when you were caught by that half demon... Naraku, did you call him?"

"So you felt it and then you checked the stars?"

"Yes! That's what I'm trying to tell you! I can't tell you why or how I felt it I just did!"

"Have you been drinking?"

"Damn it, Ember!"

"Ash doesn't concern me, Arailia, you knew that before you came here so irrationally! You should go home and watch the sleep it off. Or better yet, let Shadow touch you, god knows you both need it."

"Remember who you're talking to!" She screamed back. "I'm ordering you..."

"Remember where you're talking, Arailia," Ember snapped across her words. "You're on my lands, whether I want them or not I am the angel ruler here. You have no power. You can order me all you like but until you say the words within the city I have every right to refuse you and use orders on you. So I'm ordering you to get off my lands!"

Arailia hesitated and stammered before growling in defeat and spreading her golden wings. Ember waited until she was gone before turning to Karu. "I'm taking you home. Now. I can't put you in any danger while I do this."

"You're going after Ash? But... you said..."

"To get Arailia back in the city. If she stays she'll insist on coming and then when she gets killed and I'll be in serious trouble. So I sent her home and I'll go get Ash from the serious trouble she's gotten herself into so that I can get her back in the city. And then I'll kill her myself."

"What if I insist on coming?"

"I'll command..."

"You are not the head of my line." Karu interrupted her. "And though you are the lady of my lands I'm claiming angel status at this moment and claiming my right to not have to listen to you. I'm going with you to save your daughter."

Ember stared at him with some surprise before scowling and admitting that she had no choice.

Sesshoumaru stopped and sniffed the air. There was something strange on the air. It was faint. Like ice melting in the beginning of spring. It was the kind of scent and angel had. Now that he thought about it... he turned and saw the beautiful form of Arailia running out of the bushes. It seemed weird to see the queen of angels touching the ground outside the city, let alone running.

"Sesshoumaru," she called. "There's no time to explain! Ember has a daughter and..."

"I'm aware that Ember had a child."

"Ok, good, you know that... she's in trouble, Sesshoumaru. Ember won't lift a finger to help her and the angels can't afford to lose Ash. She's the only one of the first line who actually cared about the angels." She stopped for a moment and actually looked into Sesshoumaru's eyes. "I'm sorry," she deflated. "It's not fair for me to ask you this. I'll... I'll go now."

"Arailia." Sesshoumaru called. "I'll find her. But in the mean time you should go home."

"What?"

"Our world is not a safe place. When I've found her I'll send her home."

"Thank you." The corner of her mouth twitched before she reached up for her necklace and disappeared.

Ash looked desperately around even though she knew it was futile. She was blindfolded, gagged and bound. Blood from the wounds in her wings trickled down her arms. She remembered the injuries Ember suffered days ago when she was training with Twilla. Holes in her wings. This must have been why. Pegs had been hammered into the joints of her wings and chains connected her to the wall. Everything hurt. She couldn't move. She was scared to death. She fought every second she was being bound but it was like she was a screaming child fighting against her father while he was putting her to bed. She didn't stand a chance. How many times she screamed 'what do you want with me' she didn't know but he never answered. She had no idea what he wanted with her.

Her power was drained, she couldn't even create a spark to blow up the wooden wall she was chained to. She could hear the footsteps of someone getting closer. She tried to move but there was nothing she could do. She tried to scream out but only made a strangled noise. Suddenly the blindfold was ripped off and she blinked a few times before focussing on the man in front of her. He was long, greasy black hair and burning red eyes. His eyes reminded her of Ember. Only his eyes were filled with cruelty as well as hatred. He reached up and stroked Ash's cheek. "Don't worry," he said in a deep, dark voice. "It's not you I'm really after. You're just the bait. And now that I know how to truly keep an angel like you subdued she will not escape me again. "

Ash blinked. Her sense of fear had suddenly turned into a sense of annoyance. He was after Ember. And he actually thought that using Ash was going to draw her in. So she was about to get killed because of her mother. This was hardly fair. The man in front of her seemed to see her sudden change of heart and he smirked. "I just hope your dear mother remembers to bring your queen along with her. I'll be very disappointed if she forgets. "

It clicked. Arailia would know that Ash had been captured. She would know that Ember would never try to rescue her so she would rally the army for a rescue party. But she wouldn't come herself. She would send Shadow or Twilla. Nothing in this situation worked. She had no idea why he thought that he could actually capture the queen buy putting her at risk. All she wanted to do right at that moment was kill the man in front of her. She tried to pull away from the chains and achieved nothing but causing more pain. Naraku chuckled. "Relax... your mother will soon be..."

Before he could finish his sentence a wall of fire blasted through the wall, hitting Naraku and engulfing him in flame. The heat was intense and it almost made Ash feel hot. It was Ember's fire. Ash couldn't believe it. She looked desperately around for her until she saw the young angel of the fourteenth line appeared in front of her. "Don't move. I'll get you out of here."

The first thing he did was rip the gag off. "What are you doing here!?" Ash snapped.

"Lady Ember was adamant that she would be the only one to kill you. Basically."

The boy ripped one of the pegs out. Ash screamed and pulled against the chains. "Stop moving!" he cried desperately. "You're bleeding too much. I'm no good at healing yet, you have to be careful."

She pulled out the second peg and began to work on the chains around her wrists. "Lord Sesshoumaru!?" Ash gasped.

Karu looked around in time to back away as Sesshoumaru pulled out a sword and slashed the shackles open. Ash collapsed, being unable to support herself. "Run." Sesshoumaru said before turning to the battle before him.

Naraku stood a hundred yards away, power radiated around him and cool fury burned in his eyes. Ember stood like a true warrior facing Naraku. In her hands were two blades made of white fire. Sesshoumaru could not think of where she came up with that idea. It was a deadly idea. Her wings were raised as high as they could, preparing for her to take off at any second. Her fire red hair swayed in the wind. Sesshoumaru stepped up to stand beside her. "What are you doing here?" she growled. "I don't need your help."

"I'm not here for you." He snarled back. "There's something I need to settle with Naraku."

"So be it. Just don't get in my way."

Arailia gasped for breath as she appeared back in the temple in the angel city. She was surprisingly good at the traveling method of the angels considering she'd never done it before. She didn't like the feeling though. Like squeezing through a tube. "I should have known there was something wrong."

She whipped around and saw Shadow, leaning against one of the pillars. He looked furious. Arailia sighed but held her head high. She was a queen. And even though he was her king she still held rank over him as he was not of the fifteenth line. "What are you talking about?" she blinked.

"You asked all of us to leave so you can pray alone. You hate being alone. But you risked it so you could sneak out of the city. Why?"

"I needed to be a queen. And being a queen means protecting her people. Ash needed help. So I acted as a queen to bring her home safely."

"How so?"

"Ember."

"Hates her daughter. It was foolish for you to think that she would act in any way to help Ash."

"And Sesshoumaru."

"Why Sesshoumaru?"

"He was the only one I could think of who would actually help. And he would. He said he'd bring her back."

"You're not supposed to leave the city." Shadow straightened and walked towards her. "No member of the fifteenth line has left the city in a thousand years. Your place is here."

"I don't have a place if I don't act like a queen!" she screamed. "I've failed at everything. I've failed as a mother, as a wife, a queen... There's nothing left but to act outside city. These angels are my people and my people are in danger. I don't disserve this title if I don't act like the queen they need me to be!"

"Putting yourself in danger will not make you the queen you think you need to be." Shadow snapped.

"The outside world is not what it used to be. You know that. Yes, there are dangers, but we aren't being hunted as we once were. One of Ember's close friends was a cat. Now if you're going to tell me that cats still hunt us for our land then there's something seriously wrong with us."

"So what do you want me to do, Arailia?!" he snapped back. "Call in the second and third lines? Start a war that we know nothing about?"

Arailia suddenly felt a flash of fury course through her. "When Ash comes back I want to hear what she has to say. And Sesshoumaru. I want to know who this Naraku is. And if he poses a threat to our kind. And if he does pose a threat I will join that war with or without the support of your line! And I'll be damned if you so much as try to stop me."