Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters I just write these stories for my own personal amusement which guaranties tha

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters I just write these stories for my own personal amusement which guaranties that I make no money.

Chapter 9: Sesshomaru's Turmoil

The sound of soft dripping water falling from the ceiling hitting the floor in a constant pattern had become Akira's companion in her dark dank cell in the dungeon. She lay resting on a makeshift bed in the corner the guards had given all they could give her to make the bed more comfortable. Despite the extra blankets for padding and to keep her warm it did nothing to help her aching bones. She knew she was growing older but not till now had she felt her body feel so weak. No sun could penetrate the darkness to warm her face and body that is what she missed most is the sight and feel of the sun along with the accompany sound of the children playing and Kagome laughing. "I can see why people go mad down here." She said softly to herself.

The older maid was drawn from her musings at the creaking sound of the chamber doors opening echoing through the many corridors of the underground dungeons of the great western palace. She sat up looking out her cell to see who had come she desperately wished it as her Lord to release her from this hell. 'Please my Lord I know you can break free from the shard's power please let this be you.' She thought to herself in a desperate voice. Never before had she wished so desperately to want to see her nephew and his cold expressionless face with those glowing gold eyes that told of his true feelings. She could read his eyes like a book and missed the conversations she would hold with her lord and the constant teasing she could get away with towards him.

"Akira!" Rin yelled as she ran towards the cell. The young ward of the western palace had tears running down her face as she ran to the woman who had acted like a grandmother to her. "Akira make this all stop. I want my lord back to normal." She said crying. Akira hugged the young girl through the bars as best as she could. She looked over the form of the young girl. Rin sniffled as she wiped tears from her cheeks, she had changed in appearance over the last few days. Her skin had grown pale and sickly and she had lost a considerable amount of weight from not being taken care of properly. The young girl looked up Akira sniffling, "I miss the way things were."

The older woman bestowed a soft kiss on the forehead of the child. She brushed some hair from the child's face, "Things will get better but we always have to go through a rough time before we can have another happy period in life. It is like you suffering through the parent's death but Lord Sesshomaru saved you and brought you back here you have been happy since you got here. We will get through this I promise you Rin."

Kai rounded the corner into the dungeon he had been listening to the two conversation he smiled at Akira's words knowing Rin needed some reassurance at the moment. The general had tried to look over the children to his best abilities but things had gotten out of hand as of late. He no longer could take the children outside to play nor could he ensure them a good meal. Kyra was hell bent on making the children and the rest of the castle suffer for her own greedy pleasure. He leaned against the corner watching the two, "Rin you shouldn't come down here unescorted. I have told you this before. Things have become to dangerous for you to roam this castle alone."

Akira's eyes shot up to Kai glaring at him, "And you Fox! Why have you not been taking care of Rin like I commanded you to do?" She paused for a moment as if waiting for an answer but did not allow the general to answer before she snapped at him again. "No excuse will ever suffice for not taking care of Rin. What about Shippo? Is he suffering the same way as this precious little one?" She said growling.

The general shook his head knowing Akira would not allow him one word into this conversation. "You must understand Akira I have tried my hardest to keep the children well fed and safe. It is growing harder and harder by the day to do so. Kyra has the sacred jewel and is using it to take control of everyone in the castle. Lord Sesshomaru was the first to receive a shard now all the servants have been given one. They easily succumbed to the power of the shard but Lord Sesshomaru continues to fight though his will is weakening as each hour passes. I truly do not know how much longer our lord can take this suffering before his body caves to the power of the jewel. It has gotten to the point Kyra has embedded another shard to try and make our lord submit."

The elder woman listened to the fox demon while her eyes rested on the child that was holding tightly to her through the bars. She knew nothing good would come of Kyra having the sacred jewel, she ran her claws through the child's hair trying to keep her calm. "The children must get out of here as soon as possible Kai." She said in a tone that left no room for argument. "Take them to Edo. Shippo knows the way there is a old priestess that will take the children and protect them. Her sister used to be the holder of the sacred jewel. Kagome will go there before coming here. Get them out of here as soon as you can." She felt Rin tighten her hold onto her. "You will be safer out of the castle than here. I will be fine Rin."

The fox general watched the two he knew he had to get the children out of the castle as soon as possible but as to how was a complete unsolved mystery to him. He no longer had control over his own army they all obeyed their new mistress, Kyra. He was lucky so far not to succumb to the demoness he had avoided her like a plague and had succeeded in not being caught in her trap unlike the rest of the castle. None of the servants had the will power to disobey any command imposed on them by their mistress due to the shards in them. He was running short on options on how to safely remove the children from the castle he feared he could not do it alone but he had no other choice. He nodded to himself in a silent agreement that he would do everything he could to secure the children are in safe hands. His ears twitched as he heard approaching footsteps he quickly grabbed the young child into his arms pulling her back flush against his chest covering her mouth with his hand as he slipped into the darkness to mask their location.

"She has ordered we gather the troops and head towards this village called Edo. We are to leave in the cover of night so they do no see us coming." One of the voices said as two people walked down the corridors in the dungeon.

"But why? What does she think we will find in Edo that would serve us any good?" Asked the second voice.

"We are to look for Lady Kagome there. And bring her back to our mistresses alive." Replied the first private. Kai tightened his grip on the young girl in his grasp he could feel her squirming wanting free to go after the two privates. He could not allow her to do such a foolish act as he held on tighter, if she was released it would only end with her being hurt and taken to Kyra. His emerald green eyes watched as the privates who used to serve under him walked past his hiding spot. He glanced over at Ashia who had over heard the conversation stood looking stunned. The general knew he had to protect the city and get the children off to somewhere safe before Kyra turned her attention onto them. They would be used as bait to lure Kagome out, Kyra knew the miko had a soft spot for the two children. He quickly made sure the privates were out of sight and hearing range before he took Rin and left the dark dungeons, tonight he would make sure the children get out of the castle.

Sesshomaru's bedroom

Golden eyes surveyed the room of the once powerful western demon lord. The silken bed sheets and pillows were torn and tattered to shreds. The curtains that covered the large bay window were in no better shape than the bed spread. Shelves once filled with books and scrolls all placed in their specific place and kept pristine now stood bare and with shelves missing telling a tale of many tantrums of the demon lord inflicted on them. The books the lord held so dear and relied on to keep his world and lands running smoothly were thrown about the bedroom, at least the ones that were left and had not faced the deadly acid claws of a certain lord. The room held such despair and anger in the atmosphere none in the castle dared to enter the room in fear of meeting their own deaths from their lord.

Atlas the golden eyes settled on the object of such anger and despair. Standing tall and majestically was the demon lord on his balcony over looking the lands that at one time were flourishing but now were turning into lands of chaos without a rightful leader to take control of the lands once again. For Sesshomaru no longer had a say in what happened in his lands none of his servants obeyed him any longer they were all under a certain succubus' spell. While he was in a constant battle for his own will to stay alive against the succubus' will. The golden eyes scanned over the demon lord his taunt back now held scars from his own claws and dried blood from where he had tried to reach the shards and dig them out himself. The slight slump in his shoulders told of his loosing battle against the shards embedded in his back. "Sesshomaru." Came the silky, seductive voice of Kyra as she moved closer to the object of her desire. "Come here." She said with a tone that demanded he obey.

The demon lord's claws dug into the marble banister of the balcony as he fought the searing pain coursing through his body due to the shards trying to force him to submit to the woman's will. "Leave me" he said through clenched teeth followed by a deadly growl. It took all his will power not to submit to the woman and the cursed jewel she wore around her neck. He felt the pull of the shards grow stronger as Kyra moved closer to him. She grinned watching him fighting but knew in the end she would have him under her control.

Smooth un-callused hands slid around the slim waist of the powerful demon lord. "Submit to your new Queen my little demon." She whispered in his ear before her tongue darted out past her dark red painted lips to trace the shell of his ear. She purred contently as her hands traveled up the strong chiseled chest of the demon. Her vile tongue and lips traveled down the back of his neck gently licking and lapping at the blood coming from the claw marks he had inflected on himself. She purred softly, "My love come to bed with me." She said as she dragged her deadly claws down his chest

Blinding pain ran down the demon's spine at the command given to him. The shards had a stronger pull on him wit half the jewel as close as it was at that moment. His breathing became labored as he tried to fight against the power but his will was slowly fading and bending to the shards rule. His amber eyes rested on the figure of Kai and the children sneaking into the stables he was more than pleased at seeing Kai aiding the children in escaping. Before Kyra could see what had caught his attention he turned swiftly to face the demoness kissing her to keep her occupied. The demon lord knew Kai needed someone distracting the demoness and he would suffer through it to protect his ward and the miko's kit.

The fox general's green eyes caught the silver mane of his lord disappearing into is bedroom with a woman attached to his form. He nodded a silent thank you to his lord though he knew Sesshomaru did not see him. He ushered the children into the stables quickly before any of the guards under Kyra's trance saw them. Rin longingly looked back towards her lord's room but was picked up by Kai before she decided to change her mind and stay. "Kai where are we going?" The young girl asked looking into the emerald green eyes of the general.

Kai set the children onto the back of the two headed dragon Ah-Un. He was thinking over the answer to Rin's question he could not take them Edo he knew the army would soon be attacking there, yet he had no other idea as to where he could take them yet. Shippo looked up at the older fox demon he could see the concerned and questioning looks in his eyes. "Rin we are going to the Slayer's village. There we can play with Kilala, Sango, and Miroku." He said beaming at his answer knowing he had successfully helped the older male without being asked. Kai was more than pleased with this answer he knew the warrior and monk would protect the children at all cost and this gave him the chance to get to Edo, hopefully.

Kai grabbed the reigns of Ah-Un as he guided the two headed dragon out of the stables. He jumped up onto the back of the dragon behind the two children his tail wrapped around the two children to keep the safe on the back of the dragon. "Alright Ah-Un show us what you can do." He said smirking as the dragon took to the air effortlessly with three passengers on its back. The small group of travelers landed gracefully in the middle of the hunter's village. The sun had set a hour ago. The fox general looked around curiosity his ears picked up as he heard the sound of Sango's powerful weapon whizzing through the air he grabbed the two children and rolled off the back of the dragon he used his body as a shield for the two children. His eyes shot up to see the monk and slayer coming closer. "State your business demon." Yelled the slayer as she effortlessly caught her weapon ready to throw it once again this time she would not miss.

Shippo wiggled his way out from under the fox general he stood infront of the crotched form on the ground who was now only protecting Rin. "Wait wait!!" He yelled waving his hands. Sango looked confused as she watched the small kit not understanding why he was with a strange demon. "Where is Kagome, Shippo?" She asked with true concerned laced into her words.

"Mama went home a few days ago she has yet to return. We have been staying with Lord Sesshomaru while you and Miroku are here. I do not know where Inuyasha is right now but I fear he is still with Kikyo." The young kit turned his attention to the demon who had now stood helping Rin to her feet. He then turned his attention back to his two pack member infront of him. "This is Kai. He is Lord Sesshomaru's general well he was until this demoness took control she has the jewel."

Kai unloaded the bags of the children to the ground then looked back at Miroku and Sango. "I cannot stay and talk. I must get to Edo night has already fallen. Rin will explain what I mean. Please watch them till my return." With that said he got onto the back of Ah-Un in the direction of Edo.

A/N: Alright, so once again I am sorry for the little mix up the other day with putting chapter ten up for chapter nine. To tell you honestly what happened I have been on medications for my flu and they make me a little drowsy and loopy. So here is chapter nine so you all can understand what has happened to Sesshomaru over the week Kagome has been gone in her own time learning her own history. So next Chapter Kagome returns to the feudal era to learn all things have been shot to hell. Whoooo! I love a story with some sort of plot.