A/N: I have a quite few people to thank for the last chapter: GoldenRose88, EshaNapoleon, Victoria Pendragon, Taraah36, xxdarienchibaloverxx, Puppylove7, and ILoveInuyasha4Eva. It's been a while but here is the next chapter. I've decided to break "TNG" down into three parts. The Feudal Era, Somewhere in Between, and Modern Japan. This should be the second to last chapter in the first part. I hope you all enjoyed "Battle Royale."

Disclaimer: I do not own the Inuyasha characters, manga, anime, movies, etc. They belong by copyright laws to Rumiko Takahashi et al.

The Nekomata Guardian

Ch. 14

Azami gazed at the snow falling outside her chamber window and pulled the heavy kimonos around her increasing frame. She had taken her great-grandmother's advice to heart several months ago and was concentrating on keeping herself and her unborn children safe. After the fight between Hisana and Kellan the extended family of the Western Lands had gone back to their respective homes, all looking forward to the births of their own children, or in Kohaku and Rin's case, the time when their various nieces/cousins, brother and sister would be born. The younger couple had traveled before the snow fell to Lady Kaede's village to see their nieces and before bringing the news to Azami, Sesshoumaru and Hisana. They had brought the children from Horai Island to stay the winter at the large castle on the mountain top and for the first time in Azami's memory, there was laughter in the normally cold halls.

She turned her head as the twins ran passed her door, the two playing with the wooden swords Sesshoumaru had insisted they begin learning how to use. Tomorrow there would be another batch of half demon and humans joining the clan and she couldn't wait to see what gifts they would bring to the fold. None of them had as yet discovered their youkai powers and for that she was glad. They deserved time to learn how to be children before the pressures and duties of their affiliation with the Western Lands turned them into warriors or diplomats.

"Get back here, Dai!" Roku's shout echoed along the corridor, bringing a smile to Azami's face. Several servants protested loudly at the commotion they were making. Deciding to save them from the imminent peril they'd be in if her husband and mate found out that they weren't studying; she exited her warm chamber into the cooler hall. She'd have to get the servants to light the stoves. They might become too warm but there was no way she was going to freeze. The twins seemed to be taking all the heat from her body.

"I do believe you two are supposed to be studying your kendo with Kohaku. Why are you running in the halls?" she asked, amused at the guilty looks on their faces. Their orange and green hair was even more disheveled than usual. She'd have to remind them to brush it before dinner.

"Sorry, Azami-sama," Dai said, completely lacking in remorse.

"Kohaku-sensei is with Rin-hime," his twin answered by way of explanation. "And the girls are busy with Lady Taisho."

"Where is Shion?"

"In the library, where else? He'd rather be studying musty old scrolls with Hano-sama than learning how to fight with a sword."

"To each his own," Azami reminded them in a light scold. "Shall I see if Sesshoumaru is free to teach you instead of Kohaku? I'm sure he could keep you busy." The twins shook their heads in unison, each not wanting to deal with the taiyoukai. They had enough problems when Inuyasha got annoyed with them. There was no telling what the demon lord would do if they got on his bad side.

"You could do it," Roku suggested. The children had learned that she had a soft spot for orphans and liked to press their luck when they could.

"I could, if I were not carrying my mate's heir and daughter. I can however send you about tasks guaranteed to keep you occupied until Kohaku is free once again."

"Ah, come on, Azami-sama. We were having fun."

"You were having fun disturbing the staff," a new voice interrupted and they turned to see Anna standing beside Lady Satsuki. Azami's personal maid now enjoyed a certain level of authority among the servants because she had always been loyal to their new lady and Azami favored her because of that. She was the only servant she would trust to help care for her babies once they were born.

Satsuki frowned at the boys, not pleased with being disturbed while she made medicine. "If you are so filled with energy, you will then help me by telling everyone to make sure all the fires are lit and blazing. Rin has come down with a cold and I do not wish her to become any sicker."

They made to protest but one look at all three adult women's faces forestall the words. They had learned that females' tempers tended to get more fierce as they got older. Before the inutachi had rescued them, they'd only had to contend with Asagi's occasional scolding. After experiencing Kagome's anger, they no longer complained when they were given orders by another woman.

"Yes, ma'am," they chorused and meekly followed the elder youkai.

Anna stood where she was, satisfaction on her face. "You should stay in your room until the place warms up. Lord Sesshoumaru would not be pleased if you came down with the same thing Lady Rin has."

"My husband overreacts," Azami returned. "I am going to see how Rin is. There's no need to disturb Sesshoumaru. He has enough to deal with at the moment. The other nobles hanging around do not like the fact that the children are here."

"It's kind of nice," Anna put in, walking with her lady to ensure that the unbalanced woman didn't stumble. The babies had grown quickly and Azami wasn't yet used to the extra weight. Sesshoumaru had wanted Anna to be with his mate whenever he could not, knowing that out of all the servants, only she could be trusted. The others had made it no secret that they resented the fact that Azami had become their new lady when there had been a few eligible ladies ready and willing to become the new Lady of the Western Lands. There was nothing they could do about the situation unless they wanted to become traitors and die by their lord's hand. Anna heard their complaints often though and stuck close to her lady's side. The partly Fae human still had to learn how to channel the powers she'd gotten from her great-grandmother and was in no condition to be practicing with energies that they didn't know about and that could possible harm the unborn pups. And since Azami was unable to properly wield a sword at this time, she was forced to rely on someone else for protection.

"It is, isn't it?" Azami asked, knocking on the chamber door that led the way to Kohaku and Rin's suite. The young couple had been embarrassed by the opulence of the chambers they were given but did so without comment for fear of insulting Azami's generosity. Hisana had been present at the time and knowing their feelings, had casually made the comment that she had had nothing less when she was a princess in her father's court.

Kohaku opened the door before Anna could answer her lady and the bags under his eyes were clear indications of how much he was worried about his wife's health. He let the two women in without saying a word, waving them on into the bedroom. "Kohaku-kun, go take a nap. We'll sit with her for a little while. Satsuki-sama is making her some medicine as we speak and she'll be better in no time." Azami put a mask on, protecting her from possibly catching the cold.

"She's a terrible patient," he muttered before wandering away to get what sleep he could.

Neither his mother-in-law nor her maid commented on that, knowing that because Rin was rarely ill, it was true. They found Rin in bed, her nose red and hair in disarray. "Okaa-sama," she croaked, holding out a weak hand. "Can I have some tea?"

"Of course," Azami answered, pouring from the pot that had been left near the fire. She brought it to Rin's side, helping the adolescent sit up and sip gently on the hot liquid. "My poor dear."

"Kohaku's being mean," the young woman complained. "He won't sleep beside me."

"That's because he would become sick too. You don't want him to catch your cold, do you?" Azami hated the thought of both young people sick at the same time. Misery might love company but she doubted anything good would come of them being ill at the same time.

"No," Rin admitted.

"See, and you can tell just by looking at him that he's worried. He's not sleeping well away from you. That's the mark of a man who loves you. One mark, anyway. And is he not staying by your side while his students suffer from his inattention?"

"Yes," her adopted daughter whispered before a coughing fit sent her body into spasms. No one could do a guilt trip like a mother.

"There now."

Anna hid her smile as the princess got scolded gently and said nothing until Satsuki came with the medicine. The elder dog demoness took over their vigil and they left to return to Azami's chamber. The hallway was still cool and they were almost there when the lady sneezed. Not three seconds later Sesshoumaru appeared, concern in his normally ice cold eyes. He had set a new personal record for traveling from his study to the chambers he shared with Azami.

"Are you all right? You haven't caught Rin's illness?"

"No, Sesshoumaru. The hallway has not yet warmed up, that is all. I'll be fine in our bedchamber. Please do not worry. Go back to your work and I will see you at dinner." The women were forced to endure his presence while he checked her over before finally believing that she wasn't catching a cold.

After he left, Anna chuckled at Azami's aggrieved expression. "He has certainly changed. I would never have guessed that the almighty Lord of the Western Lands would become easily concerned about someone's health just because they were carrying his pups."

"And now you know how a mate reacts to any and all oddities of child baring."

"The rest of your pregnancy is going to be most amusing."

"I'll remind you of that one of these days when you've finally taken a mate and have to deal with such things."