Chapter 14: Sesshomaru and Isamu Power.

Rin was lying on her side, asleep with Isamu in her arms, his head tucked just under her heart while her arms held him tight. She looked both exhausted and beautiful, her hair fanned out behind her head, the blanket just draped over her for the spring air.

In the dusk light, her silver haired mate stood above the two, smiling at their peace.

His mate was a perfect mother. Isamu was now two months old and Rin always knew when his son was hungry, when he needed changing, when he was sad or when he just wanted a little bit of love from his mother or father. Up to four times a day she'd stop and sit by the fire, singing lullabies as she fed him with this elegant peaceful look on her face and the demon would find himself sitting beside her with his head on her lap, listening and feeling like a child himself.

And as Rin was such a perfect mother, Isamu was a perfect child. He hardly ever cried and when he did, it was such a sweet happy sound that it filled both parents with joy.

But no one said a new born wasn't trouble.

He did have demon blood in him and appeared to have a liking to his father's hair, grabbing a lock in his hand and not letting go, pulling it sharply and giggling as he did.

Multiply times the demon had to ask the female to release his hair from the growing baby's abnormally strong grip. Rin would chuckle, walk over and stroke the baby down the nose, asking him to let go and the child would, freeing his father.

Remembering the last two months, Sesshomaru leant over and planted a soft kiss on Rin's forehead, preparing himself to sit down and rest for the night when he heard something strange. His hearing had picked up the sound of horses stopping out the front of the house. Then his senses told him exactly what was going on.

Markus? But he isn't meant to be back until tomorrow. He narrowed his eyes, looking back at Isamu. I need to find out what's going on. "Isamu, look after your mother."

The infant wiggled in his sleep but appeared to understand, placing a tiny hand on his mother's shirt.

The demon lord smiled at him. That's my boy. With Rin under the child's protection, the demon hurried outside to the garden and snuck his way around the house until he was under one of the windows of the study. With a single claw, he pulled one of the windows open slightly, enabling him to listen in.

"…excuse. What's all this about?"

"Tell me one thing Markus… have you touched that… girl?"

"I wish. You know that demon of yours won't allow me close."

"So you haven't?"

"No."

"Then explain to me how she both conceived and gave birth to a boy!"

"What! You mean she… she had a baby!?"

"Yes. A male too. I found out just two days after you left. I thought you knew. I thought you were the father. I really thought our luck had changed. I thought that you had finally given me a child! That I could take that baby and raise it as my own!"

"Why don't you then? It's clear I'm not going to get anywhere with her. Sell Rin, get a new slave for me and keep the child."

"I can't! It's not yours! So who else could it be?!"

Silence fell for a moment.

"You mean… the demon?"

"YES! That little freak is half demon!"

"Well… what are you going to do?"

"I don't know. We could… we could just get rid of the child… maybe sell it."

"Who'd buy a half demon? We'd be better off killing it."

Sesshomaru felt his heart skip at the thought of Isamu being killed.

"I agree… but… how? I wouldn't want to go against that demon."

"Come now Katrina, he is a slave. He can't harm his masters."

"You haven't seen him. That demon has more power than the collar can control! I've seen him. I've seen him run all the way across from the orchard to the house. I've seen him pick up with one hand things… it would take ten humans to carry. No Markus, that demon has more power than we give him credit."

"But what are we going to do? We can't just let them keep it. What would that say about us? That we allow our slaves to have children? And half breeds at that? If they were both human I could… possibly understand. But…."

"If only it didn't look so… demon like. Then I could take it as my own. I could raise it as my own son…."

"Don't start that again. Look, you can't have children. Trust me to marry a broken woman. Listen, this is what we're going to do. We order Rin to hand over the baby then we'll give it to the arena."

"The arena? But it's not even a year old!"

"So? They can do with it as they please. What do we care? It will be out of our hair and those two won't be able to do anything with it."

"But what would the arena want with a baby?"

"I hear half breeds aren't really very popular among full demons. Many demon's like to eat half breeds."

Hand closed into a fist, the demon outside snarled. "How dare you…"

"Did you hear…"

"HOW DARE YOU!"

Standing, Sesshomaru threw open the window and jumped into the room, starling the two humans. He stood, dressed as a servant but the air around him was dark and twisted, the power of a demon filling the room and making the two humans cower together in fear. Lord Sesshomaru of the western lands snarled at them, his fangs sharp and wanting to rip open their necks. But the ever tightening grip on his neck was making it impossible. It was only the darkest and most powerful part of his blood that was keeping him conscious.

Lord Markus swallowed as he built the corage to step forward. "Now… you…"

"If you dare threaten my child or my mate… collar or no collar, I will rip your black sick hearts out and eat them myself. Isamu is my son; half my blood and half Rin's. If you dare touch him… if you harm him in anyway… then I will destroy you, this house and everything you hold dear! No one threatens my family!" He snarled at them then walked over, his footsteps light but slow, teasing the movement out in his pain. He stopped only a hand away from the other male. "There is no power on this earth, in heaven or hell that is stronger than the bond I share with Rin and my son. Do I make myself clear?"

Markus was visibly shaking and the demon's nose had picked up the smell of urine which was both repulsive and pleasing, knowing his message had truly scared him.

Slowly the lord walked back down to the kitchen, staggering as his blood settled but the collar continued to tighten. Dam this blasted thing. For over a year I have suffered under its restraint. Now the real fight has begun. But I meant what I said; nothing, not even this, will stand between me protecting my child.

He blinked and looked up from the wall he was leant on. Isamu… his nose had picked up the smell of his son who was giving off a clear fearful vibe. He grinned and stood up, walking over to the bed and seeing his son lying there, his eyes open but silent. With a sigh, Sesshomaru reached out and took him from his mother's arms, careful not to wake Rin but she was so tired, an earthquake wouldn't have woken her.

Isamu in his arms, the demon walked over to the back door and walked out, heading off to find a tree and sat down, holding the infant tight to his chest in the warm spring air. "Isamu… I'm so sorry my son, I didn't mean to worry you. I'm just worried about you and Rin."

The baby looked at him with a curious look in his dark brown eyes, the only physical trait of his mother's. Isamu may only be a few months old but like any demon or animal, he was already alert and looking for danger and able in his own silent way, to communicate with his father.

Sesshomaru nodded. "You see, you should not have been born into this world. You should not have been born into a world where both your mother and I are forced to work. You should have been born in a place where the whole country rejoices in your birth, in the gift that you are. You should grow up free of all this, free to be your own person." He smiled, rocking the baby back and forth. "I'd teach you how to fight like a great warrior but also how to be a diplomat. How to read and write and rule a great land with dignity and honour. You should be the one to inherit the western lands. Not my work as a slave." He sighed deeply, closing his eyes and hugging the child to his shoulder. "If I was free, I would find a way to take you and Rin away from here… to show and give you both the world. And to give Rin as many children as she wants but… after hearing those two just now…" he stopped and pulled Isamu back, staring into his eyes. "Isamu, my son, I want you to listen well. The two humans Rin and I serve… if one of them comes anywhere near you, I want you to scream as loud as you can. And whatever you do, do not allow one of them to take you away. Understood?"

Isamu giggled in the cutest of ways but his eyes showed his understanding and his concern.

The demon let out a deep sigh and leant on the tree, looking up at the sky. "I don't want to worry Rin so we'll keep this between us. If only I didn't have this collar."

For a moment the two were silent but then Isamu lifted his hands from the blanket her was wrapped in and reached out to his father. For a moment, Sesshomaru thought his child was having a moment of want for attention, the human side of him growing stronger but then he saw his eyes and grew curious.

The baby looked intent and serious, like he did just before a battle. Slowly he lifted the child closer and allowed it to reach what it was aiming for.

The collar.

Isamu placed his two tiny hands on the blood red material, sliding his even smaller fingers around the fabric. Sesshomaru could only just see what the child was doing but he could feel all of it.

The collar was growing hot.

Hot like the first time he kissed Rin.

It warmed like his heart did when he knew he loved Rin.

Burning like the pride while holding Isamu for the first time.

But he could feel the collar's warmth, almost see it glowing on Isamu's skin. Then, as quickly as it all started… it stopped and Isamu pulled his hands away.

The demon sat for a moment, taking stock of what had happened.

I… I feel different… I feel like…. He looked up at the tree he was sat under and picked out a single leaf…

Soon that leaf was floating in the air, sliced perfectly in half.

As the light returned to his hand, Sesshomaru looked down at his child. "Did you…"

Isamu was smiling with pride but then snuggled his head down to sleep.

"Isamu… before you sleep. Can you do this for Rin?"

Cracking open his eyes again, Isamu conveyed his message. No, sorry papa.

Standing, Sesshomaru could feel all of his powers returning to him. "Well, I'm not going to leave her here. I will have to find a way to free her on my own. But until then, I won't let her now, or she'll try and make me leave with you."

Holding the sleeping child close, he began back to the house, thinking as he placed the infant back in Rin's arms and slipped in to wrap his arms around them both. He sighed again while looking at Rin's face. I'm sorry Rin, I hate to lie to you but if you knew I'm free…. Don't worry, I will find a way to free you as well. Then we will leave this place. Forever.

A/N: Wow, double update, I hope you guys are happy!

And I would just quickly like to say

The Golden Lilys Secret - Thanks for the background information on childbirth, I'm now fully informed on the matter… and also lost my lunch… :D (that last part was a joke)

LordSesshy-kun - (love that username by the way) InuYasha isn't going to be in this story. Or if he is, it will be a quick, one line cameo. Maybe… I dunno, I haven't got that far. But no, to my knowledge, he isn't going to be in this story. Oh and by the way, in case any of you are wondering… Isamu is the Japanese name for Bravery or courageous which I think is very fitting for this very brave little boy.

And yes Taraah, you can name the girl… ¬ _ ¬

Don't forget to review!