Disclaimer: I only own my nightmares.

Danger

"Miroku, Sango?" Inuyasha peered into his friends' room once more. "Hello? If you're there ya pervert, speak up – I gotta question 'bout what we were talkin' 'bout earlier." Hearing nothing, but knowing they were within; he entered, fully prepared to flee if he was interrupting something… private.

"Ah, Inuyasha," Miroku looked up, smiling. He and Sango were seated on his made bed, pouring over a scroll and it's translation from Zhuang. "What brings you back again so soon?"

Inuyasha shifted nervously, and turned his head to the side. "I have a few questions for ya," looking back at the bed, he saw an interesting series of overlapping circles in a triangular patter with writing in each one, each overlap, and in the open area in the middle. He moved closer. "What's that?"

Sango without looking up, began pointing at the circles, one at a time, and explained. "This one is kami, or gods and spirits, this one is animals or nature, and this one is humanity. The middle is demons. This scroll is one of the holy scrolls from the mainland priestess, and was to help Miroku understand the relationships and balances between them all." She looked up, "It shows the things we have in common, and sort of implies demons are a blend of kami, animal, and man. It's really very interesting, but I doubt many people or demons would agree."

Thinking of how much most demons hated humans, and one demon in particular, Inuyasha had to agree.

"So what was it you wanted to ask?" Inuyasha glanced at Miroku when he spoke, then away, too embarrassed to meet his eyes.

"It's weird, right? Mating my brother? I don't know if I even like the jerk, most days. But, his carrying my kids ya know. They deserve better'n I had, so weird or not… Just, how do I do it? Ya know, court tha prissy bastard? Just because I don't really wanna doesn't mean I should do it wrong. I mean, if I fuck up, it's just somethin' else for the asshole to lord over me…" Inuyasha would have continued, but a loud thumping knock, like something hard impacting something wood, a crash like something being broken, a groan, and a second, softer thump, like something hitting stone, resounded in the halls interrupting him. All three jumped up, and tense and ready to defend themselves if necessary, raced to the door, flinging it open, and rushing out into the hall.

Sesshomaru was collapsed, bleeding, next to a table and the shattered remains of a Ming vase. His blood and pieces of his hair clung to the corner of the table, a long red smear running down its leg to the ground where his head laid. His blood was mingling with spilled water, broken porcelain and mangled flowers, as it ran out the gash on the side of his head. His eyes were open, staring into nothing, pupils narrow and unmoving. He didn't appear to be breathing.

Shock and dread filled them all, but it was Sango, trained her whole life to deal with extraordinary circumstances, who recovered first. "Inuyasha," she snapped, "Can you get him to his healer?"

Inuyasha scooped him up, and cradling him bridal style, began to run. He raced through the halls much as he did through the forests, jumping and propelling himself forward at far faster speeds than he could attain flatfooted. The odd servant he frightened, and in at least one case, kicked, was irrelevant. "Sakura! Sakura, help! Sesshomaru's hurt!" He began calling before he even made in to the appropriate hall, much less the right room. When he did, he kicked he door down in his haste to enter. Later, when challenged on his destructive behavior, he'd retort his hands were full. But, really, he wasn't thinking, he simply was moving on instinct.

As soon as the unconscious man was arranged on the futon, the black dog demon kicked Inuyasha out. There was no door, but the healer was apparently decent at making barriers, as a thick green and pink swirling one formed in place of the door. He knew he could break it, but he also knew he'd only be in the way if he went back inside.

Three days later, the midwife Sesshomaru had chosen and ordered Jaken to message arrived. He was a raccoon demon, and reminded Inuyasha greatly of the mischievous friend of Miroku's, save this demon was totally nude. He didn't even wear an open vest/smock/robe thingie like the other did. The half-demon was tempted to ask if he knew the other, but since they'd only met once (or was it twice?) he couldn't remember the name. He could ask Miroku, since it was Miroku's friend, but… then he'd have to explain why, and that would just lead to more mockery from the monk.

Sesshomaru was still being treated behind the mysterious barrier, and the odd healer had never shown her face, nor could anything be heard through it. No one knew how he was. Somehow, though, the midwife was able to walk right through the barrier as if it wasn't even there. That pissed Inuyasha off royally, though he was not entirely sure why.

Four days after his arrival, the raccoon sought out Inuyasha, who was once again in Miroku's room, complaining bitterly about not being able to see his brother or check on his health. Sango was still studying the scroll with the odd circles, and Miroku was alternating between trying to converse with his future wife and calm his friend's accumulating panic.

His polite knocking on the frame was given mere second before opening the door. "Excuse me, but may I be permitted to speak with you for a moment?" His eyes lit on the diagram, "Ah, that old theory… well, it is accurate, though deceptive in its descriptions. I hope you read carefully between the lines." He smiled, his mouth stretching to curve across his fuzzy muzzle. "If you have a moment, Lord Inuyasha, I would speak with you privately? It is about your co-ruler, I have some questions that would help me in his treatment." He bowed his head politely, and exited the room, not looking to see if the half-demon followed. It wasn't really necessary, though, Inuyasha was on his heals before he'd finished the turn.

A short walk later, and they were in a room unfamiliar to the half-demon, similar to the sitting room in his brother's suite. There was a low table, but neither tea nor sake set upon it, and the midwife took his place calmly. Inuyasha followed his lead, sitting across from him, ears twitching. The midwife smiled pleasantly, if oddly, lips twitching around his muzzle. "I suppose introductions should be in order firstly, if we're to talk at any length?" He murmured his voice a soft and melodious baritone. "My parents were, unfortunately, not very creative. My name is what I am, Araiguma. You are, of course, the great Lord Inuyasha, co-ruler of the Western Lands, General of the Armies and Alpha male of the dog demon pack. It is an honor to meet you." With that, he bowed his head slightly, signaling his respect.

"Now," and his eyes turned a bit sharper, and despite their height difference, which was so extreme Inuyasha was a clear head taller even sitting (nearly two when standing), managed to look intimidating. "I can tell from his markings your brother is a mated demon, however his healer refuses to name his mate. If I do not locate him soon, not only will the rest of his children die, Lord Sesshomaru might as well."

The half-demon felt faint. "What?"

"I have to find his mate! He needs to share energy, Sesshomaru's a competent midwife himself, he knows this, Kami only knows why they haven't been already! I don't understand the secret, but whatever it is, he's already miscarried one child!"

Inuyasha interrupted the rant right then before it got any worse, "He's already what?"

Forcibly calming himself, the peeved midwife glared at Inuyasha. "He has miscarried one of his litter. Another is showing clear signs of being a runt, and is very likely to miscarry soon, possibly even today, without the help its sire alone can provide. Lord Sesshomaru is very weak right now, especially in his current form, he should know better than to attempt a pregnancy in any form but his true form. Perhaps it has to do with his mate, I don't know, but unless his mate was for some reason unable to impregnate his true, natural form, it was a very bad idea. In this form, most of his power is repressed. He's actually so powerful there's some leakage, power his form cannot handle but is unable to truly be repressed; that's what creates his Mokomoko. However, during pregnancy, the children draw from their carrier's energies. Just as they take in the food he eats. So with his energy repressed… there is only so much they can draw from, and it is just not enough."

Inuyasha looked shocked, and he was, for a very, very great many reasons, not the least of which was the idea his brother, whom he knew to be more powerful than he, but he'd always considered it close, was actually suppressing the majority of his power during all but one of their confrontations. And, of course, he wasn't too happy to know one of his children had died, and it was somehow, his fault… wait, how was it his fault? He wasn't keeping the asshole from changing back!

"Well, why doesn't he just change back? If that's safer…"

A snort was his immediate response. "Thank Kami Sesshomaru wasn't stupid enough to try that, even if he was stupid enough to us his weaker form to carry. No, to transform now would be to terminate the pregnancy entirely. Sesshomaru can change forms at will, but it is a skill that must be taught, and babies in the womb are unable to learn. No, he simply needs his mate, his mate must share his energy with his bitch so the babies have enough to draw from. Otherwise, he will miscarry his other runt, and as weak as he is currently, he'll die taking the other two with him as well."

"Other two?" His voice was faint, worry, fear, guilt, and shock all conflicting and running through him. It *was* his fault. Even if it was his demon side that attacked Sesshomaru, his demon side was still very humanoid in form; he'd never be able to impregnate the giant dog that was Sesshomaru's true form. So, the form was for him, and because of him, even if neither of them had known at the time. He was the reason. It was his energy, energy he had not been giving, that Sesshomaru and their pups needed.

"Yes, the original litter was four, one has been miscarried, and another, a runt, looks as if it too will be miscarried soon if not helped. The other two are fine, strong and healthy, and will be perfectly fine if their carrier lives long enough to deliver. So, can you help me? Can you tell me who is mated to your Alpha Bitch?"

"Me." His voice even fainter than before, as the wonder of it finally hit him. Three. He was going to be a father to three pups, and soon.