Mononoke ~Ch21

When she arrived at the village all the villagers cheerfully waved at her till they saw Sesshomaru and began going back into their huts, while children stared at him curiously. When Sesshomaru started to growl Mononoke squeezed his hand and said; "Behave yourself I don't want them getting bad manners from you." at this Sesshomaru glared at her, but still let her lead him to a hut in the center of the village.

"Okay you two you can come out." Called Mononoke and a pair of dog demon pups came out of the hut and stared at him. He stared back incredulously, as both pups were identical to him. Then he looked back at Mononoke with a questioning look, which she replied with a nod. Sesshomaru wanted to deny it, that he hadn't been there when she had their pups, but his blood beast recognized them as his own. Now he knew what his blood beast had hidden from him, yet he was happy that it was hidden, because he didn't know how'd he react to such news. Inside he was happy, but at the same time fearful; a feeling he hadn't felt in a long time. Then looked at Mononoke with a confused gaze as he saw both pups were pure blooded dog demon pups. Mononoke just gave him a shrug of her shoulders as she read the questioning in his eyes.

"They were born a month ago; this is Sesshmaru and Shiori." Said Mononoke introducing the twins to Sesshomaru who had to steady himself when both pups jumped into his arms. Sesshomaru couldn't help but, smile down at the pups in his arms, both carried his markings and scent, which filled him with pride.

Suddenly at the other side of the village, villagers began running and screaming; as a loud rumbling sound, made the small huts tremble and the ground began to quake. Then roots shot-up from the ground dismantling huts, barns and everything that got in their way. This meant only one thing to everyone. "Naraku!" growled Sesshomaru then quickly handing the twins to Mononoke.

"Take our pups and run Mononoke!" barked Sesshomaru then bolted toward where Naraku's roots were coming from, while Mononoke ran toward the bone-eater's-well as fast as she could. As Mononoke ran the forest blurred by her line of sight and her breathing was flowing through her lungs like fire, she couldn't feel her legs as she kept mind on one thing 'the well' the only safe place for her brood. She knew Kagome's home was the only place Naraku could never reach them, as soon as the well got within sight Mononoke pulled in an extra burst of energy and made a dash for it. Suddenly when she reached the rim of the well, she felt a sharp, burning shoot through her left ankle up her leg and her waist hit the rim and she dropped her precious ones into the well, to safety which made her smile through her pain.

Then she was pulled off the ground by her leg, hanging backwards she was face to face with Naraku, which made her scowl.

"You had a puppet attack the village, didn't you!" she accused glaringly at Naraku, while ignoring the burning pain in her leg.

"Of course my dear, how else would I be able to capture you, without Sesshomaru's interference." Said Naraku with a satisfied smirk, then looked at Mononoke in a way that made her nauseous.

"It was very difficult to find you, as soon as I discovered you had left Sesshomaru's fortress I begun to seek you out yet you disappeared. So I monitored Sesshomaru, perceptive that that dog had better chances at capturing you. So I've distracted Sesshomaru for you to escape again and fall into my web." Gloated Narraku as he produced some strange black bands, as his root-like tentacles wrapped around her like coils of a snake incapacitating her movement as she tried to struggle out of his grip. Thrashed violently not wanting to find out what the black bands were for as Naraku brought a large one near her face, but then she noticed a small pink shards in it.

"Shikon jewel shards!" she exclaimed in surprise only to see Naraku smirk.

"Yes my little pet these are jewel shards, these are imbedded inside this enchanted material created from my miasma to help me control you." He purred then quickly wrapped one around her neck then when he started to wrap the others on her wrists she felt a sharp burning and then she watched as the melted into her skin like tattoos. Then the last ones were placed on her ankles, then he let her fall to the floor before him, she began to squirm on the floor scratching at the bands that had bound themselves to her, and she keep on struggling when she felt the bands seem to gain control of her limbs. But then she saw someone she had prayed to never see again.

"Nagare!" she gasped as she fought the pain and tried to drag herself away from him, but Naraku's tentacles held her in place.

"Such a feisty one aren't we Mononoke, I see why Sesshomaru liked you so much." Said Nagare watching her still struggle against the bands and Naraku, angry and feeling humiliated Mononoke filled her mouth with as much saliva as possible and sent a huge spit ball flying into Nagare's face; terminating his laughter immediately. He sent her a furious look then growled and leaped to slash at Mononoke and rip off the smirk on her face, but only cut into thin air when Naraku pulled her out the way.

"We are here to capture her, not kill her you impulsive twit! And if you try something like that again I will have to assume our allegiance over!" growled Naraku at Nagare, then Nagare backed up with a fearful look in his eyes making Mononoke's smirk widen. Then suddenly the pain of the bands became so intense she fainted.