Perfection is in the Eye of the Heir of the West

by lunamist

Inu no Taisho isn't really sure what his son's problem is, after all, the Lord of the West hadn't been nearly so picky choosing his own mate. Beautiful, powerful, well bred . . . none of it seems to make a difference to the Heir of the West, Sesshomaru. Perhaps then, what his son needs is a perfectly imperfect being - a mate created just for Sesshomaru. Sessh/Inu. Eventual m-preg.

25. Chapter 25

Good Sunday evening to everyone. As always, I appreciate all the reviews on the last chapter. Most of you figured out pretty quickly what was wrong with our favorite hanyou, but I think a lot of you were surprised by Sesshomaru's reaction. I was also happy to learn that many of you got my Star Trek reference. Ahhh . . . it's always good to know one isn't alone in such things :-) On a bit of a side note, I am so pleased that many of you seem to like Norim and Masaru. I like them too and when I think sometimes of other Sessh/Inu plots, those two have a knack of popping up in my head again and again.

So, this chapter we finally get to meet Sesshomaru's mama. I kind of went with my gut on what I think she'd act like. I hope you enjoy my interpretation of the Lady of the West. Also, I'm going with the suggestion of having Shayou call Inu no Taisho by what might be his real name, not title and also going with the suggestion made to me by ForeverWildfire2.0 and calling him Toga (the spelling there isn't quite right, but easier to do on my computer). Thanks ForeverWildfire2.0!

Chapter 25 . . .

Inu no Taisho would have needed nothing more than to hear that his son needed him, but the look on Norim's face had given wings to his feet. Even as a pup, Sesshomaru had hardly ever asked him for his aid and the fact that his son was doing so now bode very ill. Hurrying along the corridors, the Lord of the West was anxious to learn what was wrong but did not want to jeopardize his son in any way and like most kingdoms, the walls of the palace seemed to have been built with ears.

Not hesitating to knock, Inu no Taisho slid the door to his son and nephew's private chambers open, hastening inside as Norim scurried after him, the healer sealing them all in tight. Golden eyes quickly scanning the room, the InuDaiYoukai came to an abrupt halt, his breath catching as fear gripped his belly. Only when he saw the subtle rise and fall of his nephew's chest did the Lord of the West feel that tightness ease, if only a little.

Reassured that Inuyasha was still alive, at least for now, Inu no Taisho moved further into the room. Gaze shifting toward his son, the Lord of the West was not surprised that Sesshomaru had not done the same. In fact, Inu no Taisho was fairly certain Sesshomaru's eyes had not strayed, even for a fraction of a second, from the face of his mate.

Now even with the side of the bed, the Lord of the West stood silent. In those few moments, Inu no Taisho removed the fear and uncertainty from both his face and voice. He was the Lord of all the Western Lands, sire of the most powerful youkai to have been born in the last thousand years and mate to one of the most highly sought after InuYoukai ladies and Inu no Taisho would be damned if he acted anything but. Voice calm and near emotionless, the Lord of the West simply stated, "Sesshomaru."

Seconds turned into minutes and still Sesshomaru sat, his silvery white strands of hair falling around his face and tumbling down upon the furs covering Inuyasha's all too quiet form. Only the gentle movement of mokomoko along the hanyou's skin indicated that Sesshomaru was aware and still conscious. Shoulder's back, the Lord of the West steeled his voice. "Son, you will answer your sire when he speaks."

Pausing its actions, mokomoko sat still for a breath before beginning its movements once more. But as the fur began stroking, Sesshomaru finally spoke. "I now know what ails Inuyasha."

Eyes never once leaving the crown of his son's silvery head, Inu no Taisho stood, silently waiting until Sesshomaru continued. "My mate is carrying. It is this Sesshomaru's own seed that is killing him."

Inu no Taisho took a hissing breath before shooting a glance in Norim's direction. "I thought this to be impossible? Has he not been drinking the tea?"

Eyes lowered, Norim could only shake his head. "As I've already told the Prince of the West, I have made no changes in the medicinal brew and no other has had access to the tea but myself and Lady Kitanya. It has been brought to him every morning and he has done as instructed and ingested it each and every day. I do not know for certain how it is that he has conceived. It could be due to his being a half-breed or it could have nothing to do with this. I wish . . . I wish I could tell you more. I – " Head dropping even further, Norim felt weak with guilt. "There is nothing I can do."

Back stiffening, Inu no Taisho could only nod his understanding. Norim had been serving the Lords of the West since he was barely more than a pup himself. None had proven themselves more loyal and on a personal note, the Lord of the West knew that the healer genuinely liked the hanyou. There was no conceivable way that Norim would betray them in such a way. Of course, there was also Lady Kitanya, but given the fact that Inuyasha had saved her from a demeaning life of pain and useless servitude, Inu no Taisho could no more believe her capable of treachery than the healer.

Attention turned back to his son, Inu no Taisho felt his pulse quicken as his stomach dropped. "Inuyasha is aware of the cause of his ailment?"

"The hanyou is aware," Sesshomaru answered, his voice tight.

"And your response to the news?" Inu no Taisho could guess, but wanted it confirmed.

"I ordered Norim to remove the pup."

Mouth pulled down into a thin line, Inu no Taisho took in his son's words, not the least bit surprised by them. Had his own mate been in the same jeopardy, no doubt his own response would have been similar. But whereas his mate was pure InuYoukai, Inuyasha was a half-breed and by definition, his nephew was part human. It was this human side that would most likely not be able to see the practicality of the situation. Then again, the Lord of the West knew many a pureblooded youkai that would not so easily destroy a growing life. "And Inuyasha's response?"

Inu no Taisho shut down all facial response as quickly as possible when Sesshomaru finally raised his eyes. Never, in all his years with his son, had he ever seen Sesshomaru's eyes so full of pain. Where was the icy, emotionless façade his son was so famous for? Gone. When it came to Inuyasha and the prospect of losing his mate, Sesshomaru's inner youkai was screaming in pain.

Looking back down at his mate, Sesshomaru inhaled deeply of Inuyasha's scent, allowing it to soothe his wounded soul. "He reacted . . . badly. I do not believe he would recover from such a loss. Nor do I believe he could ever forgive me for ordering the pup's destruction." Frustrated, Sesshomaru's fist curled, his claws near to piercing his stone-like flesh. "I do not know how to win this battle, father. I can see no option that does not lead to Inuyasha's loss."

"I understand." Without looking, Inu no Taisho waved Norim closer and asked, "What is Inuyasha's condition?"

Sighing, Norim could do little but shake his head. "His youkai is drained dangerously low and the pup is most likely only a month into life. As we all know, it will only worsen as the pup grows and it's demands upon its carrier increase. I . . . I do not believe Inuyasha will be able to live through the pregnancy and even if he did, then he most certainly would not survive the delivery. Being male, it will be necessary to cut the pup from his body and there is no way that he will have enough energy to heal from such an invasive procedure. Inuyasha would die of blood loss before the pup took its first breath."

Careful to continue keeping the grimness from his face, Inu no Taisho nodded once in Norim's direction before answering. "Thank you. You may go but do not speak of this to anyone, not even Masaru. Is that understood?"

"Yes my Lord. I . . . I am sorry."

Giving a final nod of acknowledgement to the healer's regretful words, Inu no Taisho returned his attention back to his son, waiting until he heard the sliding of the door before moving even closer to Sesshomaru.

But before he could speak, Sesshomaru let loose a frustrated growl. "He would not listen to reason. Inuyasha is too stubborn and will never believe the healer's words. Inuyasha has survived everything else in his life and has no reason to believe that this will be any different, but it is different. This is a battle he cannot win, not at his current age. Given a century or two, his youkai will mature enough to be able to withstand the strain of a pregnancy, but not now. He is too young. Too young by far."

Coming to stand slightly behind and at Sesshomaru's side, Inu no Taisho allowed one of his own furs to move forward, draping itself across his son's shoulders in a way Sesshomaru had not allowed in over two centuries. The fact that his son moved into the comfort instead of pulling away spoke volumes. "We will find a way, Sesshomaru. We are InuYoukai and not just any InuYoukai, but the Lords of the Western Lands."

"I would do whatever is necessary, father. I would fight and defeat whatever being stood between myself and the answer, but this is not a battle to be fought in such a way."

"Indeed, of that, you are correct." Giving a grim frown, Inu no Taisho brought a clawed hand to his chin, rubbing it in thought before speaking. "Are you truly willing to do anything?"

Head quickly turning, the fear in Sesshomaru's eyes dissipated into something more predatory. "Again you ask unnecessary things."

"Aye, that I do," Inu no Taisho sighed. "But if this is truly the case, then I believe it is time we contacted Shayou"

Immediately, Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed, his muscles stiffening. "Mother?"

"I know not of an answer to this dilemma, but as you know, Shayou's grandmother was a powerful sorceress. It is not something Shayou has ever taken pride in nor is it a topic that is widely spoken of, but I know that your great-grandmother had a fondness for your mother and when Shayou was a child, she was left in the old InuYoukai's care on several occasions."

Eyes narrowing even further, Sesshomaru asked, "You mean to tell this Sesshomaru that mother knows sorcery?"

Inu no Taisho shrugged. "Not as such and not nearly in the same capacity that Naraku knew or that we believe Hakudoshi still practices. What I am saying is that your mother has some knowledge of it and several of your great-grandmother's possessions were left in your mother's care when the old InuYoukai passed from this world. It is possible that Shayou will have some knowledge that we do not. If you are willing to involve her, then I believe it is our best option."

Sesshomaru didn't need to consider the question and simply answered a clipped, "Contact her. I will do whatever is required."

Sighing deeply, Inu not Taisho nodded knowing that asking the Lady of the West for anything was a prickly matter. Not only that, but there was a fair chance that even if Shayou did have an answer, she would be just as likely to refuse aid as to give it. Shayou's unpredictability was one of the things Inu no Taisho both loved and hated in his mate.

Turning, the Lord of the West began heading for the door. "I will send word immediately. In the meantime, I will cancel your upcoming meetings and delegate your other responsibilities elsewhere. Until we can come to an appropriate solution, we will keep Inuyasha's condition secret. The less whom know how vulnerable your mate is, the better."

Sesshomaru didn't have to voice his agreement on the matter and instead went back to watching Inuyasha's sleeping form, the hanyou never having stirred once the whole time his father had been in the room. It was a poor sign.

Leaning over, Sesshomaru began carding his claws through Inuyasha's thick, silvery-white strands of hair, his golden eyes never once straying from the bruised skin lying beneath the amber orbs he so loved.

::::::::::

Kitanya stood, brown eyes wide as she stared at the incredibly stunning youkai before her. Shayou was a more delicate version of her son. Skin so white it practically glowed, pink markings artfully slashing across a creamy white landscape, and the same crescent moon adorning her forehead, the Lady of the West was a vision. One could easily be captured by her beauty and not even realize Lady Shayou had already ripped the heart from their chest, their eyes captivated and caught in a haze of ethereal divinity.

Shivering, the bear submissive wondered just how many youkai had fallen into that exact same trap. Kitanya had thought the Lord and Prince of the West to be the most powerful youkai she had ever encountered, but after glimpsing Shayou, Kitanya thought she'd been wrong.

Eyes lowering, Kitanya bowed ever so slightly as the Lord and Lady of the West moved closer, but her ears remained ever open and attentive as the two InuYoukai passed by, neither giving even the barest of acknowledgements.

"You ask much of me and offer so little in return, Toga."

Head held high, only Inu no Taisho's eyes slanted in Shayou's direction. "You believe aiding your one and only son, the Heir of the Western Lands, to be of little value?"

Shayou's laugh was deceptively light. "Always so emotionally dramatic. It is a constant source of amazement that you continue to hold onto the Western Lands when you react in such ways."

Having heard worse from his mate's lips before, Inu no Taisho only grinned while leading his prickly mate down the corridors to Sesshomaru and Inuyasha's rooms. Careful to speak without really saying anything that could be fully interpreted, the Lord of the West simply stated, "And yet this foolishly emotional InuDaiYoukai not only continues to control the West, but the land and it's inhabitants flourish under the yolk of my leadership. Are you not impressed by your chosen mate?"

"Impressed? You believe such things would impress me?"

Now it was Inu no Taisho's turn to laugh. "Never, my mate. Never." The silence that followed sobered the Lord of the West as his thoughts once more turned towards his son and failing nephew. Not trusting a messenger for such an important mission, the Lord of the West had traveled himself to Shayou's floating Kingdom in the sky. He'd arrived in the dead of the night and gotten straight to the heart of the matter. For her part, Shayou had listened, eyes and face completely unreadable. Truly, the only time she'd allowed even a hint of emotion to pass was when he'd informed Shayou that Sesshomaru and Inuyasha had formed a true bond. Inu no Taisho had not needed to tell his mate what that meant and it was shortly after this revelation that the Lady of the West finally stood and without a word, left. Inu no Taisho had remained there, debating whether or not this was truly Shayou's answer, but soon enough, his exquisite mate returned and with a few clipped orders to her staff, the Lady of the West had turned to him and simply stated, "I am ready."

They'd traveled with haste and arrived back at the Western Palace shortly after the rising of the sun. Inu no Taisho needed little sleep and the lack of it the previous night was not what weighed on him at that moment. Glancing once more at his beautifully poisonous mate, the Lord of the West wondered if there was truly anything Shayou could do to aid them and if so, would she be willing to do it?

Not for the first time, Inu no Taisho found himself wondering at the intricacies that made up his mate. For those whom thought Sesshomaru cold, the Lord of the West could only say that they had never met his son's mother, Shayou. And yet it was the same coldness that the Lord of the West found so enthralling, knowing that he was the only living creature that had ever pulled even the barest hint of emotion from the lethal creature walking beside him. For it was in the throws of their rutting that Shayou truly shined. The same intensity the Lady of the West showed in her everyday life was channeled into those all too brief moments and it was truly something to behold.

But Inu no Taisho had no illusions as to why Shayou had accepted his proposal to mate. Shayou valued power above all else and despised weakness in almost any form. A firm believer in the sentiment that only the strong survive, his mate was heartless when it came to those whom she deemed too weak to aid. And that was perhaps what worried the Lord of the West the most. Would his mate see Inuyasha as simply a weak half-breed that was not worth saving? Moreover, would she see Sesshomaru's choice of mating a creature she deemed worthless, and the fact that he had formed a true bond with such a submissive, as an indication that her own son was not worth saving? For if she allowed Inuyasha to die, there could be little doubt that Sesshomaru would soon follow.

All this and more weighed heavily upon Inu no Taisho's heart. But there had been little choice in the matter. In the end, the coming moments would impact the fate of not only his family, but the whole of the Western Lands.

::::::::::

Sitting on the edge of their bed, Sesshomaru's clawed hand continued to work gently across Inuyasha's scalp, moving up to occasionally rub the base of a puppydog ear. He'd felt his mother's arrival not long ago and could feel her presence moving ever closer. Sesshomaru learned long ago that the less contact he had with the Lady of the West, the better. It was not that he did not respect his mother, for that was never the case. Shayou was more than a formidable opponent and incredibly lethal. It was from his mother's side of the family that Sesshomaru had gotten the poison that flowed so freely through his veins. Unfortunately, it wasn't just physical but emotional poison that side of his family offered. Not for the first time did Sesshomaru wonder how his father could continue to see his mother and have any type of affection for the Lady of the West.

"S-Sesshomaru?"

Attention immediately on his mate, Sesshomaru's fingers briefly stopped before starting their soothing motions once more. Making sure to keep his golden eyes soft, the Prince of the West stared down into Inuyasha's dull amber eyes.

Tongue swollen and mouth feeling full of sand, Inuyasha struggled to speak. "W-what's goin' on?"

"Do you not remember what happened before?"

Flinching, Inuyasha nodded his head. "Yeah . . . but . . . shit, can I get some water?"

Rising, Sesshomaru poured a glass of cool water and brought it back to the bed. Setting the water aside, Sesshomaru reached around Inuyasha and pulled his mate up enough so that he was now leaning back against a mound of pillows. Only when he was satisfied his hanyou could swallow without choking did Sesshomaru hand over the water.

With shaking hands and arms, Inuyasha brought the blessed liquid to his lips and drank heavily. When there was nothing left, he sighed before handing the empty cup over.

"Do you require more?"

"No, but thanks." Leaning back, Inuyasha's eyes fluttered closed for a moment, the act of simply raising a cup of water to his lips more draining than he could have imagined. "Fuck, I'm tired." Taking in a deep breath, Inuyasha's eyes opened then narrowed with the memories of the previous night. Soon enough he turned his accusing eyes on his mate, his mouth opening to begin telling Sesshomaru exactly how he could go to hell. But Sesshomaru's words halted his own.

"I know you have much you wish to say, but there is little time. The Lady of the West is within the Palace and on her way here."

Mind struggling to keep up with this new information, Inuyasha frowned. "You mean you mother?"

Eyes momentarily flashing toward the doorway, Sesshomaru nodded. "Lady Shayou is indeed my mother. Father went to get her last night to see if she could provide a means that you might be able to bear the pup you now carry without it destroying you."

Fresh anger swept through Inuyasha like fire. "I don't need any help keepin' my pup alive. Just 'cause I'm a half-breed – "

"Enough! You know well that I care not that you are hanyou. It is not that I doubt your lack of strength nor your will to do what must be done. In this situation there are simple facts and the facts are that, at your age, your youkai is not yet strong enough to survive and support the life growing within you. If you had mated a lesser youkai, then perhaps that would not be the case, but you did not mate thusly. You mated the Prince of the West, one of the most powerful youkai to ever walk the earth. It is not vanity or pride that I say this, simply fact." Leaning forward, Sesshomaru placed his forehead on Inuyasha's, both of his hands coming up to cup his mate's face. "Do you not yet understand? It is my seed that is draining the life from your body. It is my doing - my fault that you are in such a condition as this. If nothing is done – you will die. This Sesshomaru will never accept that as an option."

Eyes lowered, Inuyasha felt his heart painfully squeeze. While he understood what Sesshomaru was saying, he simply couldn't do what his mate truly wanted and end the life of the pup growing inside of him. Didn't Sesshomaru understand? Didn't his mate know that one of the main reasons he could not do that was because this was Sesshomaru's pup? How was he supposed to kill something that was a part of his mate? "Sessh – "

"Shh."

Mouth closing, Inuyasha felt Sesshomaru's grip upon his cheeks tighten before the powerful aura of two youkai entered their rooms. One was very familiar, while the other had hints of familiarity to it, but at the same time, the hanyou knew it belonged to a youkai he'd never truly met.

Pulling away, Sesshomaru stoically stood and faced the door, mokomoko wrapping possessively around the back of his hanyou's shoulders. Golden eyes sharp, the Prince of the West gave a bow when the door to their rooms slid open, the Lady of the West easily gliding into the room, an emotionless, "Sesshomaru," falling from her lips.

Standing to full height, Sesshomaru inclined his head and responded, "Mother." Eyes intent upon the Lady of the West, Sesshomaru gave his father the same curt greeting.

Following his mate into the room, Inu no Taisho stood, keeping a discrete distance from Shayou, not that he thought his mate actually cared if he was there.

Moving a little further into the room, Shayou's intense eyes took in the contents, the cold, indifferent look on her face never wavering as she stated, "I see you have decided to change the contents of your rooms. The change is less than agreeable, but they are your rooms and your choice."

Lying back in the bed, Inuyasha's eyes widened marginally, his own impression of the Lady of the West closely mirroring what Kitanya's had been. While the female standing before him was nothing short of breathtaking, she was also deadly and Inuyasha had no doubt Sesshomaru's mother would not hesitate to kill whatever stood in her way – painfully.

Ignoring his mother's remark, Sesshomaru turned to his father. "I hope your trip was uneventful."

"It was." Wrestling with a smirk, Inu no Taisho knew well that his son was fishing for a distraction. Unfortunately for all of them, they didn't have time for such things. "I have informed Shayou about the current circumstances we find ourselves in as well as their implications."

Turning his head, Sesshomaru looked once more at his mother, ill at ease to find that her gaze seemed to be solely occupied by Inuyasha. Tightening mokomoko, Sesshomaru dared to ask, "And what is the Lady of the West's answer?"

The silence that ensued was discomforting, but perhaps not nearly as discomforting as when Shayou finally spoke. "Sesshomaru, I will speak with your mate – alone."

Sesshomaru's response was to snarl. "You ask for too much, mother."

"On the contrary, it is you whom is asking something of this Lady. The choice is yours. You can either leave me alone to speak with the half-breed or I can leave."

Hands curling into fists, Sesshomaru was battling his emotions and knew his mother would only see such actions as weakness. He'd already lost control once and to do so again would be seen as an insult by the Lady of the West.

Internally battling, Sesshomaru was saved by his mate when Inuyasha's voice, much stronger than it should have been, cut through the room. "It's fine, Sesshomaru. You can leave me with the bitch."

At the word, Lady Shayou's countenance moved not an inch while Inu no Taisho laughed and Sesshomaru relaxed. In youkai society, the term bitch was more description than insult, but knowing Inuyasha's upbringing in human society, none there doubted the manner in which he meant the word. Perhaps Sesshomaru should have seen Inuyasha's choice of words as alarming, but instead, all the InuYoukai could feel was a sense of relief. His hanyou was wise enough to understand that the creature within their room was a potentially deadly threat and yet he showed none of his fear. In that moment, Sesshomaru felt intense pride.

Looking down at his mate, Sesshomaru let his pleasure pour through the intensity of his gaze. "I will be outside should you require anything."

Nodding, Inuyasha swallowed thickly. Both of them knew that if Lady Shayou wanted, he would never have the opportunity to think about calling for help, let alone actually voice such a sentiment. "I've faced worse."

Sesshomaru wasn't sure if that was true or not, but if it was, he would need to re-evaluate his admiration for his mate. Giving a final gentle squeeze of mokomoko, Sesshomaru's fur reluctantly released Inuyasha. Turning from his mate, the Prince of the West strode forward, never once looking back at his hanyou for fear that he would not have the strength to leave him there alone. Shoulder to shoulder with his mother, Sesshomaru's voice was low, his tenor arctic in its determination. "Should Inuyasha come to harm, you will not survive the day."

Face expressionless as usual, Shayou's golden eyes shifted ever so slightly toward her son. "You believe this Lady would fall so easily?"

"No. But nevertheless, you will, for this Sesshomaru will have nothing left to lose."

"And you believe the anticipation of death will stay my hand?"

Again, Sesshomaru's answer was a simple, "No," before walking out the door, Inu no Taisho following closely behind.

Left alone, Shayou took a few moments, her senses open and searching. When she was certain she was well and truly alone with her son's mate, the Lady of the West finally turned her attention to Inuyasha. "It is not surprising to learn that Tsuyoshi laid with a human female."

Lying in the bed, furs bunched at his waist, Inuyasha cocked his head, his ears swiveling slightly back as he contemplated not only the words but also the emotionless tone they were said with. Unsure if it was an insult or not, the hanyou thought it safe to assume it probably was. "You would know better than me. Seems my father went off and got himself killed before I was even born. Didn't even know who he was until a few months ago."

Shayou made a small noise that could have been interpreted as a huff of annoyance. "Unsurprising. Tsuyoshi had the capacity to become stronger than Toga, but he lacked the will to do so. At one time, I considered mating him instead, but the weakness of Tsuyoshi's will was . . . disappointing." Delicately slippered feet soundlessly pacing across the floor, Shayou closed the distance separating her from the hanyou. "And you, Inuyasha, how strong is your will I wonder?"

"-Keh," Inuyasha chuffed, his eyes never once leaving the deceptive beauty that was his mate's mother. "If ya want the answer to that, you should ask Sesshomaru."

"Indeed. Well, we shall see what kind of terms my son and I are on when this meeting comes to a close."

Not having heard Sesshomaru and Shayou's earlier conversation, Inuyasha was left to wonder what that meant exactly, but decided it best to let that one slide, for now. Frustrated that he was too weak to even stand while meeting Sesshomaru's mother for the first time, Inuyasha laid there, his clawed fingers pressing deeply into his flesh as what little energy he had began vanishing at an alarming rate. Inuyasha had never been one for small talk, or beating around the proverbial bush and at this moment, time certainly wasn't on his side. With that in mind, the hanyou blurted. "I'm guessin' you know I'm pregnant and that Sesshomaru wants to kill it. I'm also guessin' that you know what my answer has been to that particular idea."

"I am aware."

Eyes narrowing, Inuyasha looked sharply at the InuYoukai who'd birthed his mate. Shayou's answer had been irritatingly short and devoid of any form of emotion. Reading the Lady of the West was going to be more difficult than Sesshomaru had ever been. Shaking his head, Inuyasha let out a soft breath of air. There was only one way he could see to win this and playing verbal and mental mind games with a youkai as ancient and powerful as Shayou wasn't it. "Listen, I can probably guess what you think about your son matin' a half-breed and just so we're straight, I could give a shit about what you think of me personally. The only opinion I care about is Sesshomaru's and as crazy as I think it is, he don't seem to have a problem with it."

Raising a single silvery-white eyebrow, Shayou continued staring, her mouth little more than an apathetic line across her face. "You should measure your words more carefully, hanyou. Seeing as that Sesshomaru was desperate enough to send Toga to ask for my aid, my opinion of you should be at the foremost of your mind."

"Maybe, but I figure you've already formed an opinion about me before you even walked through that door." Rubbing his forehead with shaking fingers, Inuyasha could only sigh. "And seein' me layin' here in this fuckin' bed, too damn weak to even stand, ain't doin' nothin' to change that opinion. But as much as I'd like to change that, I can't. This situation is what it is so I'll work with whatever I've got left."

"And what is it that you believe you have left?"

Inuyasha could only laugh, the sound sad even to Shayou's ears. "What I always have, my stubborn refusal to give the fuck up." Leaning forward, Inuyasha felt the ache of his weary muscles. "Make no mistake, Lady, with or without you, I will find a way to survive this. It'd be nice and completely unexpected if you could help with that, but I ain't really expectin' a lot out of you. I've gotten through worse. This shit is just somethin' different than the usual crap life has thrown at me." Leaning back, Inuyasha briefly closed his eyes, waiting for the world to settle before opening them again, his amber orbs bright with conviction. "You wanna know what I have left? Me. It's all I had for most of my fuckin' life and I've somehow managed to survive everything else. I'll figure this out too."

"Do you really think so?"

"-Keh. I don't see how I've got much choice in the matter. It's either that or give up and die and I ain't about to do that."

"You seem so determined to live and yet you refuse the surest way to do so." Tilting her head, Shayou's long silvery-white locks of hair floated around a single shoulder. "Your choice is foolish. It is my understanding that you will one day be able to bear Sesshomaru's seed and produce a healthy pup with little risk to either of you. Why do you insist upon dying for this one?"

Hand skimming his abdomen, Inuyasha felt his other fist clench. "How can you ask me to kill a part of him?"

Shayou hid her surprise well and asked, "Whom?"

"Sesshomaru. This pup that's growin' inside of me, it's a part of Sesshomaru. How can you ask me to willingly destroy somethin' that's a part of your son? I can't do that." Sighing, Inuyasha felt his ears droop. "They think I don't understand what havin' a true-bond with Sesshomaru means. They've all been so fuckin' careful not to let me find out, but they forget that I hear better than a normal youkai. I know the risk I'm takin' here, not only with my own life but with that of Sesshomaru's."

Shayou was curious. Toga had told her that Inuyasha was ignorant to the implications of a true-bond mating, but that did not seem to be the case. The Lady of the West had thought her mate exceedingly foolish for keeping such a fact from the hanyou, but Toga had said it was Sesshomaru's wish. It seemed her son truly was smitten for Sesshomaru did not want to add such a burden to his mate's heart. Knowing that your death would inevitably lead to the insanity and death of the Heir of the Western Lands would indeed be a heavy burden, but if the half-breed wasn't strong enough to bear such a weight, then he was not worthy of being the submissive mate to her one and only son.

Hands fisting even tighter, Inuyasha felt his lips curl. "I can't seem to get it through their damn heads that I can handle shit. Both Sesshomaru and Lord Inu no Taisho seem to think I need protectin'. Stupid fucker's almost got me killed keepin' damn secrets. You'd think they'd learn."

Moving further into the room, Shayou lightly sat upon the edge of the bed, her figure serenely perched. "I have been mated to Toga for several centuries. Such decisions have always been a point of contention between the two of us. It is unfortunate to hear it is a trait Sesshomaru has embraced."

Eyes wide, Inuyasha stared at the intimidating Lady of the West as she serenely sat upon his bed. Silently watching, the hanyou began running his clawed fingers through the fur of his blankets, all the while wishing it was mokomoko he was petting.

Taking in the silent hum of the room, Shayou took a moment to really look at the changes her son had made to his rooms. Only centuries of practice kept the look of disgust from her face as she said, "I assume the changes to Sesshomaru's rooms were your doing."

Blinking, Inuyasha tried to wrap his tired brain around the change in discussion. "Huh? Oh, uh . . . well, kind of. Although, to be honest, I don't think Sesshomaru ever liked it to begin with."

Shayou felt the stab of that statement deep within her chest and hated herself for allowing such words to sting. "Sesshomaru seemed pleased when I saw to the furnishing of his private chambers."

But Inuyasha only huffed out a grunt. "Like he'd really tell you if he didn't like it." At Shayou's raised eyebrow, Inuyasha just shook his head. "Listen, all I know is that Sesshomaru told me his rooms were your doin' and that it never really felt like him. All I had to do was mention that we might wanna redecorate and he jumped on the idea."

Bitterness welled in Shayou's heart. At first, her anger sought out the impertinent hanyou lying nearly helpless within her son's bed, but being the Lady of the West, Shayou pushed her initial response to the side. She had spent decades blaming Toga and Sesshomaru for the distance that had formed between her and her only son. But that line of thinking had gained her nothing but sporadic rutting's with her mate and over four decades of not being able to lay eyes upon Sesshomaru. A century ago, if someone had told Shayou that she would regret earlier choices, that she would actually feel lonely, she would have sliced the tongue from their mouth and infused the rest of their body with poison.

Voice carefully devoid of her true feelings, Shayou asked, "And this new look, he is pleased with it?"

Reaching up a shaky hand, Inuyasha scratched the back of a twitching puppydog ear. "Yeah. He told me he finds it more relaxin' and that he actually likes comin' here to rest at the end of the day."

"I see." And for one of the first times in her life, Shayou thought that she really did see and what that sight told her was not easy to accept. Golden eyes fixed on a wall near the head of the bed, Shayou looked at her son's swords, Bakusaiga and Tokijen proudly lying within easy reach. Eyes widening ever so slightly, the Lady of the West finally noticed something she should have noticed upon first entering the room. "I thought Sesshomaru was unable to wield Tessaiga."

Eyes flicking to the side, Inuyasha followed Shayou's line of sight and smiled. "He can't, but evidently I can."

Mouth opening ever so slightly, Shayou took in a shallow breath. "You are able to transform the blade?"

"Yeah, funny story there. If I live through this shit, then maybe I'll have time to tell ya."

With the conversation heading back towards the hanyou's impending death, Shayou felt the tightness in her shoulder's return. "You speak of death casually."

Inuyasha only shrugged. "I ain't really afraid of death, at least, not for me. That don't mean I don't fight like hell to stay alive, it just means I don't fear it." Head down, Inuyasha's ears flattened into his hair. "I guess that ain't completely true now. I'm afraid of what my death will do to Sesshomaru. I should of told the jackass no when he asked me to be his mate. It would have been a lot safer for him."

"Safer . . . perhaps, but leading a safe life is not always living." Turning her head, Shayou's cold eyes stared down on her son's mate. "I believe you, more than any, understand the meaning of this."

Nodding, Inuyasha mumbled a half-assed, "Yeah, maybe."

Turning her head away, Shayou stared out the balcony doors, the sun further into the sky now and a warm glow illuminating the room. "Without my aid, you, your pup, and Sesshomaru will likely die. The West will be left with a grieving Lord and no heir. The vulture's will begin attacking and pick the Western Lands clean. There will be nothing left but crimson rocks and barren soil."

"I . . . " but Inuyasha had nothing to counter with.

"Even knowing all this, you still refuse the easy path. You will not allow the healer to remove this pup."

Drawing in a deep breath, Inuyasha lowered his head. "I . . . I can't. Even if I did, it wouldn't save me, not really. Knowing I couldn't protect my pup, part of Sesshomaru, that would kill me, it'd just be a hell of a lot slower."

"Stubborn fool," Shayou whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Probably," Inuyasha sighed.

"Very well."

Ears perking, Inuyasha raised his head, his fluttering heart hammering all the more violently within his chest. "What . . . what exactly does that mean?"

Head turning, Shayou smiled and easily noted the shiver of revulsion the action sent through the hanyou. But Inuyasha's reaction only made Shayou's smile all the brighter. "I will give you what aid I can. I am not offering any promises that it will be successful, but if your will is truly as determined as you state, then there is a fair chance both you and your pup will survive both the pregnancy and birth." Tongue peaking out, Shayou licked her lips, a single fang coming perilously close to drawing blood. "Of course, my aid is not without conditions."

Inuyasha felt the blood drain from his face. "Of course not, although, I don't know what in the hell I really have that you'd want."

"What you have, Inuyasha; is my son and any future heirs."

Confused, Inuyasha's ears twitched. "I don't understand."

Throwing a glance around the room, Shayou's hand swept out and followed the action. "My son is a stranger to me. Power comes with a price and I now find that price to be too high. Sesshomaru does not want me in his life and will desire my presence in his offspring's lives even less. Once, it was because he feared me. If that were still the case, then I might be able to live with it. But Sesshomaru has grown enough in power that he no longer fears me. Instead, my son is indifferent to my very existence." Standing, Shayou paced to the wall with both her son's and Inuyasha's swords. "I had to hear second hand that he had finally taken a mate and had you not had complications with your pregnancy, I've no doubt that I would have been told nothing about your condition. The situation is no longer acceptable."

Eyes wide, Inuyasha wasn't sure what exactly Shayou was asking of him. "I can't make Sesshomaru like you or even wanna speak with ya. And I sure as shit ain't gonna go behind his back and tell ya stuff he doesn't want you to know. I ain't gonna be your spy."

"If you would have offered to do such, your blood would already be staining the white fur you cling so desperately to."

Swallowing hard, with all the light talk, Inuyasha had almost forgotten that Lady Shayou was first, and foremost, a deadly youkai. "Oh . . . well, I guess that's good then. So, uh . . . what is it you're askin' me to do?"

"Only what you already seem adept at doing. You see, Inuyasha, when you are a youkai of my power and station, it is a rare thing for another to freely speak their mind. Even Toga choses his words carefully when we are together. Centuries of being told what other's believe I want to hear has led me to my current situation. I ask only that you speak to me as you have today – honestly. You will tell me the truth about who my son is. You will tell me of your offspring so that I might know the real beings they grow into. That is my condition for aiding you."

"That's it?" God's above, Inuyasha just couldn't believe it would be that easy.

"You speak as if what I am asking is something simple, but I assure you, for most, it would be a nearly impossible condition to uphold."

"Good thing I ain't like most out there."

"No, I believe that is true."

"I can't guarantee that what I tell ya will always be pleasant. As a matter of fact, most likely a bunch of stuff you wanna know ain't gonna be pretty to hear."

"As expected."

Head tilted slightly, Inuyasha thought things over and finally asked, "Do I need to bring Tessaiga with me every time I have to tell ya somethin' that might piss ya off?"

For the first time in untold years, Shayou felt lightness touch her heart, easing some of the pain she'd been carrying. "I will do my best to control my temper. It would do me little good to cease our arrangement in such a thoughtless moment of rage."

"-Keh, don't worry, I think Sesshomaru's got enough of you in him to find some kind of common ground."

Moving back towards the bed, Shayou fought the smile threatening her lips. "So, are we of an understanding?"

"Fuck. Yeah, if you really think there's somethin' you can do to help, then we got a deal."

Allowing the smile to grace her face, Shayou nodded once. "Well then, hanyou, I will see what I can do to keep you all on this side of the vale, at least for a little while longer." Decision made, Shayou turned on her heel, the silks of her kimono flowing around her body like shimmering water. Reaching the door, Shayou stopped; making sure her face was its normal blank and emotionless mask before sliding the structure to the side. Voice returning to its frigid tenor, the Lady of the West declared, "I will inform Sesshomaru and return shortly. Do not die in the interim."

Mouth hanging open, Inuyasha could only stare at the closed door. Teeth gritted, the hanyou thought about the injustice in the world. Oh, how he wished he had some fucked up in-laws for Sesshomaru to meet. Maybe then the bastard would understand what it felt like to be subjected to all this crazy shit.

So, how did you like Shayou? I have to admit, I had a good time writing her parts. She's definitely a tough nut to crack but I think Inuyasha's got her number. You'll have to wait until next chapter to see just what she has planned and if it works.

I need to take a moment to credit Buffy the Vampire Slayer (t.v. series) for the idea of when Shayou asks Inuyasha what he has left and he answers, "Me." For the Buffy fans out there, you'll know what moment that came from. All these years later and I have always remembered that particular moment from the show. Sometimes, when I feel like I don't have anyone out there to back me up, I pull up that memory and think, "Yeah, that's what I've got too." Some days it's enough, some it isn't, but it is food for thought.

Chaos gets midweek update this time around, so you'll have to wait until next Sunday for update. Oh, and for those of you reading the Chaos story - no promises, but I may try and get next chapter up tomorrow night instead of Tuesday morning. Tuesday is turning into a bit of a clusterfuck and if I can get it done on Monday, it would be better all the way around.

Until next time, have a good week. For those of you in the U.S. I hope you get tomorrow off for Labor Day.

lunamist