Kagome and Sesshoumaru were up early, standing in the armory, arguing. Kagome took a beautifully made longbow that Sesshoumaru had commissioned for her, with a design of crescent moons going up and down the wood, and a quiver of finely made arrows, along with packs containing about a hundred more, but they were arguing about her carrying a dagger he had made for her. It was a beautiful work of craftsmanship, but she did not see the need for it, now that she had the Tessuiga.
"Please, mate," Sesshoumaru pleaded, "Carry it for my sake. You never know when it will come in handy."
"I can purify and kill with my claws, Sesshoumaru, why do I need a dagger?"
"You may be fighting against someone you cannot purify."
Sesshoumaru's last comment brought it home to her. She might be fighting against Kikyou, who could not be purified, as far as they knew. She sighed, and stuck the dagger into her armor. That was another problem.
"Kagome, we must have your armor altered before we leave," he said.
"Sesshoumaru, we must leave today," Kagome said with an sigh, "Midoriko told me so."
"Just let them add a piece that goes farther down your body, for the pup."
Kagome narrowed her eyes at him. She knew this would be a problem. He gave her a look of such tenderness and fierceness together, that she nodded her head. She removed her armor, and the head of the armory took it and told them it would be a couple of hours.
The head of the armory told them that they would have to come back every month for the armor to be refitted to her form to protect the pup, and at a certain point, no armor would help. She would have to stay out of battle altogether.
"Kagome," Sesshoumaru said, smiling, "We can use this time to speak with Kagura regarding Naraku's heart."
Kagome nodded again, and both used their supernatural speed to reach the wind youkai's door in a few seconds.
They knocked, and Kagura answered, Kanna cradled in her arms, asleep. She saw that they were getting ready to leave, and nodded her head. She set Kanna down with Kohaku and was about to shut the door when Kirara ran between her legs to sleep with Kohaku and Kanna. Kagura smiled, knowing the fire cat would keep them safe, and shut the door quietly.
She followed the Lord and Lady, as well as the taiji-ya, monk, and two new inuyoukai children to the study. The Lord and Lady settled behind the desk, while the others sat around the desk on pillows where they could find them. Jakken knocked and entered the room, bringing tea and cups for them all. Sesshoumaru was about to dismiss him when Kagome asked him to fetch another cup for himself, as he had hunted Naraku with his Lord for a long time, and may have something to add. Jakken was shocked, he had treated the Lady with contempt for so long, and now she was being so polite to him. He did not understand her, but he did her bidding.
After Jakken returned and took a seat at the far side of his Lord and Lady, Sesshoumaru interrupted.
Before the war talk began, Kagome and Sesshoumaru decided to share their news, the others would find out sooner or later. Sesshoumaru decided to give the news. "I am happy to announce that Lady Kagome is expecting my pup. She will fight as long as she is able. We must finish off the hanyou soon, if we are to expect her help."
Hugs and tears of joy were shared amongst the friends, the exception of Kagura. She cried and said congratulations, but she did not offer a hug, and did not look as happy as the rest.
Rin and Shippou were overjoyed at another addition to their family. They were holding hands again. They were so happy to have each other.
Jakken was surprised by this knowledge, he gave his Lord and Lady a low bow, and vowed to care for their pup as a loyal subject, and to never speak ill of Lady Kagome, Miss Rin, or any other human again.
The war talk then began, with Kagome starting.
Kagome knew of Naraku's association with Kikyou and her search for shards and delivery of them to him. Kagura was shocked at this, but did not ask the Lady how she came by that knowledge.
Sango and Miroku did not have anything to add, neither did Shippou.
Sesshoumaru told of his knowledge that the hanyou was somewhere in the East, and that he had put a large barrier around his hiding place. He also believed that the heart would be far from that location.
When it was time for Kagura to speak, everyone was silent. "I am surprised you know about the dead miko and Naraku joining forces. They are lovers, although I would not call that love. Please, Lord and Lady, have the children leave."
Rin and Shippou just got up and walked from the room. They went far enough away so that their youkai hearing would not pick up anything. Whatever it is, they did not want to know.
"I can tell you what Naraku's plans were for all of you, and I can help you find the heart, but you must hear this first part, to know what a twisted being he is, and how the dead miko is now his as well, in every way."
Naraku's original plan was to rape young Rin and then give her to wolves to be killed. He thought this would take the spirit from you, Lord Sesshoumaru." Sesshoumaru growled and his eyes were gilded with red for a moment, when Kagome took his hand, and quieted his beast. "Naraku planned to kill the kitsune to take the spirit out of all of you. He wanted you, taiji-ya to confront your brother. Either to have you kill him, or for him to kill himself, or for Naraku to kill him, either way, it would weaken your spirit. After that, he would have killed you, to hurt you, monk." Kagura cleared her throat. "You, Kagome, Naraku wanted to kill you slowly and in front of Inuyasha, to take the spirit from him. He also wanted to take the dead miko as his plaything. For even as his heart is gone, his body still lusted after hers…"
Kagura started to cry. "I do not know how it is that the dead miko can handle Naraku. He raped Kanna, he raped me, and if he could do that much damage to a youkai, what would it do to a human? I can never have children because of him." She sobbed uncontrollably now.
Kagome got up and walked over to Kagura. She told the wind youkai to lie down again. She placed a barrier around them, but not between them this time She used her miko powers to heal the damage done to Kagura's insides, damage that would never let her have children.
Kagome slumped but did not pass out as the barrier fell. Sesshoumaru picked up his mate anyways and brought her back to his side. She leaned against him and said, "I seem to be getting better at this, and I am not nearly as drained as I was when I healed you. Maybe it is because I am taiyoukai now too?"
This was a rhetorical question, but Kagura got up and placed her hands on the ground, forming a triangle. She bowed low before the Lady of the Western Lands. "You have already done so much for me, given me my heart, my freedom, and my daughter, and now have allowed me to have other children someday. When the battle happens, I would be honored to fight along side you."
Lady Kagome smiled down Kagura and shook her head. "You have a young one to protect, we cannot allow you to make Kanna all alone, now that she has a soul. Tell us where we can find the heart, that will be enough of a help."
Kagura went back to her seat, whipped the tears from her eyes, and smiled at Kagome. "The heart is hidden somewhere you all have been before. There are special barriers around it. It was hidden in such a spot that would be profane to all. You will need major magic to get past the barriers. The location of the heart is…"
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A/N: Yeah, did it again. Send me all the reviews you want, no clues will be given until chapter 26 or chapter 27