A/N: Okay, I've decided, since you all seem sad at the end that is inevitably drawing near, to make this as long as martianly possible. The chapters may be short, but they will have more detail than you'll see in the movie. And, there will be a special surprise at the end.
Chapter 25
Izayoi awoke suddenly when the sky was still quite dark. She was drenched in a cold sweat, as though from a nightmare. But it wasn't that particular fact that had woken her up.
It was the terrible pains emanating from her abdominal area. She gasped for air and winced as each one came on top of the other.
" Minako!" she cried in alarm, afraid that she might be losing the baby. She took a deep breath and cried again. " Minako!"
The door slammed open and Minako rushed in. " Izayoi! What's the matter?" she exclaimed, seeing Izayoi hunched on the floor, breathing heavily.
" Minako, I think I'm losing the baby. I feel like a knife has been sliced through me!" she gasped. To her surprise and some anger, Minako smiled broadly.
" Izayoi, you are not losing the baby. You are having it!" she corrected her with delight. The sharp pains Izayoi felt stopped for a brief second when that thought registered. " Oh, heavens!" she yelled suddenly, clutching her sleeping gown and hissing through her teeth. " This feels terrible!"
" Come," Minako urged, helping her to her feet. " Come, come, we must get you to the birthing room. Now!"
With great effort, Minako go Izayoi to her feet and helped her across the room to the door. When she opened it, she found Kinta outside, about to open the door himself. When he saw Izayoi in the state she was in, he politely averted his gaze.
" Kinta!" Minako said. " Izayoi is going into labor! Help us get as far as the birthing room!"
" Yes, of course." Kinta said. He went to the other side, still averting his eyes and took Izayoi's arm, keeping his gaze sternly forward. Even though she was covered, she was technically not proper to be seen. But now was a desperate time and frankly, Izayoi figured she might have been completely bare and not have cared who saw her at the moment.
" The…father." She gasped out, mindful of her secret even through her pain. Minako understood. " Yes, he will be here soon." She encouraged her. Kinta automatically figured it was Takemaru. " I shall fetch him." He said, in hopes of soothing Izayoi. She only shook her head and moaned terribly. " Please, make it stop." She gasped.
Finally, Minako took over as they reached the path to the birthing room on the far side of the castle. There, Kinta left them, somewhat reluctantly.
Minako helped Izayoi into the room and onto a pallet hidden behind a screen. She put a thick blanket over her and lit a candle. " Just be patient, my dear." She said. " Keep breathing and wait until the proper time."
" Yes." Izayoi gasped out. She bit her lip as another contraction hit her. " I wish it would end! It's horrible!" she cried.
" It will all fade once you see it." Minako said with a smile. For a minute, Izayoi seemed more cheerful—until the next contraction caused her to wince and cry out again. " How long?" she whispered.
" Not too terribly long." Minako said. " I shall fetch water. I will return quickly!"
She rushed out.
Meanwhile, Takemaru, waiting for word from his men in his room in the castle, heard someone running quickly through the hallway. He jumped up and ran to the door, opening it and snagging the servant as he ran past. It was Kinta.
" What's the fuss?" Takemaru demanded.
" The lady is bringing the young child. I must find help!" Kinta wheezed, for Takemaru held him by the collar. Takemaru released him and his eyes narrowed. He seemingly forgot Kinta was there as he stomped off.
" This is the moment. I cannot allow that demon to come." Takemaru growled. " I shall gather every guard, soldier, archer and warrior from around to stand at the gates and kill that wretched demon when he arrives. I shall not allow him to take my Izayoi."
High up in the northern mountains, a great earthquake resonated from deep in a valley as a giant dog fell to the ground, exhausted. The great dragon, Ryukotsusei lay pinned against the mountain and blood gushed from where the great dog's claw had once rooted within its massive paw. The claw now rooted deep within the steely neck of the dragon, holding it in place through its black heart. Ryukotsusei now rested in a state of dormancy, unaware of the rest of the world and of the giant dog, struggling to get to its feet. More life force drained from an enormous gash in its side just below its right foreleg. The dog panted hard and began to glow brightly. Within minutes, InuTaisho reappeared and fell to his knees, shaking from fatigue and intense pain. He ran his hand over the still-remaining gash in his side. He could feel it as the blood left his body.
He had won, for now.
He staggered to his feet and sighed. Then, gathering the demonic energy around him, he formed his transporting cloud and soared up into the sky, heading toward the sea, his intention to heal. If he remained active, his wound would be fatal. He had to rest for many days, he knew. If he completed this simple feat, he would heal quickly, within a week or two. He had to avoid losing blood as much as possible, which was why he didn't run. The cloud was slower, but it allowed less bodily movement and more mental concentration. He'd be fine.
Outside Izayoi's window, a dark figure perched, watching her. Her contractions had eased for the moment and she had fallen into a restless sleep, unaware of his presence.
Sesshomaru carefully ascended into the room, silent as a cat and knelt down next to the screen. He dared not look at her. But he glanced at her peaceful face through an open fold. His eyes were somber, but bitter. He had come for one reason.
He wanted to see her again.
He hadn't seen his father since the day he'd told them of her pregnancy. But he hadn't been able to get her out of his mind. The way she stood up to him in defense of herself and her family was astounding. And the way she had defended him, even though there was no real danger and how she'd stepped up for his cause on the night he'd seen her at the river; all of these sparked an interest and he had become curious. Now, he knew that it was sealed and there was nothing he could do.
Sesshomaru knew that even though his father already claimed her, the dominant alpha in their clan, he was certain of how he felt. He could never admit it to anyone, much less Izayoi herself of how his feelings toward her had changed. He knew for a fact that he could never love another like he had loved Izayoi from afar. He had forced himself to be content with watching over her while she waited for the new pup. He forced himself to act indifferent toward his father for the sake of her. And now, he knew that after tonight, she would be lost to him forever.
" Izayoi," he murmured. " I ask your forgiveness for harming you in the past. I hope that one day, I will be able to tell you in person."
With that, he stood up, still watching her face sadly. Then, like a snap, his eyes turned steely and expressionless as he turned around. He jumped out the window and disappeared into the night.
InuTaisho sat on the cold sands beside the sea. It was beginning to snow lightly and he pull his fur closer to him for warmth. The blood in his side continued to flow and he worried some about passing demons who might smell it. Minor demons were no trouble. But more experienced ones would be a bit of a problem.
InuTaisho sighed, huddling down against the wind. Even demons became chilled, he thought in irony.
His ears perked up when he heard soft footsteps on the snow behind him and he jumped up, whirling around. He paused in surprise when he saw who his visitor was.
" Sesshomaru." He said.
" Hello, father." The young demon replied, his eyes emotionless and empty. InuTaisho turned back around, the cold winds to his side and hiding the wound, causing it to hurt less. " What have you come for?" InuTaisho asked.
" I have come to inform you of the arrival of your pup." Sesshomaru explained. InuTaisho's eyes widened in fear. " Now?" he gasped. " It's happening now?"
" As we speak." Sesshomaru said stonily. " Your mate is currently in a dangerous position and she is surrounded by many humans in a pathetic attempt to prevent your arrival. In your state, I would suggest you forget about leaving." He said with some snide tone in his voice. InuTaisho's face turned grim and he turned around, facing the water. " I must go to her." He said. " I must. The pup will die if I do not."
Winds blew fiercely and the hand missing the claw dripped blood onto the fresh white snow and smooth sand. Sesshomaru remained quiet for a moment.
" Father, do you insist on going?" he asked, sensing his father's thoughts. Sesshomaru, too, knew the dangers of the wounds his father had acquired in the battle with Ryukotsusei. If InuTaisho went to protect Izayoi, he would not last the night. If he stayed, he would survive, but both Izayoi and the pup might die. The pup would for certain if he didn't go.
" Do you intend to stop me, Sesshomaru?" InuTaisho asked quietly. Sesshomaru looked down for a moment and then fixed his gaze on the older demon. " I will not stand in your way." He declared. " However, before you go, you must entrust the swords, Sounga and Tetsuaiga to me." He said. He knew of Sounga's threat and he knew that if his father left, Sounga would be left without restraint. Sesshomaru was the only one who could control the sword in place of his father. What Sesshomaru didn't know was that it was preplanned which sword he should receive.
" And if I refuse, will you kill me? Your own father?" InuTaisho asked with some bitterness. Sesshomaru didn't answer, but InuTaisho didn't know that Sesshomaru's mind was riddled with thoughts in the process of coming to terms with the fact that this meeting between father and son was probably the last. InuTaisho sighed in exasperation. " Do you desire power, so much? Why do you seek, power, my son?"
" The path I walk is the way of supreme conquest. And it is power that will reveal the way for me."
InuTaisho bowed his head and a light smirk crossed his lips. " Supreme conquest?" he said with some mirth and parental amusement. " Tell me, Sesshomaru. Have you someone to protect?"
" Protect?" Sesshomaru repeated in surprise. Instantly, Izayoi's face came to his mind and he let out a silent growl. Then, with much bitterness in his heart, he steeled his gaze. " The answer is no. I, Sesshomaru, have no need of such." He said.
InuTaisho suddenly swirled the demonic energy around him, reverting back into his true form and sending a roar of challenge across the land.
Sesshomaru could only watch in anger.
A/N: Ta-dah!! You'll all recognize that scene from the beginning of the movie!!! And I got an idea from a review by sesshlestwilight on December 16th, 2007. I was asked whether or not Sesshomaru liked Izayoi or not. Well, dear readers, you can clearly see what I've done and if you've come to understand my motive, you'll also understand the end result.