Good evening everyone. Glad you all seemed to like Kouga popping back on the scene. Some of you were wondering where Shayou has gone. I think she still spends a lot of her time in her own kingdom, but now she's getting letters from Inuyasha as to what's going on. I like to think she'll be visiting more regularly, but she still doesn't live there.

With only two chapters left, you can pretty much figure that things are going to get heated fast. This chapter kind of jumps around a little towards the end. I hope it isn't too hard to follow.

Chapter 28 . . .

The previous night's conversation was weighing heavily on Norim's mind as he walked through the gardens of the palace. While it was true that Inuyasha was doing remarkably well since he and Sesshomaru began using the energy transfer stone, the healer still felt a deep responsibility within the pit of his stomach. But more than that, Norim was questioning the validity that it was Inuyasha's hanyou status that led to the tea's failure. While it was true that none, including him, knew all the ways in which Inuyasha's human blood influenced him, Norim found it increasingly difficult to believe that it would be the hanyou's weaker human half that would have the ability to overcome the tea's influence.

Possibly more disturbing to the healer was the thought that if it truly was the fact that Inuyasha was a hanyou, then how was he to prevent conception in the future? While the energy transfer stone was currently working, there was no guarantee that it would continue to do so or that it would be enough should Inuyasha's body be subjected to this kind of strain again in the near future. For most youkai (including InuYoukai) after the birth of an offspring, their body would naturally remain unfertile for decades to centuries – long enough for them to recover from the strain of not only carrying, but also caring for their young. However, humans were not the same and conceived much quicker after birthing a child. If Inuyasha's reproductive drive favored his more human half, then the future would be a nightmare of attempting to keep the hanyou barren.

Wracking his brain, Norim casually strolled through the withering plants still fighting for life within the chilly autumnal air. Bending down, the healer ran his hands over the wilting leaf of a mint plant. Norim had looked through the ingredients used to make the tea he'd given to Inuyasha, but that was an almost pointless endeavor as each plant was ground down to little more than dust with nothing left to examine. In addition, he currently had no other youkai he was treating, well, with the exception of himself, but Norim strongly suspected his body had long ago become barren.

Frowning at all the memories regarding his own failed pregnancies and the toll they had taken on his body, Norim's eyes and mind became distant, the voice breaking through his thoughts more surprising than it should be. "Healer Norim?"

Covering his surprise at not having noticed another's approach, Norim schooled his face into a pleasant smile and stood, his smile almost faltering as he tried recalling the name of the youkai standing before him. After only a brief moment of hesitation, the healer answered, "Seneichi, I thought you worked more in the caves, did Trench change your duties or are you simply out to enjoy the fresh air?" Norim had appointed Trench, a young mole youkai, as head of the palace gardens almost three decades ago and so far, Trench had not disappointed him. Like most mole youkai, Trench was almost completely blind, but what he lacked in sight, he more than made up for in his other senses. Trench had an uncanny knack of knowing exactly what the earth required to yield its best results. And not only that, but he was generally well liked among the garden staff.

If Norim's memory was true, then the youkai standing before him had been one of Trench's first hires. The healer remembered Trench telling him that, although Seneichi wasn't one of the brightest youkai, he was well intentioned, loved the soil and was a diligent worker. So much so that Trench had placed Seneichi in charge of the caves which grew some of the most important ingredients for not only the palace kitchens but also for Norim's medicinal remedies. Mostly, mushrooms were what came from those darkened depths, but at the entrance to the caves, in the odd rocky mix of soil, grew chickweed root, whose only known purpose, medicinal or otherwise, was as an ingredient in the tea that prevented conception.

Black eyes shimmering in the autumn sun, Seneichi's expression was blank as he ignored Norim's pleasant conversation and asked, "Is it true the hanyou is carrying?"

Blinking once, the smile upon Norim's face faltered ever so slightly. Although he'd had few past interactions with Seneichi, he'd always found the bat youkai to be pleasant, perhaps a little anxious and accident prone, but always congenial. Never had Norim heard Seneichi's voice sound so flat . . . or disrespectful. Still, the fact that Inuyasha was indeed carrying was no longer a secret and so he answered, "Prince Inuyasha is indeed carrying Sesshomaru's pup and future heir of the Western Lands."

Seneichi's eyes never blinked. "It is my understanding that he is very young to try something like that."

Norim was starting to feel vaguely uneasy at not only the line of questioning, but the tone. Taking a slightly more critical look, Norim thought the bat youkai looked a little pale, the coloring of his skin just a shade wrong. Then again, Seneichi did live most of his life in the dark. In spite of his discomfort, or maybe because of it, Norim pulled the façade of pleasantness around him like a cloak. "Even so, Prince Inuyasha is quite well. Both he and the pup are doing wonderfully."

"I see," Seneichi answered, his voice just as devoid of emotion as it had previously been.

Beginning to move forward, Norim was just starting to raise his hand, a faint blue aura beginning to form as he questioned, "Seneichi, are you well?"

Pulling back, Seneichi turned and began moving away, leaving Norim standing alone once more, his mind troubled as his hand lowered. Although he hadn't had time to do even a fraction of an exam, the healer knew enough to realize something was terribly wrong with Seneichi. It wasn't that he'd been able to pick up an exact injury or illness, but more like Norim had felt . . . nothing.

Head snapping up, Norim started walking, his direction changed as he began making his way to the storage sheds and Trench's office. Seneichi's behavior and aura were wrong and Norim needed answers and the best place to start was the head of the gardens. If anyone would know what was going on with the bat youkai, it would be Trench.

::::::::::

Trench grunted while lifting a hefty bag of soil, his oddly clawed fingers opening and closing as he stretched their tired tendons. "Seneichi you say?" Wiping the sweat from his brow, Trench's small, black eyes stared in the direction he knew Norim to be. "Well, it's been a bit since I've seen him." Scratching at his face with a dirty claw, Trench frowned. "But, I suppose that in and of itself is a little odd."

"How so?" Norim was hoping his meeting with Trench would ease some of his worry, but instead, the more they talked the worse he felt.

"Well," Trench drawled while shuffling toward another bag of dirt. "I guess I don't know for sure, but I've always had the feeling Seneichi's a bit lonely. You know, he lost his sister a little over a decade ago and since then, he's been all on his own. It's not unusual for him to come by at least three, maybe four times a week." Shrugging his shoulders, Trench picked up another hefty bag, setting atop the previous one on a rather worn looking cart.

"So, if I may ask, how long has it been since he began visiting less?"

Trench blew out a heavy breath, his mind wandering back to the last time he'd actually had a decent conversation with Seneichi. "Well, let's see . . . he came by to ask me about the those new borgdi mushrooms you were thinking about starting – "

"Borgdi mushrooms?" Norim asked, his eyes large and blinking rapidly, "but that would have been late winter to early spring."

"Aye," Trench thought. "I suppose that's true enough. I thought on checking in on him several times, but I've been so damn busy. It seemed like every time I thought about it, something would come up that I couldn't ignore. And, it wasn't like Seneichi wasn't doing his job and bringing in his harvests." Shuffling over toward a book full of numbers and names, Trench briefly looked through the information, nodding as he added, "Just as I thought, he never missed a one."

Head bent low, Norim thought over the new information and felt his stomach roll with acid. "Did you see him when he made his deliveries?"

But Trench shook his head. "If I did, then it was only in passing." Frowning as a memory caught his attention, Trench's small, beady black eyes blinked once. "I do remember hollering out a greeting to him once. Normally, Seneichi would have smiled and come over to talk my ear off, but I remember he just turned and kind of . . . well, he just kind of stared for a minute before giving a tiny wave and going on his way. I guess I just thought he was either busy or having a rough day. Truth be told, I was kind of hoping that his absence meant that he'd found someone to spend his time with."

Right now, Norim wished he could be so optimistic. Glancing toward the door, the healer contemplated his options before asking, "Do you know where Seneichi lives?"

Nodding once, Trench answered, "Yes. It's a bit of a walk and near the caves he tends, but it's near enough." Head tilting the side, Trench felt a frown touch his lips. "Do you think there's something wrong? You know, I like that boy and I'm starting to wonder if I should have been paying a bit more attention. It's just that I've been so damn busy with – "

"I would imagine all is well," Norim lied. Knowing it would be wise to keep his suspicions to himself, at least for now, the healer gave his signature kind smile. "When I saw Seneichi earlier I thought he might be suffering some type of ailment, but if he is meeting his quotas, then most likely it is nothing serious. I would, however, like to stop in and check on him."

Content with the unknown lie, Trench gave Norim directions to Seneichi's home before turning his attention back to the endless bags of soil that needed moving.

::::::::::

Feet quickly moving across the hardened earth, Norim felt his heart hammer within his chest. He'd just been to Seneichi's home and not only was no one there, but it appeared as if it had been empty for some time as the scent of bat youkai was undiscernable to his nose. Perhaps one of the inu's could pick it up, but being a deer youkai, Norim's sense of smell was not nearly as acute.

With Seneichi's home explored, Norim was on his way to the caves the bat youkai toiled within. Most likely Masaru would be angry with him for not going to him first and taking such chances on his own, but Norim was beginning to get the sinking feeling that something was indeed terribly wrong and that time was not a luxury he now possessed.

Eyes scanning the horizon and nose scenting the air, Norim couldn't sense anything in the area. Methodical as always, the healer moved from cave to cave, quickly inspecting them as well as the chickweed root growing at each and every entrance. Although all seemed fine, Norim was far from pleased. Although the plants appeared healthy, there was a distinct absence of any bat youkai scent. If Seneichi were really filling his quota, then even with his lesser sense of smell, Norim should still be able to scent the bat youkai.

The final cave was a much smaller version of the others and appeared in to be in order, but as he bent low over the chickweed plants growing here and inhaled, the healer pulled back, his small fangs glinting brightly as he hissed. Without another thought, Norim turned and began running back toward the palace. The chickweed root was not as it should be and he strongly suspected the plants were useless.

If the chickweed he'd used in Inuyasha's tea was compromised, then so was the entirety of the tea. It would be a small matter to make sure the chickweed Norim received for his medicinal remedies came from this particular lot, and, if that was the case, then someone had intentionally meant for Inuyasha to conceive. It was perhaps the most insidious plot Norim had ever encountered. To try and kill Sesshomaru's mate in such a way . . . the very notion of using such underhanded means . . . it was near inconceivable.

Feet flying across the field, Norim's pulse pounded. If Seneichi really was behind this, then Norim had just informed the bat youkai that Inuyasha was indeed carrying and doing well. Although the healer doubted Seneichi was truly alone behind such a plot, no doubt whoever was would not be pleased to learn that their plan had not worked.

Pushing his legs harder and faster than he had in years, Norim raced through the fields he so casually walked through mere hours before. All around him, the eyes of the workers opened in wide, stunned surprise and yet Norim neither saw nor cared. The only thing the healer cared about now was getting to the palace in time to alert his prince as to the real reason behind his mate's early and nearly deadly, conception.

As he came closer, Norim's breath caught in his throat as he saw Masaru cresting the hill in front of him, his mate running almost as fast as the healer. Nearly slamming into Masaru, Norim grabbed his mate's hand and began pulling him back toward the palace.

Having felt Norim's youkai pulse with distress, Masaru had taken off in the direction of his mate, all the while fearing that something terrible had happened to the one he could not live without. But seeing Norim running faster than he'd possibly ever seen before had changed Masaru's concerns. Quickly matching pace with that of his mate, Masaru demanded, "What is wrong?"

Shaking his head while he continued running, Norim shouted, "No time. I need to speak to Lord Inu no Taisho. Find Prince Sesshomaru and meet me in their private rooms."

Never one to question his mate, especially when Norim was this upset, Masaru kept his mouth shut, his hand squeezing down on that of his distressed mate, offering whatever comfort he could.

::::::::::

Inuyasha grunted while leaning back into the warm, soothing waters of the bath he was currently lounging in. Of course, he'd be damned if he'd tell his mate that it felt this good. Letting out a heavy sigh, Inuyasha felt the corners of his mouth curve down into a deep frown while he muttered a cranky, "He better not hurt dogbreath."

"I am assuming you are speaking of Lord Kouga?"

Quickly sitting up, the water around Inuyasha sloshed violently as he cursed, "Damn-it, Kitanya! What the fuck have I told ya about hangin' around while I'm naked?"

Instead of remorseful pleas, Inuyasha's ears were treated to the light sound of Kitanya's laughter, the sound growing louder as the sliding door to the bath was pushed open ever so slightly. "And I would think that by now, Inuyasha, you would have learned what a waste those words are."

"-Keh," Inuyasha gruffed while easing back into a more comfortable position, a clawed hand automatically coming down to gently lay upon his slightly enlarged abdomen. "If I'd of known you were such a perverted wench, I would have never agreed to be your damn Champion."

"Of that, I am highly doubtful," Kitanya rebuked before adding, "you allow me to do precious little to serve you, please allow me the comfort of knowing that should you need anything, especially in your more . . . precarious state, that I am but a shout away."

Inuyasha felt a blush creep up his cheeks both at the tender edge to Kitanya's voice and the topic of his pregnancy. "-Keh, do whatever ya want. We both know that's what'll happen no matter what I say."

Although he couldn't see it, the smile that was no doubt etched across Kitanya's face came through in her voice. "As always, you have my thanks and gratitude."

Sighing again, Inuyasha flicked a bit of water off one of his ears, his mind once more traveling back to why he was here in the first place.

Hearing the heavy sigh, Kitanya thought the sound had less to do with her presence and more with what she'd heard earlier. Remaining where she was, just outside the door to Inuyasha's bath, the bear youkai leaned against the doorframe as she asked, "Has something bad occurred with Lord Kouga?"

With a low growl, Inuyasha felt the tips of his claws push against a fisted hand. "It damn well better not or Sesshomaru's gonna find his ass sleepin' down the fuckin' hall." Taking a deep breath, the hanyou sank further down into the steaming water. "Sesshomaru's just too damn protective."

"Am I to assume then that this has to do more with something that occurred between you and Lord Kouga?"

"-Keh, all I wanted to do was talk to fleabag for a little bit without Sesshomaru loomin' overhead. It ain't like Kouga would ever hurt me and he don't have one bit of interest in me the way Sesshomaru keeps thinkin'. Dogbreath's got his own mate and Ayame would cut off his balls if he ever even dreamed of touchin' another youkai in that way."

Nodding her head, Kitanya thought she was probably beginning to understand what had happened. "So, you met with Lord Kouga, without Prince Sesshomaru's knowledge?"

Squirming, Inuyasha thought that when Kitanya said it, then somehow it made what he did sound wrong and it wasn't. "I just wanted to talk to him about some things, nothin' more than that." Head hung low; Inuyasha stared down at the rippling water in front of him. "I just . . . I wanted to tell fleabag about Tsuyoshi bein' my sire, about findin' Tessaiga, about . . . well, just about stuff in general."

"Of course. Lord Kouga is your friend and you've both had many things happen in your lives since you've last seen each other, many of which could hardly be written in a letter that had the chance of being intercepted."

"Exactly!" Inuyasha beamed. "God's, you get it, why is it so damn hard for Sesshomaru to understand?"

Leaning her head against the comforting structure of the door, Kitanya's eyes were soft, her smile genuine. "It is because I am your friend and not your mate, Inuyasha. You are everything to Prince Sesshomaru and already he has almost lost you twice – once to the Hakudoshi's abomination and second to the pup you now carry – the pup that he helped create. As a dominant mate, it is Prince Sesshomaru's duty to protect you and in his eyes, he has failed not once, but twice. I doubt he is capable of fighting such a strong instinct to protect and keep you from any and all threats, including those that neither you nor I can see."

Sighing again, Inuyasha's ears tilted back, burying themselves within the dampened strands of his hair. "Yeah, I know, but - "

"But it is still difficult."

"More than just difficult. The jackass can't even stand me smellin' like anything besides him."

Head lifting, Kitanya's eyes went wide and then narrowed with thought. "Is that why you are in the bath at this time of day?"

"-Keh, Sesshomaru told me to go and wash the wolf's stench off of me. I told him he could go straight to hell orderin' me to do somethin' like that, but the longer I stood there arguin', the madder he seemed to get and in the end, I made a deal that I'd go and wash up as long as he didn't do anything stupid like hurtin' Kouga."

"Oh, I see."

Shifting forward, Inuyasha's clawed hands reached for the soap as he muttered, "Better get to it then."

"If you need anything – " head swiveling, Kitanya fell silent, her ears attentive as she ignored the denials of the one who'd saved her, her voice tight as she interrupted Inuyasha's answer, "Are you expecting anyone?"

Stopping all motion, Inuyasha's eyes scrunched in confusion. "What? No, not unless Sesshomaru's already done bein' an ass to Kouga."

Tilting her head up, Kitanya took a cautious sniff of the air, her senses spread out and on alert. All around her, the bear submissive neither scented nor felt anything different, but she knew she heard something . . . and if it was Sesshomaru, then she'd know it. Something was wrong. "Inuyasha, get out of the bath."

The hushed, steady voice of Kitanya was all the hanyou needed to hear. Never once questioning the bear youkai, Inuyasha did just that, easing his body from the water as silently as possible, his hand automatically reaching out to grab not only his robe, but also Tessaiga's hilt.

::::::::::

Kouga wondered if he'd ever be able to speak again without a growl lacing his lips. "God's damn it, Sesshomaru, quit bein' such a complete and total asshole about this."

Similar to Kouga's train of thought, Sesshomaru was beginning to wonder if he'd ever get his raging youkai under control and return his eyes to their normal golden hue. "Have I not warned you, on numerous occasions, that you are not to touch or come near what is mine?"

"Feh," Kouga waved a dismissive hand, "Inuyasha ain't a possession and you damn well know it."

"And are you truly going to stand there and tell this Sesshomaru that you do not view the Lady Ayame in similar terms?"

Mouth open, the protest on Kouga's lips fell flat as he thought of his own mate. The Wolf Lord did not doubt his own mate's capabilities, but even so, Kouga did think of Ayame as belonging to him. All dominant mates did to one extent or another. And, if Sesshomaru and Inuyasha were true mates, then it would be all the worse for the asshole standing in front of him, poison wafting the air with every breath the InuYoukai took. Angered retort turning into a sigh, Kouga scratched the back of his head while easing his body down from the fighting stance he'd been in. "I'll give ya that one, but me and the mutt have been friends a long ass time and you know I'd cut off my hand before I'd raise it to truly hurt him."

"Be that as it may, the fact remains that Inuyasha actively snuck away from those charged with guarding him so that he could meet with you. That activity alone put my mate in a position of danger."

"Well shit." Moving further back into the room, Kouga didn't like the fact that what Sesshomaru was saying actually made sense – at least to some degree. "Well, the mutt wouldn't of had to do that if you were a little bit more understandin' about this shit. Inuyasha knew you'd blow a fluckin' gasket if he asked to speak with me alone so before you go throwin' any more of your damn stones, maybe you outta think about that for a minute."

Instinctually, Sesshomaru felt his muscles tighten as even more red filtered into his eyes. The wolf had just implied that he wasn't being a good mate and properly seeing to the needs of his pregnant submissive. Logically, Sesshomaru knew the insult had been slight, but it hit a little too close to home to be entirely comfortable.

Seeing the Prince of the West's growing anger put Kouga back on alert, but despite the danger, fighting with the prickly InuYoukai wasn't really something the Wolf Lord wanted to do. If he survived the encounter, most likely Ayame would finish the job when he got back to his own lands. His mate would be pissed that he'd come here on a diplomatic mission and wound up blowing the whole thing to hell simply because he couldn't control his damn mouth.

With that thought in mind, Kouga pushed down his pride, at least, to a degree. "Calm the fuck down, Sesshomaru." When that got him little more than a growl, Kouga let loose another sigh before running a clawed hand through his hair. "For the love of . . . you're actually gonna make me say shit I'm gonna regret later." Shoulder's squaring, the Wolf Lord's eyes narrowed. "If you ever repeat this, I'm gonna deny sayin' it until the day I die. You got that? Now, before you go rippin' my throat out for some perceived slight, let me first say that, much to my surprise, you've actually seemed to be a decent mate to the mutt."

Keeping a close watch on the predatory InuYoukai he'd managed to piss off, Kouga was relieved to feel Sesshomaru's pulsing youkai recede, if only a fraction. Taking that as a good sign, the wolf continued. "I ain't happy he's pupped so young, but I think I understand why and know that it wasn't your intent. You may not be real pleased that he and I talked alone, but it gave me a chance to understand some things. Some of what Inuyasha told me was upsettin', but it wasn't the words that I noticed as much as how at peace he seemed to be when sayin' 'em."

Far from appeased, Sesshomaru still felt his youkai recede even further, his logical mind given more room to operate. Knowing the promise he'd made to Inuyasha not to harm the irritating wolf in front of him, Sesshomaru was pleased to have gained a modicum of sanity once more. "You expected differently?"

Kouga just shrugged his shoulders. "Not sure really. You and I both know I had my concerns when he agreed to mate you and what I'm talkin' about don't have nothin' to do with the attack on his life since you two have mated." Head shaking, Kouga thought back on all the times Inuyasha had been beaten to a bloody pulp. "I sort of expected that shit to happen and trust me, it ain't nothin' worse than he's been through in the past. I'm not sayin' I wouldn't like for him to never get the shit kicked out of 'em again, but to think that he's never gonna have to fight again is a bit unrealistic, especially bein' mated to the Heir of the Western Lands. It's a fate all submissive mates gotta deal with when they decide to mate with a powerful dominant. It's why you and I picked the submissives we did. Ayame and Inuyasha are tough as shit and that's a good thing." Quirking a smile, Kouga gave a short laugh. "It might actually give 'em a fighting chance of survivin' bein' mated to us."

Increasingly at ease, Sesshomaru's face retained its icy façade of indifference, but his eyes had indeed returned to their golden luster. "Inuyasha is very strong, but at present, that strength is currently being channeled into the pup growing within him. At this time, he is far too fragile for this Sesshomaru's comfort."

Swallowing hard, Kouga nodded. "Yeah, I think I get that and I'm sorry if my actions put him in any more danger than usual. I . . . I didn't even think about that. I guess I was just bein' selfish. I wanted to talk with the mutt, you know, just him and me to make sure that he really was as satisfied with his life as he was actin'. I've known muttface for a long time and if there's one thing I've learned, that hanyou can cover almost any pain and it's damn hard to know when he's really hurtin'."

"And now, are you satisfied with what you have learned?"

Smiling broadly, Kouga nodded. "Yeah. I don't know how or why, but the mutt really does like bein' your mate. Fuckin' hell, I thought I might vomit all over the damn floor with how goo-goo eyed he got when talkin' about your sorry ass."

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed ever so slightly, his lips pulled back for some type of scathing comment when he heard the thrum of a set of feet beating against the hall leading to the room he was currently sharing with the wolf. Soon enough those drumbeats were overrun by Masaru's heavy youkai. Turning just in time, Sesshomaru was only slightly surprised no knock had preceded Masaru's entrance.

Pushing the door aside, Masaru gave a quick duck of his head toward Lord Kouga before doing the same to Sesshomaru. "Forgive the intrusion, but Norim's found something."

Without another thought, Sesshomaru strode toward the door, quickly following the tiger youkai down the hall. "Where is Norim now?"

"He went to speak with Lord Inu no Taisho. It is my understanding that Miroku had a meeting with your father and was with him. Norim said he needed to speak with both of them."

Easily judging which direction they were going, Sesshomaru questioned, "Then why are we not headed in the direction of my father's study?"

Quickly looking back over his shoulder, Masaru took a moment to process the fact that Kouga had taken it upon himself to follow but given the sparse information he'd managed to get out of his mate, Masaru thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to have the Wolf Lord involved as well. "Norim said he wished to speak with Lord Inu no Taisho first, but wanted for us all to meet within your private rooms, where he assumed Inuyasha would be."

At the mention of his mate, Sesshomaru felt his blood chill into something deadly. "This has to do with Inuyasha."

Nodding as he continued walking, Masaru turned yet another corner as he heard the wolf yell, "What the fuck's goin' on with the mutt now?"

Ignoring Kouga, Masaru answered, "Norim didn't want to waste a lot of time speaking with me, but he did say that he was concerned for Inuyasha's safety. I am sorry, but I am uncertain of the details." Hastening his steps, Masaru shot over his shoulder again, "I assume there are still guards posted within the halls leading to your private chambers?"

"That is a question that needs no answer." Now that he knew their destination, Sesshomaru moved up, taking the lead to his own rooms and mate. In truth, he'd added to the number of guards, adding several that were hidden and unknown to even his mate.

::::::::::

Inuyasha leapt, slamming his body into Kitanya and rolling them both out of the way of another attack. Breathing harshly, the hanyou gripped the hilt of Tessaiga within his hand, dismayed that he didn't have the strength to transform the blade any longer. Eyes wide, Inuyasha shifted again, just barely missing the blade that crashed into the floor. "Fuck!"

Crouched low and to the side, Kitanya drew twin blades from deep within her kimono, holding each in front of her chest as she shuffled a little further to the side, her large brown eyes constantly keeping the threat in front of her within view. Although she didn't have a clue who the youkai was that was attacking them, one thing was for sure, he appeared to be driven by a type of insanity that was all consuming. The other thing that seemed to be clear was that the guards in the hall were either dead or had abandoned their duty for there was no answer from her cries for aid.

"Kitanya, you okay?"

As before, Kitanya's eyes remained fixed upon their attacker. "Do not concern yourself with me, Inuyasha."

But Inuyasha was concerned, and not only for Kitanya's safety, but his own. The energy transfers he and Sesshomaru performed were only enough to keep the growing pup within him from sucking his own reserves dry, but the pup was still feeding the most from his hanyou body, leaving Inuyasha horribly vulnerable.

Mouth open and panting, Inuyasha's eyes narrowed as he stared at the seemingly mindless youkai attacking them. Although he easily recognized this one as being a bat youkai, Inuyasha was fairly certain he'd never met him before. What he did know was that, just like the creature that had attacked him months ago, this youkai had no scent or aura that he could detect. If his eyes couldn't see or if his ears didn't hear it, it would be as if the thing trying to kill him didn't exist at all.

Eyes wide, Inuyasha watched as the youkai dodged forward again, its movements irregular and unnatural looking, making them increasingly difficult to anticipate. Weaving left, then right, Inuyasha brought Tessaiga's rusty blade up, barely catching the one his attacker sent at his fragile neck. Huffing a hushed, "Shit, that was too damn close," Inuyasha moved to place a low table between the bat youkai and himself.

Still crouched, Kitanya watched the bat youkai attack and held her breath. She'd been training with Lady Sango and was much more defensibly capable than she'd once been, but it was still difficult to figure out how she might best be of aid. Knowing the hanyou, if she became compromised, Inuyasha would wind up sacrificing himself for her and Kitanya could not allow that. Silently cursing, Kitanya wondered once again where in the hell the guards were.

Positioned as he now was, Inuyasha could see the door to his and Sesshomaru's private quarters. But between he and the door stood a table and one psychotic bat youkai. Fortunately, Kitanya was also located between him and the door, which meant she had a shot of getting out of there. "Kitanya, get your ass outta here while you can."

"I am sorry, master, but I can not do that."

Master? "The fuck you can't!"

But Kitanya wasn't going anywhere. If Inuyasha was stronger, most likely she would have taken him up on the offer and gone for help, but given the hanyou's diminished state, Inuyasha was far too vulnerable and she strongly doubted his ability to fend off the crazed youkai attacking them until further aid arrived. As if to prove her point, the bat youkai lunged for Inuyasha once more.

Blowing out a curse, Inuyasha maneuvered Tessaiga's rusty blade into position, spearing his attacker straight through the chest. "Fuckin' hell," Inuyasha breathed as the bat youkai completely ignored the blade now running him through and instead, pushed forward, impaling himself further upon Tessaiga's blade. Eyes wide, the hanyou saw his emotionless attacker closing in, the bat youkai's own short sword glinting in the surrounding light. In that moment, Inuyasha was certain he was dead and in a last ditch effort to save his pup, rolled himself to the side, his free arm coming around his belly to offer what little protection it could.

Mouth open in a silent scream, Kitanya felt a moment of sheer panic seize her gut, her feet immobile for a split second of disbelief. But hot on the heels of her inaction, the bear submissive surged with anger – anger that the one she cherished above all others, the one who'd saved her life and soul - now had death nipping so closely at his heels. With a roaring growl her clan would have been proud of, Kitanya launched her body forward, leaping across the length of the room and slamming both her blades deep into the chest of Inuyasha's attacker. Unfortunately, just as had happened with Tessaiga, the crazed bat youkai did not even react to his chest being penetrated again.

Horror made Kitanya's eyes widen as she watched the bat youkai raise his arm, a shiny piece of razor sharp metal pointed directly at Inuyasha's chest. Thinking quickly, Kitanya pulled one of her blades from the bat's chest and drove it hard into his wrist, using all her strength and with a mighty roar, Kitanya drove her blade through the attacker's appendage, severing both the hand and the wielder's weapon.

No more had Kitanya heard the satisfying thump of the bat youkai's bloody hand hit the ground than it reared back, throwing her from it's wounded body, the cursed thing reaching down with its one remaining hand to grab the bloodied blade to continue its attack.

Struggling for breath, Inuyasha took the opportunity and pushed his body back a little further. Getting his hands beneath him, the hanyou tried standing, but only managed to stumble a couple of steps before falling back to the ground. Exhausted, Inuyasha kept pushing his body back along the floor, his amber eyes wide and filled with fear as he watched the damned bat youkai grip the slippery blade, raising it again and starting forward with a relentlessness that was far from natural.

Small sword still in hand, Kitanya was gathering her strength for another attack when she felt it: the suffocatingly brilliant youkai of the Prince of the West. Glancing up, Kitanya looked to Inuyasha to see if he felt the same thing and as her eyes met his small frame, the bear submissive felt a satisfied smile stretch across her face as she heard Inuyasha shout, "Sesshomaru!"

::::::::::

Flying down the halls, Sesshomaru barely noted that Miroku, Norim and his father had joined them at some point. Instead, all the InuYoukai could feel was the sudden crushing weight of his mate's fearful youkai pulsing through the halls leading to their rooms. Eyes shot through with crimson, Sesshomaru's teeth and claws elongated as the stripes adorning his body deepened and pulsed with color. With poison scenting the air, the wooden slats he ran across sizzled as the toxic substance rained down from his fingertips. Within the blink of an eye, Sesshomaru was gone.

Racing along the long corridors, Sesshomaru's body flew in front of the other members of their party, leaving them in his wake. As he closed in upon the private sanctuary he and his mate called home, Sesshomaru only peripherally noted the dead bodies of the guards he'd left to protect that which was most precious to him. Not slowing for an instant, the Prince of the West crashed through the door of he and Inuyasha's rooms, the sight greeting his nearly feral eyes twisting something deep within his gut.

Within a fraction of a second, Sesshomaru easily noted Kitanya's relatively unscathed body, her hand and arm bloody but seemingly otherwise unharmed. Within the center of the room, an unknown youkai stood, his back toward the Prince of the West, the tip of Tessaiga's blade protruding from his back. With one handless arm lying uselessly at his side, the youkai was soaked in its own blood, its still intact hand raised and gripping a blood-splattered blade, the business end of the weapon pointing down and aimed at his hanyou as Inuyasha crouched low upon the floor, his mate appearing haggard and beyond the point of exhaustion.

Without further thought, Sesshomaru shot forward, one poison laced hand striking, sinking deep into the attacking youkai's gut while the other came around, grabbing the arm that was raised against his mate. Throwing both their bodies backward, Sesshomaru pulled the bat youkai as far away from Inuyasha as possible. With the movement, Sesshomaru's imbedded hand released its deathly grip, his crimson eyes staring disbelievingly as the bat youkai before him remained standing, seemingly unfazed as the Prince of the West's toxic poison sizzled and burned the bat's belly.

And then, as if he wasn't even in the room, the damned bat youkai's eyes focused in on Inuyasha again, his bleeding and poisoned body poised for another attack. Beyond fury, Sesshomaru raised a single arm, the air around his fingertips singing with power as he began forming his energy whip. Within the span of a single second, the whip formed, its glowing body arcing into the air as the Prince of the West sent the weapon flying, its aim directly at the attacker's neck.

:::::::::::

Seeing Sesshomaru disappear before him, Miroku screamed a belated, "Wait!" but he doubted that even if Sesshomaru heard his cry that the InuYoukai would stop, not when Inuyasha was clearly in danger. Not nearly as quick as the rest of the party, the monk was falling behind as the others also hastened their pace.

Panting, Miroku called out to Inu no Taisho, "My L-Lord . . . you must s-stop him."

Pulling up short, Inu no Taisho stared disbelievingly at Miroku and ordered a clipped, "Explain."

Hands now on his knees, Miroku struggled to catch his breath. "I feel it . . . sorcery is at work here. From what Norim told us regarding the information he's gathered, I believe Seneichi may be the key to getting at Hakudoshi. If Seneichi is already dead and animated through Hakudoshi's sorcery – "

"Then you can use Seneichi's connection to Hakudoshii to travel the dimensions and find him."

"Yes, but I can't do that if the connection has been severed."

Inu no Taisho's eyebrows pulled down in thought. "In otherwords, you need Seneichi relatively intact."

"Yes."

"Shit," Inu no Taisho swore, his eyes traveling down the corridor extending before them.

Not understanding, Kouga was fairly bouncing on the balls of his feet. Anxious to get to his friend, a friend that was obviously in trouble, the wolf couldn't figure out why they'd all stopped in the damn hall. And even more than that, he didn't understand what the fuck Miroku was talking about. "What the hell are we doin' just standin' here?"

Ignoring the wolf, Masaru stepped closer and asked, "What do you need us to do?"

"The impossible. Somehow, I need to get into that room before Prince Sesshomaru destroys the youkai that's attacking Inuyasha." Shaking his head, the monk looked down to the hand housing his wind tunnel. "Even using my powers would take too long."

Although he still didn't really understand, Kouga didn't think at this moment that he really needed all the facts. If the monk needed to get somewhere fast, then there was no other youkai in the world that was better suited to the task.

Without further thought or permission, Kouga darted forward, unceremoniously throwing Miroku over his shoulders and onto his back as he began running full out down the corridor. Although he was pretty sure he'd be able to scent out the right direction, the Palace of the West was nothing but a maze of corridors to his eyes and Kouga knew they didn't have time for him to make a wrong turn. "Tell me which direction."

Wiggling into a more comfortable position, Miroku couldn't believe the speeds they were undoubtedly traveling. Knowing he had little time for anything elaborate, the monk simply gave quick orders of, "Left, right, straight," and so on.

In what seemed like an impossibly short amount of time, Kouga was standing in the battle zone that was once Sesshomaru and Inuyasha's private quarters. Blue eyes wide, the wolf stood there, the air in the room beginning to vibrate with power as Sesshomaru's energy whip began taking form.

Breathing in deeply, Miroku knew they were out of time. Ripping the beads free of his hand, the monk dropped from Kouga's hold. For this to work, Miroku would need to touch Seneichi with his free hand while the one containing his Wind Tunnel was allowed free reign. Knowing Sesshomaru was beyond reasoning with, Miroku doubted he would be able to get the InuYoukai to understand that he needed to grab ahold of the monk so that he could be drawn through the dimensions with them. With that thought in mind, Miroku grabbed Kouga, yanking the wolf with him while ordering, "Grab ahold of Sesshomaru and me at the same time and whatever you do, don't let go."

Contrary to popular belief, Kouga wasn't insane or stupid and getting that close to an obviously pissed off Sesshomaru wasn't anywhere in the wolf's plans for staying alive long enough to create offspring. With that in mind, Kouga spat, "What – "

"Don't argue."

Why he listened, Kouga would never truly understand. Maybe it had something to do with the small glimpse he'd gotten of Inuyasha, huddled on the other side of the room, the hanyou looking pale and in pain. Maybe it was simply his own damn curiosity. But whatever the reason, Kouga did as he was told and lunged toward Hell.

Whew . . . lots of action in that one. Well, it was nice to see Kitanya rise to the occasion. She's a tough little spitfire. Only one chapter left :-( and I'll try and post it on thursday. I feel a bit of a sniff coming on as this story draws to a close. I hope you'll all continue reading to the end and that you enjoy these last few moments.

Until Thursday, I hope you have a good week.

lunamist