A/N: Yes, I am evil. You asked for it, you got it.
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Naraku's god stood before him. Naraku bowed down and showed the kami the respect it deserved. He could do no less. The god had given him the power he needed to bring down the great Lord Sesshoumaru and the now powerful Lady Kagome. He was sure of his victory now. Even if they found the heart, their destruction was assured.
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After leaving Naraku's presence, Kujokokugen, the very essence of the destruction of all time and moments, had to suppress a chuckle. She knew that Naraku thought he was the most powerful being in Japan because of the power that she had given him, but this assumption was incorrect, and she had no plans on correcting the vile hanyou. Let him have his delusions. The time would come when she revealed herself, and when she did, all of time would collapse. She did not want to stop time like the foolish Kaguya, the youkai that had absorbed the essence of a true, immortal, heavenly being and used the Celestial Robe to power her Mirror of the Power of Stillness, a way to bring everlasting night to the world. Kujokokugen wanted something even worse; she wanted all of time to collapse. She would use Naraku as her stalking horse, letting the enemies think that he was the most powerful enemy they had, while not even knowing that she was there. Her only concern was the new Lady of the Western Lands. She knew about time; she could travel between times, and the beginnings of Kujokokugen meddling with time were surely felt each time she traveled through the enchanted Bone Eater's Well.
Oh well, if they defeated Naraku, which was doubtful, given the new abilities that Kujokokugen had just bestowed upon him, they would have to face her, and they would surely die. How can you strike that which you cannot find, that which is not even on the same plane of time that you are on?
Things were going well for Kujokokugen, if they continued this way, she would have all the power in Japan, then the world, then time itself. She would force time to fold in upon itself, and would exist in the void…
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Lady Kagome collapsed completely when bringing her family back through the well. Sesshoumaru was so concerned for the health and well being of her and their pups that he put the children on Aun, knowing the two headed dragon would protect the young inuyoukai children with their lives, and took Kagome directly to Totosai, the most clever and oldest youkai he knew, for help and advice regarding her condition. He would take no more chances with his mate. He summoned his demonic cloud and was gone before Aun had even gone a mile towards the castle of the west.
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He arrived at the cave and forge of Totosai within an hour, and announced himself in a clear, ringing voice. "Totosai, it is I, Lord Sesshoumaru, bearing my mate, Lady Kagome. I seek your advice and council. I know you were an advisor to the last Inu no Taisho, and I wish a word with you."
Totosai came out of his cave and found Lord Sesshoumaru with Lady Kagome in his arms. Lady Kagome had still not woken from her collapse. If one did not see her breathe, they would think her dead, but Totosai could still feel her youki, as well as her miko powers, and approached them with caution.
"What could I, a simple blacksmith, do to aid the Lord and Lady of the West?" Totosai asked with respect.
Lord Sesshoumaru began, "Totosai, we came back from Lady Kagome's time, where we had gone to speak to her family regarding our adopted children and the pups that she carries, but when we arrived back here, she collapsed. I have not been able to rouse her. Do you know anything?"
Totosai looked at the youkai lady and stroked his beard as he thought. He took much time before answering. "I have felt an evil presence about, and while it sometimes feels like Naraku's magic, other times it does not. You should take her home, and let her rest. Perhaps she may be able to answer your questions when she wakes. If you cannot wake her after a week, go see the youkai tree that gave me the wood to make the sheaths of Tessuiga and Tenseiga. He might be able to help."
Totosai looked at Sesshoumaru again. "I am sorry, my Lord, I did not notice at first that you are wearing your father's armor, or carrying the Zeninusayuu. I did not forge the sword, it was formed by the will and fang of the first Inu no Taisho." Totosai thought of a way to break the news to Lord Sesshoumaru. "Do not depend too fully on the sword and it's power. Remember, the sword was not with your father when he died. The sword has a mind of it's own, and is a capricious power. It knows that some things must happen for the destiny and fate of some to be fulfilled. It knew that for the fate of this time to go as it should, that your father must die. That is why it was not with him. It is with you now, which is a good thing, but do not expect it to always be with you."
Sesshoumaru frowned. He remembered now that he had only seen the sword as a small child, and then it was just…gone. He hoped that destiny and the fates would allow his mate and his pups to live. He did not care so much for his own life, he was worried about them. "Something to protect," he muttered aloud.
Totosai answered. "Yes, you have much to protect, but you must realize that some things aren't meant to be. Some are meant to live, some are meant to die, for fate to be sated. Sometimes it takes blood, the blood of the innocent, to satisfy fate and destiny. I hope it is not the blood of you or your family that is required."
Lord Sesshoumaru hugged Kagome tighter to him, being careful not to harm the pups, thanked Totosai for his wisdom, and flew quickly towards their home.
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Once he reached the enchantments of the west, he quickly made a hole for himself and his lady, felt that the children had returned home safely, and took Lady Kagome to their room, not answering any of the questions posed to him by any of their staff or friends. He undressed Kagome, removing her weapons, armor, and battle rainments, and the fur pelt he had given her. He dressed her in a thin sleeping yukata, and the pelt wrapped itself around her. He removed his battle wear as well and lay down next to her. He wrapped himself around her and the pelt, and whispered in her ear, "Please, mate, wake from this unnatural sleep. Your children, your pups, and I need you so…"
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A/N: I hope you like it so far. I will be out of commission for a while, and may not be able to update for a few days, but I left you with some things to think about, right? As always, thank you so much for your reviews!