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Still PRIMERO

37

A warm, kind and brave heart

Todo felt as if time stopped around him.

Not even two seconds ago he managed to kill the Wind witch, but he had no time to rejoice his kill. A sinister aura exploded from the dark hanyou who battled at the other side of the battlefield. Curious, and slightly concerned, he glanced at the evil spider hanyou…only to have his heart go cold.

The hanyou's body was tearing open and in his arm was Tohru. He heard the rumors from the soldiers from before; they said the hanyou ate up countless demons, but this wasn't what he was expecting. This was gross, for real. Humans freaked out when they saw youkai eat raw meat, but this was something else. This was carnage.

A frightened scream from Tohru brought him back and his heart clenched when he saw her reaching out to him, pleading him to save her. Instincts made him act and he raced towards the pair without a second thought.

It was a mistake.

As soon as he charged against Naraku, he was repelled by a powerful purple barrier fueled by the tainted power of the Shikon. The push was unforgiving and he flew meters away only to collide with one of the stone walls of the castle. It cracked behind him, making the pain in his back double. Gravity did its thing and the inuyoukai fell into a kneeling position and soon thereafter, blood trickled down from his head and mouth. It took him a moment to recover and stand, but even then his mind was still a little dizzy.

With difficulty, the Taiyoukai jumped over the tall wall which protected the city and glanced at the hanyou through narrowed eyes. He had miscalculated. That spider was a lot stronger than he ever thought possible and he had left Tohru to fend for herself against him. Given, she was very strong, as strong as him even, and he didn't think she would be defeated. She had never lost a battle before. There was a reason his brother had chosen to mate her.

Truthfully, he was never very into the mating for he had his eyes on someone else at that time, but his brother wasted no time in wooing the beautiful female. Of course, the Inu no Taisho always had eyes only for her so it was not something that could make Todo hate his younger brother for. In fact, he ignored her on purpose after realizing the honesty of Inu no Taisho's feelings for her. He knew Tohru didn't love his younger sibling, Meta loved Maso and thus young Tohru thought herself to be in love with him. While he knew it would work, for a relationship blessed by an inner beast was very strong, he wanted his brother to have a chance. He wanted Tohru to be able to see Inu no Taisho, the real him, and then decide if she wanted him or not. At the end, she chose to see him and together they spawned a Taiyoukai of great caliber. Sadly, his brother's ways strayed and he died. Maybe, just maybe, he should have mated her…to spare her the pain she suffered when Inu no Taisho left her for a human woman.

He shook his head and he heard Tohru's scream at him again. He heard her desperate call to anyone through her pack bond.

This time though, fear stabbed at him.

Naraku merely held her with his red eyes gleaming in his general direction; waiting for him, baiting him.

Lightning fast, Todo was on the hanyou again, this time with his sword at the ready. His massive sword, one as tall as him, clashed down against the barrier and a battle of colliding energies ensued. He ground his teeth when he felt the hilt start to burn his hands. The sword could take it! He was sure! This was the sword Totosai forged for him, it wouldn't shame him, he was sure!

The hanyou inside the barrier smirked. Naraku could feel the determination in the inuyoukai fighting him. He could, by ways of the Jewel, feel the hope blooming in the heart of the female he was about to consume. He loved it, cheered on their stupidity. It would only taint the Jewel further when they realized the futility of it all.

As if on cue, Todo's sword broke in two. Everything happened very fast then. Todo's eyes widened and surprise took hold. The silver haired demon had little time to react and before he could even understand what was happening, a void of dark miasma pushed him away. The force wasn't enough to push him too far, but the poison burned his armor, chest and face. Todo rolled around, deafening screams escaping him.

Naraku watched with pleasure as the Taiyoukai cried on the floor and as Sesshomaru's mother cried in despair. It all came to the Jewel; their sadness and fear quickly darkened his beloved orb. Unknowingly to the both of them, every time darkness consumed them, they only tainted the Jewel further and made him stronger. It was an amazing thing, the Shikon Jewel.

Red eyes glanced down to the whimpering inufemale on his arms, "Shall we go on?" he asked with a grin when she shivered at the sound of his voice. He rejoiced when she glanced up at him, terror in the golden depth of her eyes. He shook his head and began to draw her in, slowly absorbing her and enjoying each and every single one of her cries and her weak attempts to escape. She wouldn't escape him. She was too weak to.

However…betrayal came another way.

An arrow, flashing with miko energy, sizzled through the hills until it hit the hanyou's heart from the back.

Immediately, the barrier was felled and the miasma soon disintegrated when the wind hit it. Hateful red eyes turned around and when Naraku's eyes spotted the woman holding the bow his aura seemed to snap free. It whirled around him in angry patters, sharpening at the sides. Angry beyond comprehension, the hanyou pushed the injured Tohru to the side and ran to Kikyo with only his darkest and most violent intentions in mind.

xxoOoxx

Kirara flew through blue skies searching for Miroku, but she couldn't find him. She ran over rice fields and sniffed at various villages trying to detect the monk, but she couldn't find him there either. Frustrated, but determined, the fire cat flew over rivers and lakes, but the whereabouts of the monk were still uncertain. Knowing there was little she could do, she went to Kaede's village.

It took her a day. The village was much farther away from the Lord's castle than Koga's den, but she never stopped. It was easier to fly without the additional load of a passenger. It helped a lot.

When the feline finally reached Kaede's, she was worn. The old lady was preparing her dinner while humming an old song. However, then the neko announced her presence with a meowl, all thoughts of songs and dinner evaporated from the woman's mind. "Kirara," said Kaede evenly and then frowned. The old miko was surprised to see the young cat without her mistress and promptly left her cooking utensils and went to greet her, "Where is ye mistress, cat?" the old lady asked with a worried frown.

Kirara meowed and sat, but old Kaede remained confused. The cat meowed again and again, but the old lady couldn't understand her. At the end, Kirara moved next to the fire, curled up and slept.

She would deal with this when she was less tired.

xxoOoxx

In a faraway village, three males battled a huge scorpion youkai. The younger one served as bait for he was the only one who possessed a mask to survive the poison fumes released by the insect.

A few steps away, the purple robed monk stood and used his staff as a shield and weapon to protect the villagers from the medium-sized scorpions that tried to sting at them. He was soon forced to alternate between staff and sutras for the chitin armor covering them was proving too difficult to break through. Only his purifying powers managed to slow them down.

Up above, standing at the edge of a cliff, waited the hanyou leader. Red-haori moved with the wind and when the perfect opportunity appeared, the brave and hard-headed inuhanyou jumped down with his massive sword, Tetsusaiga, transformed at its full size.

The insect felt the pulse of youki surrounding the sword, but it was too slow to escape its fate. The sword broke through chitin armor like butter and a few seconds later, the insect fell to the ground, poisonous blood pooling underneath.

There was a moment of awed silence where the villagers took the scene and then moved to do a double take. When the silence became awkward, they cheered loudly. Many of them laughed while others hugged each other. All in all, they were happy this demon had been finally taken care of.

"Well my friend," said the monk as he walked closer to the young exterminator and the hanyou, "It seems we earned our share of rice this fine day."

Inuyasha simply huffed and he began to break the insect's armor into smaller pieces for Kohaku, who said he wanted some to imbue it in one of his weapons. The pair worked diligently, oblivious to the monk's inner turmoil.

When will I find Naraku, thought Miroku with some irritation, If I don't…I can't go back to Sango. Not like this…Naraku must die and this curse must disappear. I will never be happy otherwise.

xxoOoxx

Sango sat next to the shoji door of the room she currently occupied at Kuranosuke's castle. Her head and top half were reclined against the tastefully decorated door for her body still hurt from the fever she just survived. The young woman was dressed in a pale green yukata tied loosely around her round midsection. She was, and felt, very pregnant this night.

Brown eyes stared blankly at the twinkling stars on the sky above. She understood the reasons that led her wolf friends to leave her under the able care of this Lord but she was still feeling hurt. She was mad at the fate that brought her here; the one that killed her mother and father, threw her younger sibling at the fiend Naraku, and the very same fate that made her fall in love with a womanizer monk who was now all into defeating their foe. She didn't, couldn't, blame him for he was the same as her in too many ways. Had the tables been turned around, she would have probably done the same thing. She would have thought he would be able to live and wait patiently until she resolved all their problems and then came back with a wide smile.

She realized the error of her ways. Of his ways too.

He thought the death of Naraku would bring her happiness and he was not mistaken. She would be happy to know the despicable hanyou was finally dead and her brother was free. However, not even that happiness would be able to mend the wounds, the solitude she carried right now.

She felt so lonely.

She wanted Miroku to be there right now. She wanted him to put his hand on her belly, to rub her hurting back. She knew they were still very apprehensive around each other, even after sharing a bed, but she wanted him here.

He wasn't, and he wouldn't come for some time still. She knew.

Sango sighed and her small, calloused hands came to rest over her stomach. She began to rub it absently, still admiring the stars. She really felt so lonely and she felt she was being selfish. She was a strong woman, they all thought so, but she didn't feel as strong anymore.

Just where was Kagome? Her sister had disappeared for months now. At first, she was nervous and needed the counseling and the soothing words she knew would only come from Kagome's lips. For a few weeks now, her reasons for searching for her miko friend had changed. Where was she? Kagome never stayed away for so long, not at home. Even when she was mad at Inuyasha, it never took that long. Slowly, doubts crept up her brain and the feeling that something happened to her sister wouldn't leave her. It was the only explanation…besides, Kagome was a skilled fighter, but she wasn't as good as any of them. She didn't have the years of training they had.

Nervous and worried, Sango shifted and reclined her back against the shoji and, instead of folding her legs underneath her, she moved them to the side. Lately, when she folded them beneath her, they fell asleep almost instantly. Apparently this baby was heavier than what it appeared.

"Kirara," the slayer whispered with a frown, missing her cat companion dearly. Kirara was always with her. It felt strange to be alone and she couldn't help but feel even lonelier.

"Sango," Kuranosuke's soft voice interrupted the otherwise silent room from behind the door that lead to the inner halls of the castle. Sango didn't even bother glancing at the shoji door. She wasn't in the mood to receive anyone. That didn't deter the young Lord though for he went on, "May I?"

Kuranosuke waited politely for ten seconds, but then opened the shoji door and stepped inside the room. The room was spacious, but simply decorated. It had a futon and a low table in a corner where a bouquet of flowers rested. Apart from that, there was only a small closet which housed around ten kimonos.

The young Lord glanced at Sango for a moment, but seeing her safe, moved to the low table, "I brought you a snack," he said cheerfully, "It is tea and sweet buns." His dark eyes then moved to the woman, but she totally ignored him in favor of the dark horizon. He sighed and sat still for long minutes, also watching the horizon.

He could only guess at what she was thinking, but he had never been good at guessing. Perhaps she was waiting for someone? Perhaps she was on guard, watching out for any demon attack. Just maybe she appreciated the beauty of the lights blinking from the villager's houses at the skirts of the mountain.

A small smile lit the lord's lips when Sango's shoulders relaxed and she began to rub her belly once again. He watched her then.

Her long, dark hair was left loose and the uneven ends brushed the wooden floor once in a while, when the wind blew in the right direction. It shone a greenish color in the weak light from the outside, as did her skin. It looked very pretty. Her hands moved rhythmically and he couldn't help but notice the few, small scars that lined some of her fingers. Probably earned in battle or training, he thought proudly. She was indeed an excelling woman. There were very few who devoted themselves to a way of life as she did. That was why she was so special.

The young Lord shook his head and stood, but the sound of fabric moving made Sango start and turn to him with wide eyes. He smiled sadly in return, already aware that she had forgotten he was there and had been once again spacing out and surfing her own thoughts. He didn't mind. He let her go once, and had patiently waited for something to happen…and this happened. He was a very patient and understanding man and he felt no need to rush things or try anything drastic. He had time. He had a lot of affection to give.

Kuranosuke saw apprehension when he moved close to Sango, but tried not to let his own fear keep him away. He wasn't doing anything wrong; he had no need to be afraid. He stopped in front of her and offered his hand, "Come, Sango. You should eat something less that fever comes back."

Sango grimaced and turned her face away from him, "I feel fine," she murmured, a tad annoyed. It felt so weird to have someone care for her well-being so much. Given, she was weaker than usual, but she wasn't as frail. It certainly left an uneasy mix of emotions.

So into her mental rambling she was that she never saw him coming. The slayer gasped when she felt herself being carried away and she was about to hit the daring lord, but his wide, innocent smile held her still. She kept her gaze on his as he walked towards the table. He kept his gaze on hers. When he settled her down over the cushion she didn't resist, but when he let go of her… her heart squeezed.

It had felt so…nice, to have those strong arms wrapped around her, to feel the bounce of his step and the clench of the muscles of his lower arm. Never had Miroku held her that way, but how could he? With that cursed hand of his… it came as a pleasant surprise to be near a man free of curses.

xxoOoxx

Meta finally arrived to the Western Castle and Sesshomaru was quick to help Kagome to the ground. Together the three of them glanced at the battle field.

Dread was quick to settle in when their eyes fell in so many armored bodies scattered around. They all held the armor of the West. Kagome frowned and glanced at Sesshomaru. There were lots of minor youkai dead too, but it was surprising, for lack of a better word.

She knew Naraku was strong, but her group had always been so small. She never thought he would be able to fight and defeat so many. These were armored, trained soldiers. These were not simple or mindless youkai. This was not a group of humans, a youkai child, and a hanyou. This was the army of the West. "Sesshomaru," whispered Kagome breathlessly, "What is this? How could this happen?"

Impassive golden eyes searched around the bodies and on the battle that still dragged on for someone in specific. The person appeared from in between the youkai a few moments later, "There's Hatori," Sesshomaru said, pointing to a place near the Castle where youkai flew about. Kagome couldn't see that far, not without Meta, but she believed her mate.

"I thought Hatori-sama would take care of Naraku," asked Kagome with a frown as coldness began to seep in her. Her miko powers hummed over her skin wildly, the energy of so many youkai around making her tingle all over.

"Hn," agreed Sesshomaru, but then added, "He's helping evacuate the area."

Kagome was about to ask something, but Meta's enraged growl stopped her. When she turned to the direction the beast was facing Meta ran away downhill, leaving them both behind and confused.

A feeling of dread settled over her when Sesshomaru gasped at her side, but before she could ask what was wrong, he had her on his back and was following Meta at an impressive speed. Kagome kept quiet and held tight to Sesshomaru, wanting nothing more than to offer some comfort for whatever had caused Meta and himself to react as quickly. Her throat closed down when her mate stopped near Meta and her eyes could finally see what was happening.

Naraku's tentacles were free and they moved like hyper worms around him. There was only one who did not behave like the rest. This one was pointing to the sky and unlike the others it was deadly sharp. It had another difference too.

It was painted red.

It was piercing the pale body of a woman.

"It's…" trailed off Sesshomaru with a dull ache on his heart, "It is Inuyasha's mate."

Kagome's breath hitched and she squeezed Sesshomaru's shoulders, begging him to say he was mistaken. However, the Taiyoukai said nothing. Kagome felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, "Is she…"

"The miko is dead," intoned Sesshomaru with a deadpanned voice. He squeezed Kagome's legs from where he held her, internally nervous about how this could affect his mate. They had been sharing a soul during the past and while he guessed that it was now not so, for Kikyo had gotten a new life, it didn't make him worry less. Kikyo was a wild dice to Kagome. Their life would undoubtedly be connected in one way or another forever.

Kagome was sure she would cry now for she knew Inuyasha wouldn't survive this news. When Kikyo disappeared, the hanyou succumbed to his inner beast's insanity. Now that she was dead, Kagome was sure there would be no way to bring him back anymore. He would die in a beast-induced rampage. He would die because of her, and for her. She was certain.

Her time for pondering was short though, for a moment later Sesshomaru dodged to the side when Naraku threw Kikyo's broken and bloodied body their way. The dark hanyou barked a sick laugh before moving away and ignoring their presence as if they were nothing. In a normal day, Naraku wouldn't have lost the chance to kill them. He hated them as much. So…why?

Kagome's eyes followed her nemesis, the dark spider hanyou in confusion, but then Meta's loud growl roared on her ears.

You will not hurt our first master!

"Tohru!" cried Kagome when the meaning of Meta's words finally sank, but the demoness needed not do anything for Meta bit down and threw the spider hanyou away from her first mistress.

We will kill you hanyou! Promised the silver-white beast darkly.

xxoOoxx

To be continued…

xxoOoxx

Sorry for the delay :3 Kakuchuu, my Sess/Kag doujinshi at DeviantArt, was taking most of my time…but expect an update soon. Thanks for reading!