A/N: Because you all asked so nicely!


InuYasha felt her hit the end of the whip and his heart stopped as she screamed for him, "INUYASHA! It was Nobu!" She crashed hard into the ground, the pain when her skull hit the rock had him almost falling out of the trees and then she was gone. Just gone, a black gaping hole in his mind and soul where her bond had sat. "NO!" A howling roar of rage and pain rocked the forest as his demon emerged.

Sesshomaru stumbled as the sound hit him. "No! NO!" He shifted to his true-form and barrelled through the trees. Only once had he heard that roar, the rage and pain of a mate in peril, his father had made the same cry the night he'd raced for Izayoi.

Kemuri was crouched over his mistress. Whip tail lashing out at anyone who approached and fangs dripping a burning poison. He'd ripped the arm off of the human who had caught her, managing to get the length of leather off of her so she could breathe, and the human had finally stopped screaming as the poison took him. He could not leave her to attack the humans, every time he tried they would rush towards his mistress. He was her shield, the alphas were coming and he would stand, but he was in trouble. The human's had gotten smarter and were simply shooting him full of arrows. It wouldn't kill him but it would weaken him badly. The only way to kill a shadow hound was to take its head. When her mate's roar exploded from the forest, he lifted his muzzle and howled for help. Legs shaking, he held on.

Masa's men were questioning his orders, "I said fill it full of enough arrows and it's dead! I want that woman!" He screamed at them, still holding his cheek. When the roar blasted out of the forest he felt fear grip him like never before and wondered if perhaps Nobu hadn't been completely forth coming about the miko's husband. Surely only a full blooded youkai could make that sound and he turned to run for his life, abandoning his men.

InuYasha hit the clearing and leapt skyward, his mate and her hound were surrounded, the hounds hide was coated with arrows but he stood still as her shield. He roared a warning as he came down, and Kemuri let his battle form go in a burst of silver flames, collapsing beside Kagome. Hitting the ground hard he slammed Tetsusaiga down into the earth, a shockwave of red youki ripped out in a circle and took everything standing to the ground causing men and horses to scream in pain. The shock wave of youki activated Kagome's ring and the barrier formed around her and Kemuri. She still breathed, or the barrier wouldn't have worked, but she was still just gone from his mind. His snarl of rage rolled around the clearing, "You dared to take my mate!" The leader and the one who hurt Rin were on the ground in front of him and failed to see Sesshomaru step out of the trees in his Inu-youkai true-form.

The ones behind him did though and screaming in terror, raced for the forest. Twisting, the screaming abruptly ended, when he swung Tetsusaiga and the wind scar swept across the field. He stalked forwards as the bandits scrambled to their feet. Half their comrades where dead and the demon before them hadn't so much as touched one of them. They turned to flee only to be faced with the large and enraged Inu behind them.

Sesshomaru snarled and found the one he wanted. Lunging, he snapped up the ugly, bald one with the scar, listening to the screaming gurgle as the man bled out between his fangs. He flipped the body into the forest and roared his revenge to the sky.

Grabbing the throat of the leader, InuYasha snarled hard in his face and snapped his fangs. The filth barely managed to keep from screaming. "YOU DARED TO TAKE WHAT'S MINE!" His voice, the deep gravel of his demon with the power of his alpha behind it, had the bandit stinking of fear. His claws followed the lines that Kagome's had made and slowly, he began peeling away flesh as the bandit screamed.

Masa looked into the eyes that promised his death, the pain ripping through him in hot waves of agony. "I was paid! I'm just doing my job!" He held his hands up in surrender.

"You touched her! Think I can't smell it?" He grabbed the man's arm and felt it crush beneath his fingers. The scream was loud, making his demon purr in pleasure and scrape at him to do it again, to hurt the one would touched their mate more. "Who paid you and where were you taking her?" Kagome had screamed Nobu's name but he needed to be sure.

"Somebody named Nobu! We were supposed to meet him tomorrow night, a tea house three towns away to the east… take her to him there and receive the rest of our payment." Masa whimpered, the pain overwhelming him.

"Did he tell you to use the children of my pack against my mate?" Livid that they'd terrorized the girls he shook Masa hard.

Brain rattled he whimpered in pain, "Convenient… they were just there… useful… any child would do. He said... she soft hearted... make it easier to... take her."

"One last question and I will end your pain. What would you have done to my mate tonight if I hadn't come for her?" His deadly alpha voice forced Masa's answer. Holding him by the throat, his long claws pressed to the jugular, InuYasha waited.

"Nothing! I would have done nothing!" When the eyes hardened Masa knew it was the wrong answer.

"You lie! I can smell it! Truth would have had you in the next life quickly, but now…" He looked up at his pacing brother. "Brother! I give you your prey!" Fangs flashing he watched Sesshomaru snap his jaws and kill the last four bandits. He'd been picking them off slowly as InuYasha had questioned Masa and every time someone tried to run, they'd gotten snapped up or stepped on. Turning back to Masa he smiled his evil youkai grin and hissed, "Run!" Shoving him back towards the village as Sesshomaru roared and gave chase.

InuYasha ran for Kagome, placed his hands on her barrier and pulsed his aura. It fell but she was so still he was afraid to touch her. Kemuri whimpered and panted hard beside her. "Well done Kemuri." The hound had stood, had done what he'd asked and been her shield. Stroking his fingers over her, he slid his youki over her heart and felt nothing. Slipping deeper he found her reiki wrapped tight around her womb and when he brushed his youki across it there was nothing. It wouldn't reach for him at all. Feeling frantic he checked her head wound. It was large, had bled heavily into her hair but brushing his hands over her neck, chest and abdomen he didn't find any broken bones so he sat her up gently and lapped at her wound, healing her skin and stopping the bleeding.

He reached for her, whispered down the bond, "Kagome… my mate… come back to me." And got nothing, no response. She wasn't just unconscious, he could have read that, Kagome was just… gone. Tucking his nose to her throat he inhaled and lifting his head screamed a howl of grief. The scent was gone, the scent from just that morning… gone.

Sesshomaru heard the grief stricken howl and ended the hunt with a snap, killing the bandit much quicker than he deserved. He ran for his brother and dropped his true-form to fall to his knees beside him. "InuYasha?" Reaching out, he touched his arm.

Wet, despairing eyes met his. "Gone, they're both just…gone." Kagome was still alive but he couldn't find her, their pup…. Lifting her gently he started home, tears of grief running unchecked down his face as her long tail of hair unwrapped and draped down his arm, her golden hair sticks lay broken in the field behind him.

Sesshomaru felt defeated as he watched InuYasha carry Kagome's limp form. Failed, once more he had failed and to lose their pup after only just confirming its life… Kagome was going to be devastated. InuYasha's joy had been evident in his howl and now his brother was broken. Her hound struggled to his feet and tried to follow them, stumbling and limping along. Lifting the injured animal, Sesshomaru packed it back to the village.

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He went straight to the house and placed his mate on their bed. Shutting the wall to their room after closing the shutters to the windows, he enclosing them in darkness. Sesshomaru brought the shadow hound to the door but didn't enter. His brother had become more and more unstable as they'd walked. His alpha hadn't receded, the demon fully emerged and he took on an aura of deadly intent that was making Sesshomaru wary. "Brother…" InuYasha gaze snapped to his and he froze. The alpha glitter was seeping red, a dangerous combination.

"Bring him, Kagome will want him." InuYasha paced around the room, as Sesshomaru placed the shadow hound on the end of the bed. "Bring me the parents." Snarling, he scraped his claws down the wall in agitation, leaving four long gouges behind. InuYasha had told the story of Nobu as they'd walked, had described the feeling of eyes in the forest and the scent that could never quite be caught.

Nodding, Sesshomaru left closing the door behind him, knowing in this state InuYasha would close them in a den with only one entrance, he would protect his mate from any and all threats and his aura would swell and grow heavy with his alpha as it created an invisible but extremely uncomfortable barrier, stopping anyone weaker than him from getting to close. His brother was slowly losing his stability and he keenly hoped Kagome came back soon.

If he had known sooner, accepted Kagome's offer sooner and learned earlier of their soul bond, this might have been avoided. Thrusting a hand over his hair in frustration he snarled. InuYasha should have killed the baka Nobu that first day! For Kagome to feel that strong of a dislike for someone, even as early in their bonding as it had been, it meant Nobu was beyond saving. His soul so dark and damaged… it rejected her pure light. He would not make the same mistake little brother had. Nobu had his warning, had been told what would happen should he come for his Imouto. The bastard was his to deal with and he would pay!

Sesshomaru went to the old miko's and snarled when he was hit with a barrage of questions. "We got her back but there is… damage, head trauma. The one known as Nobu is responsible and InuYasha requires the presence of the parents." Kaede started gathering her things. "He will not let you help her. We must wait. She is… he says she is alive but… gone." Sighing quietly, he looked at the gathered humans and fox demon. "Little brother is slipping… as she stays in this state, it will slowly drive him insane. Entering his den will get you killed." He turned to the monk. "Bring the parents to the house. I will meet them there." The taijiya held out a hand from where she lay.

"The pup?" Sango's head pounded but she needed to know. When Sesshomaru only looked at her with cold eyes, she knew and burst into tears.

"Kitsune, walk with me." Sesshomaru turned and left the miko's, heading back towards InuYasha's home. The kit scurried to keep up with his long strides. "You have met this Nobu?"

Grief stricken and angry, Shippo looked up at the daiyoukai. "Yes."

"Show me." Sesshomaru stopped and waited, watching the fox kit intently.

Calling on his magic, Shippo changed his shape and showed Sesshomaru what Nobu looked like. "This is the one you want." He used Nobu's voice so there would be no mistaking him for someone else.

"Hn, the teahouse three villages east, it is fox demon run is it not?" He walked a slow circle around the kit, making sure he would recognize this one when he found him.

Shippo nodded. "By my family."

Sesshomaru smiled as a plan formed. "You will go to your family, you will show them this one's form, and when he arrives send for me. He is due tomorrow night. No one is to touch him until I arrive do you understand?" The fox kit nodded before racing to the east, popping into a balloon and floating away.

Continuing on to the house Sesshomaru went inside and waited.

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InuYasha looked at his mate, covered in shadows in their dark room, still and silent on their bed and reached for her only to find nothing. He wanted to cry, his heart was so heavy, so full of pain. Pulling Tetsusaiga from his sash he laid it on the bed and climbed up behind her. Kemuri panted heavily, hurting from his wounds, but the hound wasn't bleeding anymore. When he'd dropped his battle form, the arrows had disintegrated in the silver flames and his youkai blood would handle the rest of the repair.

Sitting carefully behind Kagome, he placed one of the white furs over his left shoulder and arm. His armor was hard but he wouldn't remove it. Demon clawing to secure and protect their wounded mate, he was deeply entrenched in his transformation. The power of his aura combined with his alpha pounded in the room, surrounding the bed in a bubble of calm, but the room itself throbbed and would drive a lesser youkai or human to its knees, it made Kemuri whine at the intensity and shift closer. InuYasha forced the calm center out a little more and the hound sighed his gratitude.

Lifting Kagome, he arranged her carefully across his lap, head resting high on his chest and left shoulder, legs draped over his right thigh. Her gauntlet encased hand rested over her belly. It wouldn't come off without her reiki but the sight of it, guarding her center made him cry out softly in despair. She didn't know yet and when she came back… he refused to think she wouldn't… to tell her would destroy his mate. She was a lifeless weight in his arms, left hand lying limp against the red silk and white furs of their bed. Gently he slipped Tetsusaiga's hilt under her hand, the sword taking on a soft white glow, enough to cast her face in light and shadows as her ring sparkled against her pale skin. Setting his hand on her chest he watched her breath, deep and slow, her heartbeat strong and steady. She lived but… "Kagome… don't leave me saiai. I can't live without you. Come back my mate, I'm begging you…" He whispered to her, into the void and prayed she'd hear him.

Mate call strong against her, he nudged her head gently to the side and brushed his fangs down her throat, setting them gently against her skin. His hand slid up to cover her mark, caressing the kanji with a claw. "You promised me Kagome… you promised you wouldn't leave me… I need you with me saiai… fight for us, fight to stay." His youki slid into her gently but she wasn't weakening, her reiki stayed locked around her center as he tried to encourage any reaction from her. The bruising around her throat from the whip was fading slowly, and the discoloration on her cheek as well. Her head had cracked the rock but her face had connected with the ground giving her a large purple mark along the ridge of her cheek bone. Still he waited, he would heal his mate, but the proof was needed. Eye's closing, he kept his fangs pressed to her soft skin, held her to him, and whispered to her.

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The parent's arrived behind the monk and Sesshomaru met them at the door. His brother's aura was throbbing and it grated across him, making his alpha rise in response and his demon roar for blood. His Imouto, his little bird, lay lifeless with her mate and he wanted to rampage, run in his true-form and skin this Nobu alive. Glittering golden eyes hardened as his cold daiyoukai mask slid across his face.

Miroku cringed, InuYasha's alpha was so strong it made him want to drop to his knees in submission. "This is Asuka and Hotaka, Nobu's parents." Gasping a little he backed away, hand to his chest where his heart pounded. Nodding to Sesshomaru he went back to his family at Kaede's.

Hotaka stared in horror at the youkai before him. He understood now what InuYasha had meant. This one, this Lord Sesshomaru, was the embodiment of death and he bowed low. "As requested we have come great lord." He knew his voice shook but couldn't stop it. This one was terrifying!

Sesshomaru sneered at the human. What a weak man, no wonder he fathered such a son as would do this. "My brother demands your presence." Turning he paced into the house, gritting his teeth as he moved towards InuYasha's chosen den, he growled a low warning of his presence and felt his brother's aura drop, letting him approach easier and take a full breath as the intensity of InuYasha's alpha lessened. The human's too breathed easier, as the oppressive weight lifted.

"Great lord, onegai, what is this about? Is Kagome all right?" Asuka was concerned for her friend. She liked Kagome a lot and hoped she wasn't hurt.

Hands clenching into fists, Sesshomaru snarled. "You will see. Stand at the door and do not try to enter. You will not live long enough to regret the action." He'd reached the door and taking a deep breath swung it inwards. "InuYasha… as requested, they are here." He slipped cautiously into the dark room and to the side of the door.

Asuka and Hotaka stepped to the doorway and Asuka, letting out a startled cry, made to step inside only to have the pressure rebuild around them causing her to crash to her knees. Hotaka gripped the doorframe tightly and just managed to stay up right. Kagome was limp across her mate, the soft glow from the sword she held highlighting her ghostly paleness and the deep bruising across her face. InuYasha opened glimmering gold eyes, swirling with red, and lifted his fangs from her neck. Kagome's head slid down his chest to his arm, thrusting her throat into sharper focus and showing the wicked marks that wrapped around it. It looked like someone had tried to hang the woman. The silver and red swirled eyes of the hound on the bed met his and it bared fangs at him, snarling softly. "Your son's life is forfeit." The power of that voice as it rolled over him dropped him down beside his wife.

Sesshomaru locked his muscles and gritted his teeth. InuYasha's eyes slid to his and he nodded. "It is already being handled." When his mouth dropped back to Kagome, tongue sliding over her bruised throat, Sesshomaru left closing the door as he stepped over the parents. InuYasha had spiked so strong, alpha so powerful in that moment, he had almost bared his own throat. Grabbing the humans by the arms he hauled them stumbling down the hallway and back outside.

Hotaka was in shock, heart stuttering in fear. His initial assessment of the two Inu had been correct. Out of the two of them, InuYasha was the one to be feared. "My son is gone! He can't be responsible-"

Snarl ripping from his throat Sesshomaru's hand wrapped his neck. "You have seen the evidence of this Sesshomaru's Imouto! Choose carefully your next words or you will join your son." He snapped his lengthened fangs in the male's face, eyes flashing.

Asuka stood tall and her eyes hardened. "I have no son." Turning, she walked towards the village. Kagome was a beautiful, gentle girl and if Nobu had something to do with the broken woman she had seen today then he deserved whatever the Inu deemed fair.

Sesshomaru watched the woman and dropped the whimpering man, "Listen to your female." Turning he walked to the side of the yard and let his true-form out. He stalked the clearing surrounding InuYasha's house, scenting the forest, before returning to the front where the only other door to their home was. Laying across the front yard he watched the human run towards the village after his female the scent of fear heavy in the air and laying his head on his paws he closed his eyes but stayed vigilant. He would wait and be their shield.

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A few hours later, as dusk was beginning to fall their pack arrived, even though he'd told them it would do no good. Rising to his full height he stalked around the corner and pulled his true-form back in. Striding back to the front he stood in the doorway. "This Sesshomaru is not pleased. I told you he would not let you see her."

Sango stepped forward, wobbly though she was. "We will wait. She is our friend and we will be here to support them both whether he lets us see her or not. Now move lord fluffy!" She'd had a crappy day full of fear and pain, and had no patience for the daiyoukai. When he growled at her, she snarled back and moved past him into the house, taking her children into a spare room to settle them for the night. The twins where exhausted but would not be left at Kaede's with Rin and she couldn't leave Ichiro behind. She could feel InuYasha's intensity and gritting her teeth moved back to relight the fire.

Miroku stood before the daiyoukai, "She's had a rough day. Best to stay out of the way or you'll take Hiraikotsu in the head." Snickering he followed his wife. "Oh and don't take offense to the lord fluffy… it's what Kagome calls you." Smirking as Sesshomaru's eyes widened, Miroku went to help Sango, feeling the oppressive weight of the dog demon down the hall.

Scrubbing a hand over his face, Sesshomaru sighed and joined them. He smirked slightly, 'Lord Fluffy, hn.' He would tease Kagome about that when she awoke for she would wake, he refused to believe otherwise.

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His pack had gathered a few hours ago, InuYasha could feel them waiting. Tetsusaiga still glowed, bathing Kagome in soft, white light. He stroked her hair back, having released her tail, and ran his claws over her scalp. "Kagome…" He whispered into the void, pressing his forehead against hers. She wouldn't answer, hadn't moved, hadn't reached for him and he was getting desperate. Closing his eyes he called for his mate, purred an enticement down the bond, into the darkness.

The demon within him was losing its stability and if he didn't touch her soon… he would rage out of control. He stayed still and listened but found nothing but her breathing and heartbeat. Shuddering he drew her tighter to him, higher so her head rested over his mark. He was slowly losing his mind, thinking she'd call his name only to check and find nothing but darkness. Resting his head on hers, he held on, waited for her to come back, but his hope was failing as his demon raged.

His mind raced with thoughts of everything that had happened. If he hadn't gone… if he'd refused… this wouldn't have happened. She would be safe, their pup would still be… he whined, felt the tears track his cheeks and soak her hair. Why? Why did he listen? Why did he let her make him go? He wanted to howl with his anguish but only pulled her closer, holding her tighter. "Inu…" No he was only imaging things again. She was not really there.

"Yasha… I can't… breathe..."

Her hand touched his face. Startled, his hold loosened and he almost dropped her. "Ka…Kagome…" He looked down into her chocolate eyes. Pulling her hard against him, InuYasha shuddered with his relief as he slipped his mind into hers. "Where have you been?" His mouth crashed over hers and cut off her answer.


A/N: R&R as always.