Chapter 30

As Sesshomaru predicted, Sango and Miroku arrived first. The moment Kirara touched down on the castle floor, Sango jumped from her feline companion and engulfed Kagome into a tight hug. It took everything Sesshomaru had not to pry the slayer off of his mate. When Miroku hugged Kagome, his eyes twitched in restraint, and Kagome let out her aura, soothing the agitated male at her side.

"I think we would all like an explanation." Miroku pulled back first, his face serious. "I am glad you are alive, Kagome, however, InuYasha is on his way, and he believes Sesshomaru killed you. There is no getting through to him."

"Why would he think Sesshomaru killed me?" Kagome was legitimately confused. She looked up to her mate, who met her gaze. He didn't care what InuYasha thought and just assumed InuYasha was too simple-minded to think of anything else.

"We felt a surge of Lord Sesshomaru's power. By the time we got to the well, he was holding you and you were dead. He told us to come here, and we could tell that he was grieving your death, but all InuYasha saw was him holding your lifeless body." Sango held out her arms so Kirara could jump into them and settle herself.

"We tried to talk to him, but we all know how stubborn InuYasha is." Miroku rubbed the back of his neck and sighed in exhaustion. "When he realizes you are alive and here, he will be his usual brash self and try to take you away."

"He will die if he even attempts to take my mate." Sesshomaru growled low in his chest, causing the slayer and monk to take a step back. Their eyes were wide and frightened, never once having seen Sesshomaru so angry. That he promised this anger on one of their friends was also enough to have them wary.

"Mate?" Sango looked to her best friend, surprise on her face.

Motioning that everyone should enter the Shiro, Kagome gave her friends a reassuring smile. "Let's go inside and get comfortable. This will be a long story." She led the way, Sesshomaru close on her heels. For a moment, Sango and Miroku hesitated, sharing a look before they finally began to follow the couple that they never thought would be a thing.

Once they arrived at the sitting room, Sesshomaru pulled Kagome into his lap, his hands resting on her stomach while he nuzzled into her neck. She blushed, and Sango's mouth dropped as she plopped to the ground in shock. The killing perfection was being affectionate and gentle.

"To start, Titan is… was Sesshomaru." Kagome shrugged her shoulders. "A spell was cast on him, and when I found him, I knew exactly who he was by his voice. Remember. I could hear Titan's thoughts in my head and vice versa."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Sango didn't hide the hurt that she felt at realizing her sister had kept such a monumental secret for so long. Just over half a year. Sango thought they never kept secrets between them, but it seemed, that wasn't the case.

"I couldn't. I wanted to, but Sesshomaru was vulnerable. If it got out that he was a mortal dog with no powers then his lands and everything he rules would be at risk. His life would have been too. I know you wouldn't have told anyone, but if Naraku had overheard…" Kagome was pleading with Sango to understand. The slayer did, but that didn't stop her from still feeling a bit slighted.

"How did you become the lord's mate?" Miroku grabbed Sango's shoulder, rubbing the tension away. There was much to this situation neither of them understood.

"When we slept, Sesshomaru and I would go to this alternate world. It would be just the two of us there. He was in his normal humanoid form whenever we were there. He taught me how to fight, and control my reiki better, and eventually, we started talking more… and then… I fell in love with him." Kagome blushed as Sesshomaru purred, burying his nose into her neck and breathing her in. "The feeling is mutual if you can't tell."

"We can tell." Miroku chuckled, leaning back to observe the daiyokai and his friend. He took note of the hands on Kagome's belly, and the thumbs that hadn't stopped rubbing since the moment Sesshomaru grabbed Kagome and sat her in his lap. "And you carry?"

Kagome blushed, all the way down to her neck. "Yea, I do. We found out when I died…" Her throat tightened at the thought, and Sesshomaru growled lowly. "Sesshomaru had to bring us both back."

"InuYasha-"

"The fool would not have been able to smell the pregnancy so early. I doubt he can even smell the babe in his dead woman." Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes in aggravation. "However, it would not have mattered. This one's mother interfered and blocked the scent of the pup." Satori was still hiding from her son's wrath.

"Who killed you? If it wasn't Sesshomaru, then who? We felt no other, nor did InuYasha mention smelling anyone else." Sango was happy for her friend, but she still needed to process everything she was learning.

"Naraku. We never felt him until he was right on us. We didn't have time to react. He was going for Titan, but I put myself in the way and…" Kagome shrugged, jumping slightly when Sesshomaru nipped at her shoulder.

"Never again, Koneko." His growl was low, and she shivered as his breath ghosted across her skin. "You will never throw your life away for another. If you do, I will kill them."

"And if it's our child?" She turned to look at him, not scared of the narrowing if his eyes. Both Sango and Miroku leaned back, not wanting to be too close to an angry daiyokai. "You know me Sesshomaru, if I can save someone, I will."

"No longer. I forbid it. Tenseiga will not bring you back another time. We are bonded, remember, your death would be painful to me, and this Sesshomaru will not live a life without you." He spoke so low, only Kagome could hear, but he could see Miroku leaning forward, trying to be nosy. "Our pup will never be put in a situation where his life is at risk. You and the pup will be protected at all costs."

Kagome didn't say anything, just sighing instead. The truth was, she didn't know if she could give her life to protect anyone anymore. She was growing her baby, and she didn't think she could risk its life for anyone else's, no matter who they were. She turned back to her friends, smiling at them. "That's the gist of what happened. How far out do you think InuYasha is? We want to meet him on the ground so his tantrum doesn't cause damage to the castle."

"A few hours behind us. I can't imagine he is going to react kindly to the news. When he learns that you are both mated to Sesshomaru and carrying his offspring…" Miroku shook his head, not wanting to think of the outcome.

"He doesn't have any right to get mad. He chose Kikyou, and I moved on. It's none of his business what I chose to do with my life." Kagome was the one getting angry now, and Sesshomaru rumbled in his chest, calming her. It was amazing for Miroku and Sango to see. They never realized just how soft Sesshomaru could be.

"Let him throw his fit, Koneko. It will change nothing. His words will not touch you, for this one will not let them." Sesshomaru stood, helping Kagome to stand on her own two feet. The others followed suit, not sure what he was going to do. "I wish to meet him. I do not want him anywhere near the castle, and if we wait until he arrives, the children will be forced to hear the half breeds foul mouth."

"I forgot about that. They will be getting out of their classes around that time." Kagome smiled at Sango and Miroku, her hands clasped together in front of her. "Shippo has been anxious to see you two, so once we get all of this settled we will have to sit down and enjoy ourselves."

"Sounds wonderful." Sango let Kirara down, and the fire cat changed her form so Miroku and Sango could climb on. Once they were settled, Sesshomaru wrapped an arm around Kagome's waist, and they all took to the skies. They would meet InuYasha and settle this once and for all.

…

Lyra scowled as she looked at the council. She had no desire to be in front of these disgusting demons. They were cruel and greedy, and everyone knew of their desire to rule all of Japan. She wouldn't be surprised if they refused to stop there.

However, as much as she wished to leave, she couldn't. Her father had sold her to them. She was their possession, their slave, and had no choice but to do as they asked. No matter how foul their request was. She hated them with a passion, but she didn't wish to die by her body being burned into ash by their captured Mikos and Monks.

"It has come to our attention that The Lord of the West has been hovering over a human female." It didn't matter which member spoke, or how they came across their information They all knew they had spies, mostly likely a servant forced into doing things they didn't want to. That was how the council worked. Their wants were all that mattered, and they carried not who they walked over to get their desires.

"It will be your job to kill the woman. When you do so, you will take the place of the lady of the west." He didn't even try to hide his grin or the fact that they had an ulterior motive to sending her after the human the Lord had chosen.

Lyra found it funny, amusing even that they were asking her to kill. She had never killed anything in her life. She would rather spend her time frolicking in the woods or planting a garden. She was a nature elemental. Her passion was the life that all plants held. Killing was not apart of that.

"I don't want to kill anyone. I don't want to be the Lady of the West. I ju-"

"What you want, doesn't matter. Or have you forgotten? We own you. And you will carry out our bidding, or you will die. The choice is yours." His grin caused hatred to bubble in her belly, and she glared at them. The thought to allow herself to die flittered across her mind, but she pushed it away. Death terrified her, and she wasn't ready to meet her maker yet.

"Am I excused?" She looked back down to her feet; her hands clenched into fists. For a moment it was silent, and she knew the council was enjoying her discomfort. They were horrible people, and she hoped Sesshomaru killed them all. She hoped their deaths were painful and pure torture.

What the council didn't know is that she was planning as well. She didn't fight. That wasn't who she was, but she had no problem having others fight for her. And that was her plan. If she could get Sesshomaru or the little woman he chased after on her side, she had a chance of being free.

The moment she was dismissed, she turned from the council, hiding her grin. She would take glee as Sesshomaru tore them piece from piece. It was what they deserved for the things they did to the people who didn't deserve it.