A month passed.

Diaozuan, content with Inuyasha's feelings for now, made no further advances on the hanyou. He was a horny bastard, but even he understood that perhaps the hanyou would appreciate making the decision herself if that was the direction she wanted their relationship to go or not.

Once she realized he would go no further, she began to relax a bit more in his presence.

And indeed, as Diaozuan had explained to Sesshomaru; it was a relief to have support for the hanyou.

It was a rough time for all of them.

It was a bitterly beautiful spring morning. The grass was still glittering, and the rivers and ponds of Sesshomaru's territories were beautifully rimmed with silver ice.

Sesshomaru rested in the grass beside Inuyasha, a little way behind. Ah-Un snuffed curiously at the ground as he waited for the two of them. His brown scales reflecting the soft greens and yellows of the sweetly sloped hill they rested on.

Inukezi's grave was next to Kagome's. Far out and away from the Palace, on a hillside none too far from the human village. Near the graves, a great magnolia tree sprouted, its buds faintly visible.

Inuyasha was making the rounds- flowers for Kagome, and Inukezi. Later, his mother, if Sesshomaru could tolerate her outside of the Palace for that long. So far the yokai of the woods seemed to be leaving them alone. But whether that was from Sesshomaru's scent, or from the stench of humans, Inuyasha could not tell.

" You could have had them buried at the Palace." Sesshomaru said softly, and Inuyasha just chuckled." And have them so close to Inukimi? No, thanks." She laid two bundles of flowers out carefully, her long silver ears perked. Inukezi's scent was almost gone now… overtaken by the scent of dirt and decay. Kagome's was long gone as well.

She wiped some stray dirt and dust from the stones, growling a little and cleaning out some moss that had managed to start obscuring Kagome's name. The hanyou wondered still if she should have just sent Kagome home.

Safe. That was what her world was.

Perhaps this would have never happened. Perhaps he would have been better off never loving her.

Look at what his love had done to them both.

"Would you look after them? When I'm gone?" Inuyasha said, so softly Sesshomaru's ears barely picked it up.

" Of course. And I will pass the duty on." The Daiyokai murmured, ignoring the scent of hot salt. He knew she wouldn't appreciate him noticing the tears streaking down her face.

There was a long silence. Sesshomaru wrapped his tail around his feet, looking off towards the horizon and occasionally glancing at his mate in concern. Her waves of emotion ripping through him so powerfully it felt as if he should be knocked prone.

"Is anyone going to remember them, Sesshomaru?" The hanyou whispered, her voice shaking.

Sesshomaru's eyes were great golden pools of gold. Soft. " I will. I promise you." And she looked over her shoulder. A weak smile on the hanyou's face as she whispered, " Me too?"

She was so beautifully broken. Those yellow pools of her eyes, so normally full of fire, were as still as pools. The whites streaked with red- and the tears themselves trailing in parallel streaks down her tanned cheeks and glittering in her black lashes.

Sesshomaru stood, and walked to the magnolia tree that was a few feet from them. Her eyes followed in curiosity- widening with alarm when she saw blood dripping from his claws. His own blue blood.

"Sesshomaru?"

He struck the tree with his claws- the movement so fast that she could barely see it. His blood sinking into the trees, carried to every inch of the wood via his claws. His eyes were blazing- cat yellow and mercury.

And she sat in shock as the tree… changed.

Blackening at first- but then. It's buds suddenly bursting, one by one into-She scrambled to her feet, needing to see it for herself. He brought one of the branches down to her, letting her pluck one of the flowers.

A magnolia bud. It's petals thick and soft… and pure diamond. Heavy. It bounced rainbows into her palms and onto her face. And the sunlight played inside it, shimmering through every shard and line.

"How-how…?" She whispered, so shocked that she had stopped crying.

He looked tired; leaning a bit on the tree and flexing his claws as he whispered, " As long as any spark of me exists, in any form, I will remember you. And so will this place."

And she remembered to keep on crying. Hugging tight to him as he leaned his back against the blackened wood and rubbed her back. Comforting his mate as his creation cast rainbows in a thousand different directions. Turning the sea of grass to a sea of glittering colors. As of the world's most beautiful plate had been shattered and scattered to the four winds.

He got her to calm down after a while, but it took some time. Which was good, because whatever he'd done had taken the wind out of him, and he needed some rest.

They both napped under the kaleidoscope of shadows that the tree cast.

The twins of Sango the demon slayer, Shen and Zen, approached cautiously. Sesshomaru's eye opened lazily. Well aware of them even before they were about fifteen feet from the two yokai, cowering in the bushes.

He also overheard their conversation, though he was fairly certain they didn't know he could.

"I think he's a demon. I think she is too."

"I'm not so sure." This was the slightly smaller one. "They don't look like any demons I've ever met. I mean, aside from the horns on that guy."

"I think we should take em both out."

A nervous pause. "But… I think we should just tell mom."

Sesshomaru cleared his throat. And heard the very distinct sound of two kids falling over in surprise, and then scrambling to their feet, cursing and whispering under their breath. Caught.

Sango, much quieter when she moved in the underbrush, quickly grabbed up her kids. " Shen! Zen! You are not-" pausing when she saw Sesshomaru, who met her gaze. Then, glanced down at Inuyasha before giving her a pointed look.

Be quiet. Let her sleep.

Her children looked up at her, confused at her silence. She whispered, " That's lord Sesshomaru, and Inuyasha. Take a good look- he is a friend of ours, and you are never to attack him." The kids looked incredulously at their mother before looking back out at the demon. Sesshomaru's tails twitched lowly along the grasses, and he glared lightly at the children.

Not liking being examined.

"But mama, he's a demon." One of the two twins whispered, and Sango nodded, setting her chin on her daughter's head. "Yes. And a friend."

Sango wanted desperately to talk with Inuyasha. To make sure she was all right. To have some time alone with her, away from Sesshomaru's very scary self. But it looked like today was not that day, and Sesshomaru's patience was dangerously thin.

"Is she okay?" Sango whispered. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed further, his pupils going slightly thin as he glanced over at the graves. The human gave a soft gasp of surprise. She didn't come to Kagome's grave too often… she didn't recognize the new gravestone. Her gaze also drifted to the tree… the strange glittering blooms. What had he done?

"Leave us." Sesshomaru murmured. And his voice seemed to not just come from his mouth, but to come from inside her own skull as well. Low and deep, with the slightest growl at the end to let her know she'd overstayed her welcome in his presence.

Licking Inuyasha's ear pointedly to let her know exactly how his relationship with the hanyou had changed.

She ducked into a bow, quickly leaving. Breathing a sigh of relief when she'd finally made it back to where she could see the human village. Trying to answer the billion questions of her little ones without losing her mind.

Inuyasha woke soon after, lifting her head and sniffing curiously. "Huh. Was Sango here? And the twins?"Her silver ears twitching faintly. A faint redness sneaking into her cheeks when she realized she was cozy in Sesshomaru's lap. His sleeves nearly covering her and his tail looped comfortably around them both.

She did miss her old human friends. And a part of her desperately wanted to go spend a few days with them.

But then again…

"Mm. Yes." Sesshomaru said quietly, his voice cool and low and indifferent. And yet, she could tell he had been irritated by her company. Still angry over how her carelessness had gotten Inuyasha captured, poisoned. Forced into that woman's body. Though perhaps he should be grateful… how else could his new pup have existed?

Inuyasha glanced at the area where Sango's scent was left.

My friends…

She felt so far away from them now. Almost without realizing it, she felt as if she'd chosen Sesshomaru over them. This wasn't how it was supposed to go. She was supposed to be able to hop back and forth between words like before and yet.

We're growing apart in more ways than one.

She thought, painfully. Inuyasha felt the heat of Sesshomaru's pup inside her. A demon. Someone that Sango's children would probably try to fight and kill if she was truly teaching them to be demon slayers. If not her kids, certainly their children and grandchildren.

How could she ever be certain that none of Sango's descendants, somewhere down the road, would not try to go after their pups?

They were all demons after all.

I didn't mean to choose him over all of you. But… I can't sit around and watch you die anymore, either. I can't take it. And he's changed so much… you wouldn't believe me even if I told you.

" I don't know what I'd do if her descendants ever went after any of our pups." Inuyasha murmured. Would she be able to draw the Testaiga to bring them down? What if she had no choice?

Sesshomaru's voice was very icy as he hissed, " I know exactly what I would do." The pupils in his eyes contracting so tightly they were nothing but black needles drowning in yellow acid. She looked up at him in surprise, and swallowed thickly.

She suddenly was aware of Sesshomaru's warmth around her. And the way his arm was around her waist, tighter than his usual relaxed grip. The claws slightly embedding into the red cloth.

Protecting the little life inside her.

She set her hand over his and laced their fingers. Squeezing until she felt his shoulders relax just a bit, his grip loosen.

"Sorry." She whispered. Not just for the mention of that possible threat but… for everything. For being overly emotional. For having Sesshomaru come with her to take care of his family's graves. But it still seemed better that he was here rather than Diaozuan.

She felt an instinct twinge inside her.

Leaning back a bit, she bumped the top of her head against the tip of his chin and neck. Her ears brushing against his jaw and cheeks. The Daiyokai made a soft purr-growl of surprise, a noise she'd never heard before from him. The cutest noise in the entire world.

"Mrr?"

I am going to die from his stupid noises. She thought, her face beet red. Sincerely glad he couldn't see it.

She felt his body slowly relaxing as he half-closed his eyes, swiping her right ear with his tongue and then dropping his head to nuzzle their cheeks together. A few deep, long, happy purrs vibrating his chest.

"There is nothing to apologize for Inuyasha." Sesshomaru assured. He let her get to her feet before standing himself. Dusting himself off, his tail fluffing out slightly before smoothing as he threw it over his shoulder. As he did, she squinted at him quietly.

Her sadness suddenly shifting to curiosity. Needing to answer a question that had been at the tip of her tongue for some time.

"Okay, so, this has bothered me for a while. How come when you transform, your clothes are always there?" The tips of Sesshomaru's ears went faintly pink. "This is illusion-cloth. It is … sort of an extension of my body. Like hair." Sesshomaru answered rather stiffly. Not really wanting to get into the conversation too much.

Inuyasha reached out, touching a sleeve with her claw and muttering, "Seems real enough to me."

And her mate sighed. She wanted the full explanation then. Or perhaps a distraction from her grief. Fine.

"I'm sure you've noted how similar my attire often appears. It is because each one is an extension of me. It is also why the pups usually only have simple clothes on when they transform back and forth. They've not yet learned how to produce colors, patterns, armor and the like. Once I examine a clothing pattern, I can reproduce it accurately."

Inuyasha was a little fascinated. She'd always wondered how the heck the clothing appeared after Sesshomaru was done throwing a Foo-Dog fit. She'd also wondered why the pups clothes were always exceedingly simple when they were busy passing back and forth between forms.

"Does it hurt when it gets ripped?"

Sesshomaru started making his way back to Ah-Un. " Of course not. There is no blood or nerves. As I said, it is most similar to hair."

"Well, how do you clean it then? I mean, do you just take it off and wash it?"

Sesshomaru almost rolled his eyes. " I can. Or, I can groom myself. Either method is acceptable." He slipped up onto Ah-Un, and held out a hand for Inuyasha. She took it, sliding in behind him on the saddle and looking around for something to hold on to.

There was nothing. This morning, she'd been facing the opposite direction, and held on to the edge of the saddle. But this time around-

Sesshomaru's left arm grabbed hers, crossing it over his waist. " Hold on to me, Inuyasha." Ah-Un took off, and soon the diamond tree Sesshomaru had created was nothing but a tiny glittering circle in a field of green. And then, nothing at all as they sped to where Inuyasha's mother was buried.

Near the ruins of her once-beautiful estate.

She was flushed holding him, though she didn't know why. It wasn't as if this was the first time. Yet, every time it seemed that it sent her into jitters. His waist was small and tight and his shoulders were wide and perfect. Absently, his tail slid off his shoulder and wrapped around her when he felt a light shiver through her frame.

Is he… mine?

Am I his?

It still doesn't seem real.

She laid a cheek on his shoulder blade, looking down at the scenery and shivering as his tail wrapped around her gently.

This is the same tail that flung me to the walls of father's grave. She thought. The warmth soothing against the biting air.

She lifted her chin a bit, sniffing the air. So many smells… the smell of wild yokai, yokai like Koga, regular old boring animals, humans… All very faint, and all wonderful. This was their world. And like it or hate it, this was the world their children would grow up in. Below, she could see the dotting of an occasional small human village. No big yokai villages yet; the closest to the Palace was still quite a ways away.

They passed a human battle, on their way there. A few arrows streaking through the air but of course, getting nowhere close to Ah-Un or either of the passengers riding him.

Sesshomaru's hair tickled her cheek and arm a bit as it waved lazily. She shuffled around a bit and leaned into him just slightly. Cheeks red.

He smells so nice. Damn him.

She thought, growling just a little. Huffing in a dismissive way when he tilted his head a bit, wondering what the problem was.

Please let the pup be like you. Let it be a Daiyokai. Or hell even a regular old yokai.

I just…

She thought quietly, ears twitching as she thought of Inukezi. Too weak for the yokai world, too strong for the human world. She didn't want to do that to someone again.

Didn't want them to have to make the choice she had made- consciously or not.

Oh, if only she'd stayed male. Then, she wouldn't have had to worry about any of this.

But then again.

She'd never be able to experience the one thing that Sesshomaru and Diaozuan both had. The one thing that had helped bring them together with mysterious and unstoppable force. The nausea came back for a minute or two. She continued to lean into him, taking low soft breaths and whispering curses.

What is it, Inuyasha.

It's your damn pup is what it is. Making me sick all the damn time. She growled, shifting a little in the saddle and closing her eyes. The elevation didn't seem to be helping her stomach much either.

He made a low sympathetic sound( though, she could feel a slight amusement as well). She felt him moving his arm around a little, and suddenly something was in her fingers. She pulled back her arm for a moment, sniffing it.

A small ginger root.

This should help. I also have some yokai jerky if you are feeling peckish.

Inuyasha peeled it with her claws and then snapped off a small chunk, sucking the potent little root and looking back down at the scenery. It was turning more grassy now, wetland rather than the rolling hills that surrounded the Palace.

The ginger did seem to help. The nausea was still there, but much less intense.

Do you always carry this stuff around?

She asked curiously, passing it back to him after taking another small piece just in case. And she watched with some amusement as his ears turned slightly pink.

I noticed it seemed to be helping you; so I take it with me when I know you might be around.

"Awwwwee, so sweet." Inuyasha teased, patting him patronizingly on the head. Though- it was a bit harder now with those big horns on his head. He growled a little.

Stop it.

"You do like me, doncha? You're going soft, Sesshomaru. What's next? Picnics in the park? Gonna get your swords blunted so the pups don't get scratched?"

" Do not be ridiculous." Sesshomaru said haughtily. Sounding a tad offended at the notion. Inuyasha smirked and leaned in a bit, her head resting on his shoulder.

"Heheh. Good thing Ryuu never saw this side of you."

Sesshomaru got ruffled at first, but his expression soon changed to a kind of reflection. " Well. He did in a way. I would never have been capable of calling Mai-Zei if he hadn't injured you and Diaozuan. So technically speaking he saw a portion of it." This caused Inuyasha to pause for a moment as well. But for a much different reason. She hadn't really linked her being chucked into the wall to Sesshomaru's show of power. In fact… she'd kinda thought he'd done that all on his own.

" I though you just… I dunno. Got really angry and did that yourself. I mean, like you did when you learned that new firebreathing stuff, when I got trapped by those yokai on the mountain a few days ago."

" I was afraid you or the pup would be harmed. I would never have capable of those acts by myself. Fear and rage for you and Diaozuan seems to… alter my powers. The same way adrenalin does for your human side." Sesshomaru said smoothly. His eyes calm little lakes of sunlight and amber.

"Oh." She murmured. Her ears going down a bit and her expression thoughtful and a tad conflicted.

"If not for you and Diaozuan striking such emotions in me, I think… our family would no longer exist." Sesshomaru added very quietly. Sure, the training sessions, the sessions with the dragon, the sneak peeks at the battle thanks to Toshi… all these factors helped.

But the only thing Sesshomaru had been thinking about when he called out with everything he was, was the two of them.

His mates.

Screaming into the void.

"That's not true. You or I would've pulled some trick out of our sleeves." Inuyasha joked weakly. But was met with a small shrug from her mate.

"Luckily we will never have to find out. How is the sickness?"

She sighed. " Better. How long did the pup-sickness last for you, with Katsu and Toshi?"

Sesshomaru had a flashback to three days before the pup and kit were born… where she was dry heaving off the back of the porch. He cleared his throat nervously.

"Oh- look. We're getting closer. Those are the ruins, correct?" He said, pointing with a claw. Inuyasha snarled, " Hey wait a minute, you didn't answer my-" only to yelp and grab onto Sesshomaru for dear life as Ah-Un suddenly nosedived downwards. The rush of the wind making it impossible for him to hear anything, much less ask a question.

Sesshomaru slipped out of the saddle while Inuyasha almost fell. Dazed and confused.

"Ugh. So. Um. It's over here." She finally managed, stumbling off to the right. Sesshomaru kept his gaze on her until she was a little more steady before going over to the ruins. Setting his hand on a piece of the wood.

Even after all this time he could still smell the heat of the flames. So hot it had melted flesh. He remembered Myoga coming with the news, and seeing the blaze of flames in the night. Catching the scent of that Izayoi's footprints in the snow and wanting to go after her, to kill her, this was all her fault-

But being too drawn in by the flames. Needing to find the truth for himself and needing to find his father's body and know that he was dead.

And unfortunately for Sesshomaru he found what he was looking for that night.

Inuyasha wandered back, wanting to see what was keeping him. Walking to his side and lacing their hands and fingers together when she realized what this place probably meant to him, too.

It was clear it had once been beautiful. Even in ruins, you could see the beautiful craftsmanship of what once had been- the great wooden beams meticulously carved to perfection. The craftsmanship of the doors, the tiles, the shattered plates, the broken banisters.

Sesshomaru reached out, touching one of the oak support beams lightly. His claws reflecting the weak light of the sun.

"I thought I had escaped the memories of this place. But I am haunted still." He murmured. The soft yellow of his eyes was suddenly dark; something rotting and fetid and cold. Inuyasha's ears went down as she looked up at him, then back at the ruins. She'd almost forgotten; this place was as painful for him as it was for her. If not more so.

"Do you… want to talk about it?" She asked very softly. He looked down at her with surprise and another emotion that she didn't often see directed at her. Tread lightly, his expression said.

"Sometimes it makes people feel better; but you don't have to." Inuyasha added very softly and then said no more. Waiting on him but also giving him space to say nothing at all. If that was what he needed.

I do not think I can.

Sesshomaru said, his eyebrows drawing together and his expression one of pain. He began to walk, slowly, towards a particular side of the huge palace. His gaze irresistibly drawn to that one room. The room full of Izayoi's blood and the scent of Inuyasha and birth and the sight of his father's body underneath so many layers of rubbish.

Inuyasha followed, a pit in her stomach. This was wrong. The flowers could have waited- damn it. Why was it that it was so hard for her to anticipate these things? Why was she so caught up in her own bullshit that she wasn't being considerate of either of them?

He stopped so suddenly she almost ran into him.

"This is where I found father. It had started raining, so the fire was mostly put out and…" Sesshomaru trailed off, clenching his jaw. After a moment, he continued inside the hanyou's head.

I smelled you. And I smelled Izayoi. And her blood. And the scent of that stupid human man who had challenged father.

Inu No Taisho was the one I was destined to defeat. To become a Daiyokai unlike that which had ever walked this earth. Sesshomaru said so quietly that Inuyasha could scarcely pick up his words.

Perhaps it was then that I truly started hating you and Izayoi. The Foo-Dog pulled Inuyasha close suddenly. Ignoring her little squeak of surprise and just holding her. Taking in her smell and her warmth and so very grateful that she existed.

How strange it is that we've come back after all this time. And you carrying my pup, no less.

He murmured. Cupping her cheek in a clawed hand so gently and then tracing the lines of her mark before propping her chin up and kissing her lightly.

When they pulled back she searched his eyes. "I never meant for any of this shit to happen. And mom didn't, either. I promise. It wasn't…" She struggled a bit for the words, her ears switching from resting to pinned to her head. "None of this was supposed to end this way."

Sesshomaru murmured, "Well. He left someone behind for me to love even more. So for that, I am grateful." Tucking a few stray strands of hair gently back behind a fluffy ear. Inuyasha hissed, " Stop it. You're gonna make me cry. Stop saying shit like that." Her eyes beginning to fill with tears.

Sesshomaru smiled ever so slightly. " But it's true." His gaze drifted to the grave on the hill next to the ruins and he swallowed. "You should go." Turning her in the right direction and standing by the ruins. Not wanting to take a step closer.

Feeling that it would somehow defile her grave site if he did. For he was the one who cursed her, hated her, wanted to kill her all this time. And she had been nothing but kind to him every time they had met. So much so that he'd been unable to go through with it.

He'd never been good about killing wives, children. Babies(though , he'd certainly eaten a few). They were not his specialty. Another thing his mother had mocked him for.

Another weakness.

As Inuyasha laid out the flowers and said a small prayer, Sesshomaru picked his way through the ruins. Finding what he was looking for and sitting down, eyeing the mark that had been burned into the wooden floors even after all this time.

The mark of his father's body.

He remembered, after they'd moved it, how often he would come back here. Laying inside the mark, regardless of the weather, and staring up at the sky. Praying, cursing out the gods themselves. Cursing Inuyasha and Izayoi and all hanyou and all humans and most of all, himself. For not being there.

For not saving him.

You are the cause of his miserable death.

You don't even know what father looked like.

Such cruelty to the hanyou. Such venom. But it had all really stemmed from this moment, hadn't it?

He reached down to the curled mark of his father's hand, and curled his own hand in the same way. Surprised when, after all these years, his hand finally matched his father's size.

Every other time he'd come, his hands had been too small. Never quite measuring up.

I suppose it's finally time for me to start living my own life, isn't it, father?

Away from your ghost.

"Sesshomaru?" Inuyasha was perched on one of the beams. Her bright red fire rat robe gleaming in a setting of greens and blacks and browns. He glanced over at her.

Inu No Taisho staring back at him for just a moment. Those features- the eyes, the hair, the jagged cheek marks. The shape of the face and nose… The tone of the skin, so rich and dark.

His father was alive all around him. Inside Inuyasha. He'd just been too blind to see it- or perhaps, didn't want to see it.

Inside the fire that burned inside Katsu, inside the kindness of Ame and ..

And inside the pup that Inuyasha was carrying just for him. He swallowed and took a long, shaky breath. Slowly removing his hand from the spot and straightening up, walking to her.

She was crouched, but the beam was high enough so that their faces were about even, though he was standing straight.

"Let me tell you a secret, Inuyasha. A secret you musn't share with Diaozuan, or the pups." He said, the shadow of a grin on his face and his canine teeth gleaming in the sun.

She looked at him with some suspicion. Ears going forward, back. Down. Then back up with some reluctance as she finally leaned over a bit, offering him her left ear. "All right. Shoot."

He whispered things to her then that she couldn't explain if she wanted to. How proud father would have been of her. How he and Izayoi had fallen in love much in the way that Sesshomaru and Inuyasha had. That he'd spoken often of his little hanyou, his hopes for the child, and how Inuyasha had met and exceeded every one of those expectations listed.

His golden voice trickling through her, fixing things inside her she hadn't even realized were broken. And when she was busy biting back tears she saw his ears twitch and his face settle into soft affection.

"What? What is it?" She whispered, wiping her face furiously with the red fire rat robe. And Sesshomaru remembered with affection that this was how he'd reacted to his father's words. Though, he'd been even more of a mess than Inuyasha.

"Oh, nothing. Just listening." He said, his golden eyes holding faint amusement now. He could hear it. But he wasn't sure she'd be too happy.

She squinted , her own ears pricked as she listened. A few animals in the woods… a few dumb yokai who were keeping their distance from the Daiyokai. The scent of humans, far off to the east. The scent of their breath and their smells and Inuyasha's heartbeat and this weird, thrumming- like-

She gasped and set a hand on her belly. Her ears tilted down, now, concentrating. "Sesshomaru! You should have told me earlier-" Her voice a mix of excitement and nervousness until it suddenly trailed off. Her ears twitching.

Sesshomaru eyed her sideways, his expression filled with mirth. His golden eyes glittering.

Wait a minute. It was… loud. Crowded. Like an echo? No… She felt her stomach drop.

Two.

There were two heartbeats in there( not including her own).

Two babies. Two pups. She turned to him with the fire of a thousand suns and he couldn't help but snort with laughter. " You bastard! I'll fucking kill you!" She launched herself at him, and they tumbled together in the tall grass. Halfheartedly sparring for some time before collapsing together in a sweaty heap. Crushing the grass underneath them and filling the air with its fragrant, sharp perfume.

"This isn't over." She panted beside him, sheathing her sword and laying her head back. Trying to ignore the thrumming in her abdomen. Now that she'd noticed it, it was like she couldn't ignore it.

"Mm hmm." He was covering his mouth. But despite his best efforts, a chuckle leaked out. Her ear tilted in his direction, and she crawled atop him furiously. " You think this is funny, huh? You just wait, I'll keep you off that Diaozuan and in 500 years, when you turn into a chick, I'll put a hundred fuckin' pups inside you, then we'll see whose laughing-"

She trailed off seeing his expression. It wasn't often that Sesshomaru looked happy, and … soft, as he did just then. His hair all spread in the grasses and his cheeks lightly tinted pink. His eyes like a sweet summer sunset- all golden. He sat up a little, holding on to Inuyasha's lower back to make sure she didn't topple off of him.

She growled uncertainly. He just nuzzled up her neck.

"Do not be afraid. I will always take care of you, and our children. I promise." He whispered, looking so fondly at his mate that she shrunk a little under the power of his gaze. For that was why she had overreacted- she was nervous and fearful, and he could see right through her.

She didn't like that too much. But there was nothing to be done about it.

Instead, Inuyasha leaned forward after a moment, letting their foreheads touch. Her ears slicked back and her body trembling. Two babies! She didn't know if she could do it. But it was too late to turn back now.

And she loved him, loved them, too much to say goodbye.

Promise?

I promise, my dear one. He finally felt her shoulders drop just a bit. Her claws embedded in him slowly beginning to ease out of his clothes.

And in the place where her mother and his 'father' were buried, they laid together in a warming sun.

And listened to the sounds of life.

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EatEmUp- Yeah me too lol. I have plans for them but I think I'm going to hash out all the other loose ends first. Besides, Diao is a good guy- he wouldn't push for it. He's gonna wait to see if Inuyasha comes to him.

Empress Tatiana- Well, um, I hope you enjoyed this chapter too even though Diao didn't have anything to do with it lol