Thank you all for the amazing reviews!

Just a note because people have said this several times about Sesshomaru killing Kensaku or Gobodo-sama. I think sometimes people forget, demons are fallible not gods. If Gobodo-sama could stand against the army, she probably would, but even she can't and she's already buried 2 children, losing a 3rd is not high on her agenda.

*Personal Note* This story will on hiatus until after March 4th...Sad face...I'm heading into finals for two of my classes and starting a third. As soon as the first two are done, I will be back for most posting and awesomeness! I'm just crunched I can't get into my own damn stories! I have a buffer on this one that is pretty big so it makes it easier but ahhh!

Interlude VIII

Seconds before, her hands were on his jaw, but then she felt his chin tense, his lips shivered against her fingertips. They were cracked, dry and there was something familiar about them. Just as the convulsions took him, she felt his body slide down hers, then an impact against the bed shook her and the air changed. It became static, fire-like and she saw flames of white and red shooting off the floor, covering the outline of what looked like a man on the floor. She tries getting off the bed to go to the man, but is stopped by Lucy, tugging on the back of her gown to make her stop.

Taka watches in horror as the convulsions eat her father alive. She used to be able to smell them before they happened. He would flush in a layer of sweat that smelled like pine after the summer rains fell and humidity and of course the acid and blood that he often threw up. There were times she scented it from the other end of the castle and was able to get the injection in before he landed on the ground convulsing. This time it happened too quickly, from the moment she could smell it coming. He fell to the floor a second later, hitting his head on the way down. Chichiue, Chichiue! she screams at him, trying to rouse his senses. She barks hoping to get the attention of those outside the office. She can smell them, the partly demon children of her Uncle. Chichiue!

She leaps off the bed and stops short of transforming to force his arm down as two girls enter the room. One she recognizes by her silver hair and the pathetic attempt at covering the fuzzy ears on her head. But before she can do anything, one of the nurses has her leash and is tugging her out the door, while two more are finishing packing Nina's nose and then leading her out of the room into one of the regular exam rooms. Taka attempts to bolt for the door to the procedure room only to be grabbed by the nurse and hauled off the ground. "If you want to stay you'll have to calm down," the woman says in Japanese.

Taka pants hard, terrified. She can feel the rays of his yoki flashing out. If this had been five hundred years before it would have flamed like a beacon, alerting every monk in a fifty mile radius to his location. She follows with her tail between her legs to the exam room, hearing the commotion in the procedure room. They can't get a line, he's too strong, no one can get an arm down, the two girls are crying.

Taka paces circles in the exam room while the nurses finish pressurizing Nina's nose. Nina is signing in the air, using full signs instead of finger signs. She's panicked and scared. Why did he fall? What was the light? What's going on? I don't understand.

Taka comes out of her worried haze remembering she has another job to do. She leaps onto the examination table and curls into Nina's lap, licking her chin to get her attention. Nina takes her paw. Something's wrong, he's hurting. There's fire flying off his body. He's going to die, they don't know what to do.

Nina's skin is pasty white from the blood loss and she wavers. The nurses catch her and help her lay on her side. They try to explain to her what's happening only for her to shake her head. Nina can't understand them with their accents, it's too hard. They tell each other to go get her mother but Nina's fingers move like lightning against Taka's paw. I'm so scared. I don't feel good. What's going on? Why did they stop? I should have died already?

Oh, quiet little one, Taka licks her face again. I told you I won't let you die. If only I had Tsuki's blood. I hope you're dazed enough for this.

The other nurse hooks up a bag to Nina's port-a-cath that reads platelets.

Taka leaps off the bed, transforming, and picks up Nina's hand. You're fine. The bleeding stopped. The doctor will be back in soon.

Who are you?

Your friend. Taka leans over and kisses Nina's forehead, stroking her hair. She runs to the door, listening. There are feet running this way and that. She cracks the door to see the procedure room at the end of the hall. "He's not answering!" one of the girls cries. Tsukimaru, Taka knows who they are calling, he lives closer than Taiyomaru. She ducks back into the room, digging her cell phone out of her pocket. "Fuck, you better answer!" she grips the countertop leaving indentations with her claws. The line clicks on.

"Taka?"

"Tsuki, listen to me, it's Chichiue, it's bad this time—"

"Taka wait where—"

"For once you shut up! Right now Tsuki! And listen to me! This is all your fault! Everything is your fault!" she screams, pained into the phone. "I hate you! And I hate myself for what you made me do!"

At first there is silence on the other end of the line. "I'm listening," he says.

"Mayumi and Izayoi are trying to call you. Answer them, you didn't hear it from me. Chichiue is convulsing, he can't stop. He's in the office and if you say it was me who said something I swear on his honor that I will kill you."

"We both know you can't."

"Then Taiyomaru and Harutoga and Yuki will help me." She breathes fitfully. "Answer the goddamn phone and help Chichiue before he dies!" Footsteps coming make her stash her phone and transform back into Lucy, the loveable white dog. She jumps onto the exam table, resting her head in Nina's lap.

Hanna comes in with Dr. sits in the swivel chair while Hannah rushes to Nina's side. "Good girl, Lucy," she takes a treat from her bag and feeds Taka.

These taste like shit. Taka takes it and kisses Hannah.

"I don't understand, what's going on?" Hannah asks Dr. Yamamoto.

He's an odd man, slightly short and squat, with a round face and salt and pepper hair. "There's an issue with the treatment."

Of course he doesn't say Chichiue is dying. Kami, Chichiue, I'm so sorry.

"The dog looks very sad," Dr. Yamamoto comments.

Hannah stares at Lucy petting her. "What's wrong girl?"

Taka snuggles into the hand feeling pathetic, unloved, and like a child again. Chichiue…please…

"We flew across the globe to have this treatment. She's dying," Hannah argues, stroking Nina's hair.

"I'm aware of that. There was a complication with one of our medical staff we're caring for now. Once it's handled, I'll be back to discuss treatment for Nina."

What do you mean? Taka thinks nervously. Give it to her…

She knows the warm embrace of Hannah and the smell of the soap she uses to wash herself. She recognizes her hand as it comes into her palms, telling her that the treatment was delayed and they had an emergency with one of their staff. Nina nods weakly, feeling so very tired from the loss of blood. She curls into Hannah's lap and drifts to sleep, to darkness. to dreams.

He's come home from a long absence, the first time he left after they had their second baby. The baby isn't quite like the first. He has white hair with a black streak down one of his ears. He spent three weeks at home with her, loving her, holding her and playing with their daughter. He lands and as always the first person he approaches is her. He kisses her so deeply she sees stars and then leans his mouth against her ear. "You're still bleeding, my heart."

"It will end soon, my love." She presses her lips into his and their tongues tangle.

"Pain?"

"Dull."

"My warrior," he nuzzles her nose affectionately.

"Chichiue!" The girl calls him, pouncing into his arms. "Can we play hide and seek?"

"Go on, I need to nurse." She turns from him.

"I will use my nose!" the little girl squeals.

She feels like the luckiest woman alive, to be loved so whole and so completely.

Hannah and Nina fall asleep together and Taka takes it as her cue to leave the room. She bites the handle, forcing the door open, and follows her ears. The first stop is the procedure room where she sees her father alone, hooked up to a large bag of blood. She knows that smell, Taiyomaru and Tsukimaru's combined blood. His eyes are tightly shut, gaunt, making him look haunted. His markings, ears and mokomoko are visible."Taka?"

Taka nearly peels out of her own fur to see Harutoga standing next to her. She hadn't been paying attention to her surroundings. Is he going to be okay?

Harutoga kneels down and kisses her nose. "No…"

What about Nina?

Harutoga bites his lower lip and exhales heavily. "Yamamoto-sama refuses to give the treatment until he speaks to Chichiue. He said it's unethical to use demon blood any longer. He's fighting with your mother right now. She's threatening to destroy the building."

Don't tell her I'm here. She'll make me go back, she'll lock me in the castle again.

"Mask your scent, she's so busy with Chichiue she isn't thinking of anything else. Show me the girl."

Taka nods and leads Harutoga back to Nina and Hannah as they sleep. Harutoga steps in behind her, opening his mouth in shock. "She looks just like Ka-san." Harutoga touches Nina's head and then leans over her, sniffing her hair. "And smells like her too. We missed her death. Chichiue sent messengers. He said it happened quickly and then…" Harutoga stops.

It's not my fault you know…she was in heat, she needed him too. Why can't it be that he could take care of both of them? Why does it have to be like this? He loved her, you know that. I didn't ask to be conceived after her death and he was honor-bound to Haha-ue. He would have humiliated himself not to give her what she needed. Tsuki said it was awful, the way he left her in heat for months.

"Maybe it's anger. She destroyed part of my childhood," Harutoga sits down on the floor.

But you love both of your lovers…what if you had met them at the same time?

"I could resist because I'm hanyou."

He couldn't. She has their memories, Harutoga. Please, make them treat her. Make them give her the medicine. She doesn't deserve to die again, not like this. I've been using my blood, making her drink it at night, but it's not like Tsuki's.

"I'll see what I can do. Stay out of sight, or your mother will find you."

Waves of heat hit Taka's nose and she waits to see how long it takes Harutoga to smell it too. Nina smells like a hot summer morning and to anyone else, she probably sounds like she is in pain, the way she is moaning quietly.

"Is she dreaming?" Harutoga asks dumbfounded.

About fucking Chichiue? Yep.

"I'm going now."

Taka runs circles around his feet to stop him. Why? You don't want to know what he can do with his tongue? Or that his favorite position was on all fours, or that she liked it best when he sucked on her clit?

"Taka!" he hisses through clenched teeth.

Why should I be the only one that has to get mental pictures of your mother and Chichiue? She leaps onto the exam table to curl up next to Nina and Hannah. At least it isn't my mother. Yours screamed like a cat. Oh Sesshomaru! Sesshomaru! Oh oh! Fuck me! Yes!

Harutoga covers his mouth to hide his laughter. Bye Taka.

Bye Ni-san, she says.

She waits for the door to close again then transforms. They left Nina hooked up to platelets. She forces the cabinet doors open, melting the locks until she finds a syringe. She removes the safety and flexes her arm, forcing a vein out and removes her own blood. I hope this helps, she thinks as she injects it into Nina's central line. Please, hang on… just a little longer.

His hands run up her body, from behind, holding her breasts, twirling her nipples. They slide down her sides, to run between her legs, before his middle finger finds her sweet spot. It's not just his touch that feels so at home, it's him, what he says, the way he cares for her needs, the way he loves her. Their bodies fold together like two pieces of the same puzzle and she pants beneath him as he pumps inside of her.

What's your name? Who are you? Why do I always dream about you?

My heart…

My love…

Please review!

Just a reminder if you skipped the authors note above...this story is on hiatus until after March 4th...I'll only be editing for my beta-ees and helping them post, because I have entirely too much homework and must focus...must must must...

I'm not sure which stories to recommend this week. I haven't had time to read new fanfics yet.

Mechine: There will be more chances and I'm okay not winning. The winner for angst was akitokohojo who has a great following than I do. I'm not bitter, it was fun. Sesshomaru said Natsuki never approached them again and she hasn't. This whole thing happening up there is not her doing but her father's. I know it's so unfair what Kensaku is doing to them and I also don't want them tied more closely together. The whole situation is sooooo messed up. I also started crying writing that portion where Sesshomaru was giving his last instructions to Hisato.

Inu-fan 24: Again you are mean...why would any rational mother abandon their children? Just because kids play favorites doesn't mean you ditch them...

Morality: Putting you in the same vein as Inu-fan...how does abandonment do anything for anyone...Sesshomaru does not love Natsuki more, he does not love Tsukimaru more. Obviously you don't have kids, because it is very normal for them to have a skewed sense of reality and favor one parents over the other. They never saw there mother as the warrior because by that point she had to step back to care for them...

Warrior Hawk: I know, it is like seeing a bad car wreck. I did not read the story you mentioned is it on FFN or AO3?

Kimmigirl9: I know, their lemon was yummy! It had to be a quickie, but the emotion in this chapter!

Smmahamazing: I don't know, I honestly just write and go with what I feel, but then somehow give other people a case of the feels too! I have a bit of the Sess/Natsuki chapter written...the only problem is if I don't write it I guess your imagination will fill in the blanks. You can imagine he was able to fight his instinct or that he caved. And yes, Taka...ahh the name, it made me cry writing that too.

itzatakahashi: I know he is so calm and cool and I swear I literally write to see how to emotionally break him...I'm mean...But I am fascinated with his character. He definitely needs to give Rin more credit. He may be concerned though because remember she left with his children last time. He also has emotional scars.

Gina: The past has something to do with the future, but I can't say what or I'll spoil my whole damn plot...also the Disease killing the demons was requested for me to write...and I can't write a plain reincarnation tale...I tried both separately and it didn't work, so we get this instead.

Guest#1: Yes because only Rin matters and what Sesshomaru feels should be disregarded...sorry but I'm kinda tired of reviewers who only think about her and not him and don't see the bigger picture.

Guesswho: Thank you for getting it that Sesshomaru is at his wits end with everything going on and literally exhausted having to deal with it. His mother may have pushed a bit, but I think Gobodo-sama is also speaking some truth...how much of himself is giving up and are his sacrifices appreciated? You are right he loves her deeply and they fight like any normal couple does. Thank you!

Harukasempai14: His mother doesn't favor anyone...I think it's easier to see it like that than the situation for what it is. Sesshomaru will die if he fights Kensaku's army and even if his mother helped...they would both die and she doesn't want to leave Rin a widow. She didn't cheat she was raped, big difference...So if you hate him for naming his fullblooded daughter Taka, what about Harutoga? He was named after both their fathers. Haru for Rin's father and Toga for Sesshomaru's father. Harutoga...What you are seeing is a mother trying to avoid a third child's death...and as far as she is concerned Sesshomaru isn't cheating. Natsuki and Rin are both his soulmates, so in her eyes there is no infidelity.

Luin-fanel: Tu puedes critica me en espanol, puedo comprender. Yes, being Natsuki is the lesser of the two evils so I am so glad you see that!

New Readerx2: Truth...all guest reviews are on moderation. I know, I'm mean...but I got flames on trafficked and after that I decided that in order to protect the integrity of my stories, I will not approve anonymous reviews that have obviously not read the story, or are just attacking me as a writer or are condescending. If the review is posted at night it may not show up until the AM when I approve it. I also got flames on Instinct and deleted those too...I approve 99.9% of reviews but sometimes...I loved the SessRin moments in this chapter too. Natsuki is not trying to score points with Sesshomaru...at this point she and Rin are friends and she is trying to make up for doing what she did...and yes forgiving something like very hard. He and his mother became close after Lost Memories. She has always wanted what is best for him as for 2 soulmates I explained it to someone on Ao3 like this. Someone gets married, say they are married for 10 years and the spouse dies unexpectedly. They meet someone knew and fall in love again and love this one as much as that one...ergo loving 2 people. Honestly I can sympathize because I love my husband and I also love the first guy I dated...they were different and I was probably compatible with both but one wasn't able to commit. As I mentioned above there seems to be a running theme that Sesshomaru has god-like powers to stand against anything and anyone and he doesn't...if he goes after Kensaku he goes after an army, if the army kills him, he leaves Rin a widow and his children fatherless, something he is trying to avoid. He is very close to his mother after Lost Memories and he knows she only wants peace...rather pragmatic peace.

Reaper 007: She was brutal huh? Natsuki poor thing gets so much hate and I love her LOL...Thanks for the review!