A/N: Approaching the end here... only four more chapters after this one.

Happy Reading ^^

Chapter 6. The Reunion Part II

It was the early hours of morning when Isamu and Sesshomaru were speeding down the highway, making their way towards Chiba prefecture. The sun was still neatly tucked behind the ocean, as Sesshomaru was pressing the buttons on Isamu's phone frantically. He dialed a number and pressed the phone against his ear, glancing for a moment to Isamu — who was driving his Mercedes quickly and efficiently. Then his golden gaze shifted towards the road in front of them as he waited for his call to be picked up.

"Aya! What are you doing?! Turn around this instant!" Sesshomaru demanded the moment she picked up his call.

"I can't. I'm so sorry Sesshomaru."

"Don't do anything foolish Aya! Come back right now! I promised you I will bring you your mother back and I intend to keep that promise," he urged.

"I can't Sesshomaru. He will kill her if I don't give myself in by tomorrow evening. I …. I love you. I'm so sorry."

"Not like this Aya. You … you are being reckless. You can't trade your life for another. I can't let you do this," he said, trying his hardest to not succumb to his emotions. Even if he was regarded as stoic, cold, and proud daiyoukai lord, his mate was threatened, and every part of his ancient body screamed for her return. Then her words hit him violently – she said she loved him. His inner beast began to fight for control, desperately trying to claw its way towards his mate.

"I have to Sesshomaru. She's my mother. I'm sorry. I wish we had more time."

"Don't…" Sesshomaru began only to be interrupted by Aya.

"I love you."

The line went dead. His blood began to boil as he tried his hardest to fight the fear that began to consume him. His mate was in danger and she was willingly moving closer to it. His inner beast clawing to get out and take over the daiyoukai's perfect control. Five hundred years he waited, only for her to disappear once more in a blink of an eye. How could he have been so foolish to not assume that she would go off on her own? He was gone if only for a few minutes.

"Isamu step on it. She's got more than thirty kilometres on us," Sesshomaru growled as he tried to redial his number once again.

"I am currently going hundred and seventy kilometres on the highway, sorry I left my Lamborghini at home," Isamu replied as he focused on the road.

"She's going for Tateyama. We better not lose her!"

"Calm down old dog. I know you won't nothing more than to transform and run after her in your youkai form, but we don't need you breaking the youkai-human treaty tonight. We'll get to her in time. Just try to remain calm. You need to, we don't know what Daisuke is planning," Isamu said.

"Just… drive," Sesshomaru replied as he massaged his temples.

The sun began to ascend as they entered Tateyama city. Sesshomaru looked at the phone in his hands and dialed the number once more.

"We're sorry the number you are trying to reach is unavailable right now."

He ended the call and looked at the clock. It was 5:03AM. As they arrived at Tateyama port, Isamu parked quickly and turned off the engine. Sesshomaru rushed out of the car and made his way towards his abandoned silver Audi. He breathed in his mate's scent, letting it envelop his senses, soothing the inner beast within. She was here, mere minutes ago. He glanced towards the marina, and he sped off, following the slowly disappearing scent of Aya. His golden hues shifted towards blood red as he reached the empty slip number eleven. He looked over to the Pacific Ocean before him, spotting a medium-sized fishing boat in the distance.

"I'll go check the marina manifest to see what boat was docked here. It's not over yet brother," Isamu said, and he rushed towards the main building.

As he stood at the edge of the slip alone, his perfect control began to shatter as the inner beast began to take over as he watched the boat approach one of the smaller islands in the distance. "need. mate. need. mate. safe! now!" the beast within him snarled in anger, leaving the proud daiyoukai to shift.

"Welcome to Ōshima island," the captain announced as he docked the fishing boat at the small partially dilapidated pier.

Aya took a step off the boat, her youkai eyes scanning her surroundings. At first, she noticed the black soil that surrounded the island mass. There were lush green shrubs and trees cascading around the volcanic rocks, spreading further into the-supposedly-uninhabited island. She jumped across the pier, her feet landing in the volcanic soil. She smelled for the scent of her mother and quickly she made her way deeper into the island.

Suddenly, she winced in pain. Almost instantly, her hand flew to her neck, touching a spot that seemed to ache and swell rather quickly. Her legs stopped listening to her, she became still, her eyelids heavy as she tried her best to stay awake. And yet, her vision became hazy, leaving her to succumb to the dark as her body fell forward into the ground.

"Aya? Sweetheart, wake up."

"Wake up Aya. You need to wake up sweetheart."

Aya stirred. Her head was pounding wildly. Her vision appeared to be blurry as she flickered her eyes open. Slowly the image focused, and her eyes studied the familiar features of the older woman holding her closely. She noticed her swollen cheeks, stained with old and new tears. She noticed her dirtied attire and disheveled raven hair — and yet her brown eyes still sparkled just as she remembered them.

"Mama?"

The raven-haired woman smiled as she gently wiped Aya's face, removing the smudges of volcanic earth from her pale complexion.

"Yes, it's mama. Oh, my darling," she replied.

"Mama," Aya exclaimed as she launched herself into the woman's arms.

The young youkai clutched onto her mother tightly as tears began to stream down her cheeks. Here they were, at last reunited in a loving mother-daughter embrace.

"Why did you come here? Why didn't you stay away?" Nanami asked as she held Aya close.

"I had to. You're my mom," Aya mumbled into her mother's shoulder, holding tightly onto her — scared to let go.

"Oh, silly child. It's you this monster wants. Not me," Nanami replied as she gently caressed her daughter's long hair.

"I don't care mama. I missed you. I missed you so much," Aya said as she refused to let go of her human mother.

"Shhh, it's alright. It's alright," Nanami soothed as she held her daughter closely.

"What a touching reunion between a mother and daughter."

With youkai speed, Aya immediately pulled her mother behind her — protecting her from the menacing aura that began to spill into the area. As Aya observed her surroundings, she noticed that they were in a very old overgrown temple carved out of volcanic rock. She and her mother were towards the side, both glancing in the direction of the entrance. In the middle of the temple was a large slab of stone, on top of it was a faded humanoid statue. The stone walls were also overgrown with wild foliage, hiding away ancient carvings of gods. The temple had no ceiling, allowing the beautiful sky to engulf it with natural light. She noticed that the sun was already high — she was definitely out for several hours.

Aya observed the youkai's aura and scent, recognizing it slightly. She knew he was related to Kisho, the prideful dragon of the North from her time in the past. A dragon youkai with a malicious and poisonous miasma. Instinctively the young woman placed herself in front of her mother, shielding her from potential harm.

"Who are you?" Aya asked.

"You know very well who I am princess. We've met," the dragon youkai replied as he stepped out into the light.

His deep sea-green hair was braided into a single large side-braid that reached past his torso. He sported piercing brown eyes — filled with hate and anger. There were several dragon scales adorning his jawline and neck. He was dressed in dark blue jeans and a black long-sleeved shirt that was rolled up to his elbows. Just as his neck and jawline, his forearms were decorated with several dark green dragon scales.

"Well I guess, you did not leave much of an impression Daisuke," Aya replied coldly.

The dragon youkai stared at the two women for a moment. Then he burst into a laughter that echoed throughout the old ruins. When he came to, his eyes focused on Aya once more.

"Careful, or you might lose that tongue of yours just like your daddy," Daisuke retorted.

He took a step back and grabbed a hold of a pair of chains, rustling them as he seemed to drag something towards him. Then he dropped the chains and instead reached for a what seemed to be a body wrapped in bloodied clothes. Daisuke grabbed the male body and then threw it towards the two women.

Aya stared in disbelief at the male youkai that laid by her and her mother's feet. His once lengthy white hair was shorn past his ears. His body appeared to be covered in cuts and bruises, while his claws were His once pale complexion was covered in dried blood. He opened his eyes weakly, revealing the forest green hues as his gaze met with the young female youkai. Aya dropped her human disguise, revealing her youkai self and her forest green eyes met his. She dropped to her knees, gently touching the battered youkai's cheek.

"Papa," Aya said as tears welled up in her eyes.

"Hayao!" Nanami covered her mouth in horror and she also kneeled down to her believed-to-be-deceased husband.

Nanami positioned herself so that Hayao could place his head against her legs and she gently began to look over his injuries. Hayao reached his hand towards his wife — as if he needed to make sure he was not seeing things.

Nanami gently took his hand in his and whispered softly to him," I'm here my love. I'm here and so is our daughter. Everything will be ok. We will be ok."

Hayao closed his eyes and he inhaled, letting his wife's and daughter's scent soothe him. Aya pulled away and stood up, she walked in front of her parents, protecting them from the dragon youkai — her mizu youki beginning to flare wildly.

"What have you done to him?!" Aya demanded angrily.

"Plenty of things, isn't that right Hayao-san? Think of it as me taking my time savouring every bit of this sweet revenge against him and against you princess," Daisuke replied.

"Me?" Aya asked in disbelief.

"Yes, you. I think it's about time you learn of your fate," Daisuke grinned like a madman as he raised the chains up and they began to glow.