windbreaking, I didn't even think of that when I typed it out. Like I said, most of my stories are just thoughts that spill out as I write. Coming to mind during the night as I dream and to my thoughts just before they become words on the screen. Sadly, no one can help the pair unless they are willing to open their eyes and hearts to what is before them and while Sesshomaru had figured out that there are pups to be born instead of just one baby...well, you'll read it in this chapter. And thank you, I try to get their emotions across as well as I can, sometimes re-iterating how turbulent their times together can be when emotions just swirl around unheeded.
SammyJams, I always wanted twins, but I can't imagine what I would have done had I had them, ya know. Probably faint at the news myself, but still be happy that I had the chance to give birth to such miracles. As for Kagome, well, that's double trouble considering that they are not fully human with the marking and mating that she still has yet to remember. If Naraku were the father there might be a possibility that he would have tainted their souls, but then again, whose to say that Kagome's own purity (while mixed up at the moment) wouldn't purify that malice he has of his own making.
I know I sound like a broken record with this, but I hope you continue to enjoy the fic as I have been with writing it, though my other fic has been neglected due to the ongoing ideas that this one is filling my head with. So much to happen in this one! Thanks to my reviewers since they allow me to see what I need to correct or if I'm pulling the story in a direction that is keeping them guessing or otherwise. Thanks to those who follow this story and have favorited it for another possible re-read when they want to. Thank you all!
Instead of waiting for the Miko to wake back up, Inuyasha pulled her onto his back and with one word to the group they were off, though he did shoot his brother a look. Sesshomaru knew something and while it was bothering him he decided to wait until the woman on his back to wake up. Shifting his hands he felt her sigh in her unconscious state before snuggling into him. He tensed slightly, her body pushing against him such a way that was creating that yearning again. He had been feeling this way for so long, but since she had never given him any clue as to how she felt and him being under the assumption that she saw him as only a friend, he had never acted on that feeling. It was becoming so hard to fight it though. They had shared a kiss, one that had been unforgettable, her taste still fresh on his mind, but he wouldn't mind a refresher on that taste. Too bad it had only been her attempt to wake him from his complete demon side, his human side trapped in mirror. Sango moved closer to him, her brown eyes softening at the look on his face, the pain he was feeling so open for anyone to see. Why couldn't Kagome see that he wanted her, that he loved her as much as she loved him? Then again, why didn't the male see what she was doing just to prevent his own recognition of her own unspoken feelings? That was easy. He was a male, like Miroku who failed time and time again to see that she hurt when his hands wandered to other women or when he asked them to birth his children.
What sucked on that side was that he had begun to express those same words to her and while she loved him, at least what she thought was love since she had never experienced it for herself, she didn't know if he could be faithful to her. They had never kissed, never said anything, no, he just touched her bottom all the time, never asking her to bear his children and that hurt. She could forgive him since Kagome had once pointed out that he didn't have long to live and while they were trying to change that for him there was a slim chance that he wouldn't make it to that day, at least from his point of view. She felt that they could defeat Naraku and spare him the fate that had befallen all of his male ancestors...including his father. She could understand that since she was lucky herself to be alive after all her clan were killed all those years ago, but still, it hurt none the less. "Hey, what are you thinking about?" Miroku inquired as he leaned close, his breath causing a tingle to crawl across her body in a pleasant manner. Shaking those thoughts aside she glanced over at Kagome, still out like a light. She couldn't imagine all the girl was going thru. No, those were things she had never done, and while it was a happy moment that she was safe and healthy she knew that Kagome was torn, as their talk just a while back told her.
"I was thinking about Kagome...and Inuyasha," she murmured, moving Kirara back so they could talk a little more privately, though she felt that the Hanyou in question should hear some of what she had to say. "Kagome is so hurt, so ashamed of what happened that night and Inuyasha can't seem to understand that she feels that way because of her feelings for him and he, well, he's hurt for the same reason, but he feels betrayed because on top of that she lied about what happened, save for the baby and the marking. She didn't know about what one meant and in her time they told her she wasn't expecting." He nodded, waiting for her to say more. He knew this was eating at her, it had for a long time and he felt it too. Their friends deserved happiness and while Kagome had friends and family, the Hanyou had nothing before them. Kagome was happy with her life, but she longed to be with the Hanyou above all else and Inuyasha needed her, he had never been open with his feelings and that was what was causing some of the fracture between the two. She had given him so much and maybe she didn't realize it, but without her not only would none of them be together in the group they were in, but Inuyasha would not only be on the tree she had found him but he wouldn't have friends...a pack that was his own. "As for Kagome, can you imagine anything worse than forgetting your first time? To not know who you had given such a gift to?"
"No, I can't say that I can understand that, but I lost mine so long ago," he said and while that thought alone made her grimace she knew who he was and still loved him for it, even if it meant that she would never be his first. Still, in her time it wasn't uncommon for a male to find companionship before marriage. Some were just wired that way, able to enjoy an unattached sexual relationship with another person. "I can only imagine that it is only made worse by the fact that Naraku claims that he was the one to do the deed, but something in the back of my mind is arguing that point." She blinked, glancing back at him in question. "There is no darkness in her aura that is connected to the parentage of the child."
"But there is a darkness?" she questioned, throwing a worried glance her friend's way. Kagome had been so hurt that day that she had disappeared, but she could never imagine that the pure girl before them held any darkness. Sure, she had a wonderful life with her mother, brother and grandfather, but she had never mentioned a father and that could be considered a darkness if something bad had happened. She didn't know so she couldn't confirm that one, but the only other darkness that might have affected the future born Miko was her pain over Inuyasha's constant return to Kikyo. But that was over, at least she hoped it was.
"Yes, she is inflicted with what is going on and that right there is another reason that I feel Naraku is lying about his being with her as well as the fact that none of us would have missed the spider demon being so close to her, Inuyasha especially." That was the other part of the puzzle, but they were still missing several pieces and until either Kagome remembered or the babies were born they would have no answer to that. "What bothers me is how she got that way," he said, chuckling at the strange look Sango gave him.
"Now, that makes no sense after what you said before about losing your virginity so long ago, monk," she said with a light chuckle. "Do I need to explain the birds and the bees to you?" He was glad that she was smiling, it had been a long time for anyone in their group to even show any joy after all that had happened.
"Ah, my dear Sango, I would love to hear you explain it," he said, wagging his brows at her. "I would be the most adorable thing to hear from a beautiful woman such as yourself," he elaborated and the results he got were what made him feel even more elated as her face changed to a bright red. "And, no, that wasn't what I was talking about. The act itself, I can understand, but the fact that even though this was Naraku's plan, to taint her not by touching her, but allowing her to believe that she wasn't complicate in the act itself and on that same note, the sake." Sesshomaru joined them at this moment, moving up toward them as his own party stayed in the back on Ah-Un.
"I was wondering the same thing, monk," he stated, his golden eyes narrowing at the information he had gleaned from his eavesdropping. "Did she say she had drank a lot and if so, what state of mind she was in at the time of said consumption?" Neither had a real answer for that. They knew, from Sango, that Kagome had stated she hadn't had much to drink, but then again she was new to the drinking scene so that might explain some of it. Not all of it, but some of it. "I, also, did not sense Naraku from her womb, but there is something masking the parentage," he admitted, noting that his brother was listening to them talk, one of his ears swiveling to hear them as the other stayed alert for anything coming their way. "Now, do you know where we are going?" he asked, changing the subject.
"Taking her home," the Hanyou stated. "I cannot be around her with that stink," he elaborated at the shocked looks on Miroku and Sango, not to mention the one that Shippo was giving him. His brother wondered at this. He was new to the group so why would they be so surprised at his confession to take the woman to her home? Did his brother not allow the Miko to return to her family? Strange indeed, but with his own knowledge of their kind he was also not surprised at a failure to release a potential mate out of one's sight. She was marked though and only one who truly was her mate could reverse the marking, though that was a mystery in itself. How had the mark stayed? Was it because of the one that had actually given it to her or because of her intoxication the night it happened? He may be a full demon, but even he didn't understand this situation...because it had never arisen in his time or before him.
"Hmmm," he said, not giving into his urge to ask more questions, which caused him more grief. He had never been one to insert himself in another's business and while it had to do with his brother as well, that made it all the more worse. He had gotten over his initial hatred of the half breed, though because had come to the realization that his brother was not to blame for what their father had done to his own mother nor to him. No, his mother didn't even hold a grudge against the male who had who sired him. She had told him it had not been a love match and they had not even marked each other, no, they had come together to procreate and that was it. He was a product of such an alliance while his brother was one of love, a love that had been marked for all to see and a love that had cost him his life, but Sesshomaru was sure that his father would do it all over again to be with his true mate. True mate? That was so rare, even now, to happen to any demon. Much less to a human and a demon. Humans were so fickle and while they could be like their demon counterparts with their relationships, wars, daily lives and such, the groups never merged a mutual alliance. No, the stayed on their sides unless one or the other felt under attack and that was common since some demons feasted on the flesh of human alone. He wondered then, if in the Miko's world there were demons that walked among their masses...or were they all wiped out. That would be one to see in the future. He wasn't immortal, not by any means, but with as strong as he was he had thousands of years to live his life.
He looked to his brother at that thought. So few Hanyou survived as long as he had since both demons and humans alike abhorred what they considered a vile mixture of blood. Except for the few that he was aware of and while he only knew of his brother's mother, Rin (who was but a child), and the Miko. She was the one that drew his attention. She would make a fine addition to his clan. Her power alone would rise her up in the ranks in even demons' eyes as power was a great motivator in a match, even if she were a human. Too bad she was taken, her scent still coated by the human who had housed her, but he had scented her before and had found that Inuyasha had marked her as his. While he could easily take her from his brother in his current form, his full demon transformation would cause more issues, not that he would admit such a thing. No, his brother was her true mate and while they were still far from that ending in his eyes he would help his brother to see what he himself saw and he was no softy. No, it was a gain that he too could benefit from and that was enough to make him meddle.
It was then that the Hanyou suddenly stopped as the woman on his back began to stir and then she pushed off to run off, everyone staring at her retreating form as she found a spot away from them to heave her stomach contents again, this time Inuyasha rushed to her side, even as she protested, holding her hair back as he soothed her with a soft touch to her back. When she finally stopped, her legs shook so hard that Inuyasha pulled her into his arms bridal style, again despite her complaints. "Inuyasha, put me down," she groaned as her face paled further. Taking the cue from her expression he put her on her feet, but held her steady. He was worried that she was still mad at him, well, at first, but seeing the sweat that was glistening on her forehead he knew that wasn't the case. "Sorry," she murmured as she walk slowly along side him. He shook his head at her, his silver locks brushing against her own raven ones. "I hate this." He couldn't say anything, noting that it was still early in the day, maybe noon at the latest.
"Let's find a good place to camp," he said, but before anyone could make a move the skies above them darkened, Naraku appearing before them in his barrier, a smirk on his face as he noted the weak looking Miko glaring at him. He could feel her hate, her shame, and the guilt that had grown in the last few minutes. Ah, this was such a tasty thing to see, to see her aura darken with all those emotions swirling around in it. "Naraku," Inuyasha hissed, tightening his hold on the woman next to him, the others gearing for attack as Sesshomaru ordered his lackey to remove himself and Rin from the impending confrontation.
"Ah, so you found my little mate, did you?" the horrid male asked, his smirk growing as Inuyasha forced Kagome behind him, eyeing the spider demon and hoping he could see his very intention to make Naraku eat those very words. Kagome held onto Inuyasha for a moment, contemplating how she was to fight with how weak she felt at that moment, her stomach still lurching at the sight of the male before her, but before she could make that choice Inuyasha pushed her into the waiting arms of Sango, the slayer leading her off to wait with Rin as a safety precaution. The Miko felt terrible for the fact that she couldn't help her friends, leaving them when she was needed to complete the purification of the dark demon "Don't you worry, I will take good care of her, you know, like I did before." Sesshomaru growled low, but a chuckle still escaped his lips causing the demon before him to narrow his gaze at him. "Ah, Sesshomaru, a family reunion? Or are you going to be handing your little ward over to my care as well?" The snarl from the demon lord's mouth could be heard all the way back to the two females that Naraku was talking about.
"You won't be getting either, not that you had the Miko to begin with," he spat, smirking at the displeasure on the other male's face. His hair swirled around him, touching the barrier before falling around him as his temper grew.
"And what do you know about that?" Ah, so he was admitting that it was true, no matter because Sesshomaru wasn't fooled by the evil demon's words and he was sure neither were the slayer or the monk. The monk had proven just as much with his own spiritual powers.
"She doesn't smell disgusting like your own repulsive stench and the pups hold no taint to their own auras," he stated, giving away the clues without hesitation, but Inuyasha was shocked at those words. Was it true? Was Kagome untainted by the male before them? He wanted to check on her, to see that she was fine, but he could still smell her scent on the breeze and it was close enough to letting him know she was still standing back there.
"Who says she was going to smell like me?" Naraku asked, cocking a brow at the people before him. "Not that she smells like anyone but her sweet, delicious self." That got his attention and Inuyasha didn't like that description of the Miko anymore than he liked the glint in the other male's eye.
"You hid the smell of the one that marked her!" Inuyasha declared, his brother shooting him a disbelieving look at his statement. No, he wasn't sure if it was Naraku's hand in that one or because of some other variable, but the surprise that lit up in the red eyes of their enemy didn't really answer his own thoughts of who could have done that. That wasn't something that could be possible, could it? Before Naraku could answer all eyes were drawn to the scream coming from behind them as Kagome was yanked away from where she should have been safe, though Jaken and Rin were no match for the raven haired woman who held Kagome prisoner before them. Even Naraku looked displeased with the capture of the one he considered to be his, the brown eyes holding their glares had one of her own.
"Do not move," the woman stated, her eyes narrowing on Inuyasha before throwing his brother the same glare since both were poised to rush to the aid of the weakened Miko. "If you do, I might just have to kill her right before your very eyes!" No one spoke, no one moved, though it didn't mean they weren't assessing the situation from all possible angles. Another fight with Naraku stalled because of someone who had taken another step in a dangerous direction...after she had been warned before.
I'm sure you can all guess who the female is that holds Kagome captive, but just what is up her sleeve and will Naraku allow his chance to destroy them all taken away from him? And what about Kagome? Can she even do anything in her state, with not only her mind weakened, but her soul on the line that straddles both pure and darkness? Stay safe!