"Welcome home, Lady Nova," Mikasuki greeted her as soon as Touran and her landed in the courtyard with her guards close behind and Khendon caught up to her since he had been carried by one of the soldiers. "Your trip was well?"
"Yes," Nova spoke as the neko fell instep behind them as they entered the castle. "Bring refreshments up to the study."
"Should you be going back to work so soon? The evening meal is already in the process of being prepared."
"Are you questioning me, Mikasuki?" Nova narrowed her eyes at the neko.
"No... my apologies," she bowed before disappearing.
"Lady Nova..."
"I don't want to hear it," Nova interrupted Touran before making her way up the stairs. "I have the affairs of the west to take care off, thanks to you."
"A plan needed to be made, just in case," Touran frowned as she followed close behind before they quickly arrived at the study. "The amount of time in between each energy feeding will decrease and they will require more each time as they grow. Why are you suddenly so against the chance of going home?"
"Because I made promises here and the portal's closure is imminent. When the jewel successfully disappears, that is when the era's will successfully merge. If I go home during this battle, there is a chance I don't return."
"But once they did merge, your mate would be there..."
"After having suffered five hundred years," she snapped as she sat at the desk and started making plans for the chance she did have to go.
"This only is if he cannot return to you to feed his energy into you next time but the moment you start feeling pain, we go. We cannot afford to have you be in too much pain or fall unconscious. I'm sorry but he gave his order and now that your soldiers are aware and heard that order, they would not listen to you if it comes to it."
"Then you better find a way to seal something that would build up my energy so he can manage. He may not have felt any pain the past two times, but three week gaps are nothing compared to five hundred years."
"I've already been thinking ahead. On the way back, I added a seal to the chain around your ribs to start taking in small increments of your energy so not to tire you too quickly."
"Then get out. If I require your presence, you'll be summoned."
"You definitely take after your mate now," Touran spoke simply and Khendon growled at her before she left the room.
Feeling a strong kick to her side, Nova sighed as she rubbed the illusion over her belly. Grabbing the communication scroll from her father, she opened it as Khendon laid down with his head on her feet. Dimitri needed to be caught up and long term plans put into place. She had a lot to do before her pups were born.
"How are you feeling, Lady Nova?" Kaya asked as she prodded her swollen belly while she laid on her bed.
"I'm fine. The nausea seems to have faded," Nova shrugged but the movement caused pain in her neck that she worked to not show in her face.
She had been doing her best to hide the fact that she was in pain and had been for the past several days as she came up on two weeks since she last saw Sesshomaru. The western affairs were taken care of and Touran would be proxy for any affairs inside the castle while the elders would take care of those outside. Reports from the soldiers at the border disclosed that the final battle was in full swing as a large spider daemon had appeared, expelled large clouds of miasma. A barrier around the village of Edo protected the inhabitants and the spider remained motionless while the last sighting of those fighting the halfbreed were of them going inside it. She hoped but doubted that she could hide her pain long enough for the battle to end.
"They are lively today," Kaya commented as her hands kept getting nudged.
"They can feel that their mother is stressed," Touran spoke as she entered the bedroom and Nova sat up from where she laid and felt the muscles in her face twitch in discomfort at the movement, "and that she is in pain. How long have you felt the mark's pain?"
"I don't feel any," she muttered and Khendon huffed, further proving her lie.
"Liar. How long?"
"Three days," Nova muttered and the Panther cursed before immediately going into the closet. She came back out with a small bag, her sais and fresh clothing, the Lehenga Choli being black under red embroidered lace. "Touran..."
"I told you that you were going the moment you felt pain," Touran snapped. "Mikasuki!"
"Yes, Lady Touran?" The neko appeared from behind the false wall.
"Help your lady bathe and dress. It is time," Touran spoke as she stepped out of the bedroom, most likely to turn her guard against her so she reluctantly complied.
She was bathed and dressed quickly, her hair pulled up with the jeweled combs and Matha Patti in place. Touran came back into the bedroom with her soldiers close behind, all dressed to travel. Nova sighed as she grabbed the bag Touran had packed after Mikasuki wrapped the chain around her ribs before strapped her sais to her forearms.
"Take care, Lady Nova," Mikasuki spoke as she stepped back.
"Hn," Nova replied as Touran pushed her out to the balcony. Stopping, Nova frowned as she saw every soldier and servant in formations in the courtyard, facing towards where she stood. "What is this?"
"They think you are going to join the final battle," Touran whispered. "On the off chance you are unable to return, it is only fair to give your subjects the chance to see you off."
"We both know how its most likely going to go at this point, Touran and they'll never know the truth," Nova whispered as every soldier saluted and the servants bowed. "Let's just get this over with."
Touran wrapped her arms around her shoulders before her blue energy surrounded them and Khendon and shot off towards Edo while her soldiers jumped over the walls of the castle and followed on foot. When Nova could feel the evil of the halfbreed, Touran slowed their speed and the blue energy moved to only under them as they saw the ginormous spider. Nova surveyed the area and could see soldiers from all four lands at the edges of the miasma, working together to prevent it from spreading further.
"Damn," Nova frowned as they flew around the battle.
"Lord Kishi and Lord Ryze are here," Touran commented before she noticed both dressed in armor and touched down near the two.
"Have you seen any progress?" Nova inquired as they acknowledged them.
"There have been some attacks from the inside that have broken through. We're starting to think that the giant spider form is more of a distraction while inside is most likely a maze," Ryze answered.
"We were just discussing if we should do a synchronized attack with the soldiers around the outskirts. Those inside would feel the flare of energy and most likely be able to protect themselves."
"It could give them the chance to regroup if they had been separated. Spread the word to the soldiers so they can prepare..."
"Nova, we have to go," Touran spoke.
"But..."
"No. I have my orders from Lord Sesshomaru. You are not well versed in battle tactics, save it for those that are and worry about yourselves and the pups."
"If they are planning a synchronized attack..."
"It doesn't mean the battle would end sooner, I'm sorry," Touran interrupted as she summoned her energy below them.
"You have no patience. This battle could be finished today..."
"But it also could take weeks. I will return, my lords after I take care of Lady Nova."
They ascended into the air before another word could be spoken and Nova sighed. She directed Touran to the Bone-Eaters Well while Khendon was in between them. Landing in the clearing besides the well, Nova sighed as she sat on the rim.
"He will be there waiting for you, I hope," Touran spoke.
"And you?" Nova inquired as Khendon propped his front legs up on the side to prepare himself to jump in.
"If you wish it then so will I."
"Bring Kaya too, I'm sure five hundred years will make her anxious to check on the pups," Nova sighed.
"We'll be there," Touran smiled sadly and hugged her, removing the chain around her ribs as she did.
"Bye," Nova whispered, hugging her back before scooting off the rim and fell into the depths as Khendon followed.