Warning for this chapter: Khuzaimah. Enough said.

Inuyasha's POV

(Two Weeks Later)

Every day is a struggle. A struggle to hold onto his sanity. A struggle to wake up and brave a new day. A struggle to maintain the will to fight. He never thought the simple act of living could get any harder than his childhood days. Living is not only a chore; it is unending torment and anguish. With each new passing day, he watches helplessly as his stomach grows with the spawn of Satan himself. He knows next to nothing about youkai pregnancies, but he definitely knows now that it does not take nearly as long as human ones. It took Sango much longer to reach the stage he is at now. Every time he looks down, he can see his swollen abdomen; a constant dreary reminder of his current predicament. 'I have to get rid of this thing. I don't care how. I don't care that it's just a brat. I just don't give a damn. I am NOT bearing this bastard's kid.' He already asked Tatsuya to stab him in the stomach with something, but the horrified youngster vehemently refused and ran away at the mere suggestion of it. Without his cooperation, Inuyasha has reached the conclusion that the only other option is to starve himself. He has not eaten anything in the last five days despite Tatsuya's best efforts. If depriving the unwelcomed cretin growing inside him is not enough, then when his abdomen grows large enough, he will slam himself against the wall until it flattens out. If that does not work, he will provoke Khuzaimah until he beats it out of him. He knows the hot-headed tyrant could take his own life as well but, he does not care. He will not be made to birth his monster child.

"L-Lord Inuyasha?"

"What do you want?" The ryu is not his favorite person right now. Inuyasha has been stubbornly glaring at him from across the room for the last few hours. Every day the whelp comes in to prepare a meal he knows the captive will not eat. Inuyasha is well aware that the idea is to let the smells force him into caving, but he will not take the bait. Too bad for the clever child, the self-raised half-breed has long since trained himself to endure the most severe of hunger pains.

"W-Would you like something to e-eat t-today?"

"No." Even as he answers, his empty stomach gives a loud growl in protest. 'Curse this brat!'

"A-Are you su—"

"Get out."

"Y-Yes sir. I-I will just leave it here in case I-Inuyasha-sama c-changes his mind."

"Feh." He scoffs and looks away as the boy places the bowl of food within his reach before dashing outside. Almost immediately the pregnant hanyou turns his back on the enticing smells. He cannot give in no matter what. He must starve this hell spawn out at all costs. Physically he has started to feel the toll of the unnatural pregnancy combined with his decision to fast. His body feels drained of all energy and he spends most of his days sleeping to escape the hunger pains. Not to mention he feels incredibly sick. 'If I feel this shitty, there should be no way for this…thing to survive.' The only problem with his current plan is if Khuzaimah chooses to attack him right now, he may not survive in his current state. Still, to him, death is a much better outcome to bearing that monster's offspring. Either way, even if Inuyasha wanted to test his chances of surviving that ordeal, he cannot. The psychotic mountain lord's location is currently unknown. He has been gone for the last few days and Tatsuya claims he does not know where he is. If he was here, Inuyasha would have provoked him while he still had some of his strength.

'How could this happen to me? What would I do if any of the others saw me like this? Sango, Miroku, Shippo…what would Kagome think?' "Kuso!" 'I am meant to be everyone's protector. Everyone's savior. And here I am trapped, weak, and carrying my enemy's child! This is pathetic. I can't—I won't. I'd rather die. And I'll take this bastard child with me. This thing is no kin to me. My real family is in Musashi; waiting for me. And this THING is just another barrier keeping me from reaching them. I will not let IT keep me from going home. I—'

Bathump!

'What? What the hell was…'

Bathump!

'There it is again. That isn't my heart.' As soon as the thought occurs to him, he looks down at the swollen lump on his belly in stunned awe. 'That was...'

Bathump! For some unexplainable reason he can feel his anger, pain, worry and cares all melt away with each passing thump. The soft beat of his child's heart lulls him into a calm warmth he has not experienced for a long time now.

Bathump—Bathump! 'Wait, there's two? There's two different heartbeats!' A small smile tugs at the corner of his mouth, but just as quickly it disappears. The heartbeats sound faint—weak. And they are very far apart. 'This isn't good.' He turns around and his golden gaze falls on the bowl of food a few feet away. He does not think twice before hurrying over and kneeling before it. All sense of dignity and pride is lost on him as he shoves his face into the bowl and scarfs down the food like a literal dog. He does not care about how he looks right now. Just an instant ago, he wanted these brats dead but now...It is as if a switch has just flipped in his brain. His heart suddenly feels so full, but how much damage has he done to them already? Is it too late? Will eating now fix things? What has he done? He needs to get them help! Now! "TATSUYA!"

It takes mere seconds until Inuyasha can hear then see the little ryu scrambling up the lip of the mountain. "Y-Y-Yes Inuyasha-sama?" The boy looks rightfully confused and worried that the proud dog would call for him with such clear, needy desperation.

"I need more food—and water! Is there any tea you can brew up or anything you can make to restore my strength?"

"I-I…" He freezes up in the face of the hanyou's sudden change in attitude regarding his own wellbeing.

"Snap out of it kid! My pups have really weak heartbeats." 'My pups! They are my pups.' "I need your help building up their health. Can you do that?"

"Hai…r-right! G-Gomenasai! I will go collect some herbs and be back with something as soon as possible!"

Inuyasha can still hear the soft, irregular heartbeats of his unborn children resonating within him. He wants so badly to reach down and stroke his stomach. To let them know everything is going to be alright. His hands may be tied behind his back, but he hopes they can feel that warmth and comfort regardless.

'I won't let anyone hurt you two. I know what I said before, but just forget about all that. I wasn't thinking properly. I'll keep you safe.'

….

(One Month Later)

The first week after discovering the presence of his little tots was wonderful. Every day he listened to the sound of his babies' hearts growing stronger and beating louder. It filled his heart with a happiness unlike anything he has ever felt before. It is hard to put into words. This feeling was only made better by the fact that Khuzaimah never returned.

The second week was a rollercoaster of emotions: joy, sadness, unbridled rage, occasional apathy, shame, excitement—sometimes he experienced all these moods in a matter of hours! He knows he frightened his diligent little dragon caregiver with his sudden bouts of cursing and shouting. Afterwards he would feel so bad for acting like a raging maniac, but he just could not get a handle on his emotions that week and to make matters worse it was the week of the new moon. If he thought he was uncomfortable before, being human took it to a whole other level; the bloating, swollen feet, excruciating cramps, odd cravings; it was awful. He owes Sango a huge apology when he gets back for treating her like some deranged madwoman. The only consistent cause of joy that week was that his children's sire was still nowhere to be found.

The third week was surreal. At that point, he could no longer look down and see his feet. The rare kicks he used to feel from time to time became daily and frequent. The reality that he will be giving birth soon really set in for him that week. He will soon be meeting these pups he has been carrying for almost eight weeks. Him, Inuyasha, the hanyou from Musashi, will be a mother. It is unreal. What would his gang think? Kagome? Kikyo? His mother? Of all his trials and tribulations, he never thought he would add being an okaasan to the list. He does not feel like he is fit to parent anybody—let alone two little babies. He is long pass regretting it though. His heart twists in shame when he even considers doing anything to harm his pups. He could never do that now. But he could not help dwelling on what comes after. What kind of life is in store for his children if he cannot escape? To make matters worse, Khuzaimah returned that week after being away for so long. And although the daiyoukai voiced that the pregnant half breed was repulsive to him in his current state, Inuyasha was in a constant state of panic. One wrong move and the bastard could have seriously hurt his little ones. And the dragon is definitely demented and sadistic enough to make a move over any minor provocation. The stress of agonizing over the possibility was enough to make him sick and he wonders if he inadvertently hurt his children because of it. He could only think; if being around Khuzaimah is already this detrimental when they are unborn, what will it be like afterwards? A life like Tatsuya's? Perhaps even worse considering they will be part Inuyoukai and part human? The ryu lord has already shown his obvious disdain for both. Will he even be around to protect them or will Khuzaimah get rid of him as soon as they are born? He needs to escape while they still have a chance. He does not want to imagine what could happen to his precious pups if he is forced to stay.

And this brings him to his current situation; week four. He is in, what should be the final stretch of this pregnancy. His swollen abdomen and constant cramps are definitely a clear indicator. Since Khuzaimah returned last week, Inuyasha has been allowed the freedom of not having his arms tied behind his back all day. And the only reason the reluctant lord granted him that much was because Tatsuya begged on his behalf. He managed to convince the dragon lord that it would be a danger to the unborn children he is carrying if he stayed restrained all the time. Now, for the most part, Inuyasha is left with just the metal cuff around his ankle to keep him detained. His tormentor is not here at the moment and there is no better time to escape, but he is so immobilized by his stomach right now it is difficult to even stand. He has been examining the chain in his spare time and he is not sure his iron reaver soul stealer could slash through it, especially with how debilitated he is at the moment. He is running out of time and options. He needs to act now to get his little ones to safety.

"I-Inuyasha-sama, w-what are you…?" The green-eyed youngster startles out of his own thoughts and almost trips over himself trying to reach the pregnant hanyou who suddenly decided to stand up on his own.

Inuyasha grumbles under his breath as the younger male helps him to his feet and yanks his arm away as soon as he is stable. Even the simple act of standing has him short of breath and his forehead damp with sweat. He tries to ignore the fact that it feels like his insides are twisting around and gives the chain connecting him to the wall a firm tug. 'In the end, this wall is just made out of rock, right? It shouldn't be too difficult.' "Sankon Tesso!" The force of his iron reaver soul stealer attack sends him reeling back towards the ground but, Tatsuya quickly moves behind him and uses all his strength to keep him up. His puny arms shake with the effort, but he manages to push the larger male upright.

"L-Lord Inuyasha! B-Be careful! W-What are you trying to do? P-Please, let m-me provide some assistance."

The silver-haired male ignores him completely and turns his attention back to the wall. 'Shit. Not even a scratch? Am I really that powerless right now? Or is the barrier that tough? I need tessaiga!' "Kuso." Much to the kid's horror, he proceeds to take regular slashes at the wall but all to no avail. It feels like his claws are going to give in way before this wall does, but it does not stop him from trying.

"I-Inuyasha-sama p-please—" When the pregnant male responds with more reckless slicing, his docile plea raises to an urgent shout. "S-Sir! It will not work!"

"And why not?" When he pauses to catch his breath, the toll of his actions takes over and he finds himself sagging against the wall.

"There are barriers all over these mountains. My lord," He looks hesitant to reveal anything, but continues when it looks like the older half-demon has his mind set to exert himself further. "My lord n-never leaves without making proper precautions."

'I knew it! The fucking coward. How can he maintain so many barriers when he is hardly here? Even Naraku had to stay put if he wanted to put up a very powerful one and this fucker has many. There has to be something else going on here'. "Then help me out."

Inuyasha already predicted his reaction, but it still takes all his self-control not to groan in frustration. The kid takes a few steps back before staring quietly at his bare feet. He uses his indigo hair to shield himself from view before murmuring, "I-I cannot—"

"You can! You just said you wanted to help."

"E-Even if I c-could, t-the m-main problem is the primary barrier b-between the mountains and the f-forests."

"DON'T mess with me!" Even though Inuyasha has never put his hands on the boy and hardly poses a threat in his current condition, he still scrambles back until he is well out of range of what the captive's ankle brace allows. "I KNOW you can come and go as you please through this damn barrier."

"Y-Yes b-but that is o-only by my m-master's a-allowance. I-I have no c-control…" One murderous glare is enough to change his mind over pleading his case.

"Look kid, you need to man up. Haven't yah' learned that yet?" When the hanyou was a brat on his own, he learned the hard way that being spineless will only lead to an early demise. In this horrid world of humans and youkai it is kill or be killed. Protect or attack.

"…"

"Don't yah' know if you don't start making yah' own moves, and thinking for yourself yah' ain't going to make it? Haven't you been through enough to know that by now?"

"…" He risks a peek through his bangs and Inuyasha can see the ever-present fear and worry in his large jade eyes, but he can also spy something else. His eyes are clouded by an emptiness he, himself has known as a child.

"You know that Khuzaimah is shit."

"Ah! Uh, n-no ano—"

"You know it! You've probably seen more horrors than anyone." Just last week the dairyu was bragging about his most recent "culling" of the lower roosts. Apparently, Tatsuya was there to witness it and the young child looked absolutely devastated afterwards. He refused to speak at all and for days he could be heard screaming himself awake at night. "How many more folks do you have to watch die? By you being too scared to do anything you are just as responsible as he is. Just as much of a coward."

At this accusation, Tatsuya averts his gaze back to the ground in shame. Even from this distance, Inuyasha can see his shoulders shaking.

"When are you going to be your own man? How much longer do yah' think you have before Khuzaimah turns on you too? Yah' really think you're going to last much longer like this? I don't know what your ma' is like, but I'm sure she wouldn't want to come back home to the corpse of her son—"

Before he can get out his next few words, the ryu snaps to attention like someone just hit him in the back of the head. The usual frenzied look is back in his eyes and he offers a hurried bow before dashing for the exit.

"Wait—!"

"P-Please forgive me Inuyasha-sama. P-Please do not hesitate to call on me if you r-require my assistance." And in a blink of an eye he throws himself of the ledge of the cliff and out of sight.

"Shimatta!" 'What now? I am running out of time.' "Ugh!" Right on cue a sharp cramp brings him to his knees. He props himself against the wall and tries to rub slow soothing circles on his tummy. "Yeah, yeah I know. Calm down. Everything will be fine. We'll figure something out."

….

A few hours later, he is almost crippled by pain. He is laying in a nest made of leaves, twigs, and feathers with Tatsuya at his side. His contractions have reached excruciating levels and are barely a minute apart. The ryu at his side has been doing his best to ensure the hanyou's well-being. He has a cool rag on his forehead and there are basins of water and rags at the ready. However, for the last hour Tatsuya has not been able to do much besides try to keep him comfortable. Like Khuzaimah stated before, he has never let a male live long enough to bear young, so the boy does not know what to do. The stars cover the night sky and the small fire illuminates the cavern well enough for Inuyasha to see the concern in the young boy's face, which does little to quell his own rising panic. "G-Gomenasai I-Inuyasha-sama, I-I do not k-know what to do." To avoid crying out, he focuses only on his breathing and tries to ignore the frantic youth at his side. For now, he keeps his eyes screwed shut and does his best not to take out his frustrations on the one person trying to help him. "M-My lord is close by. I can go f-find—"

"N—ngh! No! I, hah, don't need, hah, that son of a bitch here." 'In fact, that is the last thing I need. As soon as I have these pups, I'm going to find a way to take them to safety. But how? I don't know anything about giving birth! What do I do besides wait?'

"B-But—"

"Do—ugh NOT, ngh call that fucking bastard."

"Who is this 'fucking bastard' you are speaking of?" Opening his eyes, he finds the last person he wants to see leering at him from the opening of the grotto. The smug look on the ryu lord's pale face is enough to drive him up a damn wall, but he settles for a heated glower instead. "You could not possibly be referring to me, the great Khuzaimah-sama that way, could you?"

Tatsuya prostrates himself on the ground before the half-demon can dig himself an early grave. "N-No my lord! W-We would n-never—"

"Shut up." He interrupts with cool hiss before turning his grin back to his struggling prisoner. "So is my little bitch finally ready to give birth to my children?"

"Go to hell!"

"Hm hmm. You never learn your lesson, do you? After all this time you insist on displaying this absurd level of insolence. And you wonder why I resort to violence. It is not what I prefer, believe it or not. You are simply the most problematic and unruly cur I have ever had the displeasure of taming. You think I enjoy having to punish you? Heh." The question hardly leaves his lips before he raises a hand to hide his snicker.

"You're so full of—ugh, damn it." Another contraction almost takes his breath away. Khuzaimah watches the fair-haired male squirm in discomfort for a little while longer before making his approach. "Get—ah away."

He raises his scaled hand; brandishing his sharp claws as he flexes his fingers. "I think it is time we rip out these little monstrosities, don't you? I am sick of listening to you bitch and moan every day. As if you needed another reason to do so."

When he reaches out for him, Inuyasha slashes out as hard as he can muster and follows up with a warning growl when the dragon draws back in pain. "I'm warning you. Stay. Away."

Khuzaimah pauses and stares at his hand with an eerily blank expression. The daihanyou actually managed to claw past his scales and he watches as the thick, green, reptilian blood drips down his ivory skinned arm.

Tatsuya backtracks to the opposite side of the cavern as a dangerous silence settles over the cave dwellers. For too long a pause no one moves, and no one says anything. They can almost hear the drip-drip of the pure dragon's blood hitting the floor over Inuyasha's labored breathing.

"So," His hiss is barely louder than a whisper. "Your boldness has reached new heights, I see. You dare spill my blood? Me—the great nephew of the ryu spirt, Ryukotsusei?"

"You call that spilling blood? Just wait till' I get out of here."

His demonic ruby orbs snap down to meet his defiant golden glare as he bares his teeth. "You filthy bitch. I will gut you like a fish and let the kamis decide if you ever see the light of day again."

"Don't you dare tou—"

"Shut your impudent mouth." In a too quick motion, he grabs the younger male's wrist before using his other hand to slash open his stomach.

For a moment everything feels like it is moving in slow motion. He does not feel any pain. His ears sound muffled. Khuzaimah's image is a fuzzy blur as he reaches down and inside of him. He is vaguely aware of him roughly rummaging through his guts, but he is so shocked he can hardly feel it. He can only hear and feel the frantic beats of his heart slamming against his rib cage.

And then a shrill cry pierces the fogginess. This cry is closely followed by another desperate wail.

Just like that, his world comes rushing back in a whirlwind of chaos. He is not afforded the opportunity to see the whining pups because Khuzaimah quickly turns his back on him. Inuyasha can see him staring down at them as they cry and scream for their mother's comfort. 'I'm here. I'm right here.' He reaches out a wobbly blood-soaked hand, but Khuzaimah starts towards exit before he can call out to them.

Through the ringing in his ears, he can hear the other male sigh as he regards the howling newborns in his arms. "How utterly disappointing. It appears my superior bloodline was not enough to nullify the taint of your mother's. But what am I to expect?"

"Khu—" Blood is pooling in his mouth and threatening to choke him. His middle is on fire while the rest of his body feels so cold, but his focus is on none of that right now. 'Where is he taking them?' "What—are you, ngh."

"It is a shame. The first time I allow a male to carry my offspring and I am rewarded with these worthless worms."

"Khuzaimah…" 'Why is he going to the edge of the cliff?"

"Well if your bitch of a mother survives, we can always try again, hm? We will call you two the first failed experiments, Disgrace and Disappointment. What fitting names, hahaha."

"KHUZAIMAH!" He almost does choke, but he spits out the coppery fluid before shouting through the pain. "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING?!"

"Oh?" The dairyu stops at the very precipice of the mountain face before looking over his shoulder as if he forgot the hanyou existed. The smile that usually infuriates Inuyasha, in this moment, makes his blood run cold. "Is it not obvious? I have no room in my kingdom for trash. And there is only one place I keep trash."

His heart drops to the floor as he holds the crying pair over the abyss. Inuyasha still cannot see them, but he can tell from their silhouettes that their father is holding them right over the lip of the surface. One wrong move and...'No…' "S-Stop! Khuzaimah don't you dare!"

"Are you trying to order me around?"

"Please…"

"Hmm, perhaps if you had been a good boy, I would have considered it. But I do not think you are in good enough standing with me to be asking any favors."

"DON'T YOU DO IT! PLEASE! PLEASE DON'T! I'LL DO ANYTHING—"

"Oh, but this is far beyond you or me. I cannot go against destiny. Not even I am that divine."

"NO! DON'T—"

"Trash is trash."

"N—" The words catch in is his throat as he drops the terrified and confused younglings. Their cries fade into nothingness as they fall to the base of the mountain. He listens for them until once again there is silence.

"Shame." Khuzaimah hides a chuckle in his sleeve before glancing back again. "I suppose if you survive the night, I will see you once I return. Keep this moment in mind the next time you think about defying me." He spreads his raven colored wings before launching off and taking flight into the darkness.

'What…what just happened…' In a matter of seconds, the pups he carried for the last eight weeks are gone. His pups. The ones he spent all day and all night soothing, whispering promises, and protecting with everything he had…are gone. It does not feel real. He cannot fathom that he just laid there and watched the infanticide of his own children. He promised. He promised to protect them and now they are…

"I-Inuyasha sama, p-please lay back p-properly s-so I can treat your injuries." He stares at the boy suddenly at his side with wide, blurry eyes as he tries to position him to lay back down. When the hanyou resists his efforts, he gives him a pleading yet sympathetic look. "P-Please sir, I-I need to help you, or you will d-die—"

"Go check on them."

"S-Sir?"

"My children…go."

"B-But, sir, they are surely…a-and you—"

"P-Please." He stops to choke back the sobs threatening to tear apart his aching chest. "Please. Just check."

The youngster falters for a second longer before allowing his shoulders to slump in defeat. "I-I will be quick, s-so hold on Lord Inuyasha." The words do not register at all as he clenches his fists and watches the kid run off as quickly as his scrawny legs will carry him.

It is getting harder and harder to draw his next breath. He knows he should be in unimaginable agony, but his body is cold and numb. The edge of his vision is growing dark and he is trembling from head to toe. His entire being is compelling him to slip away, but he cannot. He has to know. 'It is possible. They bounced back after I tried to starve them out. They're strong. I know they are. They have to be. Those little heartbeats were so full of life and passion—are so full of life and passion. Please, to whatever Kami is listening, please let them be okay. I could not bear it otherwise. Just grant me this one prayer.'

"L-Lord I-Inuyasha?" He did not realize he closed his eyes until he opens them to find the ryu-child stitching and dressing the gash across his abdomen. How long has it been? "Y-You have to try and s-stay awake."

'When did he? How long have I? It doesn't matter.' "Wh…" His throat feels like it is trying to close up on him entirely, but he swallows and tries again until he can finally croak out, "Where are they?"

"…" Tatsuya meets his glossy honey eyes and then quickly bows his head away from the vulnerable half-breed. "A-Ano…your, t-the i-infants…they did not—the fall was t-too great, I-I am sorry…"

He does not have to say anymore. He can feel his heart breaking in two. He cannot breathe. The room is spinning so violently, he wants to vomit. And yet, somehow when he speaks again it is with an uncanny calm. "And they were?"

"Huh?"

"Sons…or daughters?"

"…I-I think it was one b-boy and o-one girl." He murmurs as he works frantically to stabilize the hanyou's critical conditional.

"Inus…or?"

"I-I," Inuyasha can hear the somber quiver to his timid voice and knows it was probably a heart wrenching sight. "I could not tell. I'm sorry." He finally manages in a low whisper.

The lump in his throat stops him from saying anymore. He stares up at the rocky ceiling as his vision once again fades to black. 'I failed. It was my duty to protect them. And I failed…'

….