Two years later, nearly all the shards had been collected.
Keike was standing on the balcony, observing Sesshoumaru and their young child Sikei battle. He had been born shortly after her first encounter with Sesshoumaru. It amazed her how quickly her little youkai had grown. She knew as a hanyou she grew at an amazing pace, but because Sikei was only a quarter human and he took on mostly full youkai characterisitics, he grew double the rate of a hanyou. He looked like a young child, around seven years of age.
He was an exact replica of Sesshoumaru, and he had inherited both father and mother's powers. The little youkai was as solemn as his father, which seemed unnatural to Keike, but every now and then he suprised her by crawling into her lap or wrapping himself around her kimono. Sesshoumaru had taken to training the pup since he could walk and talk. He had planned to make him a fierce warrior since Keike annouced she would be having his pup.
She smiled as she pictured it. Sikei was like Sesshoumaru in almost everyway, hiding his emotions, not being able to affectionate, but every now and then they would both shock her. Her two youkai boys.
Rin had taken part in taking care of the boy and Keike, as much as Keike would allow her to since she had taken over the duty of her mother. Sesshoumaru had said nothing much about it, but simply let her do what she wished. Rin was the same little girl she had always been only she began to constantly follow around Sikei because she had not had contact with any children since her family died.
Sikei did not seem to mind, in fact he seemed to watch out for her in his own little way. This made Keike very uncomfortable, remembering painful memories.
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Sesshoumaru dodged the fallen black ash tree that Sikei had try to bring down on him. The boy was powerful despite his tainted blood.
Looking at the boy was like looking into the past at his former self as a pup. He would train him to make his powers excel and the boy would help him kill his bastard brother and take the Tetsusaiga.
The two youkai trained until the sun went down when Rin came to fetch Sikei. Sesshoumaru released his son from training and let Rin take him away.
He looked at the balcony where Keike was gazing down at him. It had seemed like only yesterday she had agreed to be his mate. It was beyond all reason why he accepted. He did not feel anything in particular towards her, but she still haunted his mind.
His actions towards her were no longer coarse towards, and he accepted a certain amount of affection from her after they mated, but he was unsure about how he felt. It was better not to think about it, and just have her there to take care of Rin and Sikei.
Keike broke her gaze when she heard Rin calling and went to tend to her. Sesshoumaru almost leapt up to the balcony, when a wicked scent filled the air. It was familiar scent, he ducked out of sight.
A white figured appeared in the forest, a baboon. Sesshoumaru examined the figure, it was Naraku. He hadn't seen him in a while. "Sesshoumaru... I know you are watching me" Naraku suddenly said.
The wolf youkai smiled and came down to confront Naraku. "Well, have you come for my help with Inuyasha, baka?" Sesshoumaru asked tauntingly. Naraku, lowered his hood and for the first time Sesshoumaru looked upon the face of the youkai.
His mind rushed with thoughts, "Why would he lower his hood? He has never done it before, what is his reason now"
"I'm not here to ask for anything fool.." Naraku's cold voice answered. "I'm here to take something.." his lips curled into a wicked smile and he let out a stream of corrosive atmosphere from his body aiming at Sesshoumaru and all his surroundings.
Sesshoumaru simply leapt into the air and avoided the poisonous atmosphere, when he looked down Naraku was gone. Suddenly, Sesshoumaru's ears picked up a small sound. Then it appeared, Rin was coughing and sputtering calling out his name. "Sesshoumaru" she paused coughing, the youki was burning her. Sesshoumaru sped toward her but never made it, a heated blast of youki burned through his chest. "No.." he said choking on blood. He hit the ground half dead, the last thing he saw was Rin's little body being burned and Naraku taking off towards the castle.
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Sikei lifted his head from his mother's lap, there was something heavy in the air. An... his father's scent mingled with blood. Keike had sensed it too. Sikei got up nearly bursting through the doors, but his mother held him back. "NO, stay here I need you to protect the castle and Rin, find Rin!" she yelled before hauling ass out of the balcony and through the forest.
The air was poisonous and a cloud of black youki blocked her view. The scent of Sesshoumaru's blood was everywhere. But there was one more person's blood she could smell. "It's human....Rin.." Keike said softly as she came across the child's body. Her face was contorted, as if she was still looking at something in the distant, Keike lifted the little child's body and walked in the direction of the other corpse.
"Kei---ke" Sesshoumaru said weakly. He wasn't dead, Keike thought overcome with emotion, she reached out to him. "Sesshoumaru, stay still I will take you back to the castle, I could sense Naraku some where nearby but I'm not sure whe--"
"LEAVE ME" he said fiercely, "He's heading towards the castle... he lured us away... to get Sikei. Its the only thing I can think of". Keike panicked, she put Rin's body down and slid her arms around him, wanting to cry but not show her weakness "Sesshomaru.."
Sesshoumaru's heart was overcome, it was grief, here was this person holding him and suffering because of his imminent death. He softly touched her hair "Keike... you have to leave" he said softly.
"I won't...." she answered. A little anger arose in him "LEAVE ME DAMNIT" he said as he shoved her away "Go save Sikei!" He gripped his wound and choked a bit, and suddenly he couldn't breathe.
His body went limp, and drained of color. "Sessho-maru.." Keike said, as the tears rolled down her face. She saw the Tenseiga and raged, "WHY DIDN'T YOU SAVE YOURSELF..." she screamed, and the tears flowed. Keike grabbed the Tenseiga and swung it towards him. It did nothing. Sesshoumaru knew he had the Tenseiga and didn't save himself.
*In his mind before he died*
Sesshoumaru laid on the ground, trying to bite back from screaming. His body burned, it ached. In his moment of death, he thought of the cruel irony. He had killed Kita-san in her moment of weakness and now his life had been taken by Naraku, in his moment of weakness when he saw Rin getting hurt.
It was a fitting end to the wolf demon, he thought. He could use the Tenseiga and save himself easily, but perhaps it was fate he was dying this way.
He smelled Keike nearby, and braced himself for her reaction. He had to get her to leave him and get Sikei.
*End flashback*
Keike growled softly, and looked at Sesshoumaru and Rin's corpses. She had to save her son before Naraku reached him.
She practically cut the forest in half running back to the castle. Leaping onto the balcony she found Naraku was in a deep conversation with Sikei. "Tell me boy, do you think you can really kill me?" Naraku's cold voice asked him.
Sikei took notice of his mother scent, and prepared for her arrival. "You don't like to talk do you boy?" Naraku asked with a grin.
Suddenly he found himself being shoved to the ground violently. Sikei lept over him and grabbed his mother's hand, this was not a battle they could easily win alone especially since Naraku had taken the life of Sesshoumaru.
"Mama, wheres father?" Sikei asked very worried as they ran through the forest. "Your father's dead Sikei.." Keike replied solemnly.
Sikei's face was filled with anger and fear. If they could manage to hide from Naraku for just a moment they could perhaps figure out why he wanted Sikei and where they would go next.
Keike had her son running along side of her without looking back once, they hadn't sensed Naraku at all but they were not taking chances.
Soon the sun would be coming up, and they hadn't found a suitable place to rest yet.
_____________
Inuyasha and the group were one step ahead of Naraku, the last time they battled they had managed to break his big Shikon shard and take half of it, while barely wounding him.
They were resting for the long battle they had against him. He could show up at anytime and decide it was time to take his shard back.
Miroku and Inuyasha were collecting wood for a fire while the girls were cleaning off at the spring near by. The spring was misty because of the waterfall that continually added water to it. "Kagome!" Sango called out, she had barely moved a few inches and had lost sight of her in a moment because of the thick mist. "I'm right here Sango-chan" she replied holding out her hand.
"I hope we have time to rest before we have to take on Naraku again" Kagome said. "Inuyasha is exhausted and I don't think he would be able to hold out much if he attacked right now"
Kagome turned to see if Sango was paying attention, but she found that Sango was in fighting stance looking around cautiously. "Theres someone here.." she whispered.
"Its a youkai..."
No sooner had Sango finished her sentence, two images immerged from the mist. She threw her boomerang with all her strength.
The figure simply tossed it aside. "What??" Sango said a bit annoyed
When the figure immerged Kagome nearly fell into the spring. "Keike....KEIKE?? Are you...a ghost..?"
Keike looked at her and shook her head "I need to speak with you all.." she said calmly. "There is no time to waste." Kagome and Sango led Keike back to the camp where Miroku and Inuyasha waited.
Inuyasha was stunned and was at a loss for words, the rest of the group quietly gazed at her. "I see you kept to your word and told them I was dead..I appreciate it Inuyasha" Keike said.
Kagome took notice that something was attached to her back.
"Eh..Keike, what is that?" she asked inquistively trying to break the awkward silence. "Sikei.. come out from behind me. These people won't hurt you." Keike said coaxing him to come out.
Sikei slowly stepped out from behind his momma. He saw a sea of unfamiliar faces gaping at him like he was an unusual creature.
"HE LOOKS JUST LIKE MY...BROTHER!" Inuyasha blurted out. "Brilliant conclusion genious" Shippou said sarcastically immerging from behind Sango.
Sikei looked at them with an immense gaze, his amber eyes studied Inuyasha's. "What are you staring at brat!" he screamed. A few moments after he found himself eating dirt. Sikei had knocked him off his feet, and almost impaled him with his sword, but Keike called him away.
Inuyasha got up brushing himself off "He is crazy like that bastard Sesshoumaru.." Sikei growled at him ready to pounce again, but Keike held him back.
"Sesshoumaru is dead.." she said plainly.
Once again the whole group silenced. Keike decided she had wasted enough time "Naraku attacked him and went after Sikei after he had killed Sesshoumaru and Rin.." The group remained silent, "I don't know what he wants with Sikei and I don't want to know. I have to get him as far away from Naraku as I can."
Kagome was more than ready to help, but Inuyasha was ready to walk off. "What is wrong with you Inuyasha??" Kagome said angerly "This is your chance to make it up to her, help her get away from Naraku. And when we destroy him everything will go back to normal!"
Inuyasha looked into Kagome's eyes, he remembered Keike's words before she shoved him off the balcony "Go back to Kagome..."
He could not help his bastard brother's son, and he refused to even look at Keike. Kagome turned around sighing "Keike, just stay with us and we will protect you and your son!" Sango said. "We were thrilled to see your alive and well!" Miroku chipped in trying to make everything a bit more cheerful.
Keike looked at them, the prospect of traveling with them troubled her. She knew they had Shikon shards and they would attract Naraku like a magnet.
"Sikei and I will stay with you tonight, but we will be leaving tomorrow morning" she said, trying to keep them from protesting. They all agreed, except for Inuyasha who was hidden amongst the trees.
That night they talked of old times, while they questioned Keike of her life with Sesshoumaru. Sango and Kagome believed their relationship was tragic, but Keike paid them no heed.
Kagome noticed a tinge of coldness in Keike's voice since she had arrived. She had changed so much since the last time they had seen each other. Almost as emotionless as Sesshoumaru.
Little Sikei, sat quietly next to his mother. He said nothing, not even when Shippou tried to coerce him into talking. He was the living image of Sesshoumaru.
Pretty soon everyone laid to rest, except for Keike who had Sikei's head laying in her lap. They were quietly talking about what they were going to do. Kagome began to notice, that aside from Keike's coldness her face was full of concern when she spoke to her son.
Keike looked up at Inuyasha who was still in the tree. His anger could be felt all the way from across the forest.
___________________
Naraku held the hand of his eldest daughther Kanna, they sensed the Inuyasha was close by and were looking for an easy battle to be won. Kanna had managed to mask their scent, so they would be able to suprise them. They wouldn't know what hit them.
Keike was standing on the balcony, observing Sesshoumaru and their young child Sikei battle. He had been born shortly after her first encounter with Sesshoumaru. It amazed her how quickly her little youkai had grown. She knew as a hanyou she grew at an amazing pace, but because Sikei was only a quarter human and he took on mostly full youkai characterisitics, he grew double the rate of a hanyou. He looked like a young child, around seven years of age.
He was an exact replica of Sesshoumaru, and he had inherited both father and mother's powers. The little youkai was as solemn as his father, which seemed unnatural to Keike, but every now and then he suprised her by crawling into her lap or wrapping himself around her kimono. Sesshoumaru had taken to training the pup since he could walk and talk. He had planned to make him a fierce warrior since Keike annouced she would be having his pup.
She smiled as she pictured it. Sikei was like Sesshoumaru in almost everyway, hiding his emotions, not being able to affectionate, but every now and then they would both shock her. Her two youkai boys.
Rin had taken part in taking care of the boy and Keike, as much as Keike would allow her to since she had taken over the duty of her mother. Sesshoumaru had said nothing much about it, but simply let her do what she wished. Rin was the same little girl she had always been only she began to constantly follow around Sikei because she had not had contact with any children since her family died.
Sikei did not seem to mind, in fact he seemed to watch out for her in his own little way. This made Keike very uncomfortable, remembering painful memories.
__________________________
Sesshoumaru dodged the fallen black ash tree that Sikei had try to bring down on him. The boy was powerful despite his tainted blood.
Looking at the boy was like looking into the past at his former self as a pup. He would train him to make his powers excel and the boy would help him kill his bastard brother and take the Tetsusaiga.
The two youkai trained until the sun went down when Rin came to fetch Sikei. Sesshoumaru released his son from training and let Rin take him away.
He looked at the balcony where Keike was gazing down at him. It had seemed like only yesterday she had agreed to be his mate. It was beyond all reason why he accepted. He did not feel anything in particular towards her, but she still haunted his mind.
His actions towards her were no longer coarse towards, and he accepted a certain amount of affection from her after they mated, but he was unsure about how he felt. It was better not to think about it, and just have her there to take care of Rin and Sikei.
Keike broke her gaze when she heard Rin calling and went to tend to her. Sesshoumaru almost leapt up to the balcony, when a wicked scent filled the air. It was familiar scent, he ducked out of sight.
A white figured appeared in the forest, a baboon. Sesshoumaru examined the figure, it was Naraku. He hadn't seen him in a while. "Sesshoumaru... I know you are watching me" Naraku suddenly said.
The wolf youkai smiled and came down to confront Naraku. "Well, have you come for my help with Inuyasha, baka?" Sesshoumaru asked tauntingly. Naraku, lowered his hood and for the first time Sesshoumaru looked upon the face of the youkai.
His mind rushed with thoughts, "Why would he lower his hood? He has never done it before, what is his reason now"
"I'm not here to ask for anything fool.." Naraku's cold voice answered. "I'm here to take something.." his lips curled into a wicked smile and he let out a stream of corrosive atmosphere from his body aiming at Sesshoumaru and all his surroundings.
Sesshoumaru simply leapt into the air and avoided the poisonous atmosphere, when he looked down Naraku was gone. Suddenly, Sesshoumaru's ears picked up a small sound. Then it appeared, Rin was coughing and sputtering calling out his name. "Sesshoumaru" she paused coughing, the youki was burning her. Sesshoumaru sped toward her but never made it, a heated blast of youki burned through his chest. "No.." he said choking on blood. He hit the ground half dead, the last thing he saw was Rin's little body being burned and Naraku taking off towards the castle.
__________________________
Sikei lifted his head from his mother's lap, there was something heavy in the air. An... his father's scent mingled with blood. Keike had sensed it too. Sikei got up nearly bursting through the doors, but his mother held him back. "NO, stay here I need you to protect the castle and Rin, find Rin!" she yelled before hauling ass out of the balcony and through the forest.
The air was poisonous and a cloud of black youki blocked her view. The scent of Sesshoumaru's blood was everywhere. But there was one more person's blood she could smell. "It's human....Rin.." Keike said softly as she came across the child's body. Her face was contorted, as if she was still looking at something in the distant, Keike lifted the little child's body and walked in the direction of the other corpse.
"Kei---ke" Sesshoumaru said weakly. He wasn't dead, Keike thought overcome with emotion, she reached out to him. "Sesshoumaru, stay still I will take you back to the castle, I could sense Naraku some where nearby but I'm not sure whe--"
"LEAVE ME" he said fiercely, "He's heading towards the castle... he lured us away... to get Sikei. Its the only thing I can think of". Keike panicked, she put Rin's body down and slid her arms around him, wanting to cry but not show her weakness "Sesshomaru.."
Sesshoumaru's heart was overcome, it was grief, here was this person holding him and suffering because of his imminent death. He softly touched her hair "Keike... you have to leave" he said softly.
"I won't...." she answered. A little anger arose in him "LEAVE ME DAMNIT" he said as he shoved her away "Go save Sikei!" He gripped his wound and choked a bit, and suddenly he couldn't breathe.
His body went limp, and drained of color. "Sessho-maru.." Keike said, as the tears rolled down her face. She saw the Tenseiga and raged, "WHY DIDN'T YOU SAVE YOURSELF..." she screamed, and the tears flowed. Keike grabbed the Tenseiga and swung it towards him. It did nothing. Sesshoumaru knew he had the Tenseiga and didn't save himself.
*In his mind before he died*
Sesshoumaru laid on the ground, trying to bite back from screaming. His body burned, it ached. In his moment of death, he thought of the cruel irony. He had killed Kita-san in her moment of weakness and now his life had been taken by Naraku, in his moment of weakness when he saw Rin getting hurt.
It was a fitting end to the wolf demon, he thought. He could use the Tenseiga and save himself easily, but perhaps it was fate he was dying this way.
He smelled Keike nearby, and braced himself for her reaction. He had to get her to leave him and get Sikei.
*End flashback*
Keike growled softly, and looked at Sesshoumaru and Rin's corpses. She had to save her son before Naraku reached him.
She practically cut the forest in half running back to the castle. Leaping onto the balcony she found Naraku was in a deep conversation with Sikei. "Tell me boy, do you think you can really kill me?" Naraku's cold voice asked him.
Sikei took notice of his mother scent, and prepared for her arrival. "You don't like to talk do you boy?" Naraku asked with a grin.
Suddenly he found himself being shoved to the ground violently. Sikei lept over him and grabbed his mother's hand, this was not a battle they could easily win alone especially since Naraku had taken the life of Sesshoumaru.
"Mama, wheres father?" Sikei asked very worried as they ran through the forest. "Your father's dead Sikei.." Keike replied solemnly.
Sikei's face was filled with anger and fear. If they could manage to hide from Naraku for just a moment they could perhaps figure out why he wanted Sikei and where they would go next.
Keike had her son running along side of her without looking back once, they hadn't sensed Naraku at all but they were not taking chances.
Soon the sun would be coming up, and they hadn't found a suitable place to rest yet.
_____________
Inuyasha and the group were one step ahead of Naraku, the last time they battled they had managed to break his big Shikon shard and take half of it, while barely wounding him.
They were resting for the long battle they had against him. He could show up at anytime and decide it was time to take his shard back.
Miroku and Inuyasha were collecting wood for a fire while the girls were cleaning off at the spring near by. The spring was misty because of the waterfall that continually added water to it. "Kagome!" Sango called out, she had barely moved a few inches and had lost sight of her in a moment because of the thick mist. "I'm right here Sango-chan" she replied holding out her hand.
"I hope we have time to rest before we have to take on Naraku again" Kagome said. "Inuyasha is exhausted and I don't think he would be able to hold out much if he attacked right now"
Kagome turned to see if Sango was paying attention, but she found that Sango was in fighting stance looking around cautiously. "Theres someone here.." she whispered.
"Its a youkai..."
No sooner had Sango finished her sentence, two images immerged from the mist. She threw her boomerang with all her strength.
The figure simply tossed it aside. "What??" Sango said a bit annoyed
When the figure immerged Kagome nearly fell into the spring. "Keike....KEIKE?? Are you...a ghost..?"
Keike looked at her and shook her head "I need to speak with you all.." she said calmly. "There is no time to waste." Kagome and Sango led Keike back to the camp where Miroku and Inuyasha waited.
Inuyasha was stunned and was at a loss for words, the rest of the group quietly gazed at her. "I see you kept to your word and told them I was dead..I appreciate it Inuyasha" Keike said.
Kagome took notice that something was attached to her back.
"Eh..Keike, what is that?" she asked inquistively trying to break the awkward silence. "Sikei.. come out from behind me. These people won't hurt you." Keike said coaxing him to come out.
Sikei slowly stepped out from behind his momma. He saw a sea of unfamiliar faces gaping at him like he was an unusual creature.
"HE LOOKS JUST LIKE MY...BROTHER!" Inuyasha blurted out. "Brilliant conclusion genious" Shippou said sarcastically immerging from behind Sango.
Sikei looked at them with an immense gaze, his amber eyes studied Inuyasha's. "What are you staring at brat!" he screamed. A few moments after he found himself eating dirt. Sikei had knocked him off his feet, and almost impaled him with his sword, but Keike called him away.
Inuyasha got up brushing himself off "He is crazy like that bastard Sesshoumaru.." Sikei growled at him ready to pounce again, but Keike held him back.
"Sesshoumaru is dead.." she said plainly.
Once again the whole group silenced. Keike decided she had wasted enough time "Naraku attacked him and went after Sikei after he had killed Sesshoumaru and Rin.." The group remained silent, "I don't know what he wants with Sikei and I don't want to know. I have to get him as far away from Naraku as I can."
Kagome was more than ready to help, but Inuyasha was ready to walk off. "What is wrong with you Inuyasha??" Kagome said angerly "This is your chance to make it up to her, help her get away from Naraku. And when we destroy him everything will go back to normal!"
Inuyasha looked into Kagome's eyes, he remembered Keike's words before she shoved him off the balcony "Go back to Kagome..."
He could not help his bastard brother's son, and he refused to even look at Keike. Kagome turned around sighing "Keike, just stay with us and we will protect you and your son!" Sango said. "We were thrilled to see your alive and well!" Miroku chipped in trying to make everything a bit more cheerful.
Keike looked at them, the prospect of traveling with them troubled her. She knew they had Shikon shards and they would attract Naraku like a magnet.
"Sikei and I will stay with you tonight, but we will be leaving tomorrow morning" she said, trying to keep them from protesting. They all agreed, except for Inuyasha who was hidden amongst the trees.
That night they talked of old times, while they questioned Keike of her life with Sesshoumaru. Sango and Kagome believed their relationship was tragic, but Keike paid them no heed.
Kagome noticed a tinge of coldness in Keike's voice since she had arrived. She had changed so much since the last time they had seen each other. Almost as emotionless as Sesshoumaru.
Little Sikei, sat quietly next to his mother. He said nothing, not even when Shippou tried to coerce him into talking. He was the living image of Sesshoumaru.
Pretty soon everyone laid to rest, except for Keike who had Sikei's head laying in her lap. They were quietly talking about what they were going to do. Kagome began to notice, that aside from Keike's coldness her face was full of concern when she spoke to her son.
Keike looked up at Inuyasha who was still in the tree. His anger could be felt all the way from across the forest.
___________________
Naraku held the hand of his eldest daughther Kanna, they sensed the Inuyasha was close by and were looking for an easy battle to be won. Kanna had managed to mask their scent, so they would be able to suprise them. They wouldn't know what hit them.