Disclaimers: I do not own Inu-Yasha and Co. It is the respective property of Rumiko Takahashi

What Fate Decides. Part 7

Lady Sakura stared blankly at the piece of paper, which clutched in her fist. She unfolded it and read the message over again. A single tear fell, hitting the paper and slurring the words.

Sessho-maru walked into the quiet chambers of his now deceased father. The lady, who had captured his father's heart, sat silently weeping on the futon which Lord Inu no Toshi had slept.

Cold hatred grasped his heart. He loathed the woman whom had given birth to his worthless half-breed brother. He would eliminate both problems in one night.

***

Kagome ruffled the sleeping child's soft, white hair and scratched one of the adorable, fluffy puppy ears. She closed the door gently behind her as she left the room.

She made her way silently toward Lady Sakura's room. Early that morning, a message had been brought to the home bringing the unfortunate news of Lord Inu no Toshi's death.

Lady Sakura's door was ajar and Kagome peered around it slowly; something did not bode well with her. Her throat constricted and her heart nearly stopped. She watched as her friend fell to the floor and blood congealed around the body. She clamped her hands over her mouth to hold back a horrified scream.

Sessho-maru loomed over Lady Sakura's corpse and snickered, "Heh! Now I can get rid of the little mutt. My bastard brother will not rule over my father's lands, but first I must get ridof this body."

Kagome turned and ran; she had to get little Inu chan out of here! She rushed into his room and picked up the sleeping child. "I will explain everything," she whispered as she threw on her cloak and pulled up her hood. She made sure Inu-Yasha was well hidden inside.

Kagome closed the heavy oak doors as she left the home and held tight to the small child. The rain blurred her vision, and plastered her hair to her forehead. The harsh wind stung her cheeks and lashed a few stray pieces of hair across her face.

She considered the rain to be a blessing; it would wash their scent away and give them time to get further away from the western lands and out of Sessho-maru's reach. She had no time to mourn; she had to keep going

The mud made it difficult to climb up over hills; her feet kept slipping forcing her to scrabble as fast as she could over rocks and other debris. She trudged warily through the forest, trying to save the child and herself from this hellish nightmare.

***

Sessho-maru thrust the body of Lady Sakura into a shallow ditch and returned to his home. Well, he guessed that now he wouldn't have to wait to claim Kagome! Awww. but first he would have to get rid of another small problem.

He entered room and let out a low growl when he realized that the brat wasn't there! He tore down the hall and ripped open Kagome's door. He let out a string of curses, and picked up his retainer, Jaken, who had been standing behind him.

"Get a search ready!" Sessho-maru snarled and flicked Jaken to the floor. "I want Kagome and the fucking mutt brought back here! Do you understand?!"

"Y-yes, M'Lord!" Jaken squeaked and ran off to assemble some men.

Sessho-maru sighed in disgust; he would get them back! He wasn't going to let her escape him.ever!

To be continued.