[A/N: It's here! It's here! No, not Christmas, stupid, the lemon! It's here! Anyway, if you're an ff.net reader, please note that this chapter will be amazingly short (you know why). If you want to read the full version, go to Media Miner. Yeah! Just…don't expect any more lemons. I had to go through the Trifecta of Trickiness. I'll explain later. INU-YASHA. NEXT. ENJOY.]

Daughter of the West

Chapter 17: New Wounds, Old Love

Many hours later, Sesshomaru couldn't tell how many it had been, but he had been awakened by something, but what it had been, he had no idea. He listened for a moment with sensitive ears, it heard crying. It took a moment to distinguish it, but in a moment, he realized who it was. "Kimi…"

He gently moved Rin off of his leg and silently stood up. He walked swiftly out of the room and back down the hall to where he had left Kimi, the same room as where the cries were coming from. He slowly stepped in, where he found Kimi crying her eyes out into a pillow. Sesshomaru, moving like a ghost, walked over to where she lay. Kimi didn't even notice him drawing near. She continued to sob, Aikina coming up most often. Sesshomaru kneeled down next to her, and gently stroked her cheek.

Kimi opened her eyes and gazed up sadly at her husband. "Oh, Sesshomaru," she sniffed trying to hold back her tears. Sesshomaru still had his usually solemn expression, not knowing how to react. Kimi sat up on her knees and put her arms around his neck, sobbing into his shoulder. "Oh, Sesshomaru…she took our daughter! Our innocent daughter! Why would someone do such a thing?" she sobbed. Sesshomaru's grip around her tightened.

He couldn't take it. He had FINALLY been reunited with the only one who ever cared about him, and now she was in so much pain…and there was literally nothing he could do. He released his grip on her and pushed her off of his shoulder, so that they were looking into each other's eyes. "Kimi," he started, "Whatever it takes, I will get Aikina back." Her eyes began to water, but it quickly faded when she was pulled into a romantic kiss.

Back at Naraku's castle, Aya walked down the dimly lit hallway, her heels clicking loudly as she walked. She had the two jewel shards that she would give to Naraku in tow, but she also had plans to visit her prisoner as well. A few moments later, she reached her destination: Naraku's quarters. She stepped in, and sure enough, the dark-haired man from before was seated in the center of the room.

"So, you've returned with the rest of my payment?" he asked briskly. Aya scowled a little and threw three pink shards on the floor before him. "Keep the third. Extra payment for being creative. The hordes of demons…brilliant," she said. Naraku smirked a little. "I also wish to visit my little jailbird," she said. Naraku's smirk grew. "Of course, but if you wish to see her though she were alive, you may want to take Kanna along," he said. Aya grinned sadistically. "Ah, so you've captured her soul. Very creative," she cooed. She bowed her head, and then exited the room, leaving Naraku to add his new shards t his collection.

Aya walked down the hall, and quickly noticed that the white-haired Kanna was following.

This is all just brilliant, she thought, Soon, Sesshomaru and his little whore will be only blood on my claws.

A few moments later, the reached a room towards the back of the castle, which contained the unconscious Aikina. As soon as Aya saw this, she laughed a little and clapped for a second, her long, green nails clicking together. She then turned to Kanna, which signaled her to release Aikina's soul from the mirror.

Aikina's eyes slowly fluttered open. "W-where…am I?" she whispered. Aya immediately delivered a kick to her gut, causing her to cry out. Aikina weakly stood up glaring at Aya. "You bitch," Aikina hissed angrily. Aya smirked a little, and then struck her on the side of the face, hitting her with two acidic claws, knocking her against the wall. Aikina clutched her face for a moment in agony. "How dare you! No one strikes the heiress of the Western Lands!" she yelled.

Aya chuckled a little. "You're brain dead as well, eh? Yet another reason you are your father's daughter," she mused. Aikina growled a little, removing her hand from her cheek, revealing two large, red scars. "I resent that man," she hissed. "As do I," Aya replied, "But you are just as stupid. What amazes me is that you have not realized that you are the daughter of a lord, and yet you are the daughter of a servant that once belonged to me," she said, her voice like acid. Aikina stood up, an angered expression on her face. "My mother is of noble blood, wench!" she yelled back.

Aya laughed even harder. "So. You're trying to tell me that you've never seen the scars on your mother's back? If you were wondering, they're from being whipped. Numerous times," she said. Aikina was stunned. "My mother…was a servant?" she whispered. Aya smirked a little. "Isn't that something. I was the one who was betrothed to Lord Sesshomaru. It was your mother who took him away from me," she growled. Aikina was even more shocked.

"You won't imagine the hell he went through because of her," Aya started, "His father disowned him, his mother was heartbroken. All the other lords who caught wind of it were disgusted, a curse that was passed on to their sons as well. All because he cared so much about my servant, my property." Aikina's heart sank. "He really does love my mother…and I was so cruel," she thought. "And now," Aya said, "Because of your arrogance and hatred, your parents will die at my hands!" Aya laughed sadistically as she turned and walked out of the room, leaving Kanna to trap Aikina's soul once again.

Aikina tried to run, but her attempts were fruitless. Kanna drew out her soul once again, and Aikina's limp form hit the ground with a thud. But before she was completely unconscious, she mouthed a single word: "Mama".

Kimi and Sesshomaru tumbled onto the futon, still locked in their kiss. As they parted from their kiss, they both breathed heavily. "Sesshomaru…" Kimi panted. As their lips met again, Kimi unknowingly laced her fingers through Sesshomaru's silver locks, and he began kissing down he neck, all the way down to the mark he had left on her all those years ago. He easily tore off the top half of her yukata, and continued kissing down her chest.

The two of them moaned in pleasure…thoroughly enjoying the short time in which they could forget all of their worries and finally make a reaffirmation of their love.