Isshi no Ichimu
By Lady Kaiba
DISCLAIMER: (that which was forgotten in the last chapter…) I dun own it, okay?!? Now leave me alone! I only like writing and playing with the characters. Rumiko Takahashi owns them, not I…
LK: Here's chapter 3…eh, not much to say now… R+R and enjoy! Oh, right…I suppose I should mention that I've been listening to Evanescence's Fallen CD, so…yeah, that's kinda been influencing me recently…although, I'm not sure if it's been affecting my writing for this fic or not…::shrug:: On with the ficcy!
~~*~~
It wasn't long before the group was on their way north. It had taken them three days to get to the border of the northern lands, and now the group was walking along a river toward, according to Sesshoumaru, a small village. Inuyasha, as usual, was walking ahead of the group, still loathing the fact that his brother was with them. Sango and Miroku walked behind him, Kagome behind them, and Sesshoumaru just behind her, while the kids walked next to Kagome. Rin was awe-struck at the beauty of the field they walked through. On their left sat lush green grass, wild flowers growing all through out it, as well as in patches. On their right was the small river, flowing in the opposite direction.
A sudden commotion caught the group's attention. Ahead of them, several people were running toward them, their attention on the water.
"HELP!!!" The Kakera hunting group halted at the cry of a little boy. "Please help!!"
"Someone, please help him!" The woman in the front yelled.
Kagome's eyes widened when she saw the boy just a ways ahead of them, thrashing in the water, trying to stay afloat. "Inuyasha, help him!"
"What am I suppose to do?!" he yelled back.
"Dive in there and pull him out, that's what!" Kagome yelled back.
"Stop yelling and go get him, Inuyasha!" Sango yelled. Sesshoumaru rolled his eyes. While the others were yelling at Inuyasha, the little boy was floating past them. Before anyone knew it, the boy was next to Kagome, coughing. Kagome knelt next to him, patting his back.
"Are you okay?" she asked, worried. The little boy's looked up at her, his short black hair disheveled and soaked. He slowly nodded.
"Hai. A-arigatou." He replied.
Kagome smiled. "You're welcome."
"Hitou!!" The young woman that had yelled earlier cried as she ran up to them. "Hitou! Are you okay?!" she asked. The little boy nodded. The young woman turned to the Kakera hunting group. "Thank you! Thank you so much for saving Hitou!" She stood and bowed to the group.
Kagome waved her hand. "It was nothing, really! We couldn't just let him drown." While she replied to the young woman, Sango smacked Inuyasha upside the head.
The young woman smiled at them. She had long black hair, pulled back into a ponytail, her skin was a pale peach, and her eyes were a shining shade of amethyst. She wore an orange kimono decorated with Ivy and Lilies that wrapped around the sleeves and bottom of the kimono. She looked to be a year younger than Kagome. "My name is Aki. Thank you for saving my little brother. Please allow me to thank you, stay with me tonight."
"That's very kind of you. I'm Sango-"
Miroku grabbed Aki's hand, bowing to her. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Aki. I am Miroku, would you do me the honor of bearing my son?" Aki stood there, shocked and blushing, before she suddenly found Miroku on the ground, unconscious. An angry Sango stood behind him, Hiraikotsu still sitting on his head.
She quickly put her boomerang back on her back. "Eheh, don't mind Miroku, he does that with every pretty girl."
Inuyasha snorted. "The stupid lecher…"
"He won't do it again, I promise." Sango continued, ignoring Inuyasha.
Hitou watched Miroku, as he lay unconscious in front of him. "Will he be okay?"
"Oh, yeah, just fine. My name's Kagome." Kagome replied.
"It's nice to meet you." Aki bowed. "Shall we go to the village? The rest of you may introduce yourselves there." She looked down at her little brother. "Hitou should get changed soon so that he doesn't get sick."
"I agree." Kagome helped Hitou up and the group walked back to the village, Inuyasha reluctantly carrying Miroku.
~~*~~
Once in the village, the Kakera hunting group had been led to a largely sized hut by the center of the village. Inside, Hitou was ushered into his room and into a new kimono while the visitors sat in the main room, patiently awaiting the return of their hosts. Kagome sat with her back against a wall, Rin and Shippou sitting on her. Rin was in her lap, and the little kit sat comfortably on her shoulder. Sesshoumaru sat next to her, with enough space between them for either Rin or Shippou, and where the neko lay, to Sesshoumaru's utter annoyance.
Miroku, whom had once again regained consciousness, sat closer to the fire, and coincidentally, disturbingly close to Sango. Sesshoumaru watched the houshi in interest, wondering when he would be knocked unconscious again. Inuyasha, grumbling, sat near the door, wanting to be away from his half brother. He also hated that he was sitting so close to Kagome. 'She better not get hurt! Thank kami the cat's there… What the hell am I thinking?! I'm acting like an overprotective older brother AND a jealous wanna-be boyfriend!' He mentally smacked himself. Still grumbling, he decided that he had acted that way because he would be pissed if she were ever hurt, and would definitely rip the Taiyoukai to pieces if he ever hurt her…in ANY way!!
Aki and Hitou walked back into the main room and took a seat near the fire, facing their guests. "So, Introductions have not been finished…" she looked at the group. "I know that you are Kagome, Sango, and Miroku," she said to the three that had introduced themselves by the river. "But who are the rest of you?"
"I'm Shippou!" The kit piped up. "And this is Rin." The ebony-haired child waved at them with a smile on her face, from her comfortable seat on Kagome's lap. She was leaning back into her chest with Kagome's arms wrapped around her. 'Much like a mother and her child.' Aki mused with a small smile. "Grumpy, over there, is Inuyasha." Shippou provided, smirking at the easily irritated hanyou.
"Shut up, pup!" Shippou just grinned and stuck his tongue out.
"Shippou! Don't provoke Inuyasha!" Kagome scolded. The kit abruptly behaved, looking up innocently. Kagome sighed, exasperated. Her hand moved to pet the neko youkai. "This is Kirara, she's Sango's neko youkai companion." She said. Kirara began to purr loudly as Kagome scratched her neck affectionately. "And the block of ice beside me is Sesshoumaru-sama." She finished. Sesshoumaru sent his secret mate a short, insulted glare, which was completely ignored.
Aki watched the taiyoukai for a while as his icy glare, oddly, did not frighten her. Sure she was a bit uneasy, but not frightened. She sensed no hostility from him. 'He has no intention of harming the village, that much is clear. But…why is he with this group?' Voicing her thoughts, she asked, "If I may ask, why is the Great Taiyoukai of the West traveling with this group?"
"What I do is my business." He replied shortly, turning his eyes momentarily to the boy, then to glare into the fire.
Kagome gave Sesshoumaru a slightly aggravated look. She turned her attention back to her hostess. "Sesshoumaru-sama is helping us because, like the rest of us, he wants to put an end to Naraku." She said. Sesshoumaru seemed to be paying attention to nothing as he watched the flames, seemingly entranced.
'Indeed. I also wish to keep my mate and pups from harm, however, they need not know that…yet…'
"I see. So you are hunting the shards as well as the evil hanyou?" Aki asked. Kagome nodded.
"Everyone here has been harmed by Naraku in one way or another." She spoke quietly.
"How do you mean?" Hitou piped up, his voice quiet and curious.
Sango sighed. "A while ago, my village was destroyed. Naraku used my little brother to do this; he controlled him like a puppet and had him kill everyone in my village. I, too, was almost killed. Kohaku came to his senses after I had been injured with his weapon. He was running to my aid when he was shot with a dozen arrows. Naraku took him back then. My little brother would have died if it wasn't for the shard Naraku placed in his back. He's still with that bastard." Sango explained, eyes filled with unshed tears.
Aki provided her with a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry for your loss." Sango nodded and hastily wiped the tears away.
Sesshoumaru glanced at the taijia. 'So that is why she pursues him.'
Miroku offered his story next. "Two generations ago, Naraku disguised himself as a beautiful woman. He fooled my grandfather, and placed a curse upon him. Every male in my family has been cursed with this wind tunnel." He said, motioning to his arm that held the prayer beads. "It has swallowed both my grandfather and father- I bore witness to his death at a young age- and the same will happen to me. This curse will not be broken until Naraku is no more." He said. His story seemed to not have affected him much, but inside, the memory and constant reminder hurt him.
"That's horrible!" Hitou said.
"It kinda explains why he's a lecher." Kagome added. Miroku gave her a look that plainly stated 'Gee, thanks.'
Aki turned her attention to Inuyasha. "What has Naraku done to you?"
Inuyasha's ears twitched nervously. He kept his golden orbs focused on the floor and offered no explanation. Kagome sighed.
"It's a very sore subject with Inuyasha. Of all of us here, he's the one with the biggest grudge against him." She said.
"What could be more horrible than Sango and Miroku's reasons?" Aki asked.
Inuyasha glared coldly at the floor. "Causing the death of you and your love." He said harshly before standing and storming out the door. The group heard as Inuyasha jumped on the roof and plopped down heavily.
Aki looked down at her lap, where her hands tightly grasped the fabric of her kimono. "How horrible…" she said barely above a whisper.
"Wait, if he died, how is he alive now?" Hitou asked, confused.
Kagome quietly offered a bit of the story. "He wasn't really dead. Naraku disguised himself as Inuyasha and attacked Kikyou, his first love. Kikyou was injured badly, and 'Inuyasha' took the jewel from her saying something like 'You really thought I'd use the jewel to fully become a human?' then he returned the jewel to the village. The real Inuyasha later stole it from the shrine it was in. While he was running from the village, Kikyou shot him with an arrow, pinning him to the God Tree and causing him to lose the jewel. He was put into a deep sleep from a spell that was on the arrow…And Kikyou died from the wound Naraku gave her, only minutes after sealing Inuyasha. That day, Naraku caused them to think the other betrayed them." She said, not looking at anyone. "That was about fifty two years ago. Two years ago, I was being chased by a centipede youkai, and somehow when I was calling for help, Inuyasha awakened. I was the one that released him from the spell Kikyou placed on him all those years ago." That was all Kagome would say in reference to Inuyasha's past.
"And…what about you?"
Kagome looked up to meet Aki's eyes. "Well, Naraku really hasn't done anything to me other than try to kill me. He's only after me because I'm the jewel's new protector, and he wants it." She giggled half-heartedly. "My excuse is so pathetic compared to everyone else's." Aki nodded in agreement with a half-hearted smile.
Her attention turned to the kit. "What has he done to you?" she inquired.
"Nothing. I'll follow Kagome-okaasan anywhere! My real parents were killed two years ago by two nasty youkai called the Thunder Brothers. I met Kagome and Inuyasha by stealing a jewel shard to get revenge. I didn't do it though, Inuyasha was the one that destroyed them." The kit replied.
"I see…"
Kagome decided to change the subject to something else, to lighten the mood. "Hey, Aki, I noticed that this hut is a lot bigger than most. Why's that?" she asked in pure curiosity.
"Oh, well, you see, our grandfather was the village's leader." Aki replied.
"Was?" Sango asked.
"Hai. He died just last year, passing the responsibility on to our mother."
"Momma was also a Miko, so her duty was very dangerous." Hitou supplied.
The group seemed surprised, even Sesshoumaru looked up at the young woman and boy, lifting a curious eyebrow just slightly.
"So you're a miko?" Kagome asked. Aki nodded. "That's funny. I never even sensed it…" she mumbled.
"Sensed it?" Aki asked, looking at her in curiosity.
"Kagome is a Miko, as well." Miroku said. Kagome nodded, confirming it.
"I'm the protector of the Shikon no Tama. And," she spoke, her voice slightly with despair, "I see it more as a death wish. The jewel is nothing but trouble, and I swear it's going to get me either killed, or badly hurt. Neither option of which looks appealing, mind you." She said.
"I'm sorry, that must be a horrible burden. Much worse than what I have to deal with here." Aki said sympathetically. Kagome shrugged.
"I've been doing it for the past two years, and I'm still alive and well. Not to mention I have a lot of friends that will help me. I guess it's just the price of being a powerful Miko's reincarnation." She replied casually. She looked back up at Aki. "You said it sounds much worse than what you have to deal with?"
Aki nodded. "Mother died a few months ago. Now I am both the village miko and leader, at least until Hitou is old enough to take on the responsibility of being the head."
"I'm sorry. You've also lost someone. We have something in common." Sango said as she watched the siblings with saddened eyes. Aki smiled faintly.
"I wouldn't have been able to handle everything if it wasn't for our lord's help." She said. The taiyoukai's interest in the miko's story was greatly sparked. He lifted a slim, elegant eyebrow.
"The Northern Lord visits this village?" he asked. Aki nodded. "Why?"
"…" She was quiet as she contemplated on how to tell the story, or if she even should. Sighing, she replied, "A year ago, mother sent me out of the village to find some of her herbs for her special medicinal tea. It was something that was suppose to help relax her patients and stressed villagers, or women with child during and before births." She glanced at the taiyoukai before looking back at Kagome and the children, Sango and Miroku. She turned her gaze back to Kagome. "On my way back to the village, I was attacked by a group of ookami youkai."
Kagome frowned slightly. "You were attacked by wolves? Hopefully it wasn't Kouga's pack…" she muttered the last bit under her breath.
Aki continued, "Yes. I was fifteen at the time, and frightened out of my mind. It's embarrassing, because my miko training completely abandoned me then, like I was a normal ningen girl." She turned her gaze to her lap, "I don't know what they would have done to me, but I'm sure I never want to know. I had fallen to the ground, completely helpless, awaiting for my inevitable death."
Sesshoumaru listened to the story with slightly narrowed eyes in disgust. Helplessness. The one thing ningens are famous for. They are useless for anything. He then winced at his on thoughts, berating himself for insulting his mate's race.
"It never came," Aki continued as the taiyoukai's thoughts went back to the story. "When I looked up, all I saw was the carnage that remained of the youkai. I was confused, until someone knelt by me. When I turned to see who it was, after recovering from my shock, I remember seeing a very handsome young looking man." Kagome noticed the blush that rose to Aki's face as she began to describe the man. "He was really tall when he stood, as tall as you, Sesshoumaru-sama. His hair was long and raven black and his eyes were violet. I didn't know who he was until he introduced himself and asked if I was all right. He brought me back to the village, and he's been helping us out ever since." Her blush faded to a look of concern. "I haven't seen him since he came to help me out last. It was about a month after mother's death." She said.
"Maybe he's busy. He is the lord, right?" Kagome asked. With Aki's nod, she continued. "Lords are generally really busy. I mean, they have so much to do between patrolling their lands and taking care of paperwork, right?" she asked, turning her gaze to Sesshoumaru. He simply nodded before she looked back at her hostess. "You shouldn't worry. I'm sure he'll be back again sometime when you need some help again. I'm sure he's just stuck in his home with mountains of paperwork, or something." She giggled at the thought, soon joined by Sango and Aki.
"If he has not shown himself in quite some time, then he is hiding." Sesshoumaru said nonchalantly, resting an arm on his knee as he leaned back against the wall, shutting his eyes.
The girls stopped giggling and everyone in the room looked at the Youkai Lord. "What do you mean?" Kagome asked.
Sesshoumaru replied without moving a muscle. "The other Lords have been pressuring him, no doubt. It's about time he chose a mate. If he does not choose before the next year, he will be forced into mating with the woman the lords of the East and South will choose for him. They do that with young, unmated lords."
Miroku lifted an eyebrow, smirking slightly. "So does that mean they've been doing the same to you, Sesshoumaru-sama?" he inquired. Sesshoumaru graced him with an icy glare.
"They no longer disturb me." was all he supplied for an answer.
Kagome's face flushed slightly. "Well, um…anyway," she said, quickly trying to change the subject. She suddenly noticed that the sun had long since set below the horizon. "How time flies…" she muttered. She turned her attention to the children, noticing Rin and Shippou's attempts to squish their yawns. Across from her, Hitou had done the same, though failing somewhat. "I think it's time for bed. The sun's already set." She said. Aki nodded.
"Yes, I agree. We've been talking for quite a while. I'll set up your rooms." Rising to her feet, she pulled Hitou with her as they exited the room.
~~*~~
Kagome lay on her sleeping bag in the room she was sharing with the children and taiyoukai. The only one to complain about the sleeping arrangements had been Inuyasha. Aki had said Kagome and the children could share a room, since the kids didn't want to be away from her. Sesshoumaru had gone with them since Rin hadn't wanted to sleep in a room without her 'father' there with her as well as the motherly miko. Inuyasha, on the other hand, had been offered to share with Sango and Miroku, but opted to sleep outside in the nearest tree, which happened to be on the edge of the village and a good distance away from the huge hut. Sango had erupted into a blushing statue when she heard that she would share with Miroku, whom lecherously smirked. He, of course, was re-acquainted with Hiraikotsu only moments after they went to their room, soon followed by a loud "HENTAI!!" Kirara, in sympathy for her mistress, followed them to try and keep the lecher in line.
Sesshoumaru had outwardly smirked when the crash and yell had been heard. At another loud crash, he chuckled slightly. He looked down and his mate and his smirk widened. She scowled up at him, her head tilted back to see him, though he was upside down. He couldn't help it. He laughed quietly, trying not to wake the heavily sleeping children. Kagome had placed them both on their own sleeping bag by a wall. They were cuddled together; the kit's tail covering his nose once again. The inu-youkai's gaze went from his pups to his mate.
Kagome sighed as he only seemed amused at her look. True, she too had been amused by the two in the other room, but not so much as she normally would have. Now she was too busy with her troubling thoughts. She hadn't even noticed when Sesshoumaru brought his attention back to her as she stared up at the ceiling. She was oblivious to his golden orbs as they took in her form, running along her body and taking in the bizarre outfit she had changed into. She had told him it was a new gift from her mother, given to her the last time she had visited. The shirt she wore was what she called a spaghetti strap and was a light blue. It came down to an inch above her waist, where her thin, loose cotton pants began. They matched her top, being more of a turquoise color, but the two different shades blended wonderfully. Not to mention they made her look lovely.
Moving from his seat against the back wall of the room, the taiyoukai sat next to his mate, gently running his hand down from her face to her abdomen, where skin still showed, and resting gently atop of her own hand. Her blue eyes focused as she looked into warm gold. "What's wrong?" Sesshoumaru asked quietly. Kagome sighed.
"I know how long a normal human pregnancy lasts…but how long will this one?" she asked quietly.
"I assume it's the same."
"Hm…" She turned her head to look at the kids, lacing her fingers with Sesshoumaru's.
"You should go to sleep." His smooth voice drifted quietly to her ears. She turned back to him and was slightly startled when she found his lips on hers, kissing her gently, but full of his pent up passion. Slowly, she replied to the kiss. All too soon, he pulled away, stretching out at her side and pulling her into his embrace. She cuddled up to him, entwining their legs together. Burying her face in the crook of his neck, she inhaled his calming, and alluring, scent of the nature he spent so much of his time wandering through. "Sleep." He whispered.
"Mm-hm…" she replied, already halfway there, her hands fisted into the front of his haori.
He watched as her breathing evened out as she slipped into the realm of dreams. The taiyoukai kept watch during the night, never once letting go of his dear mate, for this would be the only night in what he assumed would be a long while before he would be able to hold her again.
~~*~~
Morning rose, and Kagome slowly awakened to find herself sleeping alone. Turning over, she saw that the children were gone. She looked around the room. She was completely alone there. Faintly, she heard voices quietly talking in the main room. The miko lazily dragged herself out of her sleeping bag and over to her pack. Heaving it onto her back, she made her way out of the room. She froze at the door. 'I had better change. This isn't exactly appropriate to wear around Miroku.' She thought.
~~*~~
Kagome entered the main room dressed in a pair of dark blue jeans and a short sleeved, maroon, shirt, carrying her pack with her. She smiled at the occupants of the room. "Ohayo!"
"Ohayo, Kagome-chan!" Sango replied with a smile. "You're happy this morning. Sleep well?" she asked. Kagome nodded.
"Hai! Very." She nearly dropped her pack when Shippou and Rin glomped her.
"Kagome-neechan!"
"Okaa-san!" Both the kit and child ningen yelled in unison. The miko laughed.
"You're acting like you haven't seen me for a long time!" she laughed.
Shippou looked up at her, slightly pouting. "Sesshoumaru-sama made us leave when we got up, so that we wouldn't wake you." He replied. Kagome hugged both in turn.
"Arigatou! I really needed to sleep, too." She turned her attention to Aki, who was heading out of the hut. "Aki," she said, stopping the young woman.
"Hai?" she asked.
"Is there a spring near by? I'd like to bathe before we leave." Aki nodded.
"Head to the west of the village, it's not far away. Only Hitou and myself use it, so you won't be disturbed by anyone." She replied. Kagome bowed, well, as well as she could with two kids still latched onto her.
"Arigatou!" Aki nodded, smiled, and continued on her way out, carrying a small basket. Kagome turned to the two children. "Would you two like to keep me company?" she asked. Both nodded vigorously.
"HAI!!" they replied.
"Okay. Now come on!" she said. Shippou hopped from her arms to her shoulder, and Rin opted for clasping onto her hand. "Sango, you know what to do!" she said, winking at her friend. Both young women laughed.
"Of course, Kagome-chan!" Sango replied.
The miko next turned to the Inu Taiyoukai. "Sesshoumaru-sama, if Inuyasha asks, would you please tell him I'll be back in an hour?" with his impassive nod, she smiled brightly at him and, restraining herself from hugging or kissing him, walked out of the hut with the two kids.
~~*~~
The small group of the miko and her pups walked through the forest area, nearing a medium sized hot spring. When they arrived there, Kagome had to quickly catch the young girl before she jumped in, clothes and all, each giggling happily. The two kids quickly undressed before jumping into the warm water, Shippou unexpectedly doing a cannon ball. The miko laughed at her kit's antics as she joined the two. Shippou accidentally ended up splashing Rin as he dove for the bottom of the spring, thus beginning a splash war between the kids once he returned to the surface. Kagome watched, a good distance away, with an amused smile on her lips. 'This is so much fun! Kinda like I'm a mother watching her children play…' she felt heat rise to her cheeks. 'But then again, I am a mother watching her children play…' a soft, loving smile replaced the one of amusement as her thoughts wandered to her hansom, powerful Taiyoukai mate.
"Ah ha!" Kagome was startled out of her stupor with a laugh when a nicely sized wave of warm water hit her smack dap on the face. Luckily, her eyes had drifted closed as her mate wandered into her mind's eye. Rin screamed and giggled, swimming away as fast as she could with Shippou on her tail as both ran from their adoptive mother as she attacked, laughing her revenge.
It had been just more than half an hour when the water fight had ended and the tree climbed out, drying and dressing in new clothing, which Kagome provided for them. She pulled on a simple outfit of blue jeans and a dark green tank top. Rin and Shippou dressed in their normal style of clothing, fit for that time. Kagome smiled down at the kids. "Shall we head back?" she asked.
"Hai! Rin wants to tell Sesshoumaru-sama how much fun she had with Kagome-neechan and Shippou-kun!" the little girl replied. Kagome smiled again and nodded. Turning to get her back, she heard Shippou cry out. The miko turned sharply to see her kitsune pup unconscious on the ground. Her eyes widened and, before she could do anything, she felt something hard connect with her head and darkness overtook her.
~~*~~
The taiyoukai of the west turned his head slightly. His golden orbs studied the door for a moment as he remained in the same seat he had been in since he left his mate in the morning. He gracefully rose to his feet and walked over to the entrance to the hut, eyes carefully examining the western border of the village, when Kagome and the kids had gone. Everything appeared to be peaceful in the village, nothing amiss. Sesshoumaru's dangerous golden eyes drifted over a specific area and stopped. That was where the spring was, he knew. "Something isn't right…" he muttered barely above a whisper.
The monk looked up at the taiyoukai's back, wondering what he meant. He had heard the inu-youkai's words only because it was so quiet in the room, with only himself and the taiyoukai remaining. Hitou had offered to show them around the village, but Sango was the only to accept his offer. Miroku stood, grabbing his staff upon habit, and walked over to the door. Sesshoumaru had stepped outside already, staring intently at the area. "What isn't right?"
Sesshoumaru's cold eyes turned to glare at the monk. He contemplated for a moment before inclining his head toward the spring. Miroku watched the area before a feeling of foreboding came over him. He looked back at his taiyoukai 'companion', a look of understanding in his eyes. Without a word, the two took off in the area, Sesshoumaru, for once, not using his full speed so that the human would not lose him.
"Wait! What's going on?!" Sango yelled as they passed her and their hosts. The two stopped.
Sesshoumaru looked at Miroku. "You may talk with them, I will wait at the spring." With a nod from the monk, he vanished.
Sango looked at the houshi with confusion etched into her features. "What's going on, Miroku?" she asked. The look on his face, it's seriousness, frightened her.
"Sesshoumaru-sama sensed something at the spring was amiss. When I was looking in the direction he directed my attention to, a distinct feeling of foreboding overcame me. I have a feeling that something has happened to Kagome-sama and the children." The monk replied.
"Then we had better hurry!" Sango replied. "I need to get Hiraikotsu!" Miroku nodded and Sango turned to run back to the hut but came to face with a surprise. Hitou ran up to the group with Hiraikotsu on his back He quickly Hiraikotsu to Sango. The two lifted an eyebrow as Aki ran up behind her brother, fully clothed in miko garb with weapons in place. "Aki-chan?"
Aki, now armed with a quiver of arrows, a bow, and a sheathe- that appeared to hold a sinewy sword., looked at them with a serious expression as she tied her long hair back. "I'm going to help you, weather you like it or not! It's the least I could do to thank you!"
"But you already have by loaning us your hospitality!" Sango replied.
"Don't argue about it! Go help Kagome!!" Hitou scolded the three. Miroku nodded.
"He is correct, we should hurry." Quickly the three ran for the spring, Kirara running at their heals.
~~*~~
Sesshoumaru arrived at the spring to find it completely peaceful. He could see no one was there, but his eyes fell on the proof that his mate and the pups had been there. Kagome's yellow pack sat, still open, on the ground only feet away from the pool of water. His eyes drifted over to a small pile of fur and cloth. Fear shot through him momentarily and he was quickly at the Kitsune's side. Assessing the damage, he determined that the kit had merely been knocked unconscious, unharmed otherwise. He gently prodded the kit. "Wake up, kit!"
"Hm…" Shippou scrunched his face up in pain as he roused. He pushed himself up to a sitting position, gently rubbing the back of his head as the others arrived, Inuyasha included.
Inuyasha looked from the kit to his half brother, kneeling on one knee next to him and watching the kit intently. He growled. "What did you do?!"
The Inu-Taiyoukai ignored the hanyou. "Shippou, tell me what happened." He said calmly, with a slightly threatening tone to his voice, undoubtedly caused by his annoyingly accusing hanyou brother.
Shippou looked up at Sesshoumaru, not saying anything, hand still on his head. Determining that it was okay, tears pooled in his eyes as he launched himself at the taiyoukai, startling him. "Sesshoumaru!!!" he wailed. "We were getting ready to leave when all of a sudden I was hit and knocked unconscious! I could see someone knocking Rin out before I blacked out!!!" he cried.
Recovering from his shock, Sesshoumaru listened to the kit, completely stoic on the outside, but furious on the inside, as he rested a kind hand on the kit's back. "Stop your crying!" he demanded. Shippou stopped just as suddenly, doing as he had commanded. He looked up at the taiyoukai, pulling his face away from his haori. Sesshoumaru stared down at the kit. "Did you see anything else?" he asked patiently. Shippou thought for a moment before shaking his head.
Sesshoumaru stood again, the kit relocating to the Taiyoukai's right shoulder, sitting upon the fluffy fur. Closing his eyes, the taiyoukai sniffed the air, sorting out the different scents. There was his annoying half brother, the houshi, the taijia, the head miko, the kit, the neko youkai, his mate, Rin…and three other, unmistakably male scents, other than his own. His golden eyes opened to look at his remaining companions, plus one. "Three male youkai. That is all I can smell…" He turned to the north. "That way…"
Inuyasha, forgetting his misinterpretation of the situation, nodded. Kirara transformed, and the group of humans climbed onto her back. Sesshoumaru went quickly, but only fast enough for his half brother to be able to keep up with him, and so that the kit wouldn't fly off. The group headed quickly to the north. "So, three youkai kidnapped Kagome and Rin? Why the HELL would they do that?!?" Inuyasha yelled.
"I do not know, but they will pay dearly." The taiyoukai replied, a deadly tone to his voice. The others nodded agreeing, not finding anything about what he said strange as the just assumed he was speaking of revenge for daring to kidnap his ward, Rin.
Shippou watched the taiyoukai as they traveled. 'When I was crying…I could definitely smell something on him…I know that scent…it's my okaa-san! But why would it be on Sesshoumaru…?' His eyes widened as realization dawned on him. 'Kagome's pregnant…she wouldn't tell me who the father is…' he smiled slightly. '…Well now you don't need to tell me, okaa-san!! I know it! Sesshoumaru is your mate!!' he thought, happy for some reason that it was Sesshoumaru and not someone like Kouga that captured his mother's heart. A thought suddenly popped into his mind. 'I wonder how Inuyasha will react…'
~~*~~
A crimson-eyed figure, distinctly male, watched from the shadows of a high cliff as the Kakera hunting group moved swiftly in his direction. His lips curled up into a cruel smirk, bearing the points of deadly fangs, as long midnight-ebony hair billowed around him. "Here they come, flocking like male youkai to a yasha in heat." His smooth, dark voice carried on the wind, reaching only his ears. "Your mate comes, my dear. All that is left is to discover which it is…" his smirk widened just slightly, "However; I believe I can guess…" he continued, sadistic amusement lacing his words.
~~*~~
"I don't understand why we can't help!" a teenage male spoke, frustration and worry in his voice. He stood on a small cliff in the opposite direction, watching as the group swiftly carried on toward where dark miasma loomed, in the far cliffs. His arms crossed stubbornly over his chest, black haori, hakama, and mid-back length ebony hair fluttering in the wind. His violet eyes were trained on the white clad taiyoukai leading the group. Single crimson streaks ran across both sides of his face, much like Sesshoumaru's markings. Below them were scythe shaped markings, parallel to the streaks and a deep amethyst. His forehead bore a silver six-pointed starburst, right where the western taiyoukai's crescent would be.
"You know perfectly well why we cannot help!" Snapped a strong, smooth female voice. Standing next to him was a beautiful young woman. Her extremely long silver-streaked ebony hair whipped around her, never becoming tangled in itself or anything else. Her arms crossed over her chest, just as stubbornly at the young man next to her, over a crimson kimono. The silver obi was desperately held on by the golden cord around it, which also held the crimson kimono from flying off of the young woman. Her eyes were a stunning silvery-sapphire, and the markings on her ashen skin were identical to those of her companion's.
Her companion sighed. "Hai, I know why, but I still don't like it!! We're suppose to protect her!" he complained.
"Bite your tongue! We will not interfere with fate's plans!" she hissed, never once looking at him. "We will watch from a distance until this is over, then and only then will we reveal ourselves to them! Do you understand?" she demanded sharply.
"Yes, Mother." He hissed through clenched teeth. Knowing it would not be wise to anger his mother further, the young man opted to glare across the chasm at the dark figure.
The young-looking woman's silvery-sapphire orbs glared dangerously into the shadows of the cliffs so far from them, into the vile crimson of the sadistic youkai that had the audacity to do what he had done. True, he was not one to be messed with, being a youkai so much more than Naraku ever could hope to be, but what he has done not only pissed a powerful Taiyoukai and his companions, but also tested the furry of the very two across from him. The very powers of those so much like the gods…
~~*~~
LK: I'm cruel, ne? ::grin:: Nice little cliffy!!
Lara: You are the sadistic unknown youkai!! Evil LK!!
LK: ^_^ Oh well…I like to leave you in suspense. Anyway, sorry this is late, but hey! Look at it this way; because it's late, it's so much better!!
Lara: …she was originally distracted when she was trying to finish this last minute, so you can blame her friend and AIM…
LK: ^_^; Uh…yeah…anyway, gomen, and don't expect the next chapter anytime soon….I won't be naming names again until maybe the end of the story, but thank you to all of you whom have reviewed this! And please forgive any mistakes in this chapter…I don't really feel like pre-reading it before I post this…Gomen-nasai!! But it's 2 AM!!! T_T I'm really cutting this close! The 'rent gets up to go to work at 4 AM and I usually don't get to bed before ten minutes before then!!!
Lara: You're gunna get caught one of these days, LK…
LK: -.- I've been caught before….Anyway! Enough gabbing! Please R+R!! You're reviews help me out a lot!!! Arigatou, mina-san!!
~~*~~
Japanese Translations:
Yasha (::snicker::)- Female demon
Oyasumi-nasai- good night (forgot it last chap.)
LK: And some of you wanted to know what Tsunagi and Hyouri meant, so…I guess here it is!
Tsunagi- Time (basically ^^;)
Hyourin- Moon; the moon
Aki- autumn
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Words: 6, 600
Pages: 12
Written: July 9, 2003
Finished: 2:18 AM
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