Chapter 3

Weeks later...

Sesshoumaru was sitting by the window wondering why his father saw fit to saddle him with this whimpering female. He had used her every night and all he would get for his efforts were blood and tears. She had not conceived! Annoyed with the situation, he found himself wandering into the chamber where his wife was sleeping. He looked down on her in disgust.

She woke to see him glaring at her. She attempted to rise but he stopped her.

"Why have you not conceived a child yet?"

Katame blinked at the strange question. "Conceived?"

"Yes, conceived. Why haven't you?"

"Well, perhaps it is because..... "She stalled desperately hunting for a reason why, when suddenly she blurted out, "You are too rough with me. Oops... I mean ... " She looked up at her fierce husband. He had raped her and treated her harshly every night. How could she explain it without his anger blazing against her again.

"If you are more well .....tender.... I mean... maybe I would not bleed so much, the blood may be washing away your seed. You could try it... maybe... it might make a difference." She flinched expecting the slap that was sure to get for being so bold.

Lord Sesshoumaru enjoyed hurting her, since it was all he could do to her thanks to his father's decree. (damn him!)

"Hmmm.....don't be a fool woman!" He snarled, and strode off thinking as he went. 'Curse my father. Tender???... Nonsense!' His thoughts raced. 'Is that why she does not conceive, because I have been too hard on her? Hmmf, however, she does bleed a lot. Still... tender? With her?! Why should I? She deserves what I give her. Still, in all this she should conceive. Is she really so fragile?

My father had one of these humans and she conceived and bore a son for him. Yet, my father was in love with that female, that human mother of my brother Inuyasha.

He was not harsh with her, in fact he was most gentle with her. Could this be the reason she is not yet with child? Because I have not come to love her? How can I lower myself to such a degree as to fall in love with a human?'

He glanced back toward the chamber where his wife was, 'perhaps.' He turned and strode purposefully to his wife.

This time instead of cries of pain from the chamber there were quiet sighs and moans.

Some days later Sesshoumaru scented his wife, as was his custom in the mornings. But this day her scent was different. The smell of his seed was on her as expected but her own scent... her scent... was different some how. He brought his face close to her and sniffed. Suddenly he grabbed her abdomen. What! A son, I smell a son within her, she has conceived!

Sesshoumaru looked down at Katame his wife and smiled. A look of rare pleasure on his face.

Katame woke to see her lord over her. Puzzled by this unfamiliar look on his face she asked quietly what was wrong.

"You have my son within you."

"What? How can you tell?"

"I smell him within you." The smile was gone in an instant and he found himself contemplating what would this mean. He now had to think of the best way to protect her and the child within. For he knew that the news of his half-breed son would spread quickly. The other demons would attempt to kill her and the boy.

He remembered the many battles his great father had fought to protect his half brother. The community of demons does not take kindly to half-breeds.

He would need help... he would need his brother, Inuyasha!

Several weeks later...

Inuyasha sat by the fire as Kagome fixed them something to eat, when suddenly he scented something coming and sprang up. "What is it, whats wrong?" Asked Kagome.

"Shhh! Someone's com.... Sesshoumaru! What do you want!" Inuyasha shouted pulling out the Tetsaiga and preparing himself for battle. When he sniffed again smelling her for the first time. Katame!

She peered around from behind her fierce lord and husband.

"What are you doing with her... let her go, now!" Demanded Inuyasha as he menaced his brother with his great sword.

"No! lord Inuyasha, Please. Lord Sesshoumaru is my husband."

"WHAT!" Kagome and Inuyasha cried out at once.

"I don't understand, how could this be? I thought you hated humans. What happened. Why Katame? You'd better not have hurt her." Kagome stood astounded at the thought of poor Katame with that terrible beast, Sesshoumaru.

"Silence, woman!" He said glaring down at her. "Inuyasha, I must speak with you. Katame! Stay here. I will return for you shortly." Katame bowed to her lord.

When the demons had left the girls, Kagome leaned close to Katame and asked. "What happened? One day you went for a walk and disappeared. How did you end up with... him?"

"I... ah... its a long story. I'll tell you some day but not now." She looked up to see her lord husband walking with lord Inuyasha. "I'm alright Kagome. He is my husband now, and soon I will bear his son."

The two brothers were returning from their brief walk and Katame would say no more.

When they reached the fire Inuyasha came close to Katame and sniffed. "So it is true!" He sniffed again. "You will have my brothers son."

"Yes, as I said Inuyasha, will you do it?" asked Sesshoumaru.

"Do I have a choice? Fine I'll do it."

"Do what? What are you two talking about? What's going on?" Demanded Kagome.

Sesshoumaru looked at Inuyasha. "How do you put up with that constant battery of questions?" said Sesshoumaru not even acknowledging the girl.

"She's annoying, mostly I just ignore her" quipped Inuyasha. "Well you might as well come on then."

"Come where, I demand to know what's going on here." Cried Kagome trying to get an answer.

"Kagome, for once just shut up and come on." Inuyasha grumbled.

"Hmmff" Kagome crossed her arms in front of her and stomped along behind the brothers and her friend.