Clash! CLASH! BOOOM! Hssss...

The forces of power seem to shake the dead land back what little life it still had as Sesshomaru and Sentai continued to dive in and out of each other's attacks. Green whips lashes craved Sentai's skin and face while the Western Lord bored only a small cut upon his cheek. However, that proved to be more of an injury than anything... for his cheek stung with decay... and Sentai had cut him only minutes ago.

The Northern ryu Lord chuckled at the taiyoukai's anguish. "What's wrong, Sesshomaru-sama?" he mocked, "don't tell me a small cut is bothering you while I have bore more wounds that you."

A small scowl ripped across his face as he wiped blood from his stinging cheek. The Tokijin glowed in deep, soaked anger, wanting so badly to taste the blood of Sentai's heart on its tip.

And with that yoki increase, more of the forest died...

Sentai once again chuckled, rushing after Sesshomaru in attack. "Even your energy is killing the forest. No matter. My kingdom is the same; it'll be just like home!"

Before realizing that he had walked into a trap, Sentai was knocked to the ground with a back hand from the dog lord... a rather strong back hand...

Sentai coughed, unable to breath for a moment. Sesshomaru walked over to him, his eyes covered with his sweaty banes, but behind them his eyes shone red with annoyance.

"I grow tired of this fight... and you've killed enough my lands." Came a ferial whisper.

Raising the Tokijin, Sesshomaru struck for Sentai's neck, aiming to cut off his unwanted head. However, the Northern Lord was not about to be put down that easily. With his arm glowing dark black, he blocked the Tokijin once more, pushing against the blade to stand back into his feet. The two growled in strength, once again pushing their killing power out towards the land; both trying to take charge of the battle; both trying to knock the other off mental and physical peace.

Suddenly... the balance in power shifted.

With his whole body becoming engulfed in black flame, Sentai took the torch of strength in the power struggle. Shoving Sesshomaru off balance with the suddenly rush, there was an opening with his jagged nails at Sesshomaru's pail and unprotected neck...

NO!

With a mighty roar within the dead silent forest around them, a creature came rushing in to the Western Lord's aid. Pushing the attacking dragon at the right time, Sentai was knocked against a decaying tree, knocking down the tree and knocking out Sentai... for the moment...

Sesshomaru's eyes widen in surprise, not hearing the approaching creature coming before hand. Being even more surprised was finding out who had 'saved' him.

"AhUn... why are you here?"

Being unable to speak with anything other than dragons, the two-headed fire ryu was unable to explain itself. However, it did know sign language. Pointing one of its muzzles towards home, Sesshomaru knew why it had taken the toil and put itself in danger like that. Getting ready to rush off, the taiyokai was stopped by a flamed tree in front of him. Looking back with a further annoyed growl, he saw Sentai standing up weakly, apparently with a broken wing. However, his power had never felt greater.

"You shall not leave until I have your silver-haired face on a platter." He snarled, his nails twitching deceasing sanity...

I don't have time. AhUn would not have come all the way out here if not for Tenshika.

Suddenly, with a small gasp escaping his lips, AhUn took a stand in front of him, looking posed to fight. As one of the heads kept an eye on Sentai, the other eyed Sesshomaru, grunting suddenly as if to say 'Get GOING! Don't just stand there!'.

Nodding, Sesshomaru once again made a dash for it, suddenly noticing how difficult it was to breath in the dead atmosphere. Sentai aimed for the disappearing white target, but AhUn stood in the way of fire, growling as he snapped at the hand outstretched.

The Northern Lord growled in dismay. "How dare you go against your own kind! Has that Lord brainwashed your mind as well?"

Being able to communicate with Sentai, AhUn growled... both heads having different, but high, levels of ferocity.

I need not be brainwashed to know that if Tenshika-sama was to be your mate, her future would not look bright, that it wouldn't.

A maniac chortle rang through the area, turning AhUn's noses up. Sentai's eyes looked broken of mental stability and balance. The dragon was now as sane as any other crazed lower-classed demon.

"If you take his side... then you will die as well."

If that's what it takes to insure Tenshika's baby gets to see daylight, then I will die trying to protect her.

... the sound of blood echoed as it splatters on the water-parched earth...

Here it comes...

Coming in waves, a hoard of demons trying to escape the death bringing energy of Sentai's battle came rushing into Kaede's village, wanting to spread destruction along the way. As Miroku and Kaede stayed at the front of the village to protect it from the real danger of the 'death blanket', Inuyasha, Sango and Kirara worked hard to keep the demons at bay.

Then the purple death came into view, coming in quickly; as if being pulled by a magnet. The demon fly and ran away, being to frightened to cause further chaos. Miroku and Kaede braced themselves, their hands tightly closed within their other, chanting a shield spell.

But suddenly... the 'death blanket' stopped in its tracks. The village looked on in awe as the predicted death of them was not only stopping... but receding. The forest in the began to sprout once more; naked trees rebuilding their bark and plants blooming from their would-be tombs. However, in all of this... The God tree was never touched by the plague, protected forever.

Miroku sighed in peace, hearing the forest's voice once more. Whatever stopped that... I'm glad for it. The silence was becoming unnerving.

Not having time to notice the small increase in life within his lands. Sesshomaru jumped straight into his garden, striding through the organized brush in search of his laboring mate. Following the thickening scent of blood and dried strawberries, the taiyoukai ventured into the Willow area, seeing his mate from afar. Walking slowly, so as not to stress Tenshika more. A pained moan stung Sesshomaru's nerves. And then... he saw it... and a true, proud smile crept across the Western Lord's features.

Underneath the biggest and most secluded of the Weeping Willows, Tenshika's child had just been born a few minutes ago. Strange enough, it was a live-born, seeing as dragons laid eggs. Holding her first-born, Sesshomaru neared Tenshika, his newest emotion still showing.

Tears staining her cheeks from crying in laboring pain, the Southern ryu lord smiled weakly as the dog demon kneeled in front of her. He took a good look at the off-spring in his mate's arms.

His child had his silver locks and his fluffy white tail... It looked similar to himself when he was young... only he didn't have two small white horns sticking from the top of his hair... and he didn't have so much hair when was born. He didn't have white scales on his hands and white dragon claws either. Suddenly, Sesshomaru frowned, seeing that he wasn't with Tenshika when in labor, so the child wouldn't know him as its father.

"It's not too late. Her eyes haven't opened yet..." She spoke in a whisper.

The taiyoukai's eyes widen in hope, seeing that the child was a 'she' and that he was still the father. However, he was a little disappointed that he wasn't going to have a son so that he would have a heir to look over his lands.

Oh well... I'll just have to make another one. Sesshomaru joked, already making plans for another child.

Then, his daughter's eyes started to part. They were the most beautiful shade of emerald, more gorgeous than any jewel. The baby giggled suddenly and held out her claws, wanting to be held by the demon in front of her. Sesshomaru was taken that she was warming up to him so quickly.

Tenshika giggled weakly, smiling at Sesshomaru, "She wants to be held by her father..."

Hesitating a little, Sesshomaru slowly took the baby out of her hands, standing up from his kneeling. She giggled even more, smiling her first smile as she touched her daddy's face with one of her -rather sharp- claws... and unknowingly... on the stinging one...

Hissing slightly, the taiyokai recoiled, narrowing his eyes slightly at her in mock anger. The baby, however, was all but not amused and clapped her claws together. Tenshika chuckled nervously.

"Her claws with disappear with age... all of her dragon heritage will disappear except her horns and scales."

"We need a name..." Sesshomaru suddenly blurted, seeming to ignore Tenshika's last statement... totally absorbed with his child.

The dragoness was surprised by the behavior but smiled all the same. "Do you have something in mind?"

"Yoshi..."

Tenshika could have died of laughter right then and there. Such a silly and fun name couldn't have come from the Lord of the Western Lands.

"Yoshi... hai, that's the perfect name for her..."

Guess so. However, 'Yoshi' fit the child's personality well, since she took pleasure and seeing her father's annoyed expression when touching his wound. Silly and enjoyable.

Suddenly, the dragoness noticed the absence of her two-head companion. Looking up at Sesshomaru, her sky blue eyes reflected worry.

"Maru... AhUn... is it..."

Sesshomaru looked in the direction of where he had left the battle and sighed. Giving Yoshi back to her, he shook his head.

"I... can not say..."

Frowning, Tenshika looked away, tears starting to form at her eyes lashes... but the sound of soft fire brought both dog and dragon out of their doubt. Weakly, AhUn had flown back from the battle, one of the heads limp and knocked out. Tenshika smiles brightly, wanting to rush up and hug the dragon, but too weak in the legs to do such.

Sesshomaru nodded at the fateful dragon approvingly. "Arigato." Then noticed that his territory was returning back to normal..

AhUn growled back, accepting the 'thank you'. Walking over to Tenshika, it growled again, but in concern.

"I'm the one who should be concerned, AhUn... Are you going to be okay?"

Yes. Sentai... put up a good fight... but I managed, that I did...

Looking at Tenshika's little bundle in her arms, it sniffed at Yoshi, wanting to see the new life. Yoshi giggled at the tickling air of the snort and touched the conscious head, accidently poking his muzzle.

Recoiling slightly at the small pain, Sesshomaru scoffed, Tenshika sweatdropped and blushed... and the new baby, Yoshi, laughed all the same.

This... will be an interesting beginning...