Act Nineteen

Inuyasha growled deep in his throat as he closed in on the waterfall. It was almost dawn, a pinkish tinge touching the eastern sky.

"Damn it. I can believe I'm sinking to this level. I really must be desperate, to call on him for help." He leapt off a rock ledge and through the water and mist. Landing quietly on the other side inside the waterfall inside a dark, damp cave, Inuyasha lifted his sleeve to his nose, trying to block the stench of wolf.

"Oi! Kouga! Where the hell are you, you piece of shit?"

His voice echoed inside the proximity of the cave. Through the dim light, he saw several of the youkai jump, rudely awakened by the hanyou's booming voice.

"Inuyasha? Whaddya doin' here?"

Grunting, he walked over to where the youkai lay, curled up next to his mate.

"Well, uh… I need your help."

Kouga's eyes enlarged as he sat up, yawning. "So what's the problem?"

A moment later, Ayame came and sidled up next to him. Since the jewel had become whole, Kouga had taken Ayame as his mate. Therefore, Inuyasha wasn't too concerned about Kouga making a move on his mate.

Inuyasha sighed, grabbing at his arm. Kouga frowned. "What happened to you?" He paused, his eyes lighting up with sudden understanding. "What's wrong? Where's Kagome? It is Kagome, isn't it?"

Inuyasha met the youkai's eyes. "She was raped by a demon named Shitsuren. Now, he's taken her back to his den to whelp his pup. I need help with this, Kouga. I can't do it alone."

The wolf demon looked as if you could've knocked him over with a leaf. Slowly, anger took the place of shock, and his eyes narrowed as he advanced on the wounded hanyou.

"You let a slime ball youkai rape Kagome? WHAT THE FUCK WERE YOU DOING WHILE THAT WAS GOING ON?" He bellowed.

Inuyasha stood to meet his advance, his eyes glowing. "She went off on her own! I didn't know she was gonna get raped! I did the best I could, Kouga! Don't you think its torture for me to know my mate is carrying someone else's pup?"

Kouga slunk back, his anger melted away. "I guess I can sympathize with you, baka." He looked over his shoulder at Ayame, who sat against the cave wall. "I just found out that I'm gonna be a father pretty soon."

Inuyasha rocked back on his heels. "So you know. Even the thought is against every instinct us youkai have. To have your mate birth another's offspring. But the thing is, Kagome's not the first. This bastard has several other pups by human women."

Kouga looked back at Inuyasha. "Ok, I'll help you, dog-shit. But just this once, and only because it's Kagome."

Standing, Inuyasha stood and raised his chin. Kouga did the same. Nodding, Inuyasha turned and headed out of the cave, passing through the waterfall. Kouga followed, but paused, darting back to kiss Ayame goodbye. He nodded to his men before striding over to the waterfall.

"Ginta, Hakkaku, lets go."

The two subordinate demons raised themselves, grumbling curses as they followed the leader out.

Ayame watched them disappear through the misty water. Slowly her hand slid over her stomach.

'Be safe, Kouga…For both our sakes…'

A yelp of pain escaped Kagome's mouth as she winced in agony.

"Its all right, Kagome. Your doing great." Soothed Kibami, Gently ringing out the cloth. Slowly she placed it upon the miko's forehead, who sighed in exaughstion.

"I'm so tired. And I'm not even halfway through. No wonder they call it labor." She said airily.

Kibami laughed a light little giggle, her bottle green eyes sparkling. "You'll be fine. Your strong, I can tell. Only a little while longer."

Kagome sighed again. "You said 'only a little longer' four hours ago!" She whined. "I'm ready to be done!"

The youkai girl nodded her head in understanding. "Why don't you sleep off a couple hours? All the other women slept at least three hours."

A smile played at Kagome's lips. "Sleeping for three hours. I like that." Slowly she closed her eyes, but it didn't feel right, in this strange cave. At least, without Inuyasha near her. Clenching her eyes closed further, she wondered what had happened to the hanyou. Was he all right? Was he wounded?

Gradually her mind began to slip away. Her thoughts on her mate.

'Inuyasha…'

Inuyasha hissed in pain as a branch smacked against a tree branch. Looking down, he made sure that Kouga and his goons were still traveling below him.

Noon had peaked almost a half hour ago, and they were now close to Shitsuren. Really close. Inuyasha could smell his stench. Looking up, Inuyasha noticed the trees beginning to thin.

Jumping to the ground, he slip to a stop, his un-slinged arm throbbing as he tensed his bicep. A moment later, Kouga stopped beside the hanyou, Ginta and Hakkaku panting off to the right.

"So, is this stench I'm smelling him?" Asked Kouga. Inuyasha nodded.

"There's a clearing up ahead, I saw it from the trees. I think that's where his den is."

Kouga nodded and moved forward, the two men stalking into the bushes. Looking out into the clearing, there was nothing but scattered bones and a cave.

"That's where he's keeping Kagome. I can smell her." Inuyasha mumbled, his ears smashing against his head.

"Yea, I smell her too." Growled Kouga. He looked to Inuyasha, who nodded and the two stepped into the clearing.

"Big mistake!"

Both youkai and hanyou whirled around to catch sight of three demons.

"AH! What are they?" Yelled Hakkaku as he ran behind his protectors, Ginta following.

Inuyasha snarled, drawing Tetsusaiga as the fang transformed.

"Shitsuren!" He cried, leveling the sword with the giant wolf's chest.

The great black beast bared his teeth, his fur sticking up on his back. Flanked by his two smaller sons, the youkai seemed bigger than usual.

"That's Shitsuren, eh? Keh. He don't look that tough." Piped Kouga.

Inuyasha shook his head, his eyes never leaving the beast's body. "Don't be fooled. His looks are deceiving. He's quick, and those two pups beside him work like a tag team. One'll distract you while the other attacks."

A grin surfaced on Kouga's face as he glanced back at Ginta and Hakkaku. "Well, we got ourselves our own distractions." He said jokingly. Both lesser demons visibly paled.

"Enough talk, hanyou. I know what you have come here for, and I wont let you have her! Not till the pup is born!" He roared.

Inuyasha scoffed, lowering Tetsusaiga and his body. "I wont let you have her or the pup! I'm taking her back, here and now!"

Shitsuren growled deep in his throat before barking in anger, throwing his body forward.

"Inuyasha, move!"

Kouga leapt away, Ginta and Hakkaku running for their lives as Tsukami and Tobokami raced after them Inuyasha was frozen to the spot, only managing to raise Tetsusaiga.

Grabbing the fang between his teeth, Shitsuren held fast as Inuyasha pushed against him. Falling to the ground with the force of the blow, he pushed against the beast's head as his feet raked the ground for some kind of leverage.

Kagome was awoken from her sleep as a roar shook the cave. Looking to her side, she noticed Kibami in her true form, her body curled up as she gently lifted her head.

"What in the world…" Kagome trailed off as another roar shook the cave. Looking out towards the barrier, she saw nothing but the bluish sheen.

She looked back to Kibami. The wolf youkai had her eyes fixed on Kagome. Suddenly she transformed into her human form, grabbing a bin of water. Placing it next to Kagome, she snatched a couple more towels as she moved back beside the miko.

Kagome frowned, slightly worried. "Kibami, what's-"

A huge rush of pain met Kagome head on as she yelled out in agony.

"Your about to have the pup. It's all right, Kagome, just remember to breathe."

The pains were coming much faster than before. Kagome winced and yelled, leaning back to cry as tears of pain streamed down her face.

A sudden pain seared at her chest. Grabbing down her shirt, she grabbed the once-purple orb and watched it with painful eyes.

In the very core of the jewel, a tiny light illuminated for a brief moment before dying out, leaving the ball an ugly gray. A crack formed through it and the Shikon no Tama split in two. It had been purified.

Higami: Howl of the wolf

Hige: Howl

Okami: Wolf

A/N: Wow, sorry this chapter sucked. My friend was watching Third Watch in the background, kinda hard to concentrate. I tried to insist that she turn the T.V. off, but she's too damn stubborn. And, I haven't seen the episode where Ayami comes in, so if she's OOC or I do something else wrong, don't chop me up and make Kibbles 'n Bits outta me, K? In other words, DON'T FLAME ME! I seem to be getting quite a few of those lately, and it's pissing me off…