Sesshomaru was pissed.

His brother had pushed him to his limits and now he wanted nothing more than to just go and hold Serenity in his arms.

He cared for her strongly enough to admit to himself that he loved her. It was a difficult thing for him to admit because he thought that such a thing was beneath him. He knew that one day he would take a mate, but he figured that it would just be a political thing to gain an heir and nothing more.

Now he had a mate that he loved deeply and would one day produce several pups with.

Suddenly it didn't matter that she was a half-demon, in fact in never mattered. He wanted to remain in her arms forever.

Sesshomaru reached their bedroom and instantly knew something was amiss. The smell of tears was strong and all of Serenity's things were missing. It was like she got so upset that she had to leave.

Sesshomaru had to find her. He rushed out of his room and out of his home to search for her. She was strong, but lately she had been feeling sick and it was only a matter of time before something found her.

Serenity was running through the forest as fast as she could, which was slower than usual. For some reason her body just didn't want to cooperate with her mind. She was running as fast as she could and felt like she wasn't getting anywhere.

Finally she collapsed in a small field hidden by the trees. There were wildflowers everywhere, in every color. It was quite beautiful.

She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. It was nice here, but she couldn't stay. She had to keep moving or else…

"Why did you run from me?" an unusually calm voice said from behind her. Serenity turned to face her mate with his stoic face watching her. Her small pack was on the ground near his feet, so grabbing it was impossible, actually running now was an impossibility. He had found her.

"Why did you run from me?" he asked again taking a step towards her. Serenity stood and took a couple steps back.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. Her once fiery nature was gone. All she wanted was to run back into the safety of his arms, but the words of his brother rushed back into her mind preventing her from doing so.

"You have done nothing wrong," Sesshomaru said, despite the fact that he felt like she had. "You will return to the castle with me now."

He held out his hand and waited for her to take it. Serenity didn't move.

"Is it true? What InuYasha said?"

Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed. "What did he say?"

"I heard you two arguing in the study after I left. He said that you hated half-demons and that we were only here for your entertainment."

"Did you hear my response to that?" Sesshomaru asked picking up her pack and carrying it to her. She flinched, but didn't move.

She shook her head. "No, I ran. I didn't want to hear it."

"I told him that it was once true," Serenity felt like someone was ripping her heart out hearing these words, "but that is wasn't true any longer."

Serenity looked up at Sesshomaru with tears streaming down her cheeks and confusion in her eyes.

"I realized that I was in love with a half-demon, so they must not be as bad as I thought."

Serenity didn't have to hear anymore. She leap up and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him in for a kiss.

"I love you too," she said before claiming his lips a second time in a matter of a few minutes.

Sesshomaru didn't realize how much he needed to hear those words until she said them. For the first time, he smiled a real smile. It wasn't because something had happened that he wanted to happen, it was simply because he was happy.

Serenity was in shock. When Sesshomaru smiled, it changed his whole face. He looked more youthful and happy when he smiled, and she swore that she would attempt to keep him that way.

"I'm sorry that I ran away," Serenity said as they headed back to their home. Sesshomaru looked at her in the darkness of the night and smiled slightly.

"There is nothing to forgive. This Sesshomaru should have been more open with you."

Serenity was starting to feel quite strange. Sesshomaru was acting much nicer than usual, and it was almost like he was a different person.

"You aren't Sesshomaru," she said backing away from him. The fake Sesshomaru smiled before dissolving into a man dressed in baboon-like skin.

"Very perceptive. I had hoped to take to my castle without you even knowing who I was," he said. "I am Naraku. However, I am sure that you have heard of me from your dear mate."

Anger rushed through her. This half-demon tricked her into believing that he was her mate. That bastard.

Serenity lashed out at Naraku, but he moved too quickly and soon had her pinned beneath him on the ground. She was seeing red now and wanted nothing more than to tear him apart.

"Now, now dear Serenity. You wouldn't want to put you precious pup in danger now would you," Naraku said placing his hand over her stomach.

Motherly instincts kicked in and she shoved him off of her before moving back to her feet and away from him.

"Leave me alone," she said firmly. Naraku laughed and approached her again.

"I need you to get to Sesshomaru. He has become a thorn in my side and I need him eliminated. How fortunate it is for me that his half-demon brother decided to visit and caused you to be so upset that you ran away."

Serenity was scared now. This had to be the enemy that Sesshomaru was talking about earlier.

Serenity wished that she had kept up with her training now, but after spending two months in Sesshomaru's home, her skills were lacking.

"You're the one," she said quietly. "You're the one who InuYasha and Sesshomaru want dead."

"Very good. You're learning. However, I will not allow myself to be killed by the likes of them."

Naraku sped towards her again. Serenity jumped out of the way, but not before getting slashed on her left arm by one of Naraku's tentacles. Naraku laughed.

"Your skills are lacking dear Lady of the West. Is it that you have become accustomed to Sesshomaru saving your ass, or are you just losing that fiery spirit you used to have?"

Serenity held her arm tightly, hoping to stop the bleeding by will power alone, but she knew it wouldn't be enough.

"Perhaps you have just become lazy. What will Sesshomaru want with a half-demon who can't even defend herself? Perhaps he is using you…it would be a fitting end to you."

Serenity's breathing became harder and her eyes were beginning to fog over. She had to win. She couldn't depend on Sesshomaru if he isn't there.

"How would he feel if I just took his little half-demon mate and made her hate him? What a wonderful idea. However," he said as Serenity drifted into unconsciousness, "that was my plan all along."

Serenity fainted at Naraku's feet.

Naraku picked the half-demon up gently and smiled. Another pawn to his game…and it was Sesshomaru's pawn this time.

"What fun it was filling your veins with my poison. Now, I just have to wait for Lord Sesshomaru to appear…and tell him the wonderful news about how his heir is going to be raised by me."