Chapter 55

"I've missed you too." Kagome smiled, rubbing her hands over the muzzle of her horse. It felt like ages since she had seen Alastar. After she had locked herself in her home during the end of her pregnancy, she hadn't been able to see him at all. Then, even after the birth of the twins, she stayed home for a few weeks, and finally after so much time, she was seeing Alastar again.

He nuzzled the baby in her arm, getting to know the child's scent. His black hair ruffled at the horse's breath and lip gently playing with it, his eyes wide as he looked at the animal with jerky movements of his hands. "This is Kazuhiko. We call him Kazu for short."

Alastar stomped his hoof, lifting his head in excitement. Kagome chuckled, patting his neck tenderly. She had missed him dearly. "Hana is almost old enough to be allowed to free roam, huh?" She pressed her cheek against his neck, her arm wrapped around him. "Maybe once she is, you can visit more often. And when she is grown, you can move to the meadow with me. She is probably going to want to stay here with InuYasha, but I miss you, and I know Sesshomaru misses Nakoa." Kagome let out a sad sigh. "But I'm not selfish. I wouldn't truly ask you to leave your baby. Just know that our meadow is open if you ever want it." Alastar lowered his head over her shoulder and pressing her to him, letting her know that he appreciated her offer.

"Kagome." Sesshomaru came up behind Kagome, Miyuki in his arms. She was tangling her hands in his hair, pulling on it. Sesshomaru didn't mind in the slightest, letting her have her fun. "The weather is going to change soon. If we are going to make it home, we will have to go shortly."

Kagome sighed, leaning against Alastar. They had come for a visit to see everyone. They had already spent a few hours at the castle, and now they were spending some time with the horses. However, Sesshomaru was right. The weather was darkening, the clouds thickening with the incoming storm. If they didn't hurry, they and the babies would get caught in the rain. She didn't want her babies to get sick.

While in the womb, they had been able to use their power. However, now that they were born, they hadn't used an ounce of power. It was as if they had never used any. Their theory was that they were able to use Kagome's body as a conduit. It was used to power, while their little bodies weren't. They would have to learn and train their powers just like anyone else. Because of that, she didn't want to take the chance of them getting sick.

"I suppose." Kagome hugged Alastar once more, then walked over to Nakoa and Hana, who Sesshomaru had been visiting. "I will see you two later. Make sure you stay dry." She hugged them both, then walked over towards Sesshomaru. "We can go. But I want to come back tomorrow if the weather is clear."

He gave a nod, holding out his free hand to her. Stepping up beside him, she kissed his jaw, Kazu grabbing a fistful of his hair like Miyuki was. Just before Sesshomaru took off, he turned, brows furrowed as Touga rushed to them in his orb. When he landed, they noticed his grim face, and knew this wasn't good.

"Naraku has been spotted. He is heading this way, and he is angry. It is likely that he discovered that Kagura has died." Touga warned, the worry blatant on his features. "I can only assume that because he is here, he is aware that Kagome had a hand in her death. I need you two to stay."

"But my babies…" Kagome looked down at her twins. It was one of them that had killed Kagura, not Kagome. If Naraku wanted revenge, he was going to come after the twins. Her heart pounded in her chest, fearful for the lives of her babies.

"Right now, all he needs to know is that you killed Kagura. We tell him nothing else." Touga reassured, then looked towards Sesshomaru. "Izayoi, Satori, and Sango are going to watch the children. Miroku and Hiroshi are waiting in my study, preparing for Naraku's arrival.

He turned to leave then, Sesshomaru and Kagome following tensely. They moved quickly, dropping the twins off with Sango, Satori, and Izayoi, then rushed to Touga's study. By time they arrived, the rain had come, thunder booming in the sky after a strike of lighting.

Miroku came to stand beside Kagome, Sesshomaru on the other side. No one said anything, all of them tense. They weren't sure how this would turn out, but they knew it wasn't going to be good. Naraku was going to want some sort of payment for the life taken from Kagura. A payment, Touga nor any of the others were willing to pay.

When the door slammed open, a drenched Naraku standing in the doorway, none of them reacted. They had known he was there, felt his ominous aura. He was furious, and he wanted blood. Touga stood behind his desk, meeting Naraku's red eyes gaze head on. "Naraku. What warrants this unexpected visit?"

"You know why I am here, Touga, don't play your petty games." Naraku stalked straight towards Touga's desk, his fangs bared in fury. "My daughter is dead, and you hold the one responsible. I should have known Touga. I should have known when you refused to allow me to search for the Shikon Miko."

"I don't know wh-"

"Enough!" Naraku snarled, and Touga bared his fangs in return, his own eyes tinting red. "You have the shikon miko, and she killed my daughter." Naraku turned his head slowly, eyes landing straight on Kagome. Sesshomaru moved to step in front of her, growling lowly in his chest, but Naraku ignored him. "I want the miko. A life for a life, Touga."

Touga snarled, coming to stand in front of Naraku, keeping himself in between the spider and Kagome. He had known that this was what Naraku wanted. He also knew exactly what was going to happen when he turned down Naraku's demands. "Your daughter trespassed on the West. She kidnapped the woman I adopted as my own, the woman married and mated to my son. She attempted to kill Kagome, and Kagome defended herself against Kagura. Yes, it resulted in Kagura's death, but because of Kagura's actions, you have no right to demand anything, Naraku."

"Where's your proof?" Naraku snarled, stepping up to Touga, their faces inches apart. "Did you see my daughter do all of these things or is it what Kagome claims?"

"Kagome would not lie. Sh-"

"Did you see my daughter's death with your own eyes, Touga? Do you have the proof required to claim Kagura broke these laws, or are you going on the word of Kagome? The only person still alive from this supposed altercation. She could have lied." Naraku grinned, his fangs glistening threateningly. "It's a simple answer, Touga. Provide your proof, and I will leave."

Touga clenched his into fist. He was being backed into a corner. He had hoped that there would be some way out of this, but there wasn't. Naraku was right. They had no proof of what Kagura had done. Only Kagome's word. "I smelled Kagura outside of their home." He was reaching, he knew it. But he wanted to avoid the outcome that was fast approaching.

"Did you smell her inside the home? You say Kagome was kidnapped. I do not see how. It is my understanding that inu youkai don't leave their pregnant mates behind. Yet, for Kagura to get her hands on Kagome, Sesshomaru would have had to have done just that. Your story does not add up, Touga, and I am still waiting on the proof that I deserve. You either show me that what you say is true, or you give me the Shikon Miko." Naraku flicked his eyes to Kagome, seeing her hiding behind Sesshomaru. He was so close to having what he wanted. So close, he could taste it.

Touga ground his fangs together, turning to look at Sesshomaru. They shared a silent conversation, both of them knowing how this was going to end. Bringing his attention back to Naraku, Touga held his head up. "I do not have the proof you require, Naraku." Naraku grinned, thinking he had won, however, Touga growled, wiping that grin from the spider's face. "Be that as it may, you will not lay a single claw on Kagome."

"You would dare? She killed my daughter, turned her to dust, and you refuse to give me the justice I deserve? My only heir, Touga, gone!" Naraku snarled, the energy around him swirling dangerously.

Touga gripped Naraku's top, just under his neck, and shoved him back. "Don't forget, Naraku. I know how you treat your women. I have seen it with Kagura, and with her. I won't let Kagome experience that pain, Naraku. I will kill your entire army before I let that happen."

"You've reminded me of another slight against me, Touga." Naraku seemed to calm instantly, brushing down his clothing from where Touga had wrinkled it. "You stole her from me, and now you steal the Shikon Miko. I will give no more chances, Touga. The next time we see each other, it will be from across the battlefield. I declare war against the West. I will destroy you, your family, and any followers you have. This I promise." He turned on his heel then, sparing a second long glance at Kagome, and then leaving, the door slamming behind him.

"War?" Kagome whispered, her hands clutching at Sesshomaru. "We are going to war… over me?"

"It was coming, Kagome. We knew it was for a long time. It was something Izayoi and I have been discussing for a while now." Touga rubbed his face, closing his eyes as he processed what he just learned. They were going to war. It felt like they had just ended a war, and now another was right around the corner.

"But…" Kagome bit her lip, and Sesshomaru turned her to him, pulling her chin up to face him.

"But nothing, Kagome. This war is not your fault, it is Naraku's. The moment he learned what you are, he would have stopped at nothing. We would not hand you over, therefore war is inevitable." He kissed her forehead, holding her to him.

"I will prepare my army. There are many things we need to do to get ready for this war. We will be quick about it, making sure we are ready for Naraku." Hiroshi offered, his shoulders as tense as everyone else's. All he could think about at that moment was spending as much time with Satori and his son as possible.

"I have a few friends I can call on. Monks that I have run into these past few years. They owe me, and I will ask that they recruit any willing to fight in a demon war." Miroku offered, placing a hand on his sister's shoulder. "Naraku won't touch you, Kagome. None of us will let that happen."

"But at what cost? What if… what if not all of us make it? I couldn't bear to lose any of you. Especially when it's a war caused because of what I am." Her hands gripped Sesshomaru's top, her face pressed into his chest. "If any of you die, it will be my fault."

"That's just not true, Kagome. You are my daughter. You are Sesshomaru's mate. You are a wonderful mother, a sister, and a friend. We would go to war for you over and over again. But I can promise you, it is and never will be your fault." Touga wrapped his arms around Kagome and Sesshomaru. ignoring his son's slight struggles to get free. "And none of us will fall. We will all be here when the war is over. You'll see."

Kagome hugged him back, an arm around Touga, another around Sesshomaru. She wanted to believe him, to be as optimistic as he was, but she just couldn't. No matter what she told herself, she couldn't ignore the ball of dread forming in her stomach.

...

Wow that foreshadowing was like a slap in the face. lmao. Sorry I'm late. Again. I'm seriously struggling to keep up with work and posting. To make matters worse, I haven't written for me in over a month. Every day I spend hours writing for someone else, so by time I want to write for me, I'm too tired to do it. It's depressing. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. As I said in the last chapter things really are going to keep getting heavier from this point on. Some of you are going to want to stop reading, but I beg you, don't. Trust me. That's all I have to say at the moment.