Chapter 58

Kagome smiled as Sesshomaru nuzzled up against her neck, his mouth moving over her skin. She was perched between his legs, his arms wrapped around her. The twins were sleeping in his furs, the ones she and Sesshomaru took turns wearing. He had given it to her long ago, but the fluff generated so much heat that she couldn't wear it during the hotter months.

For a moment, they were able to forget that war was coming. They were able to relax, to enjoy the peace and quiet surrounding them. Touga and Izayoi were sitting a few feet away, InuYasha passed out against Izayoi while Touga held Yona. Miroku and Sango were there as well, Sakura in Miroku's arms as he hummed softly to her.

They never missed a chance to gather together. They knew war was coming, knew that with war, came death. Aside from Izayoi, they would all be heading to war soon. They could feel the tension building in the atmosphere, knew it was close to exploding with the fight coming their way. Izayoi would be left behind with a handmaiden to care for all the children. They could only hope that they would all return home to her and the children.

"You're beautiful." Sesshomaru whispered, kissing just behind her ear. Kagome leaned back against him, her head resting on his shoulder so she could look up at him. Over two years had passed since the last war, and Kagome never thought this was how her life would have turned out. She was glad she was wrong. Without Sesshomaru, she would have never been this happy.

"I love you." She whispered, and he smirked, filling their bond with the same love. It warmed her heart, filled her to the brim until her eyes were shining with it. Right then, she wanted to run home with him, to be in their meadow one last time before they left for war. For now, they were staying in the palace, not wanting to be too far from the others.

"After this war, we should make this a weekly thing." Touga whispered, looking up at the sky, his long hair brushing against the ground. "War tends to make you appreciate things that much more, doesn't it?"

"It always has." Miroku nodded in agreement, smiling down at his daughter. "But now, leaving for war will be that much harder."

"That just means we will have to end this war quickly. There are too many things for us to miss." Sesshomaru looked down at his twins, watching them sleep. Reaching out, he ran his fingers over the fur, just under their feet. They were cuddled together, holding on to one another as they slept.

"We will." Touga assured, though his eyes didn't seem so optimistic. Kagome didn't look at anyone, that ball of despair growing in her stomach again. She felt as if she was going to lose everyone around her. She kept telling herself that wasn't possible, but the feeling just wouldn't leave.

She dreaded going to this war, but they had no choice. Her family was going to have to fight, to risk their life because of her. If she could go alone to fight this war, she would. She would do anything to keep them from going, but there was nothing she could do. Once again, her power, her title, was dictating not only her life, but the lives of her family. She hated it.

The brush of two aura's had them all looking up, watching as Satori and Hiroshi floated down from the sky. They landed on the outskirts of the group, walking the rest of the way until they were standing between Touga and Miroku. "We hope you don't mind us joining."

"Of course not." Touga smiled up at them, his body tense. They were all tense. The talk of war had shattered the semblance of peace they thought they had found.

"There are things I must report." Hiroshi nodded towards Touga, his face grim. "Naraku has in fact banded with Naoshi. Their armies march towards us."

"How long?" Sesshomaru asked, his arms tightening around Kagome's waist. "Kouga still isn't here. What do their numbers look like?"

"Three days before they hit the borders of the West. As far as their numbers, thousands, and growing. Naoshi is creating his army. From what our patrol spotted, he's…. he's spitting out soldiers, literally. He creates these things. They aren't human or demon. They are… They look like death, like skeletal beings with dark black cloaks." Hiroshi was pale, his description causing all of their stomachs to churn.

"That is not the power of a fire elemental." Kagome whispered, her hands gripping Sesshomaru's wrist hard. "Have you actually ever seen him use fire?"

"No." Touga admitted, his brows furrowed in confusion. "I have only met him a few times. He is… different. His mind was always frightening. Naraku is the one who said he was a fire elemental, but Naoshi never corrected him. So, I assumed… but now, I am not sure. Most fire elementals have color to them, and now that I think about it, Naoshi has no color outside of his amber eyes."

"He is not a fire elemental." Satori sat down beside Touga, her head down. "He is something far worse. His creation tainted him." Satori looked at Touga, and he cocked his head to the side. "You saved me, Touga, from Naraku's grasp, but I never told you everything Naraku did."

"What does that mean?" Miroku asked, passing Sakura to Sango, his wise eyes already starting to piece things together.

"I once belonged to Naraku." Satori admitted, hands fisted in her lap. "Touga saved me, he bought me off of Naraku through manipulation and trickery. Naraku is vile, his tactics being underhanded. When Touga managed to buy me, he had been so angry. But I was elated. I was free. I moved to the West, and Touga and I…" She stopped, everyone knowing what happened after that.

"Before I met you, Satori, what happened? You were black and blue when I freed you. I knew you were abused, but what does this have to do with Naoshi?" Touga grabbed her shoulder squeezing. "You can trust us."

Hiroshi grabbed her hand, bringing her fingers up to kiss them. A silent support. She wasn't alone anymore. With a nod, she prepared herself. She had never spoken about any of this to anyone. "Naraku has been obsessed with the Shikon Miko for hundreds of years. He wanted her power." Satori looked at Kagome, eyes apologetic. "Kagome, I should have told you a long time ago, however, I was hoping Naraku's plans with you and Naoshi wouldn't happen. But now that war is heading our way, I cannot ignore it any longer. The Shikon Miko is life. She is the god's creation, a vessel of purity placed on these lands to give life, to protect life. She is good."

"I can't give life." Kagome shook her head, heart pounding. "I can elongate someone's life, but I can't create a life from nothing or bring back the dead."

"Because you were born a twin." Satori glanced at Miroku, then back to Kagome. "If you had all of your power, you would be the god's tool. Naraku knows this. He knows what you are, and your power. He doesn't know that you only have a portion of your power. He doesn't realize that Miroku has the rest, meaning you are weaker than you should be."

"We can use that to our advantage." Miroku swallowed, not liking how this conversation was playing out at all.

"No. We can't. Neither of you are strong enough. Without Kagome's full power, Naoshi is unstoppable." Satori looked back down towards the ground, eyes glassy from her refusing to shed her tears. "The Shikon Miko is life, and Naraku wants that power. However, he is greedy. He wants it all. With life, comes death."

"Are you saying…" Kagome placed a hand over her mouth, unable to finish that sentence. It couldn't be. Satori had to be wrong. If she was right, there was no way they could win this war.

"Naraku want's the two most powerful beings in his hands. He wants both life and death at his disposal. He used me, forced me. Using a spell, Naraku raped and impregnated me with Naoshi. He is my son." Satori looked up at Sesshomaru, seeing his eyes widen in surprise. "He is your brother, Sesshomaru."

"He is a threat to my mate and my family. He is no brother of mine." Sesshomaru shook his head, but Kagome felt his hand tremble against her stomach. She grabbed it, holding tight.

"What does that mean? Naoshi is death?" Izayoi had tears running down her cheeks, arms wrapped around InuYasha tightly.

"It means that he has complete control over souls. He choses what happens when a person dies. Does the soul move on to be reincarnated, or does it get eaten by his own jaws? When a person dies, he becomes their master. The being's he is creating are souls that he has. He's using the souls, placing them in a body of his creation, and building an army. They will be as strong as any demon, but useless against purifying energy. They are not good or bad, but they will follow his every command." Satori met all of their eyes, her face grave. "You cannot beat death, without life. Kagome's power is split, her power weakened. She is not strong enough."

"You can't kill death. Death happens no matter what. Maybe killing him isn't the answer." Sango's voice was tight, her face pale.

"If we could just get to him, talk to him." Kagome wasn't sure what to do anymore. A part of her wanted to pack up her family and run, but she couldn't do that. She couldn't leave everyone in the West to suffer. "Maybe he and I can come to some sort of agreement."

"I have not seen Naoshi since he was a child." Satori swallowed, grief flashing in her eyes. "He was… sweet and kind. I loved my son, but then Naraku took him, got his hands on him. The next time I saw him, something in Naoshi was off, broken. I am not sure he is sane. If he isn't, there will be no talking to him. He is my son, but death is the only answer for him. It would be a mercy killing. It would put him out of his broken misery."

"Satori." Hiroshi pulled her to him, hugging her tightly. He thought of his own son, the one he had hidden away. "Surely you don't mean to kill him. Perhaps we can do as Kagome says, bargain with him. If he agrees, then maybe you can get to know him again."

Another aura brushed against them, this time, hundreds more following behind the one. They all turned, seeing Kouga and Sona walking up towards them, wolves and more following behind them. There were hundreds of wolf demons, and even more mortal wolves. "We'll kill the bastard. Then we will kill Naraku. By the time this war is done, there won't be anything of them left."

"I am glad you came when you did." Touga stood, and the others followed his lead, Sesshomaru picking up the twins. Nodding towards Kouga, Touga motioned towards the army. "You are welcome to take your army to the barracks. They can rest for the night. In the morning, we will march. We get Kagome to Naoshi. We let her try to make a deal. If he accepts, we kill Naraku together. If he refuses, then we kill them. Either way, we will win this war." Looking down at his daughter in his arms, he lowered his nose to her, breathing in her scent. "We have too much to live for."

They all agreed with near silent murmurs, their minds filled with what they all just learned. There was a chance they wouldn't win. There was a chance they would walk into this war, and their lives would end. They all knew it, and it weighed heavy on their hearts.

...

Remember a long time ago when I asked if anyone had any guesses as to what Kagome is? Well now we know. She is life, and Naoshi is death. I think we all kinda knew what Naoshi was. lol. We also learned what Touga and Satori had been keeping a secret. Touga saved Satori from Naraku, the other reason Naraku doesn't like Touga. And now we know that Naoshi had family ties to Sesshomaru. It's all just one big mess. lol. Anyway. I hope you all enjoyed.