Disclaimer: I do not own Inuyasha.

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Previously:

"What are you doing here Sesshoumaru?"

"Dispelling rumor that an unknown full blooded inu pup carries the western heir's mark, however not only did I find it to be true, but also discovered that there are two of them. Tell me, why do they call you toosan when the female pup clearly indicated to me that you are her uncle. I am not currently aware of any other full blooded youkai half brothers. Which leads me back to my initial question. Who are their parents? Why do they have the western heir's mark?"

Inuyasha hardened his glare aimed at his brother.

"That's because they are 'your' pups." Sesshoumaru narrowed his eyes at his half brother. "their mother is Kagome."

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Chapter 21:

"Chichiue!" cried both pups lunging at him. They hugged him, one on each leg. Sesshoumaru observed with wide eyes.

'My pups?' he blinked overwhelmed by the tide of emotions now engulfing him. He leaned down on them and gathered them in a tight embrace. "Kagome, where is.." he straightened up. "Where is your mother?"

"Kagome will not be going back with you!" growled Inuyasha taking on his fighting stance and drawing out tetsusaiga. "I stood by as her heart was broken by your arrogant ass before, I won't allow it this time."

"You are mistaken hanyou. If you thought that this Sesshoumaru will listen to your prattling. I take orders from no one. Let alone to half breed abomination like you." Flicking his wrist elegantly, the Western Lord let loose his whip and proceeded to strike Inuyasha successively. Akihito restrained his fathers hand.

"Chichiue, don't hurt Inuyasha toosan!" the pup implored.

Sesshoumaru turned to his son, "you are the heir to the western lands. One day you will be lord. Do not disgrace your blood by associating with such filth!" he growled contemptuously.

"The only filth here is you!" screamed a waddling Sango. She was being supported by a pale looking Miroku.

"Restrain that mate of yours houshi or this Sesshoumaru will bereave you of her meddlesome presence along with any future pup."

"You will do no such thing!" A black mist appeared protectively in front of the stunned couple. Kagome went through the swirling mass of black mist, both hands aglow in a blue-black mist.

"Hahaue!"

The twins ran toward their mother. All the inu males, including the western lord stood awe struck by the dazzling beauty that stepped through. Sesshoumaru hardly recognized her. Her divine appearance surpasses any demoness by far. The bluish sphere that adorned her head emitted a blue halo that added to heavenly appearance. Her serene face was beyond hypnotizing. Her slender form and graceful movement enchanting. He and his men unknowingly held their breaths.

"Inuyasha, please take the pups back to the village." she pleaded not taking her eyes off the Inu Lord.

"Come on pups. Hahaue has a stubborn dog to neuter." Whispered Inuyasha softly so that no youkai ears can discern his words.

Akihito and Nadeshiko walked slowly then stopped. Frowning they turned back to their mother and father.

"What does neuter mean Hahaue?" asked Nadeshiko innocently. Inuyasha's eyes widened. As Kagome's narrowed. Covering her mouth with one of his hands, Inuyasha grins lightly.

"SH'T!...uh ... RUN!" he cries as he takes off on a break neck speed. The pups giggling, followed closely after him.

Kagome sighed heavily smirking inwardly at their comical display. Her attention turned back to the Inu lord now standing in front of her. She heard Sesshoumaru dismiss his troops. She heard his light steps.

"Don't come any closer. I will only say this once so listen to my words carefully." she began. "As much as it pains me to see you again, I realize the pups need their father. Akihito and Nadeshiko will be with you half of week to train for their roles as heirs being their birthright. The other half shall be with me, here in the village. That is of course unless you already have an heir."

"Our children are the only heir the west has. They will stay in the palace as will this Sesshoumaru's mate and current Lady of the Western Lands, I will not suffer the thought of you or them staying in filthy ningen village, with no suitable attire and proper housing."

Kagome met his eyes in cold fury. "How dare you presume after all this time and after all you've done that we will return with you!"

"They are my pups too and you still carry my mark! No other youkai will touch you!"

"I would rather live out the rest of my years alone than to return with you! You have a mate already! Get out of my damn life. You've cast me aside that day that bitch crawled in your bed!"

"It was not my choice that she became mine! Iesu offered her to me as concubine. She was his intended. This Sesshoumaru surmised that he had held tender feelings for her and did not want her to be publicly ridiculed after being refused by him. So he gave her to me. Often this Sesshoumaru pondered why this was such, then I realized that his reason for refusing her was due to her body not being able to carry a strong pup into term. Akemi remains as my concubine. You however, remain my mate."

"Why you? Why not Matsu? Or Mushira? Why did it have to be you?" she cried. Tears streaking down her face.

Sesshoumaru dug his claws into his palms quelling his great desire to wipe away those precious tears that cascaded down her cheeks.

"Iesu did not know Matsu as much as he knows me. Even with our difference he knew I would take care of her. He did not trust Mushira at the time."

Kagome listened noting subconsciously that her heart had skipped a little to find out this little piece of information. 'That still doesn't excuse why he took her so soon after mating me!' she fumed. Her anger rekindled.

"I will take the twins to the Nishi no Gi'in in one days time. But I will not remain." she responded turning away from him.

"Kagome." The Western Lord called out tenderly. "I realize some part of you still hurt. I will allow time for you to have for yourself, however, I cannot allow the pups to remain here with you. Their safety is my immediate concern. They are my heirs, and therefore are easy targets for my enemies."

"It is your enemies that should fear your pups. They are for lack of a better word, the perfect embodiment of power and strength. Have you not wondered who protected me all these years? Even with my powers I cannot summon it properly as I am not aware of my own powers. Whose aura did you think hid mine so completely all those years, that no one knew my whereabouts even though I was under all your noses?"

"The pups were able to do that?"

"They are your first issue of strength. The rightful heirs to the west. Were you expecting them to be so weak? Are your pups with your other woman so fragile?" she spat out.

"Speak not any affront regarding Akemi and the pups we had!" he roared.

Kagome noticed the slight haze of pink that clouded his eyes.

"Had? Surely you can't mean?..." she gasped. Embarrassed at her deplorable display. "I had meant no harm Sesshoumaru. Gomen." she stood with her head bowed down low. 'She had changed him. I wanted so much to be the one to warm his heart. Surely now I am dead to him. Though I am his mate it will not be long until he rids of me.' The whispers of the court ladies six years ago resurface. New tears formed and trickled down her cheeks. "You love her." she whispered out.

Sesshoumaru looked at her tenderly but refrained from speaking a word. Reaching out to her, he wanted so much to hold her again in his arms.

Kagome smiled sadly at him. "I see. Wait for the pups here." she murmured. Sesshoumaru tried to make a grab for her but she vanished in a whisp of black smoke.

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"Hahaue!" the twins greeted her with warm faces.

Kagome's heart clenched. 'He can protect them better than I. They need their father and a mother. Even if that mother is not me. He needs and loves Akemi not me. There is no room for me.' she thought bitterly.

She smiled at them swallowing down her tears. "Come, your Chichiue is waiting for you. Inuyasha, can you please bring the twins to the stream. Sesshoumaru is there waiting for them."

Inuyasha could sense there was something wrong with Kagome, but he dismissed it thinking that perhaps she needed time to recover from her meeting with the western lord.

"You are sure about this Kagome?"

"Yes, it is for the best." she walked over to the pups and kissed them on their foreheads lightly. "I love the both of you. Look after each other. Akihito I expect you to watch out for your little sister."

"Hai! Hahaue!"

Turning to the observing hanyou, Kagome wraps her arms around his waist. Burying her face in his chest. "Thanks Inuyasha." she whispered.

"Kkagome?" asks a puzzled Inuyasha.

"I'm just being silly!" she said resuming her cheerful smile, and wiping at her tears. "GO! Don't keep the ice lord waiting. He might freeze his pompous ass all the more. Then we'll definitely be in a blizzard storm."

"Alright, but only if you're ok."

"I'm fine you baka. Go."

Kagome watched their disappearing forms. Her face crumpled. She headed towards her room. Seating herself she took out a kodachi (short sword). She released a spell on the blade. The spell had a two fold effect. The first makes any cut, whether on human or youkai, to keep open the wound, draining out the blood. The second would allow for sleep, in order to hamper her body's healing abilities.

Taking one last look at the setting sun through the windows, she thrusts the sword in her body. She could feel the spell working as the sword vanishes, warm blood oozes out of her wound. She falls forward on the wooden floor, her blood quickly spreading out like a crimson mat. Unconsciousness creept in her rapidly cooling form.

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"Kaa-chan, Kaede baa-chan, wanted you to have these daikon for din..." Shippo sniffs the air. It was heavy with a strange metallic odor. "Kaachan?" he walks slowly sniffing the air as he approaches their room. Hesitatingly he slides open the shoji.

"KAA-CHANNNN!"

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Inuyasha still upset at the pups departure had stayed behind watching as their forms disappeared in the clouds.

He sighed heavily, running his claws through his silver hair.

"INUYAAASHHAAA!" screamed Shippo.

Smacking onto him, the kitsune pup sobs uncontrollably. Inuyasha grunted.

"What is it now runt? I don't have time to play your stupid.."

"Kaa-chan... blood...lots of it..."

Inuyasha didn't need to be told twice, he grabbed the wailing kitsune. Racing through the trees, he cursed himself. He had a gut feeling something was off with Kagome. 'Why didn't I say something to her earlier?' He sped fast, upon reaching the house they shared he noticed the crowd gathering at the fence.

"Get your asses back to your own damn huts! What do you think this is, a f'ckin Noh play?" He cleaved his way in the house.

Kaede, Miroku and the visibly crying Sango sat next to the still body of Kagome. Inuyasha collapsed on the spot. Seeing her lively body so still made him so angry. Thinking incoherently, he struck an unoffending wall, spliting the side posts and totally obliterating the wall. Shippo made his way to his Kaa-chan's side crying on her hands.

"There is nothing more I can do. Her life is slipping away." remarked Kaede sadly. "Her wounds will not close and she had already lost plenty of blood."

"No! I can't and won't accept her death!" yelled Inuyasha.

"What are you doing?" gaped Sango.

"I'm taking her to the one youkai who has the power to save her." he replied.

"Take Kirara." offered Sango. Miroku helped her up.

"I want to come too." sniffed Shippo.

"Alright."

"We'll pray for you." stated Miroku.

Inuyasha looked at him then bowed slightly.

"Kirara!"

The fire neko transformed. Inuyasha held Kagome's limp form across both arms. Shippo continued to cry softly on Inuyasha's back.

'Hold on Kagome. You can't leave me this time!' he raged inside. Shippo shifted uneasily. Sensing the dark aura forming around the hanyou he stares in disbelief as Inuyasha took to his demon form and still seem to retain himself.