Chapter 10

August 25, 2006

iNuQTpIe: Hey, Arashi is the bad guy, I gotta make him evil, and leave the slicing into little pieces to me, por favor. Well, I'm glad I've gotten better for you, and that this isn't boring, that makes me happy to hear. Lol, I think I get your hint, but what would our over protective hanyou (and maybe even miko) think about that? Lol, that might be fun though. I'll be sure to keep you posted. Until the next update, thank you for your review, and enjoy chapter ten.

Catbuddy: Well, you shall find out, but you will have to read on. I'm not really much of a fan of spoilers. Well, Yui is safe for now, and I too am glad to see her again, it's so much fun to write her in here. Glad you like the fic, here is the next chapter, enjoy and thank you for your review.

Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns the Inu-Yasha gang, I own the rest, please don't sue or steal.

What! My mind screams as the youkai's words settle there.

"Become fully mine. Kill your mate to save your daughter."

The past flashes across my eyes as the thought of killing Inu-Yasha settles deep in my heart. NO! My mind screams instantly. I won't try to kill Inu-Yasha again! Then Yui shivers in my arms and I lower my head to look at her.

My flesh, my soul, my baby, I have to save her. I hold her closer to my chest and try to comfort her. "Everything's alright, Yui." I breathe into her ear.

"I want Papa…" She sobs back.

"Sh, you'll see him soon." I raise my attention back to Arashi as I continue to try to comfort my daughter. "Either take my trade or I fight my way out of here." I say to the youkai. He laughs again. Kami I need to shut that laugh up.

"You won't get out of here alive, miko." He says, his laugh abruptly ending.

"Watch me." I growl, and give no warning as I jump forward, holding one hand straight out in front of me, the other holding Yui on my hip. I release the power collected in my hand into Arashi as I touch him. The force knocks him backward a few feet, but he seems unharmed again. I dash across the open area in order to get to the entrance to the tunnel.

"Run." I say as I set Yui down at the entrance.

"But, Mama—"

"Run, Yui! Get out of here!" I give her a slight push as I turn to face Arashi who has regained his senses. I hear her turn and run off. I sigh silently and take a defensive stance against the youkai as he approaches me.

"You will regret that, miko." He snarls. I can't even follow his movements as he flashes in front of me. I gasp as his clawed hand wraps around my throat. "I was going to kill you quickly, but now you will suffer." He says, lifting me off the ground. I choke as I try to get air into my burning lungs.

I lift my shaking hand to his and wrap my fingers around his wrist. I try to weaken him by using my miko aura. Arashi turns slightly and slams my back against the rock wall. "That won't work." His grip tightens.

I try to grin down at him before I drive my knee into his stomach. He gasps slightly and bends over double, loosening his hold. "How about that?" I growl as he drops me. I don't even have time to get a full breath in before Arashi grabs my throat again.

"Filthy bitch." He snarls and throws me across the room. Pin erupts across my back and down my arm as my left shoulder hits the stone hard. I slowly slide down the wall until I come to a stop, barely standing on my feet. I struggle to fill my lungs with oxygen as I raise my head. My vision is met with a fist flying at me.

My head snaps back as Arashi's knuckles connect with my jaw, and then is thrown forward as he delivers an uppercut to my stomach. I spit blood out in order to keep from chocking on it and finally collapse to my knees. Coughs rack my chest as pain spreads throughout my whole body.

"You don't stand a chance against me, miko." The youkai growls as he backhands me. I suck in a quick breath before turning to look up at him. A slight grin tugs at my lips.

"You see, that's where you're wrong, Arashi, I've already won. My daughter and mate are safe, it doesn't matter what happens to me." I rasp as blood burns my throat. I can see the anger burning in his eyes as he reaches down to grab onto my throat again. I try to ignore the suddenly familiar pain as he lifts me to my feet.

"So if I torture you until I tire of you, it wouldn't matter?" I don't have the air to reply to his question. The youkai shakes me slightly. "What about your mate and pup, what would your death do to them?" He tries to bait me again. I continue to be silent. He grunts and throws me across the room again. I cry out this time as I hit the stone and then silently collapse to the ground.

I am beaten.

I have no strength left.

Even my miko powers are failing me now.

Forgive me Yui… Inu-Yasha… My head falls forward and my body follows, leaving me face down on the ground. I close my eyes as I feel Arashi walk toward me.

"Dead already? I wasn't done playing with you yet." He stops and reaches down to wrap his fist in my hair. He begins to pull up, and my hand struggles to grab at his to stop the pain on my head.

"Let my Okasan go." A strong voice echoes throughout the room.

Arashi and I both freeze at Yui's words. The youkai moves to look at my daughter, giving me a clear view of her standing in the entrance. No… The thought passes through my mind.

"You want your Okasan?" Arashi says with a smile as he lets go of me and stands up, fully turning to Yui.

"No, Arashi, you leave her out of this." I somehow find the power to struggle to my feet. The youkai continues to move toward my daughter as I draw my sword. "I swear if you touch her…" I leave my threat at that. I stumble forward, holding my sword out in front of me as I follow the youkai.

Yui screams as Arashi dashes forward, aiming for her chest. I let out my own battle cry as I swing my sword around. I can feel the miko radiating from the steel as it cuts into the youkai. He bellows in pain and stops short. I use my life force to blast him apart. He turns to look at me moments before his body is completely obliterated.

I gasp again and fall to my knees as the youki fades from the room ever so slowly. He's dead… the bastard is really dead.

"Mama!" Yui shouts as she runs into my chest. The air is knocked from my lungs again as she tackles me in a hug. "You're alright, I was so afraid he was going to hurt you!" She cries, burying her face in my shoulder. I wince at the movement, but circle my arms around her shaking form.

"Everything's alright, I'm fine." Or at least I will be… as soon as I sleep for a week. No sooner are the words formed in my mind, does the room start to shake.

Damn.

I lift my head to look around quickly and see the rock falling from the ceiling. "Yui, we've got to go, come on." I say, grabbing her hand and struggling to my feet again. I hold my sword tightly in my right hand, I holding onto Yui with my left, as I begin to run back toward the top of the castle.

It doesn't take long before my body begins to protest the harsh movement of running, and I begin to slow. "Mama, are you alright?" My daughter asks. I try to nod, but that makes me dizzy and I stumble sideways.

"Damn it." I curse as I fall to my knees again. This time Yui is at my side, asking over and over what's wrong. I lift my head slightly to see that in front of us is again the large drop of which I had had to slip across on a small ledge on one side. There was no way I was going to be able to get across now, in my condition.

"Yui," I turn to her quietly. "There is a ledge along the left side of this hole. If you carefully walk across it, you can make it to the top in time."

"What about you?" She instantly replies. I try not to growl in irritation that the pup won't listen to me.

"You have to go, now, before the whole castle comes down."

"I'm not going to leave you alone, Oka!"

"Yui—"

"No one is staying behind." A deep voice cuts in. Yui and I both turn to look at the new arrival, which actually turns out to be arrivals.

"Papa!" The younger hanyou shouts and runs at Inu-Yasha. He bends down on one knee to take her into his arms. His golden eyes turn to me, and in that one instant, the castle stops shaking, the rocks stop falling, and my body is not intensely fatigued. I am lost in time at his fierce look of fear and anger in those golden depths.

"We've got to move, this thing's coming down!" Shippo shouts, running to my side. I am harshly snapped back to reality. The Kitsune kneels next to me and turns to look at my mate. "Get Yui out of here, we'll be right behind you."

Inu-Yasha nods and takes off at a sprint, jumping easily over the never-ending hole. Shippo watches before turning to me again. "You look pretty beaten up. Come on, I'll give you a lift." He holds a hand out to me and I take it without hesitation. The Kitsune pulls me into his arms and we are flashing after Yui and Inu-Yasha in seconds.

Most of the journey is black because I keep falling unconscious, but as soon as the sun hits my face, I come fully awake.

"Kagome!" Koga's voice calls as Shippo comes to a stop next to Inu-Yasha just outside the almost completely crumbled castle. I shakily turn to look at the ouji as he and Hokori dash to my side. "What happened?" The wolf asks, turning an evil look to Shippo.

"Arashi…" I mutter and rest my head against the Kitsune's shoulder. I am glad to see Koga and Hokori are for the most part unharmed. The ouji falls silent as he nods and steps back for Inu-Yasha. Shippo looks up at the slightly taller hanyou.

"I've got her, Shippo." My mate breathes as he carefully places his arms under me. I am shifted from one warm body covered in armor, to a warm body covered in soft firerat. I turn into Inu-Yasha more and close my eyes, wanting nothing but to sleep with my family by my side.

((The Ending of a Beginning))

"Papa," I hear Yui whisper as Inu-Yasha walks. I feel his head lower to look at her. "Will Mama be okay?"

"Feh, of course. Your Okasan is made of stronger stuff than that weak Arashi could dish out." He replies back softly, as not to bother me. I can feel the tint of worry behind his voice though, telling me he is fearful for my health. I slowly lift my head to draw his attention. I give him a small smile as he turns questioning eyes to me.

"Where are we going?" I ask quietly.

"Where ever you want to go."

"I want to go to the Taijiya village. I promised Sango she could meet Yui." I rest my head back against Inu-Yasha's shoulder. "And I want to go home." I breathe slowly before closing my eyes to slip into sleep again.