Chapter 26
The pale crescent moon shined like a claw ready to attack. The irony was right in the moment for the young miko. Kagome shot up in bed when she woke from her dream. Her mate sensed her worry and fear and was up right with his sword drawn instantly. When Sesshomaru saw no immediate danger and sensed nothing around them he looked questioningly at his mate.
"Sess, there coming. Dragons. Hundreds of them. The Goddess warned me in my dream. They will be here within the hour." Kagome said frantically as she rushed out of bed and dug into her pouch for her armored miko garbs that were gifted to her. Sesshomaru also dressed as he questioned Kagome for more information. "I just know they are coming soon." We have to wake Sango and the others. Oh Sesshomaru, they just finished the village, all the people. They are finally thriving again. It's all my fault." Kagome said as tears streamed down her face. Sesshomaru went to his mate and bride and pulled her into his chest. "It is of no fault but the dragons. We will keep the damage to a minimum at the best of our ability. We will protect all that reside here. We are strong as one and will take on any who intend to harm that which is ours. Fear not my love, we will protect the village and everyone in it. You have my word." Sesshomaru said sternly. Kagome nodded and quickly grabbed the rest of her weapons while Sesshomaru waited at the doors for her to leave.
When the couple was ready Kagome instructed Sesshomaru that she would go and wake Sango and that Sesshomaru should gather Rin, Ah Un and Ami, then send them to the castle where they can protect their daughter and be away from the chaos. The demon lord nodded and disappeared as Kagome ran to her friend's hut.
Kagome ran into the large hut of her friend without knocking and went to the back room where they slept. "Sango!" Kagome yelled. The slayer grabbed a sword and had it at the ready in an instant, startled by the sudden disturbance. "Sango I'm sorry to wake you but you guys have to get up. I was told in a dream there are hundreds of dragon demons coming to the village. They will be here in less than an hour, hurry! We have to prepare and wake the villagers!" Kagome yelled and ran from the couple that was already up and getting ready half way through the warning. Kagome ran to the next room to get Shippo and Ashi who slept with the kit. Then brought them back to Sango and Miroku.
"Mama!" Shippo yelled, frightened, jumping from Kagome's arms. "Kagome, we will gather the women and children by the tree in the center of the village." Sango said as she finished getting ready and taking Shippo in her arms along with Kirara. "Good, I will put a strong barrier around them. Nothing will get to them. I won't let your village die again Sango." Kagome promised as she hugged her friend. "I only care about the people, Kagome. We can always rebuild." Sango said as she left with everyone following.
Sango ran outside and went to a large post with an even larger bell atop of it. Placing both of her precious cargo on top of her shoulders she grabbed a hold of the rope connected to the bell and pulled. Loud clanging rang from the bell and almost instantly villagers poured out of their homes into the center of the village.
As everyone gathered Sango stood atop a raised platform and got everyone's attention. "Listen well. A large battle is upon us. Hundreds of dragons are coming. All women, children, elderly, sick and non fighters will stay in the center here by this tree. Lady Kagome will erect a powerful barrier that will keep you safe. Do not feel like you must fight. Dragons are mighty warriors and only skilled fighters should go into battle." Sango yelled to the silent crowd. "There is no judgment to those who stay behind. The rest gather your weapons and ready yourself. We will fight soon!" Many men cried out in a war cry as everyone gathered their families and arranged people where they needed to be. Most men ran for their weapons when they deposited their families by the tree.
Kagome went to the large tree and placed her hand on the rough wood. Closing her eyes and beginning to chant she spoke a powerful spell that allowed no one inside that meant harm. Moments later she finished and then helped others get inside of the protective bubble. "Ashi, you stay here and protect Shippo and the others." Kagome said as she put down her fire cat and he transformed to his larger size. Once everyone who needed to be in the barrier was safe Kagome turned toward her mate who just arrived back.
"We are ready." Kagome said determinedly. "Hn." Sesshomaru answered. "This one can feel them coming. There are many." Kagome could feel them too. It wouldn't be long now. They were close. "Come. We will cut them off before they arrive." Sesshomaru said then lead all those that will be fighting a large clearing outside the village.
Kagome's hair blew in the wind as she waited next to Sesshomaru. They did not have many on their side. Sango had been teaching some of them men the ways of the slayers. That gave them some extra men but not enough. They would be outnumbered severely. Kagome sent prayers to any Kami that listened to protect everyone here tonight.
"They are here." Sesshomaru spoke as he drew his sword. Everyone else followed suit drawing and readying their weapons. "Ku ku ku." A sinister laugh came from the darkness of the trees. "Well it would seem you have ruined my fun Lord Sesshomaru. I did look forward to surprising you all in your sleep." A dragon demon in human form was the first to appear. He looked to be the leader. The gaps between the dark trees suddenly filled with more dragons of all kinds, some in human form others not. Some seemed to be half and half and others badly deformed. They had spiked weapons, metal torches and bows with arrows that were a flame. All including the leader seemed to have the crazed eyes as all the others they faced before. These creatures were different though, they had the crazed eyes but were burnt and covered in mud.
"Oh well. Let the fun begin then, hm?" The leader spoke and gestured to the small deformed half dragon half humanoid next to him who blew a horn. The dragon creatures began to stomp and howl. "Kill them all but leave Lord Sesshomaru and the miko to me." The leader yelled and charged forward, all the others followed after.
Metal screeched against metal as Sesshomaru's sword clashed with the dragon leaders. Their fight became so fast Kagome couldn't keep up while she fought for herself. She fired arrows and watched out for her friends and companions. When a dragon would get too close to her she dissipated her bow and drew her sai she charged with her power. Slicing through dragon after dragon Kagome tried to clear out the dragon's around her so she could focus more on her companions.
"Ha ha ha, aren't you having fun Lord Sesshomaru?" The dragon leader screeched. Sesshomaru's eyes tightened as he angrily fought with the annoying dragon. "Come now Lord Sesshomaru, you have to do better than this if you want to win. Or do you want me to take that sweet mate of yours and leave?" Taunted the dragon. "Silence." Sesshomaru bellowed as he parried an attack then spun around and sent a lightning attack with his Futari no Ken at the dragon. The demon leader barely dodged then laughed menacingly. "You must be quicker, Lord Sesshomaru." The demon lord gnashed his teeth together and sent attack after attack at the dragon. Some made contact but the dragon would right himself and laugh. Sesshomaru noticed the dragon's body was sustaining a lot of damage but he acted as if he hadn't been touched. "Ahhhaha, that one almost hurt." The dragon teased as he dragged himself from the ground and threw himself at Lord Sesshomaru.
Kagome was sweating and breathing hard. Many of her companions were hurt and the dragons kept coming. The large clearing was full to capacity. Battle cries and screams of death riddled the air. "Ah!" Kagome spun around at the familiar scream as she saw her sister, Sango get flung into a tree and was about to be attacked again before she could stand. The miko raced to her friend at lightning speed and stood over her sister as she fired arrows into the throat of the large dragon towering above them. The demon screeched and burst into ashes. "Sango!" Kagome yelled as she bent to aid her friend. "I'm fine, Kagome just sore. Watch out!" The taija yelled as she pointed behind her friend. Kagome turned just in time for a gust of wind to slice the dragon who tried to attack her from behind in two. "Watch yourself, miko." Kagura said as she stood guard of the two women as they righted themselves. "I'm fine Kagome." Sango said. "I'm healing you anyway it'll be just a second you broke some ribs." Kagome chided when she heard the wind demoness yell. Kagura was thrown into a tree next to Kagome as the two girls wiped around to see a monstrous dragon before them. Kagome yelped and jumped out of the way with Sango to dodge the tail sweeping toward them. Setting her friend down she placed a barrier around her and turned to the massive creature.
"Hey ugly, leave them alone, it's just me and you come and get me." Kagome yelled and ran in the opposite direction to lead the beast away from her friend. The ground shook with the steps of the dragon behind her. It easily stood at least twelve feet high. Kagome whipped around and summoned her bow to shoot at the dragon but was too slow and was caught by the paw and thrown into a tree. On impact Kagome let out an involuntary scream.
The dragon beast numbers were dwindling down while Sesshomaru still fought the dragon leader. One arm lay useless, his leg was mangled and a gash in his side gushed blood but the dragon went on. "Lord Sesshomaru if this is all you can do I will just take your mate and leave." The leader laughed and fought clumsily. Sesshomaru growled and sent another powerful attack that hit head on. This demon did not seem to care if he died. He fought as if he could not feel anything and Sesshomaru wondered if he was under some kind of control. At that moment the demon lord heard his mate scream in pain. Searching eyes found his mate being thrown into a tree by a very large dragon. "Uh oh. Looks like she's going to be very hurt when I steal her from you." The badly mangled dragon taunted. "You will take nothing." Sesshomaru roared with red eyes as he charged forward and severed the head of the leader at lightning speed then bolted to his mate's aid.
Kagome saw stars as she tried to pull herself off the ground. She only heard a ringing and a dull thud when her vision cleared she looked up to see her mate pulling her into his arms. "Im..ok." Kagome said slowly. "Are you sure?" Sesshomaru asked worriedly. Kagome sat for a second then nodded. She looked around her mate and saw Miroku and a few men taking care of the last few dragons remaining. "The leader?" Kagome asked her mate. "Dead." Sesshomaru answered as he helped her stand.
Hearing Sango grumbling, Kagome quickly forgot about herself and ran to her friend still in her barrier. "Kagome, can you let me out now?" Sango said, sounding irritated. "Yes, here we go." Kagome said with a smile as she helped her friend up. Kagome looked to the wrecked battle field, upturned earth that was burned and trees that were destroyed. Bodies laid everywhere. No green grass could be seen.
Kagome passed Sango to her husband to help her get to her hut as she went to the other villagers. One by one everyone entered the still intact village. Women ran from the released barrier to help their husbands and Kagome went into healer mode. "Okay everyone who is injured come to the main hut. Those who are worse off I will heal first." Kagome instructed as she tended to all that needed help. "Keade, will you tend to the injuries that are less pertinent?" Kagome asked the old Miko, handing her a second large medical bag she pulled from her pouch. When she nodded, Kagome went to work. Almost an hour later Kagome was just finishing healing a man with a badly broken arm. "Thank you Lady Kagome." The male slayer bowed and exited the hut with his wife.
"I'm so glad no one was hurt too badly." Kagome sighed as she washed her hands. Sango agreed and went to sit down but winced. "Sango! Let me help." Kagome said anxiously. The young miko helped her friend sit down and went to check her over. "I'm fine Kagome." Sango reassured her as Kagome pulled her fighting outfit apart. I still want to check and heal you." Kagome said as she brought her powers into her hands and scanned the female slayer's body from the inside. "See! You have two cracked ribs. I'm just going to heal them and."- Kagome froze when she reached the lower front of the woman's ribs. She had gone a little lower in case of internal bleeding and stopped at her uterus. "Sango." Kagome said as tears came to her eyes. "Kagome, what's wrong?" Sango asked with fear in her eyes.
Kagome screamed with happiness and began jumping up and down. Miroku and Sesshomaru rushed through the door to see what was wrong. "What? What's wrong?" Miroku asked, seeing his wife lying on a futon. Kagome dropped to her knees again and felt her friend's lower stomach. Kagome cried while she looked into her friends eyes and watched as realization formed. Sango also began to cry with her friend as the two squealed and hugged. "What? Will someone tell me what's happening?" Miroku demanded. Kagome stopped her crying and turned to her houshi friend. "You're going to be a father." Kagome said then turned to continue her exam. Miroku stood shocked for a moment then ran to his wife. "Sango my dear, are you hurt? Is she alright?" Miroku turned and asked Kagome. Kagome focused on Sango as she spoke. "I just finished healing her ribs other than a few bruises, she is fine. As far as the baby." Kagome said as she moved her hand to Sango's lower stomach again. Everyone sat quietly in suspense as they waited. "The baby is fine as well, just a little restless. It has a strong heartbeat and is growing well though she is on the small side, that is completely normal. I would say you are about nine weeks pregnant." Kagome said with a smile as she continued. The happy parents hugged while Kagome went on. "Sango is doing well also. The baby is placed well and your body is taking to pregnancy perfectly. Would you like to know the sex?" Kagome asked as she finally looked away from her work. "You..you know what the baby is?" Sango said as she held her slightly distended stomach. "I do. Would you like to know or keep it a mystery?" Kagome asked. The couple looked at each and spoke together quietly before kissing and nodding. "We want to know." Sango said excitedly. "It's a girl." Kagome said happily. Sango squealed and embraced her husband. "We're having a girl!" The mother to be yelled." Shippo entered the hut and asked timidly. "Mama? Are you okay?" Sango picked up her kit and told him the good news. "You're going to be a big brother Shippo, and you'll be having a little sister." The kit jumped and yelled with joy and the little family hugged in pure happiness.
After congratulations were exchanged all around Kagome went back into healer mode. "Sango, I want you to rest for the remainder of the day. Let this little one calm down, she is fine but that was a lot to put your body through." Kagome instructed as she took out some herbs, a glass bottle and a mortar and pestle. While Kagome ground some herbs she explained some do's and don'ts for Sango while the couple listened intently. "I want you to also drink lots of water, okay? Now here are some herbs you'll need to take with some hot water once a day to keep you and baby healthy." Kagome instructed and handed over the now full bottle. "I'm also going to give you this." The miko said as she took out a piece of paper and folded it into a bird, filled it with a bit of her reiki then whispered a spell into it. "If you ever need me or feel something is wrong, throw this bird into the air. It will activate and come straight to me. I'll come to you as fast as I can." Kagome said as she handed her friend the paper bird.
The day dawned crisp and clear, as though a battle had never ragged only hours before. Kagome exited the hut of her happy friends and came out into the now quiet village with her mate. "Guess everyone went back to sleep." Kagome said as a deep yawn over took her. Sesshomaru scooped up his mate and started towards their temporary hut. "As you should be." Her mate said. Kagome hm'd and was out cold against her husbands chest before he even made it back to there room.
~End Chapter 26~
Yay, Sango is pregnant!
Hope you all like the battle scenes, I'm not very good at writing them.
Anywho,
Ja ne, Peach