Chapter 16

Author's note: I got the idea for this chapter while eating breakfast and listening to jazz. The rain helped quite a lot as well.

The ceremony was bizarre. Inuyasha was once again dressed in his original kimono's, the hair and makeup done to perfection. He had hoped he would walk around a little bit, though Sesshomaru had him glued to his seat. Nobles came up to them, bowed in respect, hashed some bullshit about being happy for the expecting couple, offered Inuyasha some gift or another, then went to attend the banquet. A long succession of noble's came in and out of the throne room, their congratulations all the same with small variants.

It was very obvious none of them were expecting the hanyou to be Sesshomaru's wife, though in the presence of his mate they kept their stares full of fake happiness. Inuyasha wasn't stupid and knew how they felt about him, though with Sesshomaru in the room, he couldn't hep but feel a bit smug.

They were bowing down to him. The half breed scum they hated.

Inuyasha couldn't help but feel stupid on the flip side of things. Sesshomaru ordered him not to speak, since he was supposed to be a proper "Lady" of the West. And apparently even his abrasive mother sat at this very throne and kept her mouth shut. He wanted to act out and tell the demon to shove it, though the more the nobles gathered in, the more he realized he had no idea what to say to them anyway. They were all of very high birth, all full blooded, and with the occasional child.

Inuyasha was very much out of his element, and didn't even know where to begin. He felt stupid. And he was fucking bored.

"Thank you," Sesshomaru spoke to a noble when they finished hashing their bullshit, a gift passed to a guard before they made a noble fucking exit.

"How many more?" Inuyasha whispered, Sesshomaru leveling him with a stare that told him to keep quiet. Inuyasha bit back a sigh. It's not like Sesshomaru would let him venture far anyway. He had just got out his possible miscarriage stage, and was heading towards his fourth month, but as time went on, the demon became even more protective. He let him venture as far as the gardens, but even then, he was extremely reluctant.

Inuyasha had to just walk away sometimes, just to get through his head he wanted some heavenly privacy.

"Lord Sesshomaru." Inuyasha frowned at the purr in the noble's voice, looking up and meeting the eyes of a demoness. She was rather beautiful, her eyes a dark honey gold, her white hair tied back into a loose braid. She stood almost as tall as Sesshomaru, her body clad in long a long kimono, the blue accenting her tan skin and smooth magenta markings. Her chest armor spoke of her rank as a noble warrior, a demoness who participated in the Great War before Inuyasha's birth. She was tall and beautiful, a seductress by nature.

And she was seductively staring at his mate. His eyebrow twitched.

Inuyasha had an idea of who the bitch was.

He had really hoped he wouldn't bump into the bitch like this, the mere sight of her making his skin crawl. He had hoped she would have reserved herself somewhat, especially since he was in the room. However, Kimi nor Sesshomaru seemed to acknowledge her obvious tone, though Inuyasha could have sworn he saw Kimi frown a tiny bit.

"Lady Katsumi," Sesshomaru replied in kind, though Inuyasha could hear his voice had become slightly cold. The beauty smiled, bowing gracefully. Part of her bangs fell from her braid, framing her face beautifully. The sight of her made Inuyasha sick.

She was fucking beautiful.

"I wish to congratulate you on your union with Lady Inuyasha," she spoke, and though her tone was even, Inuyasha couldn't help but hear a bit of sarcasm in her voice. He wanted to punch those words back down her throat.

What happened to him not being disturbed by the bitch? Didn't he tell Sesshomaru they would work all of this out? Didn't he tell himself he wouldn't act the same way Sesshomaru had at the mention of Kagome?

"I hope your union brings you plenty, and the fertile fountain may never cease." Inuyasha held back his growl, growing even more increasing irritable as he tried to find something wrong with the bitch. She was poised, she was elegant, she was beautiful, she was strong.

Why did Sesshomaru turn her down?

Because he probably just wanted to fuck her. Isn't that how this all started?

Inuyasha grew increasingly ill at the idea of their possible rut, holding back a sudden wave of nausea. That voice in his head breathed those harsh words the entirety of her bullshit speech, Inuyasha's breaths starting to come in shorter spurts. Sesshomaru glanced to him. Before she could offer her gift Inuyasha rose from his seat and put a hand to his mouth, rushing out of the room.

He ran to the empty garden, falling to his knees and puking up the little he had managed to eat that day. He shook with the force of it, his eyes shut tight as he tried to breathe in air. He wanted to tear the bitch apart, he wanted her dead. Now only if this damned pup hadn't made him vomit in response to his own inner angst.

"Inuyasha." He ignored Sesshomaru's voice and focused on not throwing up again, taking in ragged breaths as he tried to calm his convulsing stomach.

"The pup must be pressing against his insides." Inuyasha growled at the voice of Lady Katsumi, angry that she felt she had the right to follow him or Sesshomaru anywhere. He gagged after his growl, trying to shake off his nerves and calm himself.

"Return to the banquet Sesshomaru, I shall aid him through his sickness." Inuyasha opened his watering eyes, shaking violently as he hoped to the gods Sesshomaru wouldn't be so fucking stupid to leave him alone with the bitch.

"I shall stay. Please give us privacy." Inuyasha for once in a long time wanted to rejoice, glad that Sesshomaru understood his plight. If the demon had been any less protective of him, he probably would have agreed, thinking another woman would know best. God if only he could get his body to calm down so he could kill the bitch.

Inuyasha had a sudden realization.

God, was this how Sesshomaru felt about the possible return of Kagome?

"What happened?" Sesshomaru asked, a firm hand rubbing Inuyasha's back. Inuyasha concentrated on slowing his breathing at the feeling, closing his eyes as he tried to get in much needed air.

"I don't know," Inuyasha replied, spitting onto the ground to try and get the rest of the vomit out. He did want to tell Sesshomaru it was because he wanted to tear that bitch to shreds, though he felt right now wasn't the right time. He would wait until the day was over.

"Can you stand up?" Sesshomaru asked, Inuyasha nodding shakily as he let Sesshomaru help him stand back up. God, he felt so stupid for being so fragile. And it was all because of that beautiful demoness.

He was going to kill that bitch.

"Let me walk around for a bit to clear my head," Inuyasha told him, turning and walking away before he could deny him that right. Sesshomaru knew by now it meant he needed space, though he also knew Inuyasha could not go far in these gardens. They were a lot smaller than the ones where the social hour was being held. Inuyasha walked around the empty garden and took deep breaths, trying to calm his wrecked nerves. He knew Sesshomaru had no desire for her, but her blatant display of obvious desire was disgusting.

He was going to kill that bitch.

Inuyasha turned to return to the ceremony as his stomach stopped quivering, stopping in his tracks when she appeared in front of him. He felt a shiver at the glare she gave him, her normal poise thrown out the window.

"I wonder; how did you win the Sesshomaru's favor?" For all the malice in her eyes, her voice was remarkably steady. Inuyasha frowned back at her, growling in warning.

"Tsk, he must enjoy your ungraceful tact."

He was tired of this bullshit.

"Speak half breed."

He was tired of all of it.

"You'd be better off as a concubine." Inuyasha took the cap off his anger.

"Shut up old hag," he growled, Katsumi's glare faltering just slightly in surprise. Did everybody think he was some docile bitch? That he wouldn't speak up for himself?

He liked it better when he was feared.

"Why you-!"

"Listen up bitch, I have no interest in fighting for the asshole. But he doesn't want your old ass." A fire burned in the demoness's eyes, the demoness obviously never encountering a half demon with so much attitude. Inuyasha didn't care though, digging his claws into his palm as he tried to determine her next move.

"Besides, your probably too easy for him old hag."

"Useless half breed scum," Katsumi growled, releasing her power in a sudden wave. The insults were enough to make her forget they were at an event, her power alerting a suddenly very alarmed demon lord.

Inuyasha took a step back when wind began to whip around the demoness, her eyes becoming a fiery red as her markings became more jagged and thick. Her nose became snout like, a burst of power uprooting some of the garden bushes. Inuyasha watched as she became a ball of light and flew into the air, and with a burst of power Inuyasha came face to face with an angered youkai.

Well fucking shit.

"Iron reaver soul stealer!" Inuyasha slashed the youkai as he readied himself for a fight, caught off guard as more power than he had anticipated came from his attack. The demoness hopped out of the way however, aiming a large paw at him.

"Protect Lady Inuyasha!"

Inuyasha froze when another, larger youkai rammed the demoness, the two dog demons roaring loud enough to shake Inuyasha bones. Inuyasha watched in wonder as the dog demons fought, blood and hair flying all over the garden.

He looked over to the side, seeing Sesshomaru bolting towards him. Time slowed as Inuyasha looked back to the large dog demon attacking Katsumi, looking at the markings and feeling something akin to awe run through him.

Lady Kimi was protecting him.

Guards had begun to run towards him as well, but a well-aimed tail smacked the hanyou, knocking Inuyasha hard enough to fall off the side of the castle grounds. It had happened so quickly Inuyasha almost didn't even realize he was falling. He felt the wind blow against his back, felt its cold chill hit his body.

Inuyasha blinked and looked up to the castle, barely able to see Katsumi's head being ripped from her body.

Help me.

His stomach twisted.

Inuyasha turned to face the ground, seeing it quickly approach. He felt the dread of knowing his pup would die if he didn't find a way to land safely, his mind running through options as he felt as if he was falling in slow motion.

He closed his eyes.

He didn't want to lose his pup like this.

Not like this.

Inuyasha yelped when a ball of light zapped towards him, his body cradled in strong arms. White haired swayed around him, a familiar scent wafting into his nostrils. Sesshomaru formed a cloud beneath his feet, able to slow their descent. Inuyasha could do nothing but take in desperate breaths of Sesshomaru's scent, trying vainly to calm his screaming thoughts. Inuyasha didn't realize how badly he was shaking till Sesshomaru landed them on the ground safely, his hair even vibrating at the sheer panic he had felt.

"Are you okay?" Sesshomaru asked urgently, Inuyasha only able to nod as he turned into Sesshomaru's embrace. He ignored the many eyes that watched them from the castle grounds, guards surrounding the edge so no other demon could interfere with their tender moment. Inuyasha could hardly care as he continued to take in gasping breaths, the gasps slowly becoming ragged sobs.

He cried. He felt weak for it, though the strong emotion that accompanied his fear of losing his pups had overflowed and taken control of his mind. He had never been so scared in his entire life, not when he faced Naraku, hell not even when his mother died. He had always felt some confused and slightly unpleasant way towards the pup growing inside of him, but to almost have it been taken away shook him to his very soul.

He needed to cry.

He berated himself mentally for going as far to piss off the demon, for forgetting just how hated he was in this world. Sesshomaru didn't say anything though as he held him, his hands smoothing through the hanyou's hair as he let his mate cry.

"Is he hurt?" Lady Kimi asked urgently as she landed next to them, her usually perfect kimonos covered in blood. Inuyasha hid himself further into Sesshomaru's chest, the demon meeting his mother's eyes.

"He's fine. The council will not be pleased," Sesshomaru pointed out, Kimi waving it off.

"I do not care for their opinion. They feel this union was to be stopped." Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow at that, especially since his mother had pushed for their union to be sooner. The woman was strange.

"I shall confront her father," Kimi spoke before jumping back up, heading for the castle. Inuyasha had cried throughout the whole conversation, though as time went on his breathing slowed, his sobs whirring down into small gasps of air.

"Did she hit your stomach?" Sesshomaru finally asked once he was sure Inuyasha could breathe enough to respond, Inuyasha nodding his head.

"Something blocked her," Inuyasha replied, the feeling having been akin to having a barrier surrounding him. Sesshomaru nodded, breathing deeply before grabbing Inuyasha's face with both hands and making him meet his eyes.

"We will leave until your pregnancy is full term," he spoke, Inuyasha sniffling softly.

"Isn't it safer with the guards?" He asked, Sesshomaru shaking his head.

"I'm going to take you to a place where it's just going to be us. It will hide both of our scents till the pup arrives." Inuyasha nodded before lowering his head again, touching a hand to his stomach.

"I will protect you, Inuyasha."