Chapter 20
Kagome stared off into the distance and wrung her hands worriedly.
"Will you please stop worrying? Sesshomaru is with her." Inuyasha said for the hundredth time.
"That's what worries me." Kagome said more to herself than him.
Inuyasha rolled his eyes. "Are you going to be this much of a pain in the ass when Chieko grows up?"
Kagome turned startled eyes back to Inuyasha. "What?"
"Our daughter will have sex someday." Inuyasha said with a deadpan voice.
"Oh don't say that!" Kagome exclaimed horrified.
Inuyasha snorted. "You were there when Chieko and Kichirou were conceived right? You do know the process? 'Cause it's not like we got it right on the first try." He snickered.
"Stop it Inuyasha!" Kagome said fighting back a smile.
"I don't see what you're worrying about."
"They've been gone for three days Inuyasha."
"And three nights, don't forget those nights." Inuyasha replied with a wiggle to his eyebrows.
Kagome rolled her eyes. "Stop being silly. We don't know if they're gone, doing what you think they're doing."
Inuyasha answered with a droll look. "Really?"
"They could be in trouble. I think we should go look for them. Sesshomaru didn't even leave word-"
"I am not going to cock block my brother." Inuyasha interrupted with a laugh.
Kagome bristled with irritation. "Oh I hate that Sota taught you that saying." She fumed referring to her little brother.
Inuyasha laughed.
Kichirou suddenly sprang up from behind the chair Inuyasha had sprawled into and pounced on his father with a growl and sharp claws digging into Inuyasha's shoulder. Inuyasha winced in surprise and quickly turned on his son and threw him onto the floor before landing on top of him. "All right you little shit, I'm going to teach you who is alpha now."
Kichirou let out a loud yip that instantly had Inuyasha easing up on his grip. Kichirou quickly took advantage and bit him savagely on the hand.
"Ow!" Inuyasha exclaimed, exasperated with his son but proud of him as well.
The two scuffled across the floor and Kagome rolled her eyes. "Don't break anything this time!" She called out knowing they would ignore her. The loud crash of them slamming into the wooden table proved her words.
When Inuyasha finally managed to restrain his son, Kichirou immediately called out for reinforcements. "Chieko!"
Chieko streaked through the living room like a bat out of hell and wrapped her arms around her father's legs using her powers to push him back down into the floor. Inuyasha immediately maneuvered so as not to hurt his children as he fell. The moment he hit the ground face first Chieko pounced onto his back and Kichirou grabbed Inuyasha's hair and yanked.
Kagome laughed as Inuyasha growled but tried his best to keep his injuries to a minimum while allowing the kids to have their fun beating him up. Kagome looked out the window and was shocked to see Jacken and A-Un stumble into the clearing. "Inuyasha." Kagome said before she opened their front door and ran outside.
Recognizing Kagome's tone, Inuyasha quickly hustled the children into their bedroom with stern orders to stay there before he followed.
Outside Jacken reached towards Kagome with one green claw while the other held his side tightly before collapsing onto the ground. Inuyasha beat Kagome to his side and knelt to check on him.
Kagome raced to A-Un and he favored a cut bloody hoof and one of his great wings was bent at an awkward angle. She immediately set about mending him as she heard Inuyasha demand "Jacken what happened?"
Jacken looked at Inuyasha through slit eyes. His brown robes were tattered and covered in scorch marks and blood. His hat was long gone. Jacken gently licked his lips and croaked. "Master."
Inuyasha shook his head. "Sesshomaru isn't here Jacken. He'll return soon but you need to tell me what happened to you."
"Master." Jacken weakly croaked again.
"Kagome, can you heal him?" Inuyasha asked her.
Kagome knelt by them and shook her head sadly. "I can't Inuyasha. It's the same as if I tried to heal Sesshomaru. They're both full blooded demons, there's nothing human for me to latch onto and heal."
"What about A-Un?"
"He'll be fine. I was able to set his wing and his leg will mend with time, it's only sprained. The blood isn't his."
"Let's get Jacken inside."
"Sesshomaru had sent them to his mother's lands in the underworld to obtain that root he needed for his wounds. He's healed slowly but hasn't regained his ability to regenerate yet. That root was supposed to help."
"L-lady…m…mother…" Jacken opened his eyes and struggled to speak.
"Save your strength Jacken." Inuyasha urged as he gently lifted him and turned towards the house when Kagome said "Wait! Here comes Sesshomaru and Rin."
Inuyasha looked to his left and sure enough, Sesshomaru strode confidently through the clearing with Rin by his side. If not for Jacken and A-Un, Inuyasha would've been hard pressed to hold back a grin. Rin was still her shy little self but he noticed Sesshomaru herding her in the direction he wanted to go. He hovered protectively over her and Inuyasha would've been blind to not see the new possessive light in his eyes when he regarded her. Those same eyes snapped to attention on A-Un and Jacken and narrowed.
Sesshomaru frowned when he saw Jacken lying still in Inuyasha's arms. He immediately pulled Rin to a stop and stepped in front of her looking around the clearing cautiously. He allowed his powers to flare out, seeking the disturbance he sensed in the air but to no avail. His lip curled threateningly but he couldn't identify what was bothering him. Every instinct he had was screaming at him to take Rin back to their cave where she would be safe. But he needed to check on Jacken and A-Un who even now was calling out a greeting to him.
Inuyasha saw Sesshomaru's tense stance and hesitation and immediately went on guard himself. He handed Jacken over to Kagome and pulled Tessaiga from his scabbard. Kagome's eyes widened and she also used her powers to try and search out whatever threat Sesshomaru was sensing.
Sesshomaru pulled Rin closer to his side and line of vision while cautiously moving towards the group. He looked down at Jacken in Kagome's arms and his frown deepened. "What happened?"
"He's not making any sense. They both just arrived minutes before the both of you." Kagome said hurriedly.
"Let's get everyone in the house, we can guard better there." Inuyasha said.
Rin gasped when she finally got a look at Jacken and tore a strip from her kimono and used it to wipe some of the blood from Jacken's face. His clawed green hand grasped her wrists and his eyes opened and looked at her with fear. "L-lady….m…m…" He coughed but his anxious eyes stayed trained on Rin. "L-lady…." He struggled to get the words out, desperate to be understood.
"Lady Mother." Sesshomaru provided. "What of her?" He asked Jacken.
"Sh-she...is…here." Jacken whispered urgently to Sesshomaru, eyes wide and fearful.
Before any of them could react to that revealing statement a huge blast of wind slammed into them all unexpectedly and hurled them back in different directions. Sesshomaru immediately used his powers and pulled Rin towards him as they flew through the air and wrapped himself around her to take the brunt of the fall. They landed hard on the ground, dirt and grass flying all around them. When they finally came to a halt, Sesshomaru quickly ran his hands over Rin's body, checking for any injuries. Rin was shaken but alright. Slowly, Sesshomaru scanned their surroundings and turned his attention to where the blast had originated and froze.
Standing regally in the center of the blast radius…was his mother.
Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed as he stood and pulled Rin up with him. He watched as Inuyasha did the same with Kagome. A-Un sat a distance away with a wing wrapped protectively around Jacken.
Sesshomaru's mother cocked her head to the side and eyed Rin curiously before she raised her hand towards her and a glimmering but transparent net, shot from her fingers and speared into Rin's chest.
Rin gasped in agony beside Sesshomaru for a second before he immediately threw up a barrier blocking his mother's powers from touching Rin. He growled openly at his mother as she blew air onto her singed fingers. "Was that truly necessary Sesshomaru? I was only curious to see how much the human child I saved for you had grown."
"Stay away from her." Sesshomaru warned.
His mother smiled. "Is that any way to greet me after all this time?" She chided softly.
Sesshomaru stared at her for a heartbeat before he bowed slightly without allowing his eyes to leave her face. "Inukimi."
"Mother should suffice." She replied back dryly.
Inukimi's eyes slid to Rin assesingly and Sesshomaru quickly stepped in front of Rin blocking her from his mother's sight.
Inukimi laughed softly. "Protective. Sesshomaru, this unnatural affection you have towards your pet has gone far enough don't you think?"
"What brings you here?" Sesshomaru asked ignoring her question.
"Why did you attack us?" Inuyasha demanded.
Inukimi spared Inuyasha a quick glance before she sighed and raised a hand causing the earth at Inuyasha's feet to explode around him in a geyser as large tentacles reached up through the bowls of the earth and attempted to drag him down into their depths.
Sesshomaru sighed as well and raised his hand in a similar fashion his mother did. The tentacles immediately burst into ashes and floated away harmlessly on the wind. Inuyasha fell to the ground and Kagome rushed to his side.
"Your games are growing tiresome Inukimi. As well as predictable." Sesshomaru said to his mother.
Inukimi sniffed in response. "The company you presently keep leaves much to be desired Sesshomaru. The half breed should know better than to dare to speak to his betters."
"You fucking bitc-" Kagome quickly clamped her hand fearfully over Inuyasha's mouth as he glared at Inukimi.
"Why are you here?" Sesshomaru asked again.
"I came for your pet." Inukimi said as she smiled serenely. Her statement had been so unexpected Sesshomaru reacted seconds too late as Rin disappeared from his side and appeared in his mother's arms across the way.
Fear the likes of which he had never known struck him deep as he watched his mother wrap her arms around Rin and place a lethally sharp claw to her jugular. Rage quickly replaced the bone chilling fear when a drop of Rin's blood welled from the point Inukimi's claw had pierced her skin.
"I was so offended when you sent your lackeys to my home instead of coming yourself. Especially when you were planning to steal from me. Such disrespect requires punishment." Inukimi said with no inflection to her voice as she stared at her only child.
Sesshomaru bared his teeth menacingly and raised his hand, but before he could strike her following words froze him in place. "Your father did tell you what would happen should you ever kill me did he not?"
His father. Sesshomaru remembered a long ago conversation the Great Dog General had with him. He knew it would only be a matter of time before Sesshomaru would kill his mother. She was too manipulative and devious, knew too many of his weaknesses to be allowed to live for long. She was a threat to him and Sesshomaru did not tolerate threats well. His father had warned him he had crafted a powerful spell, should Sesshomaru ever actually kill Inukimi then that would result in the immediate death of whomever he held dearest. At the time Sesshomaru had scoffed at such an idea, but because his father had been so adamant he not strike back at Inukimi, Sesshomaru had respectfully, albeit grudgingly, agreed to spare her. He had cared for nothing back then, and doubted he ever would. And even if he did, any sacrifice would've been worth Inukimi's death.
But now Sesshomaru knew. He knew if he killed his mother for daring to touch Rin, he would be condemning Rin to death as well. She was what he held most dear now. His eyes widened with the realization that his mother knew as well. She didn't just suspect Rin's importance to him. She was certain of it.
Inukimi tsked. "I had so hoped my suspicions were wrong. But now that you've stayed your hand I know how important this girl is to you. You should know better than to display your weakness so blatantly my son."
"Inukimi." Sesshomaru took a cautious yet threatening step forward.
Inukimi laughed. "Don't worry as of yet. I have no plans to kill your pet. I'm simply taking her to assure myself your following visit to my home will be done personally. And in all due haste. After all….I may get a little hungry on the way." The Meido Stone around her neck, the gift from Sesshomaru's father to her that opened portals between worlds flared to life on the pearl necklace around her neck. A bright light burst from within the stone and forced them all to look away from the sheer brilliance of it. It hadn't lasted more than a few seconds and when Sesshomaru turned back, they were both gone.
Sessomaru's howl of anger echoed through the clearing as other wolves and animals joined in on his cry of rage.