I do not own Inuyasha!
Sorry for the long delay in updating, but I was unwell and couldn't find the motivation to post. Anyway hope you enjoy the chapter, and please review, I could use the extra encouragement.
The sun peeked shyly from behind thick dark clouds; the castle was silent except for the heavy wind and the smell of rain. The day started out brightly but as it progressed everything changed and not necessarily for the better. The joy that was derived from his children were lessened by the abduction of his son, and the careless way his third mistress had thrown away her life was bothersome; for what could be so terrible that she would prefer to die and leave her children without a mother than to tell him the truth?
Sesshomaru was having a difficult time relaxing because for the first time since he befriended Kagome, and their adventure began he was feeling terribly lost. He was filled up with grief from losing his son and the disturbing events that had taken place since his arrival back home only compounded the situation even further.
How could I have prevented those things from happening? He wondered. And what are my enemies planning behind my back? He sighed and closed his eyes unable to keep from being a little worried, even though he knew such feelings were unwanted and could not help him to thwart their plans and subsequently reigning victorious. But the fact that his enemies would use children, his own against him to bend him to do their will left him vulnerable and he did not like it.
He lay on a futon on the floor breathing lightly, listening for a deeper silence, waiting for his children to fall asleep so that he could make his move. He had removed all his children from their own rooms and had outfitted the playroom with futons where they could all sleep.
Guards were placed along the corridors and balconies surrounding the east wing of the castle. And he had also taken up residence there so that he would be better able to safeguard their well being. The rain fell slowly at first, then the heavens burst and brought with it torrential showers washing away the stain on the land and on most of his heart; although one spot remained as it were, because nothing could wash away or erase the pain of losing a child.
The night wind was heavy and bitingly cold, whispering its way across the wooded glade, the feel of rain on his face was cooling to the touch as he made his way to see the only family he had left that he could trust. The closer he came to the home of his brother, a sense of peace and well being for his children descended upon him and he breathe easier.
His brother's home was visible from this position, for there it stood on a deep dent in the hill adjacent to the one he was standing on. Inuyasha's home was a medium size cottage with three bedrooms, a kitchen, a large family room and an eating area furnished with tasteful fixtures. The land it stood on was green, lush with fruiting trees, oak and pine, and a brookling stream clear and peaceful ran nearby.
His brother had matured and had come of age, so the decision he made then in giving Inuyasha a young dog demoness maiden as a mate and bride was well deserved. He had not seen his brother from the day of the first council meeting over six months ago, and as he paused on the hill the smell of new life rushed into his nostrils with its sweet smell and potential. A smile escaped unbidden from his lips; the brash and sometimes hasty hanyou of a brother has finally become a man.
From his position he saw through a lighted window as his brother got up and opened the front door and stared out in the darkness and on him, unhurriedly he walked to the door and entered, Inuyasha closed the door when he was inside.
The young mate of his brother was sitting in a corner on a plush and comfy chair with cushions padded all around her, their eyes met and she tried to get up to greet him, but the action was quite difficult because she had two newborn pups nestled to her bosom.
He gestured to her to remain with a nod and she sat back down as he walked over to her and looked down on his brother's pups. She removed the covering from their naked bodies so that he could see, and the sight that greeted his eyes were not all together surprising, although it did cause his eyes to widen a fraction. Inuyasha came over to be by his mate's side as the daiyoukai remained silent and staring.
Taking his pups from their mother he motioned for his brother to take them. The eldest was handed to him which was a male covered with black fur just like its mother in her transformed state, and it was born in its animal form. The second pup was a female but she was born as Inuyasha was; only she did not have the ears, she had instead a swishy white tail and her ears were elfish. In spite of that her aura was very strong and she could be easily mistaken as a full youkai like her brother.
The pups were beautiful and he was pleased that his brother had found love and had a family of his own, something he knew that the whelp had desired for a very long time amongst his own kind.
The demon lord bit into his finger and put it into the pup's mouths and they drank his blood eagerly, and hence he had sworn an oath to protect and had formed a lifelong bond with them; it was his gift to them and his way of making up for past mistakes with his brother.
Inuyasha was genuinely surprised even though the time had long past since he and his brother were at odds with each other. But he also knew with certainty that his brother was here for something else other than for a social visit, because he could feel and see that there was something troubling to him.
They exited the front door and stood under the dark sky with the gentle raindrops falling on them, the nighttime was filled with the croaking of frogs and small nocturnal insects out for food or recreation.
The breeze was heavy and it whipped their white hair about their forms, but none said a word. And as Inuyasha became concerned by his brother pensive mood and was about to say something, because he was not known to be the most patient of beings, Sesshomaru spoke. "Inuyasha, are you aware of what is happening in my home...And the deception from the council and my mother?" Inuyasha hesitated to answer because his brother's tone was weighty and a little sad.
Inuyasha considered his brother's words for sometime before he answered. "I have heard stories but I never thought that they could actually be true. Sesshomaru then turned into his direction and asked thoughtfully. "What did you hear?" The inu hanyou explained himself and when he was done Sesshomaru filled him in with all the dark and bitter details of the deceptions against him and Kagome.
Inuyasha was more surprised that his brother could have fallen for a human compared to the deception of the nobles, but smiled knowing that if anyone could soften the heart of his brother and make him fall in love with her, it could only be Kagome. "If anything happens to me," he continued, "I want you to take over the care of my pups and keep them safe…hide them if you have to." Sesshomaru gave his brother a scroll one he would read later at his brother's instruction, and he also invited him to the meeting.
After his brother left Inuyasha told his mate what had occurred and she held her babies tighter, because she could only imagine the pain and the grief the lord was enduring losing his son.
Tomorrow he would collect Kagome for the council meetings the following day. Although every fiber of his being was telling him to cancel, to withdraw from the summit, but on the other hand the trap was already set, because he knew that his son was taken to prevent him from taking that course of action. Cancelling or disbanding the council was stripped from his list of arsenal, because if he ever wanted to see Taizo again, the meeting must go on.
The walk home was done leisurely. He welcomed the sensation of the rain as it picked up and beat down harshly on him. The warmth that flooded his inhuman body in defense from the freezing cold as the land shook with the force of the wind, lightning and thunder, it was something to fill the black empty spaces that seemed to have invaded his heart and his mind ever since he found out that his son was stolen in the middle of the night, and right from under him while he slept.
From that moment he felt as though he had been barely moving, speaking, functioning as guilt consumed him. He had felt in that moment and even now that his head was flooded with dark icy waters so that he couldn't feel, couldn't think, and as hopelessness tried to overwhelm him, he growled out his distress and transformed into his true self galloping into the night and howling to the heavens with his pain and the uncertainty of his children's future.
Kagome lie on a thin blanket and a few feet away sat Tora, and in their midst was a huge bon fire; it was the perfect night for it. The sky was dark and the atmosphere cold and dreary. And as she gazed at the fire dancing to the pull of the wind she thought about Sesshomaru, this would be her last night here without him, but a weird sensation had her knitting her brows together in unease, it's as if she could feel his emotions and he was unhappy.
She turned her eyes away from the fire and looked up into the blackness of the heavens. "I hope you are well my love," she whispered to the night while the cat looked on with concern.
Thanks Lady Alira for all the help!