Sesshomaru gazed over his army or what was left of it, acutely aware that half his soldiers were already dead. Living by the sword and dying by it was their mantra, the code of honor that they'd chosen to live by. These soldiers had elected to fight and die by their own accord. But there were much more here that Sesshomaru could not easily dismiss by an oath.

Like the fact that many among the dead had wives, mates and families who were waiting and hoping for their safe return, he also had a mate and many children who were waiting on him. Even with that reality he could not focus on the sentimentalities for too long, as both dragons circled the area like vultures readying themselves for a feast on rotting carcasses.

While the dragons flew away from the center of the battle to avoid the many arrows aiming at them, he considered his options. He would try to shield the remaining soldiers from the scorching heat and deadly fires as best as he could.

Arrows were useless against them because of their tough leathery hide and would not hold them at bay for much longer. He signaled to the archers with a hand gesture to retreat from the hill so that they would not be such easy targets for the dragon's flames.

The power that the creatures were amassing was incredible; many more would die if he did not find a way to counter the attacks. Sesshomaru turned to his right and barked out an order to his brother. Without hesitation Inuyasha stepped to his side.

"Inuyasha, both you and I have to shield the men from this next attack…Raise your sword," and he did what was asked of him without question.

Sesshomaru then unsheathe the Tensaiga, both blades resounding in song as they vibrated sharply.

Together the brothers held their swords high above their heads as the dragons vomited their attacks from the pits of their belly. The flames were a raging inferno as it swirled and spread coming closer and closer. But by their sheer will and the aid of their father's heirlooms they thwarted the attacks, as blue and translucent energies formed a dome over the area just as the fires belted down on them.

The hellish flames dropped unto the sphere of protection and almost overpowered it as it was fed more volcanic heat and fire, but the brothers stood their ground holding onto their strength of purpose and would not be defeated.

Tora notched an arrow and waited, the window of opportunity to strike to take out one of their flying opponents was slim. As soon as the fire dissipated and the barrier dissolved he would make his move.

The barrier fluttered but still held as the brothers poured more of their energies into it. The men under it looked up a little frightened when it undulated, but they were still very optimistic that the lord and his brother would reign victorious and save their lives.

The barrier strengthened and was once again a smooth dome causing the fires to bounce off it like a trampoline, the dragons ceased their assault and Tora shouted. "Now!"

The energies receded, the dome disappeared and the air cleared. Tora released a spinning projectile that flew speedily through the air whistling like the wind as it sought its target.

Ryoma saw the arrow coming but his daughter did not, he tried to get to her but it was too late, the arrow had already passed through her under belly. She was falling with the weight of the ice that froze her form. Her father could only watch helplessly as the heavy figure plummeted to the earth. When it impacted the body shattered into many thousands ice particles and skittered into every direction.

The men roared out their satisfaction as one of their adversaries was dead. Ryoma was frozen with grief by the death of his daughter and distracted. Sesshomaru took the opportunity and transformed leaping into the air and biting into the right wing nearest to the shoulder of the grief stricken father.

The fighting continued on the ground, Inuysaha used his blade like an axe and chopped into many of the opposing soldiers, Tora fired arrow after arrow into many soldiers freezing them from the inside out and killing them. Koga kicked and beat down, slashed and sliced into men with his short sword.

Panic spread through Ryoma pooling into his heart where it reverberated like the thunder by the death of his offspring. A frightened squeak escaped his scissor like jaws when deadly fangs ripped into his back tearing the muscles away.

Sesshomaru's animal spirit form was stockier than that of Ryoma's slender reptilian one, and as he bit into his back they became unbalanced and their combined weight pushed them to ground in a nose dive. The demon lord was ferocious and would not let go, and as they hit the dirt the dragon took the brunt of the force as he cushioned Sesshomaru's fall.

The young princess Yuki stared at the animated form of her grandmother for long, the noises outside did not bother her too much, she was where she wanted to be. She could hear the battle as it raged on, she could feel the tremendous power of her father and it was frightening, never had she known how powerful a demon he was. He was she thought, great at masking his prowess.

Outside the sky flashed, it was a sign that it might rain. She knew as well that the change in climate had a lot to do with the hot air currents in the atmosphere, caused by the fires and heat discharged from the dragon's relentless assault.

Smiling she thought of her mother, she wouldn't have known about weather patterns if it had not been for her and the knowledge that she had being from the future. Mother I hope you won't be too angry at me when I return…I had to do this the young woman thought.

Her mind was on her mother and siblings making her temporarily distracted, but a small voice in her head spoke to her and it was startling. She looked away from the window and shook her head harshly trying to make sense of something that did not make sense at all, and then the voice addressed her again…

"Don't be alarmed child; it is only me your grandmother. We are family; I had a bond with your father before he severed it, and now I have one with you."

The voice sounded sugary sweet, but with fake undertones.

Yuki's mouth agape she stared at the immobile form of the lady.

"But how is this possible," she asked, the words spilling from her lips in surprise.

She heard mild laughter from the demoness in her head, and then she answered. "As a breed we are tied together by blood, and in times of old and of war communicating telepathically was extremely useful." The elder demoness watched as she could tell that her granddaughter was considering the truth of her words.

With furrowed brows and narrowed eyes Yuki rebutted. "Maybe what you say is true, but I or no one that I know can perform this trick."She heard laughter again and was annoyed by the woman's uncanny over confidence; she behaved like she knew her and what made her tick.

"Aaah my child! I do understand why it would be difficult for you to believe me, but consider this. How has your father known whenever one of his children needed him? I know you may say and think that it is different but it is not. You live in peaceful times, and I am sure that is why my son has not deemed it necessary to go all out."

Her brows lifted as she contemplated the validity of her grandmother's statements. But she wasn't fully convinced. "I do not trust you so why should I believe anything that you say? I was told that you were an evil bitch that would kill anyone that got in your way even your own family."

There was a brief silence bordering on animosity before she answered. "My child I did only what I thought was right to secure our race…Blame me all you like but it will not change what is happening as we speak or what is to come."

The cries outside rose to a deafening pitch as the battle intensified, there were more explosions caused by exploding liquor, and boulders that catapulted into the sides of buildings. The meeting of blade on flesh and bones had a very distinctive sound.

Yuki stared pass her grandmother in thought looking at the lifeless bodies strewn on the floor feeling a bit restless. She'd followed her father into battle to assist him, and to avenge her mother and brother by killing the woman in front of her. But now she was unable to do it because the woman was presently indisposed.

The demoness cunning and experienced could decipher the thoughts of the younger female and provoked her with speech. "You came here to kill me did you not?" She asked. Yuki's eyes widened at the remark and then she shrugged carelessly. "Set me free and you will get your chance," her grandmother informed her.

Yuki was speechless for a moment as she gazed at the woman in disbelief. How could she have known her thoughts? She wondered, but before she could ask the pertinent questions the demoness provided her with an answer.

"I can sense that you are very powerful, maybe not quite like your mother yet but still you have enough power to release me…Place your hands over my shoulders and reverse the flow of your reiki then pour it inside me. Do it slowly and you will succeed."

She knew that her grandmother was very dangerous and cruel, she felt also the deceitful dare and yet she could not walk away. She had already decided to help her father defeat his greatest enemy and she would keep her word.

Soldiers from each line of the divide cleared the area as the Daiyoukais fought. The ryu's lengthy barbed tail swished to the left catching Sesshomaru in the gut throwing him back a few feet. The dog's eyes flashed with anger and he attacked again lunging forward and slamming into the dragon, the momentum carried and their bodies crashed into and tore down a wooden building with the debris falling on them.

Dust and soot rose into the air after they got up and shook themselves free of the rubble; it filled their lungs making it hard to breathe and blurred their visions. The dragon made a dive for Sesshomaru who was on all fours and turned sideways in the small space. The monstrous jaws of Ryoma bit into his thick thigh muscles and he roared out with the pain. Blood sprayed from the wound staining his white coat crimson.

Sesshomaru staggered and fell unto his knees with the immense pain while the dragon continued biting into his flesh. Rolling unto his back and raising his hind legs he pitched the dragon off him who landed into a hay house tearing it down. The white dog maneuvered himself quickly and jumped into the wreckage and atop the beast that was sprawled out on its back and struggling to right his position.

Flashing his head sideways viciously like a rabid dog he bit into the throat of Ryoma, his opponent's warm blood splashed down his throat in rivulets. The dragon thrashed, jerked and screeched out his misery as his life would soon pass if he did not break free.

However, Sesshomaru would not budge in spite of the deadly talons the ryu used to dig into and lacerate his back. His tissues were on fire as it felt like someone had taken ten knives and dragged it along the flesh of his back, digging in deeply as they moved along. His own blood assaulted his nose sickening him as it flowed freely.

The flesh from the reptile's neck was being shorn away by fangs and swallowed, then suddenly in the midst of the carnage he felt spiritual energies. He faltered but a moment and the dragon broke free and tried to escape. Regaining his composure quickly he leapt after the mangled dragon and caught him in mid flight as he sought to fly away. He was captured by the tail and flung violently in the debris bouncing and skidding on his back before crashing to a halt.

Spiritual powers that were in likeness to his mate's own in intensity passed over him like a mild breeze making his fur ripple. He had to finish the fight now. That power belonged to his daughter which was alarming enough, and he wondered, what was she doing here? But it was the scent that was close to hers that made him anxious. It was that of his mother.

A much damaged Ryoma knew that he hadn't the power to sustain this form for much longer, he had to destroy his opponent now. But Sesshomaru had a few tricks left up his sleeve as well. As they stared each other down moving silently in a circle, slime dribbled from the jaws of the dragon onto the dirt, and poisons dropped from the demon lord's mouth in globs unto the earthen floor. Both of them tired, the climax was at hand.

Fear gripped him and he wavered where he stood as the blood red eyes of the dog watched him without fail. He charged forward and soared in the air, Sesshomaru countered the attack by launching himself forward, they would meet in the middle but Sesshomaru didn't have the time for another drawn out battle, he had to save his daughter.

In the few seconds that it would take for them to clash together, Sesshomaru undid the transformation in mid air wielding Bakusaiga as he flipped over and unto the dragon's back, and thrust his sword in deep.

A hot chill ran down Ryoma's back as the blade cut through him, his tissues felt like they were set ablaze burning him from the inside out. He felt his body disintegrating; he turned onto his back clawing at his chest as the blade's power ate him alive. Sesshomaru pulled the blade out and watched. The dragong's screech cut through the air echoing as it whistled and died on the wind.

The cheers of victory filled the west with mirth, and yet Sesshomaru was less than pleased. He flew the distance to the council building and landed. He was badly wounded and bleeding. Tora and Inuyasha followed him inside. Expecting the worse he steeled his mind and his heart against it.

He wasn't disappointed, because his dam had his daughter in a body lock with a knife pointing at her jugular, she was panting harshly and blood seeped from the sides of her lips. He didn't make another move as his mother pressed the knife deeper into Yuk's neck, the pressure caused the skin to break and blood to trickle from it.

Lady Harumi looked them over and then addressed the tiger. "If you use your spell again the little one will perish, she used most of her powers to free me," she said in amusement, while watching Sesshomaru's face for a reaction.

Sesshomaru looked at his old friend seeking the truth and with a nod the grave news was confirmed. He gritted his jaw and looked at his dam again."Let her go mother, Ryoma and his sons are dead and the kingdom is mine as it was meant to be all along."

She gave a brittle laugh and responded sarcastically. "Won't you trade your empire for your daughter," and she laughed aloud and continued. "Wasn't it a similar situation that caused you to lose it the first time?"

Sesshomaru saw clearly for the first time that his mother was quite insane, mad with power and hungry for it.

"Shut up you stupid bitch and let the girl go…Can't you see you are not wanted around here." Inuyasha interrupted loudly.

The demoness's eyes darkened with malice and then she responded with scorn. "Half breed you should have died in your mother's womb."

Inuyasha chuckled without amusement. "Demon you should have never been born."

The demoness made a tsking sound and focused on her struggling grand-daughter again. Yuki closed her eyes in fright as she could feel the tension in the demoness's body as it stiffened and the hold on her became increasingly tight.

He breathed in deep as he saw the tears that fell from his daughter's frightened eyes; she looked so much like her mother in that moment. He stepped forward and his mother backed away further up the room and made a stop when she hit the wall.

"Let her go," he repeated, "you cannot escape alive, it's time for you to pay for your crimes."

The demoness looked around in desperation; she heard the victory celebrations outside, knowing that no one was left to aid her. Her time as queen had expired.

Sesshomaru felt the hot prickle of panic on his nape as he saw the dull resignation in his mother's eyes. He worried for his daughter; he couldn't help but to remember some of the parting words he had said to his mate... 'You should have known.'

And as he gazed upon his daughter who was so much like him in demeanor he felt like a hypocrite. He should have known that Yuki would have followed him into battle. He remembered the first time that she watched him train when she was three years old and had tried to mimic him with a piece of stick.

It came back to him then all at once. He remembered the years of practice, the years he trained her hard and yet she would not give up even when his methods were brutal. He recalled how happy she had been when he had given her that first sword.

Sesshomaru raked a hand through his hair as his mother gripped Yuki like a life line, and the child was too weak and fearful at the moment to help herself. The sudden swell of emotions coursing through him was surprising.

A terrible silence followed, the situation was too delicate, they could only hope that lady Harumi would come to her senses and let her granddaughter go. But Sesshomaru knew her spite all too well and was not encouraged by the thought.

They could tell immediately when the woman's eyes took on a wild and misplaced appearance. Sesshomaru's pulse quickened at the sight and he made another step. The demoness spoke but it was as though she was not herself as she struggled with the words as she spoke them.

"If…you want…her then here she is."

It happened in an instant, Yuki's form was pushed forward although the demoness still held her around the neck. There were two sets of sounds, thumping and tearing, and it was repeated twice.

The horrible image would haunt him forever, and even with the shouting and sounds of beatings as Inuyasha and Tora descended upon his mother he couldn't move. He willed his breath to calm and the moment played over and over in his head.

His mother had put some space between her and Yuki and had used her claws to rip open her granddaughter's back. Her hand came through her lower abdomen and then through her chest. She had fallen to her knees, arms outstretched and a terrified scream tore from her lips. Her blood spilled, staining the council room's floor red as her body fell forward face down into her draining essences.

It was Inuyasha voice screaming at him to do something that took him out of the bloody haze that clouded his mind. He knelt by his daughter's side and enveloped her body lovingly into his arms. Her mouth moved on his shoulder and he figured that she wanted to speak. He removed her from his chest and gazed at her with sorrowful eyes.

Dying eyes looked into his somber ones and while she could barely speak she forced herself to do so.

"I am sorry father, I just wanted you to be proud of me because I am a half demon and different from the others."Sesshomaru couldn't bear to hear those words and so he closed his eyes and shook his head.

He tried to control the emotions in his heart as his daughter lay dying, and Tensaiga remained silent at his side. He couldn't save her, and as his heart palpitated with distress he told her what was in his heart.

"I love you, and you meant everything to me and your mother. Your birth was the light in the darkest times of our lives."

Yuki used the last remaining strength that she had to brush the tears away from her father's cheeks. And her dying words were to him were bitter sweet."I love you too father, and tell mother that I will love her always."

He got up and took two faltering steps with his lifeless daughter; he stopped and looked over his shoulder and said to his brother and Tora who had just witnessed the heart rendering exchange.

"Carry my mother's body; it is time to go home."

As he walked away he thought of Kagome, never taking his eyes away from his daughter's lovely face. And when he reached outside in the warm sunshine, he wondered seriously if Yuki's death would be what destroys their love and family.

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