Sacrifice

Sesshomaru struggled furiously against the spell pinning him to sleep. He gritted his teeth and growled ferociously when he heard the voice of his beloved mate nearby. Saeka was with him, even though he'd clearly instructed her to remain in the village. She had disobeyed his orders and followed him. But he'd deal with that later. When she screamed his name in horror and then vanished, he knew she was in danger and he couldn't afford to lose her again, for even Tenseiga had limits.

He felt as though an invisible hand were forcing him to the ground and no matter how much he flailed, he couldn't break free.

" S…Saeka." He gritted out. " I'm…coming…for you."

He could see nothing but darkness through his closed eyelids. And as though they were glued together, he couldn't open them.

" Saeka!" he said more angrily. " Saeka!"

All of a sudden, through the darkness, a small figure appeared, shadowed in gray and white. He stopped struggling for a moment and stared, though he could barely see.

" I will set you free." A tiny childlike voice said to him from somewhere close. He strained to hear it.

" Who are you?"

" I am sorry. Forgive us for how you've been treated."

" What are you doing?" Sesshomaru demanded as the figure came closer.

" Please promise me something, before I break your bonds."

" What? What do you mean?"

" Please, promise you will never forget me…Sehchomaroo."

Sesshomaru gasped slightly.

" Saysuku?"

Saaya stood proud before the platform and her great-grandfather, her eyes focused and determined as she probed her thoughts for any way to unlock her true form, as her grandfather had said in her dream. She could feel the eyes of her mother, Storm and Naraku boring into her back. She could see the petrified bodies of her friends waiting for her back in the valley. She could see Kisho and Koga and his mate, all watching her from a distance. She could also feel Golgiroth's sneering stare as he watched her, convinced she would turn into a dog if nothing else. Saaya ground her teeth together and hunched over.

Please

She took deep, calming breaths that only served to make her more anxious.

Please, don't fail me. My father and mother, my friends, and future mate. They are all depending on me.

" We're waiting." Golgiroth grumbled. Every dragon in the chamber had heads raised, watching intently, anxious to see what would happen.

Please!

Tears streamed down her face and fell to the floor in a cascade, as she brought all her hope and power up from the depths of her being. She shook her head slightly.

"N-No. I-I can't…." she whispered feebly.

Then, as she was about to give up, she felt a warm sensation course through her body. She opened her eyes and found she was no longer in the chamber before the platform. She was standing in a golden field, filled with grasses and flowers, endless to even the immortal eye. She stood up.

" Where am I?" she whispered.

Saaya

Saaya whirled around as a new voice met her ears. Her eyes widened in disbelief. " No. It can't be."

" Yes, Sehchomaroo. I am Saysuku. They have put me into sleep beside you, but I am different. I have the power to free you."

" Free me?"

" Yes. I will set you free, but you mustn't forget me."

Sesshomaru hummed. " I will not forget you, Saysuku." He mumbled. He watched as her little face came into view, her greenish hair hanging in long waves to her ankles. Her eyes sparkled and she smiled. " Go to Saeka. You are now free. Never forget me."

" Wait, what are you doing?" he asked, suddenly cautious. A light was glowing at her chest and she held it with her tiny hands, staring at it amiably.

" I will do this gladly. I give my life, to break your bond."

" What!" Sesshomaru gasped, but the light at her chest exploded and he found himself bathed in a magnificent white light that forced open his eyes and loosened his bound limbs, allowing him free movement.

As his eyes truly opened, he heard her voice say one final sentence:

Don't forget me.

Sesshomaru whirled around, spying her body lying motionless beside him. His eyes narrowed when he saw the sapphire tied around her neck. He felt through his sleeve pocket. The emerald was gone.

He reached out carefully and ripped the sapphire from her neck. It glowed faintly and vanished in his hand. He then lifted the little girl's body off the ground, into his arms, staring at her quietly. She slowly began to turn into mist, gradually disappearing, much like Kagura had when he and InuYasha destroyed her. When the last of Saysuku faded away, he clasped his hands on empty air and bowed his head.

" Goodbye, Saysuku." He whispered. He got to his feet and started toward the exit.

It was time he settled this.

With both Golgiroth and Saeka.

Saaya stared in awe as a girl clad in a slimming red dress and scarlet sash approached her, long, wavy silver hair blowing in an unseen, unfelt wind. Her golden eyes watched Saaya, a tender, gentle look to them.

" You…you're…Miharu, aren't you?" Saaya murmured, noting the obvious similarity to Sesshomaru. The girl nodded.

I am, she said without moving her lips.

" But, you're dead. How can you be…?"

This is one of many borders to the afterlife. I sensed that you required my help.

" This is incredible! All this time, I'd heard so much about you. Why did you die?"

I was fated to destroy the world, whether I wanted to or not. Tenseiga would not revive me because of this. You are my little sister, and I have watched you from afar, for I am everywhere. As you see me now, I am in my purest form.

" What do you mean?"

That is not for you to know yet. All I am permitted to tell you, is that you have done well. You have nearly completed your task, and soon, you must start the cycle anew.

" Cycle?"

Saaya, our mother was destined to give birth to us, and the child she now carries. It was written in the stars long before even our grandfather was born. We are the only demons born to a full-blooded western demon and a forbidden half-blooded northern demon.

" But what does this have to do with what's happening now? I may end up joining you here if I cannot transform."

You can. When our mother looked into your mind the night of your birth, she was remembering me, and saw me in your face, rather than the new life. Therefore, she was seeing me as well. She saw my true form and believed it to be yours.

" So you mean, I am a dragon?"

Very likely. I resembled our father for a reason, while you resembled our mother for a different reason altogether.

She stepped closer and placed her hand on Saaya's shoulder.

Saaya. You've no inkling as to how much I wish to return and teach you all there is to know. I am your sister and proud to be so. But, I was a Kikuurama. I could not live and not threaten the balance of the world. Like you, I loved someone dearly, but he and I were forced to part in the worst of ways when I gave my life to save him.

Saaya's eyes were brimming with tears now that she had finally met the sister she had never known, and yet she could never truly see her. She felt it as Miharu embraced her, a cold, yet at the same time, warm feeling that spread through her body like wildfire.

I know everything. Mononoke, and the wolf tribe and our family. This is why, because I cannot be with you physically, I will still always be with you. I will help you transform.

" Really?" Saaya exclaimed, pulling away. Miharu nodded. Yes. Close your eyes. But do not open them. This is the last time we will meet until you cross over on your own.

" But, I don't want to leave you! There's so much I want to ask you about, sister!" Saaya cried. Miharu cupped her face in her semi-transparent hands. Saaya, I know. But to stay would once again endanger the world and I simply can't do that. Now, close your eyes and do as I tell you.

Reluctantly, Saaya obeyed, compiling the only image of her sister into her mind as her eyes shut.

Focus on your inner energy. Look to the point where your demonic energy and spiritual energy combine. Those two energies are what make you not quite human, but not quite demon nor half-demon. Let the two energies flow within you, until they reach the breaking point. Then, stab at the breaking point with your mind. That, my sister, is your true form.

Saaya clenched her fists and teeth. She searched for the two energies like Miharu instructed. When she found them, she saw that they were like the two winds in the Tetsuaiga's Wind Scar. She gasped when she realized that she could do this.

" I see it." She whispered. She tentatively reached out.

That's it. Goodbye, little sister.

Miharu's voice floated away into the darkness. Saaya tried to open her eyes, but she found herself falling, into a perilous spiral toward earth, screaming her sister's name and feeling waves of pain like knives stabbing through her body. She got into a fetal position as her bones started to knit together.

Saeka gasped sharply when a light surrounded her daughter's body and they were forced to shut her eyes. She heard Saaya scream something, followed by a feral growl. When she opened her eyes again, she about fainted in shock. Golgiroth leapt to his feet, ignoring the pain coursing through his body as he did so. Every dragon in the community voiced their surprise in unison.

Naraku just stared, awestruck. " Saaya." He whispered admirably.

Sesshomaru stopped in his run toward them when he saw his daughter's transformation. He forgot about Saeka and the others entirely as his eyes focused on one thing.

Golgiroth backed away slowly. He couldn't believe his eyes. " N-No!" he growled feebly. " It can't be!"

Saaya stood up on all four legs. Her tail lashed proudly as she raised her enormous white head high and stared down. Her dragon form was enormous, as large as Sesshomaru's true form. It resembled Saeka's father, Amanamaru. But Saaya was pure silvery white. Her large leathery wings fanned out gracefully. Her neck had a large white sail-like feature attached to it that gave her a regal posture. Her now icy blue eyes fixed on Golgiroth menacingly. " I believe I have proven my worth." She rumbled. Golgiroth, shaking visibly, backed up considerably and lay down, bowing his head. " I back down." He mumbled. " You are our true leader."

As they watched, something seemed to happen. While lying down, Golgiroth suddenly began to twitch horribly, his horrid eyes filled with pain through the blindness. Saaya gasped as his head flopped the ground with a dull thud.

His body then disintegrated as his spirit was finally put to rest, knowing his people would be safe.

Saaya stared where his body had lain sadly. She bowed her head and murmured a prayer of salvation, as she had seen Miroku do on occasion.

" It's over." She said.

Saeka was bent on the ground, looking at Storm's limp body, lying still. His eyes blinked slowly and fixated on her. " Saeka." He rasped. She stroked his mane, her eyes filling with tears. " Oh, Storm." She muttered, shaking her head.

" I am sorry. I should have told you. My heart was bound to the sleeping demon. He has awoken, so I can no longer live."

" Storm, you've been a wonderful friend." She said tearfully. He grumbled low and closed his eyes. " I'm glad you think so. Remember, a part of me is still within the demon, for I was created from his soul. It was he who stirred such admiring feelings for you in me, whether he knew was he was doing or not. In a way, I am the mate you were searching for."

" I won't ever forget you." Saeka whispered.

" Thank…you." Storm murmured. Then, like Golgiroth, his body disappeared in a wave of mist. Saeka sighed and stood up. The other dragons in the chamber, as well as Naraku and Crin were all gathering around Saaya and didn't notice as the demon who had been asleep for days, slowly approached Saeka, who still hadn't noticed him. When his hand clasped her shoulder, she gasped and turned around quickly, gripping her cloak in the process. Her eyes widened.

" Sesshomaru?" she whispered unbelievingly. He stared down at her, his normally stoic gaze now filled with relief, and weariness. " Saeka." He said.

" Oh, Sesshomaru!" Saeka cried, throwing her arms around his neck. He wrapped his own arms around her, holding her tightly. " Saeka." He murmured into her hair. " I'm sorry."

" I've missed you so much." Saeka replied. " I want you to come home, now."

" I will." He promised. " You've come so far."

" You won't leave Japan? You said in your letter you would if we went looking for you."

" Saeka, you were the only thing I was able to think about. I'll admit. It was a very foolish decision to leave."

She sighed and closed her eyes, barely able to contain her excitement at having found him once more. After so long, they had finally been reunited. And she could hardly wait to tell him about her secret.

" Sesshomaru." She said quietly. He set her down and watched her. " Yes?"

" Before you left, I had something I needed to tell you. This is one reason I was so desperate to find you. I wanted you to be with me."

" What is it?"

She smiled at him. " I'm going to have a baby."

His eyes went wide and his blinked several times, an unusual reaction coming from him. " What? How long?"

" Before you left. It's been showing rapid signs and could happen very shortly." She said.

" Saeka. If I'd known, I would never have left." He said. She clasped his hand in her own. " I know." Was her only response.

It was decided that Saaya would remain with the dragons, Naraku with her. She would lead them into the northern mountains and become the alpha female. Sesshomaru was indeed proud of his daughter, though less than thrilled when he learned of her mate. Saaya, now reverted back to her original form, stood with Naraku by her side, staring at her father. " Dad, I love him. I can't just leave him. If I could, he wouldn't be with me now." She explained. Sesshomaru, though not happy about it, said nothing. He glared at Naraku. " I have known nothing but trouble from you. If you so much as harm her, I will not hesitate to kill you." He growled. Naraku looked at Saaya and as Sesshomaru turned to prepare to go, she whispered, " That's his way of giving us his blessing, apparently." He chuckled at this. She turned to her parents sadly. " I'll see you again, mom, dad." She said. She looked at Saeka. " Make sure to send me a message about my new brother or sister." She said glumly. Saeka hugged her daughter and nodded. " Of course." She said quietly. " Crin informed us that InuYasha and the others are returned to their original states. We'll be heading back shortly, accompanied by three escorts."

" That's good. I hope I can do this." Saaya whispered. She was bitterly afraid of this responsibility she'd taken on. Naraku put his hand on her shoulder comfortingly. " I'll be with you." He said. She smiled at him and turned to her parents. " Goodbye." She said.

" Bye, Saaya." Saeka called as they were led out of the chamber toward the valley outside. " Be careful!"

" I will!" Saaya called. She disappeared as the door slid in place between them and Saeka and Sesshomaru lost sight of their daughter. Saeka sighed and gripped the neck of her cloak. Sesshomaru put his arm around her. " She'll be all right. She's a grown demon, now." He said. Saeka nodded.

" It seems like yesterday I gave her and Mo their first baths." She said shakily. Sesshomaru faced forward.

" Soon, Saeka." He said, in reference to their new child soon to be born.

Outside the wall, InuYasha, Kagome and the others, though stiff, were both horrified and amazed to learn what had happened. Saeka had also heard a brief account of what Saaya had seen before her transformation. This really impressed them and they all wished they could have been there. But as they started back toward the village, leaving the new dragon clan behind, Saeka felt a dull ache in her abdomen. She put her hand on her stomach reflexively. It wouldn't be long now.

A/N: I've finished the whole book now. This is the last book and there are no sequels planned for it. I have yet another fanfic I will post once this series is done. I am seriously regretting ending this series, since it's gotten my name known on the site and people give my work a chance now. To think it's been ten whole books since The Healer. Do any of you remember that? It's been so long. I posted it back in February and it's May now. Time sure flies huh? You're all gonna hate me for what I do. I'm not so sure even Kinkatia will forgive me for this one. I think her name is now Hatchilover. She's a friend from school and she knows what's going to happen. I don't think she'd forgiven me yet.