a/n: I'd like to thank Hattaru, Lerryn, and the other reviewers who have reviewed both of my chapters and have supported my first story. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! Neways, here's the next chappie!

"Speach"

'Thoughts'

Disclaimer: No own INU! Wish I did, but i don't...

Chapter 3- The Blood and Blame

Fear struck Sesshomaru like an arrow to the heart. He could smell the blood; his mate's, all of it. For a moment he was paralyzed with fear before he shook himself out of his trance-like state and quickly entered the mansion.

The fire was already licking greedily at the wood of the farthest rooms and he knew that he'd have to hurry and find Sango and the baby before the fire consumed them as well.

Tenseiga began pulsing at his side as he came upon the first room closest to the door. The blood covering the walls was the thickest here and his mate's scent was the strongest inside the room. He knew he'd found her.

What he didn't know was how he would find her. All his darkest fears were becoming reality as he entered the room to find his mate surrounded by a large pool of her own blood and his newborn pup lying beside her, wrapped in a blanket, not making a sound.

Instantly he was beside her. Grief and sorrow overcoming his other senses as he collapsed into the pool of blood beside his fallen mate.

"Sango." He wept, voice nearly a whisper, as tears beginning to form in his eyes.

"Sess…Sesshoma…ru…" Sango whispered from beside him.

"Sango!" he yelled as his head snapped up. At that instant baby Kohaku made himself known with a load cry.

Torn between his dying mate and his possibly injured pup he quickly reached over and picked up the pup without ever leaving Sango's side. Upon seeing the pup was uninjured he turned back to Sango.

In his grief his rational thoughts had left him and it wasn't until tenseiga began pulsing violently at his side that he realized he had the power to save his mate. So, without a thought, Sesshomaru stood and sliced the netherworld's demons before they ever had a chance to fully claim her.

He watched as her wounds healed before his eyes and soon she regained consciousness enough to talk.

"Sesshomaru, the baby?!" she worriedly asked as he knelt beside her still exhausted form.

"He's fine Sango, but we must go. The mansion is still afire." He told her, handing her the baby and covering her in his outer kimono before lifting her still blood-covered body into his arms.

"Somio…?" Sango asked wearily as she clutched her baby to her chest.

"I do not know. That part of the mansion had already burnt when I arrived. I am sorry Sango." He said as he ran out of the mansion and into the storm.

The rain had finally begun its full assault on the western countryside as Sesshomaru made his way toward the small cave that was situated in the hills not far from their now destroyed home. He needed to get the two out of the rain and somewhere safe before something else happened. He was nearly to the cave when he heard someone shout his name.

"SESSHOMARU!"

Turning he saw Inuyasha running towards him with one hand on tetsaiga's hilt. He did not stop, however, and continued onwards towards the cave knowing that his brother would easily catch up.

When Sesshomaru arrived at the cave he lay Sango down before walking to the back of the cave and retrieving the emergency blankets Sango herself had placed there in case of times like this. He had not thought there would ever be a need for such provisions; boy was he thankful for Sango's foresight. He had just removed his wet outer kimono from around her shivering form and was replacing it with a blanket when Inuyasha arrived.

"Sesshomaru!" he yelled, "Is Sango and the baby ok? What happened?"

"Calm yourself Inuyasha. We shall speak of this after Sango gets some rest." He said calmly despite his mounting tension.

Inuyasha looked into his brother's eyes and simply nodded his assent. Walking to the mouth of the cave he positioned himself so that he would be able to see whatever was coming their way, despite the pouring rain that shortened his line of sight to only a few yards in front of the cave.

Sesshomaru silently thanked his brother for his understanding and began to build a fire before leaning against the cave wall next to Sango and pulling her to him. He had very nearly lost her. Hell, he would have lost her had it not been for the tenseiga.

Not for the first time Sesshomaru mentally thanked his father for leaving him such a precious gift. 'Quite a turn around from my previous thoughts on the sword.' Sesshomaru thought, 'It's all because of Sango.'

He felt her shift at his side and his golden eyes immediately flew to her fragile form.

"What is it Sango? What's wrong?" he asked, confused as to why she was turning her back to Inuyasha and repositioning the babe in her arms.

"I have to feed him Sesshomaru. I didn't get a chance to before we were attacked." She said softly.

"Oh ya, Inuyasha! If I catch you so much as sneaking a peek your dead." She half yelled at his brother with a small smile.

"FEH! As if Sango! That's just weird. I don't think of you that way AT ALL." He said as he moved so that his back was turned to them even more.

With a smile, and without another word, Sango moved the top half of her kimono aside in order to allow Kohaku to breastfeed. Sesshomaru stared in awe as the pup immediately took to feeding without any problems what so ever.

It didn't take long for him to become full and fall asleep, allowing Sango to put her kimono top back into place and once again cuddle up to Sesshomaru's warm body.

"I named him Kohaku, Sesshomaru. Is that ok?" she asked as she began to drift off into sleep; tenseiga having only restored her body, not her energy.

"It's perfect Sango. Just as you are." Sesshomaru said in a tone that Inuyasha had never before heard. He kissed her forehead as she finally fell asleep fully to get some well-deserved rest.

He stared at her resting form for a moment and took in the way that her body curled protectively around Kohaku even in her sleep. His musings were interrupted when Inuyasha's voice called out from the front of the cave.

"Is she really ok Sesshomaru?"

His mind flew back to the image of her mangled body covered in blood sprawled on the floor of the mansion. Guilt once again washed over his body and he winced at the horrid memory.

"I had to use tenseiga, Inuyasha." Was all he said in response to his question.

He felt Inuyasha's aura flare in anger before he managed to calm himself. He knew exactly how Inuyasha felt, more so even, but his anger was repressed by guilt. He had no one to blame but himself for leaving Sango unprotected while she was unable to defend herself. Regret ate away at him causing him to pull Sango's sleeping form closer to him.

"Whenever she wakes up I need to know everything." Inuyasha said, his voice distant and bothered, "And when the storm quits we can make our way to Kaede's village and Kagome can check on Sango and the baby. I'm sure their all out of their mind with worry."

He nodded knowing Inuyasha had turned slightly and would be able to see the nod despite the darkness. He was about to fall back into his previous shame filled thoughts when Inuyasha spoke once more.

"It's not your fault Sesshomaru."

He turned his head slightly shocked by his brother's words. He was taken aback by the conviction in his brother's smoldering eyes. Never before had he seen such sincere emotion directed at him from his younger brother.

A small smile formed on his face as he moved his eyes away from his brothers' identical golden orbs to look down at his mate and pup whom were both sleeping peacefully.

"Thank you Inuyasha." He whispered before settling down to watch the two beings that held his heart sleep as if the horrid tragedy of the evening had never occurred.

a/n: AWWW! Brotherly love! hehehe... you just thought I was gonna let Sango die. NO WAY! She's my all time favorite Inu character there's no frikin' way I'd kill her off. But i got you all worried it seems... lol. I guess yall didn't remember that Sesshomaru could use tenseiga to bring her back even if she did die(which she didn't. That's just how strong she is!). Well if you liked it plz read and review! I love to read your reviews so much that I even check the story during my lunch break from school. :D

Thanks!!! Texascowgirl-13