Title: Inutaisho's Weakness

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Inuyasha or the characters. If I did, Sesshomaru, Koga, Naraku, Bankotsu, and Miroku would be chained up in my closet with nothing but censor signs to wear. grin

Rating: T, for Violence and Language Content

Genre: Drama/Romance

Pairings: Inutaisho x Izayoi

Summary: Izayoi was always lonely. As a Daimyo's daughter, she was to be married only to the richest and most influential of men. While picking flowers in a meadow, a powerful dog-demon saves her from a lesser oni. What will happen when a pair of golden eyes begin to haunt her dreams?

A/N: Okay, this part will be sorta like a time-skip. And I'm dedicating this story to my friend Karli, who stuck by my side and constantly hounded me about updates. I'd have never gotten it done without her. Thanks, Cap'n Moriko!

Last Time:

An outraged growl erupted from the throat of a young man that had watched his princess take flight with a demon. He turned away from the sight in disgust, and looked at his clenched fist. "I will not allow this demon to steal away Lady Izayoi…She belongs with me and me only…Takemaru of Setsuna!!"

Inutaisho's Weakness, Part 3: Birth of A New Hope

Izayoi placed a hand on her bulging stomach restlessly, feeling her child moving within her. Her chestnut-colored eyes narrowed with worry. Inutaisho had been gone for a long time now, and Myoga, the small flea-demon that accompanied her Lord, had not yet brought her news.

Barely a week ago, Inutaisho had brought her back to the small village where she had been placed before he had taken her away to his lands. Seeing as she was about to give birth to a half-demon, many in Inutaisho's palace were outraged and sought to execute their child and its mother. For her safety, Inutaisho had brought her back among her kind.

"Milady, do you need water?" Izayoi looked up at the kind, elderly woman who was helping her through her labor.

"No thank you…has there been any news of my Lord?" The elderly woman glanced around, as if afraid to be heard.

"Lord Takemaru has placed several soldiers around the mansion's walls, Lady Izayoi. To keep the demon lord out." She patted the young woman's hand affectionately. "But he will come, my Lady."

Izayoi's eyes watered at the comfort. "Thank you, Kosane…" She winced as another wave of pain hit her. "I-I think…"

"Don't worry, Lady Izayoi. Everything will be fine. Just rest until it's time," Kosane said wisely. "I will go get the other nurses."

"O-Okay…" Izayoi rubbed her stomach gently, trying to ease the pain, but nothing worked. She closed her eyes and tried to take her mind off the pain by imagining what she thought the baby would look like. Maybe it'll have long silver hair like his father and brother.

His brother…

Izayoi had met Sesshomaru a few times before at Inutaisho's palace. She could have easily mistaken him for his father. He had the same, long, silver hair and penetrating, golden eyes that could easily gaze into her soul. The only difference between their eyes was the horrifying chill that Sesshomaru first gave her with those beautiful eyes.

"What is a human doing here, father?" His question was more a demand than an inquisition. He glared at her as she quaked beside Inutaisho. Inutaisho growled lightly in warning.

"Sesshomaru, you will treat this woman civilly. She is mine."

"You've chosen this human for a mate?"

"Yes." Inutaisho stared his son down, daring him to say something opposing his decision. It was obvious that Sesshomaru didn't approve from the distaste in his words and looks.

"Ridiculous." With a final glance in Izayoi's direction, he stalked off, his hair swaying elegantly behind him. Inutaisho turned to Izayoi, a soft smile on his lips.

"Do not worry, Izayoi. He will grow accustomed to your presence here." He placed his hand on the small of her back and led her around the palace, introducing her to several servants, nobles, and giving her a tour of the palace. Izayoi could not help glancing back to where the younger dog demon had disappeared, wondering why he was so cold around her.

Izayoi muffled a shout with the sleeve of her yukata as another wave of pain racked her body, and breathing became more difficult. She looked for Kosane, but she wasn't back yet. At that moment, Kosane slipped into the room with four young women, each wearing nursing clothing. One of the girls soaked a cloth in cold water and wiped the sweat from Izayoi's brow, smiling sympathetically.

"I have two children, Lady Izayoi. Trust me, it'll be very worth the pain in the end." She dipped the rag back into the water. Kosane sat beside Izayoi, holding her hand tightly.

"I'm sorry I was gone so long, my dear... There is so much going on outside, we were caught up in the confusion." She smiled. "Are you ready? A baby born on the night of a lunar eclipse…he'll be a lucky one."

Izayoi was unsure. "I-I think so…What's going on outside? Why is there so much shouting outside?"

"It's nothing, Lady Izayoi. You need to focus on having this baby." Kosane glanced outside the curtain anxiously, but saw no shadows on the thin, paper shoji doors so she turned back to Izayoi. Izayoi didn't miss the elderly woman's actions.

"Who are you looking for, Kosane?" She ignored Izayoi's question, instead focusing her attention on the tub of hot water that was placed beside her. Izayoi felt a large contraction hit her, the most concentrated amount of pain yet, and instantly forgot about Kosane's suspicious actions. "Aah!" Throughout the process, all Izayoi knew was pain, hope, and worry.

When Izayoi finally gave birth to her son, it was well into the night. Kosane had placed pillows on her stomach under the blankets and instructed her to not remove them until Lord Inutaisho came. Izayoi was too tired to wonder why.

"Izayoi, you're awake?" Kosane smiled, tears in her eyes. "He's adorable, Izayoi. You and Lord Inutaisho should be so proud…" She handed the small child to Izayoi and bowed. "I'm going to go await your Lord…keep these pillows on your stomach, okay? Until I come and get you."

"Uh-huh…" Izayoi stroked the infant's delicate canine ears, longing for the child to open his eyes so she could see what color they were.

"Dearest…" Izayoi laid back onto her futon, her son lying peacefully beside her, her blanket keeping him safe and hidden. She could hear men shouting outside, and feared that if he were met with opposition, her Lord would not hesitate to beat the soldiers down.

Just then, the door slid open, and someone stepped in. She could tell by the clinking and shuffling that they were wearing armor. Her hopes soared. Was it her Lord?

"W-Who is it…?"

"It is I…Takemaru of Setsuna." He sat down on the other side of her curtain. Izayoi sighed with relief.

"Oh thank goodness! Lord Takemaru, I beg you…take the guards from here and escape. Please…I fear that no one can stand against my Lord." Takemaru said nothing, and Izayoi turned to look at the shadow he cast on her curtain. He lifted something long, like a pole, and said,

"Lady Izayoi, I have long felt a connection with you, which I'm sure you know of by now…Even though you would birth a child whose father is a demon."

Before Izayoi could protest, the tip of Takemaru's spear tore through the thin curtain and into her chest. She let out a short cry and went limp, too exhausted from her labor to move. She watched with despair as Takemaru left the birthing room and left her to die. She reached out toward the disappearing moon, and pleaded with the Gods to give her at least enough time to see her dearest.

"Waah…" Beside her, her infant began to cry. Fearing Takemaru's wrath, she pulled the spear from her chest and rolled over, using all of her strength to bring the infant to her chest and silence his cries. She closed her eyes, feeling her exhaustion overwhelm her, and fought the darkness that she knew she would never wake up from.

It seemed like forever in the dark. She couldn't move, nor speak. It was all nothingness, in every direction for eternity. It wasn't until what seemed like years that she heard his voice.

"Izayoi! Izayoi!"

Dearest…?

"Izayoi, where are you?"

I'm here, Lord Inutaisho, my dearest husband…

"Tenseiga, grant me your strength…" And all of a sudden, Izayoi felt. She heard the awful crackling of flames, and the intense heat. She sat up, and hearing her child's fearful wails, pulled the bundle protectively into her chest. She looked around in confusion. Where had the flames come from? Something was draped over her head and shoulders, and she looked up to see her husband throwing his old fire rat cloak over her to pretect her from the flames.

He was a mess. His left arm was soaked with blood, and his armor was either cracked or had arrows sticking out of it. He still grinned at the sight of their son, who was still clinging to his mother. She felt tears in her eyes at the sight of her husband.

"Dearest…" He granted her a reassuring smile and turned as Takemaru headed toward them, a threatening glare on his face. With the flames swirling around him, he looked even more like a demon than Inutaisho. The Demon Lord drew his most powerful sword, Sounga, and stepped in front of Izayoi.

"Live long," he said. Izayoi gasped, not sure if she heard right. Takemaru scowled at their interaction.

"I will fight you to the death," Takemaru said. "And together we shall go to the Netherworld."

Inutaisho lowered his head. "Inuyasha." Takemaru stopped, confusion and impatience on his face.

"What was that?"

"The infant's name…" Inutaisho glanced meaningfully back at Izayoi. "The child will be called Inuyasha."

"Inuyasha…" Izayoi looked down at their son. "Yes."

"Now, Izayoi. Leave this place." Izayoi could see the demonic aura, purple and menacing, swirl around Sounga's blade.

"Yes, dearest." She turned and ran from the burning mansion, not looking back until she had made it past the village grounds. She watched the mansion collapse, with no sign of her husband coming out.

Live long, Izayoi. Live with Inuyasha, our son…Raise him to be strong.

Izayoi looked up into the skies desperately. "Dearest? Milord…Inutaisho!" She covered her mouth, trying to stop her tears, but they wouldn't. She stepped into the snow, trudging through it barefoot but not noticing the cold. She walked sluggishly up a large hill, eyes on her son. He was warm, for the robe of the fire-rat kept them both from getting too cold. But it was night, and there was no telling how far they'd get before something happened to them. The nearest village was miles away, and she could only get so far.

"Father is dead, then?"

Izayoi looked up with a gasp to see a man standing a few feet in front her, his long silver hair flowing in the wind behind him, his golden eyes piercing her.

"Lord Sesshomaru!" She lowered her head in sorrow. Sesshomaru stared back at the mansion's burning ruins and turned away from them, walking away. Izayoi stepped forward in confusion. "Lord Sess-"

"Come." She followed him until they reached a young dragon-looking thing with two heads. They looked between her and Sesshomaru in understanding. "Ah-Un will take you to the nearest village."

"Th-Thank you, Lord Sesshomaru." He waited for Izayoi to climb on to Ah-Un's saddle before holding out an ivory, magenta-striped hand.

"Let me see the half-breed child." Izayoi hesitated for only a second before handing Sesshomaru the infant. She watched as he gently took him in her arms and examined him with disinterest. He was about to hand Inuyasha back over, when Inuyasha's eyes cracked open. Sesshomaru looked at the brilliant amber eyes in surprise.

Izayoi watched the brothers. It seemed that Inuyasha was happy with Sesshomaru, for he smiled suddenly, and Sesshomaru's eyes became slightly less cold. He handed the child back to her, regaining any posture he thought he'd lost.

"This was my father's wish. Do not assume that you can come to me for further aid." He turned away without another word, and Ah-Un took into the air to bring her to the village. Izayoi stroked Inuyasha's chubby cheek, a smile coming to her lips despite her sorrow.

"Oh Inuyasha…At least I have you…" She looked out over the lands as Inuyasha huddled closer. She could almost feel Inutaisho there with her, watching their son with pride and love in his eyes. "Inutaisho…Thank you for this life you've given me…"

Live long, Izayoi. For our son. Live for him, and love him in my place.

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A/N: THANK YOU ALL FOR WAITING SO PATIENTLY!! (or impatiently) This is the last part of the Inutaisho's Weakness story, but next is Sesshomaru's Weakness! So tune in for that! I'm so glad I finally finished it! Sorry if it's not as good, but tell me how you think please!