Beyond the Darkness
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A/N: WOW. It sure has been awhile, hasn't it? Well, I'm back again and I sure have quite a few stories to update. (Okay, well really only this on and DWK, but whatevs. xD) Anyway, sorry for going AWOL, but, again, I'm back. (: Hope you enjoy the chapter[s] and R&R please! (: -Michele

::Forty-Two::

Nikala wandered through the forest, wondering how far Rin and Jaken had actually gone just to look for berries. She hadn't been discussing the baby with Sesshomaru that long, had she? Well, if she had, it was his fault for keeping her in the first place. Sesshomaru had no reason to fret over the safety of the baby. Nikala would take care of it just fine.

She sniffed out their scents to search for them faster, but she couldn't exactly place her nose on them. There was another scent that was overpowering Rin's and Jaken's. Who else was in the forest with her?

She got her fox fire ready for the stranger with the unfamiliar scent, her topaz eyes narrowed. She searched the side bushes cautiously, looking around her.

This scent … I-I know it … I've smelled this before!

But before she could remember who's scent this belonged to, a voice spoke from behind her and her eyes widened with fright.

"Nikala, is it?" he said and she turned around, her fists clenched tightly and the fox fire around them.

"Who are you?" she asked the unfamiliar man in the white baboon costume, his face hidden by a mask. She spotted a smile underneath the beak of the mask.

"You know me," he said, "and I'm aware that you and your mate are looking for me."

Her heart beat faster than before. Naraku!

She stretched her arms toward him and shot her fox fire at him, however, Naraku jumped out of the way and appeared at her side. His demonic aura was strong and she wondered if Sesshomaru could feel it from where he was. She was sure even Jaken and Rin could feel something this powerful, but why weren't they coming?

I can handle this … I can handle this …

Oh, who was she kidding? Naraku was far out of her league and even her fox fire couldn't do anything. She needed Sesshomaru here right now!

Naraku chuckled sinisterly in her ear, stroking the side of her face while he clutched her neck.

"It's a shame Lord Sesshomaru isn't here to save you, isn't it? I've actually been looking forward to seeing the mighty dog demon," he said.

"You're lucky Sesshomaru isn't here right now!" hissed Nikala, trying to wriggle free from his grip.

"Am I? Wasn't it a bit reckless to be wandering around the forest with a baby on the way?" he asked, reaching for her grown belly. Nikala roared like an animal, snapping her teeth at his arm. He laughed again. "You are a feisty little fox, aren't you?"

Sesshomaru! she cried in her head. Where in the seven hells was he?

* * *

There was a sudden change in the air and Sesshomaru immediately understood what was going on. He ignored the presence of Kagura once she had arrived from the wind.

"Lord Sesshomaru," she called from behind.

"Kagura," Sesshomaru responded, indifference in his tone.

"Where's your crew? You've finally ditched them?" she smirked.

"What do you want, Kagura?" asked Sesshomaru, already annoyed with her appearance.

"Don't play dumb, Sesshomaru," Kagura scoffed. "You know I want you to kill Naraku."

"You came all the way over here just to tell me that?"

"You at least owe me the favor," Kagura said.

"I owe you nothing," claimed Sesshomaru.

"You do. I've kept your mate secret from Naraku," Kagura explained, smirking.

"Liar." Kagura glared, even though he was correct. She glanced around anxiously. Sesshomaru noticed immediately, reading her expression so easily.

"You haven't come alone this time," he stated and narrowed his eyes.

"Feh. Unfortunately not," she scoffed, turning her red eyes back to him. Sesshomaru secretly sniffed the air and suddenly he glared harder.

"You've brought Naraku here!" he roared and swiped his ribbon-claws at her, which she barely block with her wind — produced from a wave of her intricate fan — jumping back.

"Sesshomaru, there's something you need to know," Kagura said quickly while they were clear of any Saimyosho. She saw the anger etched in his face and she knew he wouldn't hesitate to hold back any strike to her.

Sesshomaru growled in response and reached for Tokijin attached to his belt. He unsheathed it and swung it at her, heavy gusts of wind blowing at her. She blocked it with her fan again.

"Naraku's here. He himself is here instead of a golem he usually provides. He's in the forest looking for your mate," said Kagura. Sesshomaru stopped dead in his tracks, golden eyes wide and, for once in her life, Kagura saw worry plastered all across his face.

Nikala.

"He knows she's pregnant. He plans on taking your baby, Sesshomaru," she continued.

His heart raced so quickly, he couldn't even keep up with the counts.

Nikala … Nikala … the baby …. That set him off. MY BABY! He roared and Kagura saw his eyes go blood red from the beautiful golden it formally was. His fangs grew out wide and thick, and the purple stripes extended into long, jagged ones.

"Naraku!" he cried, his voice deep and demonic. Suddenly, he sped off into the forest, tracing both Nikala's and Naraku's scent. No way was Sesshomaru going to let Naraku get away with this. If what Kagura said was true and Naraku really was there in his own body, then Sesshomaru would be sure to tear him into shreds.

As he sped through the forest, he could suddenly hear the faint voices of Rin and Jaken calling out to him, but he was too fast for them to catch up. He figured they'd realized Naraku and Kagura were here and were going to trail back to him. However Sesshomaru had no time to stop and wait for them. He had to get to Nikala, and fast.

Damn it! How far did she go in? He cursed himself for letting her go into the forest alone. I should have at least walked with her until she found the others.

Just as he was about to start blaming himself for putting his mate and unborn baby in jeopardy, he picked up Nikala's scent and heard both voices belonging to her and Naraku, which only made him more angrier and his face continued transforming slightly. Hearing her struggle increased his fury.

He finally reached the two of them, much to, Sesshomaru noticed, Naraku's delight.

"Ah, Lord Sesshomaru," Naraku chimed, holding onto Nikala tightly. "I see you've escaped Kagura. Unfortunately we won't have any time to chat."

Sesshomaru gripped Tokijin's handle tightly. He couldn't strike Naraku without hitting Nikala. "Let her go." His growling grew louder and Naraku chuckled.

"I'm afraid I can't," he sighed, and then stroked Nikala's face, earning a growl from her as well. "Well, I'm afraid it's time for us to go now, my dear. Say goodbye to your beloved lord." Both Nikala's and Sesshomaru's eyes widened and they looked back at each other. While Naraku raised a barrier around the two of them, Nikala struggled to release herself from him and Sesshomaru chased after them as they began to rise from the ground.

"No!" he shouted, Nikala crying out to him.

"You know, you lose your power when you gain weaknesses. What a nasty habit you've picked up. You don't look so fearsome any more, Lord Sesshomaru," taunted Naraku.

Sesshomaru's glare hardened. Nikala transformed into the beautiful auburn fox so as to wriggle easier from Naraku's arms, but he only clung tighter, squeezing her around the middle.

The baby! she though frantically.

Sesshomaru watched Naraku squeeze Nikala's pregnant body and suddenly the anger inside of him exploded. Where his nose was he grew a muzzle and his body began to shape into a four-legged creature. Within seconds, Sesshomaru had become a giant white dog, and he was very angry.

Both Nikala and Naraku stared wide-eyed at the giant demon dog lord. It was the first time either of them had seen such a transformation by Sesshomaru. Worry filtered Naraku slightly, but he felt more safe that he was in his barrier bubble.

Nikala noticed Jaken and Rin come running out from behind the trees to find Sesshomaru in his dog-state.

"Oh my — Lord Sesshomaru!" Jaken cried out, but Sesshomaru was much too focused on Naraku.

"Lady Nikala! She's been captured by Naraku!" exclaimed Rin with horror, pointing to the barrier bubble.

Sesshoamru began to muster up something that could break the barrier. Nikala had attempted her fox fire, but it made no damage. His heart was racing faster than the speed of light as it seemed, especially when he noticed the dark edges of her bright red fox eyes water. She began to howl, a howl so loud it echoed through the trees in their area. Suddenly Sesshomaru joined in and his howl echoed through the entire forest, probably the entire Western Land.

Naraku glared at the giant dog and began to pull higher and higher into the air where he clamped Nikala's muzzle shut and knocked her out with a punch. When Sesshomaru could no longer hear her howling, his own howls turned into vicious barks and snarls that declared war with Naraku.