Beyond the Darkness
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A/N: Just finished this chapter last night. Here you goooooo. (: R&R please && enjoy. ;D -Michele

::Forty-Four::

"What in the world has gotten into him?" asked Sango aloud as they continued their pursuit on InuYasha, who, Kagome knew, was in red hot pursuit on Sesshomaru.

"Yeah, and what did he mean by what he said about Sesshomaru?" asked Shippo, riding on the back of Miroku, who was running alongside Kirara.

"He mentioned something about Sesshomaru transforming into a dog," said Miroku.

"I didn't know he had such a power," said Sango.

"Kagome? You're awfully quite," mentioned Shippo. Kagome peered into his wide topaz eyes, the ones he'd clearly inherited from his mother. Kagome knew well enough about Sesshomaru's giant dog transformation. If he had to resort to that power, something must really be wrong over there with his group. She hoped Nikala and the baby were alright.

"Sorry. Just worried is all," she replied, which wasn't a lie at all. She was worried about all of them, including InuYasha. How she prayed there'd be no trouble going on.

* * *

Nikala leaned her head against the paper wall, her limbs bound in chains and her energy draining from her. She wasn't sure how much of this evil demonic aura she could take, even though she herself was a full demon.

She repeated in her mind Naraku's true intentions for her baby. Would he really do that? Would he really absorb the newborn just for its powers? The very thought made her eyes teary and she felt her heart beat in her throat out of fear. How could someone be so cruel and heartless?

This is Naraku we're talking about, however, Nikala reasoned, though it was no excuse to act so vilely.

She remembered how angry Sesshomaru was when he saw Naraku holding on to her. How full of disdain his beautiful golden eyes held. If he were to know what Naraku was really going to do, Nikala knew Sesshomaru would go into a murderous rage. This baby meant the world to Sesshomaru. And it did to her as well too.

He's not laying a finger on this baby … ever! Nikala cried mentally. He won't get away with this. I'm protecting this baby with my life.

If only she had just enough strength to muster up some fox fire to melt away the chains. Or enough strength to just break them off with her arms and legs. But she was so weak. She felt human weak. Or perhaps even worse.

She longed to stroke her round belly, just to secure her baby, but she felt so helpless. She couldn't do a thing, not even to help her baby feel safe.

I'm a failure. To end up in this position … I am a failure at being a mother.

"No," Tairoku's voice protested softly directly in her ear, as if he were kneeling right next to her. She sharply turned her head, but saw nothing. Again, she leaned her head back against the wall, but his voice returned.

"You will never fail at being a mother, unless you give up on being a mother," Tairoku continued, and this time, Nikala closed her eyes and just listened to his every word.

I know you would have faith in me, Tairoku, she thought.

"But it is you who should have faith for others," he said. Her face twisted in confusion, eyebrows knitting together, but her eyes remained shut.

What do you mean?

"Have faith in your comrades, Nikala. You are not alone. You are never alone."

This made the tears she struggled to hold back break free from her restraint and rush down her face.

"But I am alone. I am now. I am weak and helpless. I couldn't protect myself from Naraku. I do not know what to do now," she wept. Tairoku shushed her gently and she felt his skin against hers. She opened her eyes and saw him again, but this time, his ghost was not transparent. He was solid, and fleshy, and here. Her eyes widened and her jaw slightly dropped as he wiped away her tears with his thumb. He was just like how she remembered him that day, the day of the invasion.

"Tairoku," she whispered and she instinctively leaned forward towards him. His presence brought her strength. She felt more alive than the pathetic fox-woman sitting on the ground she was not five seconds ago.

"Never, Nikala, doubt yourself," Tairoku said, his voice real and powerful, like it once was. He wasn't that spectral vision she'd seen the night he showed her to the fox tribe. Tairoku looked alive. "You are capable of so much. You just need faith."

"Faith," she repeated slowly, as if the word were caught on her tongue. He smiled widely at her and cupped his large hand around her jaw, running his fingers of his other hand through her silky auburn hair.

"Have faith in all of them, especially Sesshomaru. He needs you just as much as you do," said Tairoku, his smile not at all faltering when mentioning his lover's current mate. Nikala looked up at him with so much respect. Tairoku was truly a wonderful man. Wonderful for not holding any grudges against her for falling in love with someone else, wonderful for letting her off the hook with the fox bond, wonderful for sticking with her, for helping her get through this even when she carried another man's baby.

Nikala's tears came faster as she bit her lip from bursting out crying and nodded. "Mmhmm, I will," she muffled. She was so lucky to have known this man, and she was so sorry he was gone. "I'm keeping faith in all of them." Tairoku smiled again and stood, looking down at her. Suddenly, she felt a wave of grief wash over her. Why was he gone? Why did he have to die?

"And, Nikala," Tairoku added, "don't lose faith in yourself. You know you are so much stronger than you let others think."

Suddenly, Nikala's grief had suddenly disappeared and she felt all of her strength return to her. Her stamina was filled and she could feel the weight of the chains around her become lighter and lighter, as if they were deflating. Nikala's face beamed as she gave Tairoku a smile of gratitude. He nodded, his eyes sparkling, and slowly, he began to fade. Nikala's smile faltered as she reached out to him, breaking the chains around her arms in the process. However, she didn't even notice — she was so focused on Tairoku's disappearing figure.

"Faith, dear one. You just need faith," she heard him say, though his lips didn't move.

"Faith," Nikala repeated once Tairoku had fully disappeared. Suddenly determined, she broke loose the chains around her legs by spreading them apart until they snapped and clattered onto the wood floors. She got up, fully energized, and took a deep breath. She looked down and rubbed her belly, smiling again.

"We just need faith, little one. Faith in Papa and Rin and Jaken. And ourselves — we must have faith in ourselves if we're going to get out of this mess," she told her large belly.

Completely confident, she mustered up large amounts of fox fire to blast through the paper wall. Whatever lay outside these walls would have to deal with her.

And I'm a pregnant fox as well. Whoever gets in my way is sure going to meet Hell herself.

Just as she was about to shoot her fire towards the wall, the paper door slammed open. Nikala turned and saw Naraku in the corner of her eye and, acting quickly, threw her fire at him. He'd barely missed, but the walls beside him were blackening instantly from catching aflame.

"You!" Nikala hissed, glaring her topaz eyes. Naraku noticed them tinting red.

"You've resisted my barrier," he said, astonished.

"Your games are over, Naraku," Nikala growled. "You're never getting my baby."

Naraku narrowed his eyes. I do not love her! he repeated endlessly in his mind.

"I get what I worked for," he said, gradually tilting the edges of his lips into a grin, "and I've been searching long and hard for a demon like the one you're carrying. One who could possibly be stronger than Lord Sesshomaru himself. The offspring of his would be just the one, though who would have thought that Sesshomaru would mate with anyone —"

"Do not test me!" Nikala snarled, her claws extending. Naraku looked at them, intrigued.

"But, then again, why should I only take the baby, when I could take the carrier as well. What tricks do you have up your sleeve, Lady Fox Demon?" Naraku smirked and stepped closer to her. Nikala kept her ground, growled at him, and built up her fox fire in her hands again, the green fire outlining her hands.

"You're not taking anybody," she said, and, just as she was about to throw her fox fire at Naraku, a startling shake interrupted her. She and Naraku exchanged surprised looks and Nikala knew that he had not planned this at all. The earthquake continued until there was a great cracking sound. Suddenly, light poured in through the roof of the room and Nikala looked up to see the actual roof had been torn off, revealing an angry, giant, white dog, glaring murderously down at Naraku.