Beyond the Darkness
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A/N: Okay well, this is the last chapter of the season, which was actually pretty short and I'm kind of upset that it is, but I needed to end it here. This chapter is more of an epilogue and a preview of where I'm going to take the next season, which will probably be the last of this series. Okay well, enjoy alright? (: R&R please! -Michele

::Fifty-Four::

Everything just seemed perfect.

Sesshomaru, Nikala, and the crew had finally settled somewhere. Their search for Naraku was over and now, one year later, they were living in their own manor in the Western Lands, land that was rightfully Sesshomaru's. If anyone were to pass through these lands, he'd pick up their scent and make sure they were of no harm to his crew, or especially his family.

Ai was walking now. She was still speaking nonsense, but she managed to get a couple of words out, "doggy" being one of them. She was able to say mama and dada; Jaken's name was now replaced with "Jakky", and Rin had become Win. The resemblance between her and Sesshomaru continued to grow and there wasn't a day that went by without Ai smiling widely at her father.

"She loves you, and she's proud of you," Nikala said one day while Sesshomaru held Ai up, now with both of his arms, looking into the big topaz eyes she'd inherited from her mother. It was perhaps the only feature Ai had inherited from her, other than the fox ears and bushy tail, and also her loving personality. Everything else was all Sesshomaru, almost a spitting image.

"She's just a baby. How could she have any pride in me?" Sesshomaru asked. Nikala smiled widely and leaned over to stroke her daughter's face. Ai playfully grasped her mother's finger and nibbled on it. Two little fangs had grown in and she was teething. Sure, the baby had a bite, but Nikala's demon power helped her heal quickly against the weaker attack.

"Even if she is a baby, she still knows how important you are, not only to the Western Land, but to her herself," Nikala said and took the baby from his hands, widened her eyes and smile at her daughter. Sesshomaru pondered this for a bit as the tall grass blades of the field outside the manor swayed against his legs. Was it possible for a baby to feel pride? He didn't think babies even knew what pride was. But, even if they didn't, he thought perhaps that babies could maybe feel such a thing. He knew he still had a lot to learn from his mate about this baby business. Nikala was very experienced with children.

Ai's complaining gibberish suddenly woke him from his thoughts. Nikala bounced her and stuck her knuckle into her mouth. Ai sucked on it before Nikala pulled it back out.

"You're hungry, aren't you, little one?" Nikala asked in a baby voice. She slipped off one side of her kimono, exposing one large breast to Sesshomaru. He watched her as she lifted Ai's head to her breast, cradling her as the baby sucked her nipple. Nikala looked back up at Sesshomaru with a smile.

"Nursing all over again. She's getting a little old, though, so I guess I'll have to start weaning her. I should cut this one short and find some fruit for her to suck on," Nikala sighed as she bounced Ai while her tiny hands balled into fists, her arms curling to her chest. Her eyelids began to drop and her sucking slowed. Nikala noticed.

"Or she'll just fall asleep. I don't think she's too keen on wanting to leave the breast," Nikala chuckled. Sesshomaru smiled and watched Nikala stroke Ai's face, rocking her back and forth, humming a lullaby. This lulled her to sleep in a heartbeat and she let go of her nipple.

"Do you mind taking her, love?" Nikala asked, handing Ai carefully to Sesshomaru. He agreed and swiftly took Ai in his arms, not even causing her to stir. Nikala replaced her kimono straight and leaned against Sesshomaru's arm, watching their sleeping baby.

"She loves your touch," Nikala giggled softly. "Bet you didn't think you'd have a way with kids, or babies at least."

"None at all," Sesshomaru said.

"See? I told you you had nothing to worry about. This baby was going to love you no matter what, just like its mama," she said sweetly and wrapped her arms around his arm tightly, snuggling with it.

"I've been waiting a long time for a life like this again," she sighed, closing her eyes. Sesshomaru glanced down at her. This was his family. He had a mate, he had a baby … If only his father could see him now. He was slowly following his tracks. He didn't need Tetsusaiga anymore — he had his own sword. After Tokijin broke in half on him, he gained another sword, one he himself made. He felt as if he were following his father's footsteps. Lord Sesshomaru was the most powerful demon in all of Japan. Would his father be proud?

Suddenly, a scent caught him off guard. He lifted his head, alert and cautious, sniffing it out. It was so familiar ….

Jaken was running out of the mansion and towards him, his arms flailing. "Lord Sesshomaru! Lord Sesshomaru!" he cried. Nikala lifted her head quickly at Jaken's direction. Ai stirred in Sesshomaru's arms, cringing at the high-pitched squeal of Jaken's voice.

"I'll take her inside," Nikala offered and took her from him. Sesshomaru glared at Jaken as he passed Nikala.

"You almost woke her," he hissed. Jaken bowed.

"I'm so sorry, my lord, but there is trouble!" Jaken exclaimed. Sesshomaru arched an eyebrow. Could it have anything to do with the scent he'd sniffed out.

"Trouble?"

"Yes, yes! Someone's entered the boundaries. There's a pack of them! And they're nearing the manor!"

"Who are they?" demanded Sesshomaru, rising to his feet, indifference returning to his tone.

"They're foxes, my lord! Foxes!" Sesshomaru's eyebrows knitted together. Foxes? So no wonder the scent was familiar — he'd been smelling Nikala's kind. But why had they gotten so far into the land? Could it have been that he'd not noticed them because Nikala was so near and the closeness of her scent overpowered them?

"Foxes? Certainly not from her tribe, though," Sesshomaru said.

"No. These foxes are dressed in white furs and kimonos," Jaken explained.

"Beckon Nikala. She should know where these foxes are from. Tell Rin to watch the baby," Sesshomaru ordered and walked towards the front of the manor. Jaken nodded and rushed back inside.

White foxes, he thought. Could they be from some Northern tribe? The tribe that Nikala had initially planned on heading when she was reunited with Shippo?

He didn't know why they were here. Perhaps they knew about Nikala's being there. If so, why did they come anyway?

With Sesshomaru's agility, he was there in a heartbeat. He stood before the trees and tall grass blades and, a couple minutes later, there was rustling. Sesshomaru waited for his visitors.

A tall fox demon in humanoid form walked out from behind the trees. He was adorned in a silky white kimono, sky blue hakama with a white sash around his waist. A white fur cloak draped his shoulders. His hair was long and white and it was pulled back in a thin ponytail.

"State your name, fox demon, and your purpose here," Sesshomaru demanded.

"Is that of any concern to you, Lord Sesshomaru?" smirked the fox demon. His comrades stepped out from behind the trees as well, all dressed similarly in white.

"You should know, considering that you know my name. You are aware that this is my territory," Sesshomaru retorted. At that moment, Nikala came out from the manor. She took one look at the group of white foxes and widened her eyes. The white fox leader noticed her too.

"Ryoku!" she cried, a wide smile on her face. Sesshomaru looked at her, strangely.

"You're familiar with this fox?" he asked as Nikala rushed to his side. She nodded.

"He's the leader of Northern fox tribe. They're snow foxes," she explained. Ryoku's dark eyes lingered on her, but he smiled.

"Nikala. It's been a while, and you just keep getting more beautiful," he said. Nikala blushed, but rushed into his open arms. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes at the embracement. What did he want?

"So you know my mate well, I take it," Sesshomaru said thickly. Ryoku's smile quickly dropped as he looked from Nikala to Sesshomaru, then back to Nikala.

"Mate?" he asked, clearly disapproved. Nikala nodded, stepping away from him.

"Yes, is there something wrong?" she asked, cocking her head.

"Well, it's just … I wasn't expecting you to be mated with him," Ryoku said. Sesshomaru's eyes narrowed.

"What are you implying, fox?"

"Ryoku, what are you doing here?" Nikala asked, sensing some tension between Sesshomaru and Ryoku. This wasn't turning out good.

"We heard about what happened to the Western fox tribe. Word had it that you were a solo survivor and that you would be coming up to the Northern tribe. Well, I got excited." He chuckled. "You would have made a fine addition to our tribe. But you never came and I was worried that something had happened to you. Nikala, we've been searching for you for about a year now," Ryoku explained, his eyes saddened as he grasped her hand in his two large ones.

"Worried? For me?" she asked.

"Yes. Once you came to the tribe, I wanted to make you my bride," Ryoku said with a small smile. Nikala gasped and Sesshomaru became infuriated. He stepped in between her and the snow fox demon, his claws curling.

"Your bride?" he hissed menacingly. Ryoku glared, meeting eye to eye with Sesshomaru.

"How is it fit that a dog is mated with a fox? It's not the way of the fox demons. We mate with our own kind," he sneered, as if it were Sesshomaru's fault that Nikala had chosen to be with him rather than her own species.

"Don't ridicule me, lowly fox demon. Nikala had the choice of whom she wanted to be with. If she wanted to marry you so badly, she would have left my crew to go to the Northern tribe," Sesshomaru spat. Nikala's topaz eyes glanced from her mate to her fellow fox friend.

"Both of you, stop this!" she cried from behind Sesshomaru. She gripped his arm, looking up at him. "Ai wouldn't want you fighting. Think of your daughter."

"Your daughter?" Ryoku cried. "You've impregnated her as well?" He growled and withdrew a glistening silver blade with a pearly white bone handle.

"Ryoku!" cried Nikala.

"How could you turn against your own kind, Nikala?" Ryoku spat. "Your destiny was supposed to be with me. Not this dog, not Tairoku … me."

Sesshomaru glared and his claws lit up.

Whip of Light, Nikala thought in horror. She couldn't let him kill Ryoku, even if he was out of his mind at the moment. Killing her own kind was unacceptable.

"Sesshomaru, don't!" she screamed. "If you kill him, I'll leave!" Sesshomaru's claws stopped glowing and he eyed her incredulously. Ryoku gained a look of triumphant.

"Nikala … he wants to take you from me. You'd allow him to do that?" he growled.

"He's not taking me anywhere," Nikala said firmly, tossing a glare at Ryoku. "But you can't kill him. He's done no harm to you."

Sesshomaru scoffed and uncurled his claws. Ryoku eyed him suspiciously. "If you know what's good for you, you should get out of here. Don't ever come back," he demanded.

"As if I'm going to take orders from you, dog," Ryoku spat. Sesshomaru glared at being disrespected, but Nikala interrupted before he could slice him.

"Do as he says, Ryoku," she ordered. "My destiny was never to be with you. I'm sorry." Ryoku eyed her for a long time.

"Very well, my lady," Ryoku finally agreed. "Come, men," he said to his companions and they turned their backs on the two. Nikala sighed with relief when they disappeared into the forest of trees.

"You were going to kill him," Nikala muttered.

"I'm sick of everyone wanting you for themselves. I thought we were mated," Sesshomaru snapped.

"We are, Sesshomaru. And I can't say that I'm a fan of all of this attention, but we can't help it. People will love who they love."

"They are infatuated with you. I highly assume they only have lust for you," Sesshomaru said, his eyes still on the forest of trees.

"Well I'm not giving myself to anyone but you, I promise," Nikala said. "Don't underestimate me, Sesshomaru; now that I'm not pregnant anymore, I'm actually powerful again." Sesshomaru sighed and looked down at her. Her eyes were narrowed and her arms were crossed over her chest. She was serious. Despite her claims, Sesshomaru still felt the need to protect her.

"Alright. Let's just get inside. You need to tend to the baby," Sesshomaru advised. Nikala's concern dropped and she agreed, leading the way back to the mansion.

However, little did they know that Ryoku of the Snow Fox Demons would not heed Sesshomaru's words and he would return very, very soon for his determined bride.