Ch 44
Kanna didn't say anything, just hugged her tighter. Kagura glared at Naraku and said, "What did you do to her?"
"Nothing that I wouldn't have done to you," Naraku hissed, glaring at her. Kagura glared right back before trying to comfort her 'sister.'
"Miroku are you ready?" Naraku asks as he walks over to him and Hiten.
"Yes all is needed for Keski to react to his barrier and then it will come down." Miroku tells him.
Naraku looked over at Hiten. "Stop drooling over him!" he hissed at Hiten.
"But Naraku he took his hair out, he looked so yummy." Hiten tells him.
Naraku growled and said, "Well then you better get a damn good look because once he has my child he is dead."
Hiten pouted and said, "Does he have to die? Why not just get a way to dispell of his powers and then give him to me?"
Naraku hissed and said, "Are you here to help me or are you here for your own personal needs?"
Hiten grumbled. "To help you, I just thought since Kohaku was still a virgin you wanted to keep sleeping with Keski." Hiten tells him and waits for Miroku to get Keski's attention.
"Don't worry about Kohaku just keep Inuyasha occupied with the others." Naraku tells him and walks over to Kohaku.
Miroku looked at Keski and touched the barrier with his staff. "Come on Keski react." he says softly
Keski saw a flash of color on the barrier and his head swung over to see Miroku smirking at him. "Caren, Dante!" he called, turning towards them.
"What is it?" The two asked him as they ate.
"Miroku is here." he says to them. Inuyasha stood up dropping his bowl to the ground he pulled out Tetsusaiga."Kikyo, Suikotsu get behind me." he says
Caren and Dante stood up and got their arrows and bows, "Hello Keski it's been a while." Miroku says to him
Keski walked over to the barrier and stepped back seeing Naraku in the other side. "How can you help that demon?" Keski asked him.
"He promised me something that I should have gotten a long time ago," Miroku said, his smirk turning into a glare as he stared at the pouch around Keski's neck. Keski gripped it and said, "He's just using you Miroku! He wants the jewel for himself, you'll never get it if you help him."
"Shut up, I don't want to hear you!" Miroku yelled at him and stood up.
"I wont let you have it Miroku." Keski tells him and touches the barrier,
Caren realized too late. "Nooo!" he yelled out as the barrier came crashing down.
"Damn it!" Inuyasha yelled."Get out the way now!" he yells at Keski.
Caren grabbed Keski and jumped out of the way just as Miroku jumped in and swung his staff at him.
Naraku smirked and the rest of them charged in, Kohaku close to Naraku's side.
"Inuyasha!" Hiten growled and ran at him. Inuyasha brought his Tetsusaiga out and blocked the attack. "Hiten." he growled
Karas took his arrow and shot it at Miroku. "Stay away from him!" Karas said.
Kira shot his arrow at Kohaku, Kohaku countered with Keski's former sword.
"Stay here." Caren tells him.
"I told you this would happen Keski, Sesshoumaru was a fool to leave you with these idiots." Naraku tells him
Keski glared at him and said, "He would have been a bigger fool if he had given me to you!" Naraku growled and said, "Now I'll just be taking you by force!"
"Over our dead bodies!" Dante hissed, shooting his arrow at him.
Naraku grabbed Kohaku and jumped out the way. "That won't be a problem." Naraku tells him as he lands back on the ground letting Kohaku go.
Miroku knocked Karas to the ground and placed his foot on his chest. "Say your goodbyes to him now." Miroku tells him.
Keski looked over at Karas. his mind went back to when Karas was a child and was picked on by the kids in the village. Keski looked around and grabbed some arrows and a bow."Get off of him now!" Keski yelled and shot at Miroku.
Miroku put up a barrier to stop the arrow. "Kanna take their souls now." Naraku orders her
Kanna looked at him, frightened, and shook her head. "I won't hurt Keski," she whispered, over and over, as she backed away, her eyes on the ground.
"Kanna, do it now!" Naraku roared, making the little girl flinch
Kanna whimpered as she aimed the mirror at Kira ,Time stopped as Keski and Karas watched Kira's soul get sucked out and he fell to the ground. "No!"Karas yelled and pushed Miroku off of him and ran over to Kira.
"No Kira, speak to me." he said as he placed Kira's head in his lap. "Damn you Naraku." Karas said with tears in his eyes.
Caren and Dante turned around seeing Kira on the ground.
"Do you really want to cause more pain Keski?" Kohaku asked him.
Keski was to shocked to speak. "This is worse than Kira being Naraku's slave." Kohaku tells him.
Keski looked from Naraku to Kanna, who had tears in her eyes as she stared back at Keski, showing more emotion than she had ever in her life. Keski looked back at Naraku, still too shocked to speak as Karas cried over Kira's motionless body, his face buried in Kira's chest
Hiten took the moment and knocked Tetsusaiga out of Inuyasha's hands. "Hand him over mutt now." Hiten tells him as he points his Trident at Inuyasha.
Keski dropped his arrows and bow he walked over to Karas. "I'm so sorry Karas, I'll make it right." he tells him.
"You can't Kira is gone." Karas cries.
"It wasn't supposed to be like this." Keski said to him. "Will you save Kira if I come?" he asks Naraku turning to look at him.
"Yes," Naraku said, staring at him.
"No!" Inuyasha yelled, tackling Hiten to the ground. The two wrestled for a few moments before Inuyasha was on his back, Hiten's trident pressed to his throat.
"No!" Shiori screamed, taking a step forward. Hiten looked up at her and smirked, raking his eyes over her, making her shudder.
"Inuyasha!" Shiori yelled.
"You'd feel different if it was her wouldn't you?" Hiten asked him.
Inuyasha growled at him.
Keski kissed Karas atop his head. "I love you Karas, and tell Sesshoumaru Thank you for all he's done, make sure Shippo grows up to be a brave boy."Keski tells him and walks over to Naraku. "Go ahead save Kira." Keski tells Naraku holding his hands out for him to tie.
Naraku took some rope from his robe and tied it around Keski's wrists. "Kanna," he said, and Kanna looked over at Kira and Karas. Aiming the mirror at Kira, she released his soul, the white orb flying over to land in Kira's chest
Kira gasped as his soul was in his body again, he sat up looking around. "Karas why are you crying?"Kira asks him.
"Cause you're dead." Karas said with tears in his eyes.
"Then how am I talking to you?" he asks.
Karas looked up "Kira " he yelled and tackled Kira to ground hugging him.
Hiten punched Inuyasha in his face before getting up and walking pass Shiori
"Let's go."Naraku tells them.
Karas looked up. "Keski, Kira is okay." he says smiling then the smile leaves his face as he sees Naraku taking Keski out with his hands tied. "No give him back!" he yells at Naraku
"Karas, no," Keski said, looking over his shoulder at his brother.
"But he'll kill you," Karas said.
"I'll be fine, I promise. Just take care of everyone for me, okay?" Keski said, fighting back the lump in his throat.
"Keski, don't go! I lost you once, I can't handle it again!" Karas yelled, the tears sliding down his face.
"You'll be fine, I know you will, you have Kira."Keski tells him
Karas stood up. "Please don't take him, I'm begging you Naraku ."Karas pleaded with him. Naraku kept walking pushing Keski toward where Kagura was. Miroku walked out as well Kanna walked out her head down.
The barrier went back up, Karas ran to the barrier and banged on it, it wouldn't come down. "He'll hunt you down." Karas said referring to Sesshoumaru.
Naraku smirked and said, "Let him. I'd love to kill him with my own hands."
Karas yelled out in anger and hit the barrier again. "Keski, let this barrier down now! I know it's you!" he yelled.
"I need you to be safe, Karas. I can't let you follow me," Keski said, not looking at him as Naraku placed him on Kagura's feather, which rested lightly on the ground.
Kira ran over to Karas and hugged him."Shh." he said to Karas. Kira watched as the feather took off with Keski and the other following behind him.
Inuyasha sat up. "We have to find Sesshoumaru now, I don't give a damn if he's mating!" Inuyasha growled. Inuyasha walked over to Bankotsu seeing he had been wounded by Juuroumaru. "Caren can you fix him while I go drag Sesshoumaru back?" he asks.
"Of course." Caren tells him.
Inuyasha went off running to find Sesshoumaru.
Naraku placed his hand on Keski's shoulder. "How noble of you Keski you knew the next life I was taking was Karas, you made the right choice." Naraku tells him.
Keski looked over his shoulder at Naraku. "Take the shards." Keski tells him
Naraku raised his eyebrow and looked at him. "You heard me. Take the damn shards," Keski said, his face still straight.
Naraku shrugged and grasped the pouch, yanking it so that the cord snapped. "Kohaku, add them to yours," Naraku said, tossing the pouch to him.
Kohaku caught it and took out his own pouch, opening Keski's and dumping the shards in. There was a flash of pink light and Kohaku smiled, pulling out what was now a good sized chunk of the shard. "It's half way complete," he whispered, smiling at Naraku
"You've been busy these past weeks." Naraku says to Keski.
"It was my job to collect them." Keski says to him and turns his head back around. Keski closed his eyes. "I want to say goodbye to my baby when he or she is born you have to grant me that one request, I'll write down everything so Kohaku can care for the baby." Keski tells him
"I'm glad you realize your place." Naraku says to him.
"You made it clear where I stand in your life." Keski tells him as he sees the castle coming he brings his hands up to keep the miasma out his body by covering his mouth.
Kohaku and Miroku did the same as they neared. Hiten didn't bother since he was demon he could just repel the miasma, and Kagura and Kanna were part of Naraku, so they were safe as well. When they landed, Kagura waited until everyone was off before shrinking her feather and placing it back in her hair.
Naraku grabbed Keski and walked inside the castle he led Keski down the hall to his study. "All but Kohaku you may go and do as you wish ." he says and slid the door open taking Keski in, Kohaku following behind him sliding the door closed.
Hiten pouted. "Naraku you jerk I want to see him." Hiten yelled stomping his foot.
Naraku ignored him as he locked the door behind him. He turned to Keski and said, "It feels much better knowing my child is closer to me."
"It's not your child, Naraku. You gave up that right when you started attacking our family," Keski spat, glaring at him.
Naraku grabbed Keski by the back of his hair. "That mouth of your is your downfall, your making your death more painful." Naraku tells him before pushing him over to the sofa making him sit down.
Kohaku threw a scroll and feather pen at Keski ."Start writing." Kohaku tells him .
Keski glared at Kohaku and saw his sword. "Can't write with my hands tied genius." Keski says to Kohaku
Kohaku glared at him before looking at Naraku. "Untie him. When he is finished tie them again," he said. Kohaku nodded and walked towards Keski, quickly untying the knot around his wrists.
Keski punched Kohaku in his face and kicked him away. "You ever touch me again, I'll burn your ass." Keski glared at him as he picked up the scroll and began writing thinking of all the things his mother did for Karas when he was a baby.
Kohaku coughed as he held his stomach
Naraku walked over to Keski and sat down beside him. "You do smell good, you'll need a bath Sesshoumaru's scent is all on you." Naraku growled.
"Because I let him touch me, he gave me back rubs he wasn't a tyrant like you." Keski tells him.
Naraku growled low in his chest and he hissed, "You let him touch you?"
"Yes, I did. And it felt good when he touched me. When you do all that happens is I get nauseous and have goose bumps," Keski said with a straight face as he continued to write.
Naraku growled more. "I'm going to kill him slowly. "Naraku tells him and turns Keski's face to him squeezing his chin. "You belong to me even in death!" Naraku tells him.
Keski grabbed Naraku by his hair yanking it hard. "You're low, I can't believe I ever loved you!" Keski tells him.
Naraku growled and forgot Kohaku was in the room and grabbed Keski and kissed him on his lips. Kohaku growled and grabbed a book and threw it at Naraku before walking out the room.
Naraku ducked the book, pulling Keski with him as to not break the furious kiss. Keski slapped Naraku's chest until he pulled away. Keski spit in his face and stood, backing away from him. "You might want to go get your precious mate," he hissed, his fingers at his lips as he glared at Naraku.
Naraku stood up and wiped the spit off his face. "Don't worry about Kohaku he'll understand." Naraku tells him and walks over to Keski. "Keep writing Keski and I am not a fool you enjoyed that kiss I can smell it in your scent."Naraku tells him.
Keski picked up the scroll and pen and sat back down and went back to writing. "When will dinner be served, since you interrupted mine?" Keski asks him
"Within the hour. I'm sure either Kagura or Hiten have alerted the cooks to their needs," Naraku said, sitting down next to him again.
Keski moved as far away as the couch would allow and continued to write, his bangs falling into his face as he crouched over
"How could you promise Miroku the jewel, you know you won't give it to him, you'll kill him in the end if he gets in your way."Keski says to him.
"Very true if he forgets about it he'll live." Naraku says to him.
Keski stopped writing and looked at Naraku. "Your really going to make me say goodbye to my baby?" Keski asked him with tears in his eyes.
"Why ask me when you know the answer?" Naraku asked him.
"I want my baby Naraku I don't want to leave it I fell in love the moment I knew."Keski tells him
"It was your decision to anger me, Keski. This is the punishment," Naraku said.
Keski said, "Taking my life is the consequence of my disobedience? That is ridiculous and unfair, and you know it."
"Enjoy your time with the baby Keski be glad I can't take it from you now."Naraku tells him. Keski handed Naraku the scroll, "That's everything unless I think of something else." he tells him.
Naraku looked at the scroll seeing how much was written on one side. "You would have been a great mother." Naraku tells him.
Keski walked over to the door and slid it open and came face to face with Miroku. "Keski your still alive." Miroku says to him
Keski said nothing, just pushed past him and walked down the hallway, his arms wrapped protectively around his stomach.
Hiten was sitting in the dining hall when Keski came in, he smiled. "Hello beautiful." he says. Keski looked at him and sat down. "You know if you had been my mate I would treat you better." Hiten says to him.
"But you're not and I don't have a choice, he'll kill my brother now if I leave." Keski says to him and starts crying.
Hiten sighed and walked over to him and hugged him. "Hey now stop crying you're too hot to cry, Naraku is a fool to let you go." he tells him.
"Is that a good idea leaving Keski and Hiten alone?" Miroku asks with a smirk on his face
"Hiten should know that if he touches a hair on Keski's head that I'll kill him," Naraku said, continuing to read the things that Keski had written on the scroll
"I don't get it if you want Keski dead why do you care if he sleeps with another man?" Miroku asks him.
"He's mine Miroku I won't repeat myself he was destined to be mine the moment he was born."Naraku tells him. Naraku scrunched his nose when he smelt Keski's tears and walked out the room and down the hall to the dining room to see Hiten comforting him, and rubbing his belly.
Naraku growled and said, "What do you think you're doing, Hiten?" Hiten looked at him and said, "He was crying, I felt the need to do something other than sit there like you would have done."
Naraku walked over to Hiten and pulled him up and threw him in the nearby chair he then looked at Keski and lifted his chin. "Stop with the tears now, he can't save you no one can you did this to yourself!" Naraku yelled at him.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Hiten growled.
"Leave your services are no longer needed, good luck keeping Sesshoumaru and Inutashio from killing you." Naraku tells him.
Keski jerked his chin out of Naraku's hand and said, "Don't touch me. You're vile."
Hiten stood and said, "I may be cruel, but I will not sit here and watch you mistreat a pregnant person."
"Keski is a nothing but a toy and he is my mate get out Hiten before I kill you!"Naraku growled at him.
Hiten stood up and slammed his fist on the table. "He's pregnant Naraku, they cry, you had to know this what if was Kohaku crying what would you do, you seem to forget Keski is the original, Kohaku is just a damn copy!"Hiten growled at him as said boy came in the room along with Miroku.
Naraku pulled Keski up by his arm. "See this Hiten, he said turning Keski's neck to show his mark as long as he bares that he's mine now get out!" Naraku tells him.
Hiten glared at him before looking at Keski sympathetically. He then turned around and walked towards the front door, slamming it on his way out.
"I don't want to belong to you," Keski whispered, his face tilted to the floor, his hands clenched into fists.
Naraku looked at him and sat him back down and slapped Keski across his face leaving a red mark.
"Damn." Miroku said.
Kanna heard the smack and ran into the room and pushed Naraku away and hugged Keski around his neck.
Kagura ran into the room after Kanna. "Kanna stop!" she tells her.
"Leave Keski alone!" she yelled at Naraku
Naraku glared at her and said, "You have no say on what I do. Either of you." He glared at Kanna at the last part, but she was still hugging Keski.
Keski was hugging her back, trying to soothe the small sobs he heard coming from her, stroking her hair.
"Shh it's okay nothing I'm not use to." Keski tells her. "No crying how about you help me pick out some names for the baby."Keski says to her.
Kanna lifted her head up. "Okay can Kagura help too?" she asks.
"If she wants too."Keski tells her.
"You want to see Shippo or Sesshoumaru?" Kanna asked.
"Sesshoumaru." Keski tells her.
Kanna held up her mirror showing Sesshoumaru yelling at Inuyasha and Banks for not doing more as he sniffed the air.
Keski felt a small smile form on his lips as he watched the group. Kanna smiled and whispered, "No more crying."
Keski looked at her and said, "That's right. No more crying, okay?" She just nodded and he gently set her down on the floor before standing, not looking at Naraku. "Let's go find somewhere nice to think, okay?" he said, holding out his hand.
Naraku grabbed the mirror from Kanna. "Keep testing me." he warns her,"You better be back in ten minutes or I'll drag you back." he warns Keski.
Kagura walked out as Kanna and Keski held hands.
"Look damn it they had this priest that was stronger than Keski and Hiten and of course Naraku, Keski did this to get Kira back his soul." Inuyasha says to Sesshoumaru.
"Why the hell didn't you, use you windscar?!" Sesshoumaru yells at him.
"Hiten knocked it out my hand!" Inuyasha yelled.
"Karas, Kira go back to the palace with the guards don't say a word to Rin or Shippo about Keski, lie if you have to." Sesshoumaru tells him
Kira nodded, taking Karas's hand and starting to lead him away. "You will get him back, right?" Karas said, stalling for a moment and looking at Sesshoumaru.
"If it takes my life," Sesshoumaru said truthfully, staring right back at him. Karas just nodded and left with Kira
Sesshoumaru looked at Caren and Dante and then Inuyasha. "Kagome maybe you should go too." Sesshoumaru says to her. "Sesshoumaru." Kagome says.
"I won't have you die we have a child she needs you." Sesshoumaru tells her growling because he couldn't pick up Naraku's scent.
"Damn him I can't just barge in there there's the baby to think about." Sesshoumaru says. "Keski blocked Karas from following him with the barrier." Caren tells him
Sesshoumaru walked over to Inuyasha and hit him atop his head, you put shame to our name." Sesshoumaru tells him.
"I said Hiten caught me off guard, but I'll get stronger, now isn't the time to place blame." Inuyasha tells him.
"We have to find the castle Sesshoumaru." Dante says to him.
"It won't be difficult to find," Sesshoumaru growled, his hands clenching into fists. Kagome placed a hand on his shoulder and he said, "Kagome, go to the kids. I don't want you in it this time."
Kagome looked at Kikyo and Suikotsu, She walked over to Sesshoumaru and kissed him on the lips. Sesshoumaru kissed Kagome back and nipped at her neck. "I love you." she tells him when she breaks the kiss.
"I love you too." Sesshoumaru tells her.
"Shiori I want you to go with Kagome as well." Inuyasha says to her.
"Okay but you better come back to me in one piece." she says and kisses him on his lips.
Inuyasha kissed her back and pulled her close, resting his head on her shoulder. "I love you," she whispered. "Love you, too," he whispered back before kissing her again.
"Sesshoumaru I know this is a lot to ask but please don't give up on Kohaku, please bring us back our son alive." Suikotsu says to him.
Sesshoumaru nodded his head. "I'll do my best now you four get out of here." he tells them. Kagome smiled. "Bring back Keski and that cute baby." Kagome tells him and leaves with Shiori, Kikyo, and Suikotsu.
"Let's go." Sesshoumaru tells Inuyasha and the others.
"It's pretty high up here." Keski says as he looks down.
"Yeah but it's better than being around Naraku 24/7, I am sorry we can't do more for you Keski but Naraku is our master and we would be punished worse than you." Kagura says and looks at Kanna.
"It's alright. I can handle him," Keski said.
Kanna looked up at him and gently touched the red mark on his face. "But look at how he handles you," she whispered.
Keski took Kanna's hand in his and held it. "He's done worse to me Kanna, a slap is mild coming from Naraku, I just have to focus on the baby coming and what I have to prepare for this little one when I am gone." Keski tells her.
Kanna looked at him with a determined face and said, "I will do everything I can to keep him from killing you, Keski. I promise."
Kagura looked at Kanna and sighed she didn't know when Kanna started acting this way, which is why Naraku never punished her she was more like a silent puppet but not anymore. "Kanna please don't fight him, you're so small I don't want you to be hurt by him, you can help me by looking after my baby when's it'd born."Keski tells her
Kanna looked down at her feet and said, "I just don't want him to do that to you. You don't deserve it."
"No one deserves it. But I'm not supposed to be here even now. I died a long time ago, and dead is where I should have stayed," Keski said, looking up at the sky.
"And you being dead has done what, your death hurt everyone that loved you, Kohaku isn't following in your footsteps, he can't find the shards, in the time you left here, he hasn't found one, yeah you gave Naraku your shards, but if you die it will stay incomplete." Kagura tells him.
Keski sighed. "We better get back down before he comes up here and there's another fight."Keski tells the two
Kagura sighed as well and nodded, saying, "You're probably right. Come on." She helped Keski down to the stairs, Kanna following behind them as they made their way back to the dining room.
Keski walked back to the dining hall just as the food was being placed on the table. Kohaku looked up from his seat beside Naraku.
Miroku looked at Keski and cleared his throat. "You must be starving." Miroku says to him. "Why are you still here Miroku?" Keski asks him as he sits down beside Kanna and Kagura
"Because I am also a priest and can keep you in check," Miroku said monotonously, dishing up his own food before starting to eat.
Keski glared at him and said, "You think I'll try to escape or something, don't you? I won't need to. Sesshoumaru and the others are coming for me. I can feel it."
"It won't be easy for him, my barrier is strong."Naraku says to him.
Keski looked at Naraku. "I wasn't talking to you." he hissed out. "How can you keep me in check Miroku when you weren't chosen to be the protector of the shards, if I wasn't pregnant my powers would be acting right so don't think you can best me in any way, you're only stronger than Kohaku." Keski says to him.
Kohaku stood up and walked over to Keski. "I am not weak!" he says to Keski and throws the water in his face.
Kagura chuckled, Naraku growled and stood up and walked over , to the supposed to be mature males. He grabbed Kohaku by the back of his collar and placed him in the seat. he then looked at Keski. "I am not Kohaku , I will hurt you baby or no baby now sit down, and Kagura and Kanna go eat in the kitchen." he orders them.
The two females sighed and took their plates, going into the kitchen. Keski picked up his plate and started for the kitchen as well.
Naraku growled and grabbed Keski by his arm, "You're not going Keski sit down now, you're not a slave." Naraku says to him.
Keski glared at him and bit Naraku on his hand before sitting down and starting to eat. Naraku growled at him . "You're going to pay for that." Naraku tells him and sits down and starts to eat.
Kohaku was angry "Sesshoumaru doesn't care about you that's why he went off to mate." Kohaku says to him
"That isn't true, He has a cycle just like we do, and he thought we would be well protected. It was an honest mistake, and nothing you say can change my mind about that," Keski said, not looking at Kohaku as he ate
"Oh well how about the fact when he went into heat when I was living in the palace he was never far away that's how much he wanted me protected, he left you with Karas, Kira, and Inuyasha, Caren and Dante are good but there were too many distractions for them to just focus on you, don't you see, Sesshoumaru doesn't adore you like he does me." Kohaku tells him