Chapter 21

Multitudes of demons, both real and drawn, fell before Sesshomaru's blade. He made his way to the entrance of the fortress, each blast from Kagome beating within him and spurring his movement forward.

With one slash, the guards were dead. With another, the doors had been blasted back and the angered prince was standing in the entry way of the large stone building. His senses told him where the miko was and he bolted in that direction.

From the way the place was shaking, it seemed like his beloved was going to bring it down around their ears. A grim smile stole over his face. He would have to remember not to anger her in the future.

Kagome threw another ball of pink fire at her cousin. This one connected with his chest and knocked him back into the wall. To her surprise, the hanyou got back up and laughed.

"That is indeed impressive, little Kagome. Maybe I shouldn't kill you, after all. If there is some way to break this willful streak of yours, you would make a very good servant for Lord Okudo. Perhaps as a thank you gift to him, for helping me with-"

Whatever he was about to say was cut off, along with his head. It fell to the ground and rolled a bit. The body fell then, and Kagome was able to see who it was that had saved her.

"Bank!" she cried.

"Lady Kagome." he stared at the fire still in her hand. "Are…you okay?"

The miko closed her eyes and concentrated on extinguishing the flames. Once she was calm again, she sank down onto the mattress. "I'm fine. Just…tired."

"Prince Sesshomaru is on his way." The man informed her.

Kagome had to smile at that. "Where's Jak?"

"He's trying to lead Sesshomaru to Okudo."

"Take me there."

"But…Lady Kagome, you are in no condition…"

"Just get me there, Bankotsu."

Whipping around a corner, Sesshomaru came face to face with Jakotsu. He vaguely registered surprise at the get up the man had on. "I take it you are Bankotsu's brother." the prince said.

Jak dipped the prince a curtsy. "Why hello there, your Highness." he purred. "My my, Lady Kagome is a lucky one, isn't she?"

The inu growled. "Where is she?"

"Bankotsu has her. Okudo is hiding in the first office around the corner. You can take him out or go to Kagome."

Sesshomaru hesitated for a split second. Everything was telling him to go save his fiancée, but he knew that if he didn't go now, Okudo would get away and live to try again. "Go to my Kagome." he ordered. "Tell her I will be there shortly."

Before Jakotsu could say anything, Sess was gone.

The smell of guilt and fear was heavy on the air as the prince sprinted around the corner. He found the proper office and blasted the door out of his way with the power of his sword. Okudo was sitting at his desk flanked by inu guards. Beads of perspiration spoke volumes about how agitated the elder was. Youkai did not usually sweat.

"My lord Okudo." Sesshomaru said smoothly. "How wonderful to see you." He looked at the guards. "Your master is as good as dead. Unless you wish to follow him to the next life, I suggest you run away." They didn't have to be told twice. All of them dropped their weapons and scattered.

"You have no right to do this." the inu elder stammered. "This is a place for the protection of our kind."

"That is why I am here." the prince assured him. "To protect them. From you. Did you really think that you could get away with it? That you could come into my home and steal what is mine?"

"It was a perversion!" Okudo shouted, losing his temper. "The wench is human! What's worse, she's a miko. How many of us has her kind slaughtered mercilessly?"

"Not more than we have of hers."

Okudo searched for something else to argue. "Prince Sesshomaru, that is neither here nor there. We are of the same blood. It is only when we turn against each other that we have really lost. Can you not see that? You are damning your bloodline with this folly!"

Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. "I believe it was you, my Lord, who began this mess. You, who turned on us for the partnership of a conniving, traitorous hanyou. Therefore it is you who have damned yourself."

"No!" the elder yelled. "You cannot kill me! I am the leader of the inuyoukai council! If you kill me then you will be beheaded as a traitor."

The prince examined his reflection in the gleam of his sword. His eyes caught on something behind him that he hadn't sensed. Unwilling to allow himself to be distracted, he returned his attention to the old youkai that he was about to kill. "Suteki and Mitsuko are on my side, Okudo, and I am sure Riomaru and Hikoshi knew nothing of this. This council has been lead to corruption and I shall not allow it to continue. Draw your weapon, if you wish."

If there was one thing Sesshomaru was, it was honorable. He gave the elder a chance to fumble for his blade. His golden eyes flicked back to the doorway. He gave a reassuring nod and advanced on the older inu.

It would not be a matter of simply killing him. Sesshomaru knew that. Okudo was old and had learned many tricks to keep himself alive. Unfortunately for him, swordplay wasn't one of them. He was more skilled with a staff than anything, and he was facing an opponent who had been wielding a blade for over two centuries. You really had to feel bad for him.

Sesshomaru allowed Okudo to make a few attacks which he deftly parried, before he moved in. Slashing and blocking, the prince cut through the elder's defense without breaking a sweat. His face was locked down except for the fierce determination in his eyes. This was not a fight for himself, this was for Kagome and the safety of their life together. This youkai, no matter how prestigious, stood in the way of all that would make Sesshomaru happy. He refused to let him stay there.

With a particularly complicated maneuver of his sword, the inu prince had unarmed Okudo and the wicked sharp point of the blade rested against his throat. Sesshomaru considered making the demon pay for his crimes by drawing out his punishment, but the weary, but pure scent of his beloved watching from behind him quickened his hand. The sword flashed once, and Okudo had been stuck through the heart; twice, and his head was on the floor.

It was both beautiful and frightening, her fiancé's anger. In all the time she had known him (which admittedly, wasn't that long) she had never seen him in a rage. She was afraid, yet she felt safer than she had in a while.

Bankotsu stared in awe at the sight before him. He had seen Okudo kill people before and it hadn't been a pretty sight. This was something different though. The Western Prince moved with the grace and elegance of long practice, almost like he was dancing. Bank knew that he was angry, but it hardly showed. He went from block to strike with fluidity, and his reward was the leader's head on the floor.

The man glanced down at the woman he was supporting. He wondered how she felt. Her face was rapt with attention, her brown eyes glittering a determination to match her future husband's. It was clear that even if she wasn't fighting, or didn't approve of fighting, she was with Sesshomaru in every thrust of his sword.

The sight of it filled Bankotsu with a shining hope. His former master was dead and his new one stood in the wake of it with love on his side. Nothing would ever be the same again.

He felt, rather than saw, Jakotsu behind them. His brother's eyes were wide as saucers. "We're…free." the effeminate man murmured.

"Free to serve another master." Bank argued, just to get a reaction.

"Pay attention, brother. There is no servitude here. People follow him freely."

Kagome had been in a kind of daze until she heard those words. She looked up at the man she loved, apprehensively. He was standing over Okudo's body, staring out the window at the waning day. She made a sound in her throat and ran to him.

He turned in time to scoop her up. For a moment after he had killed Okudo, he had been afraid. Afraid that someone so pure would look upon him with distaste for what he had just done. Kagome's scent told him otherwise. She radiated relief and love. She was also exhausted.

"You came." the miko whispered.

"Of course I came. Why would I not?" Sesshomaru murmured back. He nuzzled her hair, just reveling in the feeling of having her back in his arms. Kagome didn't respond and when he looked down at her, he smiled. She had fallen asleep.

He cut his eyes over to the brothers who were watching him with guarded looks. "Naraku?"

"I killed him." Bankotsu said proudly.

Sesshomaru nodded. "Very well. I leave the task of rounding everyone up to you. I will return with Kagome to the palace." He strode past them out the door, head held high and silver hair shining.

"Jeez, would a thank you be too much to ask?" Jakotsu griped.

"I think he gave us one in his way." Bank replied. "Come on, let's get out of this accursed place."

A cheer went up from Sesshomaru's forces when they saw their prince exit the fortress with their Lady. Inuyasha and Kikyo rushed over to him with Mitsuko and Suteki close behind them.

Kikyo allowed tears to roll freely down her face. "Is she….?"

Sesshomaru nodded. "She is fine. Her powers are exhausted as is she."

The elder sister sighed in relief and ran gentle fingers down the girl's cheek. "Don't scare me like that again." she whispered.

Inuyasha clapped his brother on the shoulder. "Everything go okay?" he asked.

The prince avoided looking at the members of the council as he nodded again. "As planned."

"Where is Okudo?" Suteki wanted to know. Mitsuko pinned Sesshomaru with a suspicious look.

"He unfortunately perished in the fray." the inu replied coolly. "There was nothing that could be done."

Mitsuko sighed. "I knew this would happen. Well at least now we don't have to go through the trouble of arresting him, Suteki."

"Who will lead the council now?" Kikyo wanted to know.

"Leadership could pass to Hikoshi as he is the next eldest, or to Riomaru by rights of his parentage." Suteki answered. "We will need time to confer."

"And to make sure that this," Mitsuko indicated the mess they were in. "never happens again." She grinned wryly. "Prince Sesshomaru, by my right as a member of the inuyoukai council, I declare that your betrothal to the Lady Miko Kagome is both valid and accepted. I wish you a happy life together."

Sesshomaru inclined his head. "You have my thanks. Now, I must return to the castle and see to Kagome. Inuyasha, I leave the rest to you."

The prince leapt into the air and formed a cloud of pure youkai under himself. Inuyasha watched him float away. "Oi!" he bellowed after a minute. "You heard the man. Find out who's alive in this place and do something about it."

The guard members obeyed as Suteki and Mitsuko went into the fortress to retrieve Okudo's body.

Sanyen walked over to the hanyou with a frown on his face. "Captain, did the prince say what he did with the Lady's cousin's body? Because we aren't finding it."

"It's gotta be around somewhere. Keep looking!" They searched everywhere, but neither the body nor head of Naraku could be found.

Kagome felt as if she were floating and it both scared and comforted her.

"Open your eyes, priestess." a gentle woman's voice called to her. It was husky and warm, reminding the girl of the earth itself. "Awaken, you are safe now."

The young woman shook her head. Sleep sounded so much better than waking up. Besides, she had no idea who the voice belonged to.

"Get UP!" a different voice roared. This one was most definitely male and felt blistering like fire.

Kagome's eyes shot open. She expected to find herself in her cell, or perhaps even her room at the Western Castle. But she was stunned to find herself in a field overflowing with wildflowers. In front of her were a man and a woman she had never seen before.

The woman was beautiful. Her skin was a glowing white against her long ebony hair. Light brown eyes were resting on her companion.

It was her who had capture Kagome's attention. His hair fell in dark red waves around him and his eyes burned like live embers. Brown skin shone in the sun, looking weathered and almost…scaled. Kagome gasped as she realized who they must be. She made to jump to her feet, but the woman's voice stopped her.

"Remain seated, dear child. You need your rest." she rounded on the man. "Now she is frightened. This is why I told you I would handle it."

"I apologize my Midoriko, Lady Kagome."

"But…what am I doing here?" Kagome asked. "Did…did I die?" She had used up a lot of her energy with Naraku.

"No, child." Midoriko chuckled. "You are very much alive. Amakekeru and I simply wanted to speak with you as we spoke to the Lady Izayoi before you."

"Inuyasha's mother?"

"The same. The royal Taisho line is blessed by the gods." Midoriko said. "They are good rulers who care for their people and do not succumb to the prejudices other youkai fall prey to."

"And of course the Taisho men have mated some extraordinary women in their time." Amakekeru added. "You join an impressive list, Lady Kagome."

Midoriko shot the dragon a suspicious look and returned to Kagome. "The inu of the west will always sit on the throne as long as we have anything to say about it." the elder miko assured the younger. "You and Sesshomaru will ensure that." She waved a hand and an image appeared beside Kagome.

They were two beautiful little girls, one with short silver hair, and the other with long black locks. Both had golden brown eyes and lavender crescent moons adorned their brows. Kagome knew instantly that she was seeing her future children.

"This is the future of the West." Amakekeru told her. "Changes will be made, and for the better. Now, resume your rest, little one. You have much ahead of you."

Kagome's eyes closed, and she resumed her slumber. When she opened them again, familiar golden orbs met hers. Visible relief flooded into her beloved's face.

"You're awake." he breathed.

"Sesshomaru!" the girl exclaimed. She threw herself at him, burying her face in his shirt.

The inu growled contentedly, wrapping strong arms around her. "You will never leave me again."

"Never." Kagome agreed. "What happened to Bank and Jak? I promised that no harm would come to them here."

"And so none has." Sesshomaru assured her. "They are here in the castle."

The miko sighed in relief. She remembered her vision then. "You should have seen them, Sesshomaru. They were so beautiful." She swung her legs off the bed and made to get up.

"Should you not rest?" the prince asked worriedly.

"I feel like that's I've been doing. Come on, I want to tell you about them." She grabbed his hand and tugged him out into the garden.

"Who are you talking about, love?" Sesshomaru wanted to know.

Kagome quickly explained about her impromptu meeting with Midoriko and Amakekeru. "And I saw our children." she finished excitedly.

Sesshomaru's face showed nothing, but he was stunned. This would make the second time he had heard such a story. The first was from Inuyasha's mother, but he written it off as the ravings of human lunacy. But if Kagome had the same tale…Plus she said that she had seen… "Our children?"

The girl nodded. "They were amazing, Sess. Twin girls. They looked so much like you. So perfect, just like you."

It truly hit the prince then. I am going to have a family.

A/N: Gah! I am soooooooooooooooooooo sorry that I left you guys hanging for so long. I never meant for it take so long. But then I had to move and get settled at school and start my job.... Anyway, excuses aside, I hope this chapter is sufficient. As always, thanks for the reviews and let me know what you thought of this.