Author's Note:

This one is WAY longer than the last, and even has a little action in, so I hope this chappie was worth the wait.

PLEASE READ: I didn't have time to proof-read this, so sorry, but its nice and long so I hope that will make up for it. I will go back and edit things at a later time ^_^

Thanks again, please enjoy and review .

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Fated Betrayal, Swarms Of Death

Sixteen

Inuyasha, for that moment felt his heart stop. His insides froze in response to that voice, to those words. Sesshomaru, his mind prompted him, after all these months of not hearing a voice that, up until then, had been a constant comfort, always at his side. Sesshomaru is back…?

Inuyasha just stood there dumbly, half of him wanting to obey the urge to dart forwards and crush his brother in an awkward embrace, whilst the other half…

"It would seem you're not happy you see your older brother," Sesshomaru admonished complacently, his face and cool demeanour unchanged, even after all this time. Inuyasha still didn't respond. Izayoi shifted uncomfortably, subtly patting Kagome's shoulder, urging the girl to awaken.

The girl's eyelids fluttered open, hazy vision blurring with sleep, until hazel orbs focused on crisp whiteness. Bolting upright, Kagome nearly scared Izayoi out of her skin as she did so, gazing confusedly at her mate and his older brother, as if doubting whether she was still asleep or not. "Lord Sesshomaru?" she asked disbelievingly. He faced her politely, an almost-smile gracing his features. "You're back!" she exclaimed happily, jumping to her feet and approaching him, rather agilely given her condition. "You were gone for so long, and you never sent word. Inuyasha and everyone were really worried about you." Inuyasha shot her a look, but she ignored it, leaving Sesshomaru to glance at his little brother.

"Indeed, though it doesn't seem as if you're exactly rejoicing, could it be you wish me to leave again, Little brother?" Inuyasha's eyes widened then, betraying his inner fear of that very notion.

"Don't…Don't be so…" The half-demon growled quietly in irritation, "Of course I don't want you to leave it's just…" He met Sesshomaru's eyes then, determination within them. "I just hope you haven't forgotten on what terms we parted last." Sesshomaru smirked.

"I have not forgotten."

The heir to the Western lands allowed that statement to permeate the sudden silence around them for a moment, staring understandingly into his brother's eyes. Regardless of Inuyasha's feelings, Sesshomaru had missed, and worried about his brother, although, that anxiety and need to make sure the half-demon was okay, was not what had summoned him back to his home. "I must go see Father," Sesshomaru stated finally, manoeuvring past his brother, "we can talk later, Inuyasha." The half-demon sneered, spinning on his heel to face his brother.

"Stop right there Sesshomaru!" The demon paused, though did not turn.

"I don't know what the hell you're doing here, but the deal was that you leave – and you're back."

What am I saying? Inuyasha asked himself, his mouth still moving, spiteful words passing his lips, out of his control. The bitterness of this betrayal was just…just too much to bear! He couldn't stand it! When all he wanted was his brother back, back the way he was before all this had happened, before his brother had at some point become someone completely different to the person who'd watched over him for all these years…

Angry tears pricked the backs of his eyes, and he blinked them away furiously, advancing on his brother. "Get the hell outta here!" The forwards swipe shot at him, the demon catching the angry assault of his brother's claws, but only just, seizing the wrist of that hand swiftly.

"I do not have time for this, Inuyasha, I must-"

"-What?! Don't have time for the little brother you viciously betrayed?!" The other hand shot forwards, slicing through Sesshomaru's clothing and into the flesh of his chest beneath. Blood stained the half-demon's claws as he drew back, Sesshomaru snatching his other wrist in his grasp, leaving Inuyasha unable to attack. That body twisted in pure fury, trying to lash out, but failing.

"Please, Inuyasha, I can't deal with this now, something of the utmost urgency has drawn me here, and if Father doesn't hear of it soon we-"

"-YOU'RE MY BROTHER!!!" Inuyasha screamed, the women standing nervously on the sidelines getting to their feet cautiously, not sure whether they should attempt to separate the two feuding siblings. "WHAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT?!!!" Sesshomaru opened his mouth to reply, but was silenced by his younger brother's screams. "'Cause something damn well was wasn't it? For whatever reason you killed that human, that was more important than me?!" The older brother sneered angrily.

"You know all-too-well that you are the most important thing to me…I swore to protect you-"

"-THEN WHY DID YOU BETRAY ME?!" SMACK! A resonating strike crashed through the sudden silence, as Lord Sesshomaru's palm smashed into Inuyasha's cheek, sending the half-demon into a foreboding calmness, eyes wide with shock, lost for words. Sesshomaru had never hit him before…not in all these years…that was the first blow his brother had ever given him, and it stung far worse than any injury he'd ever received in the past.

Sesshomaru watched his brother with uncertain apology, it pained him to do it, but it was necessary. He didn't have time for this. But Inuyasha doesn't trust me anymore, he thought, potentially fatal claws biting into his palm.

"Have you had pleasant dreams recently, Little Brother?" Inuyasha's eyes widened even further, those words stirring a shudder through his being. The voice of his dream came flooding back to him.

"You…how did you-"

"-It was the only way I could warn you from so far away, I didn't know if I'd get back in time, so I had to try and-"

"-Warn me about what?" Sesshomaru observed him for a moment, not saying anything. "Sesshomaru…" That voice so weary, so secretly desperate… "Please, tell me the truth damn it…there was a time where you told me everything…why not now?" The older sibling watched his little brother's eyes cast over with the blissfully obscure fog of his past.

"Because sometimes the truth is more painful than lies…" Inuyasha's head shot up at that.

"What can be more painful than being lied to by someone you trust?!"

A silence swam between the brothers and the two women still observing dumbly, nobody able to find their voices. Two clawed hands came to rest at Inuyasha's shoulders, applying comforting, gentle pressure. The half-demon stared up at Sesshomaru, still unable to find words.

"You desire an answer I can't give…" Lord Sesshomaru finally uttered, turning away from his brother once more, though this time, he received no resistance.

Inuyasha watched blankly as his brother disappeared into the castle, those final words rocking back and forth in his mind. His heart weighed heavy in his chest, because he knew…he knew what those words meant…

"Inuyasha?" Kagome asked nervously, hands placing skittishly on her mate's shoulders, drawing slowly from the bitter abyss of misery now evident on his features. "Inuyasha lets go back inside." He didn't respond. "I-"

"-Just shut up!" The half-demon shot at her, spinning on his heel to face her, swatting away her tender embrace. "You – you don't understand!"

"Well maybe I would if you helped me to understand!"

"It's useless," he growled, "You don't know what it's like to-"

"-To feel pain?" she suggested, tears staining hazel eyes, even as she strived to fight them back. "How quickly you forget the circumstances in which we met." Inuyasha's eyes widened, resentful of releasing his pent up anger on her. She didn't deserve it. It was none-other than his own damn fault for all of this…not Kagome's, she was having a hard enough time as it already was.

"I lost my family," she continued, wetting her suddenly dry lips, "and when I came here to try and help you I was thrown in that…that hell and tossed to the mercy of that…that sick malicious…" The obsidian-haired-girl avoided his eyes, staring dejectedly at the earth below their feet. "I fell in love with you long before I even knew who you were…and all this time, I thought I'd come to…to understand you a little more, but in reality I don't now you at all." Golden eyes glistened with regret, helpless self-hatred rising within his chest as he watched her turn, leaving him standing there, quite alone, despite his mother's awkward presence at his side. However, Kagome didn't get very far…

Moving away from him, the once priestess crumbled suddenly, her knees giving way from beneath her. Inuyasha shot forwards, catching her swiftly before she met the ground. "Kagome? Kagome what's wrong?" the half-demon asked, panicked, watching her face contort in agony. He looked almost pleadingly up at his mother as she approached. "What's wrong with her? She's not…" He didn't complete his sentence, but she guessed his incomplete question.

"I'm not sure…" the woman answered quietly, gazing at Kagome, unsure, "Get her up to your chambers, I'll fetch someone – quickly now!"

***

Harsh, laboured pants disturbed the obsidian tendrils of hair that hung limply into Kagome's eyes, Inuyasha hurriedly darting up the stairs, the girl crushed into his chest. She was so dizzy, all this movement was making her a bit sick…and that ever-present agony still throbbed painfully.

Suddenly Kagome felt herself pressed gently into the comforting softness of her own bed, Inuyasha laying her down tenderly before sitting back, watching her with unsure eyes. She couldn't look at him, she was still angry with him, although the pain coursing through her now postponed that irritation, it was still there, brewing beneath the surface. How dare he snap at her like that? She growled behind gritted teeth, both in pain and aggravation.

A small, fast knock sounded against the door, but before Inuyasha could respond, it flung open, Izayoi hurrying into the room, a dark-haired girl close behind. The half-demon watched the stranger unsurely, instincts distrustful of her as she approached his very vulnerable mate. But the female ignored him, hastily pulling back the folds of Kagome's yukata to press her hands over her swollen stomach. Inuyasha repressed the growl at such intrusive touching, knowing she was only trying to help, still he couldn't stand the way Kagome tried to retreat from those touches – she was still wary of physical contact, a deep-running scar that was still craved into her soul from Katsura's violation.

"There's nothing wrong with the baby," the girl assured them, not meeting any of their eyes as she continued to examine Kagome. "Really painful cramps?" She asked Kagome, to which she received a small, pained nod in answer.

"Do you know what's hurting her?" Inuyasha asked anxiously. The dark-haired-female turned to look upon him.

"The baby is quite large, as you can tell from her size, and often at the end of mixed-blood pregnancies, the mother has 'pre-labour' cramps, often triggered by both physical and mental stress."

"So, she's not having the pup yet?" The woman shook her head.

"No."

"Well then why is she in pain?"

"I told you-"

"-Well then how can we make these stupid cramps stop?!"

"Inuyasha!" Izayoi scolded, "Don't shout at Takaya." The half-demon grumbled a half-hearted apology, avoiding the healer's eyes.

"I've got something we can rub on her stomach to alleviate the pain, but I'll have to go fetch it – it's downstairs," Takaya answered Inuyasha's question, getting to her feet. "I'll return in a moment, Lady Izayoi."

"Wait a sec." Both Izayoi and Takaya turned to look at Inuyasha as he spoke. "I'll come with you; I er…need to ask you something…" The dark-haired-healer nodded, departing from the room with Inuyasha following in her wake.

"I-Inuyasha?" Kagome asked shakily, not really sure why she couldn't feel him by her side anymore. Gods her stomach really hurt – something must be wrong, it shouldn't feel like this if she wasn't giving birth… Izayoi leant forwards, holding Kagome's hand gently.

"It is alright, Kagome, Inuyasha will return in a moment…" Kagome groaned in agony, rolling over onto her side, not able to bear the weight of her swollen stomach any longer. She could feel the pup within kick her promptly, as if telling her to turn back over, but she couldn't. Running her fingers gently over her pup, Kagome shut her eyes against the room.

"Kagome?"

"I'm just…I'm so tired, Izayoi…" The older woman gazed down at her with motherly devotion, brushing the tendrils of obsidian hair away from her forehead.

"It's alright…Takaya will bring you something for the pain…and maybe something to help you sleep-"

"-She's human." Izayoi frowned. "She's the human that was at the table, at mine and Inuyasha's mating night – you told me she was human." Izayoi nodded, though still looked confused.

"Yes, she is human."

"So…why is she a healer here?" That smile graced Izayoi's lips.

"Kagome…I'm sure as a priestess you are well aware that some humans can have extraordinary powers…Miss Takaya is one of them…"

Kagome turned her face towards the wall, tears bleeding into her dark eyes.

"Not anymore…I don't have that kind of power anymore…"

"Kagome?" asked Izayoi, anxiety weighing heavily on her voice, Kagome didn't seem like herself…

"I used to be strong…now look at me, I'm – I'm beyond pathetic-"

"-Kagome-"

"-And it's all that bastard's fault…Katsura, when he…he took it…" Izayoi frowned again, still confused, although by this time also a little scared.

"'Took'? Took what?"

"My…innocence…"

"But, Inuyasha – he was your first, wasn't he?" Kagome turned to face her quickly.
"I didn't mean that – yes, Inuyasha was…I gave Inuyasha my virginity, but Katsura was…" Izayoi took Kagome's hand again, squeezing it softly, reassuringly.

"Kagome…I'm not sure I understand what you are saying. Your innocence and your virginity are the same thing, my dear." The once-priestess looked upon her, dark-eyes hooded with shame.

"It's not, Lady Izayoi…when I say, my 'innocence', I don't mean my virginity, I mean…I mean the purity inside me that I was blessed with as a priestess, the purity that gives me my powers…well it's gone…I haven't been a priestess for a long time now…"

Inu-no-Taishou's mate gazed upon her with sympathy, a look that made Kagome look away swiftly.

"Katsura…he…tainted me, he made me hate myself, he made me feel…dirty…and when a priestess's soul becomes polluted, she loses her powers…" Izayoi pulled back a little, so as not to suffocate the young girl who right now, didn't want to be looked at with such scrutiny.

"Why did you not say something before?"

"I didn't because…If I said I lost my powers, Inuyasha might blame himself, or more likely blame the fact that I slept with him… I haven't been thinking about it until recently…when I realised just how much of a burden I have been to you all…"

"Kagome, no, we look after you because you are our family, its out duty to do so while you are pregnant-"

"-But when the baby is born I'll still be weak. This pain…I could withstand it if I had my powers, I would be able to do something if I was ever attacked again, instead of standing there and screaming for Inuyasha like some helpless little child!"

A silence fell between the two women then, an awkward quiet where Kagome felt worse and worse about herself, and Izayoi thought of how to console her.

"We're immortal, Kagome," the older woman said at last, "but the world around us is not. This demon world, it will grow old, and die, and leave way for another ruling race, who knows, perhaps even 'weak humans' will one day dominate this planet… But in any case, it is for that reason, that we should treasure every moment or our lives, Kagome. Life is precious, no matter how short or long it is, we should enjoy each moment in this age, and every age to follow… The bad things that happen to us, they're important, but we cannot keep reliving them – remaining in the past, or we forget to live our present lives… Do you understand?" Kagome turned to face her at last, meeting her gaze with watery hazel eyes.

"I do…I'm sorry Izayoi…it's these mood swings, they…they completely take me over sometimes…" Izayoi smiled warmly.

"I understand, I have been there myself…"

That agony swelled within her once more, and she was reminded painfully, that Inuyasha and Takaya had yet to return. What's keeping so long? Kagome wondered, amidst her pain. Suddenly, Izayoi bolted to her feet, staring wildly towards the door. She'd heard something…voices…footsteps…danger.

***

Takaya walked silently beside Inuyasha, the half-demon offering a cold sneer to Eisuke and Satoru as they passed them, opening the door to his father's study, (no doubt where he'd summoned them) and disappearing inside. Geez, I hate those guys lurking around, 'loyal' my ass…There's something a little off about them being here so often…

"Lord Inuyasha?" The half-demon tilted his head to gaze upon the human. "Is there any particular reason why you wished to accompany me?" Inuyasha worried his lower lip between his fangs nervously.

"I er…well I just… I was wondering if…as a healer, you had any idea why I've been…dreaming these…these sick dreams lately, about Kagome and the baby being taken and I…I just…"

"Why do you presume I would know something like that?" she asked politely.

"You're a healer; I thought maybe that there was-"

"-That there was something wrong with you?" Inuyasha nodded awkwardly.

"My Lord, I am no expert on dreams, however…I believe that perhaps they are just caused by stress, and embodiments of your worst fears."

"But Sesshomaru, he said that…that he sent them to me…but he can't of, could he?" Takaya observed him then, eyes devoid of her thoughts, though Inuyasha knew she knew something, otherwise, she wouldn't have fallen silent for so long.

"It is possible, for him to form a temporary connection, if you were thinking of him, and he of you, combined with the specific rituals, yes, he could indeed send you a dream…"

Inuyasha frowned as she turned to walk away, and he grabbed her shoulder, turning her to face him.

"So why? Why would he want to? Didn't he just-" Takaya froze.

"What?" Inuyasha sniffed heavily, taking in her scent, and his eyes darkened, brow furrowing in a frown.

"Your smell…"

"I have to go," she stated quickly, "Lady Kagome will be wanting a-"

"STOP RIGHT THERE!" Inuyasha, screamed, seizing her elbow. "Why? Why do you stink of Sesshomaru?!"

"You are hurting me-"

"-You're one of them aren't you? That's why he came back, because you're both part of the revolutionaries – Eisuke, Satoru, Sesshomaru, you, you're all here for a reason – something's gonna go down isn't it? That's why Sesshomaru sent me that dream, because he feels guilty about doing it – WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!!!"

"Please stop!"

"INUYASHA!" Inuyasha glared at his father as he, Eisuke and Satoru emerged from the study, eyeing him with horror. "Inuyasha let her go, NOW!" The half-demon growled, though obeyed his father's command, releasing her reluctantly.

"Miss Takaya, are you alright?" Inu-no-Taishou asked gently, the woman nodded franticly, eyeing Inuyasha with uncertainty. "Alright…now, would you be so good to return to your duties." Takaya, again nodded, departing as swiftly as she could.

No sooner than she had descended the stairs and out of sight, than Inu-no-Taishou rounded on his youngest son. "What in the seven hells do you think you were doing?!" Inuyasha turned his gaze from his father. He didn't answer. How could he answer, and tell him what a filthy traitor his son and heir was?

"I only wanted the truth, Father…" Inu-no-Taishou frowned.

"And you thought you would strangle it out of her?"

"No, Sir…I just-"

"-I see your youngest is in need of discipline, Lord Inu-no-Taishou," Lord Eisuke chimed in, rousing a hateful sneer from Inuyasha. "No doubt a bitter after-effect to your mollycoddling."

"Stay out of this you damn pig!" Inuyasha growled, "I've put up with your shit since I was born, but not anymore! Shut your mouth and mind your damn business you old fart!"

"Inuyasha, calm down and-"

"-No. Why can't you see it?! He's a-"

"-Inuyasha!" The half-demon flinched at his father's tone. "That is enough. I am tired of you releasing your anger on other people. I realise you are frightened for Kagome but that is no excuse." Inuyasha's ears lowered slightly, he'd never had his father talk down to him like that before, so disappointed, so…tired, tired of him. Offering the demon lord a melancholy glance, Inuyasha turned, walking away.

"I apologise, Lord Eisuke for Inuyasha's behaviour…" Inuyasha heard as he made his slow way down the corridor, his father and the other demons' voices still very close by.

"It is perfectly understandable…" The half-demon heard Eisuke's falsely polite words. Then he turned, offering his father an apologetic glance, finding the demon lord still facing him, watching him. Gold eyes staring into him, with that gaze that he swore could see right into his soul. Suddenly he was that small boy again, raising his arms to be lifted onto his father's shoulders, to be taken away from his miserable naïve childhood. Suddenly everything was torn away…

Satoru turned, Inuyasha's heartbeat thudding slowly in his ears as he watched, disbelievingly, the world moving in slow-motion as that reviled demon seized the sword from his waist, plunging it into the demon lord's back. Inu-no-Taishou screamed, turning to face the boy who'd stabbed him, claws reaching forwards to tear at him, only to have Eisuke leap forwards, jutting between them, throwing Inu-no-Taishou backwards. "Stupid boy, give me that sword!" Eisuke spat, seizing the blade and rounding on the demon lord who had crumbled to his knees in agony, blood pooling around him. "I'll finish of the 'Great Lord Inu-no-Taishou'!"

"NOOOOO!!!" Inuyasha screamed, tearing through the air, darting towards his fallen father, throwing himself between them, capturing the flat edges of the blade between his hands.

"Filthy half-breed!" Eisuke spat, pressing forwards, the blade mere inches from Inuyasha's chest. The half-demon snarled.

"'Half-breed'? So what if I am? At least I'm not a slimy BASTARD!!!" He punctuated the movement by shoving the blade forward, the hilt smacking Eisuke in the chin, causing him to reel back in pain. Half-demon claws tore into flesh, relishing in the feel of that treacherous blood under his fingers. Eisuke cried out in agony, but Inuyasha drank it all in like sake. He'd been waiting 200 years to tear these people apart for what they did to him, for what they did to his mother. And yet he didn't know whether it was his bleeding father lying but a few feet from him, or his conscience, but revenge was bitterer than he'd expected…

These were revolutionary traitors, for over two centuries they'd been pretending to be his father's friends, just to stab him in the back – literally. He'd always believed they were traitors, but still…his father had believed otherwise…and he hated his father being wrong…

A final deafening cry filled the air as Eisuke drew his final breathe, lying quite still, eyes staring wide, horrified at the now crimson-eyed half-demon looming above him, blood gleaming on his claws. "MURDERER!!!" Screamed Satoru, darting forwards, tackling Inuyasha to the ground. The now full-demon Inuyasha snarled at the body clinging to his back, reaching behind him, talons raking into Satoru's flesh, yanking him forwards onto the floor.

"This is face of the boy whose childhood you destroyed…" demon Inuyasha growled bitterly, pouncing, claws poised inches from the now quivering coward's throat. "…with your cruel words, harsh tortures, and now the underhanded murder of the father who took me in, loved me, cherished me when everyone else would have thrown me aside…" The real Inuyasha spoke from inside his heart; they were his words, his fury, his tears that streamed down lilac-crested cheeks. Yet the face of the demon remained menacing, ruled by anger, half-demon Inuyasha crying inside at the flashes of bitter memories of what should have been the happiest times of his life…the times this creature played a large part in stealing from him…

"What do you think, of these 'filthy half-breed' claws ripping you apart?"

"P-Please, Please-"

"'Please'?" Inuyasha growled mockingly, grated demon voice rasping in his throat.

"Have mercy!!!" Inuyasha's face twisted into a morbid smirk.

"I dimly recall beseeching the very same thing from you once, Lord Satoru," Inuyasha growled, claws pressing into the flesh of his throat, cutting into flesh. "Stop it! STOP IT PLEASE! MAKE THEM STOP!" Inuyasha repeated, imitating the words of a childhood Inuyasha. "Do you remember your response?" Satoru whimpered. "DO YOU?!!! 'Calm them off yourself – Half-breed – You're a half-breed, not even a person – you're a thing! That's what you said to me; well this thing is going to rip your THROAT OUT!!!" Claws pressed forwards, ready to tear the life from this loathsome creature, but he paused. That same, cruel laughter of those children on that day – everyday – every time anyone had ever mocked him as a child – as an adult. Their laughter filled his head, ringing in his ears with shrill, cackling laughter. Inuyasha screamed in agony, holding his head. Satoru took his chance, kicking Inuyasha hard in the stomach, sending him flying backwards, a scarce inch from where his father lay.

"DIE FILTHY MONGREL!!!" Satoru leapt upon him, seizing his wrists, pinning his hands back to the floor, directed those claws away from him. Inuyasha snarled, claws scrambling to tear into that oppressive flesh, but in doing so, his fingers skimmed something…

"Never again…" Inuyasha growled lowly – the real Inuyasha. Satoru's eyes widened. "Never again will you say that to me…Never again will those words TORTURE ME!!!" Scrambling fingers seized Tetsusaiga from beside his hand (obviously having fallen from his father's waist in his downfall), the blade roaring to life in his hand, as he swiped forwards, crying out needlessly as he did so, Satoru's body falling to the side off of him, separate from his head.

Inuyasha lay his head back against the cold, unforgiving floor, chest heaving up and down breathlessly. And then the tears came. His face contorted in agony upon remembering what had happened mere moments before, fresh tears looming in his eyes as he turned, dropping the now blood-stained Tetsusaiga, crawling like a limp puppy over to where his father lay.

Golden eyes glistened with misery as he stared down at the back of his father's head, hands skittishly reaching down to touch him. His father, he'd never look at him again. He'd never falsely assure him everything would be alright in the end…The Great demon lord had fallen…

Suddenly he jumped, hands flinching and drawing back as his father drew a swift, shaky breath. "D-Dad?" A strangled cough was his response, and he leant down, frantically turning his father over to gaze upon him. Eyes lit with disbelieving happiness, blinking back tears as those eyes opened a smirk gracing blood-stained lips. "D-Dad?"

"I-I'm alright, Son," Inu-no-Taishou coughed, "H-He missed the heart…I should heal by tomorrow morning…" Inuyasha smirked, relief flooding through him. "Demon blood and all…" The demon lord's hand reached up shakily, stroking his son's cheek. "You saved my life," Inuyasha smiled, "I couldn't be prouder of you, Son…" He paused, and the half-demon frowned slightly at the foreboding silence. "Sound the alarms, Inuyasha, the revolutionaries…they're coming…"

***

Kagome cried out, her whole body tensing as another wave of pain passed through her. These cramps, they really hurt. "GODS!" She screamed, drawing Izayoi and Takaya back to her bedside. "IF THIS IS CRAMPS I DON'T WANNA GIVE BIRTH!!!" Izayoi smiled, stroking her head softly.

"Here," said Takaya, scooping some of the concoction in the bowl into her hands, smoothing it over her stomach. Kagome flinched. She hated people touching her, and she hated even more having any extent of her flesh exposed to anyone – even to Izayoi and someone trying to help her. An anxiety-driven tremble coursed through her, a reaction to the touch and those eyes upon her, her heart thudded wildly in her chest, the baby within her stomach kicking at the hand running gently over her swollen belly, as if defending its mother. Takaya smiled. "Well, whether boy or girl, this baby is going to be powerful." Kagome laughed nervously.

"Yeah, sure feels like it when the little devil kicks me."

Despite her dislike of the contact, the once-priestess felt the pain ebb away slowly, dissolving as if it never were under the powerful effects of the substance rubbed into her stomach. Demon medicine, her mind supplied, it holds wonders humans can't even begin to imagine…

"Right," sighed Izayoi, leaning back slightly in her chair. "I'll go fetch Inuyasha, I think you guys need to-" SLAM! The room trembled as something collided with the door, the wood flying off it's hinges, causing the women within the room to scream. Kagome's eyes widened in horror, fingers biting into the bedclothes at the sight of the demons gathered in the doorway. That face, so horribly familiar, upturned with a dangerous smile.

"My boss wants to see you, Lady Kagome," Katsura purred, gesturing the men behind him into the room.

Kagome screamed, scrambling to her feet, darting to the corner of the room. Those fingers snatched at her skin, grasping her arms. She kicked out uselessly, neither as strong nor agile with the extra weight she sported. She was helpless. She hated it. Izayoi cried out, bolting from her chair, seizing it, and launching it at one of the attacker's heads. Fist clenching, the mate of Inu-no-Taishou threw all she had into the blow, sending both hr and the demon reeling. Kagome moved forwards, the Lady of the western lands embracing her daughter-in-law tightly, wincing at the agony in her bruised fist.

"NO!!!" cried Takaya, her body twisting in attempts for freedom as the demons seized her arms and legs, ready to drag her from the room. Kagome's eyes widened then, capturing a glimpse of something confusingly familiar, the iridescent mark carved into otherwise flawless flesh. "LADY KAGOME, RUN!" Kagome snapped back from her thougtfulness, gazing at Izayoi, helping her to her feet.

"No, I won't runaway, not without you two – AH!" Katsura smirked as he seized a fistful of the pregnant girl's hair, tossing her to the bed.

"STOP IT!" Izayoi screamed, reaching for the poker by the fire. Katsura growled, seizing her extended hand, meeting the woman's eyes.

"Are you still 'watching me', Izayoi?" He asked, echoing her past words, "I knew I'd have to deal with you one day, My LADY!" The words were followed by a sharp twist of the woman's wrist, and it snapped, Izayoi howled in pain, Katsura seizing the poker she'd been reaching for and smacking it across her head. Kagome and Takaya cried out as they watched the Lady of the western lands tumble to the floor, not moving.

"IZAYOI!!!"

"Now, get them out of here," Katsura ordered, the men carrying Takaya from the room. The reviled demon turned to the screaming girl, reaching for her. Kagome slapped his hands away, punching his chest, face, anything she could reach as he tried to grab her. "Don't force me to silence you-"

"-YOU TREACHEROUS BASTARD!!! I'LL SEE YOU BURN IN HELL!!!"

SMACK! Katsura had raised his hand, backhanding her across her face, sending the woman flying backwards onto the bed, knocking her unconscious.

"Just wait to see what wonders are in store for you, My lady," he taunted, lifting her into his arms, her body limp in unconsciousness. "Then you will know what hell is…"

TBC