They were to be Mated

Last Time:

There it was.

The first daughter born to the Higurashi Clan was to be wed with the first son born in the Taishou Clan.

Sealed in blood.

Chapter 2: The Birth of an Orphaned Daughter

Two centuries, thirty-one years and twelve days later...

The night was cold. The forest was at rest. In the western lands, the Taishou clan consisting of two Inu youkai, one mated human and one Inu hanyo slept peacefully.

Towards the mountain a prosperous village laid asleep in the night, except for the castle that lay on a slight inclination looking above the village.

There, the cries of a woman in child birth could be heard. She cried as pain swept through her body. Her jet black hair was slightly plastered to her forehead due to perspiration.

With one last painful grunt, the cries of a baby could be heard. The woman leaned back, catching her breath.

The Midwife quickly cleaned the wailing child. The woman slowly got up and weakly asked for the child.

The babe latched onto the woman's breast to drink the sweet milk. Quieting and finally falling asleep.

"Lady Yumiko, you're daughter is gorgeous. What will you name the child?"

The Lady Yumiko smiled graciously, "Kagome. I will name her Kagome."

The midwife smiled, "A lovely name for the newest member of the Higurashi family."

"She looks so weak. Are you sure the baby is healthy Ruksana?"

"Very healthy my lady; It is quiet normal for a child to be like that once they come from the womb."

"My little princess." Yumiko said softly as the baby girl went to sleep. She laid the child gently in her lap and beckoned for a blanket.

The midwife handed her a pale blue blanket of the softest material of their time. Yumiko wrapped her babe tenderly into the warm fabric. "Naoto will be so proud to have fathered a daughter. Of course Hideaki and Hiroyuki will be happy to have a younger sister."

"That is very much true my Lady—"

"Lady Yumiko!" called a solider as he burst inside her room. "Lady Yumiko, we're under attack!"

Izayoi gasped as she sat up in cold sweat. She looked around her urgently to find her mate. After finding his body mass, she called him.

"Touga!"

The Inu youkai grumbled as he turned to face his mate, replying with an intelligent, "…Huh?"

"Dearest, you must hurry the Higurashi house is under siege! You have to take Sesshomaru with you! Please make haste and save their children!"

Taisho quickly got up and threw on his haori knowing full well that his mate was a Seer and never wrong about such things. He kissed his mate on her head assuring her that he would come back with the Higurashi children at the very least. He then grabbed his sword and ran out to gather his eldest son.

"Lady Yumiko! You must see reason. We can not leave you here!" cried the midwife after her sister had come in with the twin boys.

The two boys had been dressed as quickly as possible in a hakama, and haori. They looked startled and worried as their mother said she was not going to be leaving with them.

"Oh hush, Ruksana. You know as well as I do, that I'm too exhausted to move anywhere." She sighed as she watched Rukaya gather a few essentials as quickly as possible with the help of her sister. "I will be fine. Just take the children."

"But, my lady!"

"Rukaya and Ruksana take the children through the closet. It has an emergency passage out of the castle. Follow it through and it should take you to a forest." Yumiko was quickly jotting down a letter that she handed Ruksana. "Keep that letter with Kagome. And here is some money if you need it. Go."

Yumiko called her two sons towards her, "Oh my darlings." She hugged her two sons who looked in fright at her. She placed soft kisses on their foreheads. "Be safe; take care of your new sister. Her name is Kagome."

"Will we see you again Mama?" asked Hiroyuki

Yumiko could feel tears starting to brim her eyes, she smiled reassuringly at her younger son, "I will always be with you, Hideaki and your sister Kagome." She looked over to Rukaya. "Oh! Before I forget, there should be three swords in the cupboard. Make sure you take them with you."

Rukaya nodded and quickly went looking for the swords. Ruksana had everything ready and had opened the passage that would lead them out of the castle. "My lady, please you can still come."

Yumiko smiled, "Of course I can, but I'm not going to. Listen take them to the West. They will be safe there, and if you meet a youkai with long silver hair, and golden eyes, ask if he is from the Taisho clan. Make sure to let them know that you have the children of the Higurashi—"

A loud bang filled everyone's ears. Yumiko gasped softly, she brought her sons in for another hug. "Be brave and safe. Now go!"

The two women and the three children quickly left through the passage closing it tightly behind them.

Yumiko slowly lifted a tile from the floor taking out several throwing knives and a katana. She looked at the door as she made up her mind. She would die before she let anyone near her children that meant any harm.

The door then burst open as several men came in.

Ruksana looked over to her sister who now carried the baby girl. She held onto the hands of the twins.

They had been traveling quickly through the narrow and dark passage not knowing where exactly it would lead them.

Rukaya and Ruksana had shared a look before when they had heard screams. They had effectively taken louder footsteps as to not have the children hear. The screams. Had they been of their Lady? Or had they been of the men that had attacked?

Whoever it may have been, they knew that they had to get away for the place they had called home.

The two boys had been quiet, but they had whispered a few times that now it was their responsibility to take care of their younger sister.

They were brave boys.

Rukaya had handed each of the boys their sword, with the Higurashi clan symbol on it. They had then promptly tied it to their backs. At least now they would have something to defend themselves with if either Ruksana or Rukaya couldn't help them in time.

They both wished with all their heart that nothing would happen to them.

"Sesshomaru, see if you can find any survivors in the castle and make sure you if you see anyone alive they remain alive." Touga told his son as they reached the scorching village.

Sesshomaru just nodded and disappeared, clearly annoyed with his father.

"Well, come on. Last time you didn't think and basically covered the entire house with your poison. And they say I'm stubborn." Grumbled Touga lightly.

Touga straightened up when he picked up the sent of fear in the air. It came from the forest. His ears picked up the sound of three rapidly beating hearts. He recognized two to be younger children and one of a young woman.

His instincts told him to hurry and find those children. He picked up his speed and gracefully leapt into the forest. His nose found their scent with ease and he descended on the scene.

A woman hands held the two boys close to her, as they were surrounded by both youkai and human.

Touga let a deadly smirk play on his lips as he gently unsheathed his sword. "Let the game begin." Without another thought, he sliced his sword through his enemies.

A youkai charged at him, and raised an eyebrow. "You dare to defy you're Lord?" Without a pause, Touga swept his blade through the creature. He did not flinch as blood splattered everywhere. "A pity really."

Once he had finished destroying all of the creatures that had crowded around the humans, he made his way over.

The elder human was approximately in her mid twenties by his guess. Her eyes widened as she saw him approach them.

With a shaky voice she asked, "A-are you from the Taisho clan?"

He watched as the two boys emerged from around her arms to look at him. He smiled softly, "Yes, I am Touga Taisho. I am to assume that these children are the heirs of the Higurashi?"

The woman nodded, "Yes, my Lord. They are, but we are missing the youngest, a girl. She was separated from us with my sister."

Touga blinked back surprise. "The Higurashi clan bore a daughter?"

"Yes my lord. Today… the child is only a few hours old."

Well, that explains a lot. Touga thoughtfully rubbed his chin. "Damn, I'm going to have a very angry mate and son on my hands."

"…My lord?"

Rukaya cried softly as she tripped on a root. She had gotten separated from her sister and the boys. She looked around trying to find a place that would possibly hide her until she could go to look for her sister.

She found herself at a clearing. This was not good, after all clearings were too open. She could easily be spotted. She noticed a well of to the side. She ran over too it, hoping for it to be empty and a sufficient enough place to hide.

She glanced down it only to see darkness. She slipped off her bracelet and threw it down the well. It seemed to have only landed approximately five seconds down. So, approximately five to eight feet. That was good.

She held Kagome tightly and jumped into the well only to have a bright blue light surround her.

She glanced around, and up towards the sky. She didn't see any stars. What had happened?

She turned abruptly when she heard a noise. Bravely she asked, "Is anyone there? Please, can anybody hear me?"

A young man came into view. He had light brown hair and soft brown eyes. His expression was shocked. "Are you alright, Miss? How on Earth did you get into that well?" He helped her out slowly.

Her eyes widen at his strange clothes.

He gasped as he noticed the bundle in her arms and the sword that hung on her shoulder. "Oh gods! DAD! Get in here! I'm sorry Miss, but I didn't quiet catch your name?"

"Rukaya… my name is Rukaya, and this is my lady's daughter. Kagome… we were attacked. She told me to go and save her. And, and… I-I—"

"Let's get you inside Rukaya-san. We'll get you and the baby warmed up. And then if you wish to explain, you can." He gently placed his hand on her lower back and guided her outside of the well house. "Man, I am such an idiot; I completely forgot to introduce myself… I'm Shun Higurashi."

Sesshomaru entered a room only to be accosted by the stench of blood, but oddly enough his nose picked up a completely different scent.

It was so soft yet so full. It lingered around the bed and a cupboard. The scent was of jasmine with a light mixture of the ocean. It dominated over his senses, and all his youkai could think was:

Mine

The birth of an orphaned daughter.