Feudal Affair

I don't own Inuyasha

Chapter XIV

The flea demon bound up onto the dog demon's shoulder. He was immediately met by a glare that dared him to take a sip of his blood. Myoga could feel his heart ready to pound out of his chest. The proximity to Sesshoumaru in human form was daunting enough. He only attempted to steal a taste when Sesshoumaru was in true form. It was much less noticeable that way.

"What do you want Myoga?"

"Lord Sesshoumaru you must listen to me. I fear that Rin and your daughter are in danger."

"Rin is in danger? My daughter? You're mistaken. Kisata is not my daughter. She is human."

"I know for sure that Kisata is not human. She is a half-demon like your brother Inuyasha."

"How do you know this?"

Myoga felt beads of sweat begin to roll from the top of his head. If Sesshoumaru found out he had preyed on his infant daughter he was sure that he wouldn't live past the day. Even so, right now, Rin and Kisata's lives were in grave danger.

"The child's blood is the same as yours. Though it is weak at the moment, Kisata has a demonic aura that is growing."

"You're sure of this?"

"Positive my lord. Rin has taken cover in the forest beyond the village. I fear that she does not have long though before she and the baby are found out."

Myoga jumped out of the way as Sesshoumaru shifted into true form.

Sesshoumaru let his mind race against his own steps. How could it be possible? Myoga had no reason to lie to him but he hadn't sensed an aura. Even when the baby had come into the world there was nothing detectable. The child's features were those of a human. Not one demonic marking the way he'd hoped. There were no ears like Inuyasha's, the color of her eyes were the same color as Rin's and Kohaku's, her scent was human. Even if the child was half-demon when would it have been possible for them to conceive the child? His senses never failed him when Rin was most fertile. Even as he barreled through the trees, the next thought struck him hard. His senses had failed him. They'd failed when he and Rin had been at the waterfall. He couldn't tell it was Sango who had been nearby until returning later. If it was possible for him to have missed Sango he could have also missed the change in Rin's scent. The time certainly added up. He let off a growl as he continued to destroy every tree in his wake. Myoga struggled to hang onto the fur as he dodged being knocked off by flying branches.

"Lord Sesshoumaru what are you planning to do?"

"Anyone who intends to harm my mate or my child will meet their end."

"I suppose I should expect as much. Why do I get the feeling that I've been in this position before?!"

'I'm coming for you Rin...Kisata.'

Myoga ducked again barely missing another branch. The flea demon let off a sigh of relief but immediately found himself in a panic again as he listened to the roar of an angry dog demon bent on destruction at the safety of his mate and child.

…

The room was quiet as the moon's light poured in. A sense of dread washed over her as she opened her eyes. Kagome sat straight up as she felt a pulse shoot through her almost as if she'd regained an energy that she lost. Looking at her hands, a faint light appeared before disappearing again. She let her hands fist to her chest as she identified where the energy had come from.

"Inuyasha!"

She didn't wait for him to respond before getting up and heading for the door.

"Kisata's seal is breaking!"

"Shit! What about the kids?"

"They'll be fine. We have to go now!"

"Why'd you have to get involved anyway? We knew this was bound to happen. Sesshoumaru's scent was always all over Rin and not in the best of ways either. It would've been better for us to stay out of it.

"Did you really want me to stay out of it? Is that why you told me Sesshoumaru and Rin were having an affair? Is that why you told me to offer my help to Rin when she had the baby? You and I both know we couldn't bare to see our friends at odds or for anyone to die. And when I Kisata's little ears for the first time, she reminded me too much of you. It wouldn't have been fair. She never asked for this. It's Sesshoumaru and Rin that will have to answer for themselves."

"Yeah, well Sesshoumaru ain't answering for what was his all along, and if Kohaku and Sango do anything stupid to the kid or Rin they'll answer with their lives."

"That's what I'm afraid of. We have to hurry!"

…

Rin was sure her screams carried as the tops of the trees just above her were destroyed. Looking up she was able to see Hiraikotsu return to its owner. Sango.

"I thought I'd felt a demonic aura. I never thought it would lead me to a lying wench. So the child's a half-demon after all. Should I ask who's the father since I'm sure it's not Kohaku?"

"Please don't do this."

"I gave you a chance to make this right. I gave you the opportunity to keep your promise to me even when you couldn't keep your vows to Kohaku. And this is what you have to show for it?"

"I didn't know."

"You're lying again."

"I'm not lying. Sesshoumaru couldn't sense a demonic aura. We both thought the child was human, was Kohaku's. Think about it. Even you, a demon slayer, couldn't pick up a demonic aura until now."

"Even so, you and the child don't deserve to live, not for what you've done to my brother."

"Well then let your brother do it for himself. Is he such a coward to let his sister destroy me?!"

"I'm no coward."

Rin could feel the tears stream down her face as Kohaku revealed himself, stepping into the moon's light.

"I knew it. I was right about you!"

"No Rin. You betrayed my trust. How am I supposed to forgive that?"

"The same way your sister forgave you for murdering your family, your comrades. Did you deserve to die?"

"I thought I did. I thought that it was the only way that I could atone for what I'd done."

"Don't listen to her Kohaku. What she's done is different. She made a conscious choice. You didn't."

Rin looked to Kohaku seeing the hesitation still in his eyes. Maybe Sango wanted this, maybe she wanted him to just go along with it but could he?

"Maybe so, but I want to look into his face when he makes the decision that I nor this child belong in this world. Let him send me to the netherworld. Let him have the guilt of my blood and the blood of an innocent child resting on his hands! Could you forgive yourself? Could you?"

Kohaku pulled the sword from Sango's sash. Rin kept Kisata close even as the child cried out into the darkness. There was nowhere left for her to run. She couldn't hide and Kisata could no longer hide who and what she was. Was this how it ended, holding her child to her in every attempt to protect her and yet she was powerless to do so. What would Sesshoumaru see by the time he arrived? A dead woman and child still in her arms. They'd been so close to happiness and yet they would never know it. He'd left her in this village to keep her safe, to keep her away from the harm of the outside world. Yet it was ironic that those closest to her had become her enemy. She'd married her human best friend and had an affair with the demon she loved, an unforgivable offense in everyone's eyes but those of hers and her lover. She held her head down burying her nose into the scent of the blanket in which Kisata was wrapped. Even as she tried to blink away the tears she noticed the color of the child's eyes change, the few strands of hair peaking out now were clearly lighter in color. There was no reason to hide her anymore. Removing the blanket from her head there were two small white ears folded over, lightly faded markings adorned her cheeks. She was beautiful. It could be all that she wanted in the end, to see the true child that she'd birthed, to be proud to call Kisata Sesshoumaru's daughter.

Kohaku tightened his grip on the sword watching Rin kiss the baby's forehead.

"She should have been yours Kohaku. Take away what will hurt Sesshoumaru the most even if you can't take Rin. Do it!"

Kohaku took another hesitant step toward Rin but stopped as he heard a roar growing as it approached them. Sango's movements didn't hesitate as she grabbed Rin by the throat screaming for Kohaku to take the baby.

Rin could feel the anger overtaking her but there was no way to hold Kisata and fight Sango off. She cried out as Kohaku fought to pull the child from her arms. Her screams met the roars that entered as she turned her anger and empty hands toward Sango. Her throat burned as she dug her fingers into Sango's hands as the demon slayer relented momentarily before regaining her grip on Rin's arms forcing them behind her back. Rin was sure Sango was attempting to break them before she was pulled up to see Sesshoumaru approaching them with Bakusaiga drawn. She forced the words through the burn in her throat, through the choking sobs.

"Sesshoumaru...she's yours."

Sango tightened her grip and Rin could feel her arms being pulled further back behind her.

"Shut up. Sesshoumaru, make your choice. Can you live with the death of your mate or the death of your daughter?"

A/N: I appreciate you awesome readers and reviewers that keep me going! Until next update ;)