CrystalVixen93: Here you go! Chapter! Update!

Tah-dah!

*bows*

Enjoy!

Kakashixangela: Well… see the reason why Nurarihyon srivled up was because his heart was taken in episode…4? I think… in season two. So I had Kagome/Yohime restore this important organ, so they get to live mostly happily ever after. As I'm sure was mentioned in previous chapters, she is immortal so I have a plan to keep it cannonish but still have surprising twists.

I'm supa sorry that it took forever to update, but I hope you enjoy this chapter!

Elfy lolita: Yuppers, baby on the way! And of course, Nura is totally going to be there! After all, I wouldn't wanna miss this opportune chance to inflict the feels on my dear readers.

Yoruko Rhapsodos: Yes, she's worried about the floor. First of all she's in shock, the second is it was a very pretty floor.

To Guest Reviewer, KT: Yeah… to be fair she is in shock. And the floor is very shiny. Very pretty too.

Coldjoker: As always, happy you reviewed! Ah… I totally understand how your sister feels. Well… not the verge of tears part, but I get the rest.

Hehe, yeah I'm kinda partial to that one too!

Sillvog: Well first of all, I put the 'ghost' bit in there to let credit to the visual description. An adult Kanna of the Mirror is an accurate outline, but it's (as you said) a 'he'. Secondly, this new ayakashi I've introduced is a sword-for-hire so it's Katsuo aiming for Nurarihyon's precious woman!

*laughs evilly*

Anyways, more will be explained in the hopefully longer next chapter!

Avarianna: Well, Kagome/Yohime got stabbed… and she's wondering if her husband is going to be mad about the stains on the floor.

*nods*

Yup, that's about it.

*bows*

Why thank you! I'm glad you enjoy my works!

To Guest Reviewer, alice: You rock! Thank you!

Radiant Celestial Aura: Thank you! While what happens next might not be what you expect, I hope you have as much fun reading as I have writing!

To Guest Reviewer, Professor: I'm hurrying! I have to figure out what I want to do! And then I have to actually open Microsoft Word and actually write! Usually past midnight and I need my sleep, right?

As Setsura hurried towards the scream, she felt panic building up in her heart. As the bathhouse came into view, she could make out the figure of Yohime sprawled out on the ground. Fashioning her spear of ice, her eyes glowed red as she spotted a figure slinking into the shadows.

Shouting a battle cry, the yuki-onna hurled the spear with such force, when the figure dodged, it shattered on impact. Luckily for her, fragments of the ice became like small daggers, succeeding in drawing blood from the intruder.

Briefly debating whether she should pursue him, or hurry to Yohime's side, her answer came before her decision was reached.

The gate's door swung back and from the darkness came the absent Nura Clan. Not wasting her time to see if they would capture that figure, Setsura turned to sprint towards her fallen friend.

As she vaulted onto the wooden pathway, her heart stopped in her chest, frozen as the lands she was born in.

Nurarihyon was crouched down, his body curled around Yohime, her hair cascading over his shoulder as her head lolled. His right hand was ghosting her stomach, as his left clutched at her side. Nenekirimaru was laid at his side and with a quick movement, he tore his sleeve and pressed it firmly against the wound.

He didn't lift his head when she approached, nor did he even acknowledge her as she knelt down. He did not have to, as the look set on his face was telling in itself. Disbelieving, her hands were hesitantly reaching out.

"Setsura."

She flinched at the quiet and cold, harsh voice that came out of his throat. Standing quickly, she managed a stammered reply.

"I-I'll go get a healer."

The words choked in her throat aa her eyes burned. Hurrying off, she couldn't quite stem the flow of tears that were beginning to drip from her eyes.

She had failed.

That though alone was enough to cause the yuki-onna's hands to tremble.

I was supposed to be strong enough...

Rushing through the gates, she didn't notice when the sky opened up and the rain fell, as if weeping. She could hear her heart pounding in her head as a dozen incoherent prayers left her lips in a jumbled mess.

Sliding to a stop at the town's market place, Setsura realized she didn't even know where a human isha resided.

"E-excuse me?"

A small voice called in a questioning manner. Turning to look sharply at the sound, the yuki-onna found herself staring at a small girl who was dwarfed by the large hat sitting a top her head.

"Do you need help?"

Kneeling down, she nodded.

"Do you know where the healer is?"

Peering carefully into the ayakashi's vivid red eyes, the human child pointed to a sturdy man currently paying no mind to the rain that was soaking him as he argued with another human.

"That's my father. He's kind of silly, but he's the best healer!"

In a swirl of icy winds, Setsura grabbed both the child and her father in a solid grip, ignoring the shouts of surprise and fear. She could feel the girl clinging to her kimono and inwardly she wondered if Yohime would safely deliver. If it would be a girl or a boy.

If the baby would survive.

Over the wind that swiftly carried the two humans, the yuki-onna could hear the man throwing questions at her, but she ignored him.

Finally, after another eternity, she reached the gates. Setting the child down, she rounded on the isha barring her teeth as she did so.

"There is a woman who is seriously injured. If you don't do everything possible to save their lives, you will die," she hissed as frost covered her fingers that were clutched in the man's wet haori.

Wide, confused eyes stared back at her before steeling in understanding. Releasing her hold on him, she quickly sprinted towards the raised hallways leading to the bathhouse, the healer following closely on her heels.

It wasn't long before the familiar figure of Nurarihyon crouched down, still cradling his wife, as his Clan gathered at a respectful distance in silence. Setsura's breath caught and she found her feet slowed and then refused to move all together. The healer, however, ignored the obvious 'stay away' screaming of the dark and heavy fear that surrounded the Supreme Commander, hiding Yohime from sight and barreled past, his small daughter struggling to keep up with him.

The ayakashi bristled as the human paid no attention to them and bounded up on the blood-stained wood. He did stop, instantly, when Nurarihyon lifted his face to look at him. The two men, one the Lord of Pandemonium, another a simple human doctor, exchanged a glance before the ayakashi slowly moved his arms away revealing the pale face of a beautiful woman.

A quick intake of breath confirmed the isha understood the situation.

"Yuki, come," the human said in a firm voice.

His daughter immediately scrambled up to place herself next to her father, pulling a bundle from under her clothes. Unwrapping the cloth, the man pulled several herbs and bandages before speaking to Yohime.

"Please brace her back and hold her still," he instructed.

Nurarihyon did as asked, moving behind his wife to support her small frame. He watched almost indifferently as the isha cut the kimono covering the wound in her stomach. His eyes sharpened considerably as he noticed the sudden tautness of the human's mouth.

"If she dies because of your inability to heal her, isha, I honestly believe I might kill you," the ayakashi spoke in a hollow sort of detached voice.

"It matters not, she is a healer herself so no matter how severe her injuries she has a better chance of recovery," he said tightly as his hands skillfully pressed and smoothed a mix of herbs over the cut in the woman's white skin.

Quickly reaching for a bundle of spider webs and placing them firmly before pulling back the kimono's folds, he surged to his feet.

"She needs to be moved inside, out of this weather. I need warm water, clean cloth and I need it by the time I reach her room."

The isha did not have to look behind him to see if his orders were followed, the slight wind the ruffled his hakumas were proof enough.

As Nurarihyon made an attempt to pick Yohime up, the healer suddenly stopped him. Dropping down back to his feet, he carefully took her head in his heads. Taking a moment to look at the pale complexion and the blood that stood out in stark contrast, his eyes scanned her neck. Moving it side to side before gently releasing it, his face suddenly went blank.

"You may take her up now. Come, we need to hurry."

It wasn't even a minute before Yohime was being stripped of her outer clothes, leaving only her white yukata, in the privacy of the room she and Nurarihyon shared. Only the healer, his daughter and the ayakashi were present, although Setsura had delivered the water and cloth before leaving. Through the rice paper doors, several tall an imposing figures were clearly outlined.

The ayakashi was still seated behind his wife, watching intently as the isha methodically did his job,

Father and daughter worked silently, using many strange plants. Spider webs were placed instead of bandages, large leaves were carefully split length-wise and piled on top and around the protruding stomach of Yohime.

During this time, the isha kept his face carefully blank, yet Nurarihyon could clearly see the anger and hatred covering him in layers.

Suddenly, Yohime flinched.

The healer swore.

Nurarihyon tightened his grip.

Turning and going to his feet, the healer hurled the door back.

"I need more water, hot! Blankets, a sharp knife and you!" He shouted, grabbing the yuki-onna pulling her into the room before slamming the shoji screens shut.

"It seems the child has deemed it fit to grace us with it's presence," he said, motioning Setsura nearer to him.

"This," he spoke grimly, "is going to be a long night."

A/N *ignoring the angry/hysterical/worried people demanding where have I been* My dear readers! I have decided to end this fiction in the next chapter or two.

*waits for the cries of disappointment and denial to die down*

BUT! If anyone remembers the promises I have made, you will realize (hopefully before you kill me) that I said I would finish this fiction.

And I will.

Which is why you must look forward to the sequel that will be posted! The sequel will start (and go through rather quickly) Rihan's childhood and early adult life. It will touch over his first marriage, the golden time for his life, Otome's disappearance/death and then when he finds Wakana! (that I'm going to have lots of fun with)

Then it'll go to Rikuo's birth, why Yohime leaves, Rihan's stabbing and then there will be short chapters that portray Kagome/Yohime watching over her grandson.

And then!

The Grand Finale!

So hang on! The end is coming!