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Chapter 33: Sacrifice

A woman's cries could be heard in the dark halls of an old abandoned palace. A young miko had fallen onto the floor with a smack to her cheek. A man stood above her, glaring down at her. Quickly his fingers seated themselves in her long black locks and yanked her to her feet, causing the miko to yelp in pain, wincing. Her brown eyes glaring up at him as her fingers tried to pull his hand free of her hair.

"Inuyasha will kill you for this, Kyora." her voice came.

A chuckle came from Kyora's lips. "Ahh Kagome. Inuyasha will do no such thing." he told her, looking down into her eyes. "Mm, I like 'em feisty. But, I'm afraid, my dear miko, that you have been allowed to run wild for entirely too long."

"Not wild, but free! We killed your brother Ryura fair and square! I've earned my freedom." she argued.

Shaking his head, his lips formed a grin as he looked at her face. "Freedom? You think you have freedom? No, wench. You will never be free of us. Not in this life, or the next. How is your body not dead yet!? You were to die upon my brothers death."

"Tenseiga saved me...I do not belong to you anymore."

"Oh, oh but you do. You can feel it, deep inside your soul. You belong to me."

He growled at her, holding onto her hair tightly. Her cheek was already starting to form a bruise where he'd smacked her a few minutes prior.

She'd been out collecting herbs when Kyora grabbed her and brought her to this place, a place she didn't even know. Inuyasha didn't know she was gone yet, he was off on a demon extermination job that would take at least a week. But she prayed for him to be finished earlier.

"Let me go Kyora. I am not going to do your dirty work for you." she told him.

His free hand moved up to cup her chin, running his thumb against her jawline. "Oh but you will. Unless you want your pupped daughter to take your place. I hear she can call out the Kanju willingly. It would be but a simple task to kill you and make her mine."

Gasping, she shook her head. "You'll go after her anyway!"

"Yes, but at least with your cooperation, she will give birth to her pup before I do. She would be the most powerful puppet, don't you agree? The pup will have to die if I take her now though...that simply will not do. And she will never carry another pup once I am done with her."

If she could growl right then, she would as she glared at him. "What are you talking about? How will she never carry another pup?"

A chuckle rose from his throat, his piercing red eyes glaring down at her. "Oh Kagome, have you not figured it out yet? You're dead. You cannot pup a corpse. Albeit a good corpse, but still, a corpse. And once I finish with your daughter if you decide not to help me...well, lets just say she will lose that pup she has, and never carry another."

Realization shone in her brown orbs, and sadness instantly sank in. Her and Inuyasha had been trying to have a baby for a while now, ever since she'd gotten back. And she just hadn't gotten pregnant, it didn't work at all. It was tiring after a while, after a while of being so hopeful and nothing happening.

Watching the emotions in her eyes, he grinned, laughing. "What is it? Ohhh, you've been trying to get that hanyou to pup you, haven't you? Well, bad news, miko...that ship has sailed. Tamako is your one and only pup. You wouldn't want her to be pup-less too, would you?"

"You..you'll...you'll take her anyway..." Kagome choked out, trying not to cry or sob.

"Eventually, yes. But, I will wait until she at least has her one pup." he promised.

Her eyes darted away from him, tears threatening to fall from them. "I don't believe you."

Grasping her hair tighter, pulling her up onto her tip toes and yanking her head to look at him. "You have no choice. Well, I suppose you do. You, or your pup. Who would you sacrifice?"

The tears that had been threatening to fall slowly trickled from her eye and down her cheek as she looked at his face. "M-Myself. Please leave her alone. Let my baby be happy. I'll...I'll do whatever you want."

"Thats a good miko." Kyora said. His thumb moved up and over her cheek, wiping away the tear that slid down them. "Shh, cry no more. It could be worse. Tamako could be here right now."

"You're a bastard, Kyora. You must have taken lessons from Naraku.." she muttered.

Chuckling at her, shaking his head. "Oh that puny half demon? No. I have been this way my entire life. I get what I want, priestess. And the two jewels are what I want."

"I don't even know where the manju is!"

"Oh, but I do." he said, looking down at her. Bringing her up more to her feet, still gripping her hair tightly in one hand. She winced a little as his claws dug into her long black locks. It hurt, a lot, but she would not give him the pleasure of seeing her in any more pain.

Looking at him curiously, taking in the meaning of his words. "You...you know where it is?"

He nodded to her. "I do. And you will procure it for me, miko."

"Where is it?"

"It rests in the infant InuTaisho's soul."

Realization struck her as she tried to squirm back. He let go of her hair, causing her to fall onto the ground, looking up at him. "Sesshoumaru's son?! Are you certain?"

"Very much so. Interesting that the kami of the water would entrust both of his precious jewels to those belonging to the Inu clan of the west. Royal bloodline I suppose."

"There is no way you're going to be able to get that jewel. Sesshoumaru will have your life in but an instant, mine too!"

Kyora shook his head, looking at her. "But he trusts you, young miko. Or perhaps Tamako would be better at this task than you? I do hear she is best friends with the daiyoukai's human mate."

Squirming back a little, looking up at Kyora and shaking her head. "No...no you leave Tamako alone! Please. They're just children. InuTaisho is only a few months old..."

"Then it shall be easy." he said, looking at her face. "Do it, miko."

Searching her brain for any sort of explanation that would get her out of this as she looked up into his angry red eyes. Shaking her head quickly, coming up with one. "He is but an infant! What if the jewel is not completely formed within his soul? You weren't there when I first drew out the jewel from Tamako's soul when she was young. It...it wasn't completely formed. The jewel is made not only drawing from the soul, but the persons own power. If it had been at full power, do you really think that Ryura would have been killed so easily?"

Listening to the womans words, he looked down at her, a growl forming in his throat. "Not fully formed? And what would happen if we draw it out?"

"The...the infant would surely die after a mere few hours of having the jewel separated...leaving you with no way to strengthen the jewel into its complete power." she explained. It was only a theory, but...she supposed her theory was better than none. It would buy time for the infant.

"Then you will take Tamako's jewel. Regardless on her pregnancy."

Great. She'd just talked herself back to where she did not want to be. Shaking her head slowly. "Wouldn't it be better if you...waited for both? Waited until they were both fully formed so you can have the power of both? It would be ideal you know..."

Kyora seemed to think about the priestesses words, glaring at her slowly, a growl raising in his throat. "Perhaps your right, miko..."

A sigh of relief left her lips as she leaned back a little against the wall of the room. Good, she'd talked him out of it. "So...so I can...go?"

"Not a chance. You will stay with me until it is time to collect the jewels. You have had enough time to play house with the half breed mutt. Besides, I think you are very useful." he said, grinning a little to her.

Looking away, closing her eyes halfway and shaking her head. "Please...he's my mate...and Tamako is my daughter."

"You're DEAD. Just a corpse. You should have left them years ago upon Tamako's birth. Be thankful you were allowed the past few years with them to begin with. I could always send your soul back to the netherworld and call upon you again once I am ready.." he suggested.

Looking up at him, biting on her bottom lip and shaking her head. "I am not just a corpse! I am alive. I am myself."

"Of course you are. You're a walking corpse." he said. Walking up to her, he grabbed her by her hair and yanked her back up to her feet, causing her to stumble a little. But his hand in her hair ensured she did not fall. "Humans. You are so ungrateful and stupid." he said.

Resting both hands on her cheeks, quickly he twisted her head, the crack of her neck snapping echoing in the room, a soft yelp coming from her lips.

But, oddly, she was not dead. Her eyes had closed tightly at the impact, but slowly opened, her head being held at an inhumanly possible angle. Tears welled into her eyes, seeing that he was trying to prove a point.

"Corpse." he told her. Slowly pulling her head back, his fingers imbedding themselves in her hair once more, looking down at her face. "Can't you see now? A walking corpse. I suppose I should rid you of the pain you're in at the moment." he said.

Raising up one hand, a clear crystal in his fingers. It almost looked like glass, like a bottle of some sort.

A scream came from her throat as her eyes widened as his words of incantation began.

It felt just like when Kikyou was taking part of her soul. Her heart skipped a beat as her soul was drawn out of her body, and into the vessel he held in his hand.

Within just a few moments, her body went limp in his hands as the crystal filled with her pure soul. Grinning as he looked at it, hiding it within his kimono before scooping her up into his arms.

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Inuyasha had been gone for a full week. He missed the village, his house and his mate. A smile spread on his lips at the thought of seeing Kagome's smiling face when he got home. He was so utterly happy now. He had his mate back, and while his daughter was mated to the wolf that he hated, she still spent time with him. And now, he was going to be a grandfather. While he'd wished Kagome and him would have more pups, he would still be happy enough if they didn't.

Walking through the village and out towards his hut without really stopping. When his hut came into view, he smiled. "Kagome! I'm home!" he announced to the miko he knew was inside.

Pushing open the mat door and stepping in, the smell that assaulted his nose almost made him vomit. One hand moved up to his nose and mouth, covering it, turning and attempting not to vomit right there. He'd never smelled something so...horrid. The entire hut smelled like rotting death years old. But, how was that possible?

Gathering himself, he held his hand over his nose and mouth as he stepped in, looking around. "Kagome?" he asked underneath his hand.

Walking into their bedroom, pushing the door open, the sight that met him almost made his knees buckle.

A woman laid sprawled out overtop of the futon, but not within it. Wearing miko robes, long black hair sprawled out as she laid face down.

"K-Kami no..." he said slowly, his hand dropping from his face, no longer distracted by the smell, but by the sight. Stepping up to her, he knelt next to the woman and rolled her over. What he was met with was Kagome's face, her eyes closed, a bruise on the side of her cheek, dried tears on both cheeks, and a bruise on her neck.

Gently he moved to sit back, picking her up into his lap and bringing her close to his chest. "No...no no no...Kagome...wake up." he said. As he moved her, her head lulled back and forth as if it were barely even attached. Reaching up, he felt her neck slowly. The bones inside were shattered.

Bringing her body up, he hid his face into her shoulder, his fingers gripping her arms. "Kagome!" he yelled. The pain that met him was worse than he'd ever felt. He'd heard of her death before in giving birth to Tamako. But he had never held her dead body in his arms. That made it all the worse.

Rage lingered beneath his sadness, his youkai begging to be released as he clutched his dead mate. He battled with himself, not wanting to move, but wanting to figure out who had done this and destroy them.

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His internal battle lasted for a while. And Sango and Miroku became quickly worried about their hanyou friend. He didn't leave his hut, and he would not allow anyone to take Kagome from his arms so she could be buried. It had been two whole days since the hanyou had not moved. So, Sango sent Miroku to get Tamako from her den.

Miroku walked to the den, looking up at the wolves, requesting to speak to Tamako. Upon his request, Tamako walked from the den, Kouga just a bit behind her. Kouga was giving her space, but not too much as he wanted to protect her.

She smiled when she saw her monk friend. Walking up to him and giving him a soft hug - which made Kouga growl dangerously at the monk. Kouga knew the monk would not harm his mate, but he was extra protective of her since she carried their pup.

She was five months pregnant by now, and she had grown quite a bit. "Miroku! Its so nice to see you. To what do I owe this pleasure?" she asked.

A solemn look came over his face as he politely bowed to the girl. "I regret to inform you, Tamako-chan...that your mother has passed from this world." he said, looking up at her.

The look of shock came to her face, her mouth dropping open, shaking her head. "No...no...thats not true. Miroku please." she said.

Her voice and the conversation made Kouga come up to his mates side. Moving to take her hand, letting her grip it and helping her stand up. Looking at Miroku himself. "Are you certain? What happened?"

Miroku glanced at Kouga, nodding to him. "We are not sure. Inuyasha refuses to let her go. It has been two days since her discovery...and he only growls and snarls at those who dare to come close. We were hoping that you, Tamakochan, could talk some sense into him and allow us to bury your mother properly."

She almost felt like fainting. And she might have, had Kouga not been there to hold her standing. Nodding a little to her friend. "O-of...of course. Of course I will." she said. Turning and hiding her face in Kouga's chest, letting out a soft cry, not being able to hold it in.

Kouga's arms wrapped around her protectively as he looked at Miroku. "We will be along shortly. Once she regains herself."

Miroku only nodded to them. "As you wish. Thank you, Tamako-chan. And I must convey my deepest sympathies. Your mother was one of my closest friends...and she will be greatly missed."

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