Lost Mother

Story: Before The Twists Of Fate

By: Sky

InuTaisho held his dying mate in his arms, while those around him fought off the attackers and protected their Lord and Lady. Even though it appeared they would not have their lady for much longer. InuTaisho wiped the blood off of her face, trying to remove the traces of her fleeing life. Her eyes opened briefly, and met his.

"Stay with me." A small smile curved at the side of her lips.

"If I was ever to die, this is all I wished beloved. To be with you."

"But Kagome needs you still. I need you still."

"I know you will raise her well. You would never have been my mate if I didn't trust you with the care of the children. And you are a wonderful father."

"But Sesshomaru and her don't get along. She'll be alone. There is no one else who can help her as you can."

"Shh beloved." A trembling hand raised, and touched him gently on the lips. "Stop trying to make excuses. You'll just make me feel worse." A shudder went through her frame, and her eyes closed in pain.

"Iyanari…"

Her eyes opened again, and met his.

"They are children InuTaisho. They will grow out of it. And Sesshomaru will learn to love his sister. As I will always love you…"

Another shudder when through her frame, and once more her eyes closed in pain. Then, her body relaxed, and her hand fell from his lips. He quickly caught her hand, and held it trembling to his lips. And one last time, he kissed it.

"My beloved. My mate. I love you too…"

And he howled his grief to the stars.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Kagome cried, huddling into the pillows on her bed, and trying to muffle the sound. She was a big girl now. They didn't cry. But she couldn't stop the tears from rolling down her little plump cheeks. If Sesshomaru found her, he would surely tease her for being such a baby.

Hearing the lock click on the door, she tried to become very still so that she blended into her pillows, and the one entering would leave her alone. Instead though, footsteps quietly padded into the room, and a weight settled onto her bed.

"Kagome?" asked a voice softly. She recognized it as that of her father, and she peaked her head around the pillow and say him watching her with a soft and sad expression.

"Pwease downt scwold me for cwying," she said pleadingly to her father. Instead he reached over, removed the pillow, and set it gently to the side.

"Why would I do that pup?"

"Becaws (sniffle) Sesshomaruw said it wasn't what bigg girlds did."

"Sesshomaru doesn't know anything pup. Don't listen to him."

"But hew's my (sniffle) brover."

"Just because he's older, doesn't mean he knows any more then you do. Your mother would have told you that."

At the mention of the woman, Kagome's tiny face scrunched up, and tears ran quickly down the side of her face. Then she threw her arms around her father, and cried into the robe he wore. InuTaisho gently gathered his daughter into his arms, and held her to him.

"Why did shee (sniffle) hafeta go away?"

"It happens my sweet Kagome. Sometimes mothers have to leave their children." Her tiny face rose to see his and her tear-bright silver eyes sought his amber ones.

"It wasn't becaws I was bein bad again, was it daddy? Because I didn't (sniffle) keep my dress cleen like she said to?" InuTaisho's own eye clouded with tears as he saw the searching in his daughters eyes, and a tear made it down his cheek as he shook his head at his young daughter.

"No Kagome. You didn't do anything. Don't ever think you did anything. Mommy just had to go away." He held his daughter close again, her head laying on his chest, and he felt her staining his robe. He tried to keep from joining her. His daughter needed him now more then she ever had before. She now only had her father to care for her. But her next question brought the tears that he was trying so desperately not to shed.

"Is mommy eveh comin back?"

Tears rolled freely down the great dog-lords face as he held his daughter as tight to him as he could, and kissed the top of her head; his tears falling on her ebony locks that were so much like her mothers. They sat there for several moments; grief rendering him unable to answer his daughters question. Finally, with a voice that broke, he answered her.

"No Kagome. Mommy is never coming back."

And he sat there for the rest of the night, holding his daughter close to him. And even long after she had fallen asleep, exhausted by her own tears, he held her; crying.