So I was tallying up the number of words I have written this year (so far and not including this chapter) and not including updates to stories like this, Ebony, and a few other I have done 773,056. Now if I add on with the new chapter of stories that already existed before this year it is 792,616. Adding in new stories I have started but not published is 794,204. After this I have my stories that are not fandom and are being published for real, 846,469 words total… So yup… that is a bit of a look into how much writing some us do. Writing to me though isn't a chore; I really enjoy doing this and writing my own stories. It takes practice and patience but eventually you grow and become a better author with each story and chapter you write. So for those of you aspiring to become authors just keep at it! As for the rest I hope you enjoy and recognize the effort put into everything we write.

Chapter 37

Going up to the palace to check on Rin he found it damaged and the barrier gone. His Mother's home had come under attack as well. Landing on the pathway in the gardens he walked inside and called out, "Rin!" Flaring his power he hoped to hear or feel something rather than the worry that developed. Taking a few sniffs he found her scent still fresh and turned in that direction, heading to ensure she is alright and take her home. His Mother, Father, and Kagome have been gone for a long time he could figure out but what surprised him is the scent of his Aunt InuHoshi being here but not so surprisingly he could smell Takeshi. With a few leaps he made it to her room and opened the door, finding Rin on her bed with the servants around her. She looked relieved as she jumped out of bed and ran to hug him.

"Lord Sesshoumaru!" She clutched his pant leg tight as he placed a comforting hand on top of her head. "I was so scared. That demon came back for Kagome and they all left a long long time ago!"

"I will go search for them after I get you back to the palace. The Monk and demon slayer will watch you along with InuYasha. Come now Rin," he turned and began to leave, seeing Rin wave bye to the servants before following after her Lord.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, I been having those feelings again, like feeling what Kagome is feeling. It doesn't feel like anything has happened to her yet but she feels really sad and full of fear. Do you think that demon has done something to her," she asked and caught a little of his golden eyes before he went back to facing ahead of him.

"I couldn't be sure, she is quite likely his target," he answered softly and decided to not voice anything further.

"I hope they are okay," she added quietly as she kept pace with him.

Kagome was forced to follow him until they entered a huge lit up chamber that looked like it was set up to be a stadium. They stood there a minute of which she looked the place over and came to the realization that time is wearing thin as he tugged her along, proceeding down the carved stone steps. Behind her she could feel the other demons began to follow them as they filtered in to take their seats. They looked eager to watch a performance and she had a feeling she will be a big part of that performance.

Touga reached the hole and jumped down, landing right next to the crate and smelling their scents going down the path of stone circling the column before heading straight towards a lit up chamber on the far side. Behind him he heard a sword drawn from its sheathe and he jumped to miss them trying to cleave him in half. With a simple spin in the air he swung a leg out and sent the demon flying until he skidded to a stop on his side. "Stay down or your life will be forfeit."

The command rumbled out with a growl as his patience wore thin. After getting up with his sword the demon glared at the intruder, taking in his characteristics. "Why do you trespass," he demanded.

"Why was my mate abducted and brought here," he countered before looking back up at the hole, his claws glowing green. "Takeshi," he locked eyes, gold and purple clashing.

"Learn to stand down Touga. A dog should learn to not steal another's bone," he snarled, the burns on his face still healing.

Growling in his anger he replied, "She was already mine when you took her. Kagome is my soul mate; I will never separate from her so learn to give up. Her love does not extend to you."

"Yet it is my seed she carries in her womb," he could see that bothered the dog demon.

"You forced yourself on her!" His eyes bled red as he remembered the pain it has brought her. "She suffers because of you!"

"And what of you?!" Takeshi held a challenge in his eyes. "She was already marked by me and yet I come across you just after you did the same! I feel every time she is in pain after using her powers," he snarled back at him.

"Your mark is incomplete, that is why she is in pain. My mark is helping her shed yours," he gave a satisfied grin.

The forgotten demon was eyeing up these two demons, both stronger than he could handle but it looked like if they played their cards right the silver haired one could become an ally judging by this feud over the human woman they have captured to lure the black haired demon. They couldn't possibly take on both of them, the trap was only set for Takeshi and his mate but now it seems she wasn't willingly made so which sounded barbaric to his ears. Making a decision he cleared his throat. "If you plan on finding her unharmed then I suggest finding her quickly," he warned and figured even if they make an enemy out of this Touga, they at least will have him in the trap as well. Sharp glares were turned his way but he merely pointed in the direction that she was taken.

Takeshi charged Touga with his sword but was greeted a whip that he had to dodge as Touga quickly turned and fled to save Kagome. Growling he once again chased after him across the cavern. Neither really thought about the possibility of a trap up ahead. "Get back here dog I will slaughter you!"

Looking up as she was chained to the floor she called out, "Touga!" She could only walk a few feet before the chains prevented her any further access. Kagome could see a flash of silver and white before he landed on the steps, his golden eyes locked on her meridian blues. "Touga it's a mmmm," her mouth was covered by the demon that abducted her.

Touga landed several feet in front of them and carefully looked around before advancing a few steps and glared at the demon holding venom in his eyes. "Let her go," he grumbled the demand.

"With pleasure once Takeshi and his seed are destroyed," he flexed a clawed hand in front of her abdomen and looked up noticing that Takeshi had already entered and looked as murderous as this dog demon.

"Harm her and you won't escape with your life," he growled and heard Takeshi land with his sword still drawn. Kagome was trying to convey something as she struggled but the burn of hot claw tips touching her abdomen had her stiffening in fear while two growls were aimed their way. The smell of burning cloth wafted to her nose. "I warned you," his voice came out full of growls as his demon blood took over further, his eyes a glowing red as he was pushed to the edge with having two threats to his mate here.

His expression wavered but now that they are in the trap he needs to spring it. With a shove he pushed her towards the dog demon and narrowly escaped the oroan demon while doing several back flips before he landed outside of the area. With a quick signal he brought up a barrier with four other demons after tossing in several poison bombs. "You have no chance of escape now, you will all perish here," he glared at Takeshi and added flames to the barrier.

The cuffs were broken around Kagome and Touga placed her in his own barrier with his pelt over her asking for her to crouch down on the floor. He felt her arms wrap around his waist and he held her to him kissing the crown of her head "Stay here, I will protect you my love, I will always protect you," he finally spoke and felt his blood cool a little.

"Touga don't leave," she begged and wanted to cling to him but he was already pulling away.

"I have to if we are to get out of this. I have a high tolerance to poison, don't worry," he assured her as the air inside the barrier grew hot. Kagome wouldn't willingly let go of him so he had to pry her fingers off him and back out of the barrier. With her safe in there he sized up the situation and decided to test the barrier being he and Takeshi are both trapped. Keeping Kagome to his back and Takeshi to his front he stood guard waiting for anything that might happen and just like he thought he was soon locked in battle with Takeshi, both avoiding the barrier he put around Kagome. The demons up on the makeshift seats were cheering and calling for blood, they wanted to see Takeshi die but he knew they would also harm Kagome as well. That he couldn't let happen.

Sesshoumaru touched down with Rin and escorted her straight to her caretakers and giving them the order. Akihiko approached him and he quickly announced, "The Floating Palace was breached, my Mother, Father, and Kagome are not there. I smelled my Mother's sister InuHoshi and Takeshi there. I'm leaving to pursue where they disappeared to."

"I'm coming, I want Takeshi dead," Akihiko joined him and within moments they took off with Rin's worried eyes following them.

Backtracking towards the palace Sesshoumaru could catch the scent of his Mother and aunt in the wind as well as the aging scents of the other three. Touching down he could see the two have already been going at it for a while. Smelling the various scents he ignored them in favor of following the trail of Kagome certain the other two had pursued. Once they reached the hole Akihiko recognized the scent and they followed the trail straight East even after they had apparently took to the skies. The situation began to worry Akihiko as it was clear the priestess he had just fought side by side with is now in trouble by his own people. "Lord Sesshoumaru, my people are behind this. I know that demon, he is one of my generals," he alerted him and received a miniscule nod.

Kagome watched as the two continued to come to blows, seen nearly every slash that was made. The poison in the air outside of the barrier was entering their veins and the longer this continued the more she noticed they were having trouble fighting the effects. She turned pleading eyes towards the other demons, she wanted someone to please put this to a stop but they were all revved up with the fight, not a one met her eyes. "Just stop fighting, please!" Her plea met their ears but it didn't stop them. "You won't accomplish anything fighting each other right now!"

As they both came to a standstill she felt hope. Her hope grew as the next attack Touga threw was his blades of blood at the barrier instead of Takeshi. In turn he attacked another point with his sword. For a small amount of time they instead focused on getting Kagome out of their alive rather than trying to kill one another. Once the barrier falls Touga has every plan of grabbing Kagome and getting out of there, he could care less what they do to his enemy but he will not let them harm his mate. They began figuring out the weak spots and the demons on the other side started sweating bullets, calling out for help as they struggled to hold the barrier up against two enormously strong demons. More demons poured down from the seating area, ready to help and adding their own power to it. Cracks in the barrier began sealing up and the two inside upped the power behind their hits to make it count.

Explosions of power drew all of their gazes to the entrance and many startled gasps sounded around the room before the subjects immediately paid their respects to the Lord they had seen get dragged away. "Who started this," he demanded and began descending the stairs looking over everyone carefully before fixing his gaze on the general that had abducted the priestess. "Are you trying to start something with the West, our allies?"

Sesshoumaru followed right behind him with his frigid silence and hard gaze. Then he finally spoke as he reached the barrier. "You think to kill my Father and his mate, the Priestess I am allied with and lived on your lands protecting the Sacred Jewel. How many fools does it take to put a plan like this together?"

"Release them, I want Lord Touga and Priestess Kagome released," the Eastern Lord demanded.

"But milord-," the general gained a heated glare from his Lord.

"Do not think to go against my orders," he warned.

"Lord Akihiko, she carries his seed in her womb," he pressed and waited for the reaction.

Unimpressed he was already aware that might happen. "Yes and I take partial responsibility for that. I failed to keep him from her but that doesn't make her our enemy, instead we are in her debt and just days ago I fought side by side with her and trusted her with my back just as she trusted me with hers. Drop the barrier, now," his tone grew clipped, he was almost unforgiving and it put everyone on edge as to just what they have done. "Bring it down NOW!" He bellowed out and jump started everyone. Once the barrier was gone he had Takeshi surrounded while many left to escape the effects of the poison.

Purple eyes calculated everything and landed on Kagome still protected under the barrier. He knew at that point he will not be escaping with her so he called his creatures to the area and as soon as they busted through the floor and walls he took the distraction to escape with a final look at his queen. "I will come for you soon," he whispered as he went by her, leaving her to pull the pelt tighter as she knew this would not be the end of it.

Akihiko and Sesshoumaru took notice of his escape and followed after while Touga worked on decreasing the numbers of creatures around them before grabbing Kagome and getting out of there to ensure she will remain safe. The fresh air at the surface was much welcomed and it was there that he realized he wasn't sure where to go, it didn't feel like she is safe anywhere. Running a few miles away he jumped up into a tree to rest for a short while so he could figure out what to do. "Kagome, do you know of anywhere we can go, even just for several days so we can rest? I want to lay low and just be with you while he licks his wounds."

Cuddling into his chest her nostrils burned from the smell of the poison still clinging to him. "Maybe an island or something," she reflected on her travels but usually the main areas they were at had been destroyed when they left. "Find an area rich with hot springs. What would we do for food though," she brought up a good point as she recalled they never ate when they were at that hot spring after he rescued her.

"We will return to the Western Palace for now and stock up on food. If he can't locate you anywhere then he won't attack those places which will give everyone a chance to rebuild and breathe and give us time to be a couple." He stuck his nose into her hair and took a deep breath before relaxing back. In the area the creatures were getting closer and closer to their location. The disruption dragged a long sigh from him as he took off from the branch with her heading west. "When this is over we need to have a list of what we want to do, even if it is spending days lying around in bed," he gazed down at her, their eyes loving as she leaned up and kissed him.

"I would like that," she smiled and rested her head on his built chest as she took in the starry sky, the only lights around. "Can we rest together… somewhere for just a few hours," her tired voice drifted to his ears.

"Yes we will rest and wash up before we leave," he agreed, speeding things up to get back sooner.

The rest of the flight back was quiet as she had dozed off and he felt worn out as his body fought off the poison in his wounds. They landed in the front courtyard where he could see some of the workers still focused on fixing things. Jumping through the gaping wall to his room he looked around and decided to continue on down the hall to see the state that hers is in. Thankfully it was intact and he quickly got them settled down to rest. Hours later Sesshoumaru arrived and was informed by InuYasha that the other two went straight to bed and haven't stirred since. Bed to him even sounded good but as the current Lord of the lands he had other things to do first before he could do so. One of the first things would be to see what became of his Mother. With Rin safe and Takeshi licking his wounds he felt okay to make a quick trip to the sky palace. It would appear that his aunt is behind the barriers falling which would mean that they will have to learn a new type of barrier. Other than that he noticed the holy barriers always remained intact. He will kill his aunt with his own hands if she interferes again, that is if his Mother left her alive.

Kaede asked to speak with Sango, Miroku, and InuYasha, they gathered into a sitting room outside of Sango and Miroku's chambers where the kids including Shippo and Rin slept. "Rin has unusual powers where she has some connection with Kagome and can sense when she is in danger. I am not certain how this came to be or why this is but I imagine it will grow stronger and she may be able to start sensing things with others. I gave her an herbal brew to help her sleep better and tone down these powers but it will only last temporarily. Did Rin say she has anything of Kagome's or have ye noticed anything different recently?"

They all sat quietly think when Sango recalled, "None of the creatures came by her, they kept a wide girth and she clutched a makeshift knapsack to her."

"Do ye know where it is or what the contents are," she received a negative with a shake of a head. "I shall speak with her once she wakes. Come find me if anything changes," Kaede got up slowly feeling old and achy. With her bidding them goodnight she ambled off to find her bed and rest these old bones of hers.

Sesshoumaru landed in the courtyard of his Mother's palace and headed inside where the servants were cleaning up the mess. "Where is my Mother," he asked the green imp that has eyes for his servant Jaken.

"She – she is in her chambers with the healer," she lightly stuttered.

He proceeded and went that way finding her in her chambers just like the imp said. Going on in he had to admit he has never seen her in such a condition. She was bandaged up and stiff in movement but still gave off a regal air as she regarded him seeing that his clothing has already repaired itself of any damage. "Is it as I think InuHoshi is siding with Takeshi and helped him destroy the barriers?"

His Mother scowled, "Yes that little scamp. If I ever see her again…" she left it open ended as a dark look crossed her face. "Just look at this place, my beautiful home and then there is yours as well. She will die for this insult, how dare she still call me sister," she gave a small growl.

"If there is a next time believe me when I say I will kill her myself," his gaze was hard and steady.

"Make her suffer," she demanded seriously and watched him give a small nod. It has been a long time since she has been in a battle where she really had to fight for her life. So many demons are beneath her she could usually end it quickly but her sister isn't just any demon and she hates to admit how strong she really is and how capable she is with her ice powers. Obviously InuHoshi didn't spend all her time lounging around or just dabbling in sorcery, she came prepared to take on her elder sister and humiliate the ruling portions of the family. This rivalry is more than most knew and it was proven earlier when they fought initially to the death but it ended in a draw with her sister leaving on one of her cold clouds. "What of Takeshi, is he dead and where is that human mate of your Father's?"

"Father has his mate; they are resting in her quarters at my palace. Takeshi managed to escape even with so many there to kill him. In the way that he uses the creatures he reminds me of Naraku. If not for the creatures my sword would have claimed his life," he recalled him using his most destructive technique but right after he launched it Takeshi was able to shield himself behind more of the creatures he called to the area and escape.

Tapping a sharp claw on her chin she remarked, "This Takeshi is a bigger problem than I gave him credit for but his desire for that Priestess has made him late in his priorities compared to before."

"What do you speak of," he narrowed his eyes, anger starting to surge through him at the thought that she might have withheld crucial information.

"Settle," she commanded after noticing his change in tone. "After getting back here I came across my Mother's journal along with a telling of the greatest foes to our kingdom. I guess you could say I briefly recalled my mother showing me where she would secretly store this information so I could find it later. At the time I was even smaller than Rin but that clash with InuHoshi jogged a few memories. Take this," she brought a small bundle of two books kept together by the twine tied around it. With a toss it was in Sesshoumaru's hands. "I will be calling for reinforcements from the Grand Sky Palace of the Inu Demons. We need to defeat him and soon, it is just a pity that the priestess will not be of help with the condition she is in. It would be best if we hide her away somewhere, keep that demon looking for her so we may stall for time to plan his defeat."

"Is that all," he glanced down at what he held in his grasp.

"Yes, I will be down as soon as I hear word. Now leave me I wish to rest," she gave a shooing motion with her left hand while she rested her head on her propped up right hand.

"I will see you soon Mother," he turned around and headed back to his palace planning to speak with his Father as soon as he emerges.