Chapter XII: Inuhime's Nightmare

Once Inuhime and Kagome returned from visiting Inuyasha's and his mother's tombstone, Sesshomaru was awaiting for them. He glarred at Inuhime. He asked with an icy tone, "Where have you been, Inuhime? I know it doesn't take long to pay your respects to the hanyou."

Kagome spoke up, "It wasn't her fault, Sesshomaru. It was mine. She was telling me how..." Sesshomaru interrupted, "No, miko. I wasn't talking to you. I was speaking to her. Answer me, now!"

"Why are you so upset brother? You know that I won't let any harm come to Kagome," said Inuhime.

"Oh, is that so?"

"Yes, that is so. I learned from my mistakes. I intent not to repeat them as long as I live."

Sesshomaru starred into her eyes for a moment. He sighed and said, "I am sorry, sister. With this new and unknown threat among us, I can't afford to lose my soon-to-be mate. Why you didn't tell me when you were going? So I could come and protect the both of you."

"You knew that we were going. The question is why you didn't come with us?"

"Oh, you dare to turn this around on me, sister! I am now your alpha! You better remember your place!"

"My alpha, huh? Since when? I don't recall you being my alpha?"

Sesshomaru's eyes were flashing from his golden-yellow to red and said angrily, "Is that a challenge?!"

"No, it isn't! Geez, brother, you need to learn to how control your temper. You really need to lighten up. Couldn't tell that I was joking around? Did you actually think that I was stupid enough to deny you as my alpha? Even though, you are my twin, you are still stronger than I am and probably even stronger since you had surpass father." After that she laughed as she walked in the old miko's hut.

Sesshomaru said out loud, "Oh, that sister of mine. She was only taunting me. Hmm, I should had known that she won't deliberately deny me as her alpha."

Kagome spoke, "Sesshomaru?"

"Hmm..."

"I am glad that you hadn't attack your sister, like you would if it were Inuyasha. I really like her."

Sesshomaru walked towards her and said, "Oh, I could easliy had attack her if she hadn't said that it was a challenge."

"You would kill her if she did challenge you."

He sighed and said, "I am alpha in my family, Kagome. If she did deny as such than I would had to put her in her place before it would get deadly. Thus, that's the way of the Inuyoukai. Are you displease with that?"

"I guess in a way, yes, but who am I to question you and your ways. After all I am not a youkai, but human. I suppose I couldn't fathom the thought of hurting or even killing my brother."

"Do you really believe that I wanted to kill her?" She was thinking and then he said, "Never mind. I know what you would had said."

"Alright then, Mr. I-Know-Everything, what would I say?"

He chuckled, "Kagome, you would had said something exactly like or something similar to this...*coughs*...'Well, you tried to kill Inuyasha many, many times before.' Am I correct, my little onna?"

"I hate to admit it, but yes, I would've say something like that, I suppose. Geez, I hate it when you're right."

He chuckled and said, "Well, lets get inside before you get sick." She nodded. They walked in the hut and there was Inuhime smirking at her brother. She said, "Did I yanked on your chain, brother?"

He chuckled, "Yes, but you need to be more careful. You should know better than pulling something like that on me since now I am alpha of our family."

"True, but you need to relax. You had been overworked. You are just like father. Never relaxing when it's time to relax. No wonder you're so stressed. I am worried about you."

"Are you saying that I should keep my guard down knowing that there's a new threat out there waiting to pounce us?"

She sighed and said, "I didn't say that. I just wanted you to relax sometimes, you know. There's a time to relax and there's a time to be serious. That's all I am saying."

"Hmm...maybe one day, but not now. We need to find more information about this new threat or until it shows its ugly face, but until then I won't do it."

She sighed, "grrr...You are so stubborn! I am going to retire. Don't mind me." She put her pelt down on the floor, laid down, and quickly fell asleep that no one was aware how quickly she had fallen into her dreamland.

"Well, this Sesshomaru will patrol around the village. I'll return soon, my dear miko." He gave her a kiss and walked out of the hut. Then Sango walked in with Miroku.

She said, "Well, the children are asleep, finally. We had Kirara watching over them while they sleep. Where did Lord Sesshomaru went?"

"He went patrolling the grounds."

"I see that Lady Inuhime is sound asleep."

Shippo said, "Wow... that was fast. She just lied down not very long ago."

Kagome giggled and said, "Yes, well, she did had a very long day. She reminds me a lot like you, Rin. She always on the move. She had never rested either."

"She looks a lot like my lord," said Rin.

"That's because she's our lord's twin sister."

"That's why they looked alike. I was wondering why earlier."

"Stupid girl! Lord Sesshomaru said that earlier, you had never paid any attention. I don't know why he puts up with you," said the mean Jaken.

Kagome yelled, "You shut up, you stupid toad! Stop calling her stupid!"

"You dare to tell me shut up and called me stupid, wench!"

"Yes, I dare. You always said these things when Sesshomaru isn't around. You coward!"

Suddenly they heard growling, but it was just Inuhime.

Rin said, "Shh! We don't want to wake Lady Inuhime from her sleep."

"Indeed, we should keep our voices down," Miroku quietly said, "Totosai, I was wondering why you and Myoga are here. Is it because of the disappearance of the Tetsusaiga?"

"Yes, but it's also because of Lady Inuhime. We had missed her terribly."

Myoga said, "Y-yes, she reminds me of her father. The color of her demonic markings on her cheeks and the style of her bangs are just like his. She's almost resembles her father."

Then Sesshomaru came in and making loud noices, then they all said, "Shhhhh!"

Rin quietly walked up to her lord and said, "My lord, we must keep quiet because your sister's asleep."

"My apologizes, Rin. This Sesshomaru found no known threats surrounding or from miles around the village. This one also took the liberty to check on your children and your nekoyoukai growled at this one until she noticed that it was this Sesshomaru, instead of an enemy. She stopped and laid down by the children protectively."

"Oh, I am sorry about that my lord. She had been protective like that since the first child was born," said Sango.

"Indeed, she was also protective of Rin when she stayed here, right Rin? Rin? Rin?"

Sesshomaru got Rin attention and said, "Rin, the monk was speaking to you."

"Oh, I am so sorry, Uncle Miroku. I am worried about Lady Inuhime."

"Why?"

"She had been whimpering like she was injured or something."

"There's nothing to worry about. She's probably just having a bad dream."

"But my lord..."

"Rin, I promise. She has my father's blood going through her veins. She's strong. So nothing can harm her."

Meanwhile in Inuhime's dream world, she was indeed having a nightmare, not any nightmare, but a reoccuring one. It was about the very week that would lead to their father's untimely death. She was talking and crying throughout her nightmarish sleep during this time and was unaware that she had an audience.

Chaos was in and all round the palace.

Ino no Taisho: Inuhime! Inuhime! Dammit, where the hell is she?! Inuhime!

Inuhime: Yes, I am here, father.

Inu no Taisho: Thank Kami! Listen I need you to stay here with your stepmother. She's very vulnerable since she's been impregnated with my pup.

Inuhime: Why? Father, where are you going?

Inu no Taisho: That bastard dragonyoukai has breach our borders. I need to defend our lands.

Inuhime: But father...

Inu no Taisho: No, buts, Inuhime. It needs to be done. I love you. Take care of them for me. I am counting on you. Come, Sesshomaru.

Inuhime: (nearly in tears) Wait! Don't go! You... damn them to hell! (Speaking about the men against her father,)

Her father and brother ran out of his study, outside to their horses, and then made their way toward the border, where his enemy was passing through. She saw them out from the window until she could see them any longer. Then Inuhime ran to her stepmother's chambers to do what her father had told her to do. All seemed peaceful, yet she was feeling uneasy. She was pacing the whole room while Izayoi was laying comfortably in her bed.

Izayoi: Inuhime, dear, please sit down.

Inuhime: I am sorry. I can't I feel quite uneasy. Something isn't right about all this.

Izayoi: Please, Inuhime, you are making me quite nervous.

Inuhime stopped pacing the room and lied down by her stepmother. Then without any warning the doors burst opened. It was that bastard Takemaru and one of his loyal men.

Takemaru: Distract that bitch while I get her!

Loyal Man: Yes, sir!

Inuhime: Like Hell you will! (she block their passage with her barrier) Please, Izayoi, go and find that place where I had shown you! You'll be safe there! (Her stepmother looked at her with her worried eyes.)

Izayoi: What about you, Inuhime?!

Inuhime: Don't worry about me! I'll see you there. Please, Izayoi, go!

Izayoi: Be careful, daughter!

Izayoi quickly ran out of her room.

Takemaru: How far do you think she would go in her delicate condition, demon?

Inuhime: That's none of your concern, you bastard!

Takemaru: Go after her while I do away with this bitch.

Inuhime: Over my dead body!

She quickly erected a barrier that the entrance of the room thinking to herself: Please Kami, let this be enough time for her to find the hidding place because this won't lasted very long.

Takemaru: You are quite confident. You actually think you could fight the both of us. (He began laughting) I mean what damage can a female do to us, anyways. (His loyal man was laughing with him.)

Inuhime: You care to find out!

Takemaru: Oh, I love, too, my dear.

They both came straight at her with their swords. They thought that she was unarmed, but she had a dagger hidden underneath her night kimono. She stabbed and wounded the loyal man in his left shoulder as she used her youkai powers to summon her youkai twin swords meaning: heavenly fangs of life and death.

Takemaru: So it seems like you know how to fight! This will be interesting, indeed. (The fight commences as their swords clashed together.)

Meanwhile Izayoi did indeed made it to where she was suppose to go, however, another of Takemaru's men had captured her after she arrived there awaiting for Inuhime or Inu no Taisho. The wounded loyal man in Izayoi's chambers suddenly appeared to be at ease, but yet still acted the same so that Inuhime wouldn't had suspected anything. He took the dagger out of his shoulder.

Loyal Man: (he acted as if it was urgent.) My lord, we need to retreat. (He stabbed Inuhime in her right side of her torso, that barely missed the main artery, with her own dagger.) Take that bitch!

Takemaru laughed and hit her head with his sword's hilt, then both of them kicked her and spit on her as if she was nothing, but trash. It was enough for her to loose concentration on the barrier and for them to high tail out of there before she can attack them again.

After they kicked her and spit on her, they ran out of the chambers, as Inuhime lied there for a moment in pain, she quickly stood up and chased them down until she feel dizzy and fell.

Inuhime: No! Come back here, you bastards! (Now on the floor; panting) No, I can't give up. Come on, girl, get up! Don't let your father down. I need to know where they had taken her.

As soon as she got up, she quickly fell back on the floor laying in a pool of her own blood unconcious...

Meanwhile by the border, the Dog General and his son figured that it was only a diversion. As soon as they smell blood, which they had no idea whose blood that it was at the time, from the palace. Around the same time, Sesshomaru felt an intense pain on one of the sides of his torso. He was also feeling what she was feeling until he felt her fell into unconciousness. They immediately turn around after they figured that it was a diversion for them to leave the palace.

Sesshomaru: Father, I have a really bad feeling about all this. I hope that Inuhime's alright.

Inu no Taisho: Sesshomaru, your sister is fine. It's Izayoi that I'm concerned about.

Sesshomaru starred at him as they rode their horses to the palace.

When they had arrived, a manservant was waiting for them.

Manservant: My lords, I had terrible news.

They didn't even wait for him to say anything else. They ran inside quickly, who was awaiting for them was Inukimi, the mother of Sesshomaru and Inuhime. She had this saddened expression on her face. Of course, the great lord had jumped into conclusions.

Inu no Taisho: (grabbed at his mate's throat with his eyes as red as blood glaring at her) What did you do to my wife?

Sesshomaru: (in his calm and collected tone of his voice) Father, let go of mother's throat. You have no proof that she had done anything to Izayoi. You know this. Let go before you do something foolish.

His father's eyes returned to their golden-yellow color and let go of his mate's throat.

Inukimi: (grasping for air) You foolish bastard. You actually believe that I had something to do with your wife... It's about Inuhime. I would had tell you, but you instantly grab at my throat.

Inu no Taisho: I am sorry, Inukimi. I don't know what came over me...

Sesshomaru: Mother. Father, please, can you talk about this later and tell us what happened to my sister!

Inukimi: (her eyes were tearing up) Sesshomaru, my son...Inuhime is in her chambers with a healer, but I don't know what had happened to her or to Izayoi. I'm so sorry, my lord.

They instantly went to her chambers

Healer: (he bowed before speaking.) My lord, we had stopped her bleeding, but it's too early to tell whether or not she'll survive. That's up to her now. I'll leave you to be alone with her. Please, my lords and lady, no negative energy around her. It's important for the ill or the injured to have positive energy surrounding them.

Inu no Taisho: Oh, daughter, I am so sorry. (tears rolling down his cheeks. He quickly wiped them off.) I hope you could forgive me.

He was going to walk away, but he heard her mummbling to him.

Inu no Taisho: Inuhime? Can you speak to me?

Inuhime: (her voice sounded faint, but understandable) Father, I am so sorry. I tried my best to protect Izayoi, but I told her to go to the hidding place. I believe that she had made it, but we underestimated that bastard Takemaru. He and one of his men came to distract me. They... (began whincing because of the pain) I knew that they were up to something. They confirmed it by ending the battle too quickly and retreated like the cowards that we were. I knew that you were counting on me... (Her father interrupted her.)

Inu no Taisho: Shhh! That's enough, daughter. I know that you had tried your best. I don't blame you for her disappearance. I am just glad that you are alive. That's all that matters.

Inuhime: What about...

Inu no Taisho: Enough talking, I said. Rest and be healing yourself. Sesshomaru, stay with your sister. Your mother and I need to talk.

Their parents walked out of her chambers.

Inuhime: Sesshomaru, tell me what happened at the border.

Sesshomaru: (sighed) Nothing. It was nothing, but a diversion to lure father out of the palace. I hate to admit it, but we did indeed underestimate that human filth and that dragonyoukai bastard, Ryuukotsusei. They really must hate father to join forces. It wasn't a mere coincidence that this had happen at the same time. They will pay for this Inuhime. I'll give you my word.

He stood up and going to leave, but before he could Inuhime had grab his haori,

Inuhime: Please...don't leave, yet. Please, brother, don't go.

Sesshomaru: Very well. I won't leave, yet.

Inuhime: Thank you, brother.

He stayed until she had fallen asleep. He slowly stood up from her bedside and very careful not to wake her up. Then he walked out of her chambers and went to his father's study, where he heard them arguing and yelling at each other.

Sesshomaru: (yelled) That's enough! Both of you are being selfish and foolish! You, mother, stop it! Stop treating Inuhime like she's trash! She's my twin for goodness sake! If you call her things like that, then you are calling me that, as well! Have you forgotten that we came from the same womb?! Father, you know that mother couldn't and wouldn't had done anything to Izayoi. She knew that she couldn't stop you for taking another if she wanted to or not.

Inukimi: (acting surprise by her son's words) You sound just like your sister, son. (paused) I am sorry. I felt betrayed when she took your father's side on taking another for a second wife. After all I am her mother.

Inu no Taisho: At least, she wanted me to be happy. You know as well as I do that we married only for political reasons, nothing more and nothing less than that. I am sorry, if I had hurt you, Inukimi, but I only love and care for you because you are the mother of my children. I would had never stopped you if you wanted to take another.

Inukimi: Oh really. So you could have the audacity to call me a whore!

Inu no Taisho: No! I know that you wouldn't had degrade yourself. You have too pride for that kind of thing. I wanted you to be happy. I would had given us an honorable divorce, but you refused.

Inukimi: Well, that should had given you a hint.

Inu no Taisho: A hint? About what?

Inukimi: (tearing up) That I... (hesitated) ...that I love you, you selfish bastard, but I knew deep down that you wouldn't had return my feelings that I had for you other than friendship.

The great Dog was taken aback at her sudden confession and walked toward her and embraced her in a hug.

Inu no Taisho: Oh, Inukimi, I am so sorry that I don't reciprocate your feelings. I will always love and care for you because you're my friend and the mother of the our beautiful pups.

Inukimi: (smiled) I forgive you.

Sesshomaru: (chuckled) It's ironic that a tragic event brings people together. Father, what are you going to do with that filth Takemaru?

Inu no Taisho: I will bring vengence on him for what he did to Inuhime and for taking Izayoi. If she goes into premature labor and loose the both of her and our pup, then I won't show him no mercy.

Suddenly an unexpecting person had spoken up.

Inuhime: Then I am coming with you.

They were shocked to see her out of bed so soon after a serious injury.

Inu no Taisho: No, daughter. I don't think so. You are not joining in another battle as long as I live.

Inuhime: I am sorry, father, but I am not weak. Whomever is bringing vengence to that prick is me; not you; me. I was the one whom he confronted; not you. Besides, I don't take defeat well.

Inu no Taisho: I am sorry, daughter, but I still object. Have you forgotten who is alpha? Don't make me put you in your place, pup? Besides, like you said before, we can't underestimate him and his men. We will have to come up with a plan. But, my precious daughter, you need to be healed before we could take any action.

Inuhime: What about Izayoi?

Inu no Taisho: She can take care of herself. Remember your the one who told me that she was a strong woman. Remember? I don't believe that he will harm her, at least, I hope not. I just have to have faith in the Kami that they would keep her safe.

Suddenly her nightmare was fastward to the fateful night of Inuyasha's birth and Inu no Taisho's untimely death. As soon as he sealed that dragonyoukai, Ryukotsusei, with his fang, then he made his way to where Izayoi was being held captive. He and Takemaru had taken themselves out as the flames was surrounding them. Inuhime blew the blaze out from afar. Then she heard some of Takemaru's men running towards them.

Takemaru's Men: There's that filthy demon! Come lets dismember him. Come on, men, lets go!

She quickly transformed into her true demon form, which is as big as Sesshomaru's true form, stood above her father, who was barely alive, protectively. She was growling and snarling at them. For added measure, she blew out some sulfuric smoke to get them to run away, which that worked perfectly. She quickly returned to her humanoid form and kneeling beside her father.

Inu no Taisho: (speaks faintly) Inuhime, is that you?

Inuhime: (cries) Yes, father, it is me.

Inu no Taisho: I don't have so much time before I go. Promise me that you will protect Izayoi and your pup brother, Inuyasha, and do what I asked of you earlier. Promise me, my precious daughter.

Inuhime: I promise to do what you ask of me.

He smiled and with the last bit of his strength he wiped away her tears.

Inu no Taisho: I love you and I will always be there for you. I promise. (dies)

As the group was talking among themselves after some things that they heard as she was dreaming. They also talking the great Daiyoukai about somethings but...

Sesshomaru said, "That isn't your concern." Then he thought, "Damn her talking in her sleep. She must be dreaming about that night whenever father died. Indeed, that was really a nightmare."

Suddenly while they were still talking, Inuhime woke and rose up screaming and crying, "No!" She was sweating and panting. She looked around while people was staring at her as if they were saying, 'Are you alright?' She quickly ran out of the hut. Sesshomaru followed not knowing that the rest did the same.

"Inuhime!"

"It was all my fault, Sesshomaru!"

"What was your fault?

"It was my fault that father died! I should had been the one dead; not him!"

"It wasn't your fault. Father chose to go there alone."

"That's where you are wrong, brother! Have you ever wonder where his body and his swords went to?"

"No matter! It was in the past. You need to let go, sister!"

"Why should I? I have no future. I can't even have pups because..."

Inuyasha (c) Rumiko Takahashi

Fanfiction & OCs (c) kamorris