Suddenly, Zuku's ward and Shippo came running outside in fright. They were talking too fast for either one of the adults to understand what they were saying. Kagome knelt down to their eye level hugging them until they'd calmed down.

"Ok, Shippo, tell us in a calmer voice."

"Momma, it's Rin! She'd disappeared!"

Sesshomaru questioned, "What happened?"

Zoku's ward answered, "We were just drawing. Rin was talking about her and Shippo's unborn brother or sister. And then there was silence. We thought, at first, that she just stopped talking, but then we saw that she was gone. We and Nanami, Gina, and Naomi looked everywhere. Everywhere and there was no sign of her."

"And no scent. She vanished leaving without a trace."

Oh Sesshomaru was beyond pissed. He was enraged. His eyes were blazing red. They saw that he was going transform into his true form. Inukimi and InuTaisho realized that they had to transform too. But before they got to, Kagome yelled.

"Sesshomaru, please transform back!"

He growled 'no'.

"Don't tell me 'no'! I am your mate! I am the mother of Rin, Shippo and our unborn pup! Look I know that you want to go and rescue Rin! I do, too! We all do! However, you are not thinking clearly! Remember this is exactly what Naraku wants. He wants you to lose control over yourself. They want you to go over there. Rin is a big, smart girl. She's not a stranger when it comes to danger. If it wasn't her, it could have been me, Shippo, or anyone else. He wants you to be so angry that you couldn't think straight. He wanted you to go after your sister and kill her. Remember, Inuhime will be there. She wouldn't let any harm come to her. We need to go over what we all know from the past about Naraku; plus in the now. I don't know how he came and did what he did. Sesshomaru, the point is that we need to think clearly; not act irrationally."

InuTaisho added, "She's right. This is an act of war, Sesshomaru. Not simply trying to kill you and everybody else, but to conquered this land! Your people, your household, your family, your mate needs you with a clear mind. So, return to your humanoid form."

After Kagome and InuTaisho spoke, Sesshomaru took a moment. He knew that they were right. He was needed. He also knew in his heart that Inuhime would protect Rin. Sesshomaru returned to his humanoid form. Everyone was relieved because the last thing they need is a blood lust giant canine destroying everything and killing anything that came across his path.

As soon as Sesshomaru transformed into his humanoid form, Kagome ran to Sesshomaru and hugged him. She kissed him deeply and passionately. No, she had no fear of his beast. She didn't want to loose him to his blood-lust rage. She needed him calmed and collected. Was he still enraged? Yes. Yes, he was still as angry as he was before he transformed. Was he angry at his sister? No, he wasn't. He knew that she was a victim in all of this as much as Rin was. The question is: Who dared came to abduct Rin? Who dared came there, while the lord, himself, was there? Was Kagome next? All of these type of questions was going through his mind.

"Sesshomaru? Sesshomaru? Please answer me."

He leaned down into her hair and breathed in as much of her scent as he could. Her scent and the scent of his unborn pup had a soothing and calming affect to his beast.

"Yes, mate."His beast was clearly still present, but Kagome didn't say anything.

"I think we need to go inside and rest for a while, then we will have to think of a plan to get not only Rin, but Inuhime, back."

"Hn."

InuTaisho added, "That's a great idea, my dear."

They all went into the palace.

-

At the Southern Palace, Rin woke up. She found herself in a dark room. Her mind was a little hazy, but she'd remember what happened. So, she knew that she was no longer at home.

Suddenly, a dark and familiar voice disturbed her from her thoughts.

"Well, you are finally awake."

"Who... who are you? Where am I?"

"Oh, I see, you don't recognized my voice... *he chuckled darkly*... Oh well, you'll find out sooner or later. However, there's a meal waiting for you on the table to your left. I'll take my leave now."

Rin can't help, but to shuttered when he spoke. Something told her that this person wasn't very pleasant. She didn't want to be scared, but she was. She hoped that her parents would find her very soon.

Her stomach growled. She groaned. She didn't want to eat, but her hunger pains got the best of her. So, she ate what was on the table to her left. At the moment, she didn't care if it was poisoned. She was hungry. The food was surprising good. She ate fish fillets with white rice and drank some sweeten lemon juice.

Suddenly, she heard her door opened. She wanted to see who was it, but she couldn't move.

A childish voice spoke, "Well, you must had been hungry. Kanna! Help her ready for the Lords."

"Yes, Master."

The person with the childish voice groaned. "Kanna, I am not your master! I am a servant just like you."

"But Master, you are the Lord Father's son."

"Biologically and technically speaking yes, he is my father. Have you forgotten why I abducted this girl? I abducted her so I could meet my mother."

"I hadn't forgotten, master."

He sighed in frustration. "Fine. Call me whatever you like. Just get her ready."

The name 'Kanna' rang with familiarity within Rin's mind.

Kanna said, "Miss Rin, please come towards me."

Rin thought, "Did she just called me, 'Miss Rin'?"

Rin hesitated. Kanna noticed. "I won't hurt you, I promise. I am not who I used to be."

Rin reluctantly went towards Kanna. "Please sit."

Rin obeyed. When Kanna went into the light, Rin gasped in fright. "It's you!"

-

Meanwhile, in the throne room, Akuokaesu sat on his throne in the center, as Naraku sat at his left and Akira at his right surrounded by the members of his court on both sides. They were waiting for the arrival of Kagura with Inuhime.

A guard at the entrance announced, "I am proud to announce the arrival of Miss Kagura with Lady Inuhime, Princess of the West, the mate of the Lord Father, Akunokeshin."

Yes, he still goes by the alias of Akunokeshin because the members of the court, who were the minor lords and ladies of the Southern Lands, had no idea that Akunokeshin was Naraku. Yes, they heard of him, but if using his true name wouldn't be easy to befriend and gained their trust knowing that 'Naraku' had done a little more than four years ago. Normally, he wouldn't care if he had their respect or trust, but in this case it would be critical. Not only that, but it would be tiresome if he had to use more magic on them. At least, he didn't need to change his appearance like he had to at the Annual Ball.

When the crowd oohed and awed, Inuhime inwardly rolled her eyes.

She thought, "Only if they knew who their lords really were."

Akuokaesu said as he motioned to Kagura where to take Inuhime, "Now that my mother, Lady Inuhime, has arrive. We could move on to the following proceedings."

Kagura took her lady to sit at the right side of Naraku as she, herself, knelt down behind her, until that meeting was over.

The court meeting was as boring as ever to Inuhime. She almost forgotten how boring these proceedings are. Oh, she wished she could be free. Free from this dreaded curse and it's side effects. Oh, she got sick in her stomach when the lords and ladies praised them for their generosity. She was going to interject, but she found that she couldn't speak or even move. She was frozen like a stone statue. Oh there were many times were she wanted to speak up. Perhaps, that was the reason that they cast a spell to keep her from speaking against them.

Afterwards, when all the noble couples left.

A guard announced, "the young master is here with Master Hakudoshi, milords and miladies."

Inuhime's eyes widened when she saw the pup with Hakudoshi.

Inuhime thought, "There's no mistake that this pup is my son. The pup's scent is undeniable. The crescent moon mark on his forehead and the demonic markings on his wrists and cheeks are the same as mine. This pup is no doubt my son."

Once again, Inuhime was trying to say something, but no avail.

Akuokaesu said, "Okay, pup. Did you do what you were sit out to do?"

The pup was kneeling down with his eyes cast downwards in front of Naraku and Akuokaesu. The said pup looked up to his 'brother'.

"Yes, although, I am not thrill about it."

Naraku said, "Where's the prisoner?"

Inuhime thought angrily, "They made my pup do something that he didn't want to do! Grrr... you, both, will pay. This I promise you, foolish bastards."

Hakudoshi gave Kanna a nod signaling to bring the prisoner inside the throne room. Kanna came inside with a little girl dressed in a white kimono and her hair put up nicely into a bun. The said girl's face is hidden underneath a barely see-through cloth like a veil.

Hakudoshi removed the veil. Inuhime's eyes widen to the size of saucers. She couldn't believe what... no who she was seeing. When the girl looked up at her captures. Her eyes widen the same as Inuhime's eyes when she had seen who were her captures. She recognized all of them. All, but one had a sinister smirks on their faces.

Akuokaesu said, "What's your name, girl?"

The girl said, "Rin."

"Do you know why you are here, my dear?"

Rin shook her head.

Naraku got up from his throne cushion and walked towards Rin.

"Do you remember me, my dear?"

Rin reluctantly nodded. "Are you afraid of me?"

Rin was caught in a rock and a hard place because she was scared, but she didn't want Naraku to know.

Suddenly, Inuhime spoke up in shock at herself that she could, "Naraku leave the girl alone."

Naraku turned around and walked towards Inuhime, then crouch down in front of her. He stared at her in the eye. He slapped her. He slapped with so much force that she fell over to the side. She touched her stung redden cheek. She glared at him.

"I don't have to leave the little bitch alone, Inuhime. You failed me by not abducting Kagome like I commanded you to do so. Not only that, you left the Tetsusaiga behind at the Western Palace. For that... Guards, take the bitch, the pup, and the girl to the dungeon!"

The guards said in unison, "Yes, milord!"

The pup yelled, "You bastard, you said that I could meet my mother!"

"Your mother is with you right now, little bastard!"

The pup realized that his mother was Lady Inuhime, who he heard so much about throughout his life. He was shocked into silence.

-

Meanwhile, back at the Western Palace...

Kagome and Sesshomaru were in their bedroom resting from earlier events. Kagome was laying right next to Sesshomaru. Her arm was on his stomach. Sesshomaru was gently moving his clawed hand up and down on her soft and smooth arm. They were just enjoying the silence until...

"Sesshomaru!"

It was his father and mother who barged in their bedroom. If it was his half-brother, he would had beaten him to a bloody plop.

Sesshomaru growled in annoyance. "What?!"

"Now, Sesshomaru. Is that a way to speak to your parents," chided Kagome.

Both InuTaisho and Inukimi chuckled when Kagome reprimanded Sesshomaru. Who would had thought that a little woman, a miko no less, named Kagome had tamed the ruthless, human-hating, all-powerful, killing perfection, Sesshomaru?

Sesshomaru stared at his mate. He sighed. "What, mother... father?"

InuTaisho started, "We are wondering if..."

"If we could feel the pup moving and hearing its heartbeat," Inukimi finished.

"NO!"

"But Sesshomaru... we are the grandparents," whined his mother.

"I don't care. No body goes around my mate and unborn pup until its born."

"Sesshomaru, they...," Kagome interjected.

"No."

"They just..."

"No."

"They just want..."

"No."

"They just want to..."

"No."

"Sesshomaru! Let me finished for goodness's sake!"

"Kagome, finished or not... the answer is still 'NO'."

InuTaisho sighed and said, "It's alright, Kagome. It was worth a shot. Sesshomaru's so stubborn."

Inukimi added, "Not to mentioned: overbearing."

"Hard-headed."

"Spoiled."

Sesshomaru said, "Mother... Father? Is there anything else? If not, leave."

Inukimi pouted. InuTaisho said with his shoulders slump, "No, that's all."

"Then leave."

They left Sesshomaru's and Kagome's bedroom.

There was silence once more until...

"Sesshomaru, did you have to be so mean?"

Sesshomaru sighed. He knew that Kagome didn't know that much about inuyoukai behavior about certain things.

"Omae, listen to me. An Inuyoukai won't let anyone around their mate while pupped unless it was necessary, like what happened earlier."

"Even my mom, grandpa, and little brother. I know that they would want to feel the pup. Besides it's almost Christmas, I want to go to my time to visit my family. I hadn't been there since after Inuyasha 'died'."

"Hn. I promise that I'll let you go to your time to see your mother, little brother, and your grandfather. However, right now, we need a plan to rescue Rin and my twin from Naraku. Any suggestions, omae?"

"Well... I feel that I need to go see an ikkiyoukai*. Do you know someone that's an ikkiyoukai?"

"Yes, he's a Magnolia ikkiyoukai. He's the oldest and wisest among all youkai. His name is: Bokuseno."

"Can you take me to see him? I mean, if you aren't to busy."

"I am never to busy for you, omae. Always remember that. I suppose we could go tomorrow morning. Will that suffice, omae?"

"Oh, very much. Thank you, anata."

"Good. Go to sleep. I'll wake you when it's time for dinner."

"Hm. Okay."

With that said Kagome went into a deep sleep.

AN: ikki means tree

Inuyasha (c) Rumiko Takahashi

Fanfiction & OCs (c) ladytari