Inuhime fell asleep near her son, Akihiko. She couldn't leave him, not even a microsecond. Besides, her family, he's the reason why she's still around. She can't... no couldn't loose him, now. Her only son. Her only child. She can't loose him. Could the Kami be so cruel to take him away from her? She did everything they'd told her. Yet they could still take him away from her. What purpose would that be? It's not like she could bear another pup. She couldn't. The reason being that vile bastard, Naraku, took her means to bear pups. The very thought of her only son dying was tearing her heartstrings. She hoped. She prayed. Will the Kami spare her son? Only time will tell.

-

Meanwhile, Kagome and Sesshomaru were in their bed chambers. It has been several hours since their victory over their enemy. Kagome was rubbing her hand on her swollen belly. Sesshomaru couldn't resist to hear it's heartbeat. The unborn pup did a super kick where Sesshomaru had his cheek on her stomach. Kagome giggled because of what face Sesshomaru made. It was priceless.

"She has your strength, anata."

"You kept calling it a 'she'. How do you know it's not a male?"

"It's a female, Sesshomaru. You can say it's a woman's intuition."

"Hn."

"Hn? Are you not happy that..."

Kagome didn't finished her ridiculous question because Sesshomaru kissed her and said, "Omae, I don't care if it's a male or a female. It will be my... our pup either way."

"Sesshomaru, I'd already told you that 'it' is a girl. So call 'it' a she or a her."

Sesshomaru chuckled. He knew that Kagome's sensitive, more sensitive since she's been pregnant.

"As my omae wishes." He kissed her cheek and sat up on the futon.

"You leaving?" Kagome pouted for losing for warm mate for warmth.

"I need to see Inuki. She's been at the infirmary every since I told her where he was."

"Anata, she may loose him due to severe lost of his youki. I say, let her have as much time with him as possible."

"Yes, but she must take care of herself, too."

-

Inuhime woke up when she felt someone came in the infirmary. She growled in warning. A female inuyoukai is very protective towards either her injured or sick pup.

"Silence pup. It's just me, your father." Instantly her growling ceased.

"I apologize father."

"For what?"

"For the growling."

He chuckled as he walked towards his daughter. "Don't be. It's your maternal instincts." InuTaisho sat down on a cushion next to the futon. "So... how is he?"

"I fear that I am going to loose him, father."

InuTaisho frowned. "You must not loose faith, Inuki. He's a strong pup. He has our great blood flowing within his veins."

Inuhime frowned at her father. "He's been strong all of his life, father. He's been fighting since he was born while being with those bastards, Akuokaesu and Naraku. He told me that they'd trained him endlessly, barely stopping to eat or sleep. Until one day, he finally rebel against them by being like me."

InuTaisho quirked one of his black eyebrows as he also looked at her with a question mark on his face. Inuhime answered his unasked question. "I'd never kill whenever I was told to do so. I couldn't do it. He told me that they would try to make him kill innocents. However, Naraku bribed him if he would do as he was told then Naraku would bring his mother back to him. He even looked up to them, however, he had nightmares about me and saw what happened to me after he was born. After which, he lost all respect of his father."

"You think that the Kami could be so cruel to take away someone you love?"

Inuhime's eyes narrowed. "The Kami could do whatever they want to, father."

InuTaisho's eyes widened when he realized something "Did you blamed the Kami for my death, Inuki?" He asked this because she was such a spiritual person.

She sighed. "Yes... and no. I mean I knew that you would had die that night, but it was supposed to be me, father. Not you! However, I guess there's no point dwelling on it now. Past is the past. One can't change it, no matter how much one wants to." She paused for a moment. "Life and death goes hand in hand. When a life ends another begins." She paused again as she looked at her only son as a tear rolled down her cheek. "I had a dream that he would return to me. He was the one who told me so. However I don't see how because I have no means to bore another pup."

Her father quickly grabbed her wrist and pulled her against him in a bear hug. "Inuki, your right about the life and death cycle. But you must have forgotten that it was the Kami who brought me, your brother, his mate, then his mate-to-be, and you back from the dead. How can you say that the Kami didn't restore your body before you returned to this world? I believe that the Kami isn't cruel to not to return your son to you. Do you remember before I fought with Ryukotsusei that I requested something of you?"

"Yeah, you requested that I would go to your tomb and place the Tessaiga, gave the Tensaiga to Bokusenou, and to get rid off the Souga by hiding the evil blade. So no one would be able to wield it and used its powers to destroy and conquer the world."

"Yeah, but it seems that you had forgotten the other request." She looked at him confused. He sighed. "Well, let me enlighten you. I asked that you by any means not to resurrect me. You argued with me until I gave you my explanation. Do you remember what it was?" She shook her head. "I explained that I'd been fighting nearly all my long life. The fighting was nonstop. Of course, when I was in my prime, I loved every aspect of it, but after a while it grew tiresome. I wanted peace. I received that peace after I died. The goddess of life, herself, told me that I would return to this world. I thought that she meant I would be reborn, however, I was wrong on that. The point is I have a second chance to be a father, to be a mate to your mother, and to be able to see my grand-pups grow. Maybe the dream that he was telling you that he'll return. Though I can't say when, but miracles do happen, Inuki. Hey, look at your mother, for example. She is receiving a second chance to be a mother to you. She believed that she wouldn't have that chance when we sensed that you died. She took it very hard, then."

Inuhime smiled. "Thank you, father."

"Your thanks are not needed, but you're very welcome, my daughter."

Inuhime noticed that her son's aura was fluctuating. He was trying, but she knew that he was losing. She can't let her son stay the way he was. He was fighting a losing battle. Her tears starting to overflow. InuTaisho knew why, too.

She said in voice that sounded like her beast made an appearance, "It's all my fault, father. He is going to die because I..."

He knew that she would blame herself. So, he said reprimanding as his beast also made an appearance, "No, Inuki! It isn't your fault. He wanted to protect you. I commended him for that for being so young. I believe if you didn't let him go like you did. He would had gone anyway. Besides, you believed in him. He was very appreciative of that. He fought valiantly." He gave a comforting purr-like growl to soothe her, like he had always done when she was a pup.

She pulled away from his embrace. She smiled at her father. She leaned towards him to whisper into his ear as tears kept flowing down, "My son, my bright prince, you can go home now. I will wait for you, my son, Akihiko."

When she sat up straight, she noticed that face expression was... peaceful and that of his aura faded until it was no more. She then give off a mournful cry, that could be heard across the estate.

-
Meanwhile in Sesshomaru and Kagome's bedroom, Sesshomaru could feel Inuhime's emotional pain. Kagome, too, could feel it through her connection to Sesshomaru. She knew as well as he that it wouldn't be long that Akihiko would pass on. Then they heard a piecing mourning cry from Inuhime. They knew then and there that their nephew had died. Kagome sniffed and tears started to flow down.

She cried, "It's not fair! Why did he had to die, Sesshomaru?! Why?!"

Sesshomaru tried to remain calm. He said in a soft voice, "I know, omae. I know, but we must be strong for Inuki. Lets go see her."

Sesshomaru walked to her side of their futon and helped his mate up. They walked slowly and steadily to the infirmary. When they got there, they saw InuTaisho comforting her. He saw them. He put up his hand to stop them coming any further, just in case, her beast decides to attack. Sesshomaru nodded in understanding.

He whispered into his mate's ear, "Quickly, hide our scent and put up a barrier."

Kagome was going to question him, but decided against it. Thank goodness she did too because as soon as she did it. Inuhime pushed her father away and leaped to attack them. Kagome noticed that her beast was present by her eyes. She shuddered because those eyes reminded Kagome whenever Inuyasha would loose himself and attack mindlessly.

She asked as Inuhime was attacking the barrier, "Why is she attacking us?!"

Sesshomaru brought up his own barrier so that Kagome wouldn't get stressed off. He scolded himself in the process.

He said ignoring her question, "Omae, let down your barrier. I am using mine."

She nodded and then she did what she was told. "You didn't answer my question, anata." She said while stating the obvious.

That was when InuTaisho answered for his son as he concentrated on holding up his barrier, "When an inuyoukai, whether male or female, loses a loved one, their beast makes its presence known. If you were in their sight, it will attack you. It doesn't matter if your family or friend. Someone has dominate their loved one and make them calm down." After he said that, Inuhime went to attack her father.

While his father was telling the reason to Kagome, he and his beast was trying to communicate with her and her beast. He needed to somehow calm her down and protect his mate before she turned on their father. That was when she stopped attacking her twin's barrier and went after their father. Kagome looked at the scene. She knew that it wasn't personal. People deal with death differently. It seemed that Inuyoukai deal with death with violence until someone, who's stronger than that one, dominate it and calm it down.

Kagome decided to do something, so she grabbed her mate's hand. He looked down at her. They looked at each other as if they were communicating with each other. Sesshomaru nodded and put down the barrier. Kagome instantly released a calming and soothing aura around Inuhime as InuTaisho was practically wrestling with her. Inuhime stopped her movements instantly. Her eyes went from red to her normal golden yellow eyes. She was so exhausted. Kagome walked towards her and sat down by her on the floor. Kagome soothed her more with her aura as she shed some tears.

Kagome cried, "I am so sorry about Akihiko, Inuki."

Inuhime looked into her blue eyes and said mournfully, "Don't be, sister. My son wanting to go home. I will miss him so much. Kami be willing to bring him back to me." She gave her a sad smile before she fell asleep due to her exhaustion.

Kagome withdrew her aura. She suddenly felt pain as she fell over her lap. Sesshomaru's eyes widen as he saw her fell over her lap.

"Kagome!"

Inuyasha (c) Rumiko Takahashi

Fanfiction & OCs (c) ladytari