Sesshomaru stood by Inuyasha and Kagome as they watched their friends chase the children. He glanced at his brother; his arms wrapped around his very pregnant wife. "Your child will come into he world soon." He said as Kagome smile and nodded as she ran her hand over her swollen belly. "I must warn you, once the child is born Kirinmaru plans to make his move. His goal is to eliminate all half demons and those who stand with them. Inuyasha you are the first on his list along with your child."
"What?" Kagome gasped worried.
"Like hell I'll let him anywhere near this kid." Inuyasha said. "What about you, does he know you've got half demon kids?"
Sesshomaru paused. "I've taken precautions to protect them from this. You should do the same."
"That's why you took the twins." Kagome said softly.
"Make your preparations, I may not be able to warn you before he comes." Sesshomaru said turning and walking off.
"Inuyasha…." Kagome trailed off worried, her arms wrapping around her belly.
"Don't worry, ain't nothing going to come near you or our kid while I'm alive." He said giving her a determined smirk as he rested his hand on her belly by hers.
Kagome smiled softly as she leaned closer, resting her head on his shoulder. "We should make a plan just in case, that way we can get the baby away and keep Kirinmaru from ever getting to it." She looked up at him. "That way we won't have to worry about where she is and keeping her safe while we fight."
Inuyasha gave a nod as they just took in the moment together imagining life with their child.
Inuyasha sat in a tree outside the home he shared with Kagome and their newborn daughter. He stared at the moon wondering if his mother was able to see from the afterlife. She would have been so happy to meet Kagome and to now be a grandmother. He caught a scent making him drop tot eh ground as Sesshomaru came from the shadows. "What are you doing here?" Inuyasha asked looking sternly at his brother.
"I hear your child has entered the world." He said.
Inuyasha paused a moment before giving a little nod. "She has."
"A girl." Sesshomaru said
"Inuyasha?" They heard before they saw Kagome walking out holding a little bundle. She stopped short seeing Sesshomaru. She looked at him a moment. "It's time, isn't it?" She asked watching Sesshomaru give a little nod before she looked at Inuyasha as his gold eyes rested on the sleeping girl. Kagome reached out resting her hand on his arm offering a reassuring soft smile.
"I'll tell Hatchi." He said softly as she gave a little nod.
Sesshomaru turned to leave stopped by Kagome's voice. "Sesshomaru." He looked over his shoulder. "We plan on stopping him but if anything…. Happens. You'll watch over her?"
Sesshomaru glanced at his brother who was looking at the baby. "What have you named her?"
"Moroha." Inuyasha said looking at his brother who gave a little nod and left the little family for their last moment together.
"Koga!" Ginta called as he and Hakkaku ran into the cave out of breath. "Koga… it's…."
"Sesshomaru." Hakkaku gasped.
Koga and the others jumped to their feet as the demon lord in question made his way into the cavern. "Sesshomaru…" Koga half growled. "You're not getting her." He said as he stepped forward trying to block Ayame who was holding the one year old little quarter demon they had been entrusted to care for.
Sesshomaru stared at him before his golden eyes fell on the little girl sitting confused in Ayame's arms. "Don't be ridiculous, wolf." Jaken scoffed. "Lord Sesshomaru isn't here to harm the girl."
"Jaken." Sesshomaru stopped the little demon form talking any more. "Jaken is correct though. I am not here to harm her." He said.
"Koga." Ayame said, her green eyes on Sesshomaru. "Kagome and Inuyasha were warned about the attack, that's why they sent Moroha to us. Hatchi said it was him that warned them." She said still watching the dog demon. "Is that true? Did you really warn them?"
Sesshomaru paused before he gave a little nod. "Kirinmaru planned to kill Inuyasha and the child." He said.
Koga looked at him. "Then where are Kagome and Inuyasha?" He asked. "If you didn't want to harm them, where are they?"
"They're stowed until they will be of use." Sesshomaru said his gold eyes turning back to the girl as she twisted, wanting to get free. Ayame set her on her feet watching as the little girl grinned and waddled over to Sesshomaru with a little giggle.
"Moroha!" Ayame called as she reached out to stop her but missed.
Moroha walked up to Sesshomaru, stopping at his feet to look up at him in awe. Sesshomaru looked down at her, the little face seemed almost a perfect mix between her parents. Her grin a mirror to her father's at the same age. Sesshomaru kept his feelings and thoughts in check, he refused to ever show he had cared for his younger half brother and the others. This girl, though, she was a weakness just as Rin and his own daughter were. Moroha reached up grabbing the air with a little grin before he bent to lift her up, the wolves watching, cautious, worried.
"She will need to be hidden from Kirinmaru until she's able to protect herself. Are you prepared to face down the Lord of the eastern lands?" He asked looking back at Koga and Ayame.
Koga shifted, a hard look still on his face. "Nothing is going to get to her." Koga said.
Sesshomaru looked at him a moment before he looked at the little girl. He had robbed her of her childhood, her parents, just as he had done with his own daughters. "She shouldn't know of anything, keep her away from anything that would draw Kirinmaru." He said before setting the little girl on her feet before he turned on his heels and left without another word. Koga looked at him confused before looking at his wife who picked up the toddler, the two exchanging confused looks.
Koga smirked watching as Moroha giggled running with the other wolf children in the woods when he caught a scent making him jump to his feet. Out of the shrubs he found the little imp demon wabbling dragging a large pouch behind him. "What do you want imp?" He asked, worried he was here as part of some plan to hurt Moroha and the others.
"Lord Sesshomaru wishes for this to be given to Moroha." Jaken said matter of fact as he almost threw the pack forward. "Though I don't quite understand why my lord would give anything to Inuyasha's child." He scoffed looking away, but his eyes fell on the little girl giggling as she ran around with the other children.
Koga smirked reaching out to grab the pack, opening it to find a little outfit. "He may not want to ever admit it, but he is just trying to protect his family." They heard as Ayame walked over with a little smile. "That lord of yours can act tough but he does care about his brother and his family. He's trying to protect his niece with her parents still missing."
"They're not missing." Jaken said glaring at her. "They're simply away until they are needed to keep Kirinmaru from following through with what he wanted to do."
"And what is it exactly that he wants to do?" Koga asked.
Jaken looked at the wolf leader a moment. "From what we've heard there is a prophecy that he will be killed by a half demon as well as wanting revenge for the death of his daughter by a half demon." He explained. "He wants to kill all half demons."
"See he's trying to protect his family." Ayame smiled as Jaken glared and looked away.
"That outfit is of the fire rat, the same as the little lady's father's. It will fit her as she is and grow with her to keep her protected." Jaken said before he paused shifting his staff as Moroha giggled waddling around. He hoped that the images that he was capturing using the staff would be enough for the captured parents for the time being. He didn't need the wolf princess telling him about his lord, he already knew the dog demon lord wasn't as he seemed. He had changed since meeting Rin, over the years growing to understand feelings and what his father wanted him to understand all those years ago when Inuyasha was born. He had wanted to protect his younger half-brother, his half-sister in law as well as their friends. He wanted to keep Rin safe from any harm, keep his daughters and niece protected from a mad demon lord, even if it meant becoming the horrible demon once again, seemingly tearing them apart. He had a plan, and he was going to keep them all safe until he could defeat Kirinmaru. Jaken turned and disappeared into the woods.
Sesshomaru stood watching as his niece laughed running around in the forest as Koga was teaching her the basics of protecting herself. He watched the girl crouch she was now five years old and turning out to be every bit her parents' daughter. He made his way around the realm stopping to leave gifts for Setsuna who had made her way to a half demon sanctuary, working to keep her and the others safe without anyone catching on. He would make sure to stop by the wolf den, checking on his niece, making sure she was safe and growing without Kirinmaru finding out about his plans and preparations.
"Iron reaver soul stealer!" She yelled as she slashed her claws. Koga avoided being hit and looked at the grinning little girl, excited that she had figured out how to use her claws. She giggled and cheered before she caught the look on the wolf's face. "What?" She asked confused. Sesshomaru saw the flash of emotion that crossed the wolf demon's face, thinking of his rival and friend, it was harder to push it away as Moroha grew into both the half demon and the priestess more each day. "Did I do something wrong, Koga?" She asked worried.
Koga gave a little smile and shook his head. "No, not at all. You just reminded me of someone."
"Really?" She asked tilting her head. "Who?"
He paused a moment before he knelt as she walked closer. "An old friend. You remind me a lot of him, that's all." He said not wanting to tell her any details just yet.
Sesshomaru watched as Moroha begged to know more about the old friend and how she reminded him of the friend but Koga shook his head, still keeping the secret for now before he pushed her and grinned pulling her back into their training as Jaken stood in the bushes, letting his staff record the view for a moment before he and Sesshomaru were off to their next place to protect secretly.
It was Moroha's tenth birthday. She was excited to be learning how to fight more and more, the wolf demons working to teach her everything she needed to know. She was growing and learning faster than anyone would have thought. The time seemed to fly by as she grew, discovering her small demon powers as her spiritual power began to show itself.
She was pestering Koga for stories of his youth once again as they practiced her fighting. "Why won't you tell me anything? Why do we always have to train? I can fight, you know I can, when can I go with the others?" She asked pouting.
"We need to train until I'm sure you'll be able to protect yourself." Koga said leaving no room for arguments, but Moroha was her father's daughter.
"I can protect myself! Why do we have to really keep doing this?! Why do you keep hiding everything?" She said giving him a very Inuyasha look.
Koga couldn't help but smirk at her and sigh. "Look, there's stuff out there that's a lot worse than the birds of paradise. You need to be able to protect yourself from the birds and more. Your blood makes you a target."
Moroha furrowed her brow. "Why?"
"What's with the curiosity?" Koga asked looking down at the girl. "Why all of a sudden you're so interested?"
Moroha paused and looked away as Koga stood looking at her. "The other kids said my mom and dad made a lot of people mad and left me all alone." She said softly then looked up at him with watery brown eyes matching her mother's. "Where is my mom and dad, why can't I ever see them? Why do I always have to train and fight, and the other kids don't? How come people want my blood?"
Kogo looked at her, the look in her eyes flashing to Kagome's making him sigh, closing his eyes. "Listen Moroha…" He paused letting out a breath as Sesshomaru watched what the wolf demon would do. He did wish the girl could have grown with her parents, but this was the best option to keep everyone safe from Kirinmaru until he could find a way to separate Rin form Zero.
"Why did my mom and dad leave me alone?" She asked her little brown eyes glassy as she watched him.
He bent down in front of her. "You listen Moroha. Your mom and dad didn't leave you, they would never leave you. Something happened and they were forced to send you away so you would be safe. One day, I know you'll get to meet them again, but for now, you have to work on getting stronger so when you meet them you can show them how amazing you are." He said as she blinked at him. "Your mom and dad love you more than anything, they won't be away forever." He said watching as she nodded, sniffling and blinking away her tears.
"Okay." She said with a nod.
"Alright, I think that's enough training for now. You're doing really great. I think it might be time you start training with Yawargi." He said. "Come on let's get inside." He said as he walked with her into the den.
"My Lord." Jaken said softly. "Wouldn't it be more beneficial if you had sealed all three of them into the pearl and left the girl with her parents?"
"It would not have worked for Kirinmaru and sending her there now will be no different. For now, it's best for her to learn to protect herself, and grow here. Come Jaken." He said turning and walking away into the forest.
Jaken stood worried as he and Sesshomaru found Moroha fighting Tokotsu, one of the four perils under Kirinmaru. She was losing, barely holding herself on her feet. "Lord Sesshomaru, at this rate the girl will perish against Tokotsu in moments." Jaken said worried. He looked up at his lord. Sesshomaru was watching intently as Moroha barely avoided another attack she pulled a small Beni from her kimono with a little smirk.
"Prepare yourself for the wrath of Beni Yasha." She said as she applied the rouge and her demon powers surged. Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes watching as she became faster and fiercer, but also more wild. She growled as she lunged attacking the demon ferociously.
"My lord…" Jaken said watching the girl.
"She's caused her blood to surge and has lost control just as Inuyasha has done." He said watching as she attacked in a flurry of slashes and lunges before she stopped and swayed on her feet, dropping to the ground unconscious. Tokotsu winced glaring at the unconscious girl.
"You think you can draw my blood and get away with it girl? Who do you think you are? I'll teach you a lesson to face one of the four perils!" He roared as he stalked closer to her, setting up for his attack to kill her. In a blink of an eye Sesshomaru was on the battle field, standing beside his niece as the demons swayed and fell his head rolling off into the woods.
"My lord." Jaken said as he ran out. "Was that wise to do? Kirinmaru will be sure to find out and he'll know."
Sesshomaru bent down to roll Moroha over seeing her passed out. "It will be fine Jaken. Kirinmaru will not know." He made sure she was alright before he gently cradled her in his arms walking over to the body of the demon.
Jaken watched him set Moroha against the body. "Her demon power is out of control. But it looks like she can't access it without using that rouge." Jaken mused watching the girl as she slept.
"She is merely a quarter demon and her mother is the strongest priestess the world has seen yet, her spiritual power must be suppressing the demon blood." He gently touched her head looking at her one last time, she did look a mixture of her parents but she definitely took after her father more. "let's go Jaken." He said as he turned and started off the little imp demon running after him.
Sesshomaru glanced back once before leaving the area, although he would never admit it, he had found that Rin had really changed him in more than just caring for a human. He found he really did care that his brother was safe with his wife and he worried and cared about his niece and daughters, wanting nothing more than for them all to be happy healthy and safe. But he would die before he openly admitted any of that.