InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ A Time to Heal ❯ Death ( Chapter 1 )

A/N I started this story on aff.net a few months ago but was not able to update due to my muse running away to the Bahamas when the weather started getting really nasty in January. I am posting everything that I have ready to go up front and update from there. So here's hoping that damn muse of mine decides that Iowa isn't that bad of a place. morganlefey

Disclaimer-If I owned it would I have stayed in Iowa while my muse was in the Bahamas?

Chapter One - Death

Feudal Japan

Palace of the Lord of the West

`I didn't make it in time.' Sesshoumaru thought to himself as he flew towards the embattled palace.

The enemy had breached the main defenses and the palace's main door hung open. Sesshoumaru had barely set down when he took off at a dead run into the building. When he reached the entrance hall, he came to an abrupt halt. He was too late. Destruction was everywhere, the smell of blood everywhere, the smell of death overpowering.

There was so much blood from so many different sources and so much death that he could not determine if the four he feared for most were alive, hurt, or dead. Suddenly a servant appeared and broke through his shock.

"Lord Sesshoumaru, your father wishes you to join him in the war room."

His father was alive! He once again had hope. He kept his spirits up as best he could with death and destruction all around. He had hope…until he entered the war room.

It seemed to be the only room untouched by the battle. Sesshoumaru did not notice this however. All he saw, besides himself, were two others in the room. His hanyou half-brother was curled in his fathers lap sobbing. For the second time that day, he stopped dead in his tracks.

His father turned to look at him. Tears were in the great lord's eyes.

"My son, come, sit. The news is not good," the lord said sadly.

As he spoke, Inuyasha looked up, saw his brother and immediately flew into his arms, still sobbing. Sesshoumaru lifted his young sibling and sat beside his father. The fear was taking hold again.

"Father…"

"Sesshoumaru, your stepmother is dead." Sesshoumaru was in shock. His vibrant human stepmother was…gone? "Sesshoumaru, Ume was also badly injured. The enemy got past us and into the family wing. My son, they were brave. They took out almost thirty of the enemy on their own before succumbing."

"Father, this is my fault. I should not have left."

"It is not your fault, my son, I forced you out thinking you had betrayed my trust. Now my loving mate and Ume have paid the price for my foolishness." Inutaisho finished looking at the floor.

Sesshoumaru blinked at this, `But he said Ume was only hurt. Right?'

The great inu youkai saw his son blink and knew that he had to tell him all.

"My son, I told you that Ume was badly injured, the healers believe it is fatal. She will probably not make it through the night." The father sat there watching his two sons as the elder let the news sink in.

Sesshoumaru could not believe it. No wonder Inuyasha was in such a state. His mother was gone and his nanny, the girl, `not girl, woman' that he thought of as a sister and playmate would probably be gone come morning. He buried his face in Inuyasha's hair. He could not believe it himself. His beautiful Ume was dying. She could not forsake her duty to his brother. Though she loved him, she was bound to Inuyasha until his eleventh birthday when he would truly begin his training. She was human, but she had captured the heir's heart. They had pledged to become mates when she was released from her bond to his baby brother. She was a witch from a long line of hunters. How could this happen?

"Father I must see her. I cannot let her leave this world without seeing her one last time." Sesshoumaru said suddenly.

"Of course, my son. She was taken to your rooms. I know you had pledged yourselves and when you planned to finally mate…Now… I had believed she had broken her word to me and had mated before Inuyasha had reached his training age. Forgive an old man for his foolishness. It seems we both must pay the price for it."

Sesshoumaru handed his now sleeping brother to his father and ran as fast as he could to his rooms. She was there, in his bed. Her eyes were closed, though when he entered her beautiful eyes fluttered open, looking for the youkai she knew was there. `She looks so fragile.' He could not believe that the strong woman he had chosen could be brought so low.

"My Lord, you must leave. It will not be long…" the healer trailed off in fear.

"No," he growled, "you will leave. I will keep her comfortable. NOW GET OUT!"

The healers all but tripped over themselves in their rush to leave the room. When the door closed behind them, a weak chuckle came from the bed.

"I see you finally came home." Ume said quietly.

"I'm sorry." Sesshoumaru said.

"There is nothing to forgive."

"I didn't make it in time," He growled.

"You're here now," she stated simply.

"But it's too late."

"Come hold me, Sesshoumaru. Give me the strength to leave. I love you so much."

"Ume, don't leave me. I cannot be complete without you." He said as he climbed into the bed.

"You must find another, my love. You need love. Perhaps we will meet again. I have been told that my scent stays the same through each life I live. Perhaps you will find me one day."

"Ume," Sesshoumaru started nuzzling her neck, "I will find you. I swear it, my love."

"I'm scared. I don't want to die. Sesshoumaru promise me that you will scatter my ashes around our tree. Please promise me."

"Of course, my love." The desperation in her voice scared him. Sesshoumaru had not heard that particular emotion from her since they were children when she lost her family. It scared him more then anything else ever would. He held her closer, as if it would keep her alive.

"Sesshoumaru, Please take care of Inuyasha He needs you now more then ever. I love you, my love. Until we meet again." With that, she was gone.

Lord Sesshoumaru, the Great Lord of the West, awoke with a start. The inu youkai howled as if in pain. That dream again. He had fallen asleep under a plum tree. `Her tree,' he thought. He was a fool for doing so. He always dreamt of that day. The day he had lot the woman he loved. She was reminding him that he had only honored half of her request. He had scattered her ashes, but he could not look at Inuyasha knowing he was the reason she had died.