InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Dubious Relations ❯ Chapter 14 ( Chapter 15 )

Dubious Relations

Chapter 14

The air was being choked by the sickening scent of Sesshomaru's sweat and sickness as the day turned to night and repeated its cycle. Chiyo remained by her Lord's side for the most part, only catching a few winks of shut eye whenever the demon Lord in her care fell relatively silent and relaxed (which happened few times and for only short periods). The elderly demoness rested one of her soft, wrinkled hands on Sesshomaru's forehead, careful to bypass the blue, sensetive, crescent moon that adorned the pale expanse of flesh, and frowned deeply.

His health hadn't improved in the slightest, despite Chiyo's bitter, green, herbal teas, her care and her most devote attention. Sesshomaru's fever was still running as though it had the stamina of a fox demon, bounding from bad to worse in mere seconds before quieting down for a short time, whilst the pup seemed keen to keep on bashing at Sesshomaru's already tenderized insides insistently throughout it all. Chiyo almost dreaded the time when the pup was near to term; it would be stronger then, far more developed and far better at creating damage. Sesshomaru would die if this kept up, Chiyo realized with a scowl she kept for only the direst of times. Where was Kazuo? He should have been back by now! Surely Inuyasha hadn't proven to be so difficult to track!

The demon Lord lying in front of Chiyo writhed in his place on his futon, his teeth clattering together as he shifted between grinding his teeth together and gasping for stale air raggedly. He was in a downright pitiable state, Chiyo knew. Sesshomaru would go many days without talking to her after this ordeal. However, the elderly demoness had no clue what could have caused this; she didn't understand what was happening inside Sesshomaru. In all her studies she hadn't ever heard of a male demon's body reacting as Sesshomaru's was to the pup. If anything, it accepted it as easily as a healthy female's did (if one didn't include the shifting of organs and reorganization of bones). The pup seemed incredibly healthy also, which ruled out a violent miscarriage, although the act itself was rare amongst demons.

She heard a thunderous bashing rush down the corridor outside Sesshomaru's chambers and didn't react with anything but a grumpy, “What is it?” She called after the person had knocked loudly on the shogi, as though aiming to knock it down.

“Lady Chiyo!” From within the putrid smelling room, the elderly demoness called out a reply. The soldier opened the creamy coloured door and remained outside the room, but bowed, “My Lady, it's gone.” He said, as though attempting to keep himself out of a state of panic.

With a small, exasperated sigh, Chiyo replaced the cloth balanced on Sesshomaru's wrist and frowned as she dropped the other into the bowl of water she'd placed beside her. Idly, she noted how she needed to change it soon; it was getting warm. Silently, the elderly demoness shuffled over to the door, and slid out of the room, closing the shogi behind her. Sesshomaru needn't hear this; he would undoubtedly worry or pine over it and she needed his attention focused on his getting better.

“What is gone? Please elaborate.” She was in no mood for this, she thought as she moved down the hall, her deep violet kimono rumpled and ragged as it hung from her form. Chiyo motioned for the soldier to follow her down to the end of the cream coloured, plaster hall; it should be far enough away for her to speak without being heard clearly whilst being able to hear as Sesshomaru thrashed and growled.

“The Meidouseki stone, m'lady! It's disappeared!” The guard, who was decked in a simple light blue (almost white) kimono that was held together with a crimson obi, said, his voice a like that of a snake's hiss. As Chiyo's eyes widened and her hands halted from where they were tidying herself,, poised over her stomach, the demon continued, “The captain decided on an early check up on it, m'lady, after he hadn't heard from the guards stationed there. He found them slaughtered and the stone's disappeared! The soldiers stationed there had only sent word of their good circumstances three days ago!”

Chiyo held up an aged hand in a silent order for quiet. The solder hushed himself a look of strangled panic on his young face, “Thank you.” She said distantly, her mind running over and through the information handed to her. This was not good; no, this was definitely very, very bad. Horrendous. Catastrophic.

The Meidouseki stone was the stone of lives. It was a gem of great beauty and the stone that Sesshomaru's mother had been the keeper of before her passing. By all rights, Sesshomaru was supposed to bear the stone upon his chest as a proud symbol being the latest descendant of the dog demon tribe of the north, and also because he was its keeper.

Chiyo hummed and drew her fingers to her chin as her frown deepened whilst she delved deeper into the black abyss of thought. Despite it being Sesshomaru's duty to bear and use the stone, his father had sought to never allow anyone near the it again, not after what had happened; he hadn't wanted a reminder of his early mate to remain, yet knew of the consequences should he have attempted to destroy it. He hadn't wanted Sesshomaru to be tainted by the jewel's power. Chiyo could see and had agreed with Inutaisho's logic; after watching as Sesshomaru fawned over the powerful sword Tessaiga, one would have needed to be completely daft to not realise the young Lord's seeking of all things strong and great.

Again, Chiyo hummed to herself as though she'd swallowed an aggravated bee. Sesshomaru definitely knew of the stone's existence, though she doubted he was told of its importance in history, in his mother's life, and of its abilities. If he were well and being told all of this he wouldn't understand the immediate need to send troops to search for it; Inutaisho had done splendidly in keeping the stone's amazing abilities from his son's elegant ears. It had always annoyed Chiyo, but her fears were unfounded as Sesshomaru had never sought out the stone's origins, and had always let it be. Oh, how he'd crave it once he realized the power it held! He would yearn to wield it! She hoped with all of her elderly, feeble heart that he wouldn't do so foolishly.

The soldier's feet scuffing the ground caused Chiyo's emerald gaze to rise to him again and she hummed impatiently, one last time, “Tell your superiors that I have ordered two groups of soldiers to begin readying themselves for a long search. You will all wait for Lord Kazuo's return. This incident must be treated with much discretion. Is that understood?”

The demon nodded hurriedly, his shaggy green locks flying backwards and forwards before he bowed and rushed off down the hallways with a sharp series of taps. Chiyo watched him go as she idly recalled his face from her many memories; she remembered him as a young lad, ready to take on the duty of a soldier as she taught him the basics on how to read and how to write. She snorted to herself, now he was one of Kazuo's run around boys and would most likely remain such until he was too old or incapable of swift movement and thus used as fodder. Such a waste; he was willing to learn and he seemed very cautious. It was his lowly background that kept him from reaching much higher ranks.

The demoness leisurely returned to Sesshomaru's side, finding him snoozing as fitfully as she could ever hope he was capable of whilst he was in the condition he was in. The Lord's breathing was laboured as though he'd run several times around the world, his claws tangled in the pale and stench covered sheets they continued to clench at them tightly. It was as though he were being eaten from the inside out; he hadn't any external injuries to be tended to and his body shouldn't reject the pup despite his abhorring it. Chiyo, for the first time in her expansive medicinal career, hadn't any idea of what was occuring and what to do because of it.

Chiyo sighed and massaged her hands, cursing her aging being as their sharp ache slowed to a dull throbbing sensation. She sighed as she moved to kneel beside her Lord and readied another stained towel to swap with the one on his wrist.

Suddenly Sesshomaru was snarling at the ceiling again, his sharp, spotless teeth clenched as he arched up, Chiyo side-stepped skilfully, avoiding a stray knee as it was flung up. Sesshomaru collapsed back into his futon with a fierce growl that would have been far more threatening if it hadn't been followed by the pathetic whimper that acted as its shadow.

Silently, Chiyo urged Kazuo to hurry in his search as she leant over Sesshomaru and smoothed her hands over his stomach, gingerly pulling the scratchy blanket as she did so; Inuyasha was the only one that could help rid Sesshomaru of whatever poison was causing his destruction.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

The darkness hugging him was comforting, despite the complete silence he usually despised. It wasn't like the silence his friends and himself shared; there were always birds twittering uselessly in the background and the wind annoying his ears. However, the darkness was like a break from life and its annoying complications. Inuyasha felt the near need to sigh with bliss at the feeling of complete and utter timelessness. There was no pressure or expectations at all, it was like he was a breath of air. It was refreshing.

Until he realised there was cold wind whizzing past him. The realisation struck him as extremely odd; usually Inuyasha slept in places that allowed in nothing bar the slightest breeze; after making it a habit out of sleeping in trees (for both his own survival and for his breakfast's doom), it was necessary lest he wake up becaused he'd fallen out of the tree and landed on his head because of a particularly spiteful gale.

Inuyasha's black eyebrows furrowed with thought, as he fought between waking up and remaining in the calming state of rest he was submerged in. It was only when Inuyasha failed to feel the ground beneath him despite all of his straining and testing, that he started to worry; the hardened surface he was pressed against his front was slightly squishy. It only took a few moments more for his curiosity and instincts to force his eyes open; he hadn't a hope of protecting or saving himself if he couldn't see the enemy. The presumed vine resting around his waist's moving only made him do so with more vigour. He wrenched his eyes open and, whilst ignoring the glaring sun, examined the vine wrapped around him with flashing gold orbs.

Except the vine wasn't a vine and the blunt, think, strong thorns he'd thought were holding him in place weren't what he'd first thought them to be at all. Colourful words spilled from Inuyasha's mouth as he stared with wide, golden eyes into Kazuo's deep sea blue, “What the hell do you think you're doing!?” He demanded, his right fist clenched and poised to wallop the demon he was pressed against right in the chin. Kazuo's eyes widened and his grip tightened.

Inuyasha idly realised that thick, tanned stumps that eventually ended in thin points and fanned out revealing leathery stretched skin were decorating Kazuo's usually smooth back: Wings? Kazuo beat them down brutally as they continued to rise into the air and Inuyasha scowled again as he realised he couldn't smell or see his pack anywhere, "Where the hell are Kagome and the others?!" Inuyasha demanded as the demon didn't answer his earlier question.

Kazuo smiled apologetically as he shifted Inuyasha and wrapped his strong arm around the younger dog demon's waist tighter. Inuyasha felt extremely uncomfortable with the action; he hadn't been held like he was by a man before and the last woman to hold him as Kazuo was had been his mother when she'd jumped to wretch him away from a raging river, a few weeks before she past away. Inuyasha glared with the heat of a few hundred blazing fires.

“I'm sorry, my Lord,” Kazuo stated hesitantly, he seemed sincere, but that didn't make Inuyasha feel any better; no apology was going to undo Kazuo's news bearing, “But your mate really is in need of your aid. It was essential that we left immediately. You were just, ah, incapable of mobility in your prior state. Your pack is following us on foot. The monk suggested it.” Kazuo chuckled weakly as he was sent a dark scowl that told of much pain should he try or say anything incredibly stupid.

Inuyasha did nothing else to voice his displeasure of being carried around as though he were nothing but a mere pup, pressed against Kazuo's right side, head basically resting on one of the demon's broad shoulders. Now that he wasn't focussed on quelling his curiosity, Inuyasha realised that his head ached from the forceful sit that still had his ears ringing and both men were suspended several hundred feet above the ground; Inuyasha didn't wish to test his half-demon body and drop to the most likely hard dirt from where they were. No matter how therapeutic his beating Kazuo over the head a couple of times would have been. He stubbornly placed his clenched fist at his side.

He growled, “Fine. Whatever.” He groused sulkily, before he eyed the ground streaking past them as they glided above it. There seemed to be an endless carpet of trees below them, of all different shades of green from grass to emerald and much darker. Inuyasha scowled at his feet for a moment before he suddenly turned his eyes to Kazuo's face with an angry flash, "What's up with Sesshomaru?" He asked sternly, "This better not be a ploy to kill me off, d'you hear me?"

But despite his annoyance, Inuyasha almost felt his heart sinking as the realisation that should Sesshomaru really be sick, it was most likely very, very serious; the bastard was too stubborn to be slowed down by some disease. Inuyasha's eyes narrowed as the realisation that not only Sesshomaru, but his pup was suffering as well, washed upon him. Would the pup be alright? Where Sesshomaru was a full demon, the pup was barely eight weeks old and a quarter human. Would he be alright? Damn it! He knew he should have fought to stay!

Kazuo smiled sadly, "I believe our Lord would prefer to kill you himself should he decide too. He is very independent, he would not forgive me should I take your life." Inuyasha wrapped his left arm around Kazuo, careful of his Tesseiga and its position between them as the other, taller demon swooped down again, picking up speed as he did so, "As to what is ailing our Lord, I haven't a clue. Lady Chiyo was clear that I needed to find you and bring you back quickly, my Lord. Sesshomaru is in a right state. I have never seen him so ill."

Inuyasha would have snorted had his mouth and voice have already set themselves to retorting angrily, "So Sesshomaru's sick and your pissed off. Is that why you outed me to Kagome?! `Cause if it is, I have two words for you: Fuck you! You may have spoiled my chances with being forgiven!" It was almost physically strenuous to keep his claws to himself, though another sneer and a growl escaped him. Inuyasha took to staring at the landscape again.

There was a temple rushing beneath them then, one that Inuyasha recognised to have been a few clicks East of Sesshomaru's home. It was large, though not as large as the castle, with richly decorated roofs of orange and scarlet, and well crafted, twin statues stood proudly at its four gates. There were a few monks sitting outside, in the front courtyard, whilst decked in a fiery orange robe. They were training, or so Inuyasha assumed, sitting with their legs tucked beneath them and their right hands held up vertically in front of their chests. It wouldn't be too long until they reached the castle, Inuyasha realised.

Such a conception calmed Inuyasha somewhat, and set his nerves on the edge. He was anxious about what state Sesshomaru was in, about the pup and its living and growing inside his brother's belly, and Kagome's state when they next met. Inuyasha couldn't feel what his brother was feeling, just like Myoga told him he wouldn't, but he had felt that something was wrong. He just hadn't known what.

And what the hell had Kazuo been thinking?! What the fuck had possessed the idiot to go and do something so fucking stupid?! Inuyasha couldn't remember doing anything that could have caused the asshole to act so maliciously against him; he'd been rather polite, all things considered. He'd even managed to not call him any names. By all counts, Kazuo shouldn't have felt the need to tell Kagome anything.

Damn it! She was going to be thoroughly pissed off. Kagome was going to kill him with an absurd amount of her damned sit commands. And he was going to be extremely lucky if he came out of such a meeting mentally unscathed; Kagome wrath didn't stop at angered commands, she'd make him feel guilty too. The mortal girl would cry, sob, flush with anger, all signs Inuyasha had grown somewhat fond of during their travels, when they were directed towards him because he'd done something exceedingly dangerous and had been thought dead. He didn't want her angry at him.

Inuyasha withheld a sigh, hopefully Kagome had calmed down to a simmer once she reached the castle. He'd be able to explain the circumstances then, and he'd be able to do with after practicing a couple of times. If things didn't go well after that, well, Inuyasha didn't want to think about it. He didn't know what he'd do if that happened. Kagome was fairly forgiving though and he was sure that after a period of time that was unknown (but he expected to be extremely long) she'd start talking and looking at him. The girl had forgiven him and his still standing love for Kikyo. She understood that, so what was to stop her from understanding these circumstances?

“We'll be making an uncouth entry, my Lord, should you not mind.” Kazuo said suddenly, as the castle upon the ever green hill appeared before them.

Inuyasha snorted, “Just hurry up and put me fucking down.”

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A little human girl's giggles sounded like the comforting chiming of bells as she ran circles around him, her face alight with a huge, innocent grin. Jaken didn't know what was so amusing about the exercise, but he'd been told to mind her and to not let her within Lord Sesshomaru's chambers and he was stubbornly going to make sure he fulfilled his duty. His Lord was sick, with a cough and a running nose because of the pup's lowering of his defences; Jaken muttered curses at it fondly.

The toad sighed as he rearranged his limbs from where he sat in the centre of a small glade within the castle's beautiful and expansive garden. He eyed Rin as she fluttered over a carpet of white flowers, her large, chocolate brown eyes examining each and every one of them.

Their Lord hadn't been too pleased with their leaving the castle, he'd told Jaken how displeased his actions made him; they went against his orders. However, Jaken remembered as his heart swelled and his eyes shined wetly, he'd made an off hand comment over both his and Rin's health remaining as it was whenever he left them; his Lord cared! Lord Sesshomaru didn't want him dead or wounded! Jaken's heart threatened to burst as he recalled his words.

“Master Jaken, is that master Kazuo with Lord Sesshomaru's brother?” Rin's small voice called as she pointed up at the pristine, blue sky.

“What are you talking about, you foolish-” However, Jaken saw them. His Lord's aid Kazuo, the infuriating bat demon, and the more maddening half-demon Inuyasha, his Lord's brother, flying over the tall, strong, white walls and gliding towards the castle. Jaken jumped to his feet, “What the?” He started as he squawked and waddled after them.

They stopped outside his Lord's window, hovering in mid-air with a powerful thrust of Kazuo's large, tanned wings, like fish floated in water. Jaken could see that the use of his wings had been sprung upon Kazuo without much time to prepare for their use; his hakama was torn off at the back, leaving the flesh bare to the bright sun as the white silk Kazuo hadn't any problem with staining lay in shredded strands, one thin rope keeping the rest of the usually white hakama on his being.

Ignoring Rin's questioning cries, Jaken rushed towards his Lord's chambers, his small boot laden feet moving at a speedily as he sprinted and waddled and clutched at his most precious staff. What could have possibly been wrong with his Lord to have his dishonourable brother, Inuyasha, be summoned? Jaken knew his Lord was both related and mated (the realisation had caused him to collapse into a dead faint and it still made his green, leathery skin to prickle unpleasantly whenever the thought appeared in his head) to the disgrace, but they both still seemed to dislike each other as much as they had ever done. The fact that they were mated caused much confusion within the toad demon's tinkering brain. Jaken squawked as he slid around a corner, as a reason knocked him in the side of the head: there must be something terribly wrong with his Lord!

A loud voice slowly grew to a booming one and other quieter voices cleared from the murmuring he'd heard halfway down to hallway as Jaken's journey ended and he slid to a halt outside his Lord's rooms. With no hesitation, he grasped the shogi and slid it open a bit, his eyes widening before they flew shut, his free hand racing to his nose as the stench of illness flooded him. What in their Lord's name had happened? Why hadn't he been told of how seriously his Lord's sickness was?!

Jaken didn't hear the outraged chatter that erupted from the three conscious occupants of the room as he dashed into the room, his eyes teary as he took his place kneeling beside his Lord. His teeth were clenched, grinding against each other and his eyes were shut tight, the usually smooth, pink highlighted eyelids wrinkled with pain. Jaken whimpered, “My Lord, what has happened to you?”

“You!” Jaken squawked indignantly as he was pushed away from the sickened dog demon, his eyes wide as Chiyo glared down at him. He was only a few inches shorter than her, but the height difference was used to make herself loom over his trembling form threateningly as he remained seated on the floor, “What orders did I give you? Where is the girl? Leave at once!”

“L-Lady Chiyo what has confined our Lord to his bed?” He stuttered as he rose to his feet with a slight bow and a glance at the demon Lord, “Why was I not told of this development? This is not a common illness that haunts him.”

The demoness sighed, “I know that you old toad! You are loyal, I will acknowledge that, but I doubt your being worried over the Master's health would have aided us.” She snapped with a scowl, “Now tell me, where is Rin? She cannot see Sesshomaru like this.”

“I can also assist Lord Sesshomaru!” The demon retorted, ignoring Chiyo's question completely, “But I wish to be informed of his state of health!” Jaken screeched. He was the Lord's vassal! He had been chosen by Sesshomaru to accompany him whilst he wandered about Japan. Jaken had every right to know about his Lord's health and this old witch couldn't tell him otherwise!

“You would worry and tut more than you would aid us!” Chiyo's eyes mimicked an angry fire as it ate a town, her face like that of a storm at its worst, “Return to your station at once! Rin must be worried!”

The order came much too late as Rin's brown topped head appeared in the open doorway. Jaken watched with wide eyes as the little girl skipped into the room, a colourful bouquet of flowers held gingerly in her left hand, “Master Jaken, Rin thought you said we couldn't see our Lord?” She gasped when she stopped at their Lord's feet, eyes wide and worry filled as she looked on. She obviously lacked the superior sense of smell that all the demons present owned, stupid human that she was, “Master Jaken! You didn't tell Rin, Lord Sesshomaru was sick! Is he going to be alright?” She tiptoed around the Lord, so that she was sitting on the side of him that bore his remaining arm - stupid girl, didn't she know that their Lord could kill her in his sleep because she was there? - and knelt down beside him, her side pressed against his side as she pressed a warm had to his right cheek.

“Look what your foolishness has done, foolish toad.” Chiyo muttered as she moved to kneel beside Rin and patted her back, “Our Lord will be fine. Inuyasha is here now.”

“What can that disgraceful - Ah!” Jaken's head throbbed as a powerful fist decended upon it. Black dots appeared in front of his gaze, making everything look very discombobulating as he attempted to focus on the room's occupants' words.

He heard Inuyasha snort from behind him as a deeper chuckle appeared a moment later (from Kazuo, he supposed), “Shut up, stupid toad. If you annoy me I won't help the bastard.”

Jaken nodded unknowingly as his attention turned back to Chiyo, head pounding unpleasantly, as though Rin had found it amusing to use it as a drum. He gurgled for a moment, before he shook away the dizziness that plagued the furthest corners of his mind. He looked on curiously as Inuyasha took to questioning Chiyo, “What's wrong with him? I didn't quite catch what you were saying earlier, thanks to our visitor.”

The stare Inuyasha sent him was chilling, but in the hottest sense. His eyes were alight, not frigid like his Lord's would have been. Jaken didn't know whether to hide or be still.

Chiyo's emerald eyes softened as she spoke, “Sesshomaru's body is fighting against the pup. It is not supposed to. I have heard eye-witness accounts of male pregnancies and in all of them, the Ninsoku's body has always received their child well. From what I can tell Sesshomaru's is breaking apart from the inside.”

Jaken stared with awe and shock, “Do you have any hypothesises, my Lady?” He asked in a daze; knowing his Lord could die - because not even the Sesshomaru was immortal when it came to bodily harm - had made him feel numb with fear.

Rin's gasp didn't go unnoticed. Chiyo comforted her with a pat of her hand, “I have none.” Suddenly, her eyes were like the sharpest of daggers as they rose to Kazuo, who had been standing stump still with a blatant look of fret that neared panic on his tanned face, “You are needed by the General, he will tell you why. Leave immediately.” The bat demon nodded with and bowed, he turned, giving everyone an eyeful of back, “Change your clothes, Kazuo.”

“Yes, my Lady. Alert me should Sesshomaru's health become worse.”

She nodded once and Jaken frowned as she did and she continued as though she hadn't stopped at all, “I do not know what could have caused this. There is nothing in my teaching to call upon that I have not. Lord Inuyasha,” Everyone's eyes turned to the half-breed sitting uncharacteristically quietly a metre away from their small circle and sickened demon, “I must ask you to remain here until the end of our Lord's pregnancy; I will need you to remain as close to him as possible for most of the day. He has little energy as it is being used to heal his internal injuries and to help the pup stay healthy and strong. The pup will always take first priority, despite whatever injuries a demon carries. It is nearly undetectable, but when a mate is in need of more strength, the other will lend them some of their own. This trading of energy is best done over a very short distance.”

He frowned also, and Jaken was surprised to see determination and a thread of worry appear within golden eyes so much like his Lord's. They were very alike, Jaken had realised a long time ago, especially when they were aiming for something. They most likely hadn't noticed (or had and didn't want to acknowledge that they had something in common), but their eyes were almost identical when flooded with a stubborn sort of determination, matched by no one he knew.

“So you want me to sit here until the pup's born?” Inuyasha asked bluntly.

“No.” Chiyo answered, Jaken watched her hand as it gestured to the spot in front of him, right beside his Lord, “I wish for you to lay with him.”

The look of disbelief on Inuyasha's face was comical, however, Jaken didn't laugh; in such dire circumstances he couldn't see any humour. Inuyasha pointed to himself and then to Sesshomaru, “You want me to sleep with that bastard?”

Jaken beat Chiyo to the punch as he muttered, “You have done so once before.”

“That was different! He didn't want to go through that weird heat of his and asked me to fuck him!” Inuyasha exclaimed, his voice much louder than Jaken knew his Lord would appreciate. Jaken's answering frown was ignored.

“Inuyasha!” The half breed's eyes turned to Chiyo, only to find her glaring at him, “Do not use such language in front of children. They are much like monkeys.” She admonished. Rin's expression was peculiar, but Jaken knew she knew better than to use such crude language; their Lord had already told her of such words' meanings and their place within the world. Rin was watching Sesshomaru sadly.

Inuyasha snorted, “Whatever. The point is I don't want to sleep with him. You said it works wherever I am, right?” Chiyo frowned, Inuyasha continued, “Then I'll sit here and he can recover that way.”

“It is prudent that you lay beside him. The closer you are, the easier the process is and thus more energy is traded.” The demoness echoed patiently.

“If it works without me having to touch him, then that's the way I'll do it. I'm staying right here.”

Rin's small voice rang out next, like a mouse amongst lions, “Please Inuyasha. Rin wants Lord Sesshomaru to get better.” Her eyes were wet as she stared up at the half breed. Jaken felt a stab of sadistic pleasure stab at his chest; there was no way Inuyasha could say no to such a face! He was far too human!

“I don't care. The hag said it works with me here, so I'll stay here.”

Silence followed the statement as Rin's face fell. Jaken was fuming inside; what a selfish being! The toad demon knew of the disgrace's worries, he knew he was worried about that stupid human girl he travelled with and his friends' opinions of him. However, Lord Sesshomaru's life was in danger! Inuyasha's pup's was! How could he dare risk both their lives?

“If our Lord dies, your pup will perish also.” Jaken interjected into the quiet bitterly, “He is your pup's Ninsoku and it will be your fault half-breed should they both pass on. I will not let you forget.” Jaken wished to run from the dark glare that Inuyasha sent at him with much gusto and murderous intent; this was usually the reason he attempted to keep him big mouth shut! He liked being able to move and breathe!

The glare became too much, “M-My Lady isn't it time for Rin's lesson? If you do not mind, I would like to accompany you this evening.” Chiyo nodded, her becoming permanent scowl carved into her aged face. Both elderly demon stood, as did Rin with some ushering.

They all bowed before leaving, Jaken taking his place behind the two women with him. He heard their voices mingle fuzzily. Jaken worried, his mind running over everything that could possibly have been wrong with his Lord. But he could think of nothing; his Lord was perfect!

“Lady Chiyo, do human babies do that?”

Jaken snorted and shifted the staff grasped in his left hand to his right. Did the girl know nothing? Human babies didn't do anything to their mothers - Jaken's mind stopped. His entire body stopped. His heart almost halted within his chest as the realisation hit him like a bolt of lighting from his Master's dragon strike attack.

He burst like magic powder added to fire a moment later, “Ah!” He squawked loudly, catching the ladies ahead of him's attention, “I know of the reason behind Lord Sesshomaru's illness!” He scrubbed at his head, not knowing what to do, “Oh no, oh no, our Lord, Lord Sesshomaru.” He repeated the mantra whilst pacing from one side of the hallway to the other.

Jaken squeaked as he was held still with strong, feminine hands, “What is it you idiotic toad? What is the cause?” Chiyo hissed with a threat laced within it. Rin's questions were like muffled buzzing to Jaken's ears.

“The pup is a quarter human,” He said softly, eyes skipping about the beautifully made hallway, his heart thumping against his ribs, “Our Lord is allergic to human blood and flesh.”

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Woffy: Thank you to those that did review: gen50, Snowfall, Polka dot, ladytokyo and mignightwhispers. Your responses made getting this to paper a lot easier even if it took a long time, for which I apologise, school's been in the way.

I took liberties with the stone and its powers. I haven't read the manga so I haven't the faintest idea of what its true capabilities are (well, except for being able to open a gate into hell). And that's another question answered! Anyone remember the human arm incident? Where Naraku gave Sesshomaru a human arm with jewel shards in it so that he could steal the Tesseiga? If not check it out, it's the reason I have Sesshomaru in the predicament he's in.

Reviews are like air at the moment; I've felt haven't felt very motivated in the ways of fanwork. Hope you enjoyed this instalment!